Apparatus, in particular a control apparatus, for detecting movements of a magnet carrier

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1), in particular a control apparatus (1), for detecting movements of a magnet carrier (20), wherein the apparatus comprises a monitoring unit (62), wherein the apparatus comprises a first sensor (9), wherein the first sensor can determine the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor (9) relative to a preferred direction (A), wherein the monitoring unit (62) is designed such that the monitoring unit (62) outputs an output signal and / or a control signal on the basis of the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor (9) relative to a preferred direction (A).

Description

[0001] "Device, in particular a control device, for detecting movements of a magnetic carrier"

[0002] The invention relates to a device, in particular a control device, for detecting movements of a magnetic carrier. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising such a device and a magnetic carrier.

[0003] Devices, in particular a control device, for detecting movements of a magnetic carrier are used to convert a position of the magnetic carrier into an output signal and / or a control signal.

[0004] For example, the deflection angle of the magnetic carrier relative to an initial position is measured. This is done using potentiometers or, wear-free, using optical sensors or by measuring the magnetic field strength. Rotary potentiometers, light barriers, or magnetic sensors are typically used for this purpose. These devices have a complex design due to the rotary potentiometers, light barriers, or magnetic sensors. Rotary potentiometers are particularly expensive and complex components. Determining the deflection angle of the magnetic carrier using light barriers or magnetic sensors requires many light barriers or magnetic sensors, which makes the design more complex.

[0005] Furthermore, the magnet carrier must be firmly installed in the device to ensure proper function of the device with the magnet carrier. This has the disadvantage that the magnet carrier cannot simply be replaced for each application; instead, the entire device, including the magnet carrier, must be replaced. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a device that allows for a simple design and can be used with different magnet carriers.

[0006] This problem is solved by the device according to claim 1 and the system according to claim 10 as well as by the method according to claim 14 and the use according to claim 16. Advantageous embodiments are set out in the subclaims and the description below.

[0007] The invention is based on the basic idea of ​​equipping the device with a first sensor that can determine the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction. This development of the devices known from the prior art creates the possibility of acting on the first sensor with a magnet applied to the device from the outside and, by selecting a specific position of the magnet relative to the device, causing the first sensor to generate a signal that depends on the position of the magnet relative to a preferred direction. Such a signal generated by the first sensor can be used to control the control unit. Here, the control unit can be designed such that the control unit outputs an output signal and / or a control signal based on the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction.

[0008] According to a first embodiment, the above-mentioned object is achieved with a device, in particular a control device, for detecting movements of a magnetic carrier, wherein the device comprises a control unit, wherein the device comprises a first sensor, wherein the first sensor can determine the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction, wherein the control unit is designed such that the control unit outputs an output signal and / or a control signal based on the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction.

[0009] The device has the advantage that the position of a magnetic carrier in relation to the device can be determined in a particularly simple manner. Furthermore, the magnetic carrier can be moved away from the device and brought closer to it again without impairing the function of the device. In this way, the replaceability of the device and in particular of the magnetic carrier can be facilitated. The device can be designed in particular to transmit a movement of the magnetic carrier into an output signal and / or control signal. The device can be designed in particular to control a device such as an aircraft or a gripper arm. Alternatively or additionally, the device can be designed, for example, to control a game, in particular a computer game. The device can be designed in particular to transmit a movement of a joystick into an output signal and / or control signal.The magnetic carrier can in particular be a joystick.

[0010] The direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor can be the direction of the field lines of a magnetic field. Relative to a preferred direction, the direction of the field lines of a magnetic field can be relative to an orientation of the field lines of a magnetic field in the preferred direction. The direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor can be rotatable about the normal vector of the device and / or tiltable relative to the normal vector. The normal vector can be the direction that can be perpendicular to the surface, wherein the surface can be configured for supporting the magnetic carrier.

[0011] A magnet carrier can be a means comprising a magnet. The magnet can, in particular, be arranged such that it can interact with the first sensor of the device. A magnet can, in particular, be a joystick with a magnet on the contact surface with the device.

[0012] The control unit can be a computer. The first sensor can be configured to send a signal to the control unit, wherein the signal can depend on the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction. The control device can comprise, for example, a memory and a processor.

