Toy system with function element and tag element

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a toy system (101) comprising a function element (103), which comprises a tag reader and a function device (107) adapted to perform a user-perceptible function, and a tag element (105) comprising a data exchange interface (106), such as a tag antenna, configured to receive a first signal from the tag reader and in response transmit a second signal, the tag reader being configured to receive the second signal, the function element (103) and the tag element (105) being configured for selective assembly with each other and, optionally, with other toy system elements, the function element (103) and the tag element (105) each being further configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, wherein the position and / or orientation of the tag element (105) relative to the function element (103) is different in each of the assemblies, and wherein the function element (103) is configured to: detect the position and / or orientation of the tag element (105) relative to the function element (103), determine a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element (105) and further based on the second signal received from the tag element (105), and control its behaviour based on the determined behaviour.

Description

[0001] TOY SYSTEM WITH FUNCTION ELEMENT AND TAG ELEMENT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to toy systems, such as toy construction systems.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Toy systems comprising elements, which are configured for selective and detachable assembly with each other, have been known long. Over the years such toy system elements have evolved from being primarily simple box-shaped building blocks to also include more remarkable toy system elements, such as e.g. elements having distinct appearances, and / or a mechanical or electrical function, and / or one or more programmable processors; All as part of an endeavour to enhance the play experience.

[0006] Further known are self-contained toy system elements, which comprise a control unit and an energy source for providing energy to the control unit and to other parts of the self-contained element. Such self-contained elements may further have a function device adapted to perform a preconfigured user-perceptible function, where such a function may be one or more of e.g. a movement, a generation of an audible sound signal, a generation of a visible light signal, a generation of a tactile experience, etc.

[0007] The toy system elements, which are configured for selective and detachable assembly with each other can be assembled to create an assembled toy model, which may exhibit complex behaviour. In particular, complex behaviour may result when the model includes several toy system elements, and further in particular, when the model includes elements with a preconfigured user- perceptible function, such as motors, lights, sound devices, etc. Such complex behaviour is desirable as an extension of the imagination of the user, but at the same time it is desirable that the toy system is relatively easy to use. Hence, it remains desirable to provide a toy system, where the user can assemble toy system elements to create an assembled toy model displaying a resulting behaviour that can be defined in a user-friendly manner.

[0008] In particular, it is desirable that configuring a toy element or an assembled toy model does not require a high level of abstract thinking and technical insight in order to manipulate the toy system elements to arrive at a desired functional behaviour. In particular, it is desirable that a desired functional behaviour can be achieved in a user-friendly, efficient, yet flexible and reliable manner without the need for detailed knowledge of control structures, data communication, and how to connect electrical wires, conductors, etc. properly.

[0009] Moreover, it is desirable to provide an easy-to-use mechanism to alter the behaviour of a toy system element or of an existing toy model.

[0010] It is generally desirable to provide a toy system that provides enhanced educational activities and / or play activities.

[0011] It is further desirable to provide a toy system that provides a high degree of flexibility in designing different toy assemblies with a rich functionality.

[0012] Various aspects of embodiments of a toy system disclosed herein address one or more of the above needs and / or other needs that exist in the field of toy systems.

[0013] SUMMARY

[0014] It is an object of at least some aspect described in the present disclosure to solve one or more of the problems identified above and / or other problems associated with toy systems, or at least to provide an alternative to known systems.

[0015] Disclosed herein are aspects of a toy system comprising a function element and a tag element. The function element comprises a tag reader and the tag element comprises a data exchange interface, such as an antenna, that is configured to receive a first signal from the tag reader and in response transmit a second signal. The tag reader is configured to receive the second signal from the data exchange interface of the tag element. The function element and the tag element are each configured to be selectively assembled with each other and, optionally, selectively assembled with other toy elements. The function element and the tag element are each further configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, where the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element is different in each of the assemblies. The function element is configured to detect the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element. Further, the function element is configured to determine its own behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and on the second signal received from the tag element, and to control its behaviour based on the determined behaviour.

[0016] The relative position and / or orientation of a tag element may be determined by analysis of a signal transmitted by the tag element, such as the second signal. The function element may comprise any type of tag distance and / or tag orientation measuring system, such as an RFID tag distance and / or RFID tag orientation measuring system. The relative position and / or orientation of a tag element may be provided as an absolute position of the tag element in an external reference coordinate system, a so-called fixed or invariant coordinate system. The relative position is determined relative to the function element and may be determined as e.g. a position in a 3D coordinate system having its origin within the function element. Determination of a relative position of a tag thus goes beyond merely detecting that a tag is within communication range. Thus, the behaviour of the function element is based on both information received from the tag element, and on the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element. Thus, the behaviour of the function element is not only determined based on the information on the tag. For example, it is known to add a tag element to a toy model and thereby cause the toy model to behave according to the information provided by the tag element. For example, a child may have, or may build from parts of a construction set, a car model and add a tag element that contains information to add the attribute police car to the toy model in order to make function elements of the model behave accordingly, e.g. lights within the model may flash blue, sounds produced may be those of a police siren, etc. Such a system works particularly well for children as the addition of attributes using tag elements is a simple way to program a model behaviour. By additionally making the behaviour of a function element responsive to both the information in a tag element and to the position and / or orientation of the tag element, the programming space available to a user via a single tag is increased. An effect of this is that a single tag element can be used by a user to cause different behaviours to be expressed by a function element simply by rearranging the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element.

[0017] The function element is a toy element that is connectable to one or more other toy elements of the toy system by being configured for detachable assembly with same. A function element comprises a function device adapted to perform a user- perceptible function. The user-perceptible function may be one or more of e.g. a generated motion, for example effectuated by a linear or rotary motor, a generation of an audible sound signal, a generation of a visible light signal, a generation of a tactile experience, for example a vibration, etc. 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] Accordingly, the function device may be selected from a motor, a light source (e.g. one or more LEDs), a sound source (e.g. a loudspeaker). A function element may include more than one function device.

[0021] A function element may be used with other function elements in a system of function elements, and a toy system may comprise a plurality of function elements. In some embodiments, a system comprises different types of function elements comprising, respectively, different types of function devices.

[0022] Each function element may further comprise an energy source, such as a rechargeable energy source, e.g. a rechargeable battery, to provide energy to parts of the function element such as to the function device.

[0023] The tag element is a toy element that is connectable to one or more other toy elements of the toy system by being configured for detachable assembly with same. The tag element is configured for communication of data from the tag element to the function element, e.g. via the second signal, when the tag element is in a proximity of the function element. In some embodiments the tag element may be a conventional toy element to which a tag, such as a near-field readable memory tag, has been applied, for example in the form of an adhesive sticker comprising the tag. In some embodiments, the tag is permanently integrated into the tag element, e.g. embedded into the material of the tag element, enclosed in a void defined by the tag element and / or the like. In any event, the tag element may comprise a memory having stored thereon data, such as configuration data, and a data exchange circuit for communicating the data from the memory to the function element. Thus, the tag element may further comprise a memory configured for storing configuration data, which may be transmitted by the tag element to the function element, for example via the second signal. In some embodiments, the data is stored in a read-only manner. In other embodiments, the configuration may be altered, e.g. by a program executed on a computer or other data processing device that includes a communication interface configured to send modified data to the tag element for storage thereon. Some embodiments of tag elements may be passive, i.e. without their own power supply. For example, the tag element may comprise a passive RFID tag or other circuitry configured to be read out by a function element responsive to an interrogation signal, e.g. the first signal, from the function element without the need of any internal power supply of the tag element, i.e. the interrogation signal may provide all necessary processing power for energizing the tag element. In some embodiments, controlling the behaviour comprises sending modified data to a tag element for storage thereon, such as to the tag element on which the determined behaviour is based on. The function element comprises a tag reader, which is an interface that can be used for contactless communication with other function elements and / or with the tag element. Similarly, the tag element comprises a communications interface for contactless communication with the function element. In some embodiments, data is communicated directly from the tag element to the function element via short-range communication.

