WO2003043709A1 - Object recognition toys and games - Google Patents
Object recognition toys and games Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2003043709A1 WO2003043709A1 PCT/US2002/037425 US0237425W WO03043709A1 WO 2003043709 A1 WO2003043709 A1 WO 2003043709A1 US 0237425 W US0237425 W US 0237425W WO 03043709 A1 WO03043709 A1 WO 03043709A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- play
- toy
- game
- master unit
- game apparatus
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H3/00—Dolls
- A63H3/28—Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H30/00—Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles
- A63H30/02—Electrical arrangements
- A63H30/04—Electrical arrangements using wireless transmission
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H2200/00—Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to toys and games , particularly to toys and games that identify objects.
- Toys which can respond to radio frequency (RF) signals, e. g. , toy vehicles having radio frequency transmitting remote control units .
- RF radio frequency
- Such toys typically respond to simple signals such as “forward,” “stop” and “reverse.” They require batteries in both the toy and transmitter .
- RFID radio frequency identification
- RFID transponder technologies are known in the prior art and used in retail store environments to sound an alert when products for which payment has not been made are removed from the premises, and in other detection systems such as automated toll-collection systems for highways, bridges and tunnels, e. g. "EZ Pass.”
- EZ-Pass automated toll-collection systems for highways, bridges and tunnels
- commercial RFID reader/interrogator circuits have been available in industrial systems such as in building access and security control systems, highway toll-taking systems such as EZ-Pass, Fast Trak, and the likes, such circuits can cost from fifty dollars to several hundreds of dollars and thus are not suitable for use in a toy or game type product.
- RFID reader/interrogator dete ⁇ t- ing and recognizing items containing RFID tagged ICs e. g. vehicles moving through toll gates using EZ Passes, customers filling in their gas tanks by waving RFID tagged cards , employees opening closed doors by waving RFID tagged security cards, books being checked in and out of libraries, etc.
- the associated antenna or energy and data-coupling element is generally larger than the RFID reader/interrogator chip.
- RFID electronic components "reader/interrogator” and “tag” circuits, are presently available in small, integrated circuit (IC) packages from several semiconductor vendors such as Philips, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Microchip, and Atmel, to name just a few suppliers.
- IC integrated circuit
- U.S. Patents 6,361,396 and 6,364,735 disclose a method and apparatus, which allow one toy to identify a plurality of objects provided.
- the system relies on the inductive coupling of the toy with a resonant frequency tank circuit contained within the object to be identified. Physical contact between the toy and the object is not required.
- 21 toys can be achieved through the use of RF (radio frequency) transponders, commonly referred to and known to those skilled in the art as RFID Tag integrated circuits, "tag ICs,” or “tags.”
- RF radio frequency
- a master/host/server toy or game unit (also herein referred to as “master unit”) can iden-
- Tag IC integrated circuit chip
- RF antenna or energy and signal-information coupling element Such l objects do not require a self-contained battery or other power source to be recognized. No optical code (e . g. bar code) , invisible ink, ultraviolet or infrared ink is required, nor is mechanical or physical contact necessary between the recognizing toy and object to be recognized. 6 Tag ICs can respond differently from one another when interrogated by an appropriately programmed mas ter/host/server toy or game unit. The tag ICs transmit and receive information in the form of data bit streams to and from the master/host/server toy or game unit. The tag ll ICs receive their operating power from the RF energy transmitted by the master/host/server at the same time as data exchange occurs . The tag ICs do not require their own separate power source .
- tag IC chips can receive information in the form of many digital bits written back and stored indefinitely in non-volatile digital or analog memory onboard the tag IC chip . This feature enables the creation of play substance
- This write, rewrite, and update can be repeated a l number of times as required or designed by the game play or toy play-patterns .
- This feature also could be used with a doll to simulate consumption and replenishment of a resource, such as pretend milk in a toy milk bottle given 6 to the doll.
- a child presents a "full" milk bottle with an RFID tag IC inside it programmed as “full”
- the doll can simulate drinking the milk, and the master/host/server can gradually reprogram the RFID tag IC in the milk bottle to be less and less full, as indicated ll by the setting of some selected data bits in the milk bottle RFID tag IC memory, via the rewriteable feature.
- the milk bottle is "empty” the doll could possibly cry and ask for more milk. Then the toy milk bottle would have to be taken over to a different master/host/server
- a game-playing token, coin or piece of currency, or other small object can be provided with an embedded RFID tag chip and suitable antenna loop or coil, factory programmed with specific bits of read-only data in the tag IC memory.
- 26 card can be recognized by a talking doll, for example, that can then recite information -about the card.
- the information can exceed that printed on the card and, for example, can contain secret information about the card that can only be accessed by a master/host/server toy or
- a doll can then recognize and recite information about the trading card. In other words , at l least some of the recited information may be stored on the card. Possibly most or even all of the recited information may be stored on the card. This can greatly minimize the requirement on the doll memory to store such recited information. 6
- a tag IC with a suitable small antenna loop or coil can also be placed inside a small plastic figure, such as an action figure molded from plastic, that can be recognized by the doll or a reader device .
- Such master/host/server toy or game units can play ll games such as spelling games, arithmetic games, shape and other recognition games, board games, duels games, battle games, wagering or betting games (e. g. betting on random or statistical behaviors for fun) , and other games .
- Master/host/server toy or game units can be employed to play ll games such as spelling games, arithmetic games, shape and other recognition games, board games, duels games, battle games, wagering or betting games (e. g. betting on random or statistical behaviors for fun) , and other games .
- Master/host/server toy or game units can be employed to play ll games such as spelling games, arithmetic games, shape and other recognition games, board games, duels games, battle games, wagering or betting games (e. g. betting on random or statistical behaviors for fun) , and other games .
