Level/position sensor and related electronic circuitry for interactive toy

• US 6,909,374 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Sui Lun Fong
• Original Assignee: Peter Sui Lun Fong
• Inventors: Fong, Peter Sui Lun
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/179,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/689, 340/687, 340/690, 200/61.52, 200/244, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 345/158, 333/662.4, 333/661.1, 735/140.2, 735/040.2, 736/52, 735/150.2, 735/153.7, 735/151.6, 735/152.1, 463/37, 446/234
• US Class Current: 340/689
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/49 with provisions for connecting to a part of the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/025 the switch being discriminative in different directions

Abstract

A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device. The sensor comprises a base member having at least one recess formed therein which is partially defined by a peripheral wall thereof. Disposed within the peripheral wall of the base member is at least one switch. Also disposed within the recess is a trigger ball which is freely movable about the peripheral wall of the base member. The sensor is operative to generate at least two different states corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a reference plane. The movement of the sensor relative to the reference plane facilitates the movement of the trigger ball within the recess, with one state being generated when the trigger ball is in contact with the switch and another state being generated when the trigger ball is not in contact with the switch.

Claims

1. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device, the sensor comprising:

a base member defining first and second axes which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other and having at least two circularly configured recesses formed therein, each of the recesses being partially defined by a respective peripheral wall of the base member, with each of the first and second axes extending axially through a respective one of the recesses;

at least two switches disposed within the peripheral wall of each of the recesses in spaced relation to each other; and

at least one trigger ball disposed within each of the recesses and freely moveable about the peripheral wall thereof;

the sensor being operative to generate different states corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a reference plane, with a low state being generated when the trigger balls are not in contact with any of the switches and at least four different high states being generated corresponding to contact between the trigger balls and respective ones of the switches.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein:

the base member comprises two separate base member sections which define respective ones of the first and second axes; and

the recesses are formed within respective ones of the base member sections, with the first and second axes extending axially through respective ones of the recesses;

the base member sections being attachable to a device such that the first and second axes extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other.

3. The sensor of claim 1 further in combination with programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and is operative to translate at least some of the states generated by the sensor into respective effects.

4. The sensor of claim 3 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to compare at least two successive states generated by the sensor to each other.

5. The sensor of claim 4 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon successive states of a prescribed sequence being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

6. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device, the sensor comprising:

a base member defining first, second and third axes which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other and having at least three circularly configured recesses formed therein, each of the recesses being partially defined by a respective peripheral wall of the base member, with each of the first, second and third axes extending axially through a respective one of the recesses;

at least two switches disposed within the peripheral wall of each of the recesses in spaced relation to each other; and

at least one trigger ball disposed within each of the recesses and freely moveable about the peripheral wall thereof;

the sensor being operative to generate different states corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a reference plane, with a low state being generated when the trigger balls are not in contact with any of the switches and at least eight different high states being generated corresponding to contact between the trigger balls and respective ones of the switches.

7. The sensor of claim 6 wherein:

the base member comprises three separate base member sections which define respective ones of the first, second and third axes; and

the recesses are formed within respective ones of the base member sections, with the first, second and third axes extending axially through respective ones of the recesses;

the base member sections being attachable to a device such that the first, second and third axes extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other.

8. The sensor of claim 6 further in combination with programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and is operative to translate at least some of the states generated by the sensor into respective effects.

9. The sensor of claim 8 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to compare at least two successive states generated by the sensor to each other.

10. The sensor of claim 9 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon successive states of a prescribed sequence being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

11. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device, the sensor comprising:

a base member defining first and second axes which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other and having at least two circularly configured recesses formed therein, each of the recesses being partially defined by a respective peripheral wall of the base member, with each of the first and second axes extending axially through a respective one of the recesses;

at least two switches disposed within the peripheral wall of each of the recesses in spaced relation to each other; and

a trigger mechanism disposed within each of the recesses and freely moveable about the peripheral wall thereof;

the, sensor being operative to generate different states corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a reference plane, with a low state being generated when the trigger mechanisms are not in contact with any of the switches and at least nine different high states being generated corresponding to contact between the trigger mechanisms and at least one of the switches.

