Interactive pin array device

An interactive pin array device comprising a plurality of elongated pins held in a frame and forming a set. The frame is adapted to hold the plurality of pins in a parallel position to one another in a series of columns and rows, such that the distal ends of the plurality of pins together form a flat virtual plane. Each pin of the plurality of pins includes an elongated housing member defining a linear axis therethrough, and a pin member adapted to slide linearly in either direction along the axis. Each of the housing member includes an upper electromagnet, and a lower electromagnet separated from the upper electromagnet.

This application claims priority based on request GB1121933.4 filed on Dec. 20, 2011

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to interactive devices but more particularly to an interactive pin array device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior art consists of a boxed surface made of a crowded array of pins that are free to slide in and out independently in a screen to create a three dimensional relief. [P]atterns can be created by first creating a computer image which then actuates pins on a pin array so that they move into the desired configuration. Inversely, manually pushing pins on a pin array can send a signal to a computer so that a virtual image is generated. There are many uses for pin arrays both in the artistic and technical fields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:

To provide for an economical, compact and simple to use a pin array device that can send its signal over the Internet.

In order to do so, the invention is an interactive pin array device comprising a plurality of elongated pins held in a frame and forming a set. The frame is adapted to hold the plurality of pins in a parallel position to one another in a series of columns and rows, such that the distal ends of the plurality of pins together form a flat virtual plane.

Each pin of the plurality of pins includes an elongated housing member defining a linear axis therethrough, and a pin member adapted to slide linearly in either direction along the axis. Each of the housing member includes an upper electromagnet, and a lower electromagnet separated from the upper electromagnet.

Each of the electromagnet is adapted to move its respective pin member linearly in either direction. Each of the pin member includes at least one linear potentiometer, a, magnet and an electronic transmitter attached to an opposite end to the distal end, such that when each of the pin members are moved linearly each respective linear potentiometer sends a signal to its respective transmitter which in turn sends an electronic signal describing its movement within its respective housing member. a plurality of electronic wires respectively connected to each transmitter, such that electronic signals can be relayed to and from each respective pin; an analog-digital converter connected to the plurality of electronic wires and adapted to convert the analog electronic signals relayed by the transmitters into digital format to be transmitted, processed, stored, and then converted back into analog form for return transmittal to the set of pins.

A microprocessor device connected to the converter and adapted to retrieve the electronic signals from the converter, store them, and re-transmit them back to the converter when desired, such that a user can displace the pin members from the virtual plane in any pattern, have electronic signals sent, processed, stored, and returned to the same set of pins, or another separate set of pins, at a later time to thereby displace the pins to the same positions as the original pattern chosen by the user.

The interactive pin array device has each of the housing member of each pin comprise an upper frame upper electromagnet, upper spring, lower electromagnet, lower spring and shield along the entire upper frame wall to separate magnetic field between each interactive pin.

The lower frame consists of the outer fixed part of the potentiometer and electronic transmission from electronic transmitter to both electromagnets.

The pin consists of a magnet, a mobile portion of the potentiometer, electronic transmitter that picks up all the wire and sends position signal and feeds the power to both electromagnets via the lower housing.

The electronic signal is formed as a Pulse Width Modulation signal, and the displacement of each of the pin members is proportional to the strength of the Pulse Width Modulation signal received by the electromagnets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An interactive pin array device (10) consists in a plurality of electromechanical pins (12) held inside a frame (14). A connector means (16) connects the interactive pin array device (10) to an analog to digital converter, hereinafter known as ADC (11), and then to a microprocessor operated device (13) such as a computer, tablet, smartphone, game console, etc . . .

Each electromechanical pin (12) consists of an elongated pin member (18), an upper housing (20), an upper electromagnet (22), a shield member (24), a magnet (26), a lower electromagnet (28), a lower housing (30), an outer part linear potentiometer (32), an inner part linear potentiometer (33), an electronic transmitter (34), wiring (36), upper spring (38), lower spring (40). Each pin member (18) has a distal end (19) such that when not in an operating mode, the plurality of distal ends form a flat virtual plane (21).

When a user (not shown) manually pushes down on the pin member (18), the resistance in the outer part linear potentiometer (32) varies, which is processed by the electronic transmitter (33) which then sends an electronic signal such as a Pulse Width Modulation signal hereinafter referred to as PWM (34) down the wiring (36) to the ADC (11). The springs (38,40) create an opposition force to the electromagnetic force to create a smoother, more fluid displacement of the electromechanical pin (12).

When receiving a signal, the electromagnets (22,28) react to the PWN (34) received from the ADC (11) by way of digital data received by the computer (13). The range of displacement of the pin member (18) is proportional to the strength of the PWM (34) received by the electromagnets (22,28).

When connected to a web hosted Internet service, The local microprocessor operated device (13) reads out the digital data from the ADC (11) of the local pin array device (10), as seen inFIG. 5Afor example, and sends data to a remote microprocessor using the Internet. The remote microprocessor operated device (13) receives the signal and sends a PWM (34) to its pin array device (10) corresponding to a negative image, as seen inFIG. 5B, of the local pin array device (10) and vice versa.