Back Projection Toy Display Using Smartphone Optical Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toys that include lights, sounds, and electronics require integrated power sources, increasing complexity, failure modes, safety concerns, and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A toy design that projects images and animations without internal electronics or batteries, using a housing and optical elements to interact with a smartphone or tablet, allowing for an immersive experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If toys include integrated electronics and power sources to provide lights and sounds, then interactivity and entertainment value are improved, but device complexity, manufacturing cost, and safety concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electronics and power source from the toy itself, placing them in the smartphone instead. The toy becomes a passive optical system with a housing and projection surface, while the smartphone provides all active functions including image processing, audio output, and power supply. This extraction eliminates the complexity of integrating electronics into the toy while maintaining interactivity through the smartphone connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a smartphone as an intermediary device that mediates between the user and the toy. The smartphone handles all electronic functions, communication, and power requirements, allowing the toy to focus on its primary function of displaying projected images on its surface. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by externalizing complexity while preserving interactivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If toys include batteries or power sources to operate electronics, then functionality is improved, but manufacturing cost and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the battery and power source from the toy's manufacturing scope entirely. The toy is manufactured as a simple housing with optical surfaces, while the smartphone provides all necessary power and functionality. This extraction significantly simplifies manufacturing processes, reduces material costs, and eliminates the need for quality testing of electronic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the smartphone serve multiple functions that would otherwise require separate components in the toy: power supply, image processing, audio output, communication, and control. By leveraging the universal capabilities of the smartphone, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated toy electronics and power sources, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If toys include internal electronics to enable interactive features, then user engagement is improved, but safety concerns and failure modes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all electronic components and power sources from the toy, eliminating the associated safety risks of batteries, circuits, and electronic failures. The toy becomes a passive optical display that projects images from the smartphone onto its surface, removing hazards related to internal electronics while maintaining user engagement through the projected content and interactive smartphone interface.
4Ease of manufacture
If toys are designed without internal electronics to reduce complexity, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ability to provide interactive experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the smartphone as an intermediary that bridges the gap between manufacturing simplicity and interactive experience. The smartphone handles all complex electronic functions, communication protocols, and interactive features, while the toy maintains manufacturing simplicity as a passive optical projection device. This intermediary allows the toy to be manufactured simply while still providing rich interactive experiences through the smartphone connection.
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
Provides an interactive and immersive experience with reduced complexity, improved safety, and lower manufacturing costs, while maintaining ease of production.
Implementation Method 1
The optical elements may be configured to receive light from the illumination source, act on the received light, and cause the resulting image to be displayed on the output surface
Implementation Method 2
The optical elements may be configured to receive light from the illumination source, act on the received light, and cause the resulting image to be displayed on the output surface
Data Source
AI summary
An example device for use with an illumination source is disclosed. The device includes a housing, one or more optical elements, and an output surface.