Sensor-Embedded Flipping Toy for Flight Trajectory Analysis and Gaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional coaster flipping games lack advanced gaming functionality and additional services for the hospitality industry, offering limited engagement and interaction.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating sensors, actuators, and intelligent design with data exchange and trajectory analysis linked to a receiving device, enabling customizable and emotionally stimulating gameplay through a smartphone app, while maintaining functionality as a coaster.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If sensors, actuators, and intelligent design are incorporated into the coaster, then gaming functionality and user engagement are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaming functionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional components (sensors, actuators, computing unit, communication interfaces) into an integrated electronic system within the coaster housing. This merging approach enables advanced gaming functionality while managing complexity through unified system architecture rather than separate discrete components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coaster is designed to serve multiple functions: traditional coaster protection, gaming element (flipping game), trajectory analysis, and data exchange capabilities. The electronic system provides universal functionality across different game modes and interaction types, justifying the increased complexity through enhanced versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If trajectory analysis and data exchange capabilities are added, then user interaction and gaming experience are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interactionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic system is divided into distinct functional modules: sensing module for trajectory detection, computing module for data processing, and communication module for data exchange. This segmentation allows for specialized manufacturing of each module that can then be assembled into the final product, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite advanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The computing unit acts as an intermediary between the sensors/actuators and the external communication interfaces. It processes raw sensor data and manages data exchange protocols, simplifying the manufacturing requirements by providing a standardized interface layer that abstracts the complexity from both sides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If actuators for changing flight characteristics are incorporated, then gameplay customization is enhanced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight characteristicsVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The actuators operate periodically or intermittently to adjust flight characteristics rather than continuously, consuming energy only when modification is needed. This periodic operation allows gameplay customization while managing energy consumption through on-demand actuation based on game state or user input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The actuators modify flight characteristics by changing physical parameters such as weight distribution or aerodynamic properties of the coaster. These parameter changes enable customized flight behavior without requiring continuous energy input, as the actuators make discrete adjustments rather than sustained modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3984606B1toy
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 SEEHAUS TIMO
  • EP3984606B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3984606B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3984606B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention aims to provide the player with increased enjoyment and advanced gaming functionality. Solution Preferably flat toy for flipping into air characterized in a power source (S) for supplying the toy with power, a motion sensor (M) for acquiring movement information and a computing unit (R) for computing, based on the movement information, flight characteristics such as number of flips performed, magnitude and direction of acceleration along preferably six axes, or total acceleration of the toy.