[0013] The control unit can be configured such that the control unit outputs an output signal and / or a control signal based on the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction. The output signal and / or the control signal can contain information about the position of the magnetic carrier, which results from the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction. Alternatively or additionally, the output signal and / or the control signal can contain information that the control device assigns to the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction. The information can be stored in the memory of the control device.In a preferred embodiment, the first sensor is designed to determine only the direction of a magnetic field acting on it which has a magnetic field strength in the first sensor that is higher than the magnetic field strength of the Earth's magnetic field. It is assumed that the Earth's magnetic field has a magnetic field strength of approximately 30 microtesla (pT) at the equator and approximately twice as great at the poles (approximately 60 pT), while in Central Europe the strength is approximately 48 pT. In order not to be affected by the Earth's magnetic field, the first sensor is particularly preferably designed such that it can only determine the direction of the magnetic field acting on it relative to a preferred direction for magnetic fields if this magnetic field has a magnitude of more than 100 pT, preferably more than 1000 pT, preferably more than 0.01 T.The inventive development of the device known from the prior art therefore does not serve to determine the direction of the earth's magnetic field relative to a preferred direction, but rather to determine a magnet brought into the vicinity of the device which generates a magnetic field that is noticeably stronger than the earth's magnetic field.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the first sensor is a Hall sensor. The preferred direction typically results from the design of the Hall sensor. In particular, the Hall sensor preferably has a housing that can be connected to a circuit board. The Hall sensor delivers a signal that depends on how a magnetic field acting on it from the outside is oriented relative to the housing. If the housing of the Hall sensor is therefore installed in a stationary manner in the device, for example a circuit board on which the Hall sensor is permanently installed, is installed in a stationary manner in the device, the Hall sensor can deliver a signal that depends on how a magnetic field acting on it from the outside is oriented relative to the device.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a support. In a preferred embodiment, the outwardly facing surface of the support forms part of the outer surface of the device. In a preferred embodiment, the outwardly facing surface of the support differs from the other surfaces of the device surrounding the support. In a preferred embodiment, the support is made of a different material than materials used to provide the surface portions of the device surrounding the support.For example, a preferred embodiment is conceivable in which the device has an outer casing made of foam, wherein the foam is in turn covered by an outer skin, wherein the outer skin is leather or artificial leather or a soft plastic casing, while the support is formed by a rigid plastic, wherein the support is preferably inserted into a recess in the foam. By differentiating the design of the support from the other surrounding surface sections of the device, the support can be highlighted for the operator. This different design makes it clear to the operator where the support is located. This facilitates the positioning of the magnet carrier.In other embodiments, the support can also be highlighted by a different surface structure compared to the surrounding surface sections, for example, by a rough surface structure if the surrounding surface sections are smooth, or by a smooth surface structure if the surrounding surface sections are rough. It is also conceivable to highlight the support by color. The support can also be made visible by the shape of the surrounding surface sections of the device, for example, by the support being part of a depression, for example, by the support being the base of a depression.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the first sensor is arranged below the support. In a preferred embodiment, the support is formed by an outward-facing surface of a plate-like body, with the first sensor being attached to the plate-like body. In an alternative embodiment, a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided below the support, with the first sensor arranged on this printed circuit board.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the device has a head plate. In a preferred embodiment, the head plate forms the upper end of the device. In a preferred embodiment, the support is designed as part of the head plate. In a preferred embodiment, a circuit board, on which, in a preferred embodiment, the first sensor is arranged, is connected to the head plate. The use of a head plate has advantages in the manufacture of the device according to the invention. For example, a base body of the device can be manufactured in a separate work step and the head plate can be manufactured in a separate manufacturing step, with the head plate then being placed onto the base body from above in a joining step.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the support is part of a trough. In an embodiment in which the device according to the invention has a head plate, the head plate can have a depression or recess that can be used as a trough. In a preferred embodiment, the support has a diameter, or a largest cross-section, of 15 mm to 150 mm, preferably of 30 mm to 100 mm, preferably of 50 mm to 100 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the support is designed as part of a trough. The trough is preferably circular. The trough preferably has a diameter of 15 mm to 150 mm, preferably of 30 mm to 100 mm, preferably of 50 mm to 100 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the trough has a depth of 0.3 mm to 5 mm, preferably of 0.3 mm to 3 mm, preferably of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the support has a recess or a dent. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the recess or dent in the case of a circular recess or a circular dent, or the largest cross-section of the recess or dent in the case of a recess or dent that is not circular, is many times smaller, in particular five times, particularly preferably ten times, particularly preferably fifteen times smaller, than the diameter of the support in the case of a circular support, or smaller than the largest cross-section of the support in the case of a non-circular support. A recess or dent can be used to position the magnetic carrier to be placed on the support, for example a disk, in its position on the support.If the magnetic carrier to be placed on the support, for example a disk, has a projection that can engage in the recess or dent, the relative position of the magnetic carrier, for example the disk, relative to the support can be determined by this engagement between the projection and the recess or dent.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the first sensor is arranged in alignment with the recess or dent beneath the support. In a preferred embodiment, an axis perpendicular to the outer surface of the support passes through the recess or dent and through the first sensor, so that the sensor is arranged in alignment with the recess or dent beneath the support. The recess can be a hole. However, the recess is preferably a blind hole or a groove and can thus prevent dirt from outside from entering the interior of the device.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, a metal plate is arranged beneath the support. Such a metal plate can be used to allow magnetic carriers placed on the support, such as a disk and / or a joystick, to adhere to the support. If the magnetic carrier is equipped with magnets, the provision of a metal plate beneath the support can allow the magnets to generate a holding force between the magnetic carrier and the metal plate, which holds the magnetic carrier to the support.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the metal plate has a hole. In a preferred embodiment, the hole in the metal plate is aligned with the first sensor. The provision of a hole in the metal plate allows the metal plate to be positioned directly beneath the support and the first sensor, in turn, beneath the metal plate. The provision of the hole ensures that the first sensor can determine the direction of a magnetic field generated by a magnet carrier placed on the support, relative to a preferred direction. The hole can be aligned with a recess or indentation that may be provided in the support.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the metal plate is provided below the support but above the first sensor. This allows the metal plate to be positioned as close as possible to the support. Furthermore, this arrangement allows the first sensor to be arranged on a circuit board, which can be positioned below the metal plate. In a preferred embodiment, an existing circuit board is arranged below the metal plate, and the metal plate is thus arranged between the circuit board and the support.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the metal plate is circular. In a preferred embodiment in which the metal plate is provided with a hole, the hole is circular and, in a preferred embodiment, is provided at the center of the circular metal plate. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the hole is several times smaller, in particular five times, particularly preferably ten times, particularly preferably fifteen times, than the diameter of the circular metal plate.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the support is enclosed by an LED ring. If the support is part of a flat outer surface of a plate-shaped object, the LED ring can be flush with this outer surface. If the support is formed as part of a recess, the LED ring can be arranged at the upper edge of the recess, i.e., at the point where the recess begins to taper inward. The LED ring can also be part of the side wall of the recess. The LED ring can also be arranged in the base of the recess.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the LED ring is formed from a sequence of individually controllable LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the individual LEDs can be controlled such that the individual LEDs illuminate in different colors in different operating states. Equipping the LED ring in this way enables operating situations in which the LED ring illuminates as a continuous ring in a single color. In other operating situations, an LED ring equipped in this way makes it possible to generate dynamic image sequences. For example, a "revolving pixel" can be formed with such an LED ring. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit can control the LED ring, in particular the individual LEDs of the LED ring, depending on a measurement signal from the first sensor.For example, it is possible to use the signal from the first sensor to control the LED ring in such a way that it visualizes the orientation of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor, i.e., only the LEDs of the LED ring light up that are aligned with the line along which the magnetic field acting on the first sensor is aligned.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the LED ring comprises individual LEDs capable of generating light, and a ring-shaped light guide (hereinafter referred to as the light guide ring), which transmits the light generated by the LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the LEDs are arranged in a circle, and the light guide ring is positioned above the circularly arranged LEDs, so that each LED radiates the light it generates at least predominantly, preferably entirely, into a circular segment of the light guide ring associated with the respective LED. In a preferred embodiment, the light guide ring is manufactured in one piece and has the same light transmittance throughout.In an alternative embodiment, the segmentation resulting from the individual LEDs can be taken up by forming the light guide ring, in a preferred embodiment, either from circular segment-shaped light guides that are connected to one another at the ends to form the light guide ring, wherein the individual circular segment-shaped light guides have poorer light transmittance at the ends where they are connected to one another, so that light irradiated into the respective circular segment-shaped light guide radiates through the light guide but not into neighboring circular segment-shaped light guides. Alternatively, segmentation can be achieved by subsequently creating regions in the interior of a one-piece, ring-shaped light guide that have poorer light transmittance.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the individual LEDs of the LED ring are arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) below the support, and the light guide ring is arranged above the LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the support is enclosed by the light guide ring. If the support is part of a flat outer surface of a plate-shaped object, the light guide ring can be designed to be flush with this outer surface. If the support is formed as part of a trough, the light guide ring can be arranged at the upper edge of the trough, i.e. at the point where the trough begins to taper inwards. The light guide ring can also be part of the side wall of the trough. The light guide ring can also be arranged in the base of the trough.In one embodiment, the device can comprise a second sensor, wherein the second sensor can detect a property or a change in a property of this environment within a region of its environment, wherein in particular the second sensor can be a reader for communicating with a passive RFID transponder and / or for communicating with an active RFID transponder, and wherein the control unit can be designed such that the control unit can output a further output signal and / or a further control signal if the second sensor can detect a specific property or a specific change in a property of this environment within the region of its environment or if the control unit can detect a specific change in the property detected by the second sensor.

