Modular toy system including a vibration sensor and a vibration source

Abstract

A modular toy system, comprising a plurality of modular toy elements, each comprising one or more coupling members for mechanically and detachably coupling the modular toy elements with each other so as to selectively construct one or more user-selected toy structures, wherein the modular toy system comprises a vibration source for imparting vibrations onto a toy structure constructed from the plurality of modular toy elements, wherein the plurality of modular toy elements comprises a modular sensor toy element, the modular sensor toy element comprising a vibration sensor, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to sense vibrations of a toy structure constructed from the plurality of modular toy elements including the modular sensor toy element, wherein the vibration source is controllable based at least in part on the sensed vibrations.

Description

[0001] Modular toy system including a vibration sensor and a vibration source

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a modular toy system comprising a modular sensor toy element and a vibration source. The present invention further relates to a modular vibrator toy element.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Modular toy systems are known that include modular toy elements having various coupling means for interconnection of the modular toy elements. Examples of such systems include toy building sets for children, e.g. as disclosed in the following patent publications: US 3 005 282, US 5 984 756 and EP 490 033. Moreover, toy building sets with other types of coupling means are known.

[0006] The above and other prior art building sets are used primarily as toys for children, but also as educational system for use in schools or in other educational contexts. The toy building sets described in the above patent publications area also available with movable elements, such as wheels, and with functional elements, such as motors, of which some are able to impart vibrations.

[0007] For example, WO 2004 / 058371 discloses a building set comprising building elements with coupling means for interconnection of building elements, wherein the building set comprises a vibrator building element with a device for generating vibrations and with coupling means for interconnection with the remaining building elements of the building set, wherein the coupling means are the only interface for out- putting generated vibrations. The building set also comprises a sensor building element, and by the building set structures can be built for illustrating the propagation of vibrations through solid structures. Thus, the building set can be used both as a toy and for teaching purposes.

[0008] Modular toy systems such as the above prior art building sets can be used to construct a large variety of toy structures of vastly varying shapes and sizes. This flexibility makes it difficult to configure functional elements of the system to provide a suitable effect regardless of what the user of the system might decide to construct from the modular toy elements of the system. To this end, some modular toy systems include a variety of functional elements, e.g. a variety of different motors, including smaller motors and larger motors, that care capable of providing different torque and / or that otherwise are configured for specific uses. However, this strategy involves the need for designing and manufacturing a relatively large number of different versions of functional elements, thereby increasing the cost and complexity of the system.

[0009] It thus remains desirable to provide a flexible, enjoyable and / or educational, yet cost-efficient modular toy system.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] One object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the above-mentioned and / or other disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide an alternative to existing solutions.

[0012] According to one aspect, disclosed herein are embodiments of a modular toy system. The modular toy system comprises a plurality of modular toy elements, each comprising one or more coupling members for mechanically and detachably coupling the modular toy elements with each other so as to construct one or more user-selectable toy structures.

[0013] In various embodiments, the modular toy system comprises a vibration source for imparting vibrations onto a toy structure constructed from the plurality of modular toy elements. Moreover, the plurality of modular toy elements comprises a modular sensor toy element, the modular sensor toy element comprising a vibration sensor, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to sense vibrations of a toy structure constructed from the plurality of modular toy elements including the modular sensor toy element, wherein the vibration source is controllable based at least in part on the sensed vibrations.

[0014] Accordingly, as the vibration source is controllable in dependence on the measured vibrations, which are imparted on the toy structure by the vibration source, the created vibrations may be adapted to properties of different models, e.g. so as to maximize the perceived effect of the imparted vibration or in another desired manner. Accordingly, the user may enjoy and / or study the effects of the vibrations without the need for structure-specific vibration sources or for the user to perform a manual structurespecific configuration or tuning of the vibration source. Accordingly, the system may easily be used by children of varying ages without the need for detailed knowledge of the underlying technical details. As the control of the vibration source is based on measured vibrations of the actual toy structure to be affected, the control does not require a priori knowledge about the properties of the toy structure being constructed. Yet further, a useful, perceivable effect of the vibration may be achieved for many different types of toy structures and with relatively little power consumption. Or relatively weak vibration sources.

[0015] While the vibration source may be implemented as an entity other than a modular toy element, in some embodiments, the vibration source is accommodated in a modular vibrator toy element of the plurality of modular toy elements, e.g. in the modular sensor toy element or in another modular toy element of the plurality of modular toy elements. Thereby, a more flexible and easy-to-use system may be provided. Moreover, an efficient transfer of vibrations from the vibration source to the other modular toy elements of a toy structure may be facilitated by mechanically coupling the modular vibrator toy element to one or more other modular toy elements of a toy structure. The modular vibrator toy element may thus comprise: an element body having one or more coupling members adapted for mechanically and detachably coupling the element body with one or more other modular toy elements of the plurality of modular toy elements, and the vibration source.