- Master/host/server toy or game units can be employed to play ll games such as spelling games, arithmetic games, shape
- a master/host/server toy or game unit can act on a tag IC in a collectible to change its data thereby selectively making it compatible or incompatible with other master/host/server toy or game units, thereby
- Objects to be recognized and master unit toys may be in any two or three-dimensional form.
- Objects typically include things such as flash cards containing letters, numbers, words, pictures, animals, etc.
- Objects may also include things such as flash cards containing letters, numbers, words, pictures, animals, etc.
- 31 include miniature objects such as toy baby bottles, food items, common household objects, discs, tokens, pictures, l coins , currencies , houses , etc .
- Action figures , figurines, vehicles, animals may also be used as objects, as well as master unit toys .
- an RFID 6 reader/interrogator cartridge or accessory may be received, plugged into, and/or connected and operated by game/computing devices such as hand-held electronic game computing devices, PDAs (personal digital assistant) , hand-held computers , tablet computers , and the like — for ll example, GAMEBOY and GAME BOY ADVANCE units from NINTENDO®, PALMTM hand-held computing devices from Palm, Inc., or iPaq hand-held computing devices from HP.
- the RFID reader/interrogator may be built-in into these gam /computing devices .
- the RFID reader/interrogator accessory is generally plugged into the game/computing device.
- the RFID reader accessory may also have an interface to accept and connect game cartridges or game packs , which contain ROM program(s) to operate the game or program with the RFID
- Game-play operations of these game/computing devices generally involve reading information from RFID tag chips that are embedded in various objects or placed in objects
- This reading of information may also involve modifying variable play substance values , such as adding power and points, or just generally enhancing the game play. This game-play operations may also be used for educational game purposes .
- Fig. 1A is a perspective view of one type of toy which can serve as a master/host/server or master unit toy in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. IB is a perspective view of another type of toy which can serve as a master/host/server toy in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 2 is a functional schematic block diagram of a master/host/server toy and the play objects which it is intended to sense in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 3 is a diagram showing orthogonal antennas in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary circuit using four loop antennas and eight MOSFET transistors in accordance with an embodiment the invention
- Fig. 5 is a functional schematic diagram of an exemplary master unit that includes a voice/sound generator or synthesizer in accordance with an embodiment the invention
- Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary master/host/server toy that includes a visual display generator/controller in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 7A is an elevation view of another preferred embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 7B is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3A; l Fig. 7C is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7A, with a modificatio
- Fig. 8A is a front elevation view of still another preferred embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 8B is a side elevation view of the preferred 6 embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8A;
- Fig. 9A is a plan view of a hand-held game device with a radio frequency identification (RFID) cartridge and an exemplary play object to be recognized, constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- RFID radio frequency identification
- Fig. 9B is a like view of Fig. 9A showing how a game cartridge, an RFID cartridge, and a hand-held device interconnect with each other;
- Fig. 9C is a perspective view of a video game device master unit with a built-in RFID reader/interrogator in 16 accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 9D is a plan view of a hand-held computer, such as a PDA, with a built-in RFID reader/interrogator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 10A is a flowchart to handle and process owner- 21 ship and value information of play objects in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 10B is an exemplary master/host/server toy processing transfer of play objects — transactor, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 11 is another embodiment of a toy 1 or game with a master/host/server vehicle and a number of exemplary play objects, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 12A is another embodiment of a toy or game with 31 a master/host/server wand or hand-held unit and a number l of exemplary play objects, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 12B is another embodiment of the hand-held unit, wand, scanner, or waver of Fig. 12A in which the circuit elements of the RFID RI master unit are partitioned such 6 that the antenna/energy and data-coupling element together with the RF circuit portions are in the hand-held portion and the remaining circuitry of the mater unit is in a separate section connected by a group of wires in a cable; and; ll Fig. 12C is a like view of Fig. 12A but with the master/host/server interacting with a play object with a number of RFID tag ICs;
- Fig. 13 is another embodiment of a toy or game with two exemplary master/host/server toys and a number of 16 exemplary action figure play objects, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 14A is yet another embodiment of a toy or game with a mas er/host/server tractor and a number of exemplary play objects, in accordance with an embodiment 21 of the invention
- Figs. 14B through 14E illustrate how a master/host/server toy interacts with an exemplary play object, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
- 26 Fig. 15 is yet other embodiments of master/host/server toys, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 16 is yet another embodiment of a board game master/host/server interacting with coin play objects, in 31 accordance with an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 17 is still another embodiment of a board game with a number of RFID tag IC and acting as a play object, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- RFID technology is used to make a doll appear to "see” flash cards or other objects, recognize them by name, and engage in play activity with them.
- the doll asks a child to show or give the doll a specific shape, such as "the blue square” or "the red triangle".
- the doll has a small loop antenna inside a hollow cavity in the chest area, so that as flash cards or objects are presented to the doll to "hold in its arms” , a master/host/server toy or game unit program can detect them and respond with a voice in the appropriate manner.
- Master/host/server is herein also referred to as master unit.
- the sensing coil or coils, or sensing antenna coupling elements of the master unit contained in the doll can be located in different places , such as the head, or in a hand or foot, to localize the region where the target object will be detected.
- the embodiments of the invention are not limited to having coils as the only form of antenna or energy/signal coupling elements .
- Antennas can include a number of forms/elements, including, coils, loops of , wire, or other conducting materials, plates, areas, surface, or other forms.
- the antenna and energy and signal information l coupling elements may also include capacitive coupling as well as inductive coupling means .
- the doll could include not just one, but multiple sensing antenna coils, located in various places on the doll, and which are switched on and off by control 6 of the host microprocessor system.
- Such locations could include a coil in each hand of the doll , a coil in each foot, a coil in the doll's head, and a coil in the doll's abdominal cavity.
- Such a doll could play games with multiple objects, but might also play games with a single ll object by directing the user to sequentially position that object at different antenna, and recognizing and reporting back to the user as to the success or failure of each attempted positioning.
