System and method for a motion sensing device which provides a visual or audible indication

• US 9,545,542 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• 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): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/987,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 340/669, 340/691.1, 340/384.1, 340/384.3, 340/384.6, 340/384.7, 446/409, 473/571
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

an accelerometer attached to the single enclosure 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 battery charger connected for contactless charging of the rechargeable battery.

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

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the physical movement is associated with the device image, theme, or shape.

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

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the single 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.

6. The device according to claim 1, 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 1, wherein the accelerometer produces the output signal in response to an absolute acceleration or to a relative-to-freefall acceleration of the enclosure.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the output signal is responsive to the magnitude or the direction of the device acceleration, and wherein the accelerometer is a single-axis, two-axis, or a three-axis accelerometer.

9. The device according to claim 1, further operative to sense or measure the device mechanical orientation, vibration, shock, or falling, based on, or using, the output signal.

10. The device according to claim 1, 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.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, comprises, is based on, or uses, a semiconductor component, an incandescent lamp, or fluorescent lamp.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the semiconductor component consists of, or comprises, a single color Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a multi-color LED.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light emitter is operative to illuminate in multiple colors, and wherein the first status is indicated by changing between colors.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an additional visible light emitter attached to the single enclosure and coupled to the processor for emitting a visible light indicating a second status to the person.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first status is indicated by steadiness, blinking, intensity level, duty-cycle, or flashing, of the illumination of the visible light emitter.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, a numerical display for displaying one or more digits representing a number.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the numerical display comprises, consists of, or uses, seven-segments display.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, an alphanumeric display for displaying characters, numbers, letters, or symbols.

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

20. The device according to claim 19, 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.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the digital display is coupled to the processor using an interface that is according to, or based on, IEEE 1394, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Serial Digital Interface (SDI), FireWire™

, High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Unified Display Interface (UDI), or DisplayPort standard.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises a DLP display or a video projector.

23. A portable electronic device comprising the device according to claim 1.

24. The portable electronic device according to claim 23 consisting of, or comprising, 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.

25. 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 activating or controlling the emitted light or the electric motor is in response to the random number.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the random number generator is based on a physical process.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the physical process is one of a thermal noise, a shot noise, decaying nuclear radiation, a photoelectric effect, and a quantum phenomenon.

28. The device according to claim 25, wherein the random number generator is software-based, and the processor executes a pseudo-random number generator software.

29. The device according to claim 25, wherein the random numbers generated by the random number generator are substantially uniformly or Gaussianly distributed.

30. The device according to claim 1, further comprising 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.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the controlled switch is based on, comprises, or using, an electromechanical relay, a solid-state relay, or an optocouplers.

32. The device according to claim 1, further operative as a toy for an amusement of a person or a pet, wherein the single enclosure is configured, dimensioned, formed, or structured as a toy.

33. The device according to claim 1, further dimensioned and shaped as a handheld unit.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the single enclosure comprises, or shaped as, two substantially circular plates attached to both ends of a rod.

35. The device according to claim 1, wherein the single enclosure is substantially sphere shaped, and the device is operative for amusement or playing as a play ball.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the single enclosure is ball-shaped.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein the single enclosure is substantially dimensioned, shaped, and structured as cricket, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, rugby, golf, or volleyball play ball.

38. The device according to claim 36, wherein the single enclosure is cylinder, half-sphere, prolate-spheroid, football, or ovoid shaped.

39. The device according to claim 36, wherein the device is operative to be used for dribbling, kicking, catching, or throwing by a single player or multiple players, and wherein the accelerometer is configured for respectively sensing the dribbling, kicking, catching, or throwing action.

40. The device according to claim 1, wherein the single enclose is substantially cylinder, cone, pyramid, or torus shaped.

41. The device according to claim 1, wherein the single enclosure is substantially box-shaped having a rectangular, square, elongated, or oval, horizontal or vertical cross-section.

42. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the processor and having an output responsive to a physical phenomenon, and wherein the activating or the controlling of the emitted light or of the electric motor is in response to the sensor output.

43. The device according to claim 42, wherein the sensor is an electric sensor that responds to an electrical characteristics or electrical phenomenon quantity in an electrical circuit.

44. The device according to claim 43, wherein the electric sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a voltage or current sensor.

