WIRELESS INTERACTIVE TOY CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT WITH COILS

Abstract

A wireless interactive toy construction element (10) for a modular toy construction system (1), wherein the toy construction element (10) comprises - a box-shaped housing (20) comprising an enclosure (29), surrounded by six walls (30) where three sets of two parallel walls (30) are arranged orthogonally relative to each other and where one set of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30) has a smaller outer surface area than the other sets of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30); and - a set of electromagnetic coils (80), each electromagnetic coil (80) defining a coil axis; wherein the electromagnetic coils (80) are wound on a frame element (50), which frame element (50) with electromagnetic coils (20) is configured to fit into the enclosure (29) of the box-shaped housing (20), and wherein the electromagnetic coils are arranged on the frame element (50) such that, when the frame element is arranged in the housing (20), - a first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y2, 80YA, 80YB) is arranged in a plane parallel to a first wall (30) of the housing (20), - a second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) is arranged in a plane parallel to second walls (30) of the housing (20), which second wall is orthogonal to the first wall (30), and - where the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to a larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32).

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates in an aspect to a wireless interactive toy construction element that comprises one or more electromagnetic coils for measuring e.g. a magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil of another electronic device, such as another wireless interactive toy construction element. The wireless interactive toy construction element may further comprises a processing unit for computing a position and / or orientation of the electronic device relative to said other electronic device.Background of the invention

[0002] Systems of electronic devices are used for a variety of applications, in particular as modular, wireless interactive toys, which may also be called wireless interactive toy construction elements.

[0003] In many situations, e.g. in the context of providing interactive play involving multiple toy elements, it is desirable to provide the electronic devices with the capability to determine their position and / or orientations relative to each other.

[0004] In this context it is generally desirable to avoid the need for additional devices, such as cameras, base stations and / or the like, because such devices may affect the play value, may complicate the user interaction with the devices and / or increase the complexity or manufacturing cost of the system.

[0005] WO 2020 / 156719 discloses a modular toy construction system that comprises a plurality of separate electronic toy modules. Each electronic toy module comprises a function device operable to perform a user-perceptible function and a control circuit for controlling the function device. At least a first electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules comprises a first control circuit, a first function device and a sensor system configured for contactless detection of respective coordinate values of at least two coordinates, each coordinate being indicative of a position or an orientation of at least a second electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules relative to the first electronic toy module. The first control circuit is configured to control operation of the first function device based on one or more of the detected coordinate values.

[0006] In the context of an interactive toy system, children or other users of the toy system may arrange, and repeatedly rearrange, multiple wireless interactive toy modules relative to one another, including in configurations not originally foreseen. For example, when the wireless interactive toys are wireless interactive toy construction elements, a child or other user may construct a variety of different toy construction models, which may include multiple wireless interactive toy construction elements. Moreover, the user may move the wireless interactive toy construction elements relative to one another in abrupt and often unforeseeable ways. It is therefore beneficial, when an interactive toy system can seamlessly, and without need for complicated user configuration, cope with a large variety of situations while ensuring proper functioning of the toy system. In particular, a position and / or orientation estimation performed by the wireless interactive toy construction elements should be performed reliably and efficiently.

[0007] Electromagnetic position and / or orientation detection offers a practical and cost-effective mechanism for such position and / or orientation determination, which has the potential of providing a large working range without requiring line of sight between the electronic devices.

[0008] An example of such a mechanism is disclosed in W. Kim, J. Song and F. C. Park, "Closed-Form Position and Orientation Estimation for a Three-Axis Electromagnetic Tracking System," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 65, no. 5, pp. 4331-4337, May 2018, doi: 10.1109 / TIE.2017.2760244.

[0009] However, prior art mechanisms for electromagnetic position and / or orientation detection suffer from an inherent ambiguity of the detected position and / or orientations.

[0010] The existence of such ambiguity may cause confusion for the user. For example, in the context of a wireless interactive toy construction elements, when the user manipulates and moves about two or more toy modules, the user normally expects the toy construction elements or "toy construction modules" to react in a predictable manner that is consistent with the movements of the toy modules relative to each other, e.g. whether two toys face each other or face away from each other. Ambiguous position and / or orientation estimation may result in inconsistent reactions and, hence, a confusing and unsatisfactory user experience.

[0011] Therefore, it is desirable that the position and / or orientation detection provided in the most efficient way.

[0012] Therefore, it is desirable that the electromagnetic coils of the wireless interactive toy construction elements are arranged in the wireless interactive toy construction element in such a way that they may detect signals from other wireless interactive toy construction elements in the most efficient way, and preferably from all directions.

[0013] It is generally desirable to provide an electronic device and a system of electronic devices, in particular interactive wireless toys that are robust and operate reliably.

[0014] It is further desirable to provide a system of wireless interactive toy construction elements that can easily be operated by a user, in particular a child, with little or no need for user configuration.

[0015] It is further desirable to provide a wireless interactive toy construction element and a system of wireless interactive toy construction elements that can be manufactured at low cost.

[0016] It is further desirable to provide a wireless interactive toy construction element that has a small form factor, e.g. small enough to be easily grasped and held by a small child's hand.

[0017] On this background, despite previous efforts, it remains desirable to provide a wireless interactive toy construction element and a system of such wireless interactive toy construction elements that solve one or more of the above problems and / or other problems, and / or that have other benefits, or that at least provide an alternative to existing solutions.Summary of the invention

[0018] In a first aspect, the objects of the invention are achieved by a wireless interactive toy construction element for a modular toy construction system, wherein the toy construction element comprises a box-shaped housing comprising an enclosure, surrounded by six walls where three sets of two parallel walls are arranged orthogonally relative to each other and where one set of parallelly arranged sidewalls has a smaller outer surface area than the other sets of parallelly arranged sidewalls; and a set of electromagnetic coils 80, each electromagnetic coil defining a coil axis; wherein the electromagnetic coils are wound on a frame element, which frame element with electromagnetic coils is configured to fit into the enclosure of the box-shaped housing, and wherein the electromagnetic coils are arranged on the frame element such that, when the frame element is arranged in the housing, a first electromagnetic coil is arranged in a plane parallel to a first wall of the housing, a second electromagnetic coil is arranged in a plane parallel to second walls of the housing, which second wall is orthogonal to the first wall, and where the first electromagnetic coil, which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls is wound on the frame element distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil, and intersecting without touching, the second electromagnetic coil arranged in parallel to a larger surface area wall

[0019] By locating the largest area coil at the smallest area wall, it is achieved that good reception of electromagnetic signals may be obtained also at the smallest area surfaces of a wireless interactive toy construction element, Further it is achieved that the coils may be packed in the housing of the wireless interactive toy construction element to obtain the smallest possible volume of the electromagnetic coils, without compromising signal reception.

[0020] The electromagnetic coils may be configured to perform one or several functions. Examples of such functions include wireless charging and / or magnetic sensing operations. Examples of magnetic sensing operations include the reading of wireless tags, such as RFID tags, and magnetic pose sensing operations. In the context of magnetic pose sensing, one or more of the electromagnetic coils may be used to generated a magnetic field and / or to measure a magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil of another toy construction element. In some embodiments, all of the electromagnetic coils may be configured to perform the same function(s). In other embodiments, at least one function may be performed only by one, or only by a subset, of the coils but not by all coils. For example, in some embodiments, all coils may be used to perform magnetic pose sensing but only one, or only a subset, of the coils is used for wireless charging. In some embodiments, the set of electromagnetic coils is configured at least for measuring one or more magnetic fields generated by one or more electromagnetic coils of another toy construction element of the modular toy construction system

[0021] In an embodiment, the first electromagnetic coil comprise two coil segments each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0022] In an embodiment, the second electromagnetic coil comprise two coil segments each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the two coil segments of the first electromagnetic coil and / or the two coil segments of the second electromagnetic coil are electronically connected in series with each other.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the housing comprises a set of parallel walls, which has an intermediate surface area, which is in between the smallest surface area and a largest surface area, wherein the electromagnetic coils are further arranged on the frame element such that, when the frame element is arranged in the housing, a third electromagnetic coil is arranged in a plane parallel to a third wall of the housing, and orthogonally to the first and second walls, where the third electromagnetic coil, which is arranged parallel to the intermediate area walls is wound on the frame element distally with respect to the coil axis of the third electromagnetic coil, and intersecting without touching, the electromagnetic coil arranged in parallel to the larger surface area wall, and where the first electromagnetic coil, which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls is wound on the frame element distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil, and intersecting without touching, the third electromagnetic coil arranged in parallel to the intermediate surface area wall.