12. The sensor of claim 11 wherein:

the base member comprises two separate base member sections which define respective ones of the first and second axes; and

the recesses are formed within respective ones of the base member sections, with the first and second axes extending axially through respective ones of the recesses;

the base member sections being attachable to a device such that the first and second axes extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other.

13. The sensor of claim 11 further in combination with programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and is operative to translate at least some of the states generated by the sensor into respective effects.

14. The sensor of claim 13 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to compare at least two successive states generated by the sensor to each other.

15. The sensor of claim 14 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon successive states of a prescribed sequence being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

16. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device, the sensor comprising:

a base member defining first, second and third axes which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other and having at least three circularly configured recesses formed therein, each of the recesses being partially defined by a respective peripheral wall of the base member, with each of the first, second and third axes extending axially through a respective one of the recesses;

at least two switches disposed within the peripheral wall of each of the recesses in spaced relation to each other; and

a trigger mechanism disposed within each of the recesses and freely moveable about the peripheral wall thereof;

the sensor being operative to generate different states corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a reference plane, with a low state being generated when the trigger mechanisms are not in contact with any of the switches and at least twenty-seven different high states being generated corresponding to contact between the trigger mechanisms and at least one of the switches.

17. The sensor of claim 16 wherein:

the base member comprises three separate base member sections which define respective ones of the first, second and third axes; and

the recesses are formed within respective ones of the base member sections, with the first, second and third axes extending axially through respective ones of the recesses;

the base member sections being attachable to a device such that the first, second and third axes extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other.

18. The sensor of claim 16 further in combination with programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and is operative to translate at least some of the states generated by the sensor into respective effects.

19. The sensor of claim 18 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to compare at least two successive states generated by the sensor to each other.

20. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon successive states of a prescribed sequence being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

21. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device, the sensor comprising:

a base mount defining at least first and second faces which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other;

at least two switches attached to each of the first and second faces in spaced relation to each other; and

a sensor arm rotatably connected to each of the first and second faces, each of the sensor arms including a magnet which produces a magnetic field, the switches being oriented relative to the sensor arms such that the switches may be exposed to the magnetic field of a respective one of the magnets upon the rotation of a respective one of the sensor arms;

the sensor being operative to generate different states corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a reference plane, with a low state being generated when none of the switches are exposed to the magnetic field of the magnet of any one of the sensor arms and at least four different high states being generated corresponding to the exposure of respective ones of the switches to the magnetic field of the magnet of a respective one of the sensor arms.

22. The sensor of claim 21 further in combination with programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and is operative to translate at least some of the states generated by the sensor into respective effects.

23. The sensor of claim 22 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to compare at least two successive states generated by the sensor to each other.

24. The sensor of claim 23 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon successive states of a prescribed sequence being transmitted thereto from the sensor.

25. A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device, the sensor composing:

a base mount defining first, second and third faces which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other;

at least two switches attached to each of the first, second and third faces in spaced relation to each other; and

a sensor arm rotatably connected to each of the first, second and third faces, each of the sensor arms including a magnet which produces a magnetic field, the switches being oriented relative to the sensor arms such that the switches may be exposed to the magnetic field of a respective one of the magnets upon the rotation of a respective one of the sensor arms;

the sensor being operative to generate different states corresponding to respective positions of the sensor relative to a reference plane, with a low state being generated when none of the switches are exposed to the magnetic field of the magnet of any one of the sensor arms and at least eight different high states being generated corresponding to the exposure of respective ones of the switches to the magnetic field of the magnet of a respective one of the sensor arms.

26. The sensor of claim 25 further in combination with programmable electronic circuitry which is in electrical communication with the sensor and is operative to translate at least some of the states generated by the sensor into respective effects.

27. The sensor of claim 26 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to compare at least two successive states generated by the sensor to each other.

28. The sensor of claim 27 wherein the electronic circuitry is further programmed to produce a selected effect upon successive states of a prescribed sequence being transmitted thereto from the sensor.