U.S. patent application number 11/817328 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for system of bodies which, by mutual communication, detect and then jointly signalize a predetermined concatenation, storage box for such a system and memory suitable for use in such a storage box.
Invention is credited to Jeroen Frederik de Weerd.
Application Number | 20080153559 11/817328 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36282642 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080153559 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
de Weerd; Jeroen Frederik |
June 26, 2008 |
System of Bodies Which, by Mutual Communication, Detect and Then
Jointly Signalize a Predetermined Concatenation, Storage Box for
Such a System and Memory Suitable for Use in Such a Storage Box
Abstract
A system of bodies each having their own electronic identity
representation visualized on respective corresponding outer faces
of these bodies. The bodies comprise communication means for having
the identity representations queried externally. The system
comprises means for selectively detecting respective predetermined
physical concatenations of such identities as representations of
corresponding visualizations and subsequently emitting an external
signal, but refraining from producing such a signal in the absence
of any such predetermined concatenation. The bodies are
particularly suitable for mutual and wireless communication with
their physical neighbors in said concatenation, to which end each
body is provided with active electronic logic means and an
associated electric battery power supply. Communication between the
bodies takes place democratically and without the interposition of
a master module.
Inventors: |
de Weerd; Jeroen Frederik;
(Maastricht, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GORDON & JACOBSON, P.C.
60 LONG RIDGE ROAD, SUITE 407
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
36282642 |
Appl. No.: |
11/817328 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 10, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP06/50838 |
371 Date: |
August 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/042 20130101;
A63F 3/04 20130101; A63F 3/0421 20130101; A63F 2009/2489 20130101;
A63F 9/1204 20130101; G09B 1/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/9 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/12 20060101
A63F009/12; A63F 9/24 20060101 A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2005 |
NL |
1028435 |
Claims
1. A system of bodies each having their own electronic identity
representation visualized on respective corresponding outer faces
of said bodies, the bodies comprising communication means for
having said identity representations queried externally, said
system comprising means for selectively detecting respective
predetermined physical concatenations of such identities as
representations of corresponding visualizations and subsequently
emitting an external signal, but refraining from emitting such a
signal in the absence of any such predetermined concatenation,
characterized in that the bodies are suitable for mutual and
wireless communication with their physical neighbors in said
concatenation, to which end each body is provided with active
electronic logic means and an associated electric battery power
supply, and in that said communication between the bodies takes
place democratically and without the interposition of a specialized
master module.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bodies are shaped
as blocks or cubes.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external signal is
limited to bodies forming part of said physical concatenation of
identities.
4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said external signal is
blocked when said physical concatenation adjoins a further body
that does not form part of such a detected concatenation of
identities.
5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bodies have an
orientation sensor in which the envisaged electronic identity
representation is only active in a given orientation of the
body.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein different identity
representations are active in respective orientations of each body,
which identity representations are visualized on respective
corresponding outer faces of said bodies.
7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visualization is
realized by means of a changeable electronic imaging structure
energized by said electric battery power supply.
8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined
concatenations of identities within an individual body are stored
in a memory.
9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said physical
concatenations can be active in two matrix directions for use in
the form of a jigsaw puzzle or a crossword puzzle.
10. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said memory is
externally loadable.
11. A system as claimed in claim 1, provided with a storage box
comprising an electric charging device for said battery power
supply.
12. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a storage
box provided with at least one of: i) an electric charging device
for said battery power supply, ii) an electronic device for loading
information indicating a body identity to be modified, and iii) a
different set of said physical concatenations.
13. A system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a memory
loaded with at least one of: i) information indicating the body
identity to be modified, and ii) the different set of said physical
concatenations.
14. A system comprising a plurality of bodies having visual
representations on outer faces of said bodies, the bodies having
wireless communication means for detecting physical concatenation
of said bodies, wherein each body is provided with active
electronic logic means and an associated electric battery power,
and said wireless communications means provides wireless
communication between the bodies that takes place democratically
and without the interposition of a specialized master module.