[0029] In this way, further information can be provided by detecting a property or a specific change in a property. For example, the second sensor can be configured to determine information about the magnetic carrier by detecting a property or a specific change in a property. Thus, not only can movements of the magnetic carrier be detected, but also further information about the magnetic carrier can be determined.

[0030] If the second sensor can be a reader for communicating with a passive RFID transponder and / or for communicating with an active RFID transponder, information about the magnetic carrier can be determined particularly easily and reliably.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the second sensor is arranged below the support. In a preferred embodiment, the support is formed by an outwardly facing surface of a plate-like body, with at least a portion of the second sensor being attached to the plate-like body. In an alternative embodiment, a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided below the support, with at least a portion of the first sensor being arranged on this printed circuit board.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the second sensor has an antenna and an evaluation unit connected to the antenna. In a preferred embodiment, the evaluation unit of the second sensor is arranged below the support. In a preferred embodiment, the support is formed by an outward-facing surface of a plate-like body, wherein in this preferred embodiment the evaluation unit of the second sensor is fastened to the plate-like body. In an alternative embodiment, a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided below the support, wherein the evaluation unit of the second sensor is arranged on this printed circuit board.In a preferred embodiment, the antenna of the second sensor is provided on the plate-like body and the evaluation unit of the second sensor is arranged on a circuit board provided below the plate-like body, wherein the antenna is particularly preferably provided on the plate-like body at least partially encircling the support, preferably completely encircling the support.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided below the support, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor, and preferably the first sensor and the second sensor and the control unit, are arranged on this printed circuit board. In an alternative, likewise preferred embodiment,

[0034] • a first printed circuit board (a circuit board, a printed circuit, a “Printed Circuit Board” (PCB)) is provided below the support, wherein at least a part of the second sensor, preferably an evaluation unit of a second sensor having an antenna and an evaluation unit, is arranged on the first printed circuit board and

[0035] • a second circuit board (a circuit board, a printed circuit, a “Printed Circuit Board” (PCB)) is provided below the support, wherein the first sensor is arranged on the second circuit board.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the second circuit board is arranged closer to the support than the first circuit board. In a preferred embodiment, the first circuit board is arranged at an angle to the second circuit board, preferably at an angle between 75° and 105°, preferably perpendicular. In a preferred embodiment, the support is formed by an outward-facing surface of a plate-like body, wherein the second circuit board runs parallel to the outward-facing surface of the plate-like body and the first circuit board runs at an angle between 75° and 105°, preferably perpendicular to the outward-facing surface of the plate-like body.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is provided on the printed circuit board (PCB), on which at least part of the second sensor, preferably an evaluation unit of a second sensor having an antenna and an evaluation unit, is also provided. The control unit can preferably be arranged on the first printed circuit board.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the individual LEDs of the LED ring are arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) below the support, and the first sensor is arranged on the same circuit board or on a separate circuit board connected to the circuit board on which the individual LEDs are arranged. In a preferred embodiment, the LEDs are not arranged on the circuit board on which the first sensor or an evaluation unit of the first sensor is arranged.

[0039] One field of application of the invention is the use of the device, in particular as a toy, with a loudspeaker, in particular for the reproduction of audio information, in particular pieces of music, spoken texts or the combination of pieces of music and spoken texts. This audio information particularly preferably has a reproduction duration of at least 10 seconds, preferably of more than 15 seconds, particularly preferably of more than 20 seconds and especially preferably of more than 25 seconds. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is even provided that the reproduction duration of the audio information can be at least 30 seconds and particularly preferably more than 1 minute. For example, radio plays, which are particularly preferably intended to be reproduced using the invention, often have a length of more than 5 minutes, sometimes up to 30 minutes or even more. The audio information to be reproduced according to the invention is in particular not a confirmation signal.In particular, the audio information to be reproduced according to the invention is not an acknowledgment tone, which can be output, for example, when a first object has been correctly aligned relative to a second object. Likewise, the audio information is particularly preferably not a jingle that is played when a first object is brought close to a second object or is brought into a predetermined, specific position relative to the second object. The invention relates to audio information whose playback duration is longer, as is the case with pieces of music or spoken texts. The audio information is particularly preferably one in which a non-periodic sequence of different tones is reproduced during playback.

[0040] The loudspeaker of the device according to the invention is particularly preferably a transducer that can convert electrical signals into mechanical vibrations (sound). Instead of a loudspeaker, or in addition to a loudspeaker, the device according to the invention can also have a loudspeaker connection, for example a Speakon, XLR connection, or a 6.35 mm jack socket. By controlling the loudspeaker connection, the control unit can also control this loudspeaker if a loudspeaker is connected to the loudspeaker connection. In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention has at least two loudspeakers, thus enabling stereo playback of the audio information.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a memory in which data is stored, based on which the control unit can control the loudspeaker to reproduce the audio information. The device can contain the data, particularly preferably the audio information in a specific data format, for example, an MP3 format or a WAV format. Embodiments are conceivable in which the memory contains only data for a single piece of audio information. In such an embodiment, the toy according to the invention can be used to reproduce a single piece of audio information upon appropriate adjustment of the property of the area surrounding the sensor, or upon appropriate adjustment of the change in the property of the area surrounding the sensor.whose playback duration is particularly preferably at least 10 seconds. In a preferred embodiment, data of various audio information items are stored in the memory. In such an embodiment, the control unit is particularly preferably designed such that, if the second sensor detects a specific first property or a specific first change in a property of this environment within the area of ​​its surroundings, or the control unit detects a specific first change in the property detected by the second sensor, it controls the loudspeaker to play back a first piece of audio information, the playback of which is particularly preferably at least 10 seconds, while the control unit controls the loudspeaker to play back a second piece of audio information, the playback of which is particularly preferably at least 10 seconds.when the second sensor detects a specific second property or a specific second change in a property of this environment within the area of ​​its surroundings, or the control unit detects a specific second change in the property detected by the second sensor. This makes it possible to determine, by specifically influencing the property of the area of ​​the environment of the second sensor or by specifically influencing the change in the property of this environment of the second sensor, which of a plurality of audio information items the device reproduces. For example, the device can reproduce a specific first audio information item if the presence of a first RFID transponder is detected in the area of ​​the environment of the second sensor, while the device can reproduce a second audio information item,when the presence of a second RFID transponder is detected in the area surrounding the second sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the data of an audio information item is stored as a data set with separately readable data sequences, for example, to play an audio book in the form of individual chapters or to make the individual chapters of an audio book controllable. Each data sequence of a data set can be read separately in a preferred embodiment and used to control the loudspeaker.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a unit for receiving data from the Internet and / or for sending data to the Internet, particularly preferably an antenna for a wireless local area network (WLAN), a mobile data radio technology such as LTE, UMTS or their predecessors or successors, or a connection socket for connecting a cable of a local network that also has Internet access, for example a connection socket for an Ethernet cable. The presence of a unit for receiving data from the Internet makes it possible for the control unit to download from the Internet the information that can be assigned to a direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction and can be output as an output signal and / or a control signal.For example, data for games can be downloaded for a device according to the invention and a magnetic carrier. The presence of a unit for receiving data from the Internet makes it possible for the control unit to download the data containing the audio information to be reproduced in a specific data format from the Internet. In this way, the device can play audio information that was not stored in the device before the second sensor detects a specific property within its surroundings or a specific change in a property of that surroundings, or before the control unit detects a specific change in the property detected by the second sensor.The control unit can be configured to receive the data from the internet and permanently store it in a memory, and to control the loudspeaker to reproduce the audio information based on the data stored in the memory. Additionally or alternatively, it is conceivable for the control unit to use the data received from the internet directly to control the loudspeaker to reproduce audio information (so-called streaming), whereby this embodiment can also include temporarily storing the data received from the internet in a buffer.

