U.S. patent application number 09/837336 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-23 for multiple part toy coding and recognition system.
Invention is credited to Chan, Albert Wai.
Application Number | 20020061701 09/837336 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26895785 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020061701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan, Albert Wai |
May 23, 2002 |
Multiple part toy coding and recognition system
Abstract
A toy comprises of a first part comprising sensor means and
means to generate at least one activity; and a second part
comprising a mark adapted to be identified by the sensor means;
such that when the first part and the second part are aligned, the
sensor means detect and identify the mark and trigger an
activity.
Inventors: |
Chan, Albert Wai; (Hong
Kong, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Terry W. Kramer, Esq.
Kramer & Associates, P.C.
Suite 1101
2001 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
26895785 |
Appl. No.: |
09/837336 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60200467 |
Apr 28, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20130101;
A63H 30/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/175 |
International
Class: |
A63H 030/00 |
Claims
1. A electronic toy comprises: (a) a first part comprising sensor
means and means to generate at least one activity; (b) a second
part comprising a mark adapted to be identified by the sensor
means; such that when the first part and the second part are
aligned, the sensor means detect and identify the mark and trigger
an activity.
2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the mark comprises a series of
concentric rings.
3. The toy of claim 2, wherein the concentric rings comprise
circles.
4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a source
of electromagnetic energy and a detector adapted to sense
electromagnetic energy reflected from the mark.
5. The toy of claim 4, wherein the source of electromagnetic energy
is adapted to direct said electromagnetic energy to the mark, and
the detector is adapted to identify patterns of electromagnetic
energy respectively reflected from or absorbed by the mark.
6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the detector is adapted to identify
concentric bands of reflected light.
7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the mark is provided with a pattern
comprising an identification code.
8. The toy of claim 2, wherein the series of concentric rings
comprises an identification code.
9. The toy of claim 3, wherein the series of concentric circles
comprises an identification code.
10. The toy of claim 1, wherein the detector means comprises
computer processing means to correlate a detected signal from the
mark, and to trigger a toy activity appropriate to the second
part.
11. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second
parts corresponding to a plurality of toy activities.
12. The toy of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of second
parts corresponding to a plurality of toy activities.
13. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second
parts corresponding to a plurality of physical arrangements with
the first part.
14. The toy of claim 1, wherein the toy comprises multiple
components, a plurality of which comprise both a first part and a
second part.
15. The toy of claim 1, wherein the activity comprises generation
of sound.
16. The toy of claim 1, wherein the activity comprises
movement.
17. The toy of claim 1, wherein the activity comprises activation
of one or more lights.
18. The toy of claim 1, wherein the activity comprises computer
operations.
19. The toy of claim 1, wherein the activity comprises activation
of a display screen.
20. The toy of claim 1, further comprising alignment means adapted
to orient the sensor of the first part with the mark of the second
part.
Description
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0001] In certain toys, in order for a particular action, response,
or activity to occur, separate parts of the toy must be connected.
Such connection means usually involves electrical or electronic
components. When an electrical or electronic connection between
parts must be made, often metallic prongs or exposed metallic
pieces are employed. Exposed prongs may become bent or disformed
through rough handling which makes it very difficult for the
connection to be made. Moreover, exposed electrical contacts may
become oxidized or corroded, particularly when subjected to
moisture.
[0002] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a means for
one part of a toy to sense the presence of another part of a toy
without the use of exposed electrical connections. Moreover, it
would be advantageous if no electrical connection or application of
force to connect two parts were required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It has been discovered that a multiple part toy coding and
recognition system provides many advantages over the prior art.
[0004] In a broad aspect, a toy comprises a first part comprising
sensor means and means to generate at least one activity, and a
second part comprising a mark adapted to be identified by the
sensor means, such that when the first part and the second part are
aligned, the sensor means detect and identify the mark and trigger
an activity.
[0005] In further aspects of the invention:
[0006] (a) the mark comprises a series of concentric rings;
[0007] (b) the concentric rings comprise circles;
[0008] (c) the sensor means comprises a source of electromagnetic
energy and a detector adapted to sense electromagnetic energy
reflected from the mark;
[0009] (d) the source of electromagnetic energy is adapted to
direct said electromagnetic energy to the mark, and the detector is
adapted to identify patterns of reflected electromagnetic energy
created when said energy is respectively reflected from or absorbed
by the mark;
[0010] (e) the detector is adapted to identify concentric bands of
reflected light;
[0011] (f) the mark is provided with a pattern comprising an
identification code;
[0012] (g) the series of concentric rings comprises an
identification code;
[0013] (h) the series of concentric circles comprises an
identification code;
[0014] (i) the detector means comprises computer processing means
to correlate a detected signal from the mark, and to trigger a toy
activity appropriate to the second part;
[0015] (j) the toy further comprises a plurality of second parts
corresponding to a plurality of toy activities;
[0016] (k) the toy further comprises a plurality of second parts
corresponding to a plurality of physical arrangements with the
first part;
[0017] (l) the toy comprises multiple components, a plurality of
which comprise both a first part and a second part;
[0018] (m) the activity comprises generation of sound;
[0019] (n) the activity comprises movement;
[0020] (o) the activity comprises activation of one or more
lights;
[0021] (p) the activity comprises computer operations;
[0022] (q) the activity comprises activation of a display
screen;
[0023] (r) the toy further comprises alignment means adapted to
orient the sensor of the first part with the mark of the second
part.
[0024] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the
following description of an illustrative embodiment of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the
following drawings, wherein:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first part with a sensor
array and two second parts with different marks.
[0027] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate schematically a first part
comprising two sets of sensors and a second part comprising a
mark.