[0025] In an embodiment thereof, the third electromagnetic coil comprise two coil segments, each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0026] In a further embodiment thereof, the two coil segment of the third electromagnetic coil are electronically connected in series with each other.

[0027] In a further embodiment, each of the electromagnetic coils defines an outer surface of the frame element.

[0028] In a further embodiment, when the frame element is arranged in the housing, each one of the electromagnetic coils are arranged adjacent to a wall of the housing.

[0029] In a further embodiment, a PCB is arranged in the frame element.

[0030] In a further embodiment, the coils are electronically connected to the PCB.

[0031] In a further embodiment thereof, the PCB comprises a flat body part having a sidewall surrounding the flat body, and wherein the coils are electronically connected to the PCB via electronic contacts formed along the side wall of the PCB.

[0032] In a further embodiment, the wireless interactive toy construction element comprises a processing unit arranged on said PCB. The processing unit may be configured to process signals measured by the electromagnetic coils and / or to control the electromagnetic coils to generate a magnetic field. In some embodiments, the processing unit may be configured for computing a position and / or orientation of the electronic device relative to said other electronic device based on a signal from said electromagnetic coils.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the wireless interactive toy construction element may comprise modular coupling means provided at a surface of the housing.

[0034] The objects of the invention may further be achieved, in a second aspect, by a modular toy construction system comprising a plurality of toy construction elements having mutually cooperating modular coupling means, whereof at least two toy construction elements are wireless interactive toy construction element according to any one of the embodiments described in connection with the first aspect of the invention, above.

[0035] In a third aspect, the objects of the invention may be obtained by a method of manufacturing a wireless interactive toy construction element for a modular toy construction system, wherein the toy construction element comprises a box-shaped housing comprising an enclosure, surrounded by six walls where three sets of two parallel walls are arranged orthogonally relative to each other and where one set of parallelly arranged sidewalls has a smaller outer surface area than the other sets of parallelly arranged sidewalls; a set of electromagnetic coils, each electromagnetic coil defining a coil axis; and a frame element configured for carrying at least the set of electromagnetic coils, which frame element with electromagnetic coils is configured to fit into the enclosure of the box-shaped housing, wherein the method comprises the steps of winding each electromagnetic coil on the frame element, and subsequently inserting the frame element into the enclosure of the housing through an opening formed in a portion thereof, and closing the opening, wherein the step of winding the electromagnetic coils on the frame element comprises first winding a second electromagnetic coil on the frame element in a plane configured for being parallel to a second wall of the housing, when the frame element has been inserted into the housing, secondly winding a first electromagnetic coil orthogonally to the second electromagnetic coil on the frame element in a plane configured for being parallel to a first wall of the housing, when the frame element has been inserted into the housing, which first wall has a smaller surface area than the second wall.

[0036] The electromagnetic coils may be configured to perform one or several functions. Examples of such functions include wireless charging and / or magnetic sensing operations. Examples of magnetic sensing operations include the reading of wireless tags, such as RFID tags, and magnetic pose sensing operations. In the context of magnetic pose sensing, one or more of the electromagnetic coils may be used to generated a magnetic field and / or to measure a magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil of another toy construction element. In some embodiments, all of the electromagnetic coils may be configured to perform the same function(s). In other embodiments, at least one function may be performed only by one, or only by a subset, of the coils but not by all coils. For example, in some embodiments, all coils may be used to perform magnetic pose sensing but only one, or only a subset, of the coils is used for wireless charging. In some embodiments, the set of electromagnetic coils is configured at least for measuring one or more magnetic fields generated by one or more electromagnetic coils of another toy construction element of the modular toy construction system

[0037] In an embodiment, the first electromagnetic coil, which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls, is wound on the frame element distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil, and intersecting without touching, the second electromagnetic coil arranged in parallel to a larger surface area wall.

[0038] In a further embodiment, the step of winding the first electromagnetic coil on the frame element comprises winding two coil segments each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0039] In a further embodiment, the step of winding the second electromagnetic coil on the frame element comprises winding two coil segments each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0040] In a further embodiment, wherein the housing comprises a set of parallel walls, which has an intermediate surface area, which is in between the smallest surface area and a largest surface area, the step of winding electromagnetic coils further comprises between the step of winding the second electromagnetic coil and the first electromagnetic coil 80, winding a third electromagnetic coil on the frame element orthogonally to the first and second electromagnetic coils and in parallel to a third wall, which has the intermediate surface area.

[0041] In a further embodiment, the third electromagnetic coil, which is arranged parallel to the intermediate area walls is wound on the frame element distally with respect to the coil axis of the third electromagnetic coil, and intersecting without touching, the electromagnetic coil arranged in parallel to the larger surface area wall, and where the first electromagnetic coil which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls is wound on the frame element distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil and intersecting without touching, the third electromagnetic coil arranged in parallel to the intermediate surface area wall.

[0042] In a further embodiment, the step of winding the third electromagnetic coilcomprise winding two coil segments on the frame element, each coil segment being arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0043] In a further embodiment, each of the electromagnetic coils wound on the frame element are formed such that they define an outer surface of the frame element.

[0044] In a further embodiment, each coil is formed on the frame element such that, when the frame element is arranged in the housing, each one of the electromagnetic coils are arranged adjacent to a wall of the housing.

[0045] In a further embodiment, prior to winding any of the coils, a PCB is mounted on the frame element.

[0046] In a further embodiment, the method comprises electronically connecting each electromagnetic coil to the PCB upon winding the electromagnetic coil on the frame element.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the PCB comprises a flat body part having a sidewall surrounding the flat body, and wherein the coils are electronically connected to the PCB via electronic contacts formed along the sidewall of the PCB.

[0048] It should be emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising / comprised of" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.Brief description of the drawings

[0049] In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to embodiments shown by the enclosed figures. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are used for example purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention. Fig. 1A, in a perspective view, illustrates a two prior art toy construction elements of a modular toy construction system, where the two toy construction elements connected / coupled to each other, Fig. 1C, in a bottom view, shows a prior art toy construction element of Fig. 1A from below; Fig. 1C, in a partly sectional view, shows the two toy construction elements of Fig.1A, in a situation where the two toy construction elements are in the process of being coupled to each other or being disconnected from each other, Fig. 2 shows an example of an electronic device in the form of a wireless interactive toy construction element; Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an example of an electronic device formed as a wireless interactive toy construction element; Fig. 4 illustrates two wireless interactive toy construction elements; Fig. 5, in a perspective view, shows a toy construction element according to the invention, in an assembled situation; Fig. 6, in an exploded perspective view, shows possible components of the toy construction element of Fig. 4, the components comprising a frame element and a set of coils; Fig. 7, in an exploded perspective view, shows a frame element for a toy construction element as shown in Figs. 4-5, and components attachable to the frame element, the components comprising a PCB, a battery and six coils; and Fig. 8, in a perspective view, shows a portion of a frame element as in Fig. 7, wherein coils are attached to the frame element. Detailed description of the embodiments

[0050] Various aspects and embodiments of an interactive toy system comprising a plurality of interactive wireless toys will now be described with reference to toy construction elements in the form of bricks. In this particular and corresponding embodiments, the electronic devices are each formed as a respective wireless interactive toy construction element, which each has a housing that is generally shaped as an orthogonal polyhedron with flat side faces and having coupling members extending from its up-per surface and a cavity extending into its bottom surfaces. However other shapes and sizes of wireless interactive toy construction elements may be used, e.g. box-shaped or tile-shaped toy construction elements of different dimensions and with different numbers of coupling members. Moreover, while the brick-shape has proven to be particularly useful, the various aspects disclosed herein may be applied to other forms of electronic devices, including other forms of toy construction elements for use in play applications educational applications, and / or the like.

[0051] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a new toy construction element, a wireless interactive toy construction element 10, for a modular toy construction system 1, for example a prior art modular toy construction system 1 as illustrated in Figs. 1A-C.

[0052] Figs. 1A-C shows an example of prior art construction elements or toy construction elements of a modular construction system 1. Such toy construction elements of a modular construction system 10 are often formed in polymer material such as plastic, and typically in an injection moulding process.