[0024] Alternatively to a contactless tag reader, the function element may comprise an electrical connector allowing a tag element to be electrically connected to the control circuit of the function element so as to allow the control circuit to receive configuration data, such as an identifier and / or other data, from a memory of the tag element.

[0025] A function element may communicate with other elements of the toy system, besides the tag element, for example other function elements, and the communication may be a short-range contactless communication or it may be along a chain of multiple ultra-short range contactless communication stages or even via physical contacts. Generally, the communications interface for contactless communication of a function element may implement any suitable contactless communications technology, e.g. using radio-frequency communication in accordance with a suitable communications protocol. In some embodiments, the wireless communications technology is a short-range technology or even ultra-short range communication technology. In some embodiments, a function element may comprise a first communications interface operable for ultra-short-range communication and a second communications interface operable for short-range communication. Thus, a function element may comprise a wireless communications interface configured for wireless communication via a wireless communications network and the function element may be configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more other electronic devices, such as one or more other function elements, via said wireless communications network.

[0026] The term short-range communications is intended to refer to a communications technology having a communications range larger than the ultra-short-range communications, e.g. a communications range larger than 10 cm, such as larger than 50 cm, such as larger than 1 m. The short-range communications may have a communications range of no more than 100 m, such as no more than 10 m, such as no more than 5 m. In most situations, a communications range of less than 10 m and, in most cases even less than 5 m is sufficient, even though in some embodiments longer ranges may be acceptable or even desirable. The short-range communication may be a radio-frequency communication in a suitable frequency band, e.g. in one of the ISM bands used for short-range communications technology, such as a 2.4 GHz band. The radio-frequency communication may utilise any suitable communications technology for communicating data, such as Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15.4, IEEE 802.11 , ZigBee, etc. It will be appreciated, however, that other communications technologies may be used.

[0027] The term ultra-short-range communications is intended to refer to communications technologies for contactless and, in particular, wireless communication over a communications range of no more than 10 cm, such as no more than 5 cm, such as no more than 2 cm such as no more than 1 cm, such as less than 1cm, such as less than 0.5 cm, e.g. between 0.1 mm and 10 cm, such as between 0.1 mm and 5 cm, such as between 0.1 mm and 2 cm, such as between 0.1 mm and 1 cm , such as between 0.1 mm and 0.5 cm. Here and in the following, reference to communications ranges refers to communications ranges under normal operational conditions and in normal operational environments, e.g. inside a child's room. Examples of ultra-short-range communications include near-field communications such as inductive and / or capacitive communication.

[0028] In some embodiments, the function element may include a transceiver so as to allow two-way communication between different function elements. In some embodiments, controlling the behaviour comprises transmitting information via the transceiver.

[0029] The function element may receive data, such as configuration data, from the tag element via the second signal generated by the tag element in response to the first signal. The exchange of data from the tag element to the function element may occur when the tag element is in a proximity of the function element, such as a proximity within which the tag element can receive and be powered by the first signal from the function element. In some embodiments, the proximity is predetermined. The proximity may be defined by a communications range of a direct communication between the tag element and the function element, e.g. when the communication is contactless.

[0030] In some embodiments, the function element further comprises a communications interface configured for communication with an external processing unit, e.g. with a control circuit of another function element and / or with an external processing unit. The function element may be configured to communicate position data, sensor data, and other data, to the external processing unit. It will be appreciated that the communication may be a direct communication or via one or more intermediate nodes, e.g. via one or more other locations such as other function elements. For example, two function elements may communicate via an external processing unit. In some embodiments, controlling the behaviour comprises communicating data to an external processing unit.

[0031] The external processing unit may be comprised in an external electronic device such as a stand-alone computer, a system of multiple computers, e.g. a clientserver system, a cloud-based system or the like, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a laptop computer, another programmable computing device, or another function element.

[0032] In some embodiments, the data stored in the tag element, such as configuration data, is communicated from the tag element to the function element when the tag element is connected to a toy element of a toy system assembly, in particular to the function element or otherwise in close proximity, such as adjacent to or even abutting, the function element. Toy systems comprising elements, which are configured for selective and detachable assembly with each other often allow a large variety of different toy system assemblies, i.e. toy models, to be constructed from a limited number of different types of toy elements, each toy model having a different physical configuration as defined by the spatial arrangement of the toy elements in the toy model. In particular in toy construction systems, the term toy element refers to the smallest elements of the toy system that cannot be disassembled into smaller elements during normal use and, in particular, not be disassembled in a non-destructive manner and / or without the use of tools. The toy system may comprise a plurality of toy elements, such as a plurality of function elements and / or a plurality of tag elements and / or one or more toy elements, which are neither tag elements nor function elements. The toy system may comprise one or more passive toy elements, which are toy elements without additional functionality beyond mechanical model building, e.g. without additional functionality such as electromagnetic, electronic, optical, or the like. Some or all of the toy elements in a toy system are configured for selective and detachable assembly with one or more of the other toy elements of the toy system. A tag element and a function element may be assembled together in a toy system assembly, i.e. a toy model, by each being connected detachably to each other or to one or more other toy elements. A toy system assembly may be constructed from a plurality of function elements and / or a plurality of tag elements and / or one or more toy elements, which are neither tag elements nor function elements.

[0033] Accordingly, the data, such as configuration data, stored in the tag element may be communicated to more than one function element of a toy system model, such as to all function elements of a toy system model, rather than just used to configure a single function element to which the tag element is in closest proximity to and / or to which the tag element is attached. Hence, the behaviour of more than one, such as of all function elements included in a toy system model may be configured by a single tag element, thus providing an easy-to-use mechanism for controlling the behaviour of an entire toy system model, or of a part of the toy system model, even when the model (or part thereof) includes multiple function elements.

[0034] The function element is configured to detect the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element. The relative position and / or orientation of the tag element may be determined by analysis of the second signal transmitted by the tag element. The function element may comprise any type of tag distance and / or tag orientation measuring system, such as an RFID tag distance and / or RFID tag orientation measuring system. The relative position and / orientation of a tag element or a function element may be provided as an absolute position of the toy element in an external reference coordinate system, a so-called fixed or invariant coordinate system In a toy system comprising multiple function elements a tag element will have a relative position and / or orientation to each function element. The function elements may be configured to communicate the relative position and / or orientation of a given tag element to each other as well as optionally communicate information on the identity of the tag element. The function element may further comprise a suitable detection mechanism for detecting and / or identifying other function elements. For example, each function element may, while activated, periodically broadcast identification signals such as identification messages including information such as its operational mode, an element ID and / or a type identifier identifying the type of function element, e.g. which type of function device or sensor it comprises. The element detection circuit of each function element may also create a time varying magnetic field, e.g. by an electromagnetic coil included in the function element, so as to allow other function elements to detect its position and / or orientation based on a measurement of the strength and / or direction of the generated magnetic field. To this end, the element detection circuit of each function element may include one or more electromagnetic coils for detecting changes in a magnetic field and / or one or more magnetometers and / or the like. It will be appreciated that a variety of other recognition mechanisms may be employed allowing function elements to obtain information about which other function elements are in its proximity. An element detection circuit will provide a function element with a way to determine whether the function element is part of the same toy model as one or more other function elements and a way to determine at least partly an overall shape of the toy model.

[0035] The relative position and / or orientation of a tag element relative to a particular function element may at least in part be determined from the tag elements position and / or orientation relative to another function element in combination with the relative position and / or orientation of the other function element. Thus, the detection of the position and / or orientation of a tag element relative to a function element may comprise the function element receiving tag position and / or tag orientation information from another function element. This provides a way for a function element to determine the position and / or orientation of a tag element relative to the function element even when the tag element is too far away for the function element to detect the tag element directly. In some embodiments, the function element is configured, when a new tag element is detected, to communicate the configuration data received from the new tag element and the relative position and / or orientation of the new tag element to other function elements in proximity, for example to other function elements within a predetermined range relative to the given function element.

