Abstract:
The invention relates to a system (Sy) which comprises an object ( 01 ) and a sensing unit (SU) for identifying the object (O 1 ). The object (O 1 ) comprises a generator (T 1 , T 2 ) for generating first and second fields (F 1 , F 2 ), a ratio of whose respective strengths has a predetermined value. The sensing unit (SU) is operative to identify the object (O 1 ) on the basis of the predetermined value. The invention farther relates to an arrangement of sensing units for use in the system of the invention.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a system comprising an object and a sensing unit. 
         [0002]    The invention further relates to an object, a set of objects, a sensing unit, a control device comprising the system, and an electronic device comprising the control device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A game which recognizes objects is disclosed in DE 3309817. This game has a playing area consisting of a plurality of playing fields and a plurality of playing pieces. Each playing piece has a coded element. Each plurality of playing fields has a sensor which is able to detect a code from the coded element within its field. The outputs of the sensors are connected to a signal-processing device via which the course of the game is stored and/or evaluated. In the described embodiment, each plurality of playing fields has a Hall sensor and each plurality of playing pieces has a permanent magnet being the coded element. The code is represented by a predefined length of the permanent magnet, which results in a predefined magnetic field strength sensed by the Hall sensor. The playing pieces are captured through detection of the magnetic field strength resulting from the permanent magnet inside each playing piece. 
         [0004]    In the game as disclosed in the prior-art document, the playing piece must be positioned very accurately and reproducibly with respect to the Hall sensor so as to identify the playing piece from the sensed magnetic field. 
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide a system comprising an object interacting with a sensing unit, wherein the position of the object with respect to the sensing unit is less critical. 
         [0006]    According to the invention, this object is realized in that the system comprises an object which comprises a generator for generating first and second fields, a ratio of whose respective strengths has a predetermined value, and a sensing unit which is operative to identify the object on the basis of the predetermined value. In contrast, the prior-art playing piece, also referred to as pawn, only comprises a single magnet generating a single field. Advantageously, the system is less sensitive to environmental disturbances, for example, the stray earth&#39;s magnetic field. Proportional disturbances which are equally present in both signals are reduced. The object may be, for example, a playing piece used in a game or may be attachable to a playing piece. 
         [0007]    The sensing unit may comprise a first field sensor for sensing a first field and a second field sensor for sensing a second field, and is operative to determine an identifier of an object on the basis of the ratio between the first sensed field and the second sensed field. 
         [0008]    The sensing unit may comprise a sensing plane comprising a sensing surface having a plurality of field sensors for supplying a plurality of sensed signals each being representative of a sensed field at respective locations of each one of the plurality of field sensors, a processor for receiving the sensed signals to determine a first processor signal being dependent on at least one of the sensed signals and a second processor signal being dependent on at least another one of the sensed signals and for dividing the first processor signal and the second processor signal to obtain an output signal, wherein the first processor signal and the second processor signal are selected to vary with the same power of a distance between the object and the field sensors when the position of the object is changed with respect to the sensing surface for changing said distance, and a comparator for comparing the output signal with a predetermined value to supply an identification signal identifying the object. In a game, the sensing surfaces may correspond to the playing fields and the sensing plane may correspond to the playing area of the prior-art DE 3309817. 
         [0009]    The sensed fields, sensed by the field sensors are dependent on a strength of the fields which are generated by each field generator of the object, and on the distance of the object with respect to the field sensors. At a first position of the object with respect to the sensing surface, the combination of the strength of the fields generated by the object and the distance between the first position and the field sensors results in a first set of sensed signals. The processor receives this first set of sensed signals and determines a first processor signal which is dependent on at least one of the sensed signals of the first set of sensed signals. Furthermore, the processor determines a second processor signal which is dependent on at least another one of the sensed signals of the first set of sensed signals. In addition, the processor divides the first processor signal by the second processor signal to obtain the output signal. As the first processor signal and the second processor signal are selected to vary with the same power of the distance between the object and the field sensors, when dividing the first processor signal by the second processor signal, the dependency of the output signal on the distance between the object and the field sensors is strongly reduced. 