- the doll could ask the child to place a specific object in the doll' s right hand, or in its left hand, for example.
- the doll can ask for specific shapes to be given to it, and then for them to be taken away, one at a time, with
- 26 shapes may be placed, for example, in either hands and still be recognized accordingly.
- Objects presented to the doll can have numbers or spelling words which can be enunciated by an electronic voice synthesizer in the doll .
- the master unit can make
- the master/host/server or master unit may be provided with recorded or synthesized music for playing different songs and tunes , perhaps in different voices or with different sounding musical instrument sounds such as a trumpet or a 6 flute, a violin or a trombone, and also with many different percussion sounds such as drums, bells, whistles , and other sound effects .
- the master/host/server or master unit may also provide user presentations that are completely nonaudio .
- user presentations that are completely nonaudio .
- visual presentation on a display tactile presentation (e. g. vibrating master/host/server toy), and olfactory presentation may also be presented.
- tactile presentation e. g. vibrating master/host/server toy
- olfactory presentation may also be presented.
- the master unit has to include appropriate components to handle such presentation. Audio and nonaudio
- a doll or other master/host/server or master unit can remotely recognize and identify an object, flash card, token, or other thing with no physical or mechanical contact.
- the toy or doll can remotely recognize and identify an object, flash card, token, or other thing with no physical or mechanical contact.
- Object detection in general is handled by one or more programs operating on microcontroller ICs in master units, in conjunction with RFID reader/interrogators.
- FIG. 1A and IB of the drawings there are shown a girl doll 110 and a baby doll 120,
- each of which can contain an "engine” in the form of a master/host/server toy or game unit 103.
- an integral antenna 105 located within the master/host/server toy or game unit (master unit) 103 mounted in the doll's chest cavity another antenna 105a can be connected to the master unit 103 and mounted within the head of the dolls 110 and 120.
- the characteristics of the antenna may vary depending on toy design.
- the dolls 110, 102 may include additional antennas such as an antenna in an external hair band around the head 105d, inside the doll head and around the ll face area 105g, 105m, in either or both frames of the eyeglass 105f, in a necklace 105h, in either or both hands of the doll 105b, 1051, in either or both feet or shoes of the doll 105c, 105j , in the holder 105i, in the tummy 105k, etc.
- Each of the dolls 110 and 120 is shown interacting with a play object 108.
- the girl doll 110 is interacting with one in the form of a card, while the boy doll 120 is interacting with one in the form of an action figure .
- Play objects may be in any two or three-dimensional form, such as bottles 106, trading cards, pictures, flowers, stuff dolls, lamps, grocery items (e. g. fruits, milk cartons, vegetables, etc . ) , vehicles , currencies , animals , etc .
- bottles 106 trading cards, pictures, flowers, stuff dolls, lamps, grocery items (e. g. fruits, milk cartons, vegetables, etc . ) , vehicles , currencies , animals , etc .
- the girl doll 110 may interact with a bottle play object 106 such that the bottle may be identified as full, half-full, or empty in a game or play pattern. It may also identify cards, such as identifying the shapes printed on the card.
- the boy doll 120 may identify and
- a plurality of play objects 108 that each include a nonself-powered RFID transponder tag IC 108a and an RF antenna 108b.
- the 6 play object may be, as discussed above, in any form such as a flash card, a trading card, or small object molded from a non-conducting, non-RF-shielded material.
- the RFID tag ICs 108a are nonself-powered, in the sense, that they do not need their own power source, like ll a battery. They obtain their power from the master unit via inductive or capacitive coupling of sufficient energy using the antennas or energy coupling elements . No physical contact is required to convey the operating energy and power to the tag IC
- Radio signal communication of power and data to the play objects may be accomplished by various means, including inductive and/or capacitive coupling — primarily by magnetic and/or electric field components of the electromagnetic radio signal .
- Fig. 2 also shows a master/host/server toy or game unit 103 (master unit) having an RF transmitting and receiving antenna sensing element or coil 105.
- This antenna may be of the primarily inductive coupling or primarily capacitive coupling type.
- the master antenna element or coil 105 is tuned to the resonant operating frequency of the RFID tag ICs, and their associated antennas.
- the master antenna element or coils 105 are operatively connected to a reader/interrogator circuit 207.
- the master/host/server or game unit 103 and the RFID tag ICs regardless of the number of RFID tag ICs, l generally need to only communicate with each other using one fixed frequency. Because the RFID tag circuit operates at a single fixed frequency, the resonant circuit can be tuned for optimum , the quality factor, and thus perform with maximum energy coupling efficiency, which 6 also reduces the amount of power required from the batteries or other power source to the master unit. The life of a battery or batteries in battery-operated toys thus may be extended as a result of the RF operation at one fixed frequency. Multiple frequency operation to ll communicate with more than one RFID tag ICs is unnecessary. Backup frequency, however, may also be implemented as part of the toy design.
- the frequency of the radio signal can be at various standard frequencies used by the industry in standard
- 16 components including the one hundred twenty five (125) kHz (nominal) band, the thirteen (13) MHz (nominal) band, or other frequencies that may now be used or in the future by RFID technologies , such as fif y MHz , one hundred MHz , VHF, UHF, SHF, or SUFH frequency bands.
- the circuit 207 transmits power to, and receives data transmitted from, the RFID tag ICs 8a within its range.
- the circuit 207 may also transmit data to the tag ICs.
- the play object 108 may typically be positioned about one to four inches from the master antenna 105, or possibly
- the detection range may be as minimal as one tenth of an inch to as many as twelve to twenty-four inches or more .
- 3i or identity data back to the circuit 207.
- the master unit 103 uses that unique data to identify or "recognize" l that object 108.
- That unique data may be serial numbers.
