Device for Displaying in Response to a Sensed Motion
A device includes a signaling means and a motion sensor, and logic for activating or controlling the signaling means in response to a sensed motion according to an embedded logic. The device may be used as a toy, and may be shaped like a play ball or as a handheld unit. It may be powered from a battery, either chargeable from an AC power source directly or contactless by using induction or by converting electrical energy from harvested kinetic energy. The embedded logic may activate or control the signaling means, predictably or randomly, in response to sensed acceleration magnitude or direction, such as sensing the crossing of a preset threshold or sensing the peak value. The visual means may be a numeric display for displaying a value associated with the count of the number of times the threshold has been exceeded or the peak magnitude of the acceleration sensed.
1 . A moving toy device for amusement of a person or a pet, the device comprising:
an electric motor for affecting physical movement of the device;
a sensor for producing an output signal responsive to a physical phenomenon;
a rechargeable battery for powering the device;
a battery charger connected for charging of the rechargeable battery;
a connector coupled to the battery charger for connecting to a cable carrying DC power for charging of the rechargeable battery from the DC power; and
a ball-shaped enclosure housing the rechargeable battery, the battery charger, the connector, the electric motor, and the sensor,
wherein the electric motor is controlled or activated in response to the output signal.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising in the enclosure software and a processor for executing the software, the processor coupled to the electric motor and to the sensor for activating or controlling the electric motor in response to the output signal.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor, force sensor, or pressure sensor.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor that comprises one or more photocells.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the battery charger is further configured for contactless charging of the rechargeable battery.
6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the contactless charging is induction-based, and wherein the battery charger further comprises an induction coil for inductively receiving AC power when in an electromagnetic field, and for charging the rechargeable battery from the received AC power.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , further for use with a wireless Radio Frequency (RF) signal, the device further comprising in the enclosure a wireless receiver for receiving the wireless RF signal, and wherein the electric motor is controlled or activated in response to the received wireless RF signal.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , further for use with a wireless network, wherein the electric motor is controlled or activated in response to data received over the wireless network.
9 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the wireless network is a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN).
10 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the wireless network uses Bluetooth protocol according to IEEE 802 . 15 . 1 standard.
11 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
12 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the wireless network uses WLAN protocol according to IEEE 802.11 standard.
13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises, consists of, or is based on, a motion sensor that produces an output signal responsive to the motion of the device.
14 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises, consists of, or is based on, a position sensor that produces an output signal responsive to the position of the device.
15 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor uses, comprises, consists of, or is based on, an accelerometer attached to the enclosure for producing an output signal responsive to an acceleration of the device.
16 . The device according to claim 15 , wherein the accelerometer comprises, consists of, uses, or is based on, a piezoelectric, piezoresistive, capacitive, Micro-mechanical Electrical Systems (MEMS), or electromechanical accelerometer.
17 . The device according to claim 15 , wherein the output signal is responsive to the magnitude or the direction of the device acceleration, and the accelerometer is a single-axis, two-axis, or a three-axis accelerometer.
18 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising in the enclosure a visible light emitter for emitting a visible light to the person or the pet.
19 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein the visible light emitter is coupled to the sensor for activating or controlling the visible light emitter in response to the output signal.
20 . The device according to claim 19 , wherein the visible light emitter comprises a semiconductor component, an incandescent lamp, or a fluorescent lamp.
21 . The device according to claim 20 , wherein the visible light emitter comprises, or consists of, a Light Emitting Diode (LED).
22 . The device according to claim 21 , wherein the LED is a multi-color LED operative to illuminate in multiple colors.
23 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein the visible light emitter operation comprises indicating or illuminating using steadiness, blinking, intensity level, duty-cycle, or flashing, of the illumination of the visible light emitter.
24 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising in the enclosure an audible signaling component for emitting an audible sound to the person or to the pet.
25 . The device according to claim 24 , wherein the audible signaling component comprises, or uses, an electro-mechanical transducer, an electro-acoustical transducer, or a piezoelectric sounder.
26 . The device according to claim 24 , wherein the audible signaling component comprises, or uses, a loudspeaker, and the device further comprises a memory storing the audible sound in a digital form, and a digital to analog converter coupled between the memory and the loudspeaker for reproducing, by the loudspeaker, the stored audible sound.
27 . The device according to claim 24 , wherein the audible signaling component consists of, comprises, or uses, a buzzer, a chime, a whistler, or a ringer, and wherein the emitted audible sound comprises a single tone, multiple tones, a melody, or music.
28 . The device according to claim 24 , wherein the audible signaling component is coupled to the sensor for activating or controlling the audible signaling component in response to the output signal.
29 . The device according to claim 1 , further for use with a portable electronic device, the device further comprising in the enclosure a modem for communicating with, and for being controlled by, the portable electronic device using a wireless RF signal.
30 . The device according to claim 29 , in combination with the portable electronic device.
31 . The device according to claim 29 , wherein the portable electronic device comprises a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a media player, a cellular telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a video recorder, or any combination thereof.
32 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising in the enclosure a random number generator that outputs a random number, wherein the random number generator is coupled to the electric motor for activating or controlling the electric motor in response to the generated random number.
33 . The device according to claim 32 , wherein the random number generator is a hardware based generator that is based on a physical process.
34 . The device according to claim 32 , wherein the random number generator is software-based generator that comprises a processor that executes a random number generator software that includes an algorithm for generating pseudo-random numbers.
35 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is configured, dimensioned, formed, or structured as a game ball that is a cricket ball, baseball, basketball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, rugby ball, golf ball, or volleyball ball.
36 . The device according to claim 1 , further operative to sense or measure the device mechanical orientation, vibration, shock, or falling, based on, or using, the output signal.
37 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising in the enclosure a processor and a controlled switch connected to be controlled by the processor for switching DC power from the rechargeable battery to the electric motor, wherein the controlled switch is controlled by the processor in response to the output signal.
38 . The device according to claim 37 , wherein the controlled switch is based on, comprises, or using, an electro-mechanical relay, a solid-state relay, or an optocouplers.