         [0010]    However, the output signal is still dependent on the strength of the fields which are generated by each field generator of the object, in that different objects using different field strength ratios can be identified. To identify the object, the output signal is compared with a predetermined value at the comparator. Thus, if the same object is moved to change the first distance into a second distance from the field sensors, the sensors supply a second set of sensed signals. For example, if the second distance is half the first distance, the level of each sensed signal of the second set is eight times the level of each corresponding one of the sensed signals at the first distance. The processor again converts these sensed signals into the first processor signal and the second processor signal, which are divided to obtain a second output signal. Due to the division, the dependency on the distance has hardly any influence, and the second output signal is (almost) equal to the first output signal. Consequently, the reduced dependency of the output signal of the processor on the distance between the object and the sensing surface strongly reduces the variation of the output signal and allows a more reliable identification of the object. 
         [0011]    In the prior art, a playing piece, further also referred to as pawn, comprises a single permanent magnet which generates a single magnetic field. The detection of this magnetic field by a Hall sensor is strongly dependent on the distance between the Hall sensor and the permanent magnet. Therefore, changing the distance between the permanent magnet and the Hall sensor may possibly result in a faulty identification of the playing piece. Due to the division, the variation of the output signal which is used to identify the object is less critical with respect to the distance between the object and the sensing surface in the system according to the invention. This strongly reduces possible faulty identification of objects which, due to changes of the distance, produce different fields at the particular same distance from the sensing surface. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the system, a field generator distance between adjacent ones of the field generators of the same one of the objects and a sensor distance between corresponding field sensors of the sensing surface are selected in such a way that each field generator is positionally correlated with an associated one of the field sensors. For example, in an embodiment, the object comprises two field generators and the sensing surface comprises two sensors supplying a first sensed signal and a second sensed signal. Thus, both sensed signals mainly result from a corresponding single one of the field generators. This embodiment has the advantage that the reduction of dependency on the distance can already be achieved by simply dividing the first sensed signal by the second sensed signal. An additional advantage is that the presence of an object at a specific one of the sensing surfaces can directly be determined from the output signal of the processor. This additional advantage is obtained because only the field sensors to which a field generator corresponds supply a sensed signal to the processor, and thus the presence of an output signal indicates the presence of the object. 
         [0013]    The sensing unit may further comprise a third field sensor for sensing a third field, and is further operative to correct the ratio between the first sensed field and the second sensed field on the basis of the third sensed field. Advantageously, this makes the system less sensitive to variations of orientation/placement of the object. 
         [0014]    The system may comprise further sensing units in a predetermined spatial arrangement, each respective one of the units being operative to identify the object on the basis of the predetermined value. Advantageously, a system that has more than one sensing surface is able to indicate at which surface the object is located. 
         [0015]    The system may comprise a further object, the further object comprising a further generator for generating a further first field and a further second field, a ratio of whose respective further strengths has a further predetermined value, the predetermined value and the further predetermined value being different from one another. The field generators are arranged to obtain for different objects, if positioned at the same position with respect to the sensing surface, different sensed signals which have different values at the same one of the field sensors. The different sensed signal may result, for example, from a difference in the distance between a field sensor and at least one of the field generators of two different objects, wherein a base of the objects has the same distance with respect to the sensing surface. Usually, the base of an object is identical to the contact surface with the sensing surface if the object is placed on the sensing surface. The different sensed signal may also, for example, result from a difference in field strength of corresponding ones of the field generators in different objects. This has the advantage that the system is able to identify different objects. 
         [0016]    The object may comprise means for altering a field strength or orientation of at least one of the generated fields. In one embodiment, the field generators are, for example, permanent magnets and the object comprises mechanical arrangements which, for example, allow an exchange of a first field generator, which generates a first field, for a second field generator, which generates a second, different field. The second field generator generates, for example, a field which has a larger field strength, or, for example, a field which has a different field orientation. In another embodiment, at least one of the field generators is, for example, an inductance and the object comprises an electronic circuit which may alter the current through the inductance. This changes the field which is produced by the inductor. The same construction of the object can thus be used to generate different sets of fields per object allowing identification of that one of the different objects which is actually used. The object may comprise means for altering a position of at least one of the at least two field generators relative to the other field generator or field generators. The object comprises, for example, at least one cylindrical tube, which comprises one of the field generators and wherein this field generator can be fixed at several predefined positions. This cylindrical tube enables one of the at least two field generators to be moved, for example, away from or closer to a base of the pawn and thus away from or closer to the sensing surface. This change of the relative position of at least one of the at least two field generators results in a change of the sensed signals. The resultant change of the output signal of the processor is used to recognize the pawn. 