[0036] A tag reader comprises one or more tag reader interfaces configured for receiving the second signal from a tag element. The tag reader interface(s) may each be an antenna, a capacitive interface, an inductive interface, such as an electromagnetic coil, and / or the like operable to allow the tag reader to read data from a tag element in a contactless manner. A tag reader interface may comprise an electromagnetic coil.

[0037] In some embodiments, the function element is configured to receive the second signal from the tag element via two or more tag reader interfaces within the function element, and the function element may be configured to determine a relative strength of the second signal as received by each of the two or more tag reader interfaces, and to determine a relative or absolute position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element at least in part based on the determined relative strength of the second signal.

[0038] In some embodiments, the tag reader comprises two or more electromagnetic coils configured as tag reader interfaces and each defining a coil axis. In some embodiments, the coil axes of the two or more electromagnetic coils may be substantially linearly independent, e.g. substantially orthogonal to one another.

[0039] The function element may comprise one or more predetermined attachment locations, which are locations on the surface of the function element, where a tag element may be attached, i.e. where a tag element might couple to the function element via one or more coupling members. An attachment location may thus be configured by the presence of coupling members suitable for attachment of a tag element.

[0040] In some embodiments, the function element has opposing sides, where each side comprises one or more attachment locations and the function element is configured to detect whether a tag element is attached to one or the other of the opposing sides.

[0041] A tag element may generally have a flat shape, i.e. two of the dimensions are significantly larger than the third dimension of the tag element. The function element may be configured to detect the whether a generally flat tag element is attached at an angle such that the third, smaller, dimension is at an angle to a surface of the function element, such as at an angle to a surface comprising an attachment location. The function element may be configured such that a generally flat tag element can be attached in one of two angles, such as in either an angle of substantially zero degrees where a flat tag element is substantially parallel with the surface at the attachment location or at an angle of substantially 90 degrees where a flat tag element is substantially orthogonal to the surface at the attachment location.

[0042] The function element determines a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and further based on the second signal received from the tag element. The function element then controls its behaviour based on the determined behaviour. The function elements may thus be configured to control its behaviour based on data, such as configuration data, received from the tag element.

[0043] Thus, the function element controls its own behaviour based on the information provided by the tag element via the second signal, and via the position and / or orientation of the tag. This means that a user can convey more information to the function element via the tag element than just the information provided by the tag element via the second signal, i.e. more than just the information stored in the tag element.

[0044] The tag element may comprise data defining a behavioural pattern or mood, and the function element may be configured to control its function device so as to emulate the behavioural pattern identified by the tag element connected to it. Examples of behavioural patterns may include angry, happy, sad, tired, “police car”, etc. Such patterns may be expressed by the parameters of the function performed by the function devices, e.g. by the volume, pitch or types of sounds played, by the speed and / or movement pattern of a motor, etc. Similarly, the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element constitutes information provided to the function element. The information comprised in the relative position and / or orientation of the tag element may define configuration data, a behavioural pattern and / or a mood.

[0045] In some embodiments, controlling the behaviour comprises controlling the function device. The function element may control at least a part of its behaviour by controlling the function device responsive to the determined behaviour, i.e. in a manner related to or indicative of the determined behaviour. When controlling the function device, the function element may activate, alter, or deactivate the user-perceptible function.

[0046] Generally, the data supplied by the tag element to the function element may include one or more parameters or settings configured to be used by a control routine, e.g. a control program, executed by a control circuit of the function element. The transmitted configuration data may comprise an identifier causing the function to control its function device responsive at least in part to the received identifier. For example, each function element may comprise a memory having stored executable instructions. In particular, each function element may have stored a set of alternative instructions, each resulting in a different behaviour and each being associated with a respective identifier and with the determined relative position and / or orientation of the tag element. A function element may thus select one of the set of alternative instructions.

[0047] Additionally, the configuration data may comprise configuration parameters (e.g. sound data, data indicative of a motion pattern, etc.) and / or program code for controlling the function device. The configuration data may be model configuration data which represents a behaviour of a toy model as a whole, e.g. define the model behaviour as a specific model type, e.g. a “police car”, a “dragon”, a “fire station”, a “star ship” etc. The model configuration data may thus be independent on the specific function element and be generic for all function elements of the model. Function elements included in the model may be configured to determine a respective element behaviour of the individual function element based on the received configuration data, i.e. each function element may be configured to determine an element-specific behaviour specific to the particular function element based on the model configuration data. In addition to being based on the received model configuration data, the determination of the respective element-specific behaviours of the individual function elements in the model may further depend on one or more additional parameters, in particular on one or more element-specific parameters specific to respective function elements, such as one or more of the following: the type of function device of the function element, a set of available pre-programmed behaviours implementable by the function element, a detection / identification by the function element of other function elements in the model, sensor inputs received by a sensor of the function element, and / or the like.

[0048] For example, the function element may have stored thereon multiple programs or multiple functional patterns and select one or more of these programs / patterns responsive to the determined behaviour. For example, each function element may comprise a data structure, e.g. a list or matrix or a database of executable instructions, program blocks, functions, subroutines or the like associating one or more determined behaviours with respective executable instructions, program blocks, etc. It will be appreciated that the list, matrix or database may include pointers such as memory addresses, identifying to instructions, program blocks, functions etc. The function element may be controlled by firmware. The firmware may comprise respective sets of instructions that correspond to respective behaviours.

[0049] It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, it may be possible to attach two or more tag elements to a function element. In such an embodiment, respective configuration data from each tag element attached to the function element is communicated to the function element. The function element may thus control its behaviour, such as its function device responsive to the configuration data received from all attached tag elements as well as to their positions and / or orientations.

[0050] Consequently, the function element may be controlled to exhibit a relatively complex behaviour without requiring the user to have advanced technical or programming skills.

[0051] In some embodiments, a function element is configured to detect a type and / or identity of one or more other function elements in a proximity of the function element and to determine its behaviour responsive to the detected type and / or identity. Hence, the behaviour of a function element may be made further dependent on which other function elements are within a proximity, e.g. part of the same toy assembly.

[0052] The function element may control its behaviour in a multitude of ways based on the determined behaviour. The determined behaviour may cause the function element to control its function device, e.g. to activate its function device. The control of the function device may cause an immediate activation of its user- perceptible output or a delayed activation.

[0053] In some embodiments, the function element is configured to control its behaviour responsive to the information provided by the tag element only as long as the tag element is within a proximity of it. To this end, the function element may be configured to detect when the tag element is no longer within a proximity of it and, responsive to such detection, stop basing control of its behaviour, such as control of its function device, on the provided information. Additionally, the function element may be further configured to control its behaviour based on no longer being able to read a tag, that is on not being able to read a tag after having been able to read the tag.

[0054] The information provided by the tag element, via the second signal and via the relative position and / or orientation, may e.g. be indicative as to how the function element is to react to certain sensor inputs or other stimuli, e.g. which sounds to play, etc. The specific manner in which the function element controls its function device may vary from one function element to another even when they receive the same information from the tag element. For example, different function elements may include different function devices and / or different sensors. Moreover, a function element may control its behaviour based on other parameters, e.g. based on its measured relative position and / or orientation relative to other function elements, based on a history / log of previous received data or events, etc.

[0055] In some embodiments, the function element is further configured to detect movement of itself and to recognise, based on the detected movement, a motion gesture, and the function element is configured to further control its behaviour responsive to the recognised gesture. Thus, a movement of the function element by a user may cause the function element to behave in a manner that is dependent on the behaviour determined from the presence of the tag element, i.e. on the second signal and the relative position and / or orientation of the tag element, and on the detected movement.

[0056] Alternatively, the function element may transmit information on the detected movement to an external processing unit such that the external processing unit may perform operations to recognize a motion gesture from the detected movement. The external processing unit may then transmit information on the recognized motion gesture to the function element.