15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bodies have
electronic identities that correspond to the visual representations
associated therewith, and said wireless communication means
provides communication of the electronic identities between
bodies.
16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said bodies are shaped
as blocks or cubes.
17. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said bodies comprise
means for selectively emitting a signal in the event that the
electronic identities of the detected physical concatenation of
bodies follow a predetermined logical order.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a product which can be used as an
educational toy. The products provide visualizations that enable a
child to learn and spell words, count numbers, do sums, find
logical combinations, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] US patent Publication No. 2003/0148700 A1, to Arlinsky et
al., describes a system of cubes marked on several faces with
indicia of a letter or character, a figure or number, an arithmetic
symbol, an object, an animal, etc. A special game controller
playing block detects whether the physical concatenation of blocks
corresponds to a word, a sum, etc. To this end, adjacent blocks
establish electrical contact with each other and the controller
playing block emits a signal in the case of a positive result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The inventor has realized several improvements in the state
of the art. Notably the necessity of such a specialized controller
playing block is a drawback. It would be advantageous if, in
principle, the system continued to operate in a substantially
undisturbed manner, even when an arbitrary body is absent or is out
of order. Furthermore, a wireless connection between consecutive
bodies is advantageous, because this precludes contamination of the
connection and prevents short circuits which may damage the
electronic components. Moreover, detection of long concatenations
of bodies will be better possible, because the signals can be
brought to a standard level for each body. Besides, it would not be
necessary for neighboring blocks to be tangential to each
other.
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a system of the
before-mentioned kind, in which system the bodies can perform the
detection in a wireless manner and in democratic cooperation.
[0005] To this end, a characteristic feature of the invention is
defined in that the bodies are suitable for mutual and wireless
communication with their physical neighbors in said concatenation,
to which end each body is provided with active electronic logic
means and an associated electric battery power supply, and in that
said communication between the bodies takes place democratically
and without the interposition of a specialized master module.
[0006] The bodies may be shaped as blocks or cubes, or as e.g.
cards formatted in accordance with the ISO standard for credit
cards and the like.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, said visualization is realized by
means of a changeable electronic imaging structure energized by an
electric battery power supply. Changeable images provide the
possibility of creating a very large number of "lessons", so that
counting, spelling, logical aspects and other things can be
learned. Such changeable images can be technically realized quite
easily. A specific example in this respect is the use of
"electronic ink".
[0008] In a further preferred embodiment, predetermined
concatenations of identities within an individual body are stored
in a memory. For example, only words and the like may be stored in
a given body. In an advantageous modification thereof, the relevant
body is either the first or the last. This saves storage capacity.
It is alternatively possible to store the same information in all
bodies. Sums may be stored as such in the memory, or they may be
calculated by means of a computing element.
[0009] In another preferred embodiment, the physical concatenations
can be active in two matrix directions. It can then be checked
whether there is a two-dimensional image. Another application may
be a crossword puzzle or a "scrabble"-like application, in which
the formation of a new, valid word is briefly signalized. In a
further preferred embodiment, the memory in a body is externally
loadable. The number of applications can then be extended
considerably.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from
and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described
hereinafter.
[0011] In the drawings,
[0012] FIG. 1 shows the logical cooperation within a physical
concatenation of bodies;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic components
within such a body;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of detecting and signalizing a given
physical concatenation;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a block-shaped body;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a storage box with control and charge
facilities;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a storage element for loading new information
into the bodies;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a two-dimensional configuration of bodies;
[0019] FIGS. 8a and 8b show further embodiments of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows the logical cooperation within a physical
concatenation of bodies, hereinafter referred to as blocks. Each
block can transmit and/or receive digital information to or from
its direct left or right neighbor by known wireless means such as
infrared, or ultrasonic means, or by electromagnetic waves. In this
way, each block can detect the actual presence of such a left or
right neighbor (or also the upper or lower neighbor) and
particularly the identity of the relevant block. When cards are
used, a "block" may have one or two identities (front or back).