[0043] In embodiments that receive the data containing the audio information in a specific data format from the Internet, it is conceivable, for example, for the control unit to keep a specific server address of a server connected to the Internet in a memory and to keep a table in a memory in which a specific property or a specific change to a property is assigned to a specific identification number. In such an embodiment, the control unit is then designed to communicate with the specific server upon recognition of the specific property or the specific change to the property and, by recourse to the information associated with the specific property orto download a specific data set from the server using the identification number assigned to the specific change in the property and to use this data to control the loudspeaker to reproduce the audio information resulting from this data. For example, music tracks can be stored on the server as data in a specific data format, with the respective music track or the data containing this music track being stored on the server under a specific identification code. In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention already contains an assignment table which assigns certain properties or changes in the properties of the area surrounding the sensor to some, a plurality, or in a preferred embodiment even all, of the identification numbers that are also used in the server's database.This enables the control unit to download targeted data records from the server. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the control unit is designed to transmit information containing the determined specific property or the determined change in the property to a specific server that is connected to the Internet. The assignment of the recognized specific property or the recognized specific change in the property to a specific piece of audio information can then take place on the server. The control unit is then designed to receive data from the server containing the audio information to be played back. The server transmits the data to the device that it has assigned to the specific property or the specific change in the property transmitted to it by the control unit.This embodiment avoids the need to maintain an assignment table in the device and thus increases the flexibility of receiving specific data containing the audio information based on a specific detected property or a specific detected change in a property of the area surrounding the second sensor. Such an embodiment allows, for example, increasing the number of data records provided on the server without having to adapt an assignment table in the control unit of the device.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is designed to directly control the loudspeaker for playback of the audio information. Particularly preferably, no additional start signals need to be supplied to the control unit for controlling the loudspeaker for playback of the audio information. However, it is conceivable for the control unit to delay the control of the loudspeaker for playback of the audio information using a delay element.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the device is cube-shaped. The device according to the invention can also have other shapes, for example, spherical or can take the shape of larger objects particularly popular with children, such as a ship, a locomotive, a house, or an animal, such as an elephant.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the device has a control element in the form of a rocker switch, with which the volume, for example of the playback of the audio information, can be influenced. In a first position, the rocker switch sends a first signal to the control unit, for example a signal to increase the volume of the playback of the audio information, and in a second position, the rocker switch sends a second signal to the control unit, for example a signal to reduce the volume of the playback of the audio information. Furthermore, such a rocker switch can have a neutral center position in which no signal influencing the volume is sent to the control unit.Alternatively, it is conceivable for the device to have a first operating element with which signals for increasing the volume of the audio information playback can be transmitted to the control unit, and for the device to have a second operating element with which signals for reducing the volume of the audio information playback can be sent to the control unit. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the operating element that influences the increase in volume is larger than the operating element that influences the reduction in volume of the audio information playback. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the two operating elements have the shape of ears that are attached to a housing of a base body of the device, for example, protrude from the housing.The ear-shaped controls can emit the signal they generate to influence the volume of the audio information playback when a pressing or bending motion is performed. This has the advantage that the user can recognize the function of the controls without having to rely on language skills.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention has a display. This display can, in particular, be an E-Ink display. The display can also be a touch-sensitive display. Additionally or alternatively, the device can have an LED or a sequence of LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the device has a proximity sensor, a motion sensor (acceleration sensor), an ambient light sensor, a humidity sensor, an inclination sensor, a GPS sensor, and / or a gyroscopic sensor. Such sensors allow further operating commands to be generated for the control unit. For example, a device designed in this way can detect shaking and generate an operating signal for the control unit from this. For example, shaking the device can be used to play back various audio information in a random order.A device designed in this way can also detect whether a light blow is applied to the device from the left or right. This can be used, for example, to jump to the next or previous chapter within a data set. A device designed in this way can also detect whether it is being thrown. Operating signals can also be generated from this.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the device has a sensor that can generate a signal dependent on the distance between an object placed in the area of ​​the recording and the recording, for example an ultrasonic sensor. This makes it possible, in a preferred embodiment of the device, to make the control of the loudspeaker dependent on this signal, for example on the object touching or almost touching the recording. Furthermore, in a supplementary or alternative embodiment, this makes it possible to generate further operating commands in response to a change in the distance. For example, briefly removing and then placing the magnetic carrier again can be used to jump to the next chapter within a data set. Alternatively, briefly removing and then placing the magnetic carrier again can be used to generate an output signal and / or a control signal.

[0049] A device oriented in this way can detect whether it is being tilted vertically or horizontally. These signals can also be used to generate control signals for the control unit. For example, a vertical tilt can be used to navigate within a playlist, while a horizontal tilt allows switching between applications.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention has a data port, for example, a USB port. Such a port can be used, for example, to load a memory provided as part of the device in a preferred embodiment with data containing, for example, audio information. It is also possible to connect the device according to the invention to a computer via such a port, for example, to configure the toy's software. Furthermore, a game can be played on a screen via such a port.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the device is encased in foam or another elastic material. Particularly preferably, the device according to the invention is completely encased in foam or another elastic material, or, in an embodiment with a display, only the area of ​​the display is not encased in foam or an elastic material. The encasement protects the other components of the device. Furthermore, the encasement protects children from injury.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises an energy storage device, in particular a battery, particularly preferably a rechargeable battery. In a preferred embodiment, the device is designed such that the battery can be charged wirelessly, for example, by means of inductive energy transfer. This offers the advantage that the charging station can be designed to be child-friendly, for example, in the form of a charging cradle into which the device must be placed alone for charging. This prevents children from having to handle electrical cables to charge the device's battery.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the device can generate light, for example to function as a night light. In a preferred embodiment, the device has a housing in which the second sensor is arranged such that the area of ​​the surroundings of the second sensor in which the second sensor can detect a property or a change in a property of this environment extends no further than 1 m, particularly preferably no further than 150 mm, particularly preferably no further than 100 mm, particularly preferably no further than 50 mm, particularly preferably no further than 10 mm, particularly preferably no further than 5 mm beyond a surface of the housing. This offers the advantage that the property orThe change in the property that the second sensor is intended to detect so that the control unit can output another output signal and / or another control signal and / or control the loudspeaker to reproduce the audio information is only detected in a narrow area around the device's housing. This prevents incorrect operation.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the device is made of non-combustible or flame-resistant material.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the device has a microphone or a connection option for incoming audio signals, for example from a microphone. This allows the device to be controlled by voice or to make recordings.