[0057] In some embodiments, the function element further comprises a sensor configured to detect a property of the function element and / or a property of an environment of the function element, and the function element may be configured to control its own behaviour further based on the detected property. The sensor is responsive to a predetermined sensor input, and the function element may be configured to control its own behaviour based on the received sensor input. Examples of sensor inputs include a mechanical force, a push action, a tilt orientation, a pull action, a rotation, a human manipulation, a touch, a proximity of an object, an electrical signal, a radio frequency signal, an optical signal, a visible light signal, an infrared signal, a magnetic signal, a temperature, a humidity, a radiation. In some embodiments, the function element is configured to transmit the detected property and / or to receive a detected property, for example to or from another function element. The function element may be adapted to store detected properties in a memory comprised in the function element.

[0058] In some embodiments, the sensor comprises an accelerometer and the detected property comprises a detected movement of the function element.

[0059] In some embodiments, the function element is further configured to identify one or more user interactions based on the detected property, compare the identified one or more user interactions with one or more predetermined target user interactions, and further control the behaviour of the function element based on a result of said comparison. The information provided to the function element by the tag element, i.e. via both (or either of) the second signal and the relative position and / or orientation, may convey one or more attributes to the function element, i.e. a characteristic, which sets it apart from other function elements not having the same attribute. An attribute may be determined by the function element based on the relative position and / or on the relative orientation of the tag element. An attribute of the function element may be e.g. a status, an identity, a level and / or a ranking of the function element. The conveyed attribute may be a new attribute or a modification of an existing attribute stored in a memory of the function element. The function element may be configured to store a new attribute in a memory comprised in the function element. The determined behaviour of the function element may be in accordance with the attribute conveyed to it by the tag element. Thus, in some embodiments, the function element is further configured to assign one or more attributes to itself based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and / or on the second signal. In some embodiments, controlling the behaviour comprises storing an attribute in a memory comprised in the function element.

[0060] In some embodiments, the function element is configured to transmit data, such as one or more of the one or more assigned attributes, to an external control circuit, such as to a control circuit in another toy system or to an external processing unit. In some embodiments, the function element is configured to receive data, such as information on one or more attributes, from an external control circuit, such as from a control circuit in another toy system or from an external processing unit.

[0061] A status attribute may be an amount of health, a disadvantage, e.g. “poisoned”, “stunned”, etc., or an advantage, e.g. “strengthened”, etc.

[0062] An identity attribute may be a type, such as a type of animal, a type of monster, a type of hero, etc. and / or a name.

[0063] A level attribute may be a letter and / or number and / or a combination.

[0064] A ranking attribute may be a designation denoting a hierarchy, e.g. rookie, novice, hero, champion, etc. A user may use a tag element to cause the function element to enter a programming mode, wherein the function element can record a user interaction based on a detected property, such as a detected movement of the function element. The recorded user interaction is stored for later retrieval, such that the function element is configured to identify, at a later time, a user interaction as the stored user interaction by comparison. Thus, the recorded user interaction becomes a predetermined target user interaction that is later used in the identification of a user interaction. In addition to target user interactions from stored recorded user interactions, the function element, or an external unit that the function element may communicate with, may comprise target user interactions, which are pre-programmed.

[0065] Thus, in some embodiments, the function element is further configured to enter a training mode responsive to information provided in the second signal and / or to the detected position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element, and the function element is configured, when operating in the training mode, to identify one or more user interactions based on a detected property, and to record the detected one or more user interactions as one or more target user interactions.

[0066] The programming mode, also called the training mode, thus allows a user to teach the function element to recognise user interactions defined by the user, such as user-defined movement of the function element. Tag elements, which cause the function element to enter the training mode are called training tags. Further tag elements, or the relative position and / or orientation of the training tag, may be used by the user to correlate a target user interaction with a behaviour of the function element. For example, a tag element may be attached to the function element in the training mode to instruct the function element that a user interaction is correlated with a desired behaviour, for example that a given motion gesture is correlated with a mood, an action, such as a greeting, an attack, eating, or the like, or with a specific function device activation.

[0067] Each toy element of the toy system and, in particular, each function element, may comprise coupling members configured to engage coupling members of other toy elements of the toy system so as to detachably attach the toy elements to each other. To this end, the coupling members may utilize different coupling mechanisms, e.g. based on frictional engagement of the coupling members with each other, based on screws, plug-and-socket connections or other forms of mating engagements of cooperating coupling members.

[0068] Hence, toy elements that have been interconnected with each other by means of the coupling members can again be disconnected from each other such that they can be interconnected again with each other or with other toy elements of the system, e.g. so as to form a different spatial structure. In some embodiments, the toy elements are provided with a first and a second type of coupling members, such as coupling pegs and peg-receiving recesses for frictionally engaging the pegs, or other pairs of mating or otherwise complementary coupling members configured to engage each other so as to form a physical connection. One type of coupling members may be located on one side, e.g. the top side, of the toy element while another, complementary type of coupling members may be located on an opposite side, e.g. the bottom side, of the toy element. In some embodiments, the toy elements include pegs extending from the top face of the toy element and corresponding peg-receiving cavities extending into the bottom face of the toy element for frictionally engaging the pegs by a suitable clamping force.

[0069] Generally, the toy system may impose limitations on the degrees of freedom of how the toy elements may be attached to each other, e.g. by limiting the possible relative positions and / or orientations at which they can be attached to each other. These limitations facilitate the detection of relative positions and / or orientations of function elements within a toy model.

[0070] To this end, the coupling members may be positioned on grid points of a regular grid; in particular, the coupling members of the toy construction elements may be arranged such that the coupling members of a set of mutually interconnected toy construction elements are positioned on grid points of a three-dimensional regular grid. The dimensions of the toy construction elements may be defined as integer multiples of a unit length defined by the regular grid. It will be understood that a three-dimensional grid may be defined by a single unit length, by two unit lengths, e.g. one unit length applicable in two spatial dimensions while the other unit length is applicable in the third spatial dimension. Yet alternatively, the three- dimensional grid may define three unit lengths, one for each spatial dimension. In some embodiments, the toy elements are made from plastics material, e.g. thermoplastic polymers, or from another suitable material. The toy elements may at least partially be made by an injection moulding process or by another suitable manufacturing process. The skilled person would as a matter of routine suggest producing plastic toy elements of any of the above mentioned types by injection moulding in a conventional injection moulding apparatus.

[0071] As an aspect of the present invention, however, it would be an advantage to produce such toy elements, or part of such toy elements, by 3D printing or another additive manufacturing (AM) process. A computer-readable medium may comprise computer-readable instructions configured to cause, when processed by an apparatus for performing an additive manufacturing process, said apparatus to manufacture one or more of the toy elements, or part of such toy elements, as disclosed herein. The computer-readable model may comprise geometry information indicative of at least the shape of the toy element or part of the toy element. Generally, a computer-readable medium may store data which defines both a digital representation of the toy elements described herein, such as the function element and tag element, and operating instructions adapted to control an AM device to fabricate the toy element using the digital representation of the toy element when said data is relayed to the AM device. The computer- readable model may be embodied as a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure representing the computer-readable model. For example, the computer-readable medium may include a hard disk, a memory, or another suitable storage device. The additive manufacturing process may include a 3D printing process.

[0072] The present disclosure relates to different aspects including the toy system described above and in the following, corresponding toy elements and other apparatus, systems, methods, and / or products, each yielding one or more of the benefits and advantages described in connection with one or more of the other aspects, and each having one or more embodiments corresponding to the embodiments described in connection with one or more of the other aspects and / or disclosed in the appended claims.

[0073] According to another aspect, disclosed herein are embodiments of a function element comprising a tag reader and a function device adapted to perform a user-perceptible function. The tag reader is configured to receive a tag signal, wherein the tag signal is a signal produced by a tag, e.g. a second signal from a tag element as described herein. The function element is configured to be selectively assembled with other toy elements, such as with one or more tag elements configured for selective assembly with the function element. The function element is configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, where the position and / or orientation relative to the function element of a tag element in assembly with the function element is different in each of the assemblies. The function element is configured to determine the position and / or orientation of a tag element relative to the function element, the determination being based on the received tag signal. Further, the function element is configured to determine its own behaviour based on the determined relative position and / or relative orientation of a tag element and on a tag signal received from the tag element, and to control its behaviour based on the determined behaviour.