- a card containing a picture of a horse can be distinguished from one containing a picture of a pig.
- each play object in a product line of toys is unique. This may be accomplished by having a 6 unique piece of information associated with each play object within that product line. Serial numbers may be used. A smaller or larger collection of unique play objects may also be defined.
- Serial numbers may be assigned and written in the ll RFID tag ICs during the manufacturing process .
- a range of serial numbers or a particular serial number is assigned to an entity, such as apples.
- serial numbers are not used, but rather a different identification information is used.
- a set of ASCII data is stored to
- the master unit 21 identify that object. For example, if the object is an apple, the ASCII equivalent of the word “apple” is stored in the RFID tag IC When that object is detected, the identification information, in this case, "apple” is read. The master unit accordingly recognizes this object as an apple.
- This ASCII information may also be used by a text-to-speech synthesizer to say the word "apple.”
- Serial number and identification information may both be used in an object.
- the uniqueness or degree of uniqueness of play objects in a collection depends on product design, marketing, toy packaging, game play pattern, etc.
- the reader/interrogator circuit 207 is operatively connected to a microcontroller/microcomputer 213.
- the ll microcomputer 213 has a microprocessor.
- the microprocessor is connected to one or more ROMs (read-only memories) 214 that contain program code (or control program) for controlling the responses of the master/host/server or master unit 103 to the data received
- the program code or control program is generally a set of executable object code or machine instructions . It can be written in a variety of source code programming
- control program may be written in the C programming language and compiled into runtime object code.
- the control program could also be written in the C programming language and compiled into runtime object code.
- the control program operate all aspects of the input/ output control circuitry of the master/host/server or
- 3i master unit including the control of the RFID transmitter and receiver master circuit and the control of its read l and write modulation of the RF carrier signal used to interface to the RFID tag chip transponders (play objects) .
- the microprocessor is also connected to RAM (random access memory) for temporary storage of operating data.
- RAM random access memory
- Provision for connecting additional ROMS 215 to expand operating functions and modes is provided in the form of external cartridge connectors 217 which allow additional ROMs 215 to be piggybacked onto or daisy chained to the basic ROMs 214.
- the microcomputer 213 may have a ll plurality of miscellaneous I/O lines to arm/hand switches and other doll sensors .
- the microcontroller includes various input and output lines , which can control other portions of the electronic circuit of the master unit, monitor pushbuttons or
- a voice/sound synthesizer circuit 219 is connected to
- the sound circuit 219 may include CELP, ADPCM, or the like.
- the data signals generated may be data returned from the memory of the object 108.
- the analog sound signals are then applied to the input terminals of an audio amplifier 221 for driving a speaker 223 which
- the microcomputer 213 and its associated components, including the microprocessor, the voice/sound synthesizer circuit 219, and the amplifier 221 are powered by batteries contained in a power supply 225.
- a power supply 225 For example, four AA or C alkaline batteries may be used. DC operating
- DC operating power can also be ll supplied from twelve (12) VDC found in motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, busses, campers and even airplanes, by way of a suitable electrical connector and cable connected to a DC voltage regulator in the doll engine 103.
- Smart trading and game-playing cards are another toy or game application of RFID technology according to the invention .
- Trading cards . g . baseball cards , football cards , and character cards
- game-playing cards e. g. action cards , duel and battle game cards
- 21 playing cards, and other collectibles can each contain an embedded RFID tag IC for enabling novel uses for trading cards and collectibles in conjunction with dolls, and various other master/host/server toy or game units.
- the master/server/host unit can then detect each collectible
- Each collectible can have, stored in its tag IC, data which associates the collectible with its owner. No other master unit toy or game unit can recognize, transfer, or
- an RFID tag IC can be used to store the "collection" and "ownership” values in the memory of a tag IC embedded in an owner or collectors "master card,” and to allow for trading or exchange of value with another owner/collector ll for creating "kid's money.”
- Smart trading cards may be implemented using inductive coupling with coils or using capacitive coupling
- Such conductive inks include black inks with "carbon black,” i. e. conductive carbon particles are blended with conventional or water-based printing inks, and are printed with standard offset,
- Conductive inks may be aluminum, silver, gold, or other conductive materials printed on the back or inside surfaced of the cards .
- the play substance values and information stored in the RFID tag ICs may be read and l updated (written) during the course of the game.
- Such play values/information may include virtual money, virtual weight of precious metal or a useful commodity, or virtual volume of valuable liquid for barter or negotiation in a game. It may also include virtual characteristic or 6 attribute values quantitatively measured.
- Such play substance values/information may also be in nonquantita- tive form. For example, such values may include “Y” and “N” for “yes” and “no,” respectively. Other values include non-numeric values such as “turtle,” “cow,” ll “house,” “A,” “B,” symbolic symbols (for visual displays), and the like .
- the master unit can be another toy or game apparatus,
- the play object with the RFID tag IC can be presented at the store to gain credits, obtain free prizes, bonuses, or discounts on purchases , or other benefits . Additional values or
- play substance values may also be added to a play object at the store or point-of-purchase location. i
- a smart trading card containing virtual money information is used in a casino game/play pattern, a child may use this smart card, i. e. the virtual play money, and bring it today to friend A to play with, and then take whatever virtual play money the child
- microcontroller 213 An example of a microcontroller 213 that may be used in an embodiment of the invention is the RSC300/364 device from Sensory, Inc. of Santa Clara, CA. This component can
- the RSC300/364 is optimized for audio speech and sound output, as well as for speech input.
- 21 portion of the device includes a suitable instruction set for controlling the RFID transponder devices , as well as to initiate output of speech, voice, sound or music signals from data tables stored in the fixed data memory.
- the microcontroller 213 controls some external circuitry which embodies the RFID radio frequency control and data read/write transfers between the various RFID tagged objects and the main host control.
