Computerized Yo-Yo Electric Clutch Friction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern yo-yos with ball-bearing mechanisms face a dilemma in maintaining rotating speed during the 'sleep' state, where a wider gap reduces friction but makes 'waking up' more difficult, and a narrower gap increases friction but reduces rotating speed.
Innovation Solution
A computerized yo-yo incorporating advanced electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical components, including accelerometers, tension-meters, electric clutches, and motors, which use computation and control devices to manage light displays, audio, and motion control, allowing for enhanced control over the yo-yo's motion and state, thereby optimizing the 'sleep' and 'wake-up' phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the gap between yo-yo components is widened to reduce friction, then the rotating speed during sleep state is improved, but the difficulty of waking up increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the friction characteristic variable rather than fixed. The electric clutch mechanism dynamically adjusts the friction between components based on operational state: during sleep it maintains low friction for high speed rotation, and during wake-up it increases friction through motor assistance to enable easy return. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining high rotating speed and enabling easy waking up.
2Ease of operation
If the gap between yo-yo components is narrowed to increase friction, then the ease of waking up is improved, but the rotating speed during sleep state is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical friction-based wake-up mechanism with an electromechanical system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical friction from component contact, an electric motor is introduced to provide controlled torque assistance during the wake-up phase. This substitution allows the system to maintain wide gaps for low friction during sleep while still achieving easy wake-up through motor assistance rather than mechanical friction.
3Measurement precision
If advanced electrical and electromechanical components are added to control yo-yo motion, then the control precision over motion and state is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing components that perform multiple functions. The electric clutch mechanism serves both as a friction control element during sleep and as a torque transmission element during wake-up. The motor assembly provides both propulsion and friction modulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while achieving precise motion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the clutch mechanism and motor assembly into an integrated electromechanical unit. Rather than having separate mechanical clutch and separate motor components, the design combines these elements so that the motor-driven clutch serves both functions. This merging reduces overall device complexity by eliminating redundant components while maintaining the precision control capabilities needed for optimized sleep and wake-up phases.
Data Source
AI summary
There described a computerized yo-yo toy that uses an acceleration measuring device, a computation and control device, a communication device and an electric clutch device to effect the motion of the computerized yo-yo toy. The acceleration measuring device measures the acceleration values of the computerized yo-yo toy. The computation and control device uses the measured acceleration values to generate control signals to the electric clutch device. The electric clutch device creates or eliminates friction with an outer case of a ball bearing, based on the control signals, to affect the motion of the computerized yo-yo toy. The communication device receives setup parameters from an external device and transmits the setup parameters to the computation and control device. The computation and control device may further generate the control signals to the electric clutch device based on the setup parameters.