Universal Base for Hybrid Board Game Signalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing board game solutions require high production costs and limited flexibility due to the need for customized electronics in each piece, leading to latency issues in communication and non-intuitive state interpretation.
Innovation Solution
A universal base with integrated electronics that can be paired with various game pieces, using a unique joint for orientation and pre-defined tables to autonomously emit visual and acoustic signals based on game events, eliminating the need for specific commands to each piece.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If customized electronics are integrated into each game piece, then visual and acoustic feedback can be provided directly at the piece level, but production costs increase and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A universal base structure with standardized joint geometry is designed to accommodate different game pieces through a single interface type. The base contains all necessary electronic components (light signaller, acoustic signaller, processor) that can serve multiple piece types, eliminating the need for customized electronics in each piece while maintaining reliable visual and acoustic feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal base acts as an intermediary device between the game pieces and the electronic feedback system. Instead of embedding electronics directly in each piece, the base serves as a mediator that receives game pieces through standardized joints and provides the necessary electronic functions through its own integrated components.
2Ease of operation
If individual command communication is sent to each piece's electronics, then specific implementation commands can be provided, but communication latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual command communication channels are merged into a single communication interface at the base level. The universal base consolidates all electronic communications for different game pieces into one processor, reducing the number of individual command transmissions and thereby minimizing communication latency while maintaining precise control over visual and acoustic feedback.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If visual signalling systems are correlated to specific piece conformations, then intuitive state representation is achieved, but adaptability to different games decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The universal base with standardized joint geometry can accommodate various game pieces from different games without requiring game-specific hardware modifications. The single base design maintains adaptability across multiple games while providing consistent visual and acoustic feedback through its integrated signallers.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual and acoustic feedback is provided locally at the base level rather than being embedded in each distant piece. This allows the feedback system to maintain consistent local quality and interpretability for different piece types while the base itself remains adaptable to various games through its universal interface.
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 cost-effective, flexible, and efficient visual and acoustic feedback for multiple game pieces, reducing latency and ensuring intuitive state representation without individual command communication.
Implementation Method 1
a battery for powering the electronic board
Implementation Method 2
at least one light signaller
Implementation Method 3
at least one acoustic signaller
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The proposed invention consists of an opto-acoustic signalling system for game elements used in so-called hybrid games; said games being provided with companion app, that is, a support app that is run on a paired electronic terminal (PC, tablet, console). Said opto-acoustic signalling system makes it possible to provide visual information in real time, inherent to game states, situations and events, correlated to one or more of the game elements (typically pawns or functionally equivalent objects) used and moved by the players in the execution of said hybrid games. In particular, the proposed invention focuses on a base that can be paired with different game elements, this allowing said base to be used universally as different games vary and as the type of game elements or pawns that characterize said games varies. Said base accommodates internally an electronic board, in charge of the remote communication with the remote electronic terminal and coordinates/controls the emission of visual and/or acoustic signals. In particular, the electronic board contains, as a solving element, a memory provided with a lookup table with preloaded instructions to activate visual or acoustic type emitters depending on: • the game selected and used; • the particular game element/pawn hooked to said base; • the events and states that are determined dynamically during the execution of the game used.