[0053] Figs. 1A and 1C show two essentially identical toy construction elements 2A, 2B in the shape of building blocks. Each of these toy construction elements 2A, 2B comprises a body part 3 with a top face 4 on which eight connectors 900 are configured. The cylindrical connectors 900 could also be called coupling studs or coupling knobs, or simply knobs 901. The cylindrical connectors 900 are formed on the construction elements 2A, 2B in a regular two dimensional lattice or grid, in this case a 2×4 grid. The cylindrical connectors 900 comprises a body 905 having an outer cylindrical surface 910.

[0054] The body part 3 of the construction elements 2A, 2B comprises sidewalls 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are configured with a lowermost edge 7 that forms a resting surface for the construction elements 2A, 2B.

[0055] Toy construction elements 2A, 2B of the type shown in Fig. 1 further comprises a set of cylinders 911 extending downward from a lower surface 912 of a top wall 5 connecting the sidewalls 6A-D of the construction element 2A, 2B. Between inner surfaces 916 of the sidewalls 6A-D and outer surfaces 915 of the one or more cylinder 911, knob receiving openings 902 are formed.

[0056] The knobs 901 and the knob receiving openings 902 are configured for cooperating to releasably attach to each other, in a pressure / interference fit

[0057] Construction elements 2A, 2B of the type shown in Fig. 1 are connected to each other in an interference fit (pressure fit) by the sidewalls 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D on the uppermost construction element 2A being pressed outwards, when the sidewalls 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are pressed down on the coupling studs 901 on the lowermost construction element 2B, following which, the sidewalls 6A-D press against the coupling studs 901 on the lowermost construction element 2B and on an outer surface 914 of the cylinders 911.

[0058] Elongate ribs 917 may as shown, extend outward from an inner surface 916 of the sidewalls 6A-D and being formed from the lower surface 912 of the wall 913 all the way to the lower edge 7. The elongate ribs may constitute the contact between the knob 901 and the sidewalls 6A-D. In Fig. 1B, showing a toy construction element 2A, 2B from below, knobs 901 of a second coupled toy construction element is illustrated in dashed line. Each of the knobs 901 of a 2x4 toy construction element 2A, 2B is inserted into individual knob receiving openings 902 of the shown toy construction element 2A, 2B.

[0059] Fig 1 C shows two toy construction elements 2A and 2B as described above, where the two toy construction element are in the process of either being coupled to or being de-coupled from, each other, from or to a coupled situation as e.g. shown in Fig. 1A.

[0060] In the view shown in Fig. 1C, the upper toy construction element 2A is shown in a sectional view perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the toy construction element 2A. The lowermost toy construction element is shown in side view. The view allows to appreciate how a knob 901 of one toy construction element 2B engages with a portion of an inner surface 916 of a sidewall of the toy construction element 2A and an outer surface 914 of a cylinders 911 of the other toy construction element 2A.

[0061] Cylindrical connectors 900 such as the knobs 901 and knob receiving openings 902 formed on construction elements 2A, 2B in a regular two dimensional lattice, such as shown in Figs. 1A-D, forms the basis of a plurality of modular construction systems known in the art.

[0062] Fig. 2, in a perspective view, shows an example of an electronic device in the form of a wireless interactive toy construction element, generally designated 10.

[0063] On the left-hand side of Fig. 2 the wireless interactive toy construction element 10A is shown with its top surface visible and, on the right-hand side, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10B is shown with its bottom side visible. In particular, the wire-less interactive toy construction element 10 comprises a generally box-shaped housing 20 with coupling knobs 901 extending from its top surface, and with a cavity extending into the element from the bottom. The cavity is defined by side walls having an inwardly facing surface 916, and by a central, downwardly extending tube / cylinder 911, dividing the cavity into knob receiving openings 902, generally as described in connection with Figs. 1A-C above. The coupling knobs 901 of another toy construction element can be received in the cavity in a frictional engagement, i.e. an interference / pressure fit, e.g. as disclosed in US 3 005 282. The construction elements shown in the remaining figures have this known type of coupling members in the form of cooperating knobs 901 and cavities / knob receiving openings 902. However, other types of coupling members may also be used in addition to, or instead of, the knobs and knob receiving openings. In Fig. 2, the coupling knobs 901 are arranged across the top sur-face in a square planar grid, i.e. defining orthogonal directions along which sequences of coupling knobs are arranged. The distance between neighboring coupling knobs is uniform and equal in both directions. This or similar arrangements of coupling members at coupling locations defining a regular planar grid allow the toy construction elements to be interconnected in a discrete number of positions and orientations relative two each other, in particular at right angles with respect to each other. In an assembled toy construction model, the coupling members 900 of multiple toy construction elements may thus be located on grid points of a three-dimensional grid defined relative to the toy construction model.

[0064] The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may further include a function device 105 accommodated within the housing 20 of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10. Generally, a function device 105 may be any suitable device for performing a function, such as a function that provides a user-perceptible effect, such as a visible and / or audible effect. Examples of function devices may include any suitable mechanical and / or electrical device, arrangement, and / or circuitry adapted to perform one or more mechanical and / or electrical functions.

[0065] Examples of a mechanical function include driving a rotatable output shaft, winding-up a string or a chain, which enables pulling an object closer to a toy module, moving a hinged part of the wireless interactive toy construction element, etc. The mechanical function may thus enable opening or closing a door, ejecting an object, rotating a turntable, moving a linear actuator, etc. Such mechanical motions can be driven by an electric motor.

[0066] Examples of an electrical function include emitting constant or blinking light, activating several lamps in a predetermined sequence, emitting audible sound such as beep, alarm, bell, siren, voice message, music, synthetic sound, natural or imitated sound simulating and / or stimulating play activities, playback of a sound, and / or other audio content, etc.

[0067] Accordingly, the function device 105 may be selected from a motor, a light source (e.g. one or more LEDs), a sound source (e.g. a loudspeaker). The function wireless toy construction element may include more than one function device. In some embodiments the system includes different types of wireless interactive toy construction elements comprising respective, different types of function devices 105.

[0068] The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may further include a sensor system 108 comprising one or more sensors accommodated within the housing 20 of the wire-less interactive toy construction element. The sensor system 108 may include one or more sensors, e.g. including a position and / or orientation sensor described herein and / or one or more other sensors, e.g. a linear or rotary encoder, a light detector, and a sound detector (e.g. a microphone), an accelerometer, and / or the like.

[0069] Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an example of an electronic device formed as a wireless interactive toy construction element, generally designated 10, e.g. of the wireless interactive toy construction element shown in Fig. 2.

[0070] The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 comprises a housing 10 defining a top face which is provided with coupling members 900, 901, all as described above with reference to Figs. 1A-C and 2.

[0071] The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 further comprises a processing unit 113 and one or more electromagnetic coils 80, all accommodated within the housing 20. The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may further comprise, also accommodated with the housing 20, one or more additional sensors 108 and / or one or more function devices 105, e.g. as described in connection with the sensor system and function device of the embodiment of Fig. 2 above. The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 further comprises a rechargeable battery 130, and a wireless communications interface 119, also accommodated with the housing 20.

[0072] Each electromagnetic coil 80 defines a coil axis around which the electromagnetic coil 80 extends. In this example, the electromagnetic coils 80 are arranged such that one coil is arranged with its coil axis extending out of the top face of the housing while another other coil is arranged with its coil axis extending out of one of the side faces of the housing 20. A third electromagnetic coil (not explicitly shown in Fig. 3) may be arranged with its coil axis extending out of another side face of the housing, e.g. such that the axes of all three coils are oriented orthogonal to each other or at least linearly independent from each other. In this manner, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may use the electromagnetic coils to detect position and / or orientation coordinates of another wireless interactive toy construction element having similar arrangements of electromagnetic coils 80 as described herein. It will be appreciated, however, that other arrangements of coils 80 are possible. In some embodiments, the wireless interactive toy may use one or more of the electromagnetic coils to perform additional functions, e.g. to detect, identify and / or capture data from a wireless tag. Yet further, the wireless interactive toy construction element may receive electrical energy via one or more of the electromagnetic coils 80 for charging the battery 130, which in turn powers the processing unit 113, the function device 105 and the wire-less communications interface 119.

