Toy Doll Sensor System for Remote Play Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Toy dolls do not provide users with the opportunity to gain personal experience or learn from events, as they only allow perception from the perspective of the child and do not offer feedback or the ability to experience environments that are not physically accessible.

Innovation Solution

Equipping toy dolls with a sensor system that records and transmits data from the play area to a receiving device, allowing users to integrate into the game situation and learn from events, including non-physical effects like noise and light, through sensors such as acceleration, force/pressure, microphone, and camera data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If toy dolls are equipped with sensor systems to record and transmit data from the play area, then users can gain personal experience and learn from events by integrating into the game situation, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser integration into game situationVSAvoidsensor system and data transmission components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds the sensor system, electronics, and data processing capabilities within the toy doll's structure. The doll contains acceleration sensors, force/pressure sensors, microphones, and cameras integrated into its body, with an internal evaluation unit that processes data locally. This nesting approach enables complex functionality while maintaining the doll's appearance as a simple toy, resolving the contradiction between enhanced user integration capability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If toy dolls provide feedback mechanisms to enable user learning and experience, then engagement and understanding of play scenarios improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser engagement and learningVSAvoidfeedback system components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multiple feedback mechanisms where the toy doll actively responds to user interactions and environmental events. Sensors detect forces, pressures, accelerations, sounds, and visual scenes, which the evaluation unit processes to generate meaningful feedback signals transmitted to the user. This feedback loop enables users to learn from game situations and gain personal experience, directly addressing the ease of operation improvement while the embedded nature of the feedback system manages the complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the toy doll is designed with small body size to create a distinct play sphere, then the doll can be placed in remote-controlled vehicles and other toys to sense impressions as if a human were sitting in the toy, but the sensor system and electronics become more difficult to accommodate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement in remote-controlled vehicles and other toysVSAvoidaccommodation of sensor system in small body
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent strategically positions sensors at specific locations on the doll's body to maximize their effectiveness for detecting environmental events while maintaining a compact form factor. Acceleration sensors are placed in the torso and limbs, force/pressure sensors are positioned at contact points, microphones are located in the head area, and cameras are arranged to capture surrounding scenes. This localized sensor distribution enables comprehensive environmental sensing within a small doll body, facilitating placement in remote-controlled vehicles and other toys while managing the complexity of housing multiple sensors in a compact structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 users to experience and learn from game situations as if they were the toy doll, providing feedback and access to environments that would be difficult or impossible for humans to experience directly, enhancing engagement and understanding of play scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

at least one sensor on or in the toy doll is designed as an acceleration sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

the at least one sensor on or in the toy doll is designed as a force/pressure sensor for detecting forces or pressures acting on the body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce/Pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

in yet another embodiment as a microphone for detecting noises originating from the surroundings of the doll's body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound: Sound

Implementation Method 4

as a camera for optically detecting the surroundings of the doll's body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photography

Data Source

PatentEP3090787B1Toy doll and set comprising a toy doll and a receiving device
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3090787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3090787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3090787B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a toy doll comprising a body with torso, head, arms and legs, wherein at least one sensor is arranged on or in the body by means of which events acting on the body can be detected and electronics, in particular comprising a data logger, are arranged in the body which is configured to store data from the at least one sensor corresponding to the events and/or to transmit it by means of radio communication to a receiving device external to the body.