Marble Track Piece with Triggered Light and Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marble run toys lack interactive feedback mechanisms that enhance user engagement beyond the visual and auditory effects, limiting creative play and animation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a marble-actuated switching element with a lamp and/or speaker, and a drive circuit in the marble track pieces, allowing for visual and audible effects controlled via wireless operation, such as infrared or Bluetooth transmission, to create an interactive and dynamic play experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If marble run toys include only traditional mechanical components, then the device complexity remains low and ease of manufacture is maintained, but the interactive feedback and user engagement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines traditional mechanical marble run components with electronic elements (lights, sounds, wireless communication modules) into integrated track pieces. The electronic components are embedded within the physical track structure, merging mechanical and electronic systems to provide interactive feedback while maintaining a unified toy design.
Solution Approach 2:
The track pieces are designed to serve multiple functions: they guide marbles mechanically while simultaneously providing visual and auditory feedback through integrated electronics. The wireless capability allows the same hardware to function both as a passive track element and an active communication node, enhancing versatility without requiring separate systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If marble run toys incorporate electronic feedback mechanisms, then user engagement and animation are enhanced, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electronic feedback system into discrete, modular track pieces, each with its own integrated circuit board and components. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual units that can be produced independently and then assembled into complete marble run configurations, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining interactive capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical feedback mechanisms with electronic and wireless communication systems. Instead of using purely mechanical means to provide feedback, the invention uses LEDs, speakers, and wireless transmitters controlled by simple circuit boards, reducing mechanical complexity while enhancing interactive feedback capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If marble track pieces include wireless communication components, then the interactive feedback capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wireless communication modules as intermediaries between the physical marble run system and external control or feedback systems. These modules enable data transmission and reception without physical connections, allowing the marble run to interact with smartphones, computers, or other track pieces through wireless protocols, thereby enhancing adaptability while keeping the core mechanical system simple.
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 users to design marble runs with enhanced visual and auditory feedback, providing an immersive play experience while maintaining the versatility of traditional marble run configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The first spring element has a first bias in which the first spring element and the second spring element form an open circuit between the first terminal and the second terminal. The actuator is operably coupled to cause the first spring element to overcome the first bias and form a closed circuit between the first terminal and the second terminal through the first and second spring elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A triggered marble run module is intended for use with a plurality of physically interconnectable marble run modules. Each module retains a marble and guides the travel of the marble through the module on at least a first surface. The triggered marble run module includes a marble travel path, a marble actuated switch and an output circuit. The marble actuated switch has first and second terminals and is operably coupled to close a circuit between the first terminal and second terminal through the first terminal and the second terminal responsive to actuation by a marble traveling in proximity of the marble actuated switch. The output circuit generates at least one of a group consisting of an audio output, a visual output, and an RF signal output, responsive to formation of the closed circuit between the first terminal and the second terminal through the first and second spring elements.