[0073] The electromagnetic coils 80 are operable to detect the position and / or orientation of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 relative to another wireless interactive toy construction element 10. To this end, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may be configured to use the electromagnetic coils 80 to measure the strength and / or direction of a magnetic field generated by corresponding coils of another wireless interactive toy construction element 10 of the system. In this manner, based on measurements by the electromagnetic coils, the wireless interactive toy construction element may detect a relative position and / or relative orientation of another wireless interactive toy construction element. Moreover, by monitoring the position and / or orientation over time, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may detect whether the wireless interactive toy construction elements move or are stationary relative to each other. In this manner, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may determine which other wireless inter active toy construction elements 10 are mutually interconnected within a coherent toy construction model. The wireless interactive toy construction element may further be configured to energize one or more of the electromagnetic coils to allow one or more other wireless interactive toy construction elements to measure the strength and / or direction of the thus generated magnetic field and to base a corresponding position and / or orientation de-termination on these measurements.

[0074] The one or more function devices 105 may include a light source, e.g. an LED, a loudspeaker, a motor, and / or another function device operable to perform a user-perceivable function.

[0075] The one or more sensors 108 may include a light sensor, a sound sensor, a rotational encoder, an accelerometer, a gyro, and / or any other suitable sensor, e.g. as de-scribed in connection with Fig 2.

[0076] The wireless communications interface 119 may comprise a radio-frequency transceiver and an associated antenna. In some embodiments, the wireless communications interface may comprise a Bluetooth chip or circuit or another form of radio-frequency transceiver adapted for communication via a wireless communications network, e.g. using known low-power, short-range wireless networking technology, such as Bluetooth / Bluetooth Low Energy, ZigBee, Z-Wave, or a similar wireless technology for low-power personal area data networking in compliance with a standardized protocol. The wireless communications interface 119 may be operable for two-way communication with other wireless interactive toy construction elements of the system. Accordingly, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may be operable to communicate its identity and / or operational characteristics, scheduling information, position information and / or the like.

[0077] The processing unit 113 may comprise one or more microcontrollers, one or more microprocessors, one or more ASICs, and / or one or more other suitable processing units, or combinations thereof and be configured to control the functional behavior of the wireless interactive toy construction element. The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may be provided, e.g. pre-programmed, with a default behaviour, e.g. with default executable instructions stored in a memory of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 and executable by the processing unit 113 of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10. The default executable instructions may define a set of predetermined rules for reacting to external stimuli as sensed by the sensor system, in particular for reacting to detected positions and / or orientations relative to other interactive toy construction elements or to detected changes in such positions and / or orientations. In some embodiments, the behaviour of the wireless interactive toy construction element may be programmed or configured by the user, e.g. by receiving program data and / or configuration parameters. To this end, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may receive program and / or control data and / or configuration parameters from a computer or from another external electronic device, e.g. directly or via another toy module of the system. An external electronic device may e.g. a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a laptop computer, or another programmable computing device. Alternatively or additionally, the wireless interactive toy construction element may capture program and / or control data and / or configuration parameters from a wireless tag, e.g. from an RFID tag, or from other data storage devices. For example, the wireless interactive toy construction element may be operable to read out such wireless tag or other data storage device in a contactless manner as described herein.

[0078] Fig. 4illustrates two wireless interactive toy construction elements 10A and 10B, respectively, e.g. wireless interactive toy construction elements 10 of the type shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The wireless interactive toy construction elements 10A and 10B may include the same type of function device or different types of function devices. The wireless interactive toy construction element 10A is operable to detect the position and / or orientation of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10B relative to an internal coordinate system of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10A. The relative position may be defined as a 3D displacement 312 of an internal coordinate system 311B of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10B relative to an internal coordinate system 311A of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10A. The relative orientation may be defined by three angles defining the rotation of the internal coordinate system 311B of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10B relative to the internal coordinate system 311A of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10A. The angles may thus describe a pitch, yaw and roll, respectively, of the module 10B relative to the module 10A. Similarly, wireless interactive toy construction element 10B may detect the corresponding relative position and / or relative orientation of module 10A.

[0079] One or both of the wireless interactive toy construction elements 10A-B may be operable, at predetermined times, to activate their one or more electromagnetic coils to emit a magnetic field. When wireless interactive toy construction element 10B emits a magnetic field, wireless interactive toy construction element 10A may use its respective electromagnetic coils to receive and sense the emitted magnetic field and to perform magnetic field measurements. Based on the measured magnetic fields, the receiving wireless interactive toy construction element 10A may compute its own position and / or orientation relative to the currently transmitting wireless interactive toy construction element 10B as described herein. While Fig. 4 only illustrates two wireless interactive toy construction elements, it will be appreciated that a system may include more than three wireless interactive toy construction elements. When one of the wireless interactive toy construction elements emits a magnetic field, the other wireless interactive toy construction elements may use their respective electromagnetic coils to receive and sense the emitted magnetic field and to perform respective magnetic field measurements and position and / or orientation determinations.

[0080] It will be appreciated that a three-dimensional positioning may require that each wireless interactive toy element includes three coils that are preferably arranged orthogonally relative to each other.

[0081] The wireless interactive toy construction elements 10A-B may further be operable to communicate with each other via a wireless communications network, e.g. by broadcasting messages to all other wireless interactive toy construction elements of the system or otherwise. When the wireless interactive toy construction elements are operable to communicate with each other, they may share a timing schedule defining which wireless interactive toy construction elements are to emit a magnetic field at what times. The wireless interactive toy construction elements may further exchange information about their identity and / or the type of function device they include and / or about their respective operational states, calibration parameters, etc.

[0082] The wireless interactive toy construction elements may broadcast their determined positions and / or their relative orientations via the wireless communications network to the remaining wireless interactive toy construction elements, including the currently transmitting wireless interactive toy construction element. The role of the transmitting wireless toy construction element may selectively be assigned to respective ones of the wireless interactive toy construction elements, e.g. cyclically or according to another timing schedule. The timing schedule may be created by a selected one of the wireless interactive toy construction elements, also referred as the scheduler device. The scheduler device may broadcast the created timing schedule to the other wireless interactive toy construction elements or share the created schedule with the other wireless interactive toy construction elements in another manner. Accordingly, after a number of wireless interactive toy construction elements have generated respective magnetic fields, the wireless interactive toy construction elements are capable of obtaining distance and, optionally even directional position and / or orientation information relative to some, if not all, of the other wireless interactive toy construction elements of the system.

[0083] The thus obtained position and / or orientation information may be used by the wireless interactive toy construction elements in a variety of ways. For example, based on their relative distance and orientation, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10A may determine whether it is physically connected to wireless interactive toy construction element 10B, e.g. as part of the same coherent toy construction model - or at least whether it is likely to be thus interconnected. To this end, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10A may determine whether the measured position and / or orientation is consistent with the limitations imposed by the toy construction system. Alternatively or additionally, the wireless interactive toy construction element may monitor the relative position and / or relative orientation over a period of time. If the position and / or relative orientation remains constant, the wireless interactive toy construction element may determine that the elements are indeed physically interconnected.

[0084] In particular, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10A may monitor the position and / or relative orientation during a period where it detects changes of its own position and / or orientation, e.g. using an IMU or accelerometer of the wireless interactive toy construction element. If the position and / or relative orientation between the modules 10A and 10B remain unchanged during such detected change of the geomagnetic field, each of the modules may determine that it is physically interconnected with the respective other module.

[0085] Alternatively or additionally, one or both of the wireless interactive toy construction elements may implement a play experience based at least in part on the detected position and / or orientation, e.g. based on detected proximities, detected relative movements, and / or the like.

[0086] Fig. 6shows an exploded view of an example of an electronic device in the form of a wireless interactive toy construction element, generally designated 10. The wire-less interactive toy construction element 10 comprises a housing 20, a processing unit and one or more electromagnetic coils 80, all accommodated with the housing 20. As will be described below, the wire-less interactive toy construction element 10 may further comprise additional sensors and function devices, a rechargeable battery and a wireless communications inter-face.

[0087] In connection with Figs. 2-4 above, the function of a the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 was described in connection with a 2×2 brick, i.e. where the housing 20 of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 had four coupling knobs 901 on the top surface and four knob receiving openings 902 formed through a lower surface. Such a 2×2 brick has a quadratic cross section parallel to the top and bottom surfaces. Even though, the housing 20 of such a 2×2 brick may be cubic, in many cases, the sides of brick may have a height (orthogonally to the top surface) which differs from the side length. In such cases the side surfaces may have an area which differs from that of the top (and bottom surfaces) of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10. More generally, a wireless interactive toy construction element 10 according to the invention need not be a 2×2 brick. Instead, in the general case, the housing 20 of the wireless interactive toy construction element may take any box-shaped form, i.e. it may have a length, a width and a height which are equal to each other or different from each other. In general, it may be that at least one set of opposed surfaces is smaller than the other opposed surfaces of a box shaped housing 20 of a wireless interactive toy construction element 10. An example of this is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 5 shows a wireless interactive toy construction element 10 in an assembled state and Fig. 6 shows the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 in an exploded view.

