Smart blocks

• US 6,443,796 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: J Shackelford Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Judith Ann Shackelford
• Inventors: Shackelford, Judith Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik, Urszula M.
• Application Number:
  US09/596,634
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 446/91, 446/90, 446/118, 446/477, 446/487, 446/485, 273/238, 273/237, 434/224
• US Class Current: 446/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/086 with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls

Abstract

A child'"'"'s construction set contains virtual intelligence, is interactive and smart, characteristics that may be exhibited to a player during player construction activity with the set and, thereafter, during continuing play and instills a sense of unpredictability to play. The set incorporates a programmed controller (17), a speaker (23), special (“smart”) play pieces or blocks (1,3,5,7, et cet.) and a base (15) on which to position the play pieces or blocks. Sensors (A1-C3), referred to as “hot spots”, are distributed at various positions about the base and are coupled to the controller, whereby the controller identifies special play pieces and the location of those play pieces when the respective play piece is installed at one of those positions. Some of the special play pieces may depict characters, some contain electrically operated devices, and some contain a player operated input device. The controller issues speech messages or other audible effects through the speaker to effect a virtual personality to the character play pieces; controls operation of electrically operated devices in special blocks, and detects and responds to player inputs from the player input blocks. Through wireless communication devices, the controller may acquire information from and supply speech messages to accessory blocks that are used off the base of the construction set.

Claims

1. A construction playset, comprising:

a housing having a planar upper surface defining a base, said base including a plurality of at least four coupling pins, said coupling pins being arranged in a plurality of rows and columns and upstanding from said planar upper surface;

said base further including a plurality of multi-terminal electrical connectors defining base electrical connectors, said base electrical connectors being accessible from said surface of said base;

each of said plurality of base electrical connectors being symmetrically centrally positioned between a respective two of said coupling pins in one row of coupling pins and a respective two adjacent pins in an adjacent row of said coupling pins, whereby said base electrical connectors are distributed at different locations on said base;

a first plurality of play pieces, said first plurality of play pieces including;

top and underside surfaces, said top surfaces of said play pieces containing a plurality of coupling pins, said coupling pins being arranged in rows and columns and extending upwardly, and said underside surface containing a plurality of coupling grips;

said coupling pins for frictionally engaging coupling grips of another play piece and said coupling grips for frictionally engaging coupling pins of another play piece or of said base to temporarily attach a play piece to said another play piece or said base;

each of said play pieces of said first plurality of play pieces further including;

a pair of multi-terminal electrical connectors, said pair of multi-terminal electrical connectors including;

a first electrical connector comprising a multi-terminal electrical plug, said electric plug being accessible from one of said top and underside surfaces of said play piece; and

a second connector comprising a multi-terminal electrical socket, said electrical socket being accessible from the other one of said upper and under surfaces of said play piece;

said terminals of said electrical plug being electrically connected to corresponding terminals of said electrical socket to provide a multiple lead electrical extension through said play piece;

a second plurality of play pieces, said second plurality of play pieces having top and underside surfaces, said underside surface containing a plurality of coupling grips, said coupling grips for frictionally engaging coupling pins of another play piece or of said base to temporarily attach a respective play piece to said another play piece or said base;

each of said play pieces of said second plurality of play pieces further including;

 

a multi-terminal electrical connector for mating engagement with an electrical connector on another play piece or on said base, said electrical connector being accessible from an underside of said respective play piece, said electrical connector comprising either an electric socket or an electric plug in dependence upon whether said accessible electrical connector on the upper surface of said play pieces of said first plurality of play pieces and on said base comprises, respectively, an electric plug or an electric socket, whereby said respective electric socket or electric plug of said play pieces of said second plurality of play pieces may mate with said electric plugs or electric socket of said base or of said first plurality of play pieces.

2. The construction playset as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a microprocessor based controller, said controller including;

inputs for receiving electrical information and outputs for supplying electrical current, said controller being located within said housing;

wiring means for electrically coupling each of said base electrical connectors to said controller, said wiring means including at least one lead for supplying electrical information to an input of said controller, and at least one lead for coupling output current from an output of said controller.

3. The construction playset as defined in claim 2, wherein each play piece of said second plurality of play pieces further includes:

electrical resistance means for producing an electrical resistance, said electrical resistance means having a resistance value unique to an associated play piece, whereby each play piece contains a unique resistance value to enable identification of the play piece; and

said electrical resistance means being connected between two terminals of said multi-terminal connector.