- a Hitag reader chip, HTRC110, from Philips 6 Semiconductor Corp. is an example of an RFID transponder reader/interrogator chip 207 used in a master unit 103. This device comprises a complete one hundred twenty five (125) kHz RFID transponder controller. It can be used with RFID transponder tag ICs operating in the one hundred ll twenty five (125) kHz frequency range.
- the HTRC110 is made to work with Philips HiTag RFID tag devices, sold commercially by Philips Semiconductor . These RFID tags are placed in play objects to be recognized by the toy or game.
- HTRC110 device While the HTRC110 device is named a “reader” by the manu acturer, it can also be used as a “writer” of data back into non-volatile read/write memory contained in certain kinds of RFID tag devices which support read/write memory operations .
- the control program in the microcontroller transmits
- Any and all control and data exchange functions of the RFID reader/interrogator chip may be implemented via the above-mentioned three lines : transmit RFID carrier 6 On/Off, read data, write data, modulation control or the RFID carrier, demodulation control of received data, and error detection and correction .
- data/play values may also be updated or written back to the memory of the RFID tag ICs .
- These data may represent increased points in a game, ownership identification of a plastic toy figurine, or other toy and game-related information .
- RFID reader/interrogator is the standalone tag reader circuit (STARC) , MC33690, from 16 Motorola. RSC-300/364 chips from Sensory, Inc. in Sunnyvale, California may be used as voice/sound generator chips .
- Philips HiTag RFID tag devices may be used in play objects . These RFID tags include the feature of reading 21 and writing back data into a non-volatile memory on the tag IC device .
- HiTag devices also support the so-called "anti-collision” feature that enables more than one RFID tag device to be recognized and controlled within the range of the 26 play field antenna. They operate in the one hundred twenty five (125) kHz frequency band. This type of device generally uses amplitude modulation (AM) for the write-to-tag-memory process, and AM/PM for the read control . 31
- AM amplitude modulation
- AM/PM AM/PM for the read control .
- the anti-collision feature functions in such a way that there is a random delay or a programmed delay in l which a specific RFID tag IC remains "off, " i . e . does not respond with a transmission back to the RFID reader/interrogator. This way multiple RFID tag ICs (play objects) may be polled sequentially. This gives rise to the appearance of simultaneous responses because the time
- MCRF200 a contacless programmable passive RFID device , from Microchip Technology, Inc . may be used as an ll RFID tag IC. This chip, however, only allows for readonly data transmission. It also does not support anti-collision, thus it is suitable for "one at a time" play-object recognition game pattern.
- 16 MCRF355/360 from Microchip Technology, Inc. may be used in play objects. These chips may be used when multiple objects are to be detected at apparently the same time in a game environment.
- MCRF200 and MCRF250 devices operate in the one
- RFID tags using other types of signal modulation (e. g. AM, AM/PM, FSK, Direct PSK (change on data change) , PSK (change at the beginning of a one) ) and data encoding methods (NRZ Direct, Differential Bi-Phase,
- RFID tag devices such as the iCode from Philips Semiconductor and the MCRF 355/360 and MCRF450 from Microchip Technology Inc 6 are but two examples of devices operating in the 13.56 MHz radio frequency.
- Other RFID tag systems operate at SUHF frequencies in the five GHz range, such as devices manufactured by Hitachi .
- MCRF450 read and write features from the same company may be used.
- RFID systems operate using primarily inductive coupling of the power and signal energy from the master unit reader/interrogator to the RFID tag IC, other
- inductive or capacitive coupling can be used — depending on the toy or
- a capacitive coupling element can be formed by printing two surfaces with electrically conducting ink or other substance onto paper, plastic, cardboard, or other non-conducting material.
- 26 surfaces form the two plates of a capacitor, which performs the signal and power energy coupling between the host and the RFID tag object.
- This method can be used to "print" smart trading cards, playing cards, collecting cards, or other flat, generally two-dimensional type
- Master/host/server or master units may include various visual display mechanisms, such as colored light indicators (typically LED devices) ,
- LCDs liquid crystal display
- LEDs light emitting diodes
- dot matrix or custom graphic "icon" formats Such displays convey text and numerical information including words, statements, or other visual information.
- switching circuits are used to control the master/host/server or master unit.
- control program 26 enable or disable individual antenna elements. This is done under the control of the control program.
- the control program can also sequence the various antennas to determine if play objects are/are not placed in certain locations, and respond accordingly. This is generally
- the response time of a master unit to play ll objects may appear to be almost instantaneous as far as human perceptual speeds are concerned.
- This also means that multiple antennas and coupling devices can be switched and multiplexed quickly such that the response of the master unit appears to be instantaneous by human l6 perceptual speeds .
- antennas are preferably oriented orthogonally with each other and multiplexed or fed with complimentary RF
- the RFID tag IC and its antenna must be closely coupled to the signal field so that sufficient RF energy is coupled to power and communicate with the RFID tag device.
- a single loop antenna the RFID tag IC and its antenna must be closely coupled to the signal field so that sufficient RF energy is coupled to power and communicate with the RFID tag device.
- antenna is not able to recognize a small RFID tag device, that is, if the RFID tag device is orthogonal to the l master unit loop antenna, energy coupling would be minimized and the tag IC would not be recognized.
- a second loop antenna oriented at ninety degrees to another antenna is preferable.
- the multiplexing method of selectively enabling and disabling 6 multiple antennas may then be used so as to ensure maximum signal coupling to the RFID tag at any angle within the sensing field.
- a third or more antenna can be added to the setup in a similar manner, at other angles to the detection area or space, so ll as to maximize the RF coupling efficiency to the tag IC without regard to a specific orientation of the play object in three-dimensional space.
- a master unit reader antenna is a coil of wire or a conductive printed loop of thin copper .
- the antenna is preferably tuned to the reader/interrogator circuit by a series or parallel capacitors .