[0074] The function element may be a function element as described herein.

[0075] According to another aspect, disclosed herein are embodiments of method for controlling a behaviour of a function element in a toy system comprising a function element and a tag element configured for selective assembly with each other and, optionally, with other toy system elements, the function element and the tag element each being further configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, wherein the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element is different in each of the assemblies, the function element comprising a tag reader configured to transmit a first signal and a function device adapted to perform a user-perceptible function; the method comprising: transmitting, from the function element, the first signal, transmitting, by the tag element, a second signal in response to receiving the first signal, detecting, by the function element, the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element, determining, by the function element, a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and further based on the second signal received from the tag element, controlling, by the function element, a behaviour of the function element based on the determined behaviour.

[0076] Further disclosed are embodiments of a method for controlling a behaviour of a function element comprised in a toy system, the function element comprising a function device adapted to perform a user-perceptible function; the method comprising: receiving configuration data, by the function element, from a tag element when the tag element is in a proximity of the function element, detecting, by the function element, the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element, determining, by the function element, a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and further based on the configuration data received from the tag element, and controlling the behaviour of the function element responsive to the communicated configuration data and to the detected position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element.

[0077] According to another aspect, disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for controlling a behaviour of a toy system assembly constructed from a plurality of toy elements, the plurality of toy elements comprising one or more function elements and one or more tag elements, each function element comprising a function device adapted to perform a user-perceptible function; the method comprising: receiving configuration data, by a function element, from a tag element when the tag element is in a proximity of the function element; determining, by the respective function element, the position and / or orientation relative to the function element of the tag element from which configuration data was received; determining, by the respective function element, a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and further based on the configuration data received from the tag element; and controlling a behavior of the respective function element of said one or more function elements responsive to the communicated configuration data and to the determined position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element.

[0078] In the aspects disclosed herein, terms and features relate to the terms and features having the same name in the other aspects and therefore the descriptions and explanations of terms and features given in one aspect apply, with appropriate changes, to the other aspects. Additional aspects, embodiments, features and advantages will be made apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0079] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] The above and other aspects will be apparent and elucidated from the embodiments described in the following with reference to the drawings in which:

[0081] FIGS. 1-3 each show a prior art toy element;

[0082] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a function element of a toy system as disclosed herein;

[0083] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a tag element of a toy system as disclosed herein;

[0084] FIGS. 6-15 show embodiments of a toy assembly comprising one or more tag elements and one or more function elements of a toy system as disclosed herein; and

[0085] FIGS. 16-17 show flow diagrams of a method for controlling a behaviour of a function element as disclosed herein; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] Various aspects and embodiments of toy systems disclosed herein will now be described with reference to toy elements, some in the form of bricks, others in a form different from bricks.

[0087] FIG.1 shows a toy construction element with coupling pegs on its top surface and a cavity extending into the brick from the bottom. The cavity has a central tube, and coupling pegs on another brick can be received in the cavity in a frictional engagement as disclosed in US 3 005282. FIGS. 2 and 3 show other such prior art construction elements. The construction elements shown in the remaining figures have this known type of coupling members in the form of cooperating pegs and cavities. However, other types of coupling members may also be used in addition to or instead of the pegs and cavities. The coupling pegs are arranged in a square planar grid, i.e. defining orthogonal directions along which sequences of coupling pegs are arranged. The distance between neighbouring coupling pegs 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 to each other, in particular at right angles with respect to each other. The toy construction elements shown here, in FIGs.1-3, are of the passive type, without additional functionality beyond mechanical model building, such as electromagnetic, electronic, optical, or the like.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an example of a function element 103. The function element of fig. 4 is generally shaped as an orthogonal polyhedron with flat side faces and having coupling members 108 extending from its outer surfaces, which may also be referred to as coupling pegs. One of the coupling members 108’ extends from an outer surface of the function element and in a direction out of the paper. In addition, the function element may also have other types of coupling members, such as e.g. cavities, for example cavities extending into an outer surface. Other shapes and sizes of toy elements may be used, e.g. shapes and sizes as those shown in FIGs 1-3 or yet other shapes and sizes. In some examples of function elements, the coupling members may be are arranged in planar, regular, parallel grids defining coupling locations.

[0089] The parts comprising the function element 103 and comprised in the function element are not necessarily shown to scale. The function element 103 comprises a control circuit 112, e.g. a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or other suitable processing unit. The function element 103 further comprises a function device 107 connected to the control circuit 112 and, optionally, a sensor 125 also connected to the control circuit. The function element further comprises a rechargeable battery 113 or other suitable power source, for providing power to the control circuit, the function device, and other parts requiring power. The function element further comprises a tag reader circuit 115 and tag reader interfaces 104a-d for reading configuration data from a tag element 105. The tag reader interfaces may each be an antenna, a capacitive interface, an inductive interface and / or the like operable to allow the tag reader to read data from a tag element in a contactless manner. The inductive interface may be an electromagnetic coil and thus, one or more of the tag reader interfaces may comprise an electromagnetic coil.

[0090] FIG. 4 shows the function element without a tag element attached while FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the function element with a tag element 105 attached, e.g. a tag element as shown in FIG. 5.

[0091] The function element 103 may further comprise an element detection circuit operable to detect other function elements in the same toy model as the function element 103. The function element 103 may further comprise a communications interface 130, such as a transceiver, operable for radio-frequency communication with other function elements.

[0092] The walls of the function element 103 define a housing 116 which accommodates the processing unit 112, the function device 107, the energy storage device, e.g. battery 113, the tag reader circuit 115, and the tag reader interfaces 104a-d. The housing 116 may further accommodate a sensor 125, and / or an element detection circuit 127 and / or a communications interface 130.

[0093] The control circuit 112 is configured to control the function device 107 responsive to configuration data read from a tag element 105, for example from a tag element attached to one or more of the coupling members 108,110 and on a detected position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element.

[0094] Optionally, the control circuit 112 may be further configured to control the function device 107 responsive to an input from the sensor 125.

[0095] The function element 103 may be further configured to forward configuration data read from a tag element 105 by the tag reader to other function elements as disclosed in international patent application no. PCT / EP2019 / 084805, the entire contents of which are hereby included by reference.

[0096] The function device 107 may be any suitable device for performing a function that provides a user-perceptible effect, such as a visible, audible, and / or haptic effect. For example, the function device may be a rotary motor and the function element 103 may comprise a suitable coupling member for receiving a shaft that may be rotatably driven by the motor. Other examples of function devices may include any suitable mechanical and / or electrical device, arrangement or circuitry adapted to perform one or more mechanical or electrical functions that provide a user-perceptible effect, such as a visible, audible, and / or haptic effect.

[0097] Examples of a mechanical function that the function elements described herein can perform include driving a rotating output shaft, winding-up a string or a chain which enables pulling an object closer to the function element, moving a hinged part of the function element which enables e.g. 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 powered by a (rechargeable) battery or a rechargeable electric capacitor, or another suitable power source.

[0098] Examples of an electrical function that the function elements described herein can perform 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 stimulating play activities, providing visible output via a display, etc. 1

[0099] Hence, examples of function devices include a light source such as a lamp or LED, a sound generator, a motor, a hinged part, a rotatable shaft, a linear actuator, a display, or the like. A toy system, for example a toy construction system, may comprise several of such function elements providing different functions.

[0100] The tag reader may be an RFID / NFC reader or any other circuitry for reading data from a tag element 105, for example when the tag element is attached to function element 103, or is otherwise positioned in sufficient proximity of one or more tag reader interfaces 104a-d. The tag reader is configured to read the data in a contactless manner, e.g. via inductive and / or capacitive data exchange. Alternatively to a contactless tag reader, the function element may comprise an electrical connector allowing a tag element 105 to be electrically connected to the control circuit 112 so as to allow the control circuit to receive configuration data, such as an identifier and / or other data, from a memory of the tag element 105.

