Devices and methods for pairing inductively-coupled devices

• US 8,894,459 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Leyland, Robert, Reine, John
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US13/831,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20140273714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 446/92, 446/129, 446131-139
• US Class Current: 446/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0247 Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts

Abstract

A first device may be paired to a second device, with the first and second devices including inductive elements, the devices may be paired by aligning a first magnetic element of a first device and a second magnetic element of a second device. At least one additional magnetic element is used to redirect magnetic fields generated by the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element away from the inductive elements.

Claims

1. A toy including inductively coupleable parts, comprising:

a first part including a first inductive element, a first magnet, and a second magnet positioned proximate a first surface of the first device, the first magnet and the second magnet positioned so as to have anti-parallel magnetic dipole moments, the first inductive element having an inductance less than 100 micro-Henrys; and

a second part including a second inductive element, a third magnet, and a fourth magnet positioned proximate a surface of the first device, the third magnet and the fourth magnet positioned so as to have anti-parallel magnetic dipole moments, the second inductive element having an inductance less than 100 micro-Henrys;

the first inductive element, the first magnet, and the second magnet having a relative spacing to one another that is the same as relative spacing of the second inductive element, the third magnet and the fourth magnet, with spacing between the first inductive element and either of the first magnet or the second magnet being less than 10 mm.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the first inductive element, the first magnet, and the second magnet are arranged linearly.

3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the first inductive element, the first magnet, and the second magnet define vertices of a triangle.

4. The toy of claim 1, wherein, magnetic dipole moments of the first magnet and the third magnet and magnetic dipole moments of the second magnet and the fourth magnet are aligned when the first part and the second part are paired for inductive coupling.

5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the first part further comprises a further inductive element, the further inductive element positioned proximate another surface of the first device.

6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the further inductive element is within a base of the first device.

7. The toy of claim 5, wherein the other surface is on an opposite side of the first device than the first surface.