- the size and dimensions of the antenna and its electrical Q factor determine how sensitive the reader/interrogator antenna is to weak RFID-tagged play
- 26 antenna is formed by making a six-inch diameter loop consisting of twenty turns of #32 enamel insulated copper having a low-series resistance. This antenna is then placed over the head of a toy doll, for example, enclosed within a plastic sheath so that it appears to be a hair
- Loop antennas could also be placed within and disguised in such things as necklaces , lockets , bracelets , belts , sashes , or other parts of a doll or the master unit itself. This loop antenna can also be placed inside the plastic head of a doll . Diameters of antenna loops may 6 also be varied depending on where in the master unit, e. g. head versus hand, the antennas are going to be placed.
- antenna includes specific RF energy and signal coupling devices and elements , such as small or ll large coils or loops of wires or RF conducting materials in the case of inductively-coupled signals, surface electrodes in the case of capacitively coupled signals, or other combinations thereof.
- the size and value of the antenna may be as large or small as practical or as
- Fig. 4 Even if multiple antennas are used, only one master reader/interrogator controller may be required (Fig. 4) . For example, if four antennas are used 410, 412, 414, 416,
- This exemplary circuit uses four antennas and eight MOSFET transistors to selectively enable and disable each antenna by way of four digital control signals Dl , D2, D3,
- the group of eight transistors forms a DP4T (double pole, four throw) electronic switch with very low "ON” impedance and very high “OFF” impedance.
- the four digital drive lines 418, 420, 422, and 424 originate in the control of the
- microcontroller and are buffered by logic inverters to l switch the MOS transistors , which are biased by VDD at five VDC and Vss at ground level .
- each of the four output pairs to each antenna may contain an additional fine tuning capacitor (Cl through C4) 426, 428, 430, 432 so as to provide the
- RFID reader IC 408 feed into and are received from the common two signal lines normally used for a single antenna .
- HTRC110 RFID HiTag reader/interrogator IC is used as an exemplary IC1 560.
- An RSC-300/364 chip IC2 562 is used as a voice/sound generator and synthesizer.
- the RFID reader IC 560 includes a four MHz quartz
- the main antenna Ll in the form of an inductive loop provides energy and signal communications with RFID tag devices (play objects) within its field of operation or detection area.
- a tuning capacitor for output signal is also part of the chip 560 to adjust resonant frequency of output for optimum . Furthermore, couples receive energy signal back from RFID tag modulation into the RECEIVE signal processing circuits of the RFID reader chip 562.
- the RSC-300/364 IC 562 is an eight-bit RISC microprocessor with digital input and output, audio signal l output from internal sound synthesizer, data memory, and program memory. This IC 562 is powered 564, for example, by four AA Alkaline batteries or other source of four to six VDC power .
- An ON/OFF switch SW1 56 . 6 to turn the IC ON or OFF is 6 also available.
- a speaker SPKR 568 is used to output audio information (e. g. voice, music, and sound effects) .
- This chip 562 contains an audio output amplifier to drive the speaker 568, in this case, a two-inch diameter sixteen to thirty-two ohm impedance speaker .
- An audio output filter capacitor COUT 570 is also included for better quality.
- a fourteen MHz crystal (XTAL 2) 572, which may also be used by the main clock of the CPU, is also available.
- Port zero lines POl , P02 , P03 578 are included for digital input/output control of the RFID
- a reset circuit 580 is also available to provide proper reset of CPU at power on .
- a master/host/server in another embodiment includes a visual display generator/controller 602 that controls a visual display. This way a toy may be responding not in audio form but in visual form.
- the visual display 604 is generally used for user presentation and may include LEDs, OLEDs (organic light- 26 emitting diode), LCDs, CR s, incandescent lamps, 3D holographic or 3D stereographic displays, and other types of display technologies .
- the visual display elements 604 may be single lights in various colors or white lite, alphanumeric LED or LCD 31 displays, and fully dot matrix and raster type displays in monochrome or color screens , capable of showing numeric l and alphabetic characters in many different fonts and languages, and full pictures and motion video and animation type images .
- 3D displays also supports fully synthetic images , such as holograms or stereographic displays .
- Motion color videos and film images of 6 photographs, action scenes or any other types of visual displays such as are seen on TV and movie screens may also be supported.
- Visual display-driver integrated circuits 602 are commercially available from many companies , including Sun ll Plus, Microchip, Toshiba, National Semiconductor Corp, Texas Instruments , and many others .
- SPLD801B LCD segments driver and companion SPLD802A LCD commons driver from Sun Plus may be used.
- Each of these IC can drive eighty segments or
- microcontroller unit via a few serial data, clock, and control lines .
- LED displays can be driven with just bit output lines from the microcontroller driving an LED indicator light, or via a 2N2222 type transistor to boost the
- Incandescent lamps may also be driven this way.
- an eight by eight (8 x 8) matrix of LED lamps can be
- a number of IC devices manufactured and marketed by Epson Semiconductors can support CRT or LCD displays, or both, in embedded systems. Some examples are SPC8106 VGA ll LCD/CRT Controller, SED1330 LCD Controller, SED1353 LCD Controller, SED1354 LCD/CRT Controller, SED1355 LCD/CRT Controller, SED1356 LCD/CRT/TV Controller, SED1374 Embedded Memory LCD Controller, and SED1375 Embedded Memory LCD Controller.
- a microcontroller can control both a visual display generator/controller and a voice and sound generator. This way a toy may be designed to have both visual and audio user presentation .
- RFID tag ICs 708a and suitable antenna 708b can be embedded inside of play objects 708 in the form of small play blocks molded from
- the master unit and control engine 703 is contained inside of a large tablet-shaped form 701.
- the engine 703 includes the sensing antenna coil 705 in the surface 709, a reader/interrogator circuit 707, a
- the "magic tablet” 701 can recognize the play blocks 708 placed on it.
