Toy

Abstract

To provide a non-contact communication device and a toy that can acquire electronic information from two information holding media by a simple configuration and can reduce power consumption and cost.SOLUTION: An antenna coil 21 includes a first coil loop portion 211 arranged along a first surface 13 of a housing 11, and a second coil loop portion 212 arranged along a second surface 14 of the housing 11. The first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are arranged with an electromagnetic shield 22 provided on a straight line CL penetrating the antenna coil 21 in between, and are wound around the straight line CL in the same direction, and connected to a circuit in series with each other. Therefore, electronic information can be acquired from each of the two information holding media 100 with a simple configuration, and power and cost can be suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a non-contact communication device and a toy that perform wireless communication with an information storage medium for storing electronic information.

Background Art

[0002] The toy described in Patent Document 1 includes a main toy body provided with a non-contact communication device and a sub-toy body as an information storage medium. When the sub-toy body is brought close to the main toy body, the electronic information of the sub-toy body is acquired by the main toy body. The main toy body that has acquired the electronic information of the sub-toy body outputs an effect using sound and light according to the acquired electronic information.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a toy configured to acquire electronic information from an information storage medium by non-contact communication with the information storage medium and output an effect according to the acquired electronic information, like the toy described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to diversify the effect and enhance the interest of the toy by acquiring electronic information from two information storage media respectively and changing the effect according to the combination of the two acquired electronic information.

[0005] For example, by using two sets of an antenna coil and a signal processing circuit that processes a signal transmitted between the antenna coil and the information storage medium, it is possible to acquire electronic information from two information storage media respectively. Also, by sequentially switching and connecting two antenna coils to one signal processing circuit via a high-frequency switch, it is possible to acquire electronic information from two information storage media respectively.

[0006] However, when using two sets of antenna coils and signal processing circuits, or when sequentially switching and connecting two antenna coils to one signal processing circuit via a high-frequency switch, there is a concern about an increase in power consumption and manufacturing cost, and it is not suitable for toys with relatively strict power and cost constraints.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a non-contact communication device and a toy that can respectively acquire electronic information from two information storage media with a simple configuration and can suppress power and cost.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The non-contact communication device according to the present invention is a non-contact communication device that performs wireless communication with an information storage medium that holds electronic information, and includes an antenna coil, a circuit board on which a circuit for processing a signal transmitted between the information storage medium via the antenna coil is mounted, a housing that houses the antenna coil and the circuit board, and an electromagnetic shield. The antenna coil has a first coil loop portion disposed near a first surface of the housing and a second coil loop portion disposed near a second surface of the housing opposite to the first surface. The electromagnetic shield is disposed on a straight line passing through the first coil loop portion and the second coil loop portion and between the first coil loop portion and the second coil loop portion. The first coil loop portion and the second coil loop portion are wound in the same direction around the straight line and are connected to the circuit in series with each other. In addition, the toy according to the present invention includes a communication unit, an operation unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The communication unit is constituted by a communication device that communicates with an information storage medium that holds electronic information. The communication device includes a circuit board on which a circuit for processing signals transmitted between the communication device and the information storage medium is mounted, and a housing that houses the circuit board. The housing is provided with a mounting portion on which the information storage medium can be mounted, and includes a first communication unit disposed near the mounting portion of the housing, and a second communication unit disposed near a position of the housing different from the position where the mounting portion is provided. The storage unit stores a plurality of operation data for operating the operation unit in association with the electronic information. The control unit operates the operation unit based on the operation data corresponding to the electronic information acquired by the communication unit among the plurality of operation data stored in the storage unit. A part of the plurality of operation data is associated with a combination of two pieces of the electronic information. The communication unit acquires the electronic information from each information storage medium when the information storage medium is mounted on the mounting portion and the information storage medium is disposed near the position where the second communication unit is disposed. The control unit operates the operation unit based on the operation data corresponding to the combination of the two pieces of electronic information acquired by the communication unit when the two pieces of electronic information are acquired by the communication unit. Further, in the toy according to the present invention, the communication unit is configured to be writable to the information storage medium, and the control unit generates write information to be written to the information storage medium based on the electronic information acquired by the communication unit, and may change the write information according to the combination of the two pieces of electronic information acquired when the two pieces of electronic information are acquired by the communication unit. Further, in the toy according to the present invention, the operation unit may output an effect including at least one of sound, light, display, and movement.

[0009] Also, in the non-contact communication device according to the present invention, the electromagnetic shield may be the circuit board.