[0016] According to another aspect, disclosed herein are embodiments of a modular vibrator toy element, comprising: an element body having one or more coupling members adapted for mechanically and detachably coupling the element body with one or more other modular toy elements, a vibration source accommodated within the element body of the modular vibrator toy element and configured to impart vibration onto one or more other modular toy elements when said one or more other modular toy elements are mechanically and detachably coupled to the element body, a control unit configured to control the vibration source based at least in part on one or more sensor signals acquired by one or more vibration sensors, the one or more sensor signals being indicative of said imparted vibration.

[0017] Generally, in various embodiments of the aspects disclosed herein, the vibration sensor may comprise an accelerometer, a piezoelectric sensor or any other suitable type of vibration sensor.

[0018] The vibration sensor may be integrated into the same modular toy element as the vibration source, i.e. it may be an internal vibration sensor of a modular vibrator toy element. In other words, the modular sensor toy element and the modular vibrator toy element may be embodied as a single modular toy element. Alternatively, the modular sensor toy element may be separate from the vibration source, i.e. the vibration source may be external to the modular sensor toy element. The provision of an internal vibration sensor of a modular vibrator toy element provides a compact system that requires fewer active modular toy elements and that can obtain vibration measurements without relying on communication between the modular vibrator toy element and an external sensor. The provision of one or more external vibration sensors, in particular in the form of one or more modular sensor toy elements separate from the vibration source, allows a more accurate detection of vibrations imparted onto larger toy structures.

[0019] The vibration source may be controllable, responsive to the sensed vibrations, to adapt an amplitude and / or a frequency of an actuation vibration created by the vibration source.

[0020] In some embodiments, the vibration source is controllable by a control unit. The control unit may be a control unit accommodated in the modular sensor toy element. In other embodiments, the control unit may be accommodated in the same device as the vibration source, e.g. in a modular vibrator toy element, or in a separate control device. In some embodiments, the control unit may be distributed between multiple devices, e.g. between a modular vibrator toy element and a modular sensor toy element, or otherwise.

[0021] The control unit may receive sensor signals from more than one vibration sensor e.g. from a vibration sensor of the modular toy element that accommodates the control unit and / or from one or more external vibration sensor, external to said modular toy element that includes the control unit. For example, the control unit of a modular vibrator toy element may receive sensor signals from one or more modular sensor toy elements as described herein. When the control unit receives sensor signals from a plurality of vibration sensors, these may be arranged at different locations within a toy structure, thereby allowing a more refined measurement of vibrations of a toy structure, in particular of larger toy structures.

[0022] The control unit may control the vibration source to adapt the created vibrations in a number of ways. In particular, the control unit may control the vibration source so as to adapt the frequency of the created vibration and / or an amplitude of the created vibration and / or another parameter of the created vibration. The control unit may control the vibration source to vibrate at a selected target frequency, at a sequence of target frequencies and / or to vary the vibration frequency of the vibration source according to another selected frequency profile. The control unit may be configured to control the vibration source, based on the sensed vibrations, to vibrate at a selected target frequency (e.g. to only vibrate at the selected target frequency or by including a selected target frequency in a selected frequency profile), wherein the selected target frequency at least approximately corresponds to a resonance frequency of the toy structure. In other embodiments, the selected target frequency may be selected to be different from a resonance frequency, e.g. so as to reduce or even minimize vibrations or certain vibrational modes.

[0023] The or each vibration sensor may be configured for sensing a vibration rate, a vibration acceleration, a vibration velocity and / or another quantity indicative of the imparted vibration, in particular a quantity indicative of a strength or magnitude of the imparted vibration. The vibration sensor may forward a sensor signal indicative of the sensed quantity to the control unit for further signal processing and / or analysis. In some embodiments, the vibration sensor may perform some or all signal processing prior to forwarding the processed signal to the control unit.

[0024] The modular sensor toy element may comprise an element body and a vibration sensor accommodated within the element body. The element body of the modular sensor toy element may comprise coupling members for mechanically and detachably coupling the modular sensor toy element to the modular vibrator toy element and / or to one or more other modular toy elements.

[0025] The modular sensor toy element and / or the modular vibrator toy element may further comprise a communications circuit, in particular a communications circuit for communicating with one or more other modular toy elements of the modular toy system. Accordingly, when the modular sensor toy element comprises a communications circuit, it may transmit sensor signals indicative of vibrations sensed by the vibration sensor of the modular sensor toy element. Similarly, when the modular vibrator toy element comprises a communications circuit, it may receive sensor signals indicative of vibrations sensed by an external vibration sensor, e.g. by a modular sensor toy element. Alternatively or additionally, the modular vibrator toy element and / or the modular sensor toy element may transmit and / or receive other information via their respective communications circuits, e.g. identification information, control signals, other sensor signals, etc. The communications circuit of the modular sensor toy element and / or of the modular vibrator toy element may be a wired or a wireless communications circuit. A wireless communications circuit has the advantage that the construction of the toy structure is not influenced by the need of cables or electric connections. Examples of wireless communications circuits include circuits for radio-frequency communications, e.g. short-range communications using Bluetooth communications or another suitable wireless communications technology. The modular sensor toy element and / or the modular vibrator toy element may include more than one communications circuits, e.g. a radio-frequency interface, e.g. based on Bluetooth or otherwise, and a near-field communications circuit, such as an RFID interface.

