Sequentially operated modules
Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads are disclosed. An activation signal is propagated in the system from a module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to external power source such as AC power.
1 . A toy brick device for use with over-the-air wireless communication, the toy brick device comprising:
a sensor for producing an output signal responsive to a physical phenomenon;
a visible light emitter for visual signaling to a person;
an annunciator for emitting an audible sound for notifying the person;
a wireless transmitter coupled to an antenna for over-the-air wireless communication using a wireless signal over a wireless network;
a firmware and a processor operatively coupled with the firmware;
a rechargeable battery for powering the sensor, the visible light emitter, the annunciator, the wireless transmitter, and the processor; and
an enclosure that houses the sensor, the visible light emitter, the annunciator, the wireless transmitter, the processor, and the rechargeable battery,
wherein the enclosure is releasably mechanically attachable with an identical enclosure, by a frictional engagement, using protrusions and cavities adapted to receive the protrusions,
wherein the firmware stores program instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to at least:
receive the output signal from the sensor;
activate the visible light emitter for visual signaling in response to the sensor signal, or to activate the annunciator for audible sound emitting in response to the output signal; and
transmit to wireless network by the wireless transmitter in response to the output signal.
2 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor or a photocell.
3 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor.
4 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.
5 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an audio sensor.
6 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a vibration sensor, a flow-rate sensor, a motion sensor, or a proximity sensor.
7 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an electrical voltage sensor, or an electrical current sensor.
8 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further comprising a comparator coupled to compare the output signal to a value, wherein the visible light emitter is activated for visual signaling in response to the output signal being compared to the value.
9 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further comprising a comparator coupled to compare the output signal to a value, wherein the annunciator is activated for audible sound emitting in response to the output signal being compared to the value.
10 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further comprising a comparator coupled to compare the output signal to a value, wherein the transmitting to the wireless network is in response to the output signal being compared to the value.
11 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the visible light emitter comprises a semiconductor component.
12 . The toy brick device according to claim 11 , wherein the visible light emitter comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED).
13 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the activating of the visible light emitter comprises blinking.
14 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the activating of the visible light emitter comprises steady illumination.
15 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further comprises an image, and wherein the visible light emitter is mounted for illuminating a part of, or all of, the image.
16 . The toy brick device according to claim 15 , wherein the image is associated with a theme or shape of a game set.
17 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the visible light emitter is mounted for illuminating a part of, or all of, the enclosure.
18 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the annunciator comprises a piezoelectric sound generator.
19 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the annunciator comprises an electromechanical sound generator.
20 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the annunciator comprises a loudspeaker.
21 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the activating of the annunciator comprises generating a buzz, a chime, or a ring.
22 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the activating of the annunciator comprises generating a single tone, multiple tones, a song, or a melody.
23 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the activating of the annunciator comprises generating a human talking voice that comprises a syllable, a word, a phrase, a sentence, a short story, or a long story, or wherein the emitted sound is based on speech synthesis or is pre-recorded.
24 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the activating of the annunciator comprises emitting of the audible sound that is associated with a theme or shape of a game set.
25 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network or the wireless signal is according to, or is compatible with, Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), wherein the antenna comprises a WPAN antenna, and wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a WPAN transmitter.
26 . The toy brick device according to claim 25 , wherein the WPAN is according to, or is compatible with, ZigBee according to IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard, Bluetooth according to IEEE 802.15.1 standard, or UWB (Ultra-WideBand) according to IEEE 802.15.3 standard.
27 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network uses an unlicensed frequency band that comprises an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency spectrum band.
28 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network or the wireless signal is according to, or is compatible with, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), wherein the antenna comprises a WLAN antenna, and wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a WLAN transmitter.
29 . The toy brick device according to claim 28 , wherein the WLAN is according to, or is compatible with, IEEE 802.11 standard.
30 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network uses a licensed frequency band.
31 . The toy brick device according to claim 30 , wherein the wireless network or the wireless signal is according to, or is compatible with, cellular communication, wherein the antenna comprises a cellular antenna, and wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a cellular transmitter.
32 . The toy brick device according to claim 31 , wherein the wireless network or the wireless signal substantially conforms to, or is based on, 2.5G or 3G.
33 . The toy brick device according to claim 32 , wherein the wireless network or the wireless signal substantially conforms to, or is based on, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), UMTS, DCS, or PCS.
34 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a discrete logic or an integrated device, wherein the processor comprises Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), ASIC, PAL, PLA, PLD, or Gate Array, or wherein the processor comprises a Reduced Instruction Set Core (RISC) processors, a CISC microprocessor, a microcontroller unit (MCU), CISC-based Central Processing Unit (CPU), or a digital signal processor (DSP).
35 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further comprising in the enclosure a DC/DC converter for converting a battery output voltage.
36 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further configured to charge the rechargeable battery from a power source that is external to the enclosure.
37 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the firmware further stores program instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to activate the visible light emitter for visual signaling in response to the output signal and to activate the annunciator for audible sound emitting in response to the output signal.
38 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further comprising in the enclosure a random signal generator that outputs a random number.
39 . The toy brick device according to claim 38 , wherein the firmware further store program instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to activate the visible light emitter, or to activate the annunciator, based on the random number.
40 . The toy brick device according to claim 38 , wherein the random signal generator is based on, or uses, a physical process that comprises a thermal noise, a shot noise, nuclear decaying radiation, a photoelectric effect, or a quantum phenomenon.
41 . The toy brick device according to claim 38 , wherein the random signal generator is based on, or uses, an algorithm for generating pseudo-random numbers.
42 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the enclosure comprises molded plastic.
43 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the enclosure is transparent.
44 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the enclosure is transparent or comprises glass.
45 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is substantially box shaped having a square or rectangular cross-section.
46 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is substantially cube shaped.
47 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is shaped as a LEGO® brick.
48 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is configured to be releasably mechanically attachable, by a frictional engagement, with at least one LEGO® brick.
49 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further for use with a theme, wherein an enclosure shape is associated with the theme.
50 . The toy brick device according to claim 49 , wherein the theme is associated with, or comprises, a household appliance, a vehicle, an emergency vehicle, an animal, or a musical instrument.
51 . The toy brick device according to claim 1 , further configured to be a part of a toy construction set.
52 . A toy construction set comprising the toy brick device according to claim 1 , and two or more additional toy bricks that are each configured to be releasably mechanically attachable, by a frictional engagement, with the toy brick device.
53 . The toy construction set according to claim 52 , wherein the two or more additional toy bricks comprises LEGO®-shaped toy bricks.
54 . The toy construction set according to claim 52 , wherein the toy brick device is configured to control or activate at least one of the two or more toy bricks.