Patent Publication Number: US-2020298134-A1

Title: Iot interactive magnetic smart modular toy

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an Internet of Thing (IoT) interactive magnetic smart modular toy characterized in that a magnetic sensor is provided for detecting the position or quantity of external components which are separated from a main body of the toy due to collisions, and a controller is provided for changing an action mode of the main body and the remaining external components, and an IoT technology is used to provide long-distance interactions between a multiple of magnetic smart toys. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A common remote control toy generally controls a driving module of a toy to move the toy by using wireless remote control technologies, and most of the games are stand-alone games or multiplayer racing games. In recent years, the development of social network software advances and mobile devices become popular, and the inventor of the present invention thinks that if a physical remote control toy, a mobile Internet device, a cloud platform, and a social group platform can be combined to let each physical remote control toy participate in a contest game, and be combined with a virtual game through the IoT technology to form an interactive social game system, then it will break through the issue of playing the physical remote control toy by a single device only, and allow game lovers to have good interactions and maximize the fun of social network games. 
     For example, a tank toy shooting battle game includes a plurality of physical tank toys which shoot at each other, and detect whether or not they are hit by the opponents&#39; magnetic bullet, so as to constitute a combat game. During the game, after a physical tank toy is hit by the magnetic bullet, other subsequent responses such as the tank driving force, the operation response, and the aiming force do not drop. As a result, the game is not very realistic, and the display mode and toy design definite require improvements. 
     In view of the drawbacks of the conventional game, the inventor of the present invention provides a solution to produce a more realistic response of a remote control toy during a single-player game or a multiplayer racing game. For example, the remote control toy will have a decreased driving force or operational sensitivity after is collided, and this situation will be reflected in a virtual game system through a network, so as to improve the reality and fun of the game. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing an IoT interactive magnetic smart modular toy, such that after the magnetic smart modular toy is collided in the game, and the situation can be detected and the power output mode and action mode of the toy can be changed, so as to improve the reality of the game and the fun of the contest. The invention is not just applicable for a single-player game only, but is also capable of allowing a multiple of players to participate into a contest game such as a car racing game, a robot attack game, a tank shooting and guarding game via IoT interactions. 
     To achieve the aforementioned and other objectives, the present invention provides an IoT interactive magnetic smart modular toy comprising: a main body, and a plurality of external components magnetically assembled to the main body, wherein the main body has a controller capable of receiving a remote control signal from an external smart mobile device, at least one driving module controlled by the controller to drive the action of the main body and the plurality of external components, and a plurality of assembling portions provided for magnetically assembled with the external components, wherein: 
     Each assembling portion has a magnetic sensor electrically coupled to the controller, and if the main body or external component has a collision which causes at least one external component to separate from the main body during the process of the controller controlling the driving module to drive the action of the main body and the external component, the magnetic sensor at a corresponding position will generate a signal to be transmitted to the controller, so that the controller drives the driving module to change a power output mode according to the position or quantity of the external component separated from the main body detected by each magnetic sensor, so as to change an action mode of the main body and the remaining external components. 
     The controller includes a wireless transmission module and a network module capable of receiving the remote control signal transmitted from the external smart mobile device, and the controller is capable of transmitting an action status signal of the main body and the plurality of external components to the external smart mobile device through the wireless transmission module or the network module, or uploading the action status signal to a cloud platform through the network module. 
     The external smart mobile device loads an application program capable of displaying an action status of the main body on a screen according to the action status signal of the main body and the plurality of external components, and the application program includes art operation interface provided for a user to control the action of the main body from a remote end. 
     The cloud platform is capable of receiving the action status signal of the main body uploaded by the network module or the external smart mobile device and then integrating the action status signal into game information, and transmitting the game information to a third party&#39;s smart mobile device through the Internet, so as to display the game information and interact with an application program of the third party&#39;s smart mobile device. 
     With the aforementioned structure, the magnetic sensors are capable of detecting the position or quantity of any external component which is separated from the main body in an action of the magnetic smart modular toy, and the controller is provided for controlling and changing the action mode of the main body and the remaining external components according to the detection result of the magnetic sensor, so that a more realistic response will be produced after the toy is collided, and the long-distance interaction through the cloud platform improves the fun of the game or contest. 
     Compared with the prior art, the present invention uses the magnetic sensor to detect the position or quantity of the external component which is separated from the main body during an action of the magnetic smart modular toy, and the controller drives the driving module to change the power output mode according to the detection result of the magnetic sensor, so as to change the action mode of the main body and the remaining external components. Regardless of a single-player game or a multiplayer contest game, the invention can improve the reality and fun of the game. 