[0056] Particularly preferably, the device can be integrated into a wireless local area network via a WLAN antenna and can receive control commands via the WLAN antenna, for example via a smartphone or a PC. In a preferred embodiment, these control commands are not control commands with which the user can influence the start of the playback of the audio information. The device can also be designed to be operated via a remote control. In a preferred embodiment, the device has a camera. If the device is designed as a night light, for example, the camera can assume a monitoring function for the child lying next to the device by the camera being able to be controlled, for example, from a smartphone and the image recorded by the camera being able to be played back on a display such as a television, a smartphone or other mobile display.In addition or alternatively, the audio information recorded by a microphone or fed in via a connection can be played back to a speaker or smartphone in this way. It is also possible for a device integrated into a wireless local area network via a WLAN antenna to transmit the audio information to other network participants, for example, by streaming it to a television or another speaker.

[0057] The invention relates, on the one hand, to the device according to the invention. The device according to the invention is already a marketable product. By providing the device according to the invention, third parties can be enabled to achieve the advantages of the invention by adding a magnet.

[0058] However, the invention is also directed to a system comprising a device according to the invention and a magnet carrier, wherein the magnet carrier has an axis of rotation about which the magnet carrier can rotate, and has a radially magnetized magnet in which the magnetic axis of the magnet is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the magnet carrier is a disk. In a further preferred embodiment, the magnet carrier can be a joystick. A radially magnetized magnet in which the magnetic axis of the magnet is perpendicular to the axis of rotation is understood to be one in which the magnetic axis of the radially magnetized magnet intersects a plane containing the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic axis of the radially magnetized magnet intersects the axis of rotation.In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or the joystick provided in a preferred embodiment, rests on a support, in particular on a support formed as part of a recess of the device according to the invention.

[0059] By providing the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or the joystick, an object is created by means of which a magnetic field is generated which can act on the first sensor and whose orientation relative to a preferred direction can be determined by the first sensor.

[0060] The magnetic carrier provided in the system according to the invention, in particular the disk and / or the joystick, has a rotation axis and a radially magnetized magnet, thus making it possible to rotate the magnetic carrier, particularly preferably the disk and / or the joystick, about the rotation axis and thereby change the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction. Thus, in the system according to the invention, by rotating the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or the joystick, a signal detectable by the first sensor or a change in a signal detectable by the first sensor can be generated, which can be used to control the control unit or which is used by the control unit to output an output signal and / or control signal.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic carrier, particularly preferably the disk and / or joystick, is formed by a geometric body whose shape is rotationally symmetrical to the rotation axis. In a preferred embodiment, the disk is a coin or an ellipsoid. The magnetic body can also be formed by two cones or truncated cones, each arranged with their base surfaces adjacent to one another.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the disk has a diameter of more than 15 mm, particularly preferably more than 20 mm, particularly preferably more than 25 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the disk has a diameter of less than 150 mm, particularly preferably less than 120 mm, particularly preferably less than 10 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the disk is sufficiently large so that it cannot be lost. One area of ​​application for the system according to the invention is as a toy. Here, there is a risk that a disk that is too small will get lost among all the objects that are usually present in a children's playroom. On the other hand, in a preferred embodiment, the disk is so small that it can also be easily handled by children's hands, for example even by the hands of a 2- or 3-year-old child.It should also be noted that the disk can also be used to generate operating commands for the control unit by rapidly rotating it on the support or in the recess. It has been shown that for such operation, the disk must be large enough to be easily gripped and rotated quickly, while also being small enough to avoid excessive inertia around the rotation axis.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the disk has a top side and a bottom side, with the radially magnetized magnet preferably being arranged centrally between the top side and the bottom side. In an alternative embodiment, the disk has a top side and a bottom side and has a first radially magnetized magnet arranged closer to the bottom side and a second radially magnetized magnet arranged closer to the top side. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic axis of the first radially magnetized magnet is parallel to the magnetic axis of the second radially magnetized magnet. In an alternative embodiment, the magnetic axis of the first radially magnetized magnet is not parallel to the magnetic axis of the second radially magnetized magnet.In an alternative embodiment, the disk has a top and a bottom and has a radially magnetized magnet located closer to the bottom.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the magnet carrier is a joystick. The joystick can preferably have the radially magnetized magnet on its underside, which can rest on the device.

[0065] Embodiments are conceivable in which the radially magnetized magnet protrudes from the top or bottom of the disc, or is attached, for example, glued, to the top or bottom of the disc. The protrusion of the radially magnetized magnet beyond the top or bottom of the disc can be used to insert the protruding part of the magnet into a recess or dent in the base of the toy.

[0066] The disk can be made of plastic or wood or even of a metal, preferably a non-magnetic metal.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or the joystick, has, in addition to the radially magnetized magnet, at least one axially magnetized magnet whose magnetic axis runs through the axis of rotation or parallel to the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, at least two, particularly preferably at least three, particularly preferably at least four, axially magnetized magnets are provided. In a preferred embodiment, fewer than 100, particularly preferably fewer than 50, particularly preferably fewer than 20, particularly preferably fewer than 10, axially magnetized magnets are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the axially magnetized magnets present are arranged at the same distance from one another around the axis of rotation.In a preferred embodiment, all axially magnetized magnets present are arranged in a circle around the rotation axis and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, are equally spaced from one another in the circumferential direction. If, for example, three axially magnetized magnets are provided, they are particularly preferably at an angle of 120° to one another. If four axially magnetized magnets are provided, they are, for example, at an angular distance of 90° to one another. The axially magnetized magnets can be used to hold the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or the joystick, to a metal plate of the toy, which is preferably arranged below the support.In a preferred embodiment, the axially magnetized magnets are chosen to be sufficiently strong to hold the disk and / or joystick to the support, allowing, for example, the device according to the invention to be held upside down with the disk and / or joystick resting on the support without the disk and / or joystick falling off. On the other hand, the strength of the axially magnetized magnets is chosen to be sufficiently low to allow rotation of the disk and / or joystick around the rotation axis.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the radially magnetized magnet is rectangular, particularly preferably square, or elliptical, or polygonal. Such a magnet can be inserted into a correspondingly shaped recess in the disk and / or joystick, whereby the shape prevents the radially magnetized magnet from rotating in the recess. This determines the orientation of the magnetic field of the radially magnetized magnet relative to the disk and / or joystick.