[0028] FIG. 2C illustrates schematically the reflection or
absorption of radiation from a source in the presence or absence of
a mark.
[0029] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E illustrate schematically
variations in mark format.
[0030] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate alternative means to locate the
second part in relation to the first part.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of components of the
first part.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] In its simplest aspect, referring to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the
toy comprises a first part 1 which may be an active part of a toy
adapted to detect and respond to one or more inactive parts 3 of
the toy. For example, a toy kitchen set may have sensors built into
the stove top and the oven base so that each of these locations can
detect toy accessories such as pots or pans, or items to be cooked
or baked which are placed upon either surface. The choice of an
oven is merely illustrative and any activity in which one part
might respond to another part would benefit from this
invention.
[0033] The sensor means 5 of the first part 1, typically the active
part, must be adapted to identify and respond to a mark or pattern
of marks placed upon the second part 3, typically the inactive
part. It has been found that an infrared sensor comprising a source
9, or series of sources, of infrared electromagnetic energy and a
detector 1, or series of detectors, constitute an excellent means
of achieving recognition of the mark or pattern 7. The arrangement
of the sensors 5 and the shape and structure of the mark 7 can be
in any convenient form. It has been found particularly useful,
however, to use a series of concentric rings when creating marks.
Each second part comprises one or more rings, with the pattern of
such rings being unique to such second part. Thus, each second part
is coded to be recognized by the first part. With such a series of
rings, the orientation of the second part in two dimensions is not
important. Thus, the second part can face in any direction as long
as the mark is aligned over the sensor. Alternating bands of light
and dark material, corresponding to reflective and non-reflective
areas, provide the means for recognition. In the preferred
embodiment, the particular combination of dark and light bands is
unique to a particular second part. The signal generated by the
sensor corresponding to the particular pattern of dark and light
bands will in turn trigger an action, response or activity by the
first part which is appropriate to the second part so detected.
[0034] The reflective or non-reflective areas on the second part or
parts can be created using fabric, pigments, or varying materials
like metals and non-metals, and the like. Any suitable means to
create such reflective and non-reflective areas may be employed.
The coded patterns generate on or off signals from a sensor or
sensors allowing the first part to recognize the particular second
part placed into registration with the first part.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 2C, when a first part 1 and a second
part 3 are placed into close registration, the sensors comprising
sources 9, 9' and detectors 11, 11' are activated. An
electromagnetic signal from source 9 will be absorbed by
dark-coloured mark 7, so no signal will be detected by detector 11.
Conversely, an electromagnetic signal from source 9' will be
reflected by the light-coloured surface of second part 3, and a
signal will be detected by detector 11.
[0036] Thus, a single first part of the toy can be adapted to
recognize multiple second parts. This permits different
interactivity between a single part of a toy comprising sensor
means, and a set of other objects, or second parts. These objects
and the response generated when a particular second part is
recognized may correspond to different activities, story lines,
accessories, personalities of toy characters, arrangements of a
puzzle, positions of a toy in a play set, or other
possibilities.
[0037] The particular advantage of this system is that it is
simple, versatile, easily locatable, and the second part is
detectable when stationary and appropriately placed.
[0038] The invention comprises no electrical or electronic
connection between the parts, so there are no prongs to be bent or
contacts to become oxidized or corroded.
[0039] The mark, as set out above, may consist of any combination
of on.backslash.off patterns in a multiplicity of patterns,
preferably concentric. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and
3E, these patterns may be squares, ovals, triangles, circles, or
other geometric shapes. In its simplest form, the sensor of the
invention can detect any mark, however shaped. An advantage of a
preferred embodiment of the invention, however, is the use of
concentric patterns. Such concentric patterns allow the accurate
location of the first part in relation to any one of a multitude of
second parts.
[0040] In the most preferred embodiment, the mark comprises a
series of concentric circular rings. With this conformation, the
orientation of the first part to the second part is irrelevant. The
second part can be turned to face any direction as long as it is
appropriately located over a sensor of the first part.
[0041] It is preferable to locate the mark on any substantially
flat surface of a second part, although arrays of sensors can be
adapted to read marks located on non-flat surfaces.
[0042] There are a number of possibilities to locate the second
part against the first part. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B,
the simplest involves the use of a pin 15 on the second part which
fits into a corresponding receptacle 17 on the first part. The pin
15 and receptacle 17 are located on the central axis around which
the concentric marks or patterns are located. An alternative
embodiment involves use of raised portions 19 of a flat surface on
the first part facing the second part within which the perimeter of
the second part fits, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. Thus, the second
part may be set onto the first part, which is resting horizontal,
and remain so located until it is desired to remove it. Then,
simply lifting the second part from the first part will release the
second part from its confined location. Indeed, no actual physical
contact between the parts is necessary as long as the sensor on the
first part is located within a reasonable range of the mark on the
second part.
[0043] An alternative means to the hold the second part 3 to the
first part 1 is a magnetic connection, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.
Magnets 21 mounted at or near the surface of the first part 1 are
adapted to attract metallic elements 23 mounted at or near the
surface of the second part 3. Thus, even if the sensor-bearing
surface of the first part is not horizontal, the second part can be
made to locate over the sensor in an appropriate way for the mark
to be recognized regardless of the force of gravity acting upon the
second part. Other means to locate the second part to the first
part will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0044] The features of the first part of an illustrative embodiment
of the invention are illustrated schematically in FIG. 5. A power
source, typically an electrical storage battery, supplies
electrical power to sensor arrays, computer processing and
controller means, and to any devices or elements by which the first
part manifests an action, response or activity. Such devices may
include audio speakers, electrical motors, lights, display screens,
or other suitable devices.
[0045] Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has
been described, other embodiments falling within the scope of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
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