[0088] The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 in Figs. 5-6 is similar to the embodiments of Figs. 2-4 and 2, in that it comprises a housing, a processing unit and one or more electromagnetic coils, all accommodated with the housing. As will be described below, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may further comprises additional sensors and function devices, a rechargeable battery and a wireless communications interface, all as described in connection with one or more of the previous embodiments.

[0089] In the example of Figs. 5 and 6, the housing 20 of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 comprises an upwardly open bottom housing member 20' and a cover member 20". The bottom housing member 20' comprises five walls 30, a bottom wall 32, two opposed sidewalls 33, 34 and two end walls 35, 36. An opening 28 into an enclosure 29 is defined between top edges of the side and end walls 33, 34, 35, 36.

[0090] The cover member 20' is configured to be connected to the bottom housing member 20' and, when connected, to close the opening 28 of the bottom housing member 20', such that the bottom housing member 20' and the cover member 20" together form a housing 20 accommodating a number of components of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10. The cover member 20" may be fastened to the bottom housing member 20' in any suitable member, e.g. by a snap fit connection, by welding, gluing or otherwise.

[0091] The cover member 20" thus forms another sidewall of the housing 20, when the cover member 20" is attached to the bottom housing member 20', a sixth in addition to the five walls mentioned above. Thus, when the cover member 20" is attached to the bottom housing member 20', the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 comprises six walls enclosing the enclosure 29.

[0092] Each wall of the housing 20 defines a surface. The top wall 31, i.e. the cover member 20", defines a top or upwardly facing surface 21. Likewise the bottom wall 32 defines a bottom surface 22 or downwardly facing surface 22. The top surface 21 and the bottom surface 22 are formed parallel to each other. Elongate side walls 33, 34 each define a side surface 23, 24, respectively, parallel to each other. The end walls 35, 36, each define an end surface 25, 26, respectively, parallel to each other.

[0093] In some embodiments, the bottom housing member 20' and the cover member 20" are made from plastics material, e.g. thermoplastic polymers, or from another suitable material. The housing 20 may e.g. be made by an injection molding process or by another suitable manufacturing process. In the present example, the cover member 20' is made from a transparent material.

[0094] As shown, the housing 20 is preferably box-shaped such as some toy construction elements, and as described in connection with Fig. 1A-C. The top face / top surface 21 of the cover member 20", comprises coupling elements 900 in the form of studs or knobs 901, and the bottom face of the bottom housing member may comprise corresponding complementary connecting elements 900 in the form of knob receiving openings 902 (not shown in Figs. 5 and 6), as also described in connection with Fig. 1A-C.

[0095] As may be appreciated from Fig. 6, the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may comprise a rechargeable battery 130 accommodated in the bottom housing member 20'.

[0096] The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 further comprises a frame element 50, which serves as a support for a one or more electrical components. As shown in Fig. 6 such electrical components may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) 110 and a set of electromagnetic coils, or simply coils 80. The PCB 110 is attached to the frame element 50 and the coils 80 are wound around the frame element 50 at various positions on the frame element 50, such that the frame element 50, the coils 80 and the PCB 110 form a core assembly 42 accommodated inside the bottom housing member 20'.

[0097] The wireless interactive toy construction element 10 may further comprise an antenna 140 and a loudspeaker 150. As shown in Fig. 6 the antenna 140 and a loudspeaker 150 may be mounted to the cover member 20" so as to form a top assembly 41. The top assembly 41, in the shown embodiment, may further comprise a colored insert 160 sandwiched between the cover member 20" and the antenna 140. The top assembly may further comprise an opaque insert 170 sandwiched between the antenna 140 and the loudspeaker 150. The inserts 160 and 170 further provide vents to facilitate high-frequency sound from the loudspeaker to pass, while obscuring the antenna and the other electronics components from view through the transparent cover member 20".

[0098] The PCB 110 is electrically connected to the antenna 140, the loudspeaker 150, the rechargeable battery 130, and to the coils 80. The PCB 110 may further comprise a number of electronic components. In particular, the PCB may comprise any one or more of a processing unit 113 and LED's 114A, 114B, a microphone 115, a coil interface circuit 116, a memory 117, an accelerometer 118 and a wireless communications circuit 119.

[0099] The processing unit 113 may be implemented as an ASIC and a microprocessor or otherwise. The processing unit 113 is coupled to the coils 80 via the coil interface circuit 116 (the coupling as such is not shown). The processing unit 113 is further coupled to the remaining electronic components and implements suitable drivers and / or other control functionality for operating the respective electronic components. The wireless communications circuit 119 may be coupled to the antenna 140 and to the processing unit 113 for implementing a suitable wireless communications protocol, such as based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or otherwise.

[0100] The LEDs 114A and 114B are arranged at respective opposite ends of the PCB such that the light from the LEDs is visible through the wall 31 of the transparent cover member 20".

[0101] As will be described in more detail below, the coils 80 may be arranged as three pairs of respective coil segments such that the coil segments of each pair are arranged coaxially with each other and orthogonal to the coil segments of the other pairs. In other embodiments the number of coils or coil segment may vary.

[0102] In particular, coil 80X comprises coil segments 80XA and 80XB, while coil 80Y comprises coil segments 80YA and 80YB, and coil 80Z comprises coil segments 80ZA and 80ZB. The coil segments of each coil are arranged spaced apart from each other, proximal to respective opposite sides of the box-shaped housing. The coil segments of each coil are electrically connected in series with each other, in particular such that they are cumulatively coupled.

[0103] Fig. 7 shows the core assembly 42, mentioned above, in an exploded view. The core assembly 42 comprises at least the frame element 50 and a set of coils 80, i.e. coils 80X, 80Y and 80Z, each comprising two coil segments as mentioned above. In the embodiment shown, the core assembly 42 may further comprise a PCB 110. The PCB 110 may comprises any or all of the components described above. For simplicity, not all of these components are shown in Fig. 7.

[0104] The frame element 50 is preferably box- shaped, in the sense that it comprises eight corners 51, which between them defines six surfaces. These surfaces corresponds to the surfaces 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 of the housing 20 of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10. The frame element 50 is sized and dimensioned such that it fits inside the enclosure 29 of the housing 20. Preferably, the frame element 50 is sized and dimensioned such that it fits snugly inside the enclosure 29 of the housing 20.

[0105] The coils 80 or coil segments are mounted on the frame element 50 such that when the frame element 50 has been inserted inside the housing 20, each one of the coils 80 or coil segments are located parallel to and adjacent to a respective wall 31, 32, 33. 34, 35, 36 of the housing 20. Thus, coil segment 80XA is adjacent to and parallel to wall 34 of the housing 20, which is a side wall. Coil segment 80XB is adjacent to and parallel to wall 33 of the housing 20, which is also a side wall. Coil segment 80YA is adjacent to and parallel to wall 36 of the housing 20, which is an end wall. Coil segment 80YB is adjacent to and parallel to wall 35 of the housing 20, which is also an end wall. Coil segment 80ZA is adjacent to and parallel to wall 32 of the housing 20, which is the bottom wall. And, coil segment 80ZB is adjacent to and parallel to wall 31, which is the top wall (which, in the shown embodiment, is also, or forms part of, the cover member 20" of the housing 20.

[0106] In the shown embodiment, each coil or coil segment is wound onto the frame element 50. Each coil 80 or coil segment may have a specific number of windings dependent on its intended use, the area it sweeps, and e.g. the frequencies it is intended to receive.

[0107] Turning now to Fig. 8 showing a detailed view of a portion of a frame element 50, such as the frame element of the wireless interactive toy construction element 10 shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

[0108] As described above, the frame element 50 is also generally box shaped, having six surfaces as defined between the eight corners 51 of the box shaped element. In each of the eight corners 51 a set of tracks 60 for supporting winding of the above mentioned coils 80 is provided.

