Motion-Sensing Toy Ball With Event-Triggered Visual Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toys and ball games lack innovative features that provide additional amusement, education, and user experience while maintaining a conventional 'look and feel'.
Innovation Solution
A device housed in a single enclosure, equipped 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.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If advanced technology components (accelerometer, controller, annunciator) are incorporated into the ball, then user experience and amusement 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 device. The accelerometer detects motion, the controller processes signals, and the annunciator provides visual/audible feedback, all merged within one enclosure to create a smart toy ball that enhances user experience while maintaining a conventional appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect various types of motion (throwing, catching, kicking), provide different types of feedback (visual LEDs, audible signals), and potentially count and record gameplay statistics. This multi-functionality enhances adaptability and versatility without requiring multiple separate devices.
2Volume of moving object
If multiple electronic components are housed in a single enclosure, then the device becomes more compact and portable, but manufacturing precision and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests multiple components within the ball enclosure: the accelerometer, controller, annunciator, and power source are all housed within the same enclosure. This nested arrangement allows the device to maintain a compact, conventional ball size while accommodating sophisticated electronics through careful spatial arrangement and miniaturization of components.
3Loss of information
If the annunciator provides continuous visual or audible signaling, then user feedback is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annunciator provides feedback through periodic or event-triggered signaling rather than continuous operation. The system activates visual LEDs or audible signals only when motion is detected or during specific gameplay events, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective user feedback for catching, throwing, and kicking activities.
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 experience by providing additional amusement and educational value through responsive visual and auditory cues, maintaining a conventional appearance while incorporating advanced technology for ease of construction and use.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer for sensing the device acceleration
Implementation Method 2
The charging may use a DC power from a domestic AC power outlet providing AC powering, using an AC/DC adapter comprising a step-down transformer and an AC/DC converter. In one aspect of the invention, the device is powered from a generator that converts the kinetic energy of the device to an electrical energy, such as by using a coil and a magnetic field, which their relative movement is generated in response to the device motion.
Implementation Method 3
The device may be powered or charged contactlessly using induction. In this case, the device further includes an induction coil for wirelessly receiving AC power and charging the rechargeable battery when the device is put in an electromagnetic field.
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.