Systems of stacking interlocking blocks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019076735-A1
Application number	US-201716084816-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2017
Priority date	Mar 16, 2016
Publication date	Mar 14, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system of stacking interlocking blocks can be configured into a series of states in order to capture and display both physical and virtual events or content. In some examples, the system includes the stacking interlocking blocks, a grid base having the stacking interlocking blocks stacked on top of the grid base in a physical configuration, and a user system. Each stacking interlocking block includes a block circuit. The grid base includes an embedded computing system configured, by virtue of communicating with each of the block circuits, to determine a position of each stacking interlocking block with respect to the grid base and in some cases both the grid base and the other blocks which have been detected by the grid base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a plurality of stackable, interlockable blocks each comprising a block circuit; a grid base for receiving the blocks in a physical configuration, the grid base comprising an embedded computing system configured, by virtue of communicating with each of the block circuits, to determine a position of each block with respect to the grid base; and a user system in communication with the embedded computing system, the user system comprising a display device and one or more processors configured to shadow the physical configuration of the blocks in a virtual environment using the positions of the blocks and display a view of the virtual environment on the display device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the embedded computing system of the grid base comprises a microcontroller and a battery, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to repeatedly communicate the positions of the blocks in real time or near real time using a wireless data signal.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each block comprises a rectilinear polyhedron comprising:
a top wall and a bottom end; and four side walls extending orthogonally away from the top wall to the bottom end, each of the four walls having an interior surface facing a geometric center of the block and an opposing exterior surface exposed outside of the block.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each block is configured to confirm, using the block circuit of the block, the presence of the block on the grid base using at least two direct electrical contacts that electrically couple a top wall of the block to a bottom end of the block.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the block circuit of each block comprises one circuit board with at least two electrically isolated planes that receive ground, power, and signal through the direct electrical contacts.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the block circuit of each block is configured to receive power supplied by the grid base through the direct electrical contacts.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the block circuit of each block comprises a communications module configured to communicate with the grid base using a communications protocol and the direct electrical contacts.

8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein each block is configured to confirm, using the block circuit of the block, the presence of the block atop another block by virtue of communicating with the grid base through the other block.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each block comprises one or more reed switches, and wherein each block is configured to confirm, using the block circuit of the block, the orientation of the block relative to at least one other block using the one or more reed switches.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the user system is in communication with the embedded computing system over a wireless link, and wherein the embedded computing system is configured to transmit data characterizing the positions of the blocks to the user system in real time or near real time to show, on the display of the user system, the absence or presence of blocks on the grid base.

11 . A method performed by an embedded computing system of a grid base, the method comprising:
communicating with a plurality of stackable, interlockable blocks each comprising a block circuit, wherein the blocks are stacked on top of the grid base in a physical configuration; determining, based on communicating with the plurality of blocks, a position of each block with respect to the grid base; and providing the positions of the blocks to a user system comprising a display device and one or more processors configured to shadow the physical configuration of the blocks in a virtual environment using the positions of the blocks and display a view of the virtual environment on the display device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the embedded computing system of the grid base comprises a microcontroller and a battery, and wherein the method comprises repeatedly communicating the positions of the stacking interlocking blocks in real time or near real time using a wireless data signal.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each stacking interlocking block comprises a rectilinear polyhedron comprising:
a top wall and a bottom end; and four side walls extending orthogonally away from the top wall to the bottom end, each of the four walls having an interior surface facing a geometric center of the block and an opposing exterior surface exposed outside of the block.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each block is configured to confirm, using the block circuit of the block, the presence of the block on the grid base using at least two direct electrical contacts that electrically couple a top wall of the block to a bottom end of the block.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the block circuit of each block comprises one circuit board with at least two electrically isolated planes that receive ground, power, and signal through the direct electrical contacts.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising supplying power to the block circuit of each block through the direct electrical contacts.

17 . The method of claim 15 , comprising communicating with the block circuit of each block using a communications protocol and the direct electrical contacts.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each block is configured to confirm, using the block circuit of the block, the presence of the block atop another block by virtue of communicating with the grid base through the other block.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each block comprises one or more reed switches, and wherein each block is configured to confirm, using the block circuit of the block, the orientation of the block relative to at least one other block using the one or more reed switches.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the positions of the blocks comprises transmitting the positions of the blocks over a wireless link, including transmitting data characterizing the positions of the blocks to the user system in real time or near real time to show, on the display of the user system, the absence or presence of blocks on the grid base.

Assignees

• Univ Pennsylvania

Inventors

• Mangharam Rahul
• O'Kelly Matthew Edward
• Pacelli Vincent Scott
• Brady Matthew Anthony

Classifications

• A63F13/426 Primary

  involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun · CPC title

• G06T19/20

  Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts · CPC title

• A63H33/26

  Magnetic or electric toys (electric drives A63H29/22 {; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068}) · CPC title

• A63H33/042 Primary

  Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors · CPC title

• A63H33/046

  comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction · CPC title