Motion-Sensing Toy Ball With Integrated Visual or Audio Feedback

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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 provides additional stimulation and pleasure.

Innovation Solution

A device housed in a single enclosure with an accelerometer for motion sensing, an annunciator for visual or audible signaling, and a controller to activate the annunciator based on sensed motion, powered by a primary or rechargeable battery with options for kinetic energy conversion and contactless induction charging, featuring piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or MEMS accelerometers and LED or speaker annunciators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If motion sensing and signaling components are added to a ball or toy, then amusement and educational value are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamusement and educational valueVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the accelerometer, controller, annunciator, and power source into a single integrated enclosure, merging multiple functional components into one unified device. This integration approach enhances versatility by incorporating motion sensing and feedback capabilities while managing device complexity through consolidated design rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple components are integrated into a single enclosure, then device versatility is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice versatilityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be separately manufactured and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific manufacturing process and assembly requirements, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty while maintaining the benefits of an integrated multi-component design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the enclosure is divided into multiple portions, then ease of assembly is improved, but device robustness may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoiddevice robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A cushioning member is provided between the first and second portions of the enclosure to compensate for potential misalignment, gaps, or stress concentrations at the joint interface. This beforehand cushioning ensures that the segmented enclosure maintains structural robustness and integrity during assembly and use, preventing weakness at the division points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 provides enhanced amusement and educational value by responding to motion with visual or auditory feedback, maintaining a conventional appearance and being cost-effective, reliable, and easy to manufacture, while offering versatility and robustness.

Implementation Method 1

featuring piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or MEMS accelerometers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

featuring piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or MEMS accelerometers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoresistive effect: Piezoresistive Effect

Implementation Method 3

featuring piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or MEMS accelerometers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems): Microelectromechanical Systems

Implementation Method 4

LED or speaker annunciators

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 5

LED or speaker annunciators

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 6

options for kinetic energy conversion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectKinetic energy conversion:

Implementation Method 7

contactless induction charging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12191675B2Device for displaying in response to a sensed motion

Publication Date: 2025.01.07 MAY PATENTS LTD

AI summary

A device including a visual or audible 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 is disclosed. The device may be used as a toy for amusement, and may be shaped like a play ball or as a handheld unit. The device may be powered from a battery, which may be charged from an AC power 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 the sensed acceleration magnitude or direction, such as sensing the crossing 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.