         [0017]    The generator may be arranged to generate magnetic fields. Magnetic field generators can be manufactured at relatively low cost. Alternatively, the generator may be arranged to generate acoustic, electromagnetic, electric or visual fields. 
         [0018]    A second aspect of the invention provides a control device which comprises the system of the invention and further comprises a control unit operative to receive an identifier identifying the object from the sensing unit and to control an electronic device in response to the identifier. The control device can thus be used as a universal user interface device for different electronic devices. In an embodiment of the control device, a sensing surface comprises an image which represents information. The control unit is arranged to indicate an action to be performed by the electronic device when the object is detected via the sensing surface. The image is, for example, a pictogram which represents an action to be performed by the electronic device, like “record”, or “play”, etc. Alternatively, the image may be a picture which represents a room in a house, like a “bathroom”, a “bedroom”, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the object itself may represent information. The object may represent, for example, an electronic device, like a Digital Video Disk player or a Television set. The control device may comprise, for example, several objects each representing an electronic device. The sensing unit may comprise, for example, several sensing surfaces each comprising the pictogram which represents the action to be performed by the electronic device. When a user selects the object representing the electronic device which he wants to control and when he places the object at the sensing surface which comprises the pictogram representing the action “play”, the control device sends a signal to the selected electronic device to indicate the action required. 
         [0019]    A third aspect of the invention provides an electronic device which comprises the control device of the invention. 
         [0020]    These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    In the drawings, 
           [0022]      FIG. 1A  shows a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the system according to the invention, 
           [0023]      FIG. 1B  shows the conceptual diagram wherein a first object is replaced by a second object, 
           [0024]      FIG. 1C  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the distance between the first object and the field sensors is changed into a new distance, 
           [0025]      FIG. 1D  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the position of one of the field generators inside the first object is displaced, 
           [0026]      FIG. 1E  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the sensing plane comprises a second sensing surface, 
           [0027]      FIG. 1F  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the sensing surface comprises a third sensor, 
           [0028]      FIG. 1G  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the sensed signal from a field sensor mainly results from a single field generator, 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  shows an implementation of the system when applied to a game, 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  shows an implementation of the system when applied to a control device for lighting control, and 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  shows an implementation of the system when applied to a consumer electronics device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]      FIG. 1A  shows a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the system Sy according to the invention. The system Sy comprises two objects, a first object O 1  and a second object O 2  both of which comprise two field generators T 1 , T 2 ; T 3 , T 4 , respectively. Each field generator T 1 , T 2 ; T 3 , T 4  generates a field F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , F 4 , respectively. The system further comprises a sensing unit SU which comprises a sensing plane SP having a sensing surface V 1 . In  FIG. 1A , the first object O 1  is positioned at a distance d with respect to a sensing surface V 1 . The sensing surface V 1  comprises a first field sensor S 1  which supplies a first sensed signal As 1 . The sensing surface V 1  further comprises a second field sensor S 2  which supplies a second sensed signal As 2 . Each sensed signal As 1 , As 2  represents the sensed field at the respective locations of the field sensors S 1 , S 2 . The sensing unit SU further comprises a processor P which receives the sensed signals As 1 , As 2  and generates a first processor signal Ap 1  and a second processor signal Ap 2 . In  FIG. 1A , the first processor signal Ap 1  is dependent on the first sensed signal As 1  and the second processor signal Ap 2  is dependent on the second sensed signal As 2 . The processor P further divides the first processor signal Ap 1  by the second processor signal Ap 2  to obtain a first output signal Op 1 . The sensing unit SU also comprises a comparator C which receives the first output signal Op 1  from the processor P and comprises a predetermined value Cv. The comparator C compares the first output signal Op 1  from the processor P with the predetermined value Cv and generates an identification signal Iy. 