45. The device according to claim 42, wherein the sensor is a light sensor.

46. The device according to claim 45, wherein the light sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a photocell.

47. The device according to claim 42, wherein the sensor is a force sensor.

48. The device according to claim 47, wherein the force sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a pressure sensor.

49. The device according to claim 1, further operative to sense or measure the device tilt angle based on the output signal.

50. The device according to claim 49, wherein the visible light emitter or the electric motor is activated or controlled in response to the sensed or measured device tilt angle.

51. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a counter coupled to the accelerometer for counting a number of events based on the output signal.

52. The device according to claim 51, wherein events are occurrences when the magnitude of the output signal cross an acceleration threshold.

53. The device according to claim 51, wherein the visible light emitter or the electric motor is activated or controlled in response to the counted number.

54. The device according to claim 51, wherein the counter is an electromechanical counter or a mechanical counter.

55. The device according to claim 51, wherein the counter is software-based counter included in the software.

56. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a peak-detector and a storage, respectively for detecting and storing a peak value of the sensed acceleration.

57. The device according to claim 56, further operative to activate or control the visible light emitter or the electric motor in response to the peak value.

58. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a timer for measuring a time interval, wherein the visible light emitter or the electric motor is activated or controlled to indicate to the person in response to a measured time interval between two events of the sensed acceleration being above an acceleration threshold.

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

an accelerometer attached to the single enclosure 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; and

a rechargeable battery connected to power the device,

wherein the emitted light or the electric motor is activated or controlled in response to a received wireless signal.

60. The device according to claim 59, further comprising a battery charger connected for contactless charging of the rechargeable battery.

61. The device according to claim 60, wherein the received wireless signal in an induction AC power signal.

62. The device according to claim 61, wherein the contactless charging is induction-based, and wherein the battery charger comprises, or consists of, an induction coil for inductively receiving the AC power signal when in an electromagnetic field, and for charging the rechargeable battery from the received AC power signal.

63. The device according to claim 59, wherein the physical movement is associated with the device image, theme, or shape.

64. The device according to claim 59, further comprising a battery compartment mechanically secured to the single enclosure for housing the rechargeable battery.

65. The device according to claim 64, wherein the single 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.

66. The device according to claim 59, wherein the accelerometer comprises, consists of, uses, or is based on, a piezoelectric, piezoresistive, capacitive, Micro-mechanical Electrical Systems (MEMS), or electromechanical accelerometer.

67. The device according to claim 59, wherein the accelerometer produces the output signal in response to an absolute acceleration or to a relative-to-freefall acceleration of the enclosure.

68. The device according to claim 59, wherein the output signal is responsive to the magnitude or the direction of the device acceleration, and wherein the accelerometer is a single-axis, two-axis, or a three-axis accelerometer.

69. The device according to claim 59, further operative to sense or measure the device mechanical orientation, vibration, shock, or falling, based on, or using, the output signal.

70. The device according to claim 59, 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.

71. The device according to claim 59, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, comprises, is based on, or uses, a semiconductor component, an incandescent lamp, or fluorescent lamp.

72. The device according to claim 71, wherein the semiconductor component consists of, or comprises, a single color Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a multi-color LED.

73. The device according to claim 59, wherein the visible light emitter is operative to illuminate in multiple colors, and wherein the first status is indicated by changing between colors.

74. The device according to claim 59, further comprising an additional visible light emitter attached to the single enclosure and coupled to the processor for emitting a visible light indicating a second status to the person.

75. The device according to claim 59, wherein the first status is indicated by steadiness, blinking, intensity level, duty-cycle, or flashing, of the illumination of the visible light emitter.

76. The device according to claim 59, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, a numerical display for displaying one or more digits representing a number.

77. The device according to claim 76, wherein the numerical display comprises, consists of, or uses, seven-segments display.

78. The device according to claim 59, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, an alphanumeric display for displaying characters, numbers, letters, or symbols.

79. The device according to claim 59, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises, a flat-panel digital display for displaying graphical or text information.

80. The device according to claim 79, 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.

81. The device according to claim 80, wherein the digital display is coupled to the processor using an interface that is according to, or based on, IEEE 1394, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Serial Digital Interface (SDI), FireWire™

, High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Unified Display Interface (UDI), or DisplayPort standard.

