Magnetic Building Block Geometric Analysis via Field Sensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques fail to accurately analyze the geometric structure of magnetic building blocks, especially when they are covered, leading to inaccurate digital model construction and high manufacturing costs due to the need for active sensors and specific materials.

Innovation Solution

A method employing a magnetic field sensor to obtain a magnetic field intensity image, which is then processed using algorithms for triangular division, skeletonization, and simplification to construct a two-dimensional geometric structure, allowing for accurate digital model creation without active sensors or specific materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an optical camera is used to detect the substantial building blocks, then a digital model can be constructed, but the detection accuracy deteriorates when the building blocks are covered by the user's hand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidcoverage by hand

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical detection system with a magnetic field-based detection system. Magnetic sensors detect the magnetic fields generated by magnetic building blocks, enabling accurate geometric structure analysis even when blocks are covered by hands or other opaque materials. This substitution of detection mechanism eliminates the limitation of optical cameras.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If active sensors are installed in the substantial building blocks to improve detection accuracy, then the detection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic building blocks contain built-in magnetic fields that serve as their own identification and positioning signals. The passive magnetic properties of the blocks enable them to be detected without requiring active sensors, power consumption, or complex electronics within each block, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces active sensing components within building blocks with passive magnetic field detection. Instead of installing power-consuming active sensors in each block, the system uses external magnetic sensors to detect the magnetic fields naturally present in magnetic building blocks, eliminating the need for complex internal electronics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If specific materials are used for the substantial building blocks to enable optical detection, then the detection capability is improved, but the material selection becomes limited and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical detection with magnetic field detection, which allows building blocks to be made from a wide variety of materials as long as they contain magnetic components. This substitution removes the constraint of requiring specific optically-transparent or optically-reflective materials, thereby expanding material selection flexibility and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables accurate and intuitive analysis of magnetic building block structures, providing versatile operation modes and visual feedbacks, while reducing manufacturing costs and power consumption, and maintaining sensing stability despite environmental factors.

Implementation Method 1

obtain a magnetic field intensity image of the model

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS9607433B2Geometric structure analyzing method, geometric structure analyzing system, and computer program product

Publication Date: 2017.03.28 NAT TAIWAN UNIV

AI summary

A geometric structure analyzing method, a geometric structure analyzing system, and a computer program product are provided, to analyze a two-dimensional geometric structure of a model composed of at least one magnetic building block. A magnetic field intensity image of the model is obtained, and a shape of the magnetic field intensity image is used as a contour of the model. The contour of the model is skeletonized to obtain the two-dimensional geometric structure of the model, and the two-dimensional geometric structure is displayed on a display panel. Therefore, a user is allowed to control the two-dimensional geometric structure on the display panel by manipulating the model, to achieve interactive effects including visual and tactile feedbacks.