     In addition, the wireless transmission module and network module of the controller can simulate and display the action status of the physical magnetic smart modular toy on a user&#39;s smart mobile device, and also can display the action status on a third party&#39;s smart mobile device via a cloud platform in order to perform a long-distance game contest and achieve the effect of IoT interactions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic system block diagram of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a tank shooting and guarding game in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a game with robots attacking each other in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The technical contents of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiments accompanied with the illustration of related drawings as follows. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  for an IoT interactive magnetic smart modular toy of the present invention, the IoT interactive magnetic smart modular toy  100  comprises a main body  10 , and a plurality of external components  20  magnetically assembled to the main body  10 , wherein the main body  10  has a controller  30  capable of receiving a remote control signal from an external smart mobile device  200 , and at least one driving module  40  is controlled by the controller  30  to drive the action of the main body  10  and the plurality of external components  20 , and a plurality of assembling portions  21  for magnetically assembling with the external components  20 , and each assembling portion  21  has a magnetic sensor  31  electrically coupled to the controller  30 . 
     In the figure, the external component  20  has a magnet  211  magnetically attached to the assembling portion  21 . When the external component  20  is collided by an external force, and if the collision force is greater than the magnetic attraction, the external component  20  will fall off. Now, the magnetic sensor  31  can sense that the external component  20  has fallen off. 
     In the process of the controller  30  controlling the driving module  40  to drive the action of the magnetic smart modular toy  100 , if the main body  10  or the external component  20  is collided to cause at least one external component  20  to separate from the main body  10 , the magnetic sensor  31  at the corresponding position will generate a signal to be transmitted to the controller  30 , so that the controller  30  will drive the driving module  40  to change the power output mode according to the position or quantity of the external component  20  which is separated from the main body  10  and detected by each magnetic sensor  31 , so as to change the action mode of the main body  10  and the remaining external components  20 . 
     For example, the more the external components  20  which are separated from the main body  10  and detected by the magnetic sensors  31 , the smaller the power outputted by the driving module  40  which is driven by the controller  30 . As a result, the moving speed of the frame becomes slower, or the output of power remains unchanged. The execution of the operation signal is delayed, so that the sensitivity of the main body  10  drops to improve the reality and fun of the game. 
     In an embodiment, the magnetic smart modular toy  100  can play games including but not limited to a racing game, a shooting game, a collision game, etc. based on different models. With reference to  FIG. 2  for a first embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic smart modular toy is a toy car  100 A, wherein the main body  10  is a frame, and the external components  20  include a car door, front and rear bumpers, a rear view mirror, a hood, a rear trunk lid, a windshield, a tire, etc. 
     The controller  30  installed in the frame of the toy car  100 A receives an external remote control signal, so that the driving module  40  drives the action of the tire to move the frame. If the toy car  100 A hits a wall while moving and lets the rear view mirror fall off, then the magnetic sensor  31  of the corresponding rear view mirror will generate a signal to be transmitted to the controller  30 , and the driving module  40  will be driven to lower the output power supplied to the plurality of tires and to reduce the moving speed of the frame. 
     In another example, if the toy car  100 A hits another toy car during the contest and lets the front and rear bumpers, rear view mirror or car door fall off, then the magnetic sensor  31  will detect a number of external components  20  which are separated from the main body  10 , the controller  30  will slow down the moving speed of the toy car  100 A and reduce the operational sensitivity to improve the fun of the game. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  for a second embodiment of the present invention, magnetic smart modular toy is a tank  100 B, and the external component  20  includes a launcher  22 , and the launcher  22  is driven by the driving module  40  to rotate in a direction and capable of shooting a toy bullet  221  at another tank  100 C, and the main body  10  of the tank  10013  is a frame, and the external components  20  include a drive wheel, a track pad, a fuel tank, a baffle, a turret, etc., and the launcher  22  is installed in the turret. 