[0109] Each of the six surfaces of the frame element 50 correspond to a surface 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and a sidewall 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 of the housing 20, respectively

[0110] It will be appreciated that the six walls 30 of the housing 20 are arranged in pairs or sets of two, where the two wall of a pair / set of two are parallel to each other. Thus, the walls 30 of the housing 20 comprises three pairs / sets of two walls, where each pair / set of two walls are arranged orthogonally relative to the other pairs / sets of two walls.

[0111] In the shown embodiment shown in Fig. 5 and 6, one set of walls the top and bottom walls 31, 32, respectively has the largest surface area. The end walls 35, 36, has the smallest surface area. The two side walls 33, 34, respectively has a surface area, which is intermediate of the top and bottom walls and the end walls.

[0112] In order to optimize the signal reception from the electromagnetic coils 80, while at the same time optimizing the use of space in the housing 20, a specific arrangement of the electromagnetic coils 80 is provided. This is obtained by providing, on the frame element 50, first an electromagnetic coil, where, when the frame element 50, with the coils 80 is inserted into the housing 20, the electromagnetic coil will be located such that it is formed parallel to the largest of the surface areas of the walls. Preferably, and as shown, the coils 80 are not only parallel to, but also adjacent to the corresponding wall 30 of the housing, i.e. it is provided at the surfaces of the frame element 50 and thereby facing a wall of the housing, when the frame element 50 has been inserted into the housing 20. It will be further appreciated that each coil may comprise two coil segments, formed spaced apart at each opposite end of the frame element 50.

[0113] The coils 80 are preferably wound on the frame element 50. This entails that coils that are configured for being located parallel to the largest surface area wall (when the frame element 50 is inserted in the housing), must be wound on the frame element 50 first. In the case of the frame element 50 and housing of figs. 5 and 6, the largest area surface is provided as the top and bottom walls 31, 32.

[0114] When one coil 80 or a set of coil segments have been wound parallel to the largest area surface, then one coil 80 or a set of coil segments are wound on the frame orthogonally to the first wound coil 80 / coil segments, and such that the resulting coils will be arranged in parallel with the second largest surface area wall of the housing, when the frame element 50 has been inserted in the housing 20. In the case of the frame element 50 and housing of figs. 5 and 6, the second largest area surface is provided as the two side walls 33, 34.

[0115] Lastly, one coil or a set of coil segments are wound on the frame orthogonally to the first wound coil 80 / coil segments, as well as the secondly wound coil / coil segments, and such that the resulting coil or coil segments will be arranged in parallel with the smallest surface area wall of the housing, when the frame element 50 has been inserted in the housing 20. In the case of the frame element 50 and housing 20 of figs. 5 and 6, the smallest area surface is provided as the two end walls 35, 36.

[0116] By arranging the coils in this order, it is secured that the smallest area surface is provide with as large (large area) coil as possible.

[0117] Each coil 80 or coil section comprises one or more windings. The windings and thereby the coil thereby defines a plane. The coils 80 / coil segment have a coil axis perpendicular the plane defining the coil 80 / coil segment.

[0118] As mentioned, preferably and as shown in Figs. 5-8, a coil is provided having a coil axis

[0119] Returning now to Fig. 8, where it can be seen that a a first electromagnetic coil segment 80Y, 80YB is arranged in a plane parallel to a first wall 30 of the housing 20, when the frame element 50 is arranged in the housing 20, in this case corresponding to the end wall 35, which is one of the two walls, having the smallest surface area. It will be appreciated that a another first electromagnetic coil segment 80Y, 80YA is arranged on the frame element 50, such that when the frame element 50 is inserted into the housing this coil segment 80YA will be adjacent to the opposite end wall 36, even if Fig. 8 only shows the end of the frame element where the coil segment 80YB is arranged.

[0120] A second electromagnetic coil 80Z is arranged in a plane parallel to second walls 30 of the housing 20, which second wall is orthogonal to the first wall 30, when the frame element 50 is arranged in the housing 20. The second wall in this case is the top wall 31 or the bottom wall 32. The second electromagnetic coil 80Z comprises two coil segments 80ZA and 80ZB. It will be appreciated that each coil segment defies a plane, and that these two planes are parallel, and formed at opposite ends of the frame element 50 along the z-axis. It will be appreciated that these may be wound on the frame element 50 simultaneously or consecutively, right after one another.

[0121] A third electromagnetic coil 80X, comprising two coil segments 80XA and 80XB, is arranged in a plane parallel to third walls 30 of the housing 20, each of which third walls is orthogonal to the first wall 30, as well as the second wall 30, when the frame element 50 is arranged in the housing 20. The third walls in this case are the side wall 33, 34. The third electromagnetic coil 80X comprises two coil segments 80XA and 80XB. It will be appreciated that each coil segment defies a plane, and that these two planes are parallel, and formed at opposite ends of the frame element 50 along the x-axis. It will be appreciated that these may be wound on the frame element 50 simultaneously or consecutively, right after one another.

[0122] The first electromagnetic coil 80Y, or each of the coil segments 80AB, 80YB, which is arranged parallel to the smallest surface area walls, the end walls 35, 36 are wound on the frame element 50 in a set tracks 60Y formed in at least at the corners 50 of the frame element 50.

[0123] The second electromagnetic coil 80Z, or each of the coil segments 80ZA, 80ZB, which is arranged in parallel to the largest surface area walls, the top and bottom walls 31, 32, respectively, likewise is wound on the frame element 50 in a set of tracks 60Z formed in at least at the corners 51 of the frame element 50.

[0124] The third electromagnetic coil 80X, or each of the coil segments 80XA, 80XB, which is arranged in parallel to the intermediate, or second largest surface area walls, the side walls 33, 34 , respectively, likewise is wound on the frame element 50 in a set of tracks 60X formed in at least at the corners 51 of the frame element 50.

[0125] Further, the first electromagnetic coil 80Y, or each of the coil segments 80YA, 80YB, is formed distally - with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil 80Y, 80YA, 80YB - to third electromagnetic coil 80X and the second electromagnetic coil 80Z.

[0126] Further the first electromagnetic coil 80Y, 80YB is formed on the frame element 50 such that it intersects without touching, both the third electromagnetic coil 80X and the second electromagnetic coil 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB.

[0127] Thus, relative to an inner space of the frame element 50, the set of tracks 60Z for the second coil 80Z (or coil segments 80ZA, 80YB) - which is to be arranged at the largest surface area wall of the housing 20, are arranged closest to the inner space. The set of tracks 60X for the third coil 80X (or coil segments 80XA, 80XB) - which is to be arranged at the second to largest surface area walls of the housing 20 - are arranged in a second level further away from the inner space. And, the set of tracks 60Y for the first coil 80Y (or coil segments 80YA, 80YB) ) - which is to be arranged at the smallest surface area walls of the housing 20 - are arranged in a third level furthest away from the inner space.

[0128] As may be appreciated from Figs. 6-8 a PCB 110 is preferably arranged in the frame element 50. Preferably, the PCB is arranged on a wall section in the inner space of the frame element 50. The PCB 110 with the above mentioned components is preferably attached to the frame element 50 before any of the coils 80 or coil segments are wound on the frame element 50.

[0129] As may be appreciated from e.g. Figs. 7-8, the PCB 110 comprises a flat body part 111. At least the PCB 110 body part is flat relative to the frame element such that there is room for any component provided on the PCB 110. The body part 111 of the PCB 110 has a sidewall 112 extending around the flat body part 111. This means that by a proper dimensioning of the PCB 110, the sidewall 112 thereof is substantially flush with the coil segments formed along the outer surfaces of the frame element 50.

[0130] A set of electrical contacts 120 configured for connecting the coil segments to a coil controller on the PCB are preferably formed along the sidewall 112 of the PCB 110.

[0131] Each coil segment has two coil ends 82, as shown in Fig. 7. When winding a coil segment on the frame element 50, on of these ends may be held steady relative to the frame element and attached to an electrical contact 120, for example by soldering or other suitable method. When a first end of a coil wire is held steady relative to the frame element 50, the coil wire may be wound on the frame element 50 in the set of tracks 60, 60X, 60Y, 60Z intended for the specific coil (segment). The winding may be concluded by pressing the free end 82 of the coil wire relative to an electrical contact 120 at the sidewall 112 of the PCB 110, and then attaching the free end 82 to an electrical contact 120 for example by soldering or other suitable method. This arrangement ensures that the coil (segments) are held tight on the frame element 50 during winding and attaching to the electrical contacts 120.

