Cubic Puzzle With Actuator-Driven Pattern Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Rubik's cubes lack innovation in entertainment value, with their configuration remaining largely unchanged for decades, failing to enhance the toy's intellectual play experience.
Innovation Solution
A cubic puzzle with a core member, rotatable pieces, and a controller that includes an actuator for automatic pattern changes, allowing for enhanced entertainment through automatic reconfiguration into a reference pattern and manual operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional Rubik's cube configuration is maintained, then manufacturing simplicity and ease of operation are preserved, but entertainment value and intellectual play experience fail to improve
Solution Approach 1:
The puzzle ball integrates multiple functions into a single device: it serves as both a traditional manual puzzle and an automated demonstration tool. The controller enables the puzzle pieces to automatically return to their initial state, providing both manual play capability and automated pattern demonstration, thereby enhancing entertainment value without requiring multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the user and the puzzle pieces. It receives input signals (manual operations or automatic control signals) and translates them into coordinated movements of multiple puzzle pieces through actuators, enabling complex patterns to be demonstrated without manual manipulation of each individual piece
2Adaptability or versatility
If automatic pattern changing is added, then entertainment property is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The puzzle ball has the capability to automatically return to its initial state without external intervention. The controller monitors the puzzle state and automatically activates actuators to restore pieces to their correct positions, enabling the device to service itself and reducing the need for external control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The control system merges manual operation capability with automatic control functionality into a single integrated controller. The controller can accept manual input signals or automatically generate control sequences, combining both interactive and autonomous functions in one device to avoid the complexity of separate control systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rotating units with multiple rotation axes are implemented, then pattern changing capability is enhanced, but operational complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical manipulation with automated actuator-driven movement. Instead of requiring users to physically rotate multiple puzzle pieces around different axes, the controller sends electrical signals to actuators that automatically perform the rotations, demonstrating complex patterns without increasing operational difficulty for the user
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a cubic puzzle which is capable of changing its entire body into a cubic block shape ad has an improved entertainment property as a toy.A controller automatically changes a display pattern to a reference pattern by an actuator, making it a minimum condition that a current pattern being a display pattern at that point of time when identified by a pattern identifying means is different from a reference pattern being a predetermined reference display pattern, while a start state detecting means detects a predetermined start state.