Level/position sensor and related electronic circuitry for interactive toy

• US 6,377,187 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Sui Lun Fong
• Original Assignee: Peter Sui Lun Fong
• Inventors: Fong, Peter Sui Lun
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, BENJAMIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/478,388
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/589, 340/691.2, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52, 200/61.48, 200/82.R, 200/6.A, 200/6.B, 200/6.C, 736/49, 736/51, 736/52, 736/54, 736/53, 736/55, 736/57
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/49 with provisions for connecting to a part of the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/025 the switch being discriminative in different directions

Abstract

A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device and operative to generate a plurality of different output signals corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a plane. The sensor comprises a base mount having a first switch attached thereto and including at least three leaf contacts extending in juxtaposed relation to each other. Movably attached to the base mount is a first actuator which is cooperatively engaged to one of the leaf contacts of the first switch. The first actuator normally extends along a first axis and is movable relative thereto from a home position whereat none of the leaf contacts of the first switch contact each other to a trigger position whereat the leaf contact to which the first actuator is cooperatively engaged contacts at least one other leaf contact of the first switch. The sensor further includes a second switch which is also attached to base mount and identically configured to the first switch, and a second actuator which also movably attached to the base mount and identically configured to the first actuator. The second actuator, which is cooperatively engaged to one of the leaf contacts of the second switch, normally extends along a second axis which extends in generally perpendicular relation to the first axis, and is itself movable relative to the second axis between the home and trigger positions.

Claims

1. In an interactive electronic device, the improvement comprising:

a sensor disposed within the device and comprising;

at least two actuators movably attached to the device and extending along respective ones of first and second axes which are non-parallel to each other;

the sensor being operative to generate no output signal when the device resides on a device plane whereat the first and second axes extend in generally parallel relation to a reference plane, and at least one output signal when the device is moved to reside on a function plane whereat at least one of the first and second axes extends in non-parallel relation to the reference plane.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is movable so as to reside on any one of a multiplicity of function planes which each extend in non-parallel relation to the reference plane, and the sensor is operative to generate a multiplicity of different output signals corresponding to respective ones of the function planes.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the improvement further comprises programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and programmed to translate the absence of an output signal and any output signals generated by the sensor into respective effects.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon a prescribed sequence of output signals being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

5. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device and operative to generate a multiplicity of different output signals corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a plane, the sensor comprising:

a base mount;

a first switch attached to the base mount and including at least two leaf contacts extending in juxtaposed relation to each other;

a first actuator movably attached to the base mount and cooperatively engaged to one of the leaf contacts of the first switch, the first actuator normally extending along a first axis and being movable relative thereto from a home position whereat none of the leaf contacts of the first switch contact each other to a trigger position whereat the leaf contact to which the first actuator is cooperatively engaged contacts at least one other leaf contact of the first switch;

a second switch attached to the base mount and including at least two leaf contacts extending in juxtaposed relation to each other; and

a second actuator movably attached to the base mount and cooperatively engaged to one of the leaf contacts of the second switch, the second actuator normally extending along a second axis which extends in non-parallel relation to the first axis and being movable relative to the second axis from a home position whereat none of the leaf contacts of the second switch contact each other to a trigger position whereat the leaf contact to which the second actuator is cooperatively engaged contacts at least one other leaf contact of the second switch;

the sensor being configured such that when the first and second axes extend in generally parallel relation to the plane, the first and second actuators are each disposed in the home position resulting in no output signal being generated by the sensor, with the movement of the sensor in a manner wherein at least one of the first and second axes extends in non-parallel relation to the plane causing at least one of the first and second actuators to move to the trigger position resulting in at least one output signal being generated by the sensor.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein:

the first and second switches each comprise a center leaf contact disposed between a pair of outer leaf contacts; and

the first and second actuators are cooperatively engaged to the center leaf contact of respective ones of the first and second switches.

7. The sensor of claim 5 wherein:

the first and second switches each comprise a center leaf contact disposed between two pairs of outer leaf contacts; and

the first and second actuators are cooperatively engaged to the center leaf contact of respective ones of the first and second switches.

8. The sensor of claim 5 wherein:

the leaf contacts of the first and second switches each define a distal end; and

the leaf contact of each of the first and second switches to which a respective one of the first and second actuators is cooperatively engaged is sized such that the distal end thereof protrudes beyond the distal ends of the remaining leaf contacts.

9. The sensor of claim 8 wherein the first and second actuators each comprise:

a first end having a recess formed therein sized and configured to receive the distal end of the leaf contact of a respective one of the first and second switches which protrudes beyond the distal ends of the remaining leaf contacts;

a second end having a counter-weight attached thereto; and

a central hub which is disposed between the first and second ends and pivotally connected to the base mount.