[0026] It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the modular vibrator toy element and / or the modular sensor toy element may include one or more other sensors and / or one or more other function devices, e.g. a light source, a light sensor, a sound source, a microphone, a proximity sensor, a distance sensor, a motor, another vibration source, and / or the like.

[0027] In some embodiments, the modular vibrator toy element comprises a power source for providing power to the vibration source and, optionally, to a control unit and / or a communications circuit and / or other components of the modular vibrator toy element. Similarly, the modular sensor toy element may comprise a power source for providing power to one or more components of the modular sensor toy element. The power source of the modular vibrator toy element and / or of the modular sensor toy element may be an electrical power source, in particular a rechargeable power source. The rechargeable power source may include an electrical energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery or a capacitor. Accordingly, the rechargeable power source may include a fixed or replaceable rechargeable battery, a capacitor, and / or other electrical energy storage device. Further examples of power sources include a replaceable battery that may or may not be rechargeable.

[0028] The modular vibrator toy element and / or the modular sensor toy element may further include a charging circuit, which may be any circuit adapted for receipt of electrical energy, e.g. for contactless receipt of electrical energy. A charging circuit for contactless receipt of electrical energy may include a circuit comprising a conductive loop or other resonant element configured to be energized by, and harvest energy from, a time-varying electromagnetic field. The conductive loop may include one or more windings, e.g. in the form of one or more electromagnetic coils or otherwise. The charging circuit may be for charging the rechargeable power source, e.g. by transferring harvested energy to the rechargeable electrical energy storage of the modular vibrator toy element and / or of the modular sensor toy element.

[0029] The vibration source may comprise a motor, in particular an electromotor, with a rotatable shaft and an eccentric mass. Alternatively or additionally, the vibration source may comprise a magnetisable mass and an electric solenoid for magnetic cooperation with the magnetisable mass that will generate. Yet alternatively or additionally, the vibration source may utilize another suitable mechanism for creating mechanical vibrations. The created vibrations may be along a single axis or the vibrations may be two- or three-dimensional vibrations.

[0030] In some embodiments, the control unit may be configured to operate the vibration source in an adaptive mode. When operating the vibration source in the adaptive mode, the control unit may control the vibration source to vary one or more parameters of the created vibration, e.g. a frequency and / or an amplitude and / or a power of the created vibration. The control unit may receive sensor signals from the vibration sensor indicative of imparted vibrations responsive to operation of the vibration source at different values of the one or more parameters. The control unit may then select one or more settings of the one or more parameters based on the received sensor signals, and operate the vibration source at the selected one or more settings, e.g. according to a single setting or according to a profile of settings, where the settings are varied over time according to the profile. For example, the control unit may select a setting that maximises a strength of the imparted vibrations or use another suitable selection criterion.

[0031] The control unit may continuously operate the modular vibrator toy element in an adaptive mode or only temporarily, e.g. intermittently, for example at regular or random intervals, and / or responsive to a predetermined trigger, e.g. responsive to a user interaction, responsive to the receipt of a control signal, responsive to the receipt of a predetermined sensor signal, and / or the like.

[0032] The modular toy system may also comprise a modular toy element with two mutually movable parts, where at least one of the movable parts has coupling members for interconnection with other modular toy elements of the system. Such element can be arranged as a part of a toy structure such that a vibration of the toy structure causes relative movement of the movable parts relative to each other, e.g. a relative rotation or translations of the two movable parts relative to each other.

[0033] The modular vibrator toy element may include one or more additional function devices in addition to the vibration source. Similarly, the modular sensor toy element may include a function device in addition to the vibration sensor. A function device may be any suitable device for performing one or more functions, including at least a function that provides a user-perceptible output, such as a visible, audible, and / or tactile output. The one or more functions may be controlled, typically in response to a control signal applied to the function device, in particular a control signal from the control unit. Examples of function devices may include any suitable mechanical, electrical and / or optical device, arrangement, and / or circuitry adapted to perform one or more mechanical, electrical and / or optical functions.

[0034] Examples of a mechanical function, which some embodiments of a function device can perform, include: driving a rotatable output shaft, winding up a string or a chain, moving a hinged part, 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.

[0035] Examples of a user perceptible electrical and / or optical function, which some embodiments of a function device 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 / or stimulating play activities, playback of a sound, and / or other audio content, displaying or projecting analogue or digital image information or video information, etc.

[0036] Accordingly, the function device may be selected from a motor (e.g. for actuating a rotating or a translating shaft, a vibrator device, or any other kind of mechanical actuator), a light source (e.g. one or more LEDs), an image or video display device, and a sound source (e.g. a loudspeaker). In some embodiments, a modular toy element may include more than one function device, e.g. a light source and a sound source, or a light source and a motor, etc. In some embodiments, a system of modular toy elements includes multiple interactive toy elements, including the modular vibrator toy element and / or the modular sensor toy element, disclosed herein. In some embodiments, all modular interactive toy elements of the system may include the same type of function device(s). Additionally or alternatively, different modular interactive toy elements of the system may include different types of function devices. The control unit may be adapted to receive one or more input signals, and in response to the input signals, produce a control signal adapted to control the vibration source and / or other function device(s) of the modular vibrator toy element or other modular interactive toy element. For example, the control unit may be an analogue signal processor, digital signal processor, and / or a programmable processor with associated storage and software implementing the required specific functionality of the control unit according to any of the embodiments herein, or a combination thereof.