[0010] Also, in the non-contact communication device according to the present invention, the first coil loop portion and the second coil loop portion may have loop shapes similar to each other.

[0011] Further, in the contactless communication device according to the present invention, the first coil loop portion and the second coil loop portion may have the same loop shape as each other.

[0012] Further, in the contactless communication device according to the present invention, the first plane on which the first coil loop portion is located and the second plane on which the second coil loop portion is located may be arranged parallel to each other.

[0013] Further, in the contactless communication device according to the present invention, the center of the first coil loop portion and the center of the second coil loop portion may be arranged on the same axis as each other.

[0014] Further, in the contactless communication device according to the present invention, in a view in the extending direction of the straight line, the electromagnetic shield may be arranged inside the inner diameters of the first coil loop portion and the second coil loop portion.

[0015] Further, in the contactless communication device according to the present invention, the number of turns of the first coil loop portion may be less than the number of turns of the second coil loop portion.

[0016] Further, in the contactless communication device according to the present invention, a mounting portion for mounting the information holding medium may be provided on the first surface of the housing.

[0017] Further, the toy according to the present invention includes a communication unit configured by the above contactless communication device, and an operation unit, a storage unit, and a control unit housed in the housing of the contactless communication device. The storage unit stores a plurality of operation data for operating the operation unit in association with the electronic information. The control unit operates the operation unit based on the operation data corresponding to the electronic information acquired by the communication unit among the plurality of operation data stored in the storage unit.

[0018] In addition, in the toy according to the present invention, some of the plurality of operation data are associated with a combination of the two pieces of electronic information. When the two information storage media are respectively arranged on the first surface and the second surface of the housing, the communication unit acquires the electronic information of each of the two information storage media, and when the two pieces of electronic information are acquired by the communication unit, the control unit may operate the operation unit based on the operation data corresponding to the combination of the two pieces of electronic information acquired by the communication unit.

[0019] In addition, in the toy according to the present invention, the communication unit is configured to be writable to the information storage media. The control unit generates write information to be written to the information storage media based on the electronic information acquired by the communication unit, and may change the write information according to the combination of the two pieces of electronic information acquired when the two pieces of electronic information are acquired by the communication unit.

[0020] In addition, in the toy according to the present invention, the operation unit may output an effect including at least one of sound, light, display, and movement.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a non-contact communication device and a toy that can respectively acquire electronic information from two information storage media with a simple configuration and can suppress power consumption and cost. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a non-contact communication device and a toy that can satisfactorily acquire the electronic information of the information storage media even on different surfaces with a simple configuration and can suppress power consumption and cost.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail. In the description of the embodiments, the same elements are denoted by the same numbers throughout. Also, the drawings are to be viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.

[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a non-contact communication device and a toy for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The toy 10 exchanges electronic information with an information holding medium that holds electronic information, and operates based on the electronic information acquired from the information holding medium.

[0026] The toy 10 includes a housing 11. The housing 11 has, for example, a box-shaped housing main body 12, an upper lid (first surface) 13 that covers the upper side (the upper side in FIG. 1) of the housing main body 12, and a lower lid (second surface) 14 provided on the opposite side of the upper lid 13 in the housing main body 12. The upper surface of the upper lid 13 is covered with a cover 15. The upper lid 13, the lower lid 14, and the cover 15 are made of an electromagnetic wave transmissive material such as resin, for example.

[0027] The toy 10 further includes a non-contact communication device 20 that performs wireless communication with an information holding medium. The non-contact communication device 20 has an antenna coil 21 and a circuit board 22 on which a signal processing circuit that processes signals transmitted between the antenna coil 21 and the information holding medium is mounted, and is housed in the housing 11.

[0028] The antenna coil 21 has a first coil loop portion 211 and a second coil loop portion 212. The first coil loop portion 211 is arranged along the upper lid 13, and the second coil loop portion 212 is arranged along the lower lid 14. Also, the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are arranged with the circuit board 22 as an electromagnetic shielding body provided on a straight line CL passing through the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 interposed therebetween. In other words, the circuit board 22 as an electromagnetic shielding body is arranged on the straight line CL passing through the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 and between the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212.

[0029] The first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are wound in the same direction around the straight line CL and are connected in series to the signal processing circuit 23 of the circuit board 22. In this example, the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 have the same loop shape and are formed in a substantially circular shape. Also, in this example, the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are arranged on the same axis, and the first plane on which the first coil loop portion 211 is located and the second plane on which the second coil loop portion 212 is located are arranged parallel to each other.

