Back Projection Toy Optics Without Internal Electronics
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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 lights, sounds, and electronics to enhance user experience, then interactivity and engagement are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source and electronics from the toy itself, placing them in the external device (smartphone, tablet, or projection device). The toy becomes a passive optical element that receives light from the device's display or projector, eliminating batteries, circuits, and electronic components while maintaining visual engagement through light-based interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system (lenses, mirrors, or projection optics) that mediates between the electronic device's light source and the toy's visual elements. This intermediary allows the toy to display images and animations without containing its own electronics, as the external device's light passes through or reflects off the toy's optical components to create the visual effect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If toys include integrated power sources to enable electronic features, then functionality is improved, but safety concerns and failure modes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power source from the toy entirely, extracting it to the external device. This eliminates battery-related safety hazards (leakage, overheating, choking hazards from battery compartments) and electronic failure modes, while the toy retains functionality through passive optical interaction with the external device's powered display or projector.
3Adaptability or versatility
If toys include electronics and power sources to provide immersive experience, then user engagement is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the expensive electronic components and power sources from the toy, placing them in the user's existing electronic device. The toy itself becomes a simple assembly of optical elements (lenses, mirrors, translucent materials) that can be manufactured at low cost through injection molding or other simple processes, while still providing engaging visual experiences through the external device's display or projection capabilities.
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 display device may be a smart phone, a tablet computer, or other light source or image source.
Implementation Method 2
The toy may include a curved surface, which may be configured to display the two dimensional image output by the illumination source.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for use with an illumination source including a housing, one or more optical elements, and an output surface.