[0069] In a preferred embodiment, the radially magnetized magnet has a magnetization of N50. In a preferred embodiment, the radially magnetized magnet has a remanence of 1.00 to 1.5T.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, the axially magnetized magnets are disk-shaped, with the magnetization direction running through the thickness of the disk. In a preferred embodiment, the axially magnetized magnets each have a remanence of 1.00 to 1.5 T.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment, the disk and / or the joystick has a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder. The provision of an RFID transponder allows the disk and / or the joystick not only to apply a magnetic field acting in a specific direction to the first sensor, but also to provide information readable by the second sensor. This information can, on the one hand, consist solely of information relating to a system according to the invention. Thus, it is conceivable that the control unit of the device only further processes the signals generated by the first sensor or derives control commands from them and / or generates the output signal and / or the control signal if, at the same time, the second sensor derives specific information from the passive or active RFID transponder provided in the disk.For example, it can be provided that without the presence of an RFID transponder in the disk and / or joystick, and thus a corresponding signal from the second sensor, the control unit will not further process the signals from the first sensor. Alternatively, the presence of the RFID transponder can be used to trigger certain programs in the control unit. For example, it is conceivable to play various games with the device using the disk and / or joystick. Specific coding of the respective RFID transponder can inform the device which game the respective disk and / or joystick belongs to.

[0072] For example, the function of the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or joystick, can be transmitted through the coding of the respective RFID transponder. For example, various magnetic carriers can be used with the device. In this way, magnetic carriers with different functions can be used, whereby the functions can be transmitted via the coding of the respective RFID transponder. For example, magnetic carriers such as disks and / or joysticks can have different sensors, such as push buttons. The functions of the magnetic carrier can be transmitted via the coding of the respective RFID transponder.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, within the system according to the invention, in addition to the magnetic carrier, in particular in addition to the disk, an identification carrier is provided which has a property that the second sensor can detect, namely a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder. This makes it possible to implement the functionality known from WO 2015 / 104222 A1 using the device according to the invention. If the identification carrier is placed on the support instead of the magnetic carrier, in particular instead of the disk and / or the joystick, the second sensor can read its passive RFID transponder or its active RFID transponder and use this information to identify a file whose audio information the control unit is to play via the loudspeaker or the loudspeaker connection, as described in WO 2015 / 104222 A1.In such an application, the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or joystick, would be present within the system, but would not be placed on the support in the specific operating situation. It is also possible to create operating situations in which both the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk and / or joystick, and the identification carrier are present. For example, it is conceivable that the disk is placed on the support and the identification carrier is placed on the disk.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, within the system

[0075] • a first magnetic carrier, in particular a first disk and / or a first joystick, is provided, wherein the first magnetic carrier has a rotation axis around which it can rotate and has a radially magnetized magnet, in which the magnetic axis of the magnet is perpendicular to the rotation axis and

[0076] • a second magnetic carrier, in particular a second disk and / or a second joystick, is provided, wherein the second magnetic carrier has a rotation axis about which it can rotate and has a radially magnetized magnet in which the magnetic axis of the magnet is perpendicular to the rotation axis.

[0077] The provision of a first magnetic carrier and a second magnetic carrier allows different forms of interaction with the toy.

[0078] In a preferred embodiment, the first disk and / or the first joystick and the second disk and / or the second joystick each have a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder. The provision of an RFID transponder not only allows a magnetic field acting in a specific direction to act on the first sensor by means of the disk and / or the joystick, but also provides information that can be read by the second sensor. The second sensor can thus determine which magnetic carrier is on the device. Depending on the magnetic carrier, the control unit can, for example, control the loudspeaker or the loudspeaker connection and / or a possibly provided LED ring differently. Output signal and / or a control signal can control a game, an aircraft or a gripper arm.

[0079] In a preferred embodiment, the outline of the magnetic carrier, in particular the outline of the disk in a plan view along the rotation axis, is circular, elliptical or polygonal, particularly preferably pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal. In a preferred embodiment of the embodiment with a first magnetic carrier and a second magnetic carrier, the outline of the first magnetic carrier in a plan view along the rotation axis is different from the outline of the second magnetic carrier in a plan view along the rotation axis. In a preferred embodiment of the embodiment with a first magnetic carrier and a second magnetic carrier

[0080] • the first magnet carrier has a bottom side and a top side, the bottom side being intended to place the first magnet carrier on the support,

[0081] • the second magnet carrier has a bottom side and a top side, the bottom side being intended for placing the second magnet carrier on the support, the bottom side of the first magnet carrier having the same shape as the bottom side of the second magnet carrier and particularly preferably being flat, and the top side of the first magnet carrier having a different shape than the top side of the second magnet carrier. For example, the top side of the first magnet carrier can be flat like the bottom side of the first magnet carrier, while the top side of the second magnet carrier is wavy or has a protruding pin.

[0082] The method according to the invention for operating a system according to the invention provides that

[0083] • the first sensor determines the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet relative to a preferred direction, and the control unit outputs an output signal and / or a control signal based on the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet relative to a preferred direction, as determined by the first sensor

[0084] For example, the output signal and / or the control signal can be output to drive a speaker or a speaker terminal to play music or a spoken story.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the content of the music or spoken story, for the reproduction of which the control unit controls the loudspeaker or the loudspeaker connection, depends on the direction of the magnetic field generated by the radially magnetized magnet acting on the first sensor relative to the preferred direction, as determined by the first sensor. For example, in a first direction, music or a spoken story with a first content can be reproduced, and in a second direction, different from the first, music or a spoken story with a second content, different from the first. In a preferred embodiment, the method is carried out on a device in which the support of the device is enclosed by an LED ring having an LED.In the preferred embodiment, the control unit controls an LED of the LED ring based on the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor, determined by the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet, relative to a preferred direction. The LED ring can have multiple LEDs that are controlled differently in a specific direction.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the type of control of the LED depends on the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet, relative to the preferred direction, determined by the first sensor. For example, the LED can be controlled in a first direction and not controlled in a second direction that differs from the first. Or, for example, the LED can be controlled to emit light of a first color in a first direction and to emit light of a second color that differs from the first in a second direction that differs from the first.

[0087] In a preferred embodiment, the method is carried out on a system with a magnetic carrier that has a passive RFID transponder or active RFID transponder. In a preferred embodiment, the content of the music or spoken story, for the playback of which the control unit controls the loudspeaker or the loudspeaker connection, depends on

[0088] • the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet relative to the preferred direction, and

[0089] • information that the second sensor reads from the passive RFID transponder or the active RFID transponder.

