Device for Displaying in Response to a Sensed Motion

• US 20180272196A1
• Filed: 05/30/2018
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volteon LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Inventors: BINDER, Yehuda
• Granted Patent: US 11,260,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 displaying in response to a sensed motion, the device comprising:

a motion sensor for sensing a position, orientation, or motion;

a display for visually displaying information to a person;

a software and a processor for executing the software, the processor coupled to the motion sensor and to the display for displaying information in response to the sensed position, orientation, or motion by the motion sensor;

a rechargeable battery connected to power the device;

an electric actuator for affecting a physical movement connected to be powered by the rechargeable battery;

an induction-based battery charger connected for contactless charging of the rechargeable battery; and

an enclosure dimensioned and shaped as a handheld unit housing the motion sensor, the processor, the rechargeable battery, the electric actuator, and the battery charger.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the contactless charging is induction-based, and wherein the battery charger comprises an induction coil for inductively receiving AC power when in an electromagnetic field for charging the rechargeable battery from the received AC power.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a battery compartment mechanically secured to the enclosure for housing the rechargeable battery.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the enclosure further comprising a securely removable cover for covering the battery compartment, so that when the cover is removed the battery compartment is accessible for replacing the rechargeable battery.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises, or consists of, an accelerometer attached to the enclosure.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the accelerometer comprises, consists of, uses, or is based on, a piezoelectric, piezoresistive, capacitive, Micro-mechanical Electrical Systems (MEMS), or electromechanical accelerometer.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the accelerometer is responsive to an absolute acceleration or to a relative-to-freefall acceleration of the enclosure.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the accelerometer is responsive to a magnitude or a direction of the device acceleration.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the accelerometer is a single-axis or two-axis accelerometer.

10. The device according to claim 5, wherein the accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the accelerometer comprises, consists of, uses, or is based on three distinct accelerometers each responsive to an absolute acceleration or to a relative-to-freefall acceleration in a distinct direction.

12. The device according to claim 5, wherein the accelerometer comprises, consists of, uses, or is based on, a piezoelectric accelerometer that utilizes a piezoelectric effect and comprises, consists of, uses, or is based on, piezoceramics or a single crystal or quartz.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising in the enclosure a visible light emitter coupled to be controlled by the processor for emitting a visible light signaling a status to a person.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the LED is a multi-color LED.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the LED is operative to illuminate in multiple colors, and wherein the status is indicated by a color or by changing between colors.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the status is indicated by steadiness, blinking, intensity level, duty-cycle, or flashing, of an illumination of the LED.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, a numerical display for displaying one or more digits representing a number.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the numerical display comprises, consists of, or uses, seven-segments display.

20. The device according to claim 13, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, an alphanumeric display for displaying characters, numbers, letters, or symbols.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the alphanumeric display is operative to display scrolling, static, or flashing words or characters.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display consists of, or comprises, a flat-panel digital display for displaying graphical or text information.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the digital display is based on, comprises, or uses, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Thin-Film Transistor (TFT), or a Field Emission Display (FED) display.

24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display consists of, or comprises a DLP display or a video projector.

25. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handheld enclosure further houses the display.

26. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is coupled to the display over a digital network.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the digital network comprises, consists of, or is based on, a Personal Area Network (PAN).

28. The device according to claim 26, wherein the digital network comprises, consists of, or is based on, a Local Area Network (LAN).

29. The device according to claim 26, wherein the digital network uses, or is based on, a wired medium.

30. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an audible signaling component coupled to be controlled by the processor for emitting an audible sound indicating a status to the person.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the audible signaling component consists of, comprises, or uses an electro-mechanical, an electro-acoustical transducer, or a piezoelectric sounder.

32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the audible signaling component consists of, comprises, or uses a loudspeaker, and the device further comprising a memory storing the audible sound in a digital form, and a digital to analog converter coupled between the memory and the loudspeaker for sounding by the loudspeaker the stored audible sound.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the stored audible sound is based on, comprises, or consists of, a speech synthesis or a recorded human voice.

34. The device according to claim 32, wherein the audible signaling component consists of, comprises, or uses a buzzer, a chime, a whistler, or a ringer.

35. The device according to claim 32, wherein the emitted audible sound is based on, comprises, or consists of, a single tone, multiple tones, a melody, or a music.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the music is based on, comprises, or consists of, a sound of a conventional acoustic musical instrument.

37. The device according to claim 32, wherein the emitted audible sound is based on, comprises, or consists of, a song or a human voice that is synthesized or recorded.

38. The device according to claim 30, wherein the hand-held enclosure further houses the audible signaling component.

39. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display is part of, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a media player, a cellular telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a video recorder, or any combination thereof.

40. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a random number generator coupled to the processor and operative to output a random number, wherein the information is displayed in response to the random number.

41. The device according to claim 40, wherein the random number generator is a hardware-only based generator.

42. The device according to claim 40, wherein the random number generator is based on a physical process.

43. The device according to claim 42, wherein the physical process is one of a thermal noise, a shot noise, decaying nuclear radiation, a photoelectric effect, and a quantum phenomenon.

44. The device according to claim 40, wherein the random number generator is software-based, and the processor executes a random number generator software.

45. The device according to claim 44, wherein the random number generator software includes an algorithm for generating pseudo-random numbers.

46. The device according to claim 1, further operative as a toy or game for an amusement of a person or a pet.

47. The device according to claim 46, wherein the enclosure is configured, dimensioned, formed, or structured as a toy or game.

48. The device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is ball-shaped, or wherein the enclosure cross section is round or oval shaped.

49. The device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is substantially shaped as a cylinder, half-sphere, prolate-spheroid, football, or ovoid.

50. The device according to claim 1, further comprising in the enclosure a second sensor coupled to the processor and having an output responsive to a physical phenomenon.

51. The device according to claim 50, wherein information is displayed by the display in response to the sensed physical phenomenon by the second sensor.

52. The device according to claim 50, wherein the second sensor is an electric sensor that responds to an electrical characteristics or electrical phenomenon quantity in an electrical circuit.

53. The device according to claim 52, wherein the electric sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a voltage or current sensor.

54. The device according to claim 50, wherein the sensor is a light sensor.

55. The device according to claim 54, wherein the light sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a photocell.

56. The device according to claim 50, wherein the sensor is a force sensor.

57. The device according to claim 56, wherein the force sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a pressure sensor.

58. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a motor or a fan.

59. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a counter coupled to the processor for counting a number of events, and wherein the device is operative to display information is response to the counted events.

60. The device according to claim 1, further comprising in the enclosure a timer for measuring a time interval.

61. The device according to claim 60, wherein the information displayed is responsive to the measured time interval.