[0037] According to some embodiments, the modular vibrator toy element and / or the modular sensor toy element may comprise one or more sensor devices other than a vibration sensor, in particular in addition to a vibration sensor. Such sensor devices of the modular vibrator toy element may be operatively coupled to the control unit. Sensor devices of the modular sensor toy element may be operationally coupled to a control unit of the modular sensor toy element and / or to the communications circuit of the modular sensor toy element for transmitting corresponding sensor signals. Thereby a sensor signal can be generated and provided to the control unit of the modular vibrator toy element as an input. The control unit may then be configured to use this input to control the vibration source and / or another output function of the modular vibrator toy element, most preferably a user-perceptible function, in response to the sensor signal. Examples of suitable sensor devices include a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, a position sensor, a magnetic field sensor, etc.

[0038] Using the modular toy system including one or more modular sensor toy elements and / or one or more modular vibrator toy elements, a variety of toy structures can be constructed such that vibrations and, optionally, motion can be imparted onto the constructed toy structures. The modular toy system may include further, interactive and / or non-interactive toy elements, such as passive modular toy elements without any additional functionality beyond the ability to be detachably interconnected by means of coupling members.

[0039] Generally, when the coupling members are detachably interconnectable, the user may deconstruct previously built toy structures and re-use the modular toy elements thereof so as to build, and impart motion onto, new spatial structures. For example, the modular toy elements may be connected to each other by traction / friction or by an interlocking connection. Vibrations imparted by the vibration source are transferred to the modular toy elements that are coupled to the vibration source, in particular to the modular vibrator toy element. To this end, the modular toy elements may be coupled directly to the modular vibrator toy element, i.e. with the coupling members of the vibrator toy element interacting with coupling members of the modular toy element, or indirectly, or indirectly, i.e. via one or more other modular toy elements. Similarly, the vibration sensor of the modular sensor toy element detects vibrations transferred via modular toy elements that are directly or indirectly coupled to the modular sensor element.

[0040] In some embodiments, each of the element bodies of the modular vibrator toy element and / or of the modular sensor toy element and / or of the other modular toy elements of the system may be 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 element body while another, complementary type of coupling members may be located on an opposite side, e.g. the bottom side, of the element body. The coupling members may further serve to efficiently transfer vibrations from the modular vibrator toy element to other modular toy elements of a toy structure.

[0041] In some embodiments, the housing of a modular vibrator toy element and / or of a modular sensor toy element has a height (excluding the protruding coupling members) of between 3 mm and 10 mm, such as between 3.2 mm and 9.6 mm, such as 3.2 mm or 6.4 mm or 9.6 mm. The length and width of the housing of the modular vibrator toy element may each be between 5 mm and 35 mm, such as between 8 mm and 32 mm, such as 8 mm, 16 mm, 24 mm or 32 mm. For example, the lateral dimensions may be 16 mm x 16 mm or 16 mm x 24 mm or 16 mm x 32 mm. It will be appreciated, however, that other dimensions may be selected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, mainly with reference to interactive toys. Various embodiments will be described in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 schematically shows a modular toy system according to one embodiment.

[0044] FIG. 2 schematically shows a modular vibrator toy element according to one embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 3 schematically shows a modular toy system according to another embodiment.

[0046] FIGs. 4A-B schematically show a modular toy system according to yet another embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a process for controlling vibration of a toy structure.

[0048] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a modular toy system. The modular toy system comprises a modular vibrator toy element 10 and a modular sensor toy element 20. The modular toy system may further comprise additional modular toy elements, which have been omitted from FIG. 1 for simplicity of the illustration.

[0050] The modular sensor toy element 20 comprises an element body 25 and, accommodated within the element body, a vibration sensor 26 and a wireless communications circuit 21.

[0051] The element body 25 of this example of the modular sensor element is formed as a toy construction brick having a shape and size compatible with a known toy construction system. In particular, the element body 25 comprises coupling members 251 for coupling the element body 25 to one or more other modular toy elements of the modular toy system in a known manner. In the present example, the coupling members 251 comprise pegs protruding from a top surface of the element body 25 and corresponding, mating cavities (not explicitly visible in FIG. 1) extending into the bottom of the element body 25. It will be appreciated that other embodiments of the modular sensor toy element may include other types of coupling members. The element body 25 may be made from any suitable material, e.g. injection moulded from a suitable plastic material, or otherwise.

[0052] The vibration sensor 26 and the wireless communications circuit 21 may be accommodated in a cavity within the element body 25 or otherwise accommodated within the element body. It will be appreciated that the modular sensor toy element 20 may include additional components, such as one or more additional sensors (e.g. a light sensor, a proximity sensor, etc.), one or more function devices (e.g. a loudspeaker, a light source, a motor, etc.), a power source, a control unit, and / or the like etc.