         [0033]    The first processor signal Ap 1  and the second processor signal Ap 2  are selected to vary with the same power of the distance d when the position of the object O 1  is changed with respect to the sensing surface V 1 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1A , the first processor signal Ap 1  is dependent on the first sensed signal As 1  and the second processor signal Ap 2  is dependent on the second sensed signal As 2 . For example, the first processor signal Ap 1  and the second processor signal Ap 2  are linearly proportional with the first sensed signal As 1  and the second sensed signal As 2 , respectively. Alternatively, the first processor signal Ap 1  and the second processor signal Ap 2  may be different linear combinations of the first sensed signal As 1  and the second sensed signal As 2 . What counts is that the dependency of the first processor signal Ap 1  and the second processor signal Ap 2  on a variation of the distance d is identical or almost identical. When dividing the first processor signal Ap 1  by the second processor signal Ap 2  to generate the output signal Op 1 , the dependency of the output signal on the distance d is strongly reduced. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1B  shows the conceptual diagram wherein a first object O 1  is replaced by the second object O 2 . The second object O 2  comprises two field generators T 3 , T 4  each generating a field F 3 , F 4 . The fields F 3 , F 4  generated by the second object O 2  are different from the fields F 1 , F 2  generated by the first object O 1 . In  FIG. 1B , the second object O 2  is located at the same position (at the same distance d) with respect to the sensing surface as the first object O 1  in  FIG. 1A . Due to the different fields F 3 , F 4  generated by the second object O 2 , the first field sensor S 1  supplies a third sensed signal As 3  which is different from the first sensed signal As 1  ( FIG. 1A ). The second field sensor S 2  supplies a fourth sensed signal As 4  which is different from the second sensed signal As 2  ( FIG. 1A ). Alternatively, only one of the sensed signals may be different. In this configuration, the processor P generates the first processor signal Ap 1  being dependent on the third sensed signal As 3  and the second processor signal Ap 2  being dependent on the fourth sensed signal As 4 . The new output signal, indicated by second output signal Op 2 , results from dividing the first processor signal Ap 1  (which results from the third sensed signal As 3 ) by the second processor signal Ap 2  (which results from the fourth sensed signal As 4 ). This second output signal Op 2  is applied to the comparator C. The comparator C compares the second output signal Op 2  with the predetermined value Cv and generates an identification signal In. Since the second output signal Op 2  is different from the first output signal ( FIG. 1A ), the identification signal In produced by the comparator when comparing the second output signal Op 2  with the predetermined value Cv is also different. The identification of the different objects O 1  and O 2  improves if the sensor S 1  predominantly receives the field F 1  and the sensor S 2  predominantly receives the field F 2 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 1C  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the distance d between the first object O 1  and the field sensors S 1 , S 2  is changed into a new distance d+Δd. In this Figure, the fields F 1 , F 2  generated by the first object O 1  are again sensed by the field sensors S 1 , S 2  of the sensing surface V 1 . The new distance d+Δd between the first object O 1  and the field sensors S 1 , S 2  causes the first field sensor S 1  to supply a fifth sensed signal As 5  to the processor P and causes the second field sensor S 2  to supply a sixth sensed signal As 6  to the processor P. The first processor signal Ap 1  which is generated by the processor P is dependent on the fifth sensed signal As 5 , and the second processor signal Ap 2  which is generated by the processor P is dependent on the sixth sensed signal As 6 . A third output signal Op 3  is generated by the processor P by dividing the first processor signal Ap 1  (which results from the fifth sensed signal As 5 ) by the second processor signal Ap 2  (which results from the sixth sensed signal As 6 ). When the first processor signal Ap 1  is divided by the second processor signal Ap 2 , the dependency on the distance of each processor signal Ap 1 , Ap 2  separately is strongly suppressed. Consequently, the third output signal Op 3  is almost identical to the first output signal Op 1 . When the third output signal Op 3  is compared with the predetermined value Cv, the identification signal Iy is equal to the identification signal Iy when the first output signal Op 1  is compared with the predetermined value Cv (see  FIG. 1A ). 
         [0036]      FIG. 1D  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the position of one of the field generators T 2  inside the first object O 1  is displaced. In this Figure, the second field generator T 2  inside the first object O 1  is displaced. This displacement of the second field generator T 2  causes the first field sensor S 1  to supply a seventh sensed signal As 7  and causes the second field sensor S 2  to supply an eighth sensed signal As 8 . Processing the seventh sensed signal As 7  and the eighth sensed signal As 8  results in a fourth output signal Op 4  which is different from the previous output signals. The reason is that dividing the first processor signal Ap 1  by the second processor signal Ap 2  only reduces dependencies on a change of distance when this change of distance is almost identical for both field generators T 1 , T 2  with respect to the field sensors S 1 , S 2 . In the embodiment described in  FIG. 1D , only the second field generator T 2  is displaced and thus the fourth output signal Op 4  supplied by the processor P is different from the first output signal Op 1  (see  FIG. 1A ). When the fourth output signal Op 4  is compared with the predetermined value Cv, the identification signal In is different from the identification signal from the first output signal Op 1  (which is Iy, see  FIG. 1A ). 