[0030] Figure 3 shows the functional blocks of the toy 10.

[0031] The toy 10 includes a communication unit 31, an operation unit 32, a storage unit 33, a control unit 34, a power supply unit 35, and an operation unit 36.

[0032] The communication unit 31 is constituted by a non-contact communication device 20 having an antenna coil 21 and a signal processing circuit 23 mounted on a circuit board 22, and transmits and receives signals to and from the information storage medium 100. The operation unit 32 includes a sound-emitting body such as a speaker and a light-emitting element such as an LED, and is configured to output an effect including at least one of sound and light. The storage unit 33 includes a ROM or the like, and stores a plurality of operation data for operating the operation unit 32 in association with the electronic information held in the information storage medium 100. Note that the operation unit 32 may also include a display body using a display medium or the like and an operation mechanism using a motor or the like.

[0033] The control unit 34 is mainly constituted by a CPU, and comprehensively controls the communication unit 31, the operation unit 32, and the storage unit 33. The control unit 34 operates the operation unit 32 based on the operation data corresponding to the electronic information acquired from the information storage medium 100 by the communication unit 31 among the plurality of operation data stored in the storage unit 33.

[0034] The power supply unit 35 supplies operating power to the communication unit 31, the operation unit 32, the storage unit 33, and the control unit 34. The operation unit 36 includes a power switch and a switch for instructing the control unit 34 to start communication by the communication unit 31.

[0035] The information storage medium 100 that communicates with the toy 10 has an antenna coil 101 and an IC 102, and the IC 102 holds electronic information.

[0036] Communication between the toy 10 and the information storage medium 100 is performed as follows.

[0037] When an instruction to start communication is given by operating the switch of the operation unit 36, an alternating current is supplied to the antenna coil 21 of the toy 10, and an alternating magnetic field is formed around the antenna coil 21. An induced electromotive force is generated in the antenna coil 101 of the information holding medium 100 disposed in the alternating magnetic field, a current flows, and the IC 102 connected to the antenna coil 101 is driven. Then, a signal modulated based on the electronic information held in the IC 102 is superimposed on the alternating magnetic field and transmitted from the antenna coil 101 of the information holding medium 100 to the antenna coil 21 of the toy 10. The signal received by the antenna coil 21 is demodulated by the signal processing circuit 23, and the electronic information is extracted.

[0038] The alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21 is a combination of the alternating magnetic field formed by the first coil loop portion 211 and the alternating magnetic field formed by the second coil loop portion 212. As described above, the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are wound in the same direction around the straight line CL and are connected in series to the signal processing circuit 23 of the circuit board 22. Therefore, the phases of the alternating magnetic field formed by the first coil loop portion 211 and the alternating magnetic field formed by the second coil loop portion 212 are the same, and they reinforce each other.

[0039] However, as shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board 22 as an electromagnetic shield is disposed between the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212. When the magnetic fluxes of the alternating magnetic fields of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 penetrate the circuit board 22, eddy currents are generated in the conductor portions of the circuit board 22 such as circuit patterns. The eddy currents generate magnetic fluxes that oppose the magnetic fluxes penetrating the circuit board 22, and the magnetic fluxes caused by these eddy currents may cause a decrease in the intensity of the alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21.

[0040] However, since the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are arranged with the circuit board 22 interposed therebetween, the magnetic field strength necessary for communication with the information holding medium 100 can be maintained on either the first coil loop portion 211 side or the second coil loop portion 212 side. If the antenna coil 21 is constituted only by the first coil loop portion 211 arranged in the vicinity of the upper lid 13 of the housing 11 (in this embodiment, arranged along the upper lid 13), the strength of the alternating magnetic field is significantly reduced on the lower lid 14 side of the housing 11, resulting in inability to communicate.

[0041] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, a preferred configuration example of the antenna coil 21 will be described.

[0042] From the viewpoint of increasing the magnetic field strength and symmetry of the alternating magnetic field around the antenna coil 21, the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 preferably have loop shapes similar to each other, and more preferably have the same loop shape as shown in FIG. 2.

[0043] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the loop shape of the first coil loop portion 211 is substantially rectangular, and the loop shape of the second coil loop portion 212 is substantially circular. If the loop shapes of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are different from each other in this way, a non-overlapping region R occurs in the overlap of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212. In this non-overlapping region R, cancellation of the alternating magnetic fields occurs in the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 respectively, resulting in a decrease in the strength of the alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21, that is, a decrease in communication sensitivity. Further, the non-overlapping region R is not rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axes of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 respectively, and disturbance of the symmetry of the alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21, that is, disturbance of the communication sensitivity distribution, may occur.