- the play blocks 708 may have printed or molded legends 708d on one side of the cube, such as 6 letters of the alphabet, numbers, arithmetic signs such as +, -, / and X, or pictures or icons of animals such as cows, horses, chickens, or pigs, or other objects such as musical instruments , musical notes , or other things .
- the magic tablet 701 has a similar "engine” 103 as ll the dolls described above.
- the control program could operate in many different modes .
- the tablet voice just says the name of a letter or number block placed on it. If a number of blocks are placed on the tablet, using anti-collision
- the master unit 703 accordingly identifies and processes all the blocks placed.
- the magic play blocks 708 and tablet 701 may have complementary Velcro, or possibly magnetic, surfaces 710a, 710b for establishing a preferred orientation of each
- the play block or object 758 could contain the RFID tag IC 758a and small loop antenna coil 758b in a diagonal orientation inside the play block or object, so that regardless of the play block or object orientation to the tablet surface 709, the
- loop coil antenna 758b inside the play block or object will couple sufficient RF energy to the associated RFID i tag IC 758a in that play block for proper operation with minimal transmitted power .
- the tablet 701 can also ask a child to spell a word such as "DOG" and then detect when the correct letter play blocks 708 have been placed on the tablet, and speak 6 accordingly, correct or not, to help teach a child how to spell.
- a word such as "DOG”
- the locations or positions of where the blocks are placed are not considered.
- the word "DOG” is spelled correctly when a child places the correct letter one a ter ll another, i. e. "D” then "O,” and then "G.” How the blocks are placed on the tablet does not affect how the RFID reader/interrogator reads the data contained in the RFID tag IC, so long as the play letter object is in the detection area of the RFID reader/interrogator .
- a child may place all three play blocks ("D,” “O,” and “G") at the same time to correctly spell the word "DOG . " Still in another embodiment, the order of when the letter blocks are placed is irrelevant so long as the correct letter blocks are
- Detection of multiple play blocks or objects 708 is again accomplished by the control program of the microcontroller 113 and the reader/interrogator circuit 707. Data that are exchanged, that is transmitted by the
- RFID tag and read by the reader/interrogator are actual digital bits of data and not just resonance frequencies .
- the circuit of the reader/interrogator 707 operates at the selected RF frequency of the RFID tag IC 708a and antenna 708b. Commonly used frequency ranges are 100-150
- the disclosed master/host/server toys or game units can deal with detecting multiple play objects i.e., where more than one play object are presented to or removed from
- a doll 110 can ask to "see" three shapes in flash cards or play objects 108 containing suitable RFID tag ICs 108a. Then the doll can ask for one of the shapes or objects 108 to be removed. If the incorrect one
- the doll will recognize that, and speak a suitable warning response .
- the master control program can manage the activation of the reader/interrogator circuit 107 on a time-multiplexed basis, so as to conserve power in
- the discussed apparatus provide for the time-multiplexed activation of the reader/interrogator circuit 107 on a time interval basis to conserve battery power. Rather than leave the reader/interrogator circuit 107 activated on a continuous basis, the master/host/ser-
- a smart trading card master device 803 in the. form of a hand-held reader for smart trading cards or flash cards
- a trading card 808 can be slid into a mechanical slot 812 provided for the purpose of holding the card 808 in place, the card can be placed on the surface of a handheld reader, the card can be waved in front of a table (e. g. Figs. 7 or 13) , or via other means for read/write
- the reader 803 has a reader/interrogator circuit 807 and antenna 805 for communicating with the RFID tag ICs 808a embedded within the trading or flash cards 808.
- the trading card control master (master unit) 803 can read and
- the microcontroller 813 can include the circuitry to drive segments and layers of a common , multiplexed LCD alphanumeric display screen 814 on the master unit, whereby information can be visually displayed.
- Power to the master device 803 may be provided 6 by batteries 825 .
- the microcontroller can include circuitry to communicate with an external device such as a personal computer, a hand-held computer, or other device, via a wired serial communications interface for RS-232 , ll USB , IEEE 1394 or other standard or custom communications network .
- 16 services could also be conveyed via the Internet to various websites offering prizes , recognition, or other services to the card collector or game or toy player .
- words and phrases can be encoded in the tag IC memory in a text- to -speech application of the invention.
- the word “HOUSE” can be encoded in 6-bit
- ASCII code that is six data bits per alphanumeric character , using a total of only thirty data bits .
- the RFID tag IC containing this data bit pattern could be embedded inside a flash card, a trading card, or any other small two or three-dimensional object .
- a very important feature of this embodiment of the invention is the ability to form hundreds, thousands, or even millions of unique identity flash cards, trading ll cards , or other play and collectible objects containing
- RFID tag ICs which then cause the master unit toy or game unit to speak, or to display and speak, the word or words programmed within them. This is significantly different from using a master unit toy or game unit that has a sound
- the toy or game unit does not have to be completely pre-programmed with all the words it might ever have to speak or say or display. Rather, the toy or game unit need only have a text-to-speech converter program in its control program, with proficiency in one or
- the number of data bits in the RFID tag IC could contain as many as 150 alphanumeric characters, (i.e. letters, numbers, punctuations, and other control codes) sufficient so that one flash card, trading card, or RFID tag IC equipped
- a hand-held game device 920 receives an RFID reader cartridge 904 and a game cartridge 902.
- the handheld device 920 typically includes a microcontroller, a visual display 924, e. g. an LCD or LED, sound-generation circuits, an audio output speaker 926, and control buttons
- the RFID reader cartridge 904 is preferably a plug-in accessory that fits into hand-held video game devices such as NINTENDO® GAME BOY, NINTENDO® GAME BOY ADVANCE, and other types of programmable hand-held game and computing
- This plug-in accessory may also be designed to fit into hand-held computing devices like PALM computers, PDAs , and even with console video games units like SONY PS-2, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, MICROSOFT XBOX, etc.