82. The device according to claim 59, wherein the visible light emitter consists of, or comprises a DLP display or a video projector.

83. A portable electronic device comprising the device according to claim 59.

84. The portable electronic device according to claim 83 consisting of, or comprising, 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.

85. The device according to claim 59, further comprising a random number generator coupled to the processor and operative to output a random number, wherein the activating or controlling the emitted light or the electric motor is in response to the random number.

86. The device according to claim 85, wherein the random number generator is based on a physical process.

87. The device according to claim 86, wherein the physical process is one of a thermal noise, a shot noise, decaying nuclear radiation, a photoelectric effect, and a quantum phenomenon.

88. The device according to claim 85, wherein the random number generator is software-based, and the processor executes a pseudo-random number generator software.

89. The device according to claim 85, wherein the random numbers generated by the random number generator are substantially uniformly or Gaussianly distributed.

90. The device according to claim 59, further comprising 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.

91. The device according to claim 90, wherein the controlled switch is based on, comprises, or using, an electromechanical relay, a solid-state relay, or an optocouplers.

92. The device according to claim 59, further operative as a toy for an amusement of a person or a pet, wherein the single enclosure is configured, dimensioned, formed, or structured as a toy.

93. The device according to claim 59, further dimensioned and shaped as a handheld unit.

94. The device according to claim 93, wherein the single enclosure comprises, or shaped as, two substantially circular plates attached to both ends of a rod.

95. The device according to claim 59, wherein the single enclosure is substantially sphere shaped, and the device is operative for amusement or playing as a play ball.

96. The device according to claim 95, wherein the single enclosure is ball-shaped.

97. The device according to claim 96, wherein the single enclosure is substantially dimensioned, shaped, and structured as cricket, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, rugby, golf, or volleyball play ball.

98. The device according to claim 96, wherein the single enclosure is cylinder, half-sphere, prolate-spheroid, football, or ovoid shaped.

99. The device according to claim 96, wherein the device is operative to be used for dribbling, kicking, catching, or throwing by a single player or multiple players, and wherein the accelerometer is configured for respectively sensing the dribbling, kicking, catching, or throwing action.

100. The device according to claim 59, wherein the single enclose is substantially cylinder, cone, pyramid, or torus shaped.

101. The device according to claim 59, wherein the single enclosure is substantially box-shaped having a rectangular, square, elongated, or oval, horizontal or vertical cross-section.

102. The device according to claim 59, further comprising a sensor coupled to the processor and having an output responsive to a physical phenomenon, and wherein the activating or the controlling of the emitted light or of the electric motor is in response to the sensor output.

103. The device according to claim 102, wherein the sensor is an electric sensor that responds to an electrical characteristics or electrical phenomenon quantity in an electrical circuit.

104. The device according to claim 103, wherein the electric sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a voltage or current sensor.

105. The device according to claim 102, wherein the sensor is a light sensor.

106. The device according to claim 105, wherein the light sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a photocell.

107. The device according to claim 102, wherein the sensor is a force sensor.

108. The device according to claim 107, wherein the force sensor consists of, comprises, or is based on, a pressure sensor.

109. The device according to claim 59, further operative to sense or measure the device tilt angle based on the output signal.

110. The device according to claim 109, wherein the visible light emitter or the electric motor is activated or controlled in response to the sensed or measured device tilt angle.

111. The device according to claim 59, further comprising a counter coupled to the accelerometer for counting a number of events based on the output signal.

112. The device according to claim 111, wherein events are occurrences when the magnitude of the output signal cross an acceleration threshold.

113. The device according to claim 111, wherein the visible light emitter or the electric motor is activated or controlled in response to the counted number.

114. The device according to claim 111, wherein the counter is an electromechanical counter or a mechanical counter.

115. The device according to claim 111, wherein the counter is software-based counter included in the software.

116. The device according to claim 59, further comprising a peak-detector and a storage, respectively for detecting and storing a peak value of the sensed acceleration.

117. The device according to claim 116, further operative to activate or control the visible light emitter or the electric motor in response to the peak value.

118. The device according to claim 59, further comprising a timer for measuring a time interval, wherein the visible light emitter or the electric motor is activated or controlled to indicate to the person in response to a measured time interval between two events of the sensed acceleration being above an acceleration threshold.