Motion-Sensing Ball Feedback Using Acceleration-Triggered Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toys and ball games lack innovative features to enhance amusement, education, and user experience while maintaining a conventional look and feel, and there is a need for a cost-effective, reliable, and easy-to-manufacture solution that adds educational value and stimulus.
Innovation Solution
A motion-sensing device housed in a spherical enclosure with an accelerometer, annunciator, and controller, powered by a rechargeable battery or kinetic energy conversion, which provides visual or audible feedback based on motion, using piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or MEMS sensors, and can include features like smoke generation, random signal generation, and multiple states of activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If motion-sensing components and electronic annunciators are integrated into a ball-shaped device, then user engagement and educational value are enhanced, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (accelerometer, controller, annunciator, power source) into a single integrated ball-shaped device. The accelerometer senses motion, the controller processes signals, and the annunciator provides visual/audible feedback, all merged within one enclosure to create an interactive educational toy that maintains the simple appearance of a conventional ball while providing complex interactive functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball-shaped device serves multiple functions: it acts as a conventional play ball, a motion-sensing device, an educational tool, and an interactive toy. The device can detect various types of motion (throwing, catching, bouncing) and provide different types of feedback (visual LEDs, audible signals), making it versatile enough to engage users in multiple ways while maintaining a single unified structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensing and signaling components are integrated into the device, then functional versatility is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: the accelerometer module for motion sensing, the controller module for signal processing, the annunciator module for output, and the power source module. This segmentation allows each component to be independently selected, tested, and manufactured, then assembled into the final ball-shaped device, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining functional versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device includes power-consuming components like accelerometers and annunciators, then interactive functionality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometer is configured to sense motion events periodically rather than continuously, and the annunciator provides feedback in periodic bursts corresponding to detected motion events. This periodic operation mode allows the device to maintain interactive functionality while consuming energy only when needed, significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous operation.
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 device enhances user engagement by providing interactive and educational experiences through motion-based feedback, maintaining a conventional appearance and being cost-effective and easy to manufacture, while offering versatility and robustness.
Implementation Method 1
using piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or MEMS sensors
Implementation Method 2
using piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or MEMS sensors
Implementation Method 3
A power source is included that may power the electrical components such as the accelerometer, the annunciator, the controller and any other power-consuming components
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a signaling means and a motion sensor, and logic for activating or controlling the signaling means in response to a sensed motion according to an embedded logic. The device may be used as a toy, and may be shaped like a play ball or as a handheld unit. It may be powered from a battery, either chargeable from an AC power source directly or contactless by using induction or by converting electrical energy from harvested kinetic energy. The embedded logic may activate or control the signaling means, predictably or randomly, in response to sensed acceleration magnitude or direction, such as sensing the crossing of a preset threshold or sensing the peak value. The visual means may be a numeric display for displaying a value associated with the count of the number of times the threshold has been exceeded or the peak magnitude of the acceleration sensed.