[0101] In the example of FIG. 4, the tag reader interfaces 104a-d are shown proximate to one or more attachment positions where a tag element may be attached directly to the function element. In other embodiments, the tag reader interface may be located at a different position, e.g. next to a side wall or other wall of the function element where there are no coupling members. In such embodiments, the tag reader may be configured to read data from a tag element when the tag element is positioned adjacent to said side wall or other wall, as the case may be. In a preferred configuration, the function element comprises a plurality of tag reader interfaces, which are distributed within the function element.

[0102] The plurality of tag reader interfaces may comprise a plurality of electromagnetic coils configured as tag reader interfaces. Each of the electromagnetic coils defines a coil axis, and the coil axis of each of the electromagnetic coils may be arranged at a non-zero angle to one or more of the other coil axis / axes, i.e. nonparallel to one or more of the other coil axis / axes. In some embodiments, two or more of the coil axes may be substantially linearly independent. For example, the tag reader interfaces 104a-d shown in FIG. 4 may be electromagnetic coils arranged with their coil axes substantially orthogonal to a side of the housing 116. The housing may comprise sides, which are substantially orthogonal to each other, e.g. the housing have a substantially cuboid or right parallelepiped shape, such that a plurality of coil axes can be arranged substantially orthogonal to both a side of the housing and to each other. While not shown in FIG. 4 two additional tag reader interfaces may be positioned with their coil axes substantially orthogonal to the two sides of the housing, which are parallel with the plane of the page of the drawing. Thus, the function element 103 may comprise a 3D arrangement of tag reader interfaces within its housing 116.

[0103] The control circuit 112 can control operation of the function device 107 responsive to the data received from the tag element 105 and on a detected position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuit may enter respective operational modes responsive to the data received from the tag element.

[0104] The function element 103 may receive configuration data from a tag element via another function element, for example via a communications interface 130. Thus, the configuration data may initially be received by one function element and forwarded, e.g. via a communications interface 130. The control circuit 112 may thus control operation of the function device 103 responsive to configuration data received via another function element. In the same manner, the detected relative position and / or orientation of a tag element may be transmitted from a function element to another function element.

[0105] In some embodiments, the control circuit 112 may be configured to only use configuration data received from another function element, when the configuration data was received from a function element determined as being part of the same toy assembly as the function element comprising the control circuit. This determination may e.g. be made based on input from an element detection circuit 127 and / or based on identification data received via a communications interface 130.

[0106] In the example of FIG. 4, the sensor 125 is a light sensor, e.g. including a lightsensitive diode. Other examples of a sensor include a microphone, an accelerometer, a gyro, a linear or rotation encoder, a proximity sensor, and / or the like. The control circuit 112 may thus be operable to control the behaviour of the function element 103 responsive to input sensed by the senor. For example, if the function element comprises a motor, the control circuit may control the speed of the motor responsive to the sensed light intensity by the light sensor 125. The specific behaviour of the function element, i.e. the specific way of reacting to different sensor inputs, may be configured by the received configuration data, i.e. the configuration data may be indicative of how the function element reacts to respective sensor inputs, and / or the specific behaviour of the function element may be configured by the detection of the position and / or orientation of the tag element 105. It will be appreciated that the behaviour of the function element may be determined by other conditions in addition to the configuration data and the relative position and / or orientation of the tag element, e.g. by the number, identity, relative position / orientation of other function elements in the vicinity, e.g. within the same or in a different toy assembly, as the function element.

[0107] The element detection circuit 127 is adapted to provide position signals representative of the respective positions of one or more other function elements relative to function element 103, e.g. relative distances between the function element 103 and respective other function elements. An example of a method of detecting relative positions and orientations of other function elements, and of determining whether such function elements are part of the same toy construction model, is disclosed in international patent application no. PCT / EP2019 / 084779. It will be appreciated that a variety of other recognition mechanisms may be employed allowing function elements to obtain information about which other function elements are in its proximity, e.g. part of the same toy assembly.

[0108] The function elements may be used as a part of a toy building set comprising construction elements with coupling members for detachably interconnecting construction elements, e.g. the known bricks shown in FIGS. 1-3. A toy construction set may comprise a plurality of function elements and a plurality of passive toy construction elements.

[0109] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of an example of a tag element. The tag element 105 comprises a tag housing having a coupling member 110 for detachably attaching the tag element 105 to other toy construction elements of the toy construction system, e.g. to an attachment location of a function element. It will be appreciated that while the tag element shown in FIG. 5 has a single coupling member, a tag element may have a plurality of coupling members. For example, the tag element may be compatible with and of a similar general shape as the toy elements shown in FIGS. 1-3. The tag element further comprises a memory 109 for storing data, such as configuration data. The stored data may simply be an identifier representing a particular model behaviour. Alternatively, or additionally, the stored data may include additional information, e.g. information encoding sound data, a light sequence, a motion sequence, etc. The tag element further comprises a data exchange interface 106, such as an antenna, a capacitive interface, an inductive interface and / or the like operable to allow a tag reader to read out the stored data from the memory in a contactless manner. The parts comprising the tag element 105 and comprised in the tag element are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0110] FIGS. 6 and 7 each shows an example of a toy assembly comprising a function element and one or more tag elements of a toy system. The function element and function element(s) may be tag element(s) and a function element as shown in figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

[0111] The function element 103 and tag elements 105, 105’ can be selectively assembled with each other into a plurality of different toy assemblies differentiated by the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element, such that the relative position and / or orientation of the tag element(s) is different in each of the assemblies. In the toy assembly of FIG. 6 a first tag element 105 is attached to a side, which may be considered a top side, of the function element 103 by coupling of a coupling member 108 comprised in the function element and a coupling member 110 comprised in the first tag element. In the toy assembly of FIG. 7, however, the first tag element 105 is attached to a different side of the function element 103 by coupling to a different coupling member 108 comprised in the function element than the one coupled to in fig. 6.

[0112] Also comprised in the toy assembly is a second tag element 105’, which has been attached to an opposing side of the function element 103 relative to the position of the first tag element 105. The second tag element 105’ has a coupling member 110’, which is a cavity extending into the tag element and which is configured to couple with a coupling peg 108 on the function element. However, the second tag element 105’ has been attached to the function element 103 by being wedged between two coupling pegs 108 on the function element. In this way the second tag element 105’, which may be similar in structure to the first tag element 105, has been attached to the function element at both another position relative to the function element as well as at another relative orientation.

[0113] The function element 103 can distinguish between the tag positions and / or orientations shown in FIG. 6 and 7 by being configured to detect the position and / or orientation of a tag element 105, 105’ relative to the function element. Thus, a user is able to program a behaviour of the function element, and possibly other function elements, by the choice of not only which tag element to use, but also by the placement of the tag element.

[0114] FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 each shows an example of a toy assembly comprising a plurality of function elements of a toy system and one or more tag elements being added. The position of the function elements is the same in each figure while the position or orientation of the tag elements 105a-b change between figures. The tag elements 105a-b shown in FIGS. 8-10 are flat cuboids.

[0115] Shown are toy elements assembled in a toy assembly comprising four function elements 103a-d and two passive elements 114. Each function element comprises a function device 107a-d. In each of FIGS. 8-10 one or more flat tag elements 105a-b are placed in a relative position and / or orientation with respect to each of the function elements.

[0116] In FIG. 8 a tag element 105a is placed adjacent to a first function element 103a and a second function element 103b, for example by being attached via coupling members (not shown), with one of its larger surfaces being adjacent to a side of the first function element 103a and one of its smaller surfaces being adjacent to a side of the second function element 103b. From a user’s perspective the placement of the tag element 105a causes the function device 107a of the first function element to activate and generate a user-perceptible output 111a. The output 111a may be a discernible movement, an audible sound signal, a visible light signal, a tactile experience, etc. The second function element 103b, third function element 103c, and fourth function element 103d do not generate a user- perceptible output.