[0090] In a preferred embodiment, the method is carried out on a system with a magnetic carrier having a passive RFID transponder or active RFID transponder. In a preferred embodiment, the output signal and / or the control signal

[0091] • the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet relative to the preferred direction, and

[0092] • information that the second sensor reads from the passive RFID transponder or the active RFID transponder. In a preferred embodiment, the method is carried out on a system with

[0093] • a first magnetic carrier having a first passive RFID transponder or first active RFID transponder, and

[0094] • a second magnetic carrier having a second passive RFID transponder or first second RFID transponder.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, the content of the music or spoken story, for the reproduction of which the control unit controls the loudspeaker or the loudspeaker connection, depends on

[0096] • the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet relative to the preferred direction, determined by the first sensor, and on whether the second sensor detects the first passive RFID transponder or first RFID transponder or second passive RFID transponder or first second RFID transponder.

[0097] In a preferred embodiment, the output signal and / or the control signal depends on

[0098] • the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor and generated by the radially magnetized magnet relative to the preferred direction, determined by the first sensor, and depends on whether the second sensor detects the first passive RFID transponder or first RFID transponder or second passive RFID transponder or first second RFID transponder.

[0099] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely illustrates embodiments of the invention.

[0100] Therein show: iq. 1 a schematic, perspective view of a system with a

[0101] device and a joystick; a schematic, perspective view of a system with a

[0102] Device and a disk; Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of a head plate of the device of the system according to Fig. 2 and a sectional side view of the disk of the system according to Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of two possible embodiments of

[0103] Disks that can be used in a system according to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a disk that can be used in a system according to Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a schematic, perspective view of a head plate of the device of the system and of a disk of the system placed on the head plate in a first embodiment; Fig. 7 is a schematic, perspective view of a head plate of the device of the system and of a disk of the system placed on the head plate in a second embodiment; Fig. 9 is a schematic, perspective view of a head plate of the device of the system and of a disk of the system placed on the head plate in a fourth embodiment; Fig.10 is a schematic, perspective view of a head plate of the device of the system in a further embodiment; a schematic, perspective view from below of a disk of the system; FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the structure of a head plate of a device of the system; FIG. 13 is a schematic, perspective view of a head plate of the device of the system in the embodiment according to FIG. 10 with a disk inserted into a recess of the head plate; FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a system according to the invention with a.

[0104] Device, a disk and an identification carrier. Fig. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a system with a device 1 and a joystick 20. The device 1, in particular the control device 1, for detecting movements of a magnetic carrier 20 comprises a control unit 62. The magnetic carrier in the present case is a joystick 20. The device comprises a first sensor 9, wherein the first sensor can determine the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor 9 relative to a preferred direction A. The control unit 62 is designed such that the control unit 62 outputs an output signal and / or a control signal based on the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor 9 relative to a preferred direction A.

[0105] The output signal and / or control signal can, for example, be configured to control a device such as an aircraft or a gripper arm. The output signal and / or control signal can, for example, be configured to play a computer game.

[0106] The joystick 20 includes a magnet 121 for generating a magnetic field. Furthermore, the joystick has several sensors 122 in the form of push buttons 122.

[0107] Fig. 2 shows a device 1 for reproducing music or a spoken story. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the device 1 is cube-shaped and has a loudspeaker 2 on one side wall.

[0108] The device has a foam casing 3, enclosed in a leather skin, on its side walls and on parts of its top and bottom (the bottom is not visible in the perspective of Fig. 1). In the area of ​​the loudspeaker 2, the casing 3 has holes through which the sound waves can escape to the outside.

[0109] On the top side of the device 1, a head plate 4 is inserted into a recess in the casing 3. A possible structure of a head plate 4 is shown in the exploded view in Fig. 12. The head plate 4 has a frame 5. A second circuit board 6 in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided below the frame 5. A first circuit board 60 is arranged below the second circuit board 6 and at an angle of 90° to the second circuit board 6. The evaluation unit 61 of a second sensor is arranged on the first circuit board 60, wherein the second sensor can detect a property or a change in a property of this environment within an area of ​​this environment, wherein the second sensor is a reader for communicating with a passive RFID transponder and / or for communicating with an active RFID transponder. The second sensor has an antenna (not shown in detail) and the evaluation unit.The antenna can be ring-shaped and embedded in the frame 5 such that the antenna extends circumferentially around the support 8, in particular circumferentially around the recess 16. Furthermore, a control unit 62 is provided on the circuit board 60, which can control the loudspeaker 2 to play music or a spoken story when the second sensor detects a specific property or a specific change in a property of the surroundings within the area of ​​its surroundings, or when the control unit 62 detects a specific change in the property detected by the second sensor.

[0110] The control unit 62 can have a TI CC3200 microcontroller with 80MHz and 256kB RAM as a processor, as well as an ISSI IS25LQ032B 4MB flash memory and a SanDisk Edge 8GB memory, as well as a DACA / amplifier: TI TLV320DAC3100 and an NXP MMA8451Q acceleration sensor.

[0111] A first sensor 9 is provided on the circuit board 6, which can determine the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor relative to a preferred direction A. The preferred direction A in the embodiments shown here runs parallel to the base surface 7 of a support 8 provided in the head plate 4. The preferred direction A runs perpendicular and thus radial to a rotation axis B. The first sensor 9 in the embodiment shown here is a Hall sensor. The preferred direction A is a feature resulting from the design of the Hall sensor. The position of the preferred direction A relative to the circuit board 6 depends on the orientation with which the Hall sensor is applied to the circuit board 6. The position of the preferred direction A relative to other components of the head plate 4, e.g. relative to the frame 5 or, for example, relative to operating elements 13, 14 provided on the frame 5, depends on the orientation with which the circuit board 6 is installed in the frame 5.In the design shown in Fig. 12, the Hall sensor is mounted on the circuit board 6 and the circuit board 6 is mounted in the frame 5 in such a way that the preferred direction A runs below the two operating elements 13, 14, between these two.

[0112] The first sensor 9 is arranged centrally on the circular disk-shaped circuit board 6. The rotation axis B runs through the first sensor B and intersects the circular disk-shaped circuit board 6 at its center.

[0113] The head plate 4 further contains the light guide ring 71 of an LED ring. This has individually controllable LEDs 70. The individual LEDs 70 can also be individually controlled so that the color of the light emitted by each LED 70 can be individually controlled. The LEDs 70 of the LED ring can be controlled by the control unit 62 on the circuit board 6. The LEDs 70 are arranged on the circuit board 6 and below the light guide ring 71 and radiate the light they generate into the light guide ring 71, which transports this light from the LEDs 70 below the support 8 into the area of ​​the support 8, so that it is visible in the top view of the head plate 8.

