Abstract:
A play piece may be positioned in three dimensions without actually contacting a play piece. A three dimensional structure may be include with a grid of electromagnetic actuators. By selectively controlling the current through such actuators, the position of the play piece, having a permanent magnet, may be adjusted. In addition, the current induced by the play piece may be utilized to determine the location of the play piece.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to devices that are able to position other devices without contacting those devices.  
           [0002]    In a number of toy applications, it is desirable to move a game piece or toy element in two or more dimensions. For example, in a number of play scenarios involving board games, a play piece may be moved by the user. In addition, play pieces may be manipulated by the user in various toy scenarios.  
           [0003]    Generally, toy manipulation techniques require the child to actually grab the toy and to position the toy where desired. This limits the realism that is possible and thereby reduces the value of the toy.  
           [0004]    Children have been fascinated by magicians who use so-called levitation techniques to cause objects to rise into the air, apparently without physical contact. Usually, these techniques involve using thin wires that are not visible to the user.  
           [0005]    Nonetheless, levitation acts create a sense of wonderment and are entertaining for children of a variety of ages. Therefore, there would be a considerable interest in a toy which actually implements a levitation trick.  
           [0006]    In particular, a toy that enables the levitation of play pieces would be of considerable potential play value. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line  2 - 2  in FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a block depiction of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a depiction of a walls  12  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a flow chart for software in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a flow chart for software in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    Referring to FIG. 1, a three dimensional, partial enclosure or three dimensional structure  10  may facilitate the contact-free manipulation of the position of a toy play piece  11 . In the illustrated embodiment, the play piece  11  is a toy submarine submerged in a liquid L contained by the structure  10 . In one embodiment, the enclosure  10  includes a plurality of peripheral walls  12  and a bottom surface  15 . The top surface of the structure  10  may be open for access and viewing in one embodiment.  
         [0014]    As shown in FIG. 2, the play piece  11  may include a permanent magnet  13 . As will be described in more detail, the play piece  11  may be eletromagnetically positionable due to the influence of electromagnets in the walls  12  on the permanent magnet  13 . In addition, in some embodiments, the play piece  11  may include one or more air pockets to make the play piece  11  neutrally buoyant.  
         [0015]    While the play piece  11  is illustrated as being neutrally buoyant in a liquid L, in other embodiments, the play piece  11  may be suspended in air. For example, the play piece  11  may include buoyancy enhancing material such as helium. Alternatives, the play piece  11  may be sufficiently light to be suspended by the electromagnetic fields described hereinafter. As still another embodiment, the play piece  11  may be uplifted by upwardly directed air flows.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 4, each wall  12 , such as the wall  12   d , includes a plurality of electromagnets  22 . Each electromagnet  22  is capable of generating an electromagnetic field that attracts or repels the permanent magnet  13  in the play piece  11 .  
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the electromagnets  22  may be molded directly into the wall  12 . In still another embodiment, the electromagnets  22  may be incorporated into a film which is attached on the inside surface of the wall  12 . A variety of other techniques may be utilized to associate the electromagnets  22  with the walls  12 .  
         [0018]    A matrix of electromagnets  22  in each wall  12   a  to  12   d  may allow relatively fine control over the attractive or repulsive forces applied electromagnetically to the play piece  11 . That is, current may be selectively applied to one or more of the electromagnets  22  to create the desired force that enables positioning of the toy play piece  11  relative to any set of electromagnets  22 . Moreover, if electromagnets  22  are provided in each of the surface  15  and walls  12 , the play piece  11  may be positioned relative to any of those surfaces as desired, in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 3, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, arrays  18  of electromagnets  22  may be provided in each of the walls  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  and even in the bottom surface  15  in one embodiment. Each of the arrays  18  may be controlled by a controller  24 . The controller  24  may receive user inputs from an input device  16  and may display information on a display  52 . The controller  24  may be associated with a memory  30  that stores information including the software programs  32  and  42 .  
         [0020]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the software program  32  may enable the play piece  11  to be precisely positioned in response to user input commands received through the input device  16 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the precise position of a play piece  11  may be determined by the software  42 . The software  42  may enable the position of the device to be displayed on a display  52  in one embodiment.  
         [0021]    In particular, the controller  24  selectively couples current to any one or more of the electromagnets  22  to develop a sufficient attractive or repulsive force to control the position of the play piece  11 . This control may be implemented automatically by software running on the controller  24  which determines, based on the user input, how to appropriately supply current to the electromagnets  22  to achieve the desired play piece  11  positioning.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 5, the software  32 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, may receive an input command from the input device  16 , as indicated in block  34 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the input device  16  may be a touch screen display that enables the user to simply touch a displayed image of the enclosure  10  to appropriately suggest a play piece  11  position. However, any input device may be used as the input device  16 .  
         [0023]    The software  32  then calculates the displacement needed to achieve the requested position, as indicated in block  36 . Next the software  32  determines the appropriate electromagnet signals in order to appropriately displace the play piece  11 , as indicated in block  38 . Finally, the inductor signals may be issued, causing the play piece  11  to move appropriately, as indicated in block  40 .  
         [0024]    In response to a user request or otherwise, the position of the play piece  11  may be determined by the software  42  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When the play piece  11  is appropriately positioned where desired, the controller  24  may go into a receive mode wherein it receives induced current signals from the arrays  18 , as indicated in block  44 . Those induced current signals may be indicative of the relative position of the play piece  11  and particularly its permanent magnet  13  relative to various electromagnets  22 . Those current signals may then be analyzed as indicated in block  46 .  
         [0025]    Based on the analysis of those induced current signals, a plurality of signals may be derived as indicated in block  48 . Using known characteristics of inductors, those induced current signals may be translated into a corresponding play piece  11  location in three dimensions as indicated in block  48 . Thereafter, the calculated play piece  11  location may be displayed on the display  52  as indicated at block  50 .  
         [0026]    By varying the flow of electricity through any given electromagnet  22 , the strength of the field induced by the electromagnet&#39;s inductor may be altered. As a result, the attractive or repulsive applied force and, thus the position of the play piece  11  in three dimensions may be controlled.  
         [0027]    In one embodiment of the present invention, an aquarium may be implemented as the enclosure  10 . Other play scenarios may include a movie set or game pieces.  
         [0028]    While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.