When cubes or bars are used, each block may have up to four or even
six different valid identities controlled by a position, or
orientation, sensor which is present in the block and can
distinguish the respective four or six orientations. There may be
three orientations when a bar having a triangular cross-section is
used. It is possible to use different shapes of blocks. As is shown
in the Figure, the blocks are incorporated in a logical loop, which
may operate as a "BUS" on which a priority order in the array of
blocks is realized, for example, by having the extreme left block
start the query. This is indicated by the broken-line loops. In
this case, the extreme left block queries its neighbor, and so
forth.
[0021] As an extension to the array described above, a
two-dimensional array of blocks may be alternatively used, in which
a combination of a matrix of blocks shows the image of an animal,
an object, or a scene. A correct combination of such a "jigsaw
puzzle" will be signalized. The invention may also be used as a
crossword puzzle. In that case, the communication between blocks is
active in four directions, so that a block simultaneously forms
part of two concatenations. In practice, "words" and the like will
not be formed simultaneously, so that only a brief signalization of
a "new" correct concatenation does not lead to confusion.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic components
within such a body. For the sake of simplicity, the
interconnections between the components are not shown. The
logic-organizational center is the CPU 40 in which the sequence of
steps is controlled and the presence or absence of a "correct"
combination is detected. Reference numerals 38 and 42 denote the
wireless communication units to the left and right, respectively.
As the case may be, six directions of communication may be
realized. Reference numeral 44 denotes the memory which may
comprise a static program and can also be loaded, because a number
of combinations (block concatenations) are externally provided from
a readable memory such as a CD-ROM. A position, or orientation,
sensor is denoted by reference numeral 46. PSE unit 34 supplies the
required power supply voltages to the components. To this end, it
is fed by an accumulator or battery unit 48 which is connectable to
a charging device that may be active when the playing blocks are
stored in a compartmented box having a facility for connection to
the mains (see FIG. 5). The separate batteries can be charged
inductively. If the communication between the blocks also takes
place inductively, a different frequency band may be chosen for
charging the batteries.
[0023] The unit denoted by reference numeral 36 can be used to load
the memory 44 with new information, for example, for switching
between the subjects of "arithmetic" and "language". Alternatively,
the loading unit may be accommodated in the above-mentioned box. A
sound signal or a light signal emitted by the sound unit 30 or the
light unit 32, respectively, indicates that a correct word, sum, or
the like has been "laid". The Figure does not show a display which
may possibly be provided on a face of the block, visualizing the
block identity as a figure or number, a letter or character, a sign
or symbol, or an image, which identity may be changed by loading
the relevant information.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of detecting and visualizing a given
physical concatenation. The procedure is started in step 60, for
example, in that a given block receives a signal from another block
and detects whether it has a "left" neighbor. If it has a "left"
neighbor, the relevant block will stop searching independently for
a "correct" combination. However, if a block detects that it has a
right instead of a left neighbor, the operation proceeds to step
62. In step 62, the starting block detects whether a combination
has been made with its own identity and that of its detected
neighbor. This will often not yet be the case. It is then detected
in step 64 whether a combination can be made with the array found.
If this is impossible, for example, due to a combination of letters
"xy" that does not occur in a word, the system proceeds to step 74
"stop"; the queried blocks may emit a buzzing sound to indicate
failure.
[0025] When the combination is "possible", but not yet realized,
for example, by the combination of characters "ko" that will
eventually lead to "koe" (Dutch for "cow"), the querying block
proceeds to step 66, in which a short delay is realized, for
example, to let all query processes come to en end (there is indeed
a left neighbor). Subsequently, the next neighbor is queried in
step 68, i.e. first of all, the second neighbor on the left. When a
positive result is achieved in step 62 after several cycles, the
system proceeds to step 70. In this step, the member blocks of the
combination, i.e. those that have indeed been queried, are sent an
OK signal. These blocks then emit a signal in step 72, for example,
a light signal for five seconds, an audio jingle, or the like. The
system subsequently proceeds to step 74.
