Stability controlled systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10921830-B2
Application number	US-201916392410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2019
Priority date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A stability controlled system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor, a memory storing a software code, a moveable component, and a tilt sensor. The hardware processor executes the software code to monitor the tilt sensor to determine whether the system is at a tilt with respect to a support surface for the system. When the tilt sensor is sensing the tilt with respect to the support surface: when the moveable component is off, the software code prevents the moveable component from turning on, and when the moveable component is on, the software code performs one of (a) turning off the moveable component, and (b) slowing down a regular rate of motion of the moveable component. When the tilt sensor is not sensing the tilt with respect to the support surface, the software code permits the moveable component to be turned on and have the regular rate of motion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a computing platform including a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code;
a moveable component;
a tilt sensor communicatively coupled to the computing platform;
to the hardware processor configured to execute the software code to:
monitor the tilt sensor to determine whether the tilt sensor is indicative of the system being at a tilt with respect to a support surface for the system;
when monitoring determines that the tilt sensor is sensing the tilt with respect to the support surface:
when the moveable component of the system is off, prevent the moveable component of the system from turning on; and
when the moveable component of the system is on, perform one of (a) turning off the moveable component of the system, or (b) slowing down a regular rate of motion of the moveable component of the system;

when monitoring determines that the tilt sensor is not sensing the tilt with respect to the support surface, permit the moveable component of the system to be turned on and have the regular rate of motion.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises at least one pressure sensor, wherein the at least one pressure sensor indicates whether or not at least a portion of the system is in contact with the support surface.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a base situated over the at least one pressure sensor, wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises a pressure sensitive polymer layer configured to be disposed between the base and the support surface.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises a plurality of pressure sensitive polymer feet configured to be disposed between the entertainment system and the support surface.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor and a base, wherein the moveable component comprises a display coupled to the base by a rotor, the motor being configured to spin the rotor and the display under the control of the software code.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor and a base, wherein the moveable component comprises a display coupled to the base by a rotor, the motor being configured to spin the rotor and the display under the control of the software code, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to execute the software code to:
sense when an axis of rotation of the rotor and the display is at the tilt with respect to an axis perpendicular to the support surface; and
control the motor to stop spinning the rotor and the display when the tilt exceeds a predetermined angle relative to the axis perpendicular to the support surface.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a figurine of a character situated over the tilt sensor, wherein the figurine has at least one articulable joint, the system further comprising a motor configured to articulate the at least one articulable joint of the figurine under the control of the software code.

9. A method for use by a system including a computing platform having a hardware processor, a system memory storing a software code, a moveable component, and a tilt sensor communicatively coupled to the computing platform, the method comprising:
monitoring, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, the tilt sensor to determine whether the tilt sensor is indicative of the system being at a tilt with respect to a support surface for the system;
when monitoring determines that the tilt sensor is sensing the tilt with respect to the support surface:
when the moveable component of the system is off, preventing, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, the moveable component of the system from turning on; and
when the moveable component of the system is on, performing one of (a) turning off the moveable component of the system, or (b) slowing down a regular rate of motion of the moveable component of the system by the software code executed by the hardware processor;

when monitoring determines that the tilt sensor is not sensing the tilt with respect to the support surface, permitting, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, the moveable component of the system to be turned on and have the regular rate of motion.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tilt sensor comprises at least one pressure sensor, wherein the at least one pressure sensor indicates whether or not at least a portion of the system is in contact with the support surface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the system further comprises a base situated over the at least one pressure sensor, wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises a pressure sensitive polymer layer configured to be disposed between the base and the support surface.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises a plurality of pressure sensitive polymer feet configured to be disposed between the entertainment system and the support surface.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the system further comprises a motor and a base, wherein the moveable component comprises a display coupled to the base by a rotor, the motor being configured to spin the rotor and the display under the control of the software code.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the system further comprises a motor and a base, wherein the moveable component comprises a display coupled to the base by a rotor, the motor being configured to spin the rotor and the display under the control of the software code, the method further comprising:
sensing, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, when an axis of rotation of the rotor and the display is at the tilt with respect to an axis perpendicular to the support surface; and
controlling the motor, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, to stop spinning the rotor and the display when the tilt exceeds a predetermined angle relative to the axis perpendicular to the support surface.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprises a figurine of a character situated over the tilt sensor, wherein the figurine has at least one articulable joint, the system further comprising a motor configured to articulate the at least one articulable joint of the figurine under the control of the software code.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the system further comprises a transceiver configured for wireless communication with another system, wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the software code executed by the hardware processor, sensor data received from the tilt sensor to the another entertainment system.

17. An entertainment system comprising:
a hardware circuitry;
at least one pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the hardware circuitry;
when the hardware circuitry detects that the at least one pressure sensor is not sensing a pressure indicative of the entertainment system being in contact with the support surface:
when a moveable component of the entertainment system is off, the hardware circuitry prevents the moveable component of the entertainment system from turning on; and
when the moveable component of the entertainment system is on, the hardware circuitry performs one of (a) turning off the moveable component of the entertainment system, or (b) slowing down a regular rate of motion of the moveable component of the entertainment system;

when the hardware circuitry detects that the at least one pressure sensor is sensing the pressure indicative of the entertainment

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Wong Clifford
• Nocon Nathan D

Classifications

• F16M2200/04

  Balancing means · CPC title

• F16M11/105 Primary

  the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation · CPC title

• A63H3/50

  Frames, stands, or wheels for dolls or toy animals · CPC title

• A63H3/006

  provided with electrical lighting (electrical lighting F21) · CPC title

• A63H3/00

  Dolls {(puppets or marionettes for shows or theatres A63J19/006)} · CPC title