[0053] The vibration sensor 26 may further comprise an accelerometer or another suitable type of vibration sensor, e.g. a piezoelectric sensor, e.g. as described in connection with FIG. 2 below.

[0054] The wireless communications circuit 21 is communicatively coupled to the vibration sensor 26 and configured to transmit sensor signals 211 acquired by the vibration sensor 26. To this end, the wireless communications circuit may use any suitable wireless communications technology, e.g. radio-frequency communication within a suitable frequency band. Examples of suitable wireless communications technologies include Bluetooth, e.g. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or other suitable standardized communications technologies, e.g. ZigBee, Wifi etc. Yet alternatively, the communications may be based on a proprietary communications protocol, or the modular sensor toy element 20 may include a wired communications interface instead of a wireless communications circuit.

[0055] When the modular sensor toy element 20 is attached to one or more other modular toy elements to form a toy structure, the vibration sensor 26 is operable to sense vibrations of the toy structure. The wireless communications circuit 21 of the modular sensor toy element 20 is operable to transmit a sensor signal 211 indicative of the sensed vibrations. For example, the modular sensor toy element 20 may be operable to sense vibrations and transmit corresponding sensor signals according to a predetermined or adaptive schedule, responsive to certain trigger events, e.g. in response to receiving a request for a sensor signal from a receiving entity, and / or the like.

[0056] The modular vibrator toy element 10 comprises an element body 15 and, accommodated in said element body 15, a vibration source 14, a control unit 13, a wireless communications circuit 11 , and a rechargeable power source 12.

[0057] The element body 15 of the modular vibrator toy element 10 is formed as a toy construction brick having a shape and size compatible with a known toy construction system, e.g. as described in connection with the modular sensor toy element 20. In particular, the element body comprises coupling members 151 for coupling the element body 15 to one or more other modular toy elements of the modular toy system in a known manner, also as described in connection with the modular sensor toy element 20. In the example of FIG. 1 , the element bodies of the modular sensor toy element 20 and of the modular vibrator toy element 10 have the same shape and size. However, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the element bodies of the modular sensor toy element 20 and of the modular vibrator toy element 10 may have different shapes and / or sizes.

[0058] The vibration source 14 may comprise a motor, in particular an electromotor, with a rotatable shaft and an eccentric mass. Alternatively or additionally, the vibration source may comprise a magnetisable mass and an electric solenoid for magnetic cooperation with the magnetisable mass that will generate. Alternatively, the vibration source may include a different type of device for generating mechanical vibrations. The created vibrations may be along a single axis or they may be two- or three-dimensional vibrations.

[0059] The rechargeable power source 12 is configured for providing operating power to the vibration source 14, to the wireless communications circuit 11 , and to the control unit 13. The rechargeable power source 12 may include a rechargeable battery or other rechargeable energy storage device. The modular vibrator toy element 10 may further comprise a power input for receiving electrical power for charging the rechargeable power source 12. The power input may include a wired connector for receiving power from an external power source and / or a contactless charging circuit for wireless receipt of charging power. Alternatively, the rechargeable power source may be removable from the modular vibrator toy element for charging outside of the modular vibrator toy element. Alternatively to a rechargeable power source, the modular vibrator toy element may include a non-rechargeable power source, e.g. a replaceable, non-re- chargeable battery.

[0060] The wireless communications circuit 11 is communicatively coupled to the control unit 13 and configured to receive sensor signals 211 from the modular sensor toy element 20. To this end, the wireless communications circuit 11 may use any suitable wireless communications technology, e.g. as described in connection with the communications circuit of the modular sensor toy element. Alternatively, the modular vibrator toy element 10 may include a wired communications interface instead of a wireless communications circuit.

[0061] The control unit 13 may be implemented by a suitable microprocessor and / or by another suitable type pf processor, e.g. an ASIC and / or the like. The control unit 13 is configured to control the vibration source 14 based on the sensor signals 211 received via the communications circuit 11 from the modular sensor toy element 20, in particular responsive to the vibrations sensed by the modular sensor toy element 20. For example, the sensor signals 211 may be indicative of a strength of the sensed vibrations, e.g. an amplitude, associated power, or other measure of the strength of the sensed vibrations. The control unit 13 may be configured to adapt a frequency of the vibrations created by the vibration source 14 so as to - at least approximately - maximize the strength of the sensed vibrations and / or in another desired manner. When the modular sensor toy element 20 and the modular vibrator toy element 10 are coupled to the same toy structure, the vibrations created by the modular vibrator toy element 10 cause the toy structure to vibrate, and the modular sensor toy element 20 senses the thus induced vibrations of the toy structure. When the modular vibrator toy element 10 adjusts the frequency of the vibrations induced by its vibration source, and receives sensor signals indicative of the strength of the induced vibrations, the modular vibrator toy element 10 may select a frequency such that the frequency of the induced vibrations at least approximately corresponds to a resonance frequency of the toy structure, thereby increasing the effect of the induced vibrations. Alternatively, the modular vibrator toy element 10 may control a frequency of the created vibrations in another manner responsive to the sensed vibrations. The adaptive control of the vibration source does not require a prior knowledge of the resonance frequency or other properties of the toy structure.