4. The construction playset as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one of said play pieces of said second plurality of play pieces comprises:

a toy character.

5. The construction playset as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one of said play pieces of said second plurality of play pieces defines a player input device and includes an electrical switch, said electrical switch being connected in circuit between two additional terminals of said multi-terminal connector of the respective play piece.

6. The construction playset as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of said play pieces of said second plurality of play pieces includes:

an electric motor to define a motorized play piece, said motor having a shaft, said electric motor being connected in a circuit between two additional terminals of said multi-terminal connector of the respective motorized play piece.

7. The construction playset as defined in claim 5, wherein said motorized play piece further includes:

a mechanical indicator for indicating rotation of said motor, said mechanical indicator being connected to said motor shaft.

8. The construction playset as defined in claim 7, wherein mechanical indicator is decorated to define a propeller, whereby said propeller turns in response to operation of said electric motor.

9. The construction playset as defined in claim 8, wherein at least one of said second plurality of play pieces includes:

a lamp for defining an illuminating play piece, said lamp being connected in a circuit between two additional terminals of said multi-terminal connector of the respective illuminating play piece.

10. The construction playset as defined in claim 9, wherein said microprocessor based controller includes:

means for determining the electrical resistance value presented at an input;

means for determining from an electrical resistance value the identification of a play piece associated with a resistance means of a particular resistance value when said play piece is attached to said base and the connector of said play piece is mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base, whereby each play piece connected to said base with the connector of said play piece mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base is identified by the controller; and

means for determining the location of each play piece attached to said base with the connector of such play pieces being mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base.

11. The construction playset as defined in claim 10, wherein said microprocessor based controller further includes:

means for detecting whether said manually operated switch of said switch play piece is in said first or second position when said switch play piece is attached to said base and the connector of said play piece is mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base;

means, responsive to said switch being in said second position, for outputting current to said illuminating play piece to light said lamp, if said illuminating play piece is attached to said base and the connector of said illuminating play piece is mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base.

12. The construction playset as defined in claim 9, wherein said microprocessor based controller further includes:

means, responsive to detection of each operation of said momentary operate switch of said switch play piece when said switch play piece is attached to said base and the connector of said play piece is mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base, for alternately supplying current to said lamp via said wiring means and mating connectors of said base and said illuminating play piece, and extinguishing said current, when said illuminating play piece is attached to said base and the connector of said illuminated play piece is mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base, whereby said lamp alternately illuminates and darkens.

13. The construction playset as defined in claim 7, wherein said microprocessor further includes:

means, responsive alternate operation of said momentary operate switch of said switch play piece when said switch play piece is attached to said base and the connector of said play piece is mated to one of said plurality of connectors in said base for alternately supplying and terminating driving current to said motor via said wiring means and mating connectors of said base and said motorized play piece, whereby said motor alternately turns said motor shaft and stops turning said motor shaft.

14. A child'"'"'s construction and play set comprising:

a base;

a set of blocks, each of said blocks in said set including electrical wiring;

wherein a play setting may be constructed on said base from at least some of said blocks of said set; and

a controller, said controller including a program, said program for identifying and determining the location on said base of any of said blocks of said set.

15. A child'"'"'s construction and play set comprising:

a base;

a set of blocks, said blocks including player operated control input blocks and electrically operated peripheral device blocks;

wherein a play setting may be constructed on said base from at least some of said blocks; and

a controller, said controller including a program, said program for identifying and determining the location on said base of any of said peripheral device blocks and said control input blocks.

16. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 15, wherein said program is also for controlling operation of said peripheral device blocks, and for determining player operation of a control input block and providing response to said player input of said player operated control input blocks.

17. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 15, wherein said blocks further include at least one character figure;

wherein said controller includes a speaker; and

wherein said program of said controller includes personas for character figures, said personas being defined by speech messages and/or sound effects and for selecting said speech messages and or sound effects for delivery through said speaker to exhibit a persona to a player.

18. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 15, wherein said controller includes a speaker;

and wherein said program of said controller includes a persona for at least one of said blocks, said persona being defined by speech messages and/or sound effects and for selecting said speech messages and or sound effects for broadcast through said speaker to exhibit a persona to a player.

19. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 18, wherein said program includes means for selecting a speech message for broadcast in response to player operation of one of said control input blocks.

20. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 19, wherein said program further includes means for selecting a speech message for broadcast in response to player application of a block to said base.

21. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

wireless transceiver means for respectively transmitting and receiving digital information wirelessly to and from a remote wireless transceiver; and

wherein said controller checks said transceiver means for received digital information and supplies digital information to said transceiver means for transmission to said remote wireless receiver.

22. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

means for accessing the Internet, said means being associated with said controller.

23. In combination with the child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 21, further comprising:

an accessory block;

a battery power supply, a speaker, a wireless transceiver and an accessory controller supported by said accessory block;

said accessory controller for identifying any peripheral device block supported on said accessory block and for transmitting said identification information via said wireless transceiver to said wireless transceiver of said construction set.

24. A child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set comprising:

a set of blocks and a base;

said set of blocks including;

a plurality of smart blocks, each said smart block including a computer readable identification marker identifying the respective block and an electrical coupler to provide computer access to said identification marker by a computer external to said block;

said plurality of smart blocks including;

a plurality of control signal blocks, each said control signal block including means for receiving a player input; and

a plurality of peripheral device blocks, each said peripheral device block for performing an electrically motivated function when actuated; and

a plurality of character figures;

said base providing a surface on which to apply said blocks to construct a play setting, said play setting including structures formed by and things represented by said set of blocks;

said base including a plurality of hot spots to couple to electrical couplers of said smart blocks, said hot spots being distributed at predefined locations about said base;

a programmed controller, said programmed controller including a program;

said programmed controller including a plurality of sense inputs coupled to respective ones of said hot spots for reading the identification of smart blocks that are disposed on said base overlying respective hot spots in which the respective electrical coupler of a respective smart block is electrically coupled to a respective hot spot and for determining the location of each of said respective smart blocks on said base overlying one of said hot spots and in respect of any of said electrically coupled smart blocks that comprise a control signal block for also reading any player input at said control signal blocks, whereby said controller has identification and location information for said smart blocks and player input information for any player inputs at those smart blocks which comprise a control signal block;

said programmed controller further including a plurality of control outputs coupled to respective ones of said hot spots for applying a control current to a peripheral device block selected by said program in response to a player input to one of said control signal blocks when the electrical coupler of said selected peripheral device block overlies a hot spot on said base and said electrical coupler of said control signal block overlies another hot spot on said base.

25. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set defined in claim 24, wherein said set of blocks further includes:

a plurality of electrical inter-connection blocks, said electrical interconnection blocks for extending electrical connections between one location on one of the top and bottom sides thereof to a second location on the other of said top and bottom sides;

each of said interconnection blocks including a hot spot on one side for coupling to the electrical coupler of a smart block and an electrical coupler on an opposed side for coupling to a hot spot on said base or to a hot spot on another interconnection block, whereby the position of a hot spot on said base is effectively emulated at a position elevated from said base.

26. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set defined in claim 24, wherein said programmed controller further includes:

a speaker; and

means for generating speech messages and sound effects selected by and when required by said program and broadcasting said speech messages and sound effects through said speaker.

27. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 26, wherein said programmed controller further includes:

a virtual persona for each of said character figures, said virtual persona comprising a plurality of speech messages and sound effects for simulating knowledge and intelligence inherent in a living being, whereby the respective character figure possesses a virtual life.

28. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 27, wherein said controller further includes a game, said game involving at least one of said virtual character and peripheral device blocks.

29. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 28, wherein at least one of said peripheral device blocks comprise an LCD display.

30. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 28, wherein at least one of said peripheral device blocks comprise an electric motor.

31. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 30, wherein at least one of said peripheral device blocks comprise an LED.

32. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 31, wherein at least one of said peripheral device blocks comprise a wireless transceiver.

33. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 24, wherein said programmed controller further includes:

an electronic clock calendar.

34. The child'"'"'s interactive construction and play set as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

wireless transceiver means for respectively transmitting and receiving digital information wirelessly to and from a remote wireless transceiver; and

wherein said programmed controller checks said transceiver means for received digital information and supplies digital information to said transceiver means for transmission to said remote wireless receiver.

35. The child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

Internet access means for accessing the Internet, said Internet access means being associated with said programmed controller.

36. In combination with the child'"'"'s construction and play set as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

an accessory block, said accessory block including a hot spot;

a battery power supply, a speaker, a wireless transceiver and an accessory controller supported by said accessory block;

said accessory controller for identifying any smart block supported on said accessory block in a position overlying said hot spot and for transmitting said identification information via said wireless transceiver to said wireless transceiver of said construction set.