Device for displaying in response to a sensed motion

• US 10,525,312 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volteon LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mirza F
• Application Number:
  US15/716,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20180015333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0602 Non-electronic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0055 the produced electric power used as a source for other equipment, e.g. for TVs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 : Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/24 : Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 : Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08
• 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: A63H 5/00 : Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/07 : Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 : Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 : in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/26 : for automatically producing a series of tones
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/395 : Acceleration sensing or accelerometer use, e.g. 3D movement computation by integration of accelerometer data, angle sensing with respect to the vertical, i.e. gravity sensing. conductor baton movement sensing G10H2220/206, angle sensing without reference to gravity G10H2220/391; player body joint angle sensing G10H2220/321
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/055 : Spint toy, i.e. specifically designed for children, e.g. adapted for smaller fingers or simplified in some way; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces with simplified control features
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 : using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 : involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 : Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 : for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group

Abstract

A device includes a signaling means and a motion sensor, and logic for activating or controlling the signaling means in response to a sensed motion according to an embedded logic. The device may be used as a toy, and may be shaped like a play ball or as a handheld unit. It may be powered from a battery, either chargeable from an AC power source directly or contactless by using induction or by converting electrical energy from harvested kinetic energy. The embedded logic may activate or control the signaling means, predictably or randomly, in response to sensed acceleration magnitude or direction, such as sensing the crossing of a preset threshold or sensing the peak value. The visual means may be a numeric display for displaying a value associated with the count of the number of times the threshold has been exceeded or the peak magnitude of the acceleration sensed.

Claims

1. A device for signaling in response to a sensed motion, the device having a single enclosure, and in the single enclosure comprising:

a two-axis accelerometer for producing an output signal responsive to the device acceleration;

a visible light emitter for emitting a visible light signaling a first status to a person;

an electric motor for affecting a physical movement;

a software and a processor for executing the software, the processor coupled to the accelerometer, to the electric motor, and to the visible light emitter, for activating or controlling the emitted light or the electric motor in response to the output signal;

a rechargeable battery connected to power the device;

a battery charger connected for contactless charging of the rechargeable battery; and

a controlled switch connected for switching DC power from the rechargeable battery to the visible light emitter or to the electric motor,

wherein the switch is controlled by the processor in response to the output signal.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a light sensor.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the light sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a photocell.

4. A device for signaling in response to a sensed motion, the device having a single enclosure, and in the single enclosure comprising:

a two-axis accelerometer for producing an output signal responsive to the device acceleration;

a visible light emitter for emitting a visible light signaling a first status to a person;

an electric motor for affecting a physical movement;

a software and a processor for executing the software, the processor coupled to the accelerometer, to the electric motor, and to the visible light emitter, for activating or controlling the emitted light or the electric motor in response to the output signal;

a rechargeable battery connected to power the device; and

a controlled switch connected for switching DC power from the rechargeable battery to the visible light emitter or to the electric motor,

wherein the emitted light or the electric motor is activated or controlled in response to a received wireless signal, and wherein the switch is controlled by the processor in response to the output signal.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is a light sensor.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the light sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a photocell.