Abstract: An interactive toy comprising a function device for performing user-perceptible, controllable functions. The interactive toy also includes a rechargeable power source and a charging circuit for contactless receipt of electrical energy and for charging the rechargeable power source when the interactive toy is positioned in a charging zone of a contactless charging device. The interactive toy is adapted to determine a charging rate at respective positions relative to the charging device and to generate a user-perceptible output indicative of the determined charging rate.

Abstract: An interactive toy, system, and method of controlling the same. The interactive toy includes a toy housing comprising therein a function device performing user-perceptible, controllable functions; a control circuit controlling the function device; a rechargeable power source providing operating power to the function device and the control circuit; and a charging circuit for contactless receipt of electrical energy and for charging the rechargeable power source when the interactive toy is positioned in a charging zone of a contactless charging device. The control circuit receives a primary signal indicative of an interaction stimulus; a secondary signal indicative of a position of the interactive toy with respect to the charging zone; and, responsive to the primary signal, controls the function device to perform a user-perceptible function selected based on the secondary signal. The interactive toy system includes an interactive toy and a contactless charging device defining one or more charging zones.

Abstract: A toy system comprising a plurality of toy construction elements, having detachably interconnecting coupling members for creating coherent spatial structures. The plurality of toy construction elements include: an energy source device comprising a housing and an energy transfer circuit therein; and energy distribution devices to provide respective external conductive loops extending outside the housing and defining a respective external energy transfer zone in a proximity of the respective external conductive loops. The energy source device is configured to be brought into operational connection with the energy distribution devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling an ensemble of interacting toy construction models. The interacting toy construction models include toy construction elements having functional toy construction elements, the toy construction elements include coupling members configured for detachably interconnecting the toy construction elements with each other. The functional toy construction elements may perform a function in compliance with a configuration defining a functional behaviour. The method includes configuring the functional toy construction elements in the interacting toy construction models based on information on further functional toy construction elements in said interacting toy construction model to coordinate their functional behaviour in a model-behaviour; and further adapting the model-behaviour based on information on further interacting toy construction models in the ensemble.

Abstract: An interactive toy, system, and method of controlling the same. The interactive toy includes a toy housing comprising therein a function device performing user-perceptible, controllable functions; a control circuit controlling the function device; a rechargeable power source providing operating power to the function device and the control circuit; and a charging circuit for contactless receipt of electrical energy and for charging the rechargeable power source when the interactive toy is positioned in a charging zone of a contactless charging device. The control circuit receives a primary signal indicative of an interaction stimulus; a secondary signal indicative of a position of the interactive toy with respect to the charging zone; and, responsive to the primary signal, controls the function device to perform a user-perceptible function selected based on the secondary signal. The interactive toy system includes an interactive toy and a contactless charging device defining one or more charging zones.

Abstract: A transducer structure for converting a deformation along an axis into a corresponding deformation on a plane orthogonal to the axis itself, including: two end plates facing each other and aligned along a common reference axis (X); connection members projecting radially from each end plate according to respective different directions; lateral bars connecting the end plates to one another through two connection members. The connection members are deformable within respective deformation planes to allow relative movements between the end plates and the lateral bars such as to convert an axial movement of mutual approach between the two end plates into a corresponding radial movement of the lateral bars away from the reference axis (X), and vice-versa.

Abstract: A modular toy system comprising a plurality of separate electronic toy modules, each electronic toy module comprising a function device operable to perform a user-perceptible function and a control circuit for controlling the function device; wherein at least a first electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules comprises a first control circuit, a first function device and a sensor system configured for contactless detection of respective coordinate values of at least two coordinates, each coordinate being indicative of a position or an orientation of at least a second electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules relative to the first electronic toy module; and wherein the first control circuit is configured to control operation of the first function device based on one or more of the detected coordinate values.

Abstract: A vibration sensor includes: a supporting structure provided with a cavity; a proof mass accommodated in the cavity; a plurality of elastic bodies, each connecting the proof mass to the supporting structure along a corresponding connection axis; an optical fibre portion arranged in contact with each elastic body and wound around the corresponding connection axis. The proof mass has an elongated shape according to a main reference direction (Z), and the plurality of elastic bodies comprises two or more first elastic bodies which are spaced along the main reference direction (Z) and are arranged so that they are all caused to be simultaneously compressed along their corresponding connection axes following a displacement of the proof mass in a first reference direction (X) perpendicular to the main reference direction (Z), and simultaneously stretched along their corresponding connection axes following a displacement of the proof mass in a direction opposite the first reference direction.

Abstract: A vibration sensor includes: a supporting structure provided with a cavity; a proof mass accommodated in the cavity; a plurality of elastic bodies, each connecting the proof mass to the supporting structure along a corresponding connection axis; an optical fibre portion arranged in contact with each elastic body and wound around the corresponding connection axis. The proof mass has an elongated shape according to a main reference direction (Z), and the plurality of elastic bodies comprises two or more first elastic bodies which are spaced along the main reference direction (Z) and are arranged so that they are all caused to be simultaneously compressed along their corresponding connection axes following a displacement of the proof mass in a first reference direction (X) perpendicular to the main reference direction (Z), and simultaneously stretched along their corresponding connection axes following a displacement of the proof mass in a direction opposite the first reference direction.

Abstract: A transducer structure for converting a deformation along an axis into a corresponding deformation on a plane orthogonal to the axis itself, including: two end plates facing each other and aligned along a common reference axis (X); connection members projecting radially from each end plate according to respective different directions; lateral bars connecting the end plates to one another through two connection members. The connection members are deformable within respective deformation planes to allow relative movements between the end plates and the lateral bars such as to convert an axial movement of mutual approach between the two end plates into a corresponding radial movement of the lateral bars away from the reference axis (X), and vice-versa.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises one or more input ports for directing an optical beam into the switch; dispersive means configured to receive said optical beam and which spatially separate the optical beam into individual wavelength components which are routed to an actuator; wherein the actuator is in the form of an array of elongate movable fingers for selectively interfering with individual wavelength components and means are provided to direct optical beams to selected one or more output ports.