[0044] By making the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 have loop shapes similar to each other, and further the same loop shape, the non-overlapping region R can be reduced, and the magnetic field strength and symmetry of the alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21 can be enhanced.

[0045] Also, from the viewpoint of enhancing the magnetic field strength and symmetry of the alternating magnetic field around the antenna coil 21, the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are preferably arranged parallel to each other and on the same axis.

[0046] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the central axes of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are shifted while maintaining parallelism with each other, and a non-overlapping region R occurs in the overlap of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212, and a decrease in the strength of the alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21 and a disturbance in symmetry may occur as described above. Even when the central axes of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 are inclined with respect to each other, similarly, a decrease in the strength of the alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21 and a disturbance in symmetry may occur.

[0047] By arranging the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 on the same axis and parallel to each other, the non-overlapping region R can be reduced, and the magnetic field strength and symmetry of the alternating magnetic field formed around the antenna coil 21 can be enhanced.

[0048] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, from the viewpoint of increasing the magnetic field strength of the alternating magnetic field around the antenna coil 21, the circuit board 22 is preferably arranged inside the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 when viewed in the extending direction of the straight line CL (see FIG. 2) passing through the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212. By arranging the circuit board 22 inside the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212, a part of the magnetic flux of the alternating magnetic field of the first coil loop portion 211 and the second coil loop portion 212 can pass along the side of the circuit board 22 without passing through the circuit board 22, and the magnetic field strength of the alternating magnetic field around the antenna coil 21 can be increased.

[0049] Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, an example of the use of the toy 10 will be described.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows an example of an information holding medium.

[0051] The information holding medium shown in FIG. 7 is a medal 100A formed in a substantially disk shape, and a tag 103 in which an antenna coil 101 (see FIG. 3) and an IC 102 (see FIG. 3) are integrated is embedded in the medal 100A.

[0052] The upper lid 13 of the toy 10 is provided with a mounting portion 16 on which the medal 100A is mounted. The mounting portion 16 includes a pair of guide rails 161 extending in parallel, and grooves 104 corresponding to the pair of guide rails 161 are provided on the lower surface of the medal 100A. The medal 100A is guided by the pair of guide rails 161 and arranged at a predetermined position on the upper lid 13, and the tag 103 of the medal 100A is arranged in a certain positional relationship with respect to the first coil loop portion 211 arranged in the vicinity of the upper lid 13 (arranged along the upper lid 13 in this embodiment).

[0053] As shown in Fig. 8(A), when an instruction to start communication is given by operating the switch of the operation unit 36 (see Fig. 3) of the toy 10 with the medal 100A mounted on the mounting unit 16, the control unit 34 (see Fig. 3) of the toy 10 operates the communication unit 31 (see Fig. 3). The communication unit 31 exchanges signals with the antenna coil 21 and the tag 103 of the medal 100A, and acquires the electronic information held by the tag 103.

[0054] Then, the control unit 34 reads out the operation data corresponding to the electronic information acquired by the communication unit 31 from the storage unit 33 (see Fig. 3), and operates the operation unit 32 (see Fig. 3) based on the read operation data. As a result, an effect including at least one of sound and light is output from the operation unit 32. As an example of the effect, a different character pattern is attached to each medal on the medal 100A, and a voice including the name of the character "Medal Monster" is output.

[0055] In the example shown in Fig. 8(A), the tag 103 of the medal 100A is arranged on the upper lid 13 side of the toy 10 adjacent to the first coil loop portion 211 of the antenna coil 21. However, as described above, since the magnetic field strength required for communication is maintained also on the lower lid 14 side of the toy 10 adjacent to the second coil loop portion 212, as shown in Fig. 8(B), even when the tag 103 of the medal 100A is arranged on the lower lid 14 side, the communication unit 31 can exchange signals with the antenna coil 21 and the tag 103 of the medal 100A to acquire electronic information.

