Figure data input device

• US 6,659,836 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Kusunoki, Fusako, Jinushi, Motonobu, Yamasaki, Kazushi, Sugimoto, Masanori, Hashizume, Hiromichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US09/722,690
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 446/118, 446/119, 446/397, 446/90-91, 446/477, 446/484, 434/156, 434/159, 434/167, 434/168, 434/169, 434/176, 434/185, 434/201, 434/307.R, 434/308, 273/236, 273/237, 273/263, 273/273, 273/282.1, 273/282.3, 273/288, 273/289
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/06 and being attachable to, or mounted on, the support

Abstract

An figure data input device is provided, by which prompt and accurate simulation learning is realized by automatically reading out type identifying data and location data of a figure piece when the piece figure is placed on a mounting board. The educational figure data input device includes a figure piece composed of a figure portion replicating the outward appearance of an object and a storage unit for storing the type of the figure portion, which are combined into one body; a mounting board provided with a plurality of sectional mounting planes in such a manner that one figure piece is placed on only one of the plurality of sectional mounting planes; and a reading device, incorporated in the mounting board, for reading out type identifying data stored in the storage unit of the figure piece placed on the mounting board.

Claims

1. A system for using a figure data input device comprising:

a collection of figure pieces, the collection containing a plurality of figure pieces in each of a variety of types of objects, each figure piece being composed of a figure portion replicating the outward appearance of an object and a storage unit for storing data identifying the type of object category to which said figure portion belongs, which are combined into one body;

a mounting board having a plurality of sectional mounting planes provided in such a manner that one figure piece can be placed on each of said plurality of sectional mounting planes;

a reading device, incorporated in said mounting board and having a respective one-to-one correspondence with each of said plurality of sectional mounting planes, for reading out type identifying data stored in said storage unit of said figure piece and a placement location of said figure piece, when placed on said mounting board; and

a programmable machine running an environmental simulation program for receiving data from said reading device;

wherein once said figure piece is placed on said mounting board, said reading device reads said type of said figure portion from said storage unit and provides data regarding the placement location of said figure piece to said programmable machine.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said reading device reads said type of said figure portion through a wireless communication.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said reading device reads said type of said figure portion through touch points.

4. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an interface circuit wherein said reading device supplies said type of said figure portion and said placement location data to a personal computer by way of said interface circuit.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein the category of figure pieces relates to town planning.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the environmental simulation program automatically displays environmental simulation data outputted as a change in surrounding environments in response to placing one of said figure pieces.

7. A figure piece collection comprising:

a plurality of figure pieces of various types, the collection including at least two pieces of each of said various types each figure including a figure portion replicating the outward appearance of an object and a storage unit storing data identifying a type of object category to which said figure piece belongs.

8. A figure piece collection as in claim 7, wherein said data identifing said type of said figure piece can be transmitted from said storage unit through a wireless communication.

9. A figure piece collection as in claim 8, wherein said data identifying said type of said figure piece can be transmitted from said storage unit through touch points.

10. A mounting board comprising:

a plurality of sectional mounting planes;

a reading device, incorporated into said mounting board, for reading out data identifying a type of figure category stored in a figure piece when said figure piece is placed on said mounting board; and

a programmable machine running an environmental simulation program for receiving data from said reading device.

11. A mounting board as in claim 10, wherein said reading device reads the type of a figure portion from a figure piece through a wireless communication.

12. A mounting board as in claim 10, wherein said reading device reads the type of a figure portion from a figure piece through touch points.

13. A method of using a figure data input device comprising:

storing in said figure piece data identifing a type of object category in which said figure piece is classified;

placing a figure piece on a mounting board in one of a plurality of sectional mounting planes;

reading said type identifying data from said figure pieces and a placement location of said figure piece when said figure pieces are placed on a mounting board;

transmitting said type identifying data and placement locations; and

automatically displaying environmental simulation data outputted as a change in surrounding environments in response to placing said figure piece.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said reading of said type identifying data is accomplished through a wireless communication.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein said reading of said type identifying data is accomplished through touch points.

16. A method as in claim 13, wherein location data of said figure piece is obtained from a reading position of a reading device.