[0132] At least some aspects of the invention are disclosed by the embodiments listed in the following.

[0133] Embodiment 1. A wireless interactive toy construction element (10) for a modular toy construction system (1), wherein the toy construction element (10) comprises a box-shaped housing (20) comprising an enclosure (29), surrounded by six walls (30) where three sets of two parallel walls (30) are arranged orthogonally relative to each other and where one set of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30) has a smaller outer surface area than the other sets of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30); and a set of electromagnetic coils (80), each electromagnetic coil (80) defining a coil axis; wherein the electromagnetic coils (80) are wound on a frame element (50), which frame element (50) with electromagnetic coils (20) is configured to fit into the enclosure (29) of the box-shaped housing (20), and wherein the electromagnetic coils are arranged on the frame element (50) such that, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), a first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y2, 80YA, 80YB) is arranged in a plane parallel to a first wall (30) of the housing (20), a second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) is arranged in a plane parallel to second walls (30) of the housing (20), which second wall is orthogonal to the first wall (30), and where the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to a larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32, 33, 34).

[0134] Embodiment 2. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to embodiment 1, wherein the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y) comprise two coil segments (80YA, 80YB), each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0135] Embodiment 3. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80Z) comprise two coil segments (80XA, 80XB, 80ZA, 80ZB) each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0136] Embodiment 4. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to embodiment 2 or 3, wherein the two coil segments (80YA, 80YB) of the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y) are electronically connected in series with each other and wherein the two coil segments (80XA, 80XB, 80ZA, 80ZB) of the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80Z) are electronically connected in series with each other.

[0137] Embodiment 5. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the embodiments 1-4, wherein the housing (20) comprises a set of parallel walls (30) which has an intermediate surface area, which is in between the smallest surface area and a largest surface area, wherein the electromagnetic coils (80) are further arranged on the frame element (50) such that, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), a third electromagnetic coil (80) is arranged in a plane parallel to a third wall (30) of the housing (20), and orthogonally to the first and second walls, where the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB), which is arranged parallel to the intermediate area walls (30, 33, 34) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of the third electromagnetic coil (80 80X, 80XA, 80XB), and intersecting without touching, the electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to the larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32), and where the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB) arranged in parallel to the intermediate surface area wall (30, 33, 34).

[0138] Embodiment 6. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to embodiment 5, wherein the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X) comprise two coil segments (80XA, 80XB), each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0139] Embodiment 7. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to embodiment 6, wherein the two coil segment (80XA, 80XB) of the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X) are electronically connected in series with each other.

[0140] Embodiment 8. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the embodiments 1-7, wherein each of the electromagnetic coils (80) defines an outer surface of the frame element (50).

[0141] Embodiment 9. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the embodiments 1-8, wherein, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), each one of the electromagnetic coils (80) are arranged adjacent to a wall (30) of the housing (10).

[0142] Embodiment 10. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the embodiments 1-9, wherein, a PCB (110) is arranged in the frame element (50).

[0143] Embodiment 11. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to embodiment 10, wherein the coils (80) are electronically connected to the PCB (110).

[0144] Embodiment 12. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to embodiment 11, wherein the PCB (110) comprises a flat body part (111) having a sidewall (112) surrounding the flat body part (111), and wherein the coils (80) are electronically connected to the PCB (110) via electronic contacts (120) formed along the sidewall (112) of the PCB (110).

[0145] Embodiment 13. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the embodiments 10-12, further comprising a processing unit (113) arranged on said (PCB) and configured to process signals measured by the electromagnetic coils and / or to control the electromagnetic coils to generate a magnetic field.

[0146] Embodiment 14. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the embodiments 1-13, comprising modular coupling means (900) provided at a surface (21, 22) of the housing (20).

[0147] Embodiment 15. A modular toy construction system (1) comprising a plurality of toy construction elements (2A, 2B) having mutually cooperating modular coupling means (900, 901, 902), whereof at least two toy construction elements are wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the embodiments 1-14.

[0148] Embodiment 16. A method of manufacturing a wireless interactive toy construction element (10) for a modular toy construction system (1), wherein the toy construction element (10) comprises a box-shaped housing (20) comprising an enclosure (29), surrounded by six walls (30) where three sets of two parallel walls (31, 32, 33, 34; 35, 36) are arranged orthogonally relative to each other and where one set of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30) has a smaller outer surface area than the other sets of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30); a set of electromagnetic coils (80), each electromagnetic coil (80) defining a coil axis; and a frame element (50) configured for carrying at least the set of electromagnetic coils (80), which frame element (50) with electromagnetic coils (20) is configured to fit into the enclosure (29) of the box-shaped housing (20), wherein the method comprises the steps of winding each electromagnetic coil (80) on the frame element (50), and subsequently inserting the frame element (50) into the enclosure (29) of the housing (20) through an opening (28) formed in a portion thereof, and closing the opening (28), wherein the step of winding the electromagnetic coils (80) on the frame element (50) comprises first winding a second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) on the frame element (50) in a plane configured for being parallel to a second wall (30) of the housing (20), when the frame element (50) has been inserted into the housing (20), secondly winding a first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y2, 80YA, 80YB) orthogonally to the second electromagnetic coil (80) on the frame element (50) in a plane configured for being parallel to a first wall (30) of the housing (20), when the frame element (50) has been inserted into the housing (20), which first wall has a smaller surface area than the second wall.

[0149] Embodiment 17. The method according to embodiment 16, wherein the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to a larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32, 33, 34).

[0150] Embodiment 18. The method according to embodiment 16 or 17, wherein the step of winding the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y) on the frame element (50) comprises winding two coil segments (80YA, 80YB), each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0151] Embodiment 19. The method according to any one of the embodiments 16-18, wherein the step of winding the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z) on the frame element (50) comprises winding two coil segments (80ZA, 80ZB) each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0152] Embodiment 20 The method according to any one of the embodiments 16-19, wherein the housing (20) comprises a set of parallel walls (30) which has an intermediate surface area, which is in between the smallest surface area and a largest surface area, wherein the step of winding electromagnetic coils (80) further comprises between the step of winding the second electromagnetic coil (80) and the first electromagnetic coil (80), winding a third electromagnetic coil (80) on the frame element (50) orthogonally to the first and second electromagnetic coils (80) and in parallel to a third wall (30) which has the intermediate surface area.

[0153] Embodiment 21. The method according to embodiment 20, wherein the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB), which is arranged parallel to the intermediate area walls (30, 33, 34) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of the third electromagnetic coil (80 80X, 80XA, 80XB), and intersecting without touching, the electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to the larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32), and where the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB) arranged in parallel to the intermediate surface area wall (30, 33, 34).

[0154] Embodiment 22. The method according to embodiment 20 or 21, wherein the step of winding the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X) comprise winding two coil segments (80XA, 80XB) on the frame element (50), each coil segment (80XA, 80XB) being arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

[0155] Embodiment 23. The method according to any one of the embodiments 16-22, wherein each of the electromagnetic coils (80) wound on the frame element (50) are formed such that they define an outer surface of the frame element (50).

[0156] Embodiment 24. The method according to any one of the embodiments 16-23, wherein each coil is formed on the frame element (50) such that, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), each one of the electromagnetic coils (80) are arranged adjacent to a wall (30) of the housing (10).

[0157] Embodiment 25. The method according to any one of the embodiments 16-24, wherein, prior to winding any of the coils (80), a PCB (110) is mounted on the frame element (50).

[0158] Embodiment 26. The method according to embodiment 25, comprising electronically connecting each electromagnetic coil (80) to the PCB (110) upon winding the electromagnetic coil (80) on the frame element (50).

[0159] Embodiment 27. The method according to embodiment 26, wherein the PCB (110) comprises a flat body part (111) having a sidewall (112) surrounding the flat body (111), and wherein the coils (80) are electronically connected to the PCB (110) via electronic contacts (120) formed along the sidewall (112) of the PCB (110).

