Resonant coils for use with games and toys

• US 9,776,071 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Amireh, Nicholas S., Buzga, Vladimir, Sosnovskiy, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clarke, Jr., Robert T
• Application Number:
  US14/274,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20140333025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/02 Cards; Special shapes of cards card-printing methods B41K, B41M
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00665 using inductance
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2488 Remotely playable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID

Abstract

An electronic card game system and method using NFC or RFID electromagnetic communication, including an initiator having a driving coil, a first card having a secondary coil with a capacitor, and a playing piece having a receiving coil. The initiator and the first card may be placed on a playing surface so that at least a portion of the driving coil and at least a portion of the secondary coil overlap. Similarly, the first card and the playing piece may be placed on a playing surface so that at least a portion of the receiving coil and at least a second portion of the secondary coil overlap. These overlapped coils allow a driving signal initiated at the driving coil to be transmitted through the secondary coil and received by the receiving coil.

Claims

1. An electronic card game system for use with an initiator having a driving coil, comprising:

a first card having a secondary coil with a capacitor;

a playing piece having a receiving coil;

wherein the initiator and the first card may be placed on a playing surface so that at least a portion of the driving coil and at least a portion of the secondary coil overlap;

wherein the first card and the playing piece may be placed on the playing surface so that at least a portion of the receiving coil and at least a second portion of the secondary coil overlap;

wherein a driving signal initiated at the driving coil may be transmitted through the secondary coil and received by the receiving coil; and

wherein;

the first card is a Z-fold repeater coil card including a top portion that is relatively smaller than a bottom portion;

the top portion defines a top flap of a Z-Fold that rests on top of the initiator;

a middle portion of the Z-Fold card runs down a side of the initiator; and

the top portion, the middle portion, and the bottom portion collectively extend a driving signal from the initiator to the playing surface.

2. The electronic card game system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second card having a secondary coil with a capacitor;

wherein the first card and the second card may be placed on the playing surface so that at least a first portion of the secondary coil of the second card and at least the second portion of the secondary coil of the first card overlap;

wherein the second card and the playing piece may be placed on a playing surface so that at least a portion of the receiving coil and at least a second portion of the secondary coil of the second card overlap; and

wherein the driving signal initiated at the driving coil may be transmitted through the secondary coils of the first card and the second card and received by the receiving coil.

3. The electronic card game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the driving coil transmits a resonant field primarily on a first side of the initiator; and

the first card folds from the first side of the initiator to a second side of the initiator.

4. The electronic card game system according to claim 1, wherein:

the driving coil transmits a resonant field primarily on a first side of the initiator;

the initiator includes a display screen on a second side of the initiator;

the first card folds from the first side of the initiator to the second side of the initiator so that the first card at least partially overlaps the display screen; and

the first card is at least partially transparent or cut away so that the display screen may be viewed through the first card as the playing piece is removed from overlapping the second portion of the secondary coil.

5. The electronic card game system according to claim 1, wherein the first card is folded to define a Z-shape.

6. The electronic card game system according to claim 5, wherein the first card is at least partially transparent or cut away so that the initiator may be viewed through the first card.

7. A method for playing an electronic card game system, comprising the following steps:

providing a first card with a first resonant coil;

placing the first card on a playing surface;

providing an initiator with a driving coil;

placing the initiator on the playing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the driving coil overlap;

providing a playing piece with a receiving coil;

placing the playing piece on the playing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the receiving coil overlap;

initiating a driving signal at the driving coil and relaying the driving signal through the first resonant coil and to the receiving coil;

providing a second card with a second resonant coil;

providing a third card with a third resonant coil;

placing the second card on the playing surface so that a portion of the first resonant coil and a first portion of the second resonant coil overlap;

placing the third card on the playing surface so that a portion of the third resonant coil and a second portion of the second resonant coil overlap;

placing the playing piece on the playing surface relative to the third card so that at least a portion of the third resonant coil and the receiving coil overlap; and

initiating the driving signal at the driving coil and relaying the driving signal through the first resonant coil to the second resonant coil, and through the third resonant coil and to the receiving coil.

8. A method for playing an electronic card game system, comprising the following steps:

providing a first card with a first resonant coil;

placing the first card on a playing surface;

providing an initiator with a driving coil;

placing the initiator on the playing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the driving coil overlap;

providing a playing piece with a receiving coil;

placing the playing piece on the playing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the receiving coil overlap;

initiating a driving signal at the driving coil and relaying the driving signal through the first resonant coil and to the receiving coil;

orienting the initiator so that the driving coil faces the playing surface, and so that a first portion of the first resonant coil is interposed the driving coil and the playing surface;

folding the first card upward from the first portion of the first resonant coil; and

further folding the first card so that a second portion of the first resonant coil overlaps the initiator, and so that both the initiator and the first portion of the first resonant coil is interposed the second portion and the playing surface.