[0056] Note that when the medal 100A is attached to the attachment portion 16, the tag 103 of the medal 100A disposed on the upper lid 13 side is disposed in a certain positional relationship with respect to the first coil loop portion 211 provided adjacent to the upper lid 13. On the other hand, the lower lid 14 is not provided with an attachment portion for attaching the medal 100A, and it is also assumed that information holding media having various shapes other than the medal 100A are disposed on the lower lid 14 side. The positional relationship between the information holding medium disposed on the lower lid 14 side and the second coil loop portion 212 provided adjacent to the lower lid 14 is not constant. For this reason, it is preferable to make the magnetic field strength on the lower lid 14 side higher than the magnetic field strength on the upper lid 13 side, and it is preferable to relatively increase the number of turns of the second coil loop portion 212. Also, it is allowed to relatively decrease the number of turns of the first coil loop portion 211.

[0057] An example of using the toy 10 shown in FIG. 9 uses both the above-described medal 100A and a sub-toy 100B imitating a gun as an information holding medium. In the sub-toy 100B, a tag 105 in which an antenna coil and an IC are integrated is embedded, similar to the tag 103 of the medal 100A.

[0058] With the tag 103 of the medal 100A arranged on the upper lid 13 side of the toy 10 and the tag 105 of the sub-toy 100B arranged on the lower lid 14 side of the toy 10, when an instruction to start communication is given by operating the switch of the operation unit 36 (see FIG. 3) of the toy 10, the control unit 34 (see FIG. 3) of the toy 10 operates the communication unit 31 (see FIG. 3). The communication unit 31 exchanges signals with the antenna coil 21, the tag 103 of the medal 100A, and the tag 105 of the sub-toy 100B, and acquires the electronic information held by the tag 103 and the tag 105. Specifically, the medal 100A and the tag 103 are arranged in a certain positional relationship with respect to the first coil loop portion 211 adjacent to the upper lid 13 side of the toy 10 (arranged in the vicinity of the upper lid 13), and the first coil loop portion 211 exchanges signals with the communication unit 31 for the tag 103. Also, the sub-toy 100B and the tag 105 exchange signals with the communication unit 31 through the second coil loop portion 212 adjacent to the lower lid 14 side of the toy 10 (arranged in the vicinity of the lower lid 14). By applying the anti-collision technology known in RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) reading, electronic information can be acquired from the tag 103 and the tag 105 without collision.

[0059] Then, the control unit 34 reads out the operation data corresponding to the combination of the electronic information of the tag 103 and the electronic information of the tag 105 acquired by the communication unit 31 from the storage unit 33 (see FIG. 3), and operates the operation unit 32 (see FIG. 3) based on the read operation data. As a result, an effect including at least one of sound and light is output from the operation unit 32. As an example of the effect, since the sub-toy 100B having the tag 105 imitates a gun, the attribute "gun user" by the sub-toy 100B is added to the name "Medal Monster" of the character attached to the medal 100A, and a voice including "Gun-using Medal Monster" is output.

[0060] An example of using the toy 10 shown in FIG. 10 uses both the above-mentioned medal 100A and a map 100C as an information storage medium. A plurality of tags 106 in which an antenna coil and an IC are integrated are embedded in the map 100C, similar to the tag 103 of the medal 100A. In the illustrated example, the map 100C is a map of Japan, and the tags 106 are provided for each prefecture, for example. Since the map 100C is planar, it is assumed that the toy 10 is not provided with a mounting portion such as when the medal 100A is mounted. Therefore, the positional relationship between the toy 10 and the tag 106 of the map 100C is not constant.

[0061] With the tag 103 of the medal 100A disposed on the upper lid 13 side of the toy 10 and any one tag 106 of the map 100C disposed on the lower lid 14 side of the toy 10, when an instruction to start communication is given by operating a switch of the operation unit 36 (see FIG. 3) of the toy 10, the control unit 34 (see FIG. 3) of the toy 10 operates the communication unit 31 (see FIG. 3). The communication unit 31 exchanges signals between the antenna coil 21 and the tag 103 of the medal 100A and the tag 106 of the map 100C, and acquires the electronic information held by the tag 103 and the tag 106. Specifically, the medal 100A and the tag 103 are arranged in a certain positional relationship with respect to a first coil loop portion 211 adjacent to the upper lid 13 side of the toy 10 (arranged in the vicinity of the upper lid 13), and signals of the tag 103 are exchanged between the communication unit 31 by the first coil loop portion 211. Also, although the positional relationship between the sub-toy 100B and the tag 106 and the toy 10 is not constant, signals of the tag 106 are exchanged between the communication unit 31 by a second coil loop portion 212 near the lower lid 14 having a higher magnetic field strength by increasing the number of turns compared to the coil 211 on the upper lid 13 side.