[0114] The head plate 4 further comprises a circular disk-shaped metal plate 10. A hole 12 is provided in the center of the metal plate 10. The relative arrangement of the metal plate 12 to the first sensor 9 is selected such that the first sensor 9 is arranged below the hole 12. This allows a magnetic field generated by a disk 20 arranged above the metal plate 10 to be better detected by the first sensor 9. In an alternative embodiment, the first sensor 9 is not arranged below the hole 12 of the metal plate 10, but rather in the hole 12 of the metal plate 10. The relative position of the metal plate 10 to the first sensor 9 can be adjusted by attaching the metal plate 10 to the frame 5 and by attaching the first sensor 2 to the circuit board 6 and by attaching the circuit board 6 to the frame 5.

[0115] The head plate 4 also has a sticker 15 glued to the top of the metal plate 10.

[0116] The control elements 13, 14 are connected to the control unit on circuit board 6 and can generate control commands that are implemented by the control unit on circuit board 6. For example, the volume of the music playback or the spoken story can be adjusted using the control elements 13, 14.

[0117] The toy 1 has a support 8. This support 8 can be part of a recess 16 formed in the head plate 4. For example, the support 8 is formed by the base surface 7 of the recess 16 (see, for example, Fig. 9). The provision of a recess 16 facilitates the positioning of the disk 20 and / or the joystick 20 on the support 8, particularly if the diameter of the recess 16 only slightly exceeds the diameter of the disk 20.

[0118] However, as Figs. 6 to 9 show, other configurations of the support 8 and the disk 20 are also possible. Figs. 2, 3, 6 to 9, and 13 show the disk 20 in an arrangement on the support 8 in which a magnetic axis D of the magnet is aligned with the preferred direction A. By rotating the disk 20 about the rotation axes C, the relative position of the magnetic axis D relative to the preferred direction A can be changed. The second sensor 9, designed as a Hall sensor, can determine the position of the magnetic axis D relative to the preferred axis A.

[0119] The device 1 can be part of a system that, in addition to the device 1, also has a disk 20. The disk 20 has a rotation axis C and a radially magnetized magnet 21, in which the magnetic axis D of the magnet 21 is perpendicular to the rotation axis C (see, for example, Figs. 3, 4, 10).

[0120] In addition to the radially magnetized magnet 21, the disk 20 has four further, but axially magnetized magnets 22, whose respective magnetic axes E run parallel to the rotation axis C of the disk 20. The magnetic effect of the magnets 22 allows the disk 20 to be held to the metal plate 10.

[0121] A headphone jack 17 is provided in the head plate 4.

[0122] A passive RFID transponder 23 is provided in the disk 20, which can be read by the first sensor.

[0123] Fig. 14 shows that the system depicted in Fig. 2, comprising device 1 and disk 20, can be expanded to include an identification carrier 30 in the form of a toy figure. A passive RFI DT transponder is provided in the identification carrier 30, which can be read by the second sensor.

[0124] The system according to the invention can be operated, for example, by placing a first disk 20 with a first RFID transponder 23 on the support 8. The second sensor detects the RFID transponder 23 and sends a corresponding signal to the control unit 61. The control unit 61 then calls a program routine stored in it or in a memory. As part of the program routine, the loudspeaker 2 is controlled to play a sentence and, for example, an LED 70 of the LED ring is controlled with a specific color. For example, the LED can be controlled with the color red, and the loudspeaker can be controlled to play the story "Turn the disk to the red light."If the operator now rotates the disk so that the direction of the magnetic field of the radially magnetized magnet 21 acting on the second sensor 9 assumes a predetermined position relative to a preferred direction A (which is detected by the second sensor 9), the control unit 61 can control the loudspeaker 2 on the basis of a corresponding signal from the second sensor 9 to play the story: “That’s right, now you have aligned the disk correctly.”

[0125] When using a different disk with a different RFID transponder, the operator can be requested to rotate the disk as quickly as possible, with the first sensor determining how often the magnetic field of the radially magnetized magnet 21 assumes the preferred direction A within a predetermined time unit. When using a different disk with a different RFID transponder, the operator can be requested to place the disk in a specific sequence of relative positions, for example, in the manner of opening a safe.

Claims

Claims: Device (1), in particular a control device (1), for detecting movements of a magnetic carrier (20), wherein the device comprises a control unit (62), characterized in that the device comprises a first sensor (9), wherein the first sensor can determine the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor (9) relative to a preferred direction (A), wherein the control unit (62) is configured such that the control unit (62) outputs an output signal and / or a control signal based on the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor (9) relative to a preferred direction (A). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sensor (9) is a Hall sensor. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a support (8), wherein the first sensor (9) is arranged below the support (8).Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the support (8) is part of a recess (16). Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the support (8) has a recess or indentation and the first sensor (9) is arranged in alignment with the recess or indentation below the support (8). Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a metal plate (10) is arranged below the support (8). Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the support (8) is enclosed by an LED ring.Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device comprises a second sensor, wherein the second sensor can detect a property or a change in a property of its environment within a region of its surroundings, wherein the second sensor is a reader for communicating with a passive RFID transponder (31) and / or for communicating with an active RFID transponder, and wherein the control unit (62) is configured such that the control unit (62) outputs a further output signal and / or a further control signal when the. The second sensor detects a specific property or a specific change in a property of its environment within the area of ​​its surroundings, or the control unit (62) detects a specific change in the property detected by the second sensor. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a circuit board (6) wherein the second sensor, the first sensor (9), and the control unit are arranged on the circuit board (6). A system comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a magnetic carrier, in particular a disk (20), wherein the magnetic carrier has an axis of rotation (C) about which it can rotate, and a radially magnetized magnet (21) wherein the magnetic axis (D) of the magnet (21) is perpendicular to the axis of rotation (C).System according to claim 9, characterized in that the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk (20), in addition to the radially magnetized magnet (21), has at least one axially magnetized magnet (22) whose magnetic axis (E) passes through the axis of rotation or parallel to the axis of rotation (C). System according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the magnetic carrier, in particular the disk (20), has a passive RFID transponder (23) or an active RFID transponder. System according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by an identifier (30) provided in addition to the magnetic carrier, in particular in addition to the disk (20), which has a property that the second sensor can detect, namely, a passive RFID transponder (31) or an active RFID transponder. Method for operating a system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that. • the first sensor (9) determines the direction of a magnetic field acting on the first sensor (9) generated by the radially magnetized magnet (21) relative to a preferred direction (A) and the control unit (62) outputs an output signal and / or a control signal based on the direction determined by the first sensor (9) of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor (9) generated by the radially magnetized magnet (21) relative to a preferred direction (A). Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the support (8) of the device is enclosed by an LED ring having an LED (70) and the control unit (62) is determined by the direction of the magnetic field acting on the first sensor (9) and generated by the radially magnetized magnet (21) relative to a Preferred direction (A) controls an LED (70) of the LED ring. Use of a magnetic carrier, in particular a disk (20), wherein the magnetic carrier has an axis of rotation (C) about which it can rotate, and has a radially magnetized magnet (21) wherein the magnetic axis (D) of the magnet (21) is perpendicular to the axis of rotation (C), for forming a system according to one of claims 9 to 12 or for carrying out a method according to one of claims 13 or 14.

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