[0160] It is to be noted that the figures and the above description have shown the example embodiments in a simple and schematic manner. Many of the specific mechanical details have not been shown since the person skilled in the art should be familiar with these details and they would just unnecessarily complicate this description.List of parts

[0161] 1modular toy construction system 2Atoy construction element 2Btoy construction element 3body part of toy construction element 4top face / top surface of body part of toy construction element 5top wall / upper wall of body part of toy construction element 6Asidewall of body part of toy construction element (end wall) 6Bsidewall of body part of toy construction element 6Csidewall of body part of toy construction element 6Dsidewall of body part of toy construction element (end wall) 7lowermost edge / rim of body part of toy construction element 10wireless interactive toy construction element 20housing 20'housing member / upwardly open bottom housing member 20"cover member 21top surface of housing 22bottom surface of housing 23first side surface of housing 24second side surface of housing (formed opposite first sidewall of the housing) 25first end surface of housing 26second end surface of housing (formed opposite to the first wall of the housing) 28opening in bottom housing member 29enclosure (formed in housing) 30wall of housing 31top wall of housing 32bottom wall of housing 33first sidewall of housing 34second sidewall of housing (formed opposite first sidewall of the housing) 35first end wall of housing 36second end wall of housing (formed opposite to the first wall of the housing) 41top assembly 42core assembly 50frame element 80coil / electromagnetic coil 80Xelectromagnetic coil arranged in x-direction, i.e. parallel to side surface 80XAcoil segment of electromagnetic coil arranged in x-direction 80XBcoil segment of electromagnetic coil arranged in x-direction 80Yelectromagnetic coil arranged in y-direction, i.e. parallel to the end surfaces 80YAcoil segment of electromagnetic coil arranged in y-direction 80YBcoil segment of electromagnetic coil arranged in y-direction 80Zelectromagnetic coil arranged in z-direction, i.e. parallel to bottom and top surfaces 80ZAcoil segment of electromagnetic coil arranged in z-direction 80ZBcoil segment of electromagnetic coil arranged in z-direction 82coil ends, electronically connectable to PCB 105function device 108sensor system 110printed circuit board, PCB 111body of PCB 112side surfaces of PCB 113processing unit 114ALED 114BLED 115microphone 116coil interface circuit 117memory 118accelerometer 119wireless communications circuit 120electric connector on side surface of PCB 130battery / rechargeable battery 140antenna 150loudspeaker 160colored insert 170opaque insert 900connector / cylindrical connector (mechanical connection) / complimentary connector 901coupling stud / stud / coupling knob / knob 902knob receiving opening / stud receiving opening 905body of coupling stud / stud / coupling knob / knob 910outer cylindrical surface of body of coupling stud / stud / coupling knob / knob 911downwardly extending tube / cylinder 912lower surface of a top wall of the toy construction element / construction brick 915outward surface on 916inner surface of sidewall of toy construction element / construction brick 917elongate ribs 917

Claims

1. A wireless interactive toy construction element (10) for a modular toy construction system (1), wherein the toy construction element (10) comprises - a box-shaped housing (20) comprising an enclosure (29), surrounded by six walls (30) where three sets of two parallel walls (30) are arranged orthogonally relative to each other and where one set of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30) has a smaller outer surface area than the other sets of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30); and - a set of electromagnetic coils (80), each electromagnetic coil (80) defining a coil axis; wherein the electromagnetic coils (80) are wound on a frame element (50), which frame element (50) with electromagnetic coils (20) is configured to fit into the enclosure (29) of the box-shaped housing (20), and wherein the electromagnetic coils are arranged on the frame element (50) such that, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), - a first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y2, 80YA, 80YB) is arranged in a plane parallel to a first wall (30) of the housing (20), - a second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) is arranged in a plane parallel to second walls (30) of the housing (20), which second wall is orthogonal to the first wall (30), and - where the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to a larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32).

2. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y) comprises two coil segments (80YA, 80YB), each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

3. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80Z) comprises two coil segments (80ZA, 80ZB) each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

4. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the two coil segments (80YA, 80YB) of the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y) are electronically connected in series with each other and wherein the two coil segments (80ZA, 80ZB) of the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z) are electronically connected in series with each other.

5. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the claims 1-4, wherein the housing (20) comprises a set of parallel walls (30) which has an intermediate surface area, which is in between the smallest surface area and a largest surface area, wherein the electromagnetic coils (80) are further arranged on the frame element (50) such that, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), - a third electromagnetic coil (80) is arranged in a plane parallel to a third wall (30) of the housing (20), and orthogonally to the first and second walls, - where the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB), which is arranged parallel to the intermediate area walls (30, 33, 34) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of the third electromagnetic coil (80 80X, 80XA, 80XB), and intersecting without touching, the electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to the larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32), and - where the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB) arranged in parallel to the intermediate surface area wall (30, 33, 34).

6. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to claim 5, wherein the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X) comprise two coil segments (80XA, 80XB), each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

7. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to claim 6, wherein the two coil segment (80XA, 80XB) of the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X) are electronically connected in series with each other.

8. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the claims 1-7, wherein each of the electromagnetic coils (80) defines an outer surface of the frame element (50).

9. The wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the claims 1-8, wherein, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), each one of the electromagnetic coils (80) are arranged adjacent to a wall (30) of the housing (10).

10. A modular toy construction system (1) comprising a plurality of toy construction elements (2A, 2B) having mutually cooperating modular coupling means (900, 901, 902), whereof at least two toy construction elements are wireless interactive toy construction element (10) according to any one of the claims 1-15.

11. A method of manufacturing a wireless interactive toy construction element (10) for a modular toy construction system (1), wherein the toy construction element (10) comprises - a box-shaped housing (20) comprising an enclosure (29), surrounded by six walls (30) where three sets of two parallel walls (31, 32, 33, 34; 35, 36) are arranged orthogonally relative to each other and where one set of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30) has a smaller outer surface area than the other sets of parallelly arranged sidewalls (30); - a set of electromagnetic coils (80), each electromagnetic coil (80) defining a coil axis; and - a frame element (50) configured for carrying at least the set of electromagnetic coils (80), which frame element (50) with electromagnetic coils (20) is configured to fit into the enclosure (29) of the box-shaped housing (20), wherein the method comprises the steps of • winding each electromagnetic coil (80) on the frame element (50), and • subsequently inserting the frame element (50) into the enclosure (29) of the housing (20) through an opening (28) formed in a portion thereof, and closing the opening (28), wherein the step of winding the electromagnetic coils (80) on the frame element (50) comprises • first winding a second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) on the frame element (50) in a plane configured for being parallel to a second wall (30) of the housing (20), when the frame element (50) has been inserted into the housing (20), • secondly winding a first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y2, 80YA, 80YB) orthogonally to the second electromagnetic coil (80) on the frame element (50) in a plane configured for being parallel to a first wall (30) of the housing (20), when the frame element (50) has been inserted into the housing (20), which first wall has a smaller surface area than the second wall.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to a larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32, 33, 34).

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the step of winding the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y) on the frame element (50) comprises winding two coil segments (80YA, 80YB), each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

14. The method according to any one of the claims 11-13, wherein the step of winding the second electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z) on the frame element (50) comprises winding two coil segments (80ZA, 80ZB) each arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

15. The method according to any one of the claims 11-14, wherein the housing (20) comprises a set of parallel walls (30) which has an intermediate surface area, which is in between the smallest surface area and a largest surface area, wherein the step of winding electromagnetic coils (80) further comprises - between the step of winding the second electromagnetic coil (80) and the first electromagnetic coil (80), winding a third electromagnetic coil (80) on the frame element (50) orthogonally to the first and second electromagnetic coils (80) and in parallel to a third wall (30) which has the intermediate surface area.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein • the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB), which is arranged parallel to the intermediate area walls (30, 33, 34) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of the third electromagnetic coil (80 80X, 80XA, 80XB), and intersecting without touching, the electromagnetic coil (80, 80Z, 80ZA, 80ZB) arranged in parallel to the larger surface area wall (30, 31, 32), and • where the first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), which is arranged parallel to the smallest area walls (30, 35, 36) is wound on the frame element (50) distally with respect to the coil axis of said first electromagnetic coil (80, 80Y, 80YA, 80YB), and intersecting without touching, the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X, 80XA, 80XB) arranged in parallel to the intermediate surface area wall (30, 33, 34).

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the step of winding the third electromagnetic coil (80, 80X) comprise winding two coil segments (80XA, 80XB) on the frame element (50), each coil segment (80XA, 80XB) being arranged in a plane, and which planes are parallel to each other and axially spaced apart from each other.

18. The method according to any one of the claims 11-17, wherein each coil is formed on the frame element (50) such that, when the frame element (50) is arranged in the housing (20), each one of the electromagnetic coils (80) are arranged adjacent to a wall (30) of the housing (10).