[0117] Unseen by the user each function element has detected the position and / or orientation of the tag element 105a relative to itself, determined a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and on configuration data provided by the tag element, and controlled its behaviour based on the determined behaviour.

[0118] The tag element 105a may not be positioned within a predetermined proximity of all of the four function elements 105a-d and the function elements, which are unable to detect the tag element for this reason, may receive the configuration data of the tag element as well as information on its position and / or orientation from one or more of the function elements, which are able to exchange data with the tag element 105a. Information may be exchanged between function elements via a communication interface (not shown) comprised in each function element.

[0119] In FIG. 9, compared with FIG. 8, a second tag element 105b has been placed adjacent to the third function element 105c, for example by being attached via coupling members (not shown), with one of its larger surfaces being adjacent to a side of the third function element 105c. With this configuration of the two tag elements 105a-b, the user perceives that the placement of the second tag element 105b causes the function devices 107b-c of the second and third function elements 103b-c, respectively, to each activate and generate a user- perceptible output 111 b-c. The fourth function element 103d does not generate a user-perceptible output, and the function device 107a of the first function element 103a continues to generate a user-perceptible output 111a.

[0120] Again, unseen by the user each function element has detected the position and / or orientation of each the two tag elements 105a-b relative to itself, determined a behaviour based on their detected relative position and / or relative orientation and on configuration data provided by the tag elements, and controlled its behaviour based on the determined behaviour. When the configuration data as well as information of the position and / or orientation of more than one tag element is available to a function element, the behaviour determined by the function element may be based on the information relating to all tag elements.

[0121] In FIG. 10, compared with FIG. 9, the orientation of the first tag element 105a has changed such that one of the larger sides of the first tag element 105a is now adjacent to the second function element 103b rather than the first function element 103a and such that one of its smaller sides is now adjacent to the first function element. In this configuration of the two tag elements 105a-b, the user perceives that the changed placement of the first tag element 105a causes the function devices 107a-c of the first, second and third function elements 103a-c to each de-activate such that they no longer generate a user-perceptible output. Instead, the function device 107d of the fourth function element 103d now generates a user-perceptible output 111d.

[0122] Thus, while the toy assembly in FIGS. 8-10 may appear simple, the FIGS illustrate the complexity of the programming available to a user using the toy system disclosed herein.

[0123] FIGS. 11 and 12 each shows an example of a toy assembly comprising one or more tag elements and a function element of a toy system. The function element 103 is shaped outwardly as a dinosaur and the tag elements 105a-b are shaped as flat pentagonal prisms, which might slightly resemble back plates. Alternatively, the dinosaur shape may be achieved by assembling a plurality of toy elements from a toy construction set.

[0124] The function element comprises a plurality of coupling members, two of which are shown and denoted with reference number 110. The plurality of coupling members in the function element provides five predetermined attachment locations 120-124 for a tag element. The tag elements 105a-b may comprise one or more coupling members (not shown) configured to couple with the function element at one of the five predetermined attachment locations. The function element and the tag elements are configured such that a tag element can couple to the function element in one of two predetermined relative orientations 132, 134 at each attachment location. In FIG. 12 is shown a first tag element 105a is positioned in the first predetermined relative orientation 132 in the first attachment location 120, while a second tag element 105b is positioned in the second predetermined relative orientation 134 in the second attachment location 121.

[0125] FIGS. 13 and 14 each shows an example of a toy assembly comprising one or more tag elements and a function element of a toy system. The tag elements 105a-b and function element 103 may be tag elements and a function element as those described in connection with FIGS. 11 and 12 except where otherwise noted.

[0126] The function element 103 comprises a sensor 125, which comprises an accelerometer allowing for detection of movement of the function element. As a user is moving the function element 103, for example by hand 136, the accelerometer is able to detect the movement. The function element may be further configured to recognise, based on the detected movement, a motion gesture.

[0127] In FIG. 13, a first tag element 105a is positioned in the first predetermined relative orientation 132 in the first attachment location 120, while a second tag element 105b is positioned in the second predetermined relative orientation 134 in the second attachment location 121 as described in connection with FIG. 12. The function element 103 further comprises a function device 107, which comprises a speaker 126 adapted to produce audible sound. As the accelerometer detects movement, the function element may recognise a motion gesture and control its behaviour responsive to the recognised gesture as well as based on the positions and / or orientations of the first and second tag elements 105a-b.

[0128] The function element may alternatively, or additionally, have identified the movement of the function element as a target user interaction and controlled the behaviour of the function element in response as well as based on the positions and / or orientations of the first and second tag elements 105a-b.

[0129] The determined behaviour causes the function element to active its speaker 126 and produce a user-perceptible output 111 in the form of an audible sound.

[0130] In FIG. 14, a tag element 105 is positioned in the first predetermined relative orientation 132 in the first attachment location 120. The tag element 105 is a training tag comprising configuration data, which has caused the function element 103 to enter a training mode. This mode allows the user to teach the function element 103 user interactions, such as user-defined movement of the function element, which the function element is then later able to recognise.

[0131] As the user’s hand 136 moves the function element 103 in a series of movements, the accelerometer 125 records the movements. The function element 103 further comprises a communications interface 130, which can communicate with an external processing unit 200 comprised in an external electronic device. The detected movement is communicated from the function element to the external processing unit, which performs an analysis on the movement and stores it as a target user interaction in a memory within the external electronic device. Alternatively, the target user interaction is communicated to the function element and stored in a memory within the function element or within a tag element.

[0132] FIG. 15 shows an example of two toy assemblies 101 ,101’ each comprising one or more tag elements 105a-b, 105’ and a function element 103,103’ of a toy system. The figure shows a first toy assembly 10T comprising a first function element 103’ and a second toy assembly 101 comprising a second function element 103. The first and second function element 10T, 101 each comprise an element detection circuit 127’, which allows the respective function element to detect the presence of the other function element.

[0133] The first toy assembly 10T further comprises a first tag element 105’ coupled to the first function element in a first relative position 132’ and at a second attachment location 12T. The first tag element 105’ modifies the behaviour of the first function element 103’ in a desired manner by its configuration data as well as by its relative position and / or orientation.

[0134] The second toy assembly 101 further comprises a second tag element 105a coupled to the second function element in a first relative position 132 and at a first attachment location 121. The second toy assembly 101 further comprises a third tag element 105b coupled to the second function element in a second relative position 134 and at a second attachment location 121. The second and third tag elements 105a-b modify the behaviour of the second function element 103 in a desired manner by their configuration data as well as by their position and / or orientation relative to the second function element.

[0135] The first and second toy assembly may enter a competitive mode, also called a battle mode, upon detecting each other’s presence, wherein the two toy assemblies engage in competition with each other. The toy assemblies 101, 10T may each perform an “attack” on the other toy assembly by a user executing a motion-based attack, i.e. when a user moves the toy assembly in a movement recognised by the function element in the toy assembly, or another processing device in communication with the function element, as a target user interaction correlated with an attack.

[0136] In fig. 15 two users are battling, each with a toy assembly. The second toy assembly 101 is performing an attack by the user’s hand 136 moving the second function element 103 in a movement that is recognised as a target user interaction correlated with an attack. The motion-based attack may result in the first toy assembly 10T “taking damage”. At the start of the battle mode each toy assembly 101, 10T will have an amount of health attributed to it and as the battle progresses, the damage from a motion-based attack from the other toy assembly may be deducted from its health. Each toy assembly may comprise a memory in which information about the health and damage is stored. The damage caused by a motion-based attack may be a fixed amount, possibly a fixed amount for each of a plurality of different possible motion-based attacks, or the damage may be calculated based on how accurately the user’s movement matches a target user interaction. Thus, the amount of damage may be determined based on how well the user’s movement of the function element is performed.

