IP Library Granted Patent US 8,851,953
Granted Patent B2
US 8,851,953 · App. 13/548,611 · Granted Oct 7, 2014

Building block system with moveable modules

Inventors: Leonhard Oschuetz (Weimar, DE); Wolfgang Sattler (Schwaebisch Gmuend, DE)
Assignee: Kinematics GmbH
A63H33/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,851,953
App. No.
13/548,611
Granted
Oct 7, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a building block system having modules that can be plugged together, wherein electronic and mechanical components required for motion and control are provided in the modules. The object of the invention is to provide a building block system, which facilitates constructing mobile models from simple building blocks. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a building block system having movable modules, wherein the building block system includes at least one energy module, at least one control module having a micro-controller, at least one movement module having an integrated servo motor, and a plurality of connection modules that can be randomly connected with each other, wherein the modules are connectable through plug connections enabling current flow between adjacent modules.

Claims (32)

1. A building block system, comprising:

plug connectable modules,

wherein electronic and mechanical components that are required for movement and control are arranged in the modules,

wherein the building block system includes at least one energy module with an energy storage device, at least one control module with a micro controller and at least one movement module with an integrated servo motor which are random connectable with one another,

wherein the modules are connectable through plug connectors which also facilitate current flow between adjacent modules,

wherein flat lateral surfaces of modules are provided with plug connector elements of the plug connectors,

wherein at least the at least one movement module and the at least one energy module are configured separate and independent from one another, and

wherein the at least one movement module does not include an energy storage device.

2. The building block system according to claim 1 , wherein data transmission is also provided through the plug in connection.

3. The building block system according to claim 1 , wherein the building block system includes at least one stop module which only facilitates current flow between adjacent modules without data transmission.

4. The building block system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plug in connection is a twist plug in connection, and

wherein the modules connected with one another interlock in 90° increments and are disengageable from one another in 45° increments arranged between the 90° increments.

5. The building block system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the modules are configured with cube-, cylinder- or cuboid-shape.

6. The building block system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one movement module includes a servo motor, and

wherein two integrated motion components that are linked together deform the at least one movement module when the servo motor is actuated.

7. The building block system according to claim 6 , and

wherein the at least one movement module is cuboid shaped, and

wherein the cuboid changes its longitudinal dimension or is shifted into a parallelepiped when moved.

8. The building block system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one movement module includes two rotatable cylindrical components.

9. The building block system according to claim 1 , wherein small passive modules are plugged into the modules.

10. The building block system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one connection module is provided which is configured passive.

11. The building block system according to claim 1 , wherein two movement modules from the group link module, rotation module, translatoric module, and linear module are provided.

12. The building block system according to claim 1 ,

wherein building blocks are pluggable into the movement modules, and

wherein the building blocks define movement parameters.

13. The building block system according to claim 12 , wherein the movement parameters are variable directly at the at least one movement module.

14. The building block system according to claim 12 , wherein the movement parameters are stored in the at least one movement module.

15. The building block system according to claim 12 , wherein the pluggable building blocks actuate potentiometers which are arranged in interiors of the movement modules and which control an amplitude or a velocity or a retardation of the movement performed by the movement module.

16. The building block system according to claim 12 , wherein the pluggable building blocks actuate potentiometers which are arranged in interiors of the movement modules and which control an amplitude and a velocity and a retardation of the movement performed by the movement module.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: OSCHUETZ, LEONHARD
To: KINEMATICS GMBH
Reel/Frame 033091/0331 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2012
From: SATTLER, WOLFGANG
To: OSCHUETZ, LEONHARD
Reel/Frame 029260/0403 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2010 005 584 · Jan 22, 2010 · national
DE 10 2010 062 217 · Nov 30, 2010 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2011050598 · Jan 18, 2011
Related Publication 20130183882A1 · Jul 18, 2013