Modular Toy Elements With Inductive Power and RFID Interaction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toy construction systems lack flexibility and require advanced technical knowledge for assembly and control, limiting their educational and play value due to the need for complex wiring and costly, large-sized interactive elements.

Innovation Solution

A modular toy construction system with interactive elements that use wireless communication and energy harvesting, allowing for compact, cost-effective, and user-friendly assembly and control without the need for conductive connections, using sensors and function devices within interchangeable, box-shaped elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If wireless communication and energy harvesting are used in interactive toy construction elements, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but energy supply reliability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidenergy supply reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces wired electrical connections with wireless communication and inductive energy transfer. The interactive toy construction elements use inductive coupling between a transmitter in the power source element and a receiver in the functional element to transfer both control signals and electrical energy, eliminating the need for physical wire connections and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines communication and energy transfer functions into a single inductive coupling system. The same inductive link used for wireless communication also serves for energy harvesting, merging two functions into one integrated system that reduces overall complexity while maintaining reliability through dual-purpose infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If interactive toy construction elements include sensors and function devices with wireless communication capability, then functionality and play value are enhanced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universal inductive coupling interfaces that serve multiple functions: wireless communication for control signals and inductive energy transfer for power supply. This multi-functionality allows simple functional elements without batteries to be controlled and powered wirelessly, reducing manufacturing costs while enhancing versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the use of simpler, less expensive functional elements that rely on wireless power transfer rather than requiring built-in batteries or complex power management circuits. These elements can be manufactured more cheaply and replaced easily, with power and control provided externally through the inductive coupling system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If interactive toy construction elements require conductive connections for control and power, then energy transfer is reliable, but ease of operation and freedom of construction are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy transfer reliabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical wire connections with inductive coupling for both control signals and power transfer. The transmitter in the power source element creates an alternating magnetic field that induces current in the receiver coil of the functional element, enabling wireless energy and data transfer that maintains reliability while dramatically improving ease of operation and construction freedom.

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 flexible and intuitive construction of interactive models with rich functionality, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity, while allowing users to create complex designs without advanced technical knowledge.

Implementation Method 1

a first communications circuit configured to wirelessly communicate signals and to wirelessly harvest energy for operating the function device and/or the sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy harvesting: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250387721A1Modular toy construction system

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 LEGO AS

AI summary

A toy construction element for a modular toy construction system. The toy construction element has a housing. Accommodated within the housing is a processing unit, one or more inductive elements, at least one communications circuit coupled to the one or more inductive elements and configured for contactless near-field communication and for contactless energy transfer via the one or more inductive elements, and a rechargeable battery operable to be charged via the contactless energy transfer via the one or more inductive elements. The toy construction element is further configured to read data from an RFID tag of the modular toy construction system by means of at least one of the inductive elements.