[0062] It will be appreciated that the modular vibrator toy element 10 may include additional components, such as one or more sensors (e.g. a light sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, etc.), one or more additional function devices (e.g. a loudspeaker, a light source, a motor, etc.), and / or the like etc.

[0063] While FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment where the vibration source is incorporated within a modular toy element, it will be appreciated that other embodiments may utilize a different type of vibration source, e.g. a vibration source that is not comprised in a modular toy element with coupling members. For example, the vibration source may instead be provided comprised in a support structure, e.g. a support table or the like, on which a toy structure can rest without being coupled to it via coupling members of the modular toy system. In such an embodiment, the support structure may include a wireless communications circuit, a power source, a control unit, and the vibration source as described in connection with the modular vibrator toy element of FIG. 1 , or otherwise.

[0064] Moreover, while FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment where the modular vibrator toy element 10 receives a sensor signal from a single modular sensor toy element 20, it will be appreciated that other embodiments may include more than one modular sensor toy elements that may each transmit respective sensor signals. The control unit of the modular vibrator toy element 10 may then then control the vibration source 14 based on sensor signals from multiple modular sensor toy elements, e.g. so as to maximize the average strength of the detected vibrations by the respective sensors or to maximize the smallest of the detected vibrations, or otherwise. Accordingly, the control unit may control the vibration source based on sensed vibrations at different locations of a toy structure. It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, a toy structure may include more than one modular vibrator toy element, which may receive sensor signals from the same or from different vibration sensors. Yet further, while FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment where the vibration sensor and the vibration source are incorporated in respective modular toy elements that can separately and individually be coupled to other modular toy elements of the system, other embodiments may employ a combined vibrator-sensor toy element that includes a vibration sensor and a vibration source incorporated into a single modular toy element. An example of such a combined modular toy element will now be described in connection with FIG. 2.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a modular vibrator toy element 10 according to one embodiment. The modular vibrator toy element 10 comprises an element body 15 and, accommodated in said element body 15, a vibration sensor 16, a vibration source 14, a control unit 13 for controlling the vibration source 14, and a rechargeable power source 12 for providing operating power to the vibration source 14 and to the control unit 13.

[0066] The element body 15, the control unit 13, the vibration source 14 and the rechargeable power source 12 may be as described in connection with the modular vibrator toy element of FIG. 1. However, instead of receiving a sensor signal from an external vibration sensor of a modular sensor toy element that is separate from the modular vibrator toy element 10, the modular vibrator toy element 10 of FIG. 2 includes its own internal vibration sensor 16, e.g. an accelerometer, a piezoelectric vibration sensor or the like. The control unit 13 receives a sensor signal from the internal vibration sensor 16 and controls the vibration source 14 responsive to the received sensor signal. For example, the control unit 13 may adjust the frequency of the vibration created by the vibration source so as to maximize the strength of the measure vibrations by the vibration sensor 16, or otherwise.

[0067] In the example of FIG. 2, the modular vibrator toy element 10 does not include any communications interface, as it bases the control of the vibration source 14 on measurements performed by the internal vibration sensor 16. However, it will be appreciated that other embodiments of a modular vibrator toy element may indeed include a communications circuit even though if they include an internal vibration sensor. The communications circuit may be used to exchange other information with other modular toy elements or other devices, and / or to receive additional sensor signals from one or more external vibration sensors, e.g. as described below.

[0068] FIG. 3 schematically shows a modular toy system according to another embodiment. The system of FIG. 3 is similar to the system of FIG. 1 in that it comprises a modular vibrator toy element 10 and a modular sensor toy element 20. The modular toy system may further comprise additional modular toy elements, which have been omitted from FIG. 3 for simplicity of the illustration. The modular sensor toy element 20 comprises an element body 25 and, accommodated within the element body, a vibration sensor 26 and a wireless communications circuit 21 , all as described in connection with FIG. 1.

[0069] The modular vibrator toy element 10 comprises an element body 15 and, accommodated in said element body 15, a vibration source 14, a control unit 13, a wireless communications circuit 11 , and a rechargeable power source 12, also all as described in connection with FIG. 1.

[0070] The present embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 , in that the modular vibrator toy element 10 further comprises an internal vibration sensor 16, e.g. as described in connection with the modular vibrator toy element of FIG. 2. The control unit 13 may thus control the vibration source 14 based on sensor signals from both the internal vibration sensor 16 and from the vibration sensor 26 of the modular sensor toy element 20. Optionally, the modular vibrator toy element 10 may receive sensor signals from other external vibration sensors. The control unit 13 may be configured to control the vibration source 14 so as to maximize the average strength of the detected vibrations by the respective sensors or to maximize the smallest of the detected vibrations, or otherwise. Accordingly, the control unit 13 may control the vibration source based on sensed vibrations at different locations of a toy structure.