[0062] Then, the control unit 34 reads out operation data corresponding to the combination of the electronic information of the tag 103 and the electronic information of the tag 106 acquired by the communication unit 31 from the storage unit 33 (see FIG. 3), and operates the operation unit 32 (see FIG. 3) based on the read operation data. As a result, an effect including at least one of sound and light is output from the operation unit 32. As an example of the effect, a local phrase of the prefecture "Hokkaido" where the tag 106 of the map 100C is arranged is added to the name "Medal Monster" of the character attached to the medal 100A, and for example, a voice including "Hokkaido Medal Monster" is output.

[0063] As described above, according to the toy 10 including the contactless communication device 20, the electronic information can be acquired from the two information holding media arranged on the upper lid 13 side and the lower lid 14 side of the housing 11 by the set of antenna coils 21 and the signal processing circuit 23, and the power and cost can be suppressed. Then, by changing the effect according to the combination of the two acquired electronic information, it is possible to diversify the effect and enhance the interestingness of the toy.

[0064] So far, the example in which the toy 10 acquires the electronic information held in the IC 102 of the information holding medium 100 has been described. However, the IC 102 can be configured to be rewritable, and the toy 10 can also be configured to write the electronic information to the IC 102. In this case, the control unit 34 of the toy 10 generates write information to be written to the IC 102 based on the electronic information acquired by the communication unit 31. And when two pieces of electronic information are acquired by the communication unit 31, the write information may be changed according to the combination of the two acquired pieces of electronic information.

[0065] For example, in the usage example of the toy 10 shown in FIG. 9, the history of the sub-toy 100B used together with the medal 100A is written in the tag 103 of the medal 100A. When the medal 100A is later used in the toy 10 or an external device other than the toy 10 (such as a game cabinet or an entrance system), benefits can be generated according to the usage history of the medal 100A. Alternatively, a character can be displayed according to the history, the winning rate of the game can be affected, or the medal 100A with the history of communicating with a specific sub-toy written in it can be used as an entrance pass to the event venue, etc. In addition, examples of the electronic information to be written include the number of times played, the properties of the character, the game result, etc.

Explanation of Signs

[0066] 10 Toy 11 Cabinet 12 Cabinet Body 13 Upper Cover (First Surface) 14 Lower Cover (Second Surface) 15 Cover 16 Mounting Port 20 Non-Contact Communication Device 21 Antenna Coil 22 Circuit Board (Electromagnetic Shield) 23 Signal Processing Circuit 31 Communication Unit 32 Operation Unit 33 Storage Unit 34 Control Unit 35 Power Supply Unit 36 Operation Unit 100 Information Retention Medium 100A Medal (Information Retention Medium) 100B Sub-Toy (Information Retention Medium) 100C Map (Information Retention Medium) 101 Antenna Coil 102 IC 103 Tag 104 Groove 105 Tag 106 Tag 161 Guide Rail 211 First Coil Loop Portion 212 Second Coil Loop Part CL Straight Line R Non-Overlapping Region

Claims

1. A toy, comprising: The device includes a communication unit, an operation unit, a storage unit, and a control unit, The communication unit is configured by a communication device that communicates with an information storage medium that stores electronic information, and the communication device is a circuit board on which a circuit for processing signals transmitted between the information storage medium is mounted; A housing that houses the circuit board; Equipped with the housing is provided with a mounting portion into which the information carrying medium can be mounted, a first communication unit disposed in the vicinity of the mounting portion of the housing, and a second communication unit disposed in the vicinity of a position of the housing different from a position where the mounting portion is provided, the storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of operation data for operating the operation unit in association with the electronic information; the control unit operates the operation unit based on operation data corresponding to the electronic information acquired by the communication unit among the plurality of operation data stored in the storage unit; A part of the plurality of pieces of operational data is associated with a combination of two pieces of the electronic information; when an information holding medium is attached to the attachment portion and is disposed near a position where the second communication portion is disposed, the communication portion acquires the electronic information from each information holding medium; The control unit is a toy that, when two pieces of electronic information are acquired by the communication unit, operates the operation unit based on operation data corresponding to the combination of the two pieces of electronic information acquired by the communication unit.

2. 2. The toy of claim 1, The communication unit is configured to be able to write to the information storage medium, The control unit generates writing information to be written to the information holding medium based on the electronic information acquired by the communication unit, and when two pieces of electronic information are acquired by the communication unit, the toy changes the writing information according to the combination of the two pieces of electronic information acquired.

3. 3. The toy according to claim 1 or 2, The operating unit is a toy that outputs effects including at least one of sound, light, display, and movement.

Images