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
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.
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 INVENTIONUS 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 INVENTIONThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
In the drawings,
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.
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.
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.
Several possibilities may still occur:
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- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 26, 2008
Inventor: Jeroen Frederik de Weerd (Maastricht)
Application Number: 11/817,328
International Classification: A63F 9/12 (20060101); A63F 9/24 (20060101);