         [0037]      FIG. 1E  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the sensing plane SP comprises a second sensing surface V 2 . To enable the processor P to generate a first processor signal Ap 1  and a second processor signal Ap 2  from each sensing surface V 1 , V 2 , the processor P comprises a multiplexer Mu to time-sequentially receive the first and second sensed signals As 1  and As 2 , respectively, from the first sensing surface V 1  and the ninth and tenth sensed signals As 9  and As 10 , respectively, from the second sensing surface V 2 . The processor P therefore sequentially generates two output signals Op 1 , Op 5  at the switching frequency of the multiplexer Mu, depending on which set of sensed signals is received. The comparator C now also sequentially generates two identification signals Iy, In at the switching frequency of the multiplexer Mu, depending on which output signal Op 1 , Op 5  is received. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1F  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the sensing surface V 1  comprises three sensors S 0 , S 1  and S 2 . The first sensor S 1  and the second sensor S 2  again supply the first sensed signal As 1  and the second sensed signal As 2 , respectively, to the processor P, as already explained with reference to  FIG. 1A . In  FIG. 1F , the processor receives an additional sensed signal As 0  from the third field sensor S 0 . In  FIG. 1F , the first processor signal Ap 1  is, for example, dependent on a difference between the first sensed signal As 1  and the additional sensed signal As 0 . The second processor signal Ap 2  is, for example, dependent on a difference between the second sensed signal As 2  and the additional sensed signal As 0 . A sixth output signal Op 6  results from dividing the first processor signal Ap 1  by the second processor signal Ap 2 . As the first processor signal Ap 1  and the second processor signal Ap 2  are defined differently in this Figure, the predetermined value with which the sixth output signal Op 6  of the processor P is compared to identify the first object O 1  also needs to be altered into a new predetermined value Cv 6 . Comparison of the sixth output signal Op 6  with the new predetermined value Cv 6  results in an identification signal Iy, which is identical to the identification signal from the first output signal Op 1  (see  FIG. 1A ). 
         [0039]      FIG. 1G  shows the conceptual diagram wherein the sensed signal As 1 , As 2  from each sensor S 1 , S 2  mainly results for a single field generator F 1 , F 2 , respectively. Compared to the field generators F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , F 4 , the objects O 1 , O 2  shown in this Figure are large. This allows the arrangement of the field sensors F 1 , F 2  within the first object O 1  to be such that the field of the first field generator F 1  is sensed by the first sensor S 1 , and the field of the second field generator F 2  is sensed by the second sensor S 2 . In other words, the field generator F 2  has a much smaller field strength than the field generator F 1  at the first sensor F 1 , and the field generator F 1  has a much smaller field strength than the field generator F 2  at the second sensor F 2 . This embodiment has the advantage that the sensed signals fully result from a single field generator, and an optimal identification of different objects is possible. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows an implementation of the system when applied to a game Ga. The game comprises a first object Co 1  with two field generators T 11 , T 12 , a second object Co 2  with two field generators T 21 , T 22 , a third object Pi 3  with two field generators T 31 , T 32 , and a fourth object Du 4  with two field generators T 41 , T 42 . The game further comprises a sensing plane Sp having several sensing surfaces Vg 1 , Vg 2 , Vg 3 , Vg 4 , Vg 5 . Each sensing surface comprises a set of two field sensors which can supply sensed signals to a processor P, for example, through a multiplexer or to a plurality of inputs of the processor P (not shown). The processor P generates two processor signals from the received sensed signals and divides one of the two processor signals by the second of the two processor signals as described hereinbefore. The output of the processor P is compared at the comparator C with at least one predetermined value (not shown) as described with reference to  FIGS. 1A to 1G . The processor P and the comparator C are both part of a game-control unit Gc which controls the course of the game. The game-control unit Gc further comprises indicating circuitry IU to indicate from which sensing surface the object is identified. 
