PLAY SETS

• US 20090325456A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Willett, William
• Application Number:
  US12/471,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20090325456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/303 Parts of the playing surface being movable, replaceable or removable A63F2007/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2445 detecting reflected light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/06 Games simulating outdoor ball games, e.g. hockey or football if physically beneficial for the human body A63B67/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0664 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Abstract

A play set is disclosed. In some embodiments, the play set may include a play area having a plurality of indicia, the plurality of indicia including a first set of indicia and a second set of indicia; and a play toy including a sensor subsystem configured to measure intensity of light reflected from the first and second sets of indicia, and to generate a signal that corresponds to position of the play toy on the play area based on the measured intensity of the light reflected from the first and second sets of indicia, and a motion subsystem configured to receive the signal and move the play toy based on the received signal.

Claims

1. A play set, comprising:

a play area having a plurality of indicia, the plurality of indicia including a first set of indicia and a second set of indicia; and

a play toy including;

a sensor subsystem configured to measure intensity of light reflected from the first and second sets of indicia, and to generate a signal that corresponds to position of the play toy on the play area based on the measured intensity of the light reflected from the first and second sets of indicia; and

a motion subsystem configured to receive the signal and move the play toy based on the received signal.

2. The play set of claim 1, wherein the first set of indicia includes X-coordinate indicia and the second set of indicia includes Y-coordinate indicia, the signal corresponding to X-coordinate and Y-coordinate positions of the play toy on the play area.

3. The play set of claim 1, wherein the first set of indicia is configured such that the light reflected from the first set of indicia has a wavelength within a first wavelength range.

4. The play set of claim 3, wherein the first wavelength range is about 450 to about 490 nanometers.

5. The play set of claim 3, wherein the second set of indicia is configured such that the light reflected from the second set of indicia has a wavelength within a second wavelength range.

6. The play set of claim 5, wherein the second wavelength range is about 630 to about 700 nanometers.

7. The play set of claim 1, wherein the sensor subsystem includes a first sensor assembly configured to measure intensity of light within only a first wavelength range, and a second sensor assembly configured to measure intensity of light within only a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range being different from the first wavelength range.

8. The play set of claim 7, wherein the first sensor assembly includes a first photodetector and a first filter adjacent the first photodetector, the first filter configured to prevent light outside of the first wavelength range from reaching the first photodetector.

9. The play set of claim 8, wherein the second sensor assembly includes a second photodetector and a second filter adjacent the second photodetector, the second filter configured to prevent light outside of the second wavelength range from reaching the second photodetector.

10. The play set of claim 1, whereon the play area includes a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, the first set of indicia including a first indicium adjacent the first portion, a second indicium adjacent the second portion, and one or more other first set indicia disposed between the first and second indicia, wherein the first set of indicia is configured such that the light reflected from the first set of indicia has an intensity that increases from the first indicium toward the second indicium.

11. The play set of claim 10, wherein the second set of indicia includes a third indicium adjacent the first portion, a fourth indicium adjacent the second portion, and one or more other second set indicia disposed between the third and fourth indicia, wherein the second set of indicia is configured such that the light reflected from the second set of indicia has an intensity that increases from the third indicium toward the fourth indicium.

12. The play set of claim 11, whereon the play area includes a third portion spaced from the first and second portions, and a fourth portion spaced from the first, second, and third portions, the first set of indicia including a fifth indicium adjacent the third portion, a sixth indicium adjacent the fourth portion, and one or more other first set indicia disposed between the fifth and sixth indicia, wherein the first set of indicia is configured such that the light reflected from the first set of indicia has an intensity that remains constant from the first indicium toward the fifth indicium, and increases from the first indicium toward the sixth indicium.

13. The play set of claim 12, wherein the second set of indicia includes a seventh indicium adjacent the third portion, an eighth indicium adjacent the fourth portion, and one or more other second set indicia disposed between the seventh and eighth indicia, wherein the second set of indicia is configured such that the light reflected from the second set of indicia has an intensity that remains constant from the first indicium toward the eighth indicium, and increases from the first indicium toward the seventh indicium.

14. The play set of claim 1, whereon the play area includes a game board configured to support the play toy, the game board having the first and second sets of indicia.

15. A play set, comprising:

a play area having a plurality of indicia, the plurality of indicia including X-coordinate and Y-coordinate indicia, the X-coordinate indicia being configured such that the light reflected from the X-coordinate indicia has a wavelength within a first wavelength range, the Y-coordinate indicia is configured such that the light reflected from the Y-coordinate indicia has a wavelength within a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range being different from the first wavelength range; and

a play toy including;

a sensor subsystem configured to measure intensity of the light reflected from the X-coordinate and Y-coordinate indicia, and to generate a signal that corresponds to X-coordinate and Y-coordinate positions of the play toy on the play area based on the measured intensity of the light reflected from the X-coordinate and Y-coordinate indicia, the sensor subsystem including a first sensor assembly configured to measure intensity of light within only the first wavelength range, and a second sensor assembly configured to measure intensity of light within only the second wavelength range; and

a motion subsystem configured to receive the signal and move the play toy based on the received signal.

16. The play set of claim 15, wherein the first wavelength range is about 450 to about 490 nanometers, and the second wavelength range is about 630 to about 700 nanometers.

17. A method of determining position of a play toy on a play area, the play area including first and second sets of indicia, the first set of indicia configured such that the light reflected from the first set of indicia includes a wavelength within a first wavelength range, the second set of indicia configured such that the light reflected from the second set of indicia includes a wavelength within a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range being different from the first wavelength range, comprising:

measuring light intensity reflected from a first indicium of the first set of indicia;

measuring light intensity reflected from a second indicium of the second set of indicia;

generating a signal that corresponds to position of the play toy on the play area based on the measured intensity of the light reflected from the first and second indicia; and

moving the play toy based on the signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising blocking light reflected from the first indicium of the first set of indicia that is outside the first wavelength range.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising blocking light reflected from the second indicium of the second set of indicia that is outside the second wavelength range, the second wavelength range being different from the first wavelength range.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first wavelength range is about 450 to about 490 nanometers, and the second wavelength range is about 630 to about 700 nanometers.