[0071] FIGs. 4A-B schematically show a modular toy system according to yet another embodiment. The modular toy system comprises a plurality of modular toy elements, e.g. toy construction elements of a known kind that can be selectively and repeatedly be assembled with each other so as to construct different toy structures. In the example of FIGs. 4A-B, the user has constructed a toy structure 1 that resembles a helicopter from the modular toy elements. It will be appreciated, however, that a user may construct a large variety of other toy structures of varying shapes and sizes. The modular toy system of FIGs. 4A-B comprises a modular vibrator toy element 10, e.g. of the type described in connection with FIGs. 2 or 3, i.e. a modular vibrator toy element including an internal vibration sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the modular toy system may include a modular vibrator toy element, e.g. as described in any of the previous figures, as well as a modular sensor toy element, e.g. as describes in any of FIGs. 1 and 3.

[0072] In FIGs. 4A-B, the modular vibrator toy element 10 is incorporated into the toy structure 1. In the example of FIGs. 4A-B, the modular vibrator toy element 10 is shown in phantom, as it is not necessarily visible when incorporated into the toy structure and from observing the toy structure from the outside. In embodiments with one or more separate modular sensor toy elements, the toy structure may further include one or more of the modular sensor toy elements as part of the toy structure, in addition to the modular vibrator toy element 10.

[0073] In any event, in operation, the modular vibrator toy element 10 imparts vibrations onto the toy structure 1. In the example of FIGs. 4A-B, the thus induced vibrations may cause a movable part of the toy structure, e.g. the helicopter rotor, to move. The amount of induced vibration and, optionally, the amount, e.g. speed, of the induced motion of the movable part, may depend on the frequency of the induced vibration. Accordingly, when the modular vibrator toy element 10 adjusts the frequency of the induced vibrations based on measured vibrations by a vibration sensor included in the toy structure 1 , the user-perceived effect of the induced vibrations may be increased. For example, when the frequency of the induced vibration is not matched to a resonance frequency of the toy structure, the effect may be less visible, e.g. as illustrated by a slowly rotating helicopter rotor of the example of FIG. 4A. When the induced vibration is matched to a resonance frequency of the toy structure 1 , the effect may more readily be visible, e.g. as illustrated by a faster rotating helicopter rotor of the example of FIG. 4B. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a process for controlling vibration of a toy structure. For example, the process may be performed by the embodiments of the modular toy system described above, e.g. controlled by the control unit of a modular vibrator toy element or by another suitable control unit for controlling a vibration source. During operation, in step S1 , the vibration sensor and the vibration source may be caused to sense vibrations of the toy structure for different induced vibrations, e.g. to obtain a vibration profile of the toy structure. The vibration profile may be indicative of a relative strength of vibrations at different induced frequencies. It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the vibration profile may be indicative of relative strengths of certain vibrational modes or vibrations along certain axes and / or indicative of other types of vibrational characteristics of the toy structure. For example, the vibration sensor may be used to detect a desired characteristics or signature of the induced vibration. In the example of the helicopter, the characteristics may be a vibration indicative of a rotary motion of the helicopter rotor. The strength of vibrations may be indicated as an amplitude, a power and or another suitable measure of the strength of the vibration. The registration of the vibration profile may be triggered by a trigger event, e.g. by a user input or a user interaction with the modular sensor toy element and / or with the modular vibrator toy element and / or with the toy structure. Alternatively or additionally, the registration of the vibration profile may be triggered by the vibration source or the vibration sensor being powered on, and / or by an elapsed timer causing intermittent repetition of the registration of the vibration profile, and / or by one or more other suitable trigger events. Until the initial registration is triggered, the vibration source may be operated at a default setting or the latest selected setting. The registration of the vibration profile may be controlled by the control unit associated with the vibration source, e.g. the control unit of the modular vibrator toy element as described herein. For example, the registration of a vibration profile may comprise controlling the vibration source to perform a frequency sweep over a range of activation frequency, i.e. to operate the vibration source at a sequence of different frequencies, e.g. a discrete set of frequencies or a continuous range of frequencies. The frequency sweep may be a full sweep of all frequencies at which the vibration source can operate, or it may be a partial sweep of selected frequencies. During the frequency sweep, the control unit may receive sensor signals from the vibration sensor indicative of sensed vibrations of the toy structure when the vibration source in- duces vibrations at the different frequencies onto the toy structure, e.g. so as to determine a vibration profile. In step S2, based on the measurements for different induced frequencies, the process may determine a target frequency and / or an operational profile of the vibration source. The target frequency may be selected as a frequency at which the vibration profile has a desired property, e.g. a maximum strength, or a maximum strength of a predetermined vibrational mode, or otherwise. In the example of the helicopter, the target frequency may be selected as a frequency that provides a desired, e.g. fastest, rotor movement. Alternatively or additionally to selecting a single target frequency, the process may select another form of operational profile, e.g. a set of frequencies between which the vibration source is to toggle, or a ramping-up profile of the frequency until a target frequency is reached, or another form of frequency profile. In step S3, the control unit may then control the vibration source to vibrate at the selected target frequency or according to the selected operational profile, e.g. until another frequency sweep is performed and a new target frequency and / or operational profile is selected. It will be appreciated that the vibration sensor may enter a sleep mode during the period where the vibration source is operated at the selected frequency or operational profile and until a new frequency sweep is triggered.