         [0041]    The game displayed in  FIG. 2  represents a story-telling game Ga. The sensing plane Sp represents a farm. At the sensing plane Sp, several locations are predefined, each location comprising a sensing surface Vg 1 , Vg 2 , Vg 3 , Vg 4 , Vg 5 . A first location comprises a first game sensing surface Vg 1 , a second location comprises a second game sensing surface Vg 2 , a third location comprises a third game sensing surface Vg 3 , a fourth location comprises a fourth game sensing surface Vg 4 , and a fifth location comprises a fifth game sensing surface Vg 5 . When an object, for example, the first object Co 1  is placed at the second location, the second game sensing surface supplies a set of sensed signals to the processor P which generates an output signal corresponding to the first object Co 1 . Comparison of this output signal with the predetermined value Cv (not shown) enables the game-control unit Gc to recognize the first object Co 1  and respond in a predetermined manner. In addition, the game-control unit Gc may have arrangements for identifying at which sensing surface Vg 1 , Vg 2 , Vg 3 , Vg 4 , Vg 5  the first object Co 1  is placed and may use this additional information in the predetermined response. In an embodiment of the game, each object Co 1 , Co 2 , Pi 3 , Du 4  comprises a front field generator T 12 , T 21 , T 31 , T 41  and a back field generator T 11 , T 22 , T 32 , T 42 . Within each object, the orientation of, for example, the magnetic field of the front field generators T 12 , T 21 , T 31 , T 41  always points away from the sensing surface, and the orientation of the back field generators T 11 , T 22 , T 32 , T 42  always points towards the sensing surface. When the game-control unit Gc can sense the orientation of the individual sensed signals, the game Ga is able to determine whether an object has its back field generator pointed to one side of the sensing plane SP. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows an implementation of the system when applied to a control device for lighting control Cl. The sensing plane SP in the shown lighting control Cl comprises six sensing surfaces, Vc 1 , Vc 2 , Vc 3 , Vc 4 , Vc 5 , Vc 6 , representing a location within a house. The objects Om 1 , Om 2  represent user A and the objects Om 3 , Om 4  represent user B. The different objects may indicate, for example, the current mood of the specific user. The lighting control further comprises a control unit Cu having a processor P, a comparator C and an indicating unit IU as described hereinbefore. The output of the control unit Cu is connected to the light bulbs L 1  to L 4  throughout the house. A user A can place the object representing his mood Om 1 , Om 2  at one of the sensing surfaces Vc 1 , Vc 2 , Vc 3 , Vc 4 , Vc 5 , Vc 6  of the sensing plane SP which activates the lights at the selected location within the house. When the user has programmed a specific setting of the lights at the selected location which corresponds to the used mood object, the control unit will recognize the object representing the mood Om 1 , Om 2  of user A and applies the predetermined setting at the selected location within the house. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows an implementation of the system when applied to a consumer electronics system Cd. The sensing plane SP in the consumer electronics system Cd comprises six sensing surfaces, Vd 1 , Vd 2 , Vd 3 , Vd 4 , Vd 5 , Vd 6  representing actions of an electronic device. For example, the third sensing surface Vd 3  represents a play function of an electronic device and the sixth sensing surface Vd 6  represents a stop function of an electronic device. The consumer electronics system further comprises four objects De 1 , De 2 , De 3 , De 4 , each object representing a different electronic device, for example, the first object De 1  represents a television and the fourth object De 4  represents a personal computer. The consumer electronics system further comprises a processor P, a comparator C and an indicating unit IU as described with reference to the other Figures. A user desiring to activate a specific electronic device, for example, the DVD player, places the second object De 2  at the third sensing surface Vd 3 , indicating that the play function at the DVD player must be activated. The control unit Cu of the consumer electronics system Cd recognizes the second object De 2  at the third sensing surface Vd 3  and sends the appropriate signals to the appropriate electronic device. When, at the same time, for example, the VCR should record the signal coming from the DVD player, the user just needs to place the third object De 3  representing the VCR at the fifth sensing surface Vd 5 , indicating that the VCR should record. The controlling unit Cu of the consumer electronics system Cd now also recognizes the third object De 3  at the fifth sensing surface Vd 5  and sends the appropriate signals to the appropriate electronic devices. 
         [0044]    It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0045]    In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.