10. The sensor of claim 9 wherein the first and second switches each comprise a protective sheath attached to the distal end of the leaf contact received into the recess disposed within the first end of a respective one of the first and second actuators.

11. The sensor of claim 5 further in combination with electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and operative to facilitate the production of effects corresponding to the absence of an output signal and any output signal generated by the sensor and transmitted thereto.

12. The sensor of claim 11 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmable, and is programmed to produce a selected effect upon a prescribed sequence of supplemental output signals being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

13. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device and operative to generate a multiplicity of different output signals corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a plane, the sensor comprising:

a base mount;

a first switch attached to the base mount and including at least two leaf contacts extending in juxtaposed relation to each other;

a first switch actuator movably attached to the base mount and cooperatively engaged to one of the leaf contacts of the first switch, the first actuator normally extending along a first axis and being movable relative thereto from a home position whereat none of leaf contacts of the first switch contact each other to a trigger position whereat the leaf contact to which the first actuator is cooperatively engaged contacts at least one other leaf contact of the first switch;

a second switch attached to the base mount and including at least two leaf contacts extending in juxtaposed relation to each other;

a second actuator movably attached to the base mount and cooperatively engaged to one of the leaf contacts of the second switch, the second actuator normally extending along a second axis which extends in non-parallel relation to the first axis and being movable relative to the second axis from a home position whereat none of the leaf contacts of the second switch contact each other to a trigger position whereat the leaf contact to which the second actuator is cooperatively engaged contacts at least one other leaf contact of the second switch;

a third switch attached to the base mount and including at least two leaf contacts extending in juxtaposed relation to each other; and

a third actuator movably attached to the bake mount and cooperatively engaged to one of the leaf contacts of the third switch, the third actuator normally extending along a third axis which extends in non-parallel relation to the first and second axes and being movable relative to the third axis from a home position whereat none of the leaf contacts of the third switch contact each other to a trigger position whereat the leaf contact to which the third actuator is cooperatively engaged contacts at least one other leaf contact of the third switch;

the sensor being configured such that when the first and second axes extend in generally parallel relation to the plane and the third axis extends in non-parallel relation to the plane, the first, second and third actuators are each disposed in the home position resulting in no output signal being generated by the sensor, with the movement of the sensor such that at least one of the first and second axes extends in non-parallel relation to the plane causing at least one of the first, second and third actuators to move to the trigger position resulting in at least one output signal being generated by the sensor.

14. The sensor of claim 13 wherein:

the first, second and third switches each comprise a center leaf contact disposed between a pair of outer leaf contacts; and

a first, second and third actuators are cooperatively engaged to the center leaf contact of respective ones of the first, second and third switches.

15. The sensor of claim 13 wherein:

the first, second and third switches each comprise a center leaf contact disposed between two pairs of outer leaf contacts; and

the first, second and third actuators are cooperatively engaged to the center leaf contact of respective ones of the first, second and third switches.

16. The sensor of claim 13 wherein:

the leaf contacts of the first, second and third switches each define a distal end; and

the leaf contact of each of the first, second and third switches to which a respective one of the first, second and third actuators is cooperatively engaged is sized such that the distal end thereof protrudes beyond the distal ends of the remaining leaf contacts.

17. The sensor of claim 16 wherein the first, second and third actuators each comprise:

a first end having a recess formed therein sized and configured to receive the distal end of the leaf contact of a respective one of the first, second and third switches which protrudes beyond the distal ends of the remaining leaf contacts;

a second end having a counter-weight attached thereto; and

a central hub which is disposed between the first and second ends and pivotally connected to the base mount.

18. The sensor of claim 17 wherein the first, second and third switches each comprise a protective sheath attached to the distal end of the leaf contact received into the recess disposed within the first end of a respective one of the first, second and third actuators.

19. The sensor of claim 13 further in combination with electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and operative to facilitate the production of effects corresponding to the absence of an output signal and any output signal generated by the sensor and transmitted thereto.

20. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmable, and is programmed to produce a selected effect upon a prescribed sequence of output signals being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

21. In an interactive electronic device, the improvement comprising:

a sensor disposed within the device and comprising;

at least two actuators movably attached to the device and extending along respective ones of first and second axes which are non-parallel to each other;

the sensor being operative to generate an initial output signal when the device resides on a device plane whereat the first and second axes extend in generally parallel relation to a reference plane, and at least one supplemental output signal differing from the initial output signal when the device is moved to reside on a function plane whereat at least one of the first and second axes extends in non-parallel relation to the reference plane.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the device is movable so as to reside on any one of a multiplicity of function planes which each extend in non-parallel relation to the reference plane, and the sensor is operative to generate a multiplicity of different supplemental output signals corresponding to respective ones of the function planes.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the improvement further comprises programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and programmed to translate the initial and supplemental output signals into respective effects.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon a prescribed sequence of supplemental output signals being transmitted thereto from the sensor.