Sequentially operated modules

• US 10,355,476 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Original Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz, Elim
• Application Number:
  US15/397,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20170117707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/50 Construction set or kit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/08 provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1656 characterised by programming, planning systems for manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1694 characterised by use of sensors other than normal servo-feedback from position, speed or acceleration sensors, perception control, multi-sensor controlled systems, sensor fusion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/003 electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0023 Colour matching, recognition, analysis, mixture or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/025 : with electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 : with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 : with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 : Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7177 : filament or neon bulb
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 : Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 : for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/16 : Fastening of connecting parts to base or case; Insulating connecting parts from base or case
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 : Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/001 : Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 : Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 : Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 : Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 : Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 : Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/09 : Closed loop, sensor feedback controls arm movement

Abstract

Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads are disclosed. An activation signal is propagated in the system from a module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to external power source such as AC power. The system may use remote powering wherein few or all of the modules are powered from the same power source connected to the system in a single point. The power may be carried over dedicated wires or concurrently with the conductors carrying the activation signal. The payload may be a visual or an audible signaling device, and can be integrated within a module or external to it. The payload may be powered by a module or using a dedicated power source, and can involve randomness associated with its activation such as the delay, payload control or payload activation.

Claims

1. A first device for electrically connecting and detachably attaching to a second device and to a third device that are identical to the first device, the first device having first and second ends and comprising:

a first electromechanical connector at the first end of the first device, the first electromechanical connector being physically structured to be electrically connectable and detachably mechanically couplable to a second electromechanical connector of the second device;

a second electromechanical connector at the second end of the first device, the second electromechanical connector of the first device being physically structured to be electrically connectable and detachably mechanically couplable to a first electromechanical connector of the third device;

an annunciator coupled to be electrically Direct Current (DC) powered from the first electromechanical connector of the first device, the annunciator comprising a visible light emitter for emitting visible light or an audible sound generator for emitting audible sound; and

a single enclosure for housing the first and second electromechanical connectors of the first device and the annunciator,

wherein each of the first and second electromechanical connectors of the first device comprises two Direct Current (DC) power contacts and a signal contact, so that when the first device is mechanically connected between the second and third devices, DC power is passed between the second electromechanical connector of the second device and the first electromechanical connector of the third device,

and wherein the first device is operative to activate the annunciator in response to a first signal received from the signal contact of the first electromechanical connector of the first device, and to produce a second signal to the second electromechanical connector of the second device in response to receiving the first signal.

2. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the DC contacts of the first electromechanical connector of the first device are connected to the DC contacts of the second electromechanical connector of the first device.

3. The first device according to claim 1, further comprising firmware and a processor for executing instructions embedded in the firmware, wherein the processor is coupled to be electrically Direct Current (DC) powered from the first electromechanical connector of the first device and is further coupled to activate the annunciator in response to the first signal.

4. The first device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is coupled to the signal contact of the first electromechanical connector of the first device to receive the first signal therefrom, and to the signal contact of the second electromechanical connector of the first device to transmit the second signal thereto, whereby when the first device is mechanically connected between the second and third devices, the first signal is received from the second device using a point-to-point connection and the second signal is transmitted to the third device using a point-to-point connection.

5. The first device according to claim 4, further comprising an unbalanced line receiver coupled to the signal contact of the first electromechanical connector to receive the first signal therefrom, and a mating unbalanced line driver coupled to the signal contact of the second electromechanical connector to transmit the second signal thereto.

6. The first device according to claim 4, wherein the signals are logic level signals that are compatible with Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS), Transistor-transistor logic (TTL), Low-power Schottky TTL (LSTTL), or high-speed CMOS (HCMOS) levels.

7. The first device according to claim 4, wherein each of the first and second signals comprises a trailing edge signaling, and wherein the second signal is responsive to a time delayed version of the first signal.

8. The first device according to claim 7, further comprising a timer for producing the time delayed version of the first signal, and wherein the second signal comprises the time delayed version of the first signal.

9. The first device according to claim 3, further comprising an electrically controlled switch connected between the DC power contacts of the first electromechanical connector of the first device and the annunciator for activating the annunciator by switching the DC power thereto.

10. The first device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is coupled to control the electrically controlled switch for activating the annunciator.

11. The first device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is couple to the signal contact of the first electromechanical connector of the first device for receiving a first signal therefrom, for activating the annunciator in response to the received first signal.

12. The first device according to claim 3, wherein the signal contact of the first electromechanical connector of the first device is connected to the signal contact of the second electromechanical connector of the first device to form a linear multi-point bus carrying serial digital data, so that when the first device is mechanically connected to the second and third devices, the digital data is passed by the respective electromechanical connectors of the first device from the second device to the third device via the first device.

13. The first device according to claim 12, wherein the processor is coupled to the signal contact of the first electromechanical connector for receiving the serial digital data from, and for transmitting the serial digital data to, the bus.

14. The first device according to claim 13, wherein the annunciator is controlled or activated in response to the received serial digital data.

15. The first device according to claim 1, wherein each of the electromechanical connectors of the first device comprises a USB connector.

16. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the first device is opposite to the first end of the first device, and the first electromechanical connector of the first device is opposite to the second electrical connector of the first device.

17. The first device according to claim 1, in combination with a wheel for supporting the device.

18. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the second electromechanical connector of the first device comprises a male connector and the second device has a first electromechanical connector that comprises a female connector.

19. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the annunciator comprises the visible light emitter, and the visible light emitter comprises a semiconductor device, an incandescent lamp, or a fluorescent lamp.

20. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the annunciator comprises the visible light emitter, and the device is operative for blinking by the visible light emitter.

21. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the appearance of the first device, or the annunciator, relates to a common theme.

22. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the appearance of the first device and the function to be performed by the annunciator relate to a common theme.

23. The first device according to claim 22, wherein the first device has a color, type, or shape associated with the common theme.

24. The first device according to claim 23, wherein the theme is a specific type of animal.

25. The first device according to claim 1, wherein attachment of the first device to the identical second and third devices uses interlocking, friction fit, or shaped lugs and mating cut-outs.

26. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the first device is detachably connectable to the identical second and third devices using protrusions in one of the devices and cavities in the other device adapted to receive the protrusions in a frictional engagement.

27. A modular game set apparatus comprising three devices, each according to the first device according to claim 1.

28. The first device according to claim 1, wherein the annunciator comprising the visible light emitter and the audible sound generator.