Game with Programmable Light Emitting Segments

• US 20080237981A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bergman, Anthonie Hendrik, Gilles, Murray Fulton
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/153S
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0846 characterised by the shape of the puzzle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0613 Puzzles or games based on the use of optical filters or elements, e.g. coloured filters, polaroid filters, transparent sheets with opaque parts optical, colour or shadow toys A63H33/22
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0842 each group consisting of again a central element and a plurality of additional elements rotatable about three orthogonal axes at both ends, the additional elements being rotatable about at least two axes, e.g. Rubik's cube

Abstract

3D puzzle wherein light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s) are integrated in the puzzle in order to achieve a high level of interaction between the user and the puzzle. The puzzle can adapt to the players needs by increasing or decreasing the difficulty level or by giving the user hints. The puzzle functions not only as a puzzle but may also function as an ambient light (or object) of programmable color point (and layout) when not in use as a puzzle.

Claims

1. A game comprising:

a plurality of segments (5, 7, 15;

92), each segment comprising a housing and a light module arranged inside said housing and arranged to receive a control signal and to emit light of a color that is dependent on said control signal;

a processor (70;

133, 134) arranged to control said light modules.

2. A game according to claim 1, wherein said segments can be rearranged in a certain order so as to solve a puzzle.

3. A game according to claim 2, wherein said game is a 3-dimensional puzzle.

4. A game according to claim 3, wherein said game is a Rubik'"'"'s cube comprising 26 separate segments and a core mechanism (20) arranged to hold together the segments.

5. A game according to claim 1, wherein said light module comprises at least two light emitting diodes arranged to radiate light of different colors.

6. A game according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of segments comprises a battery (41, 42).

7. A game according to claim 6, wherein said battery (41, 42) is a rechargeable battery.

8. A game according to claim 1, wherein each of said segments comprises a transceiver (47, 48) arranged to transmit to and receive signals from other segments.

9. A game according to claim 8, wherein said transceiver comprises a capacitive coupler (51, 52).

10. A game according to claim 1, wherein each segment comprises a processor arranged to control at least one light module inside said segment.

11. A game according to claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a memory arranged to store game rules.

12. A game according to claim 1, wherein said processor is arranged to receive an input signal indicative of at least one of a reset of the game, a request for a hint, a trigger to start another game and a command for turning of the game.

13. A game according to claim 1, wherein said processor is arranged to be programmed by a user by way of an external programming tool.