[0137] The one or more tag elements attached to each toy assembly may convey one or more attributes to the respective function element. For example, the type and placement of one or more tag elements may provide a toy assembly with an advantage or a disadvantage in the battle against another toy assembly.

[0138] Further, the type and relative placement of one or more tag elements may provide a toy assembly with a level or a ranking characteristic with which the toy assembly may compare itself to other toy assemblies. After a battle is over, a toy assembly may have attained a new level or ranking, which may be attributed to it by one or more tag elements of a particular type being placed in a position and / or orientation relative to the function element. Thus, a toy assembly may attain higher levels and other characteristics by the relative placement of one or more tag elements. Further, an evolution of a toy assembly, where it changes from one identity to another identity, may also be achieved by the relative placement of a tag element on the function element. A user may indicate that a battle is over by moving a toy assembly far enough away from the other toy assembly it was battling. The toy assemblies may be configured to encourage nurture play, for example by regaining lost health when placed in a predetermined location (“home”) or when a predetermined target user interaction is recognised (“lullaby”) or when a particular function element or tag element is brought close to the toy assembly (“healing potion”).

[0139] FIG. 16 shows a flow diagram of a method for controlling a behaviour of a function element as disclosed herein. The function element is comprised in a toy system, which also comprises a tag element. The function element and the tag element may be configured for selective assembly with each other and, optionally, with other toy system elements. The function element and the tag element may each be further configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, where the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element is different in each of the assemblies. The function element may comprise a tag reader configured to transmit a first signal and the tag element may be configured to transmit a second signal in response to receiving the first signal. The function element comprises a function device adapted to perform a user-perceptible function.

[0140] In method step S1 , the function element receives configuration data from a tag element and detects the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element. In some embodiments, the configuration data is received when the tag element is in a proximity of the function element.

[0141] In method step S2, the function element determines a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and further based on the configuration data received from the tag element.

[0142] In method step S3, the function element controls its behaviour responsive to the communicated configuration data and to the detected position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element.

[0143] FIG. 17 shows a flow diagram of a method for controlling a behaviour of a function element as disclosed herein.

[0144] Method steps S1-S3 may be a described in connection with FIG. 16. In method step S4, the function element is further configured to detect movement of itself and to recognise, based on the movement, a motion gesture.

[0145] In method step S5, the function element is configured to further control its behaviour responsive to the recognised gesture.

[0146] LIST OF REFERENCES

[0147] 101 toy system

[0148] 103 function element

[0149] 104 tag reader interface

[0150] 105 tag element

[0151] 106 data exchange interface

[0152] 107 function device

[0153] 108, 110 coupling members

[0154] 109 tag memory

[0155] 111 user-perceptible output

[0156] 112 control circuit / processing unit

[0157] 113 battery / energy storage device

[0158] 114 passive element

[0159] 115 tag reader circuit

[0160] 116 housing of function element

[0161] 117 tag housing

[0162] 120 first attachment location

[0163] 121 second attachment location

[0164] 122 third attachment location

[0165] 123 fourth attachment location

[0166] 124 fifth attachment location

[0167] 125 sensor

[0168] 126 speaker

[0169] 128 light source

[0170] 130 communications interface

[0171] 132 first relative orientation

[0172] 134 second relative orientation

[0173] 136 user’s hand 200 external processing unit

Claims

CLAIMS1. A toy system (101) comprising: a function element (103) comprising a tag reader and a function device (107) adapted to perform a user-perceptible function, and a tag element (105) comprising a data exchange interface (106), such as an antenna, configured to receive a first signal from the tag reader and in response transmit a second signal, the tag reader being configured to receive the second signal; the function element (103) and the tag element (105) being configured for selective assembly with each other and, optionally, with other toy system elements, the function element (103) and the tag element (105) each being further configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, wherein the position and / or orientation of the tag element (105) relative to the function element (103) is different in each of the assemblies, and wherein the function element (103) is configured to: detect the position and / or orientation of the tag element (105) relative to the function element (103), determine a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element (105) and further based on the second signal received from the tag element (105), and control its behaviour based on the determined behaviour.

2. The toy system (101) according to claim 1 , wherein the tag reader comprises two or more electromagnetic coils configured as tag reader interfaces, each coil defining a coil axis, and wherein the coil axes of the two or more electromagnetic coils are substantially linearly independent.

3. The toy system (101) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the function element (103) is configured to receive the second signal via two or more tag reader interfaces, and wherein the function element (103) is configured to determine a relative strength of the second signal as received by each of the two or more tag readerinterfaces, and to determine a relative or absolute position and / or relative or absolute orientation of the tag element (105) relative to the function element at least in part based on the determined relative strength of the second signal.

4. The toy system (101) according to any of the previous claims, wherein controlling the behaviour comprises controlling the function device (107) responsive to the determined behaviour.

5. The toy system (101) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tag element (105) further comprises a memory (109) configured for storing configuration data, which may be transmitted by the tag element to the function element via the second signal.

6. The toy system (101) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the function element (103) further comprises a sensor (125) configured to detect a property of the function element and / or a property of an environment of the function element, and wherein the function element is configured to control its own behaviour further based on the detected property.

7. The toy system according to claim 6, wherein the sensor (125) comprises an accelerometer and the detected property comprises a detected movement of the function element (103).

8. The toy system (101) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the function element (103) is further configured to: identify one or more user interactions based on the detected property, compare the identified one or more user interactions with one or more predetermined target user interactions, and control the behaviour of the function element based on a result of said comparison.

9. The toy system (101) according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the function element (103) is further configured to enter a training mode responsiveto information provided in the second signal and / or to the detected position and / or orientation of the tag element (105) relative to the function element (103), and wherein the function element is configured, when operating in the training mode, to identify one or more user interactions based on the detected property, and to record the detected one or more user interactions as one or more target interactions.

10. The toy system (101) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the function element (103) is further configured to detect movement of itself and to recognise, based on the movement, a motion gesture, and wherein the function element is configured to control its behaviour responsive to the recognised gesture.

11. The toy system (101) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the function element (103) further comprises a communications interface (130) configured for communication with another toy system and / or with an external processing unit (200).

12. The toy system (101) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the function element (103) is further configured to assign one or more attributes to itself based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element (105).

13. The toy system (101) according to claim 12, wherein the function element (103) is configured to transmit data, such as one or more of the one or more assigned attributes, to an external control circuit, such as to a control circuit in another toy system or to an external processing unit (200), and / or wherein the function element (103) is configured to receive data, such as information on one or more attributes, from an external control circuit, such as from a control circuit in another toy system or from an external processing unit (200).

14. A function element (103) comprising a tag reader and a function device (107) adapted to perform a user-perceptible function, the tag reader being configured to receive a tag signal, wherein the tag signal is a signal produced by a tag, the function element being configured to be selectively assembled with other toy elements, such as with one or more tag elements configured for selective assembly with the function element, the function element being configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, where the position and / or orientation relative to the function element of a tag element in assembly with the function element is different in each of the assemblies, the function element being configured to determine the position and / or orientation of a tag element relative to the function element, the determination being based on the received tag signal, the function element being configured to determine its own behaviour based on the determined relative position and / or relative orientation of a tag element and on the received tag signal, and to control its behaviour based on the determined behaviour.

15. A method for controlling a behaviour of a function element in a toy system comprising a function element (103) and a tag element (105) configured for selective assembly with each other and, optionally, with other toy system elements, the function element (103) and the tag element (105) each being further configured for detachable assembly into a plurality of different toy assemblies, wherein the position and / or orientation of the tag element (105) relative to the function element (103) is different in each of the assemblies, the function element comprising a tag reader configured to transmit a first signal and a function device adapted to perform a user-perceptible function; the method comprising: transmitting, from the function element, the first signal, transmitting, by the tag element, a second signal in response to receiving the first signal,detecting, by the function element, the position and / or orientation of the tag element relative to the function element, determining, by the function element, a behaviour based on the detected relative position and / or relative orientation of the tag element and further based on the second signal received from the tag element, controlling, by the function element, its behaviour based on the determined behaviour.

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