[0026] Several possibilities may still occur: [0027] 1. A block
that has not been queried does not emit a signal. When the
combination that has been laid is "koet", the process of querying
on the left will stop at "e", because a correct word has then been
found. The letter "t" has not been queried and will not emit a
signal. Consequently, it is also possible to always query all
blocks and to emit a signal only when the whole concatenation forms
a correct word. Thus, in the link between step 62 and step 70, the
question "last?" is asked and the system proceeds to step 70 only
when the answer is "yes", or else it will proceed to step 66.
[0028] 2. Querying may be performed in a different order, for
example, starting from the right, or always starting from the block
that has been laid first. The latter is signalized because the
block detects a change of position, for example, by means of a
motion sensor. [0029] 3. Querying in two matrix directions may be
performed independently. When a "combination" is detected, an "AND"
function is formed between the two directions of coordinates in the
relevant blocks.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a block-shaped body. Its top
face will generally be its identity, in this case "E". It is
alternatively possible that one front face will be the subsidiary
identity, in this case "A". In the case of letters or figures that
may also be valid when shown "upside down", a separate symbol, for
example, a dot or an underscore is provided for the purpose of
distinction. The circles on the side faces indicate, for example,
LEDs that start blinking when a correct concatenation has been
formed on the relevant side of the block. An advantageous feature
is audio, indicating the block identity (letter or character,
figure or number, sign or symbol, animal, or the like) by
pronouncing the relevant name (of a figure or number, a sign or
symbol, or a plant) or emitting the sound (of an animal) when a
block is touched. Alternatively, the sound of the entire word
formed can be emitted.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a storage box with control and charge
facilities. In practice, the number of compartments will often be
larger, for example, sixteen. Here, one block fits in each
compartment. Furthermore, there is a charging device for charging
the batteries in the blocks and for loading the memories in the
blocks with new information. In this way, the system can, as it
were, "grow up with the child". Element 80 is the mains voltage
adapter. Element 82 is an on-off tumbler switch. Element 84 is a
display indicating, for example, the different modes of the box,
such as "charging current", "loading information", "ready",
"on-off", etc. Element 86 is a pushbutton for giving a "load
information" command. Element 88 is a slot for inserting a storage
medium, such as a floppy, a CD-ROM, a memory stick, or an optically
readable card with new information to be loaded into the block
memories. Socket 83 is suitable for e.g. a USB plug.
[0032] FIG. 6 shows a storage element for loading new information
into the bodies. It may be formatted and organized in a
conventional way. A booklet with examples and other information is
supplied along with the purchase of a new storage element for e.g.
a different vocabulary or another language. The information to be
loaded may alternatively be obtained directly from a computer.
Under circumstances, the computer may even have a constant
connection via socket 83 to the storage box shown in FIG. 5.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a two-dimensional configuration of bodies. A first
application is shown as a jigsaw puzzle, in which case the
formation of an image depicting a "cow" is detected and signalized,
for example, by reproducing a mooing sound. Another possibility is
to form the image by vertically stacking the blocks--as shown--with
their top faces showing the word "koe" ("cow").
[0034] FIGS. 8a and 8b show further embodiments of the invention.
At the instant when the blocks detect a correct combination, one of
the effects may be a change of the images on the sides of the
blocks, see FIG. 8a. At the instant when the blocks are moved away
from one another, the original images reappear, see FIG. 8b.
[0035] It is to be noted that the protective scope of the invention
is not limited to the embodiments described and that those skilled
in the art will be able to conceive many variants without departing
from the scope of the appended claims. Consequently, the preferred
embodiments should be considered as illustrative examples from
which no limitations are to be concluded other than those that
would be based on the claims.
[0036] In this respect it is to be noted that the visualizations of
the educational toy according to the present invention also may
enable a child to learn the grammar of languages and to learn songs
or to compose music. Furthermore it is to be noted that instead of
a buzzing sound to indicate failure other disapproving signals or
sounds may be used. Alternatively such signals may be replaced by
encouraging signals or the provision of a (visual or acoustic)
hint. In case of a word formed, the phonetic pronunciation thereof
may be emitted either visually or acoustically.
* * * * *