Active RFID Game Pieces with Passive NFC Board for Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing board game systems either require an active game board to detect passive pieces or passive game pieces that need an active board for tracking, limiting flexibility and versatility in game layouts and interactions.
Innovation Solution
A system where the game board is passive with NFC tags and the game pieces are active, using energy-emitting components to interact with the board, allowing for a universal gaming platform with a flexible OLED overlay and sound layers, enabling dynamic game layouts and three-dimensional play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the game board is active with sensing technology to detect passive pieces, then the tracking capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional active-board passive-piece configuration by making the game pieces active with RFID tags and the game board passive with NFC tags. This inversion allows the simpler passive board to be replaced by multiple active pieces, each capable of independent communication and location tracking, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining or improving tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the active sensing functionality from the game board and relocates it to the game pieces themselves. By removing the complex active sensing technology from the board and placing RFID tags on the pieces, the system eliminates the need for a complex active board while maintaining tracking capability through piece-to-board communication.
2Ease of manufacture
If passive game pieces are used with an active board, then the piece cost is reduced, but the flexibility and versatility of game layouts are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by making the active game pieces compatible with multiple different game boards and game configurations. The RFID-tagged pieces can be used across various game layouts and board types, allowing a single set of active pieces to serve multiple functions and game modes, thereby increasing versatility without requiring expensive specialized pieces for each game type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by enabling the game pieces to actively communicate their location and status to the game board and computing device. This dynamic communication allows the system to adapt to different game layouts, board configurations, and game rules in real-time, providing flexibility and versatility while maintaining relatively simple passive board infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If an active board with sensing technology is used, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the active game pieces generate and transmit their own location and status information to the passive board and computing device. This eliminates the need for the board to continuously scan and detect pieces, significantly reducing the board's energy consumption while maintaining detection accuracy through piece-initiated communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by having the active pieces communicate their location information at specific intervals or when needed, rather than requiring continuous active sensing from the board. This periodic communication approach maintains detection accuracy while dramatically reducing overall system energy consumption compared to continuous active scanning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This setup allows for a versatile, tileable, and extendable gaming surface that supports various games and applications, including marker boards and interactive cards, enhancing gameplay experiences with augmented reality and virtual content integration.
Implementation Method 1
the passive game base includes a multiplicity of NFC (or similar technology hereafter 'NFC') readable tags
Implementation Method 2
active game pieces operate in response to scanning signals emitted by the game app to determine their unique board game locations, where the scanning signal is a detectable change in the light emitted by the flexible OLED
Implementation Method 3
the scanning signal is a detectable change in the light emitted by the flexible OLED (or similar technology hereafter 'OLED')
Implementation Method 4
active game pieces include light sensor electronics such as a photo-diode
Data Source
AI summary
The system comprises a camera for capturing one or more images of a physical playing card and a database of playing card information for use by the system in identifying each card using the captured image(s). Each card is placed into a plastic sleeve comprising one or more RFID tags and the system makes an association between the identification of each playing card and the RFID tag(s) identifying the plastic sleeve into which the card was inserted. The system further comprises a game play surface comprising a matrix of RFID tag reading means for sensing the one or more RFID tags attached to the plastic sleeve holding the physical card that has been placed on the game play surface such that the system determines the identity, time and location of placement on the playing surface of each playing card as it is played, moved, and removed from the playing surface.