Inductive sensory apparatus

• US 5,791,648 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: G. Burnell Hohl
• Original Assignee: G. Burnell Hohl
• Inventors: Hohl, G. Burnell
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Application Number:
  US08/603,171
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 273/236, 273/237, 273/238, 273/239, 340/431, 324/311, 439/38, 439/39, 439/40, 439/43
• US Class Current: 273/238
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2411 Input form cards, tapes, discs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/085 metal detectors

Abstract

An inductive sensory system is provided. The system includes at least one object encoded with conductive material and a reader for use in detecting the presence or absence of the conductive material in the coded object. The reader includes a plurality of single coils and detection means for measuring changes in the self inductance of the coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in the object. The sensory system further includes control means interconnected to the detection means. The control means are adapted to receive a signal from the detection means, translate the signal and generate a control signal for transmission to an external reactive member such as a light, sound or voice generator.

Claims

1. An inductive sensory system for use in reading a code contained on a coded object, said system including:

at least one coded object including or encoded with a pattern of conductive material; and

a reader for reading the code on said at least one coded object by detecting the presence or absence of the conductive material in said coded object, said reader including

a plurality of single coils arranged in a pattern complimentary to said pattern of conductive material on said at least one object and

detection means for measuring changes in the self inductance of said coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in said coded object.

2. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said detection means comprise an oscillator, a multiplexor connected to at least one of said coils and to said oscillator, and an amplitude detector.

3. The sensory system of claim 2, wherein said amplitude detector is adapted to measure the change in amplitude of oscillation caused by changes in the self inductance in said coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in said coded object.

4. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said detection means comprise an oscillator, a multiplexor connected to at least one of said coils and to said oscillator, and a frequency detector.

5. The sensory system of claim 4, wherein said frequency detector is adapted to measure the change in frequency of oscillation caused by changes in the self inductance in said coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in said coded object.

6. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said detection means comprise an oscillator and an amplitude detector connected to with said coils and to said oscillator.

7. The sensory system of claim 6, wherein said amplitude detector is adapted to measure the change in amplitude of oscillation caused by changes in the self inductance in said coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in said coded object.

8. The sensory system of claim 1, further including control means interconnected to said detection means, said control means adapted to receive a signal from said detection means, translate said signal from said detection means, and generate a control signal to an external reactive member.

9. The sensory system of claim 8, wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor.

10. The sensory system of claim 8, wherein said reactive member is adapted to generate a sound in response to receipt of said control signal.

11. The sensory system of claim 8, wherein said reactive member is adapted to display a visual effect in response to receipt of said control signal.

12. The sensory system of claim 8, wherein said reactive member is adapted to effect mechanical motion in response to receipt of said control signal.

13. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of cards on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

14. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of stickers on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

15. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of pictures on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

16. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of pages in a book on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

17. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of molded figures on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

18. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a wand on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

19. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a stylus on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

20. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of game pieces on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

24. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

25. The sensory system of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a plurality of toy vehicles on which said code is printed which is adapted to be read by said reader.

21. An electronic sensory apparatus, said electronic sensory apparatus including:

a plurality of coils etched onto a PC board, or printed with conductive ink, which act as inductors in an LC oscillator circuit;

a means for selecting individual said coils or groups of said coils;

a means for supplying a current to said coils or groups of said coils to induce LC oscillation in said coils;

a means for detecting the amplitude or frequency of the said LC oscillation in the individual said coils created by said supply of current to said coils;

a means for comparing the said amplitude or frequency of the LC oscillation in the individual said coils or groups of said coils against at least one threshold oscillation amplitude or frequency;

a means for assigning a value to the individual said coils or groups of said coils dependant upon the said amplitude or frequency of the LC oscillation in the said coils;

a means for generating a code representing the combined said values of the plurality of said coils;

a means for triggering a specific event which corresponds to the said code; and

a means for controlling said means for detecting, said means for comparing, said means for assigning, said means for generating and said means for triggering.

22. An electronic sensory apparatus, said electronic sensory apparatus including:

a plurality of 3/4 inch diameter coils with 10.5 turns and line width and spacing of 0.015 inches etched onto a 0.031 inch thick PC board which act as inductors in an LC oscillator circuit;

a means for selecting individual said coils or groups of said coils, said means consisting of a multiplexor circuit, which further consists of at least one 74LS156 (octal) or 74LS05(hex) open collector chip or a discrete bipolar transistor;

a means for supplying a current to said coils to induce LC oscillation in said coils, said means consisting of an LC oscillator which operates at 2.5 MHz wherein said means for supplying a current further includes a voltage regulator, wherein said regulator consists of a Zener regulator or a 78L05 voltage regulator;

a means for detecting the amplitude or frequency of the said LC oscillation in the individual said coils created by said supply of current to said coils;

a means for comparing the said amplitude or frequency of the LC oscillation in the individual said coils against at least one threshold oscillation amplitude or frequency;

a means for assigning a value to the individual said coils or said coil groups dependant upon the said amplitude or frequency of the LC oscillation in the said coils;

a means for generating a code representing the combined said values of the plurality of said coils;

a means for triggering a specific event which corresponds to the said code; and

a means for controlling said means for detecting, said means for comparing, said means for assigning, said means for generating and said means for triggering, said means for controlling consisting of a microcontroller, a combination microcontroller and voice chip, a microcontroller with separate voice chip, or a discrete logic or application-specific integrated circuit controller.

23. An inductive sensory system for use in reading a code contained on a coded object, said system including:

at least one coded object including or encoded with a pattern of conductive material; and

a reader for reading the code on said at least one coded object by detecting the presence or absence of the conductive material in said coded object, said reader including

at least one single coil positioned complimentary to said pattern of conductive material on said at least one object and

detection means for measuring changes in the self inductance of said coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in said coded object, wherein said detection means include an oscillator, a multiplexor connected to at least one of said coils and to said oscillator, and an amplitude detector.

26. An inductive sensory system for use in detecting the presence and location of one or more conductive objects, said system including:

at least one object including conductive material; and

a reader for detecting the presence and location of said object, said reader including

a plurality of single coils arranged in a pattern complimentary to all possible locations and positions of said at least one object and

detection means for measuring changes in the self inductance of said coils due to the presence or absence of conductive material in said object.

27. The sensory system of claim 26, wherein said object comprises a stylus having said conductive material located at the end of said stylus.