[0074] For example, when the user makes changes to the toy structure, rebuilds the toy structure or attaches the modular sensor toy element and the vibration source to a different toy structure, a new frequency sweep and selection of a new target frequency and / or operational profile may advantageously be triggered. For example, the user may alter the helicopter of FIGs. 4A-B, e.g. by adding cargo and / or a pilot to the helicopter, thus altering the eigenfrequency profile of the toy structure. The modular sensor toy element and the vibration source may thus perform another frequency sweep (e.g. at fixed, random intervals or responsive to another trigger event) to determine the new eigenfrequency or eigenfrequencies of the toy structure. A determined new eigenfrequency may then be used as a target frequency or the obtained vibration profile may otherwise be used to select a new target frequency or operational profile of the vibration source for optimal or desired performance.

[0075] While certain embodiments have been described in more details, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made. For example, in some embodiments, the vibration source may selectively be operable in different modes, each mode corresponding to a respective target frequency or operational profile. In the above example of the helicopter, one mode may be a “shaking” mode where the target frequency or operational profile is selected to provide maximum overall vibration of the model. Another mode may be a “smooth running” mode, where the target frequency or operational profile is selected to provide maximum rotation of the helicopter rotor. In some embodiments, the vibration source may further be controllable responsive to other sensor inputs, control signals and / or user inputs so as to provide an interactive experience.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A modular toy system, comprising a plurality of modular toy elements, each comprising one or more coupling members for mechanically and detachably coupling the modular toy elements with each other so as to construct one or more user-selectable toy structures, wherein the modular toy system comprises a vibration source for imparting vibrations onto a toy structure constructed from the plurality of modular toy elements, wherein the plurality of modular toy elements comprises a modular sensor toy element, the modular sensor toy element comprising a vibration sensor, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to sense vibrations of a toy structure constructed from the plurality of modular toy elements including the modular sensor toy element, wherein the vibration source is controllable based at least in part on the sensed vibrations.

2. The modular toy system according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration source is accommodated in a modular vibrator toy element of the plurality of modular toy elements, in particular in the modular sensor toy element or in another modular toy element of the plurality of modular toy elements, wherein the modular vibrator toy element comprises: an element body having one or more coupling members adapted for mechanically and detachably coupling the element body with one or more other modular toy elements of the plurality of modular toy elements, and the vibration source.

3. The modular toy system according to claim 2, wherein the modular vibrator toy element comprises a power source, in particular a rechargeable power source, for providing power for driving the vibration source.

4. The modular toy system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibration source is controllable, responsive to the sensed vibrations, to adapt an amplitude and / or a frequency of an actuation vibration created by the vibration source.

5. The modular toy system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit configured to control the vibration source, based on the sensed vibrations, to vibrate at an actuation frequency, wherein the actuation frequency at least approximately corresponds to a resonance frequency of the toy structure.

6. The modular toy system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the modular sensor toy element comprises a communications circuit, in particular a wireless communications circuit, configured to transmit one or more sensor signals in dependence of the sensed vibrations, and wherein the vibration source is controllable responsive to the transmitted one or more sensor signals.

7. A modular vibrator toy element, comprising: an element body having one or more coupling members adapted for mechanically and detachably coupling the element body with one or more other modular toy elements, a vibration source accommodated within the element body and configured to impart vibration onto one or more other modular toy elements when said one or more other modular toy elements are mechanically and detachably coupled to the element body, a control unit configured to control the vibration source based at least in part on one or more sensor signals acquired by one or more vibration sensors, the one or more sensor signals being indicative of said imparted vibration.

8. The modular vibrator toy element according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to adapt an amplitude and / or a frequency of a vibration created by the vibration source.

9. The modular vibrator toy element according to any one of claims 7 through 8, wherein the one or more sensor signals are indicative of a resonance frequency of a toy structure constructed from the modular toy element and one or more other modular toy elements mechanically and detachably coupled to the element body.

10. The modular vibrator toy element according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a frequency of an actuation vibration created by the vibration source corresponding to an estimated resonance frequency of the toy structure.11 . The modular vibrator toy element according to any one of claims 7 through 10, comprising at least one of the one or more vibration sensors accommodated within the element body.

12. The modular vibrator toy element according to any one of claims 7 through 11 , comprising a communications circuit, in particular a wireless communications circuit, configured to receive one or more input signals and wherein the control unit is configured to control the vibration source based at least in part on the received one or more input signals.

13. The modular vibrator toy element according to claim 12, wherein the wireless communications circuit is configured to receive at least one of the one or more input signals from an external vibration sensor, external to the modular toy element, in particular from a modular sensor toy element including a sensor body having one or more coupling members and a vibration sensor accommodated within the sensor body, the one or more coupling members of the sensor body being compatible with the one or more coupling members of aid element body.

14. The modular vibrator toy element according to any one of claims 7 through 13, comprising a power source, in particular a rechargeable power source, for providing power for driving the vibration source.

15. A modular toy system, comprising a plurality of modular toy elements, each comprising one or more coupling members for mechanically and detachably coupling the modular toy elements with each other so as to selectively construct user- selected toy structures, wherein the plurality of modular toy elements comprises a modular vibrator toy element as defined in any one of claims 7 through 14.

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