     When the driving modules  40  of the two tanks  100 B,  100 C drive the drive wheel and the track pad to move, and drive the launcher  22  to rotate in a direction towards the opponent to shot a toy bullet  221 , and if the tank  100 B is hit by the toy bullet  221  of the other tank  100 C such that the track pad, fuel tank, or baffle is separated from the frame, then the magnetic sensor  31  at the corresponding position will generate a signal to be transmitted to the controller  30  of the tank  100 B, and the driving module  40  of the tank  100 B will reduce the output power supplied to the drive wheel and the track pad, or will reduce the shooting force of the toy bullet  221  of the launcher  22  and delay the response. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6  for a third embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic smart modular toy is a robot  100 D, and the main body  10  is a trunk, and the external components  20  include a head, two hands, two legs, and a toy weapon such as a club or a sword magnetically assembled with the two hands, wherein the assembling portions  21  include a neck, an elbow, a wrist, a limb joint, etc. 
     The driving module  40  of the robot  100 D is capable of driving the action of the two legs to move the trunk, or driving the two hands to hold the weapon in a direction towards another robot  100 E and brandish their toy weapons to fight with each other. If the robot  100 D is hit by the toy weapon of the other robot  100 E to cause the toy weapon falling off, then the corresponding magnetic sensor  31  of the robot  100 D will generate a signal to be transmitted to the controller  30 , and the driving module  40  will change the action mode of the remaining external components  20 . For example, the controller  30  only can allow the driving module  40  to drive one of the hands to attack, slow down the moving speed of the two legs, or delay the response, etc. 
     In addition to the aforementioned games, the users may combine the magnetic smart modular toy freely. For example, several users form a plurality of bumper cars (not shown in the figure) for racing and bumping into each other. The external components include a flag, a plurality of fuel tanks, an anti-collision bar, a rolling cage, etc. The plurality of fuel tanks may be designed as a virtual power source for the bumper car, and if the bumper car is hit by another bumper car such that one of the fuel tanks falls off, then the controller will drive the driving module to output half of the power only, and this is also a feasible way of playing the game. 
     in  FIG. 1 , the controller  30  of the magnetic smart modular toy  100  includes a wireless transmission module  32  and a network module  33  capable of receiving an operation instruction signal transmitted from the smart mobile device  200 . For example, the wireless transmission module  32  is a Bluetooth module, and the network module  33  is a WiFi module, so that after the controller  30  receives a control instruction sent by a user&#39;s smart mobile device  200  through the Bluetooth wireless transmission module  32 , the magnetic smart modular toy  100  is driven to move, or coupled to the same local area network connected by the smart mobile device  200  to receive an operating instruction of the smart mobile device  200  via the WiFi network module  33 . In addition, the wireless transmission module  32  or the network module  33  can transmit an action status signal of the main body  10  and the plurality of external components  20  to the smart mobile device  200 . In this embodiment, the smart mobile device  200  loads an application program  201 , wherein the application program  201  can display the action status of the main body  10  on the smart mobile device  200  and includes an operation interface  202  provided for users to operate and control the magnetic smart modular toy  100 . 
     Further, the network module  33  can receive the remote control signal or transmit the action status signal of the main body  10  and the plurality of external components  20  to the smart mobile device  200 , and also can transmit the action status signals to the cloud platform  300  via the Internet. After the cloud platform  300  receives the action status signal of the main body  10  and the external component  20  transmitted from the controller  30  or the smart mobile device  200 , game information is integrated. After the game information is transmitted to a third party&#39;s smart mobile device  400  via the Internet, the game information will be displayed on and interacted with the application program  201  of the third party&#39;s smart mobile device  400 , and the game information is provided for the viewing by a third party or participating the game, so as to achieve the social network and interaction effects. 
     In this embodiment, the network module  33  of the controller  30  includes a WIFI, 3G, 4G, or 5G module. If the network module  33  of the magnetic smart modular toy  100  cannot be connected to the Internet, the action status signal of the main body  10  and the plurality of external components  20  still can be transmitted to the cloud platform  300  through the operator&#39;s smart mobile device  200 . 
     With the aforementioned structure, the IoT interactive magnetic smart modular toy  100  of the present invention can detect the position or quantity of the external component  20  which is separated from the main body  10  and detected by the plurality of magnetic sensors  31 , and the controller  30  changes the action mode of the main body  10  and the remaining external components  20  according to the detection result of the magnetic sensor  31 . Regardless of a single-player game or a multiplayer contest game, the invention can improve the reality and fun of the game. In addition, the controller  30  or the smart mobile device  200  can transmit the action status signal of the main body  10  and the plurality of external components  20  to the cloud platform  300 . Users at different places can participate into the game or view the game from a long distance, so as to improve the fun of the game greatly. 
     While the present invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention set forth in the claims.