Light-Emitting Building Block With Integrated Circuit Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building blocks lack the feature of illumination, which could enhance their entertainment value and attract more children to play by providing a visually engaging experience when connected.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting building block design featuring a hollow brick with studs and tubes for electricity connection units, including positive and negative conducting members, and a light member connected to a circuit board, allowing the blocks to form a circuit and illuminate when connected, with an optional power supply base for external power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If building blocks are designed with illumination features, then entertainment value and visual attraction are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The building block is divided into functional segments: a hollow brick body, electricity connection units with conducting members, light members (LEDs), and a power supply base. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the illumination feature to be added without redesigning the entire structure. The electricity connection units are separately integrated into the brick, and the power supply is externalized to a separate base.
Solution Approach 2:
The studs and tubes of the building block serve dual purposes: mechanically, they enable connection between blocks; electrically, they serve as contact points for the electricity connection units. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated electrical components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving illumination.
2Ease of manufacture
If electricity connection units are integrated into the building block, then light emission is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electricity connection units are pre-integrated into the hollow brick during manufacturing, with the rod passing through the circuit board and positioning the conducting members at the stud and tube locations. This preliminary integration simplifies the final assembly process, as the electrical components are already in place and require no additional assembly steps beyond connecting the power supply base.
3Reliability
If multiple building blocks are connected to form a circuit, then illumination functionality is achieved, but connection reliability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection between building blocks (via studs and tubes) is merged with the electrical connection function. The same physical interface that joins blocks mechanically also establishes electrical contact between the electricity connection units, forming a continuous circuit. This merging ensures that reliable mechanical connection automatically provides reliable circuit connection, without requiring separate electrical connection mechanisms.
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
The solution enables the blocks to form a circuit and illuminate when connected, increasing visual attraction and enhancing playtime engagement by providing a fun and interactive experience.
Implementation Method 1
the first positive and negative contacts in the studs are in contact with the second positive and negative contacts in the tubes so as to form a circuit
Implementation Method 2
At least one light member is disposed in the brick and electrically connected with the electricity connection units
Data Source
AI summary
A building block includes a hollow brick and a power supply base. The brick has at least two studs extended from a top thereof, at least two tubes corresponding to the studs defined in a bottom thereof and at least two electricity connection units corresponding to the studs disposed therein. The electricity connection unit has a rod connected with a positive conducting member and a negative conducting member. A light member is connected with the positive and negative conducting members. A first positive contact and a second positive contact are respectively located at two ends of the positive conducting member, and a first negative contact and a second negative contact are respectively located at two ends of the negative conducting member. The light member generates light when the bricks are connected to each other by engaging the studs with the tubes.