9. A method for playing an electronic card game system, comprising the following steps:

providing a first card with a first resonant coil;

placing the first card on a playing surface;

providing an initiator with a driving coil;

placing the initiator on the playing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the driving coil overlap;

providing a playing piece with a receiving coil;

placing the playing piece on the playing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the receiving coil overlap;

initiating a driving signal at the driving coil and relaying the driving signal through the first resonant coil and to the receiving coil;

orienting the initiator so that the driving coil is distant from the playing surface;

placing the first card so that a first portion of the first resonant coil is above the driving coil relative to the playing surface;

folding the first card downward from the first portion of the first resonant coil; and

further folding the first card so that a second portion of the first resonant coil is adjacent the playing surface and extends away from the initiator, and so that the playing piece may be placed on top of the second portion of the first resonant coil, adjacent the initiator.

10. A method for playing an electronic card game system, comprising the following steps:

providing a first card with a first resonant coil;

placing the first card on a playing surface;

providing an initiator with a driving coil;

placing the initiator on the playing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the driving coil overlap;

providing a playing piece with a receiving coil;

placing the placing piece on the placing surface relative to the first card so that at least a portion of the first resonant coil and the receiving coil overlap;

initiating a driving signal at the driving coil and relaying the driving signal through the first resonant coil and to the receiving coil;

folding the first card to form a Z-Fold repeater coil card, wherein the first portion of the first resonant coil defines a top flap, and the second portion of the first resonant coil defines a bottom flap;

orienting the initiator so that the driving coil is distant from the playing surface;

placing the first card so that the top flap is above the driving coil relative to the playing surface, and so the bottom flap rests on the playing surface and extends away from the initiator; and

orienting the playing piece relative to the bottom flap so that so that the bottom flap is interposed the playing piece and the playing surface, and so that the playing piece is adjacent the initiator.

11. An electronic card game system for use with an initiator having a primary coil capable of generating a radio-frequency signal, comprising:

a playing card having a secondary coil for receiving and retransmitting the radio-frequency signal;

a playing piece having a receiving coil, wherein the playing piece rests on top of the playing card while the primary coil is adjacent the playing card, and wherein the radio-frequency signal may be transmitted through the playing card from the initiator to the playing piece; and

a second card having a secondary coil for receiving and retransmitting the radio-frequency signal;

wherein the playing card and the second card partially overlap so that only a portion of the secondary coil of the second card and only a portion of the secondary coil of the playing card overlap;

wherein the second card and the initiator partially overlap so that at least a portion of the primary coil and at least a second portion of the secondary coil of the second card overlap; and

wherein the radio-frequency signal may be transmitted through the second card and the playing card from the initiator to the playing piece.

12. The electronic card game system according to claim 11, wherein:

the driving coil transmits a resonant field primarily on a first side of the initiator; and

the playing card folds from the first side of the initiator to a second side of the initiator.

13. The electronic card game system according to claim 11, wherein:

the driving coil transmits a resonant field primarily on a first side of the initiator;

the initiator includes a display screen on a second side of the initiator;

the playing card folds from the first side of the initiator to a second side of the initiator so that the playing card at least partially overlaps the display screen; and

the playing card is at least partially transparent or cut away so that the display screen may be viewed through the playing card as the playing piece is removed from overlapping the second portion of the secondary coil.

14. The electronic card game system according to claim 11, wherein the playing card is folded to define a Z-shape.

15. The electronic card game system according to claim 14, wherein the playing card is at least partially transparent or cut away so that the initiator may be viewed through the playing card.

16. An electronic card game system for use with an initiator having a primary coil capable of generating a radio-frequency signal, comprising:

a playing card having a secondary coil for receiving and retransmitting the radio-frequency signal;

a playing piece having a receiving coil, wherein the playing piece rests on top of the playing card while the primary coil is adjacent the playing card, and wherein the radio-frequency signal may be transmitted through the playing card from the initiator to the playing piece; and

a second card having a secondary coil for receiving and retransmitting the radio-frequency signal, wherein the second card is folded to define a Z-shape;

wherein an upper portion of the second card rests on the initiator;

wherein a lower portion of the second card rests on a playing surface;

wherein only a portion of the secondary coil of the second card and only a portion of the secondary coil of the playing card overlap; and

wherein the radio-frequency signal may be transmitted through the second card and the playing card from the initiator to the playing piece.

17. An electronic card game system for use with an initiator having a primary coil capable of generating a radio-frequency signal, comprising:

a playing card having a secondary coil for receiving and retransmitting the radio-frequency signal; and

a playing piece having a receiving coil, wherein the playing piece rests on top of the playing card while the primary coil is adjacent the playing card, and wherein the radio-frequency signal may be transmitted through the playing card from the initiator to the playing piece,

wherein;

the playing card is a Z-fold repeater coil card including a top portion that is relatively smaller than a bottom portion;

the top portion defines a top flap of a Z-Fold that rests on top of the initiator;

a middle portion of the Z-Fold card runs down a side of the initiator; and

the bottom portion extends the radio-frequency signal from the initiator to the playing piece.