- the RFID reader cartridge 904 includes RFID
- the antenna sensing elements 906 preferably protrude out or are placed on the rear side of the RFID cartridge 904, and preferably formed
- the RFID cartridge 904 is generally plugged into an interface or slot 928 available in the hand-held device 920.
- This interface 928 is generally where game cartridges are plugged in or inserted.
- the game cartridge or game pack 6 is plugged or inserted at the back of the unit.
- This interface or slot 928 includes multiple electrical connections to supply operating power to the game cartridge 902 and the RFID reader cartridge 904 and for connecting address, data, and control signal lines or ll generally to the main bus .
- the RFID reader circuit 908, with the antenna 906, reads and writes information back to play objects 990.
- This play object 990 has at least one RFID tag circuit 994 and an associated antenna 992.
- the play objects may be in
- the RFID reader cartridge 904 is preferably an intermediate cartridge which plugs into the hand-held device 920 via the interface/connector/slot 928 (Fig. 9B)
- the RFID cartridge 904 also includes a receiving
- This connector/interface 912 is generally a pass- through interface so that the game cartridge 902 is able to convey all program code and data to the hand-held
- the control circuits 910 is generally used to interface input/output controls to the hand-held device 920.
- the game cartridge 902 contains the play-patterns or "the game” that is going to be played by a user. It
- the 31 typically includes a memory chip, such as a read-only- memory (ROM) .
- ROM read-only- memory
- the ROM contains the operating program and data patterns for graphics , sounds , animations , and game play.
- the RFID cartridge 904 also includes interface circuit (s) 910 to the main bus of the hand-held device 920. Instructions on how to process the information read by the RFID reader circuit 908 are also contained in the game cartridge 902. Such RFID instructions control how information read by the RFID reader 908 is processed within the game.
- a multitude of games or play- patterns may thus be designed to work with various play objects . Playing video games on hand-held devices is thus enhanced with the introduction of RFID reader cartridges and RFID play objects .
- RFID play objects may contain serial numbers, identity numbers, or other types of information such as those related to the object or to the game in general. This information may thus affect how a game is played.
- the RFID reader 908 reads the contents of the RFID tag ICs 994. This information may then enable this character in the game (i. e. bring this character into the game), alter attribute values, such as strength and hit points, instruct the hand-held device 920 to say "Hey, it's
- the RFID reader cartridge 904 may obtain its power from the hand-held device 920. It is also possible that l the RFID cartridge 904 has its own source of power, such a battery that is part of the RFID cartridge 904.
- the hand-held game or computing device has an integrated or built-in RFID reader/interrogator under the control of a 6 microcontroller or a processor.
- the RFID cartridge 904 is thus unnecessary.
- a game cartridge with the desired play pattern or game needs to only be inserted into these hand-held game devices .
- the program contained in this game cartridge dictates how the processor controls ll the RFID reader/interrogator circuit.
- the antenna associated with the RFID reader/interrogator may be placed in various location of this device, such as' front or back of the unit.
- a video game console unit 930 such as an Xbox unit of Microsoft Corporation or a PlayStation® unit of Sony, is connected to a television console 932.
- the video game unit 930 is connected to the tv via a wire interface 934.
- the video game unit 930 has a built-in or integrated RFID reader/interrogator 940 and an associated antenna 948. It also includes a processor 942. The game or play pattern that is going to be played is contained typically in a readable medium 936, such as a CD-ROM. It contains
- the software or program 936 is loaded into a program- receiving unit 938, such as a CD reader.
- a program- receiving unit 938 such as a CD reader.
- the instructions contained in the program are executed by the processor or by appropriate
- the RFID reader/interrogator circuit may also be under the control of the processor.
- the program or software 936 may also be received by the video game unit 930 via a connection, such as the Internet .
- RFID tagged play objects may be waved or placed near the game 930 and accordingly recognized and processed under the rules of the game .
- User presentation such as visual display and audio output are presented by the ll connected television or display unit 932.
- the RFID reader/interrogator 940 and associated antenna 948 is not integrated with the game device 930.
- an RFID reader cartridge is plugged into an available port in the game device 930.
- the program 936 loaded into this game device and the processor controls the RFID reader/interrogator including how data read should be handled.
- a hand-held game or computing device 950 such as an iPaq unit from HP or a PDA,
- the game 21 includes a visual display 954. It also includes an RFID reader/interrogator 960, an antenna 952, a processor 962, a speech/sound synthesizer 964, and a speaker 966.
- the game program may be preloaded into this hand-held unit or be downloaded into this unit via other means, such as a
- the RFID reader/interrogator is not integrated to the system but is available as a plug-in
- the RFID reader/interrogator may be built-in or integrated in the game/computing device, or may be
- these play objects containing RFID tag ICs are manufactured containing initial ownership status information 1004.
- This initial status information may be in several forms , e. g. a bit "0" indicating that this object has never been
- Initial value information for example, play currency, hit points, strength level, character level,
- 21 name, etc. may also be stored as part of the play object 1004.
- This value or set of values, including status information, may be numeric and/or nonnumeric .
- This master unit or transactor 1033 is coupled to an input device 1044 enabling the purchaser of that play object to enter ownership
- 31 information such as name, address, and phone number.
- This input device 1044 may be a keyboard, a touch screen, l a computer, a voice-activated input device, or any input- enabling device. Other master units able to handle this type of transaction may also be used.
- the master unit transmits and writes this 6 information into the RFID tag ICs of the purchased play object 1006 (Fig. 10A) .
- Security information 1008, such as password, is generally also entered by the user so that future ownership information may only be written into that play object if a proper password is provided. This ll password is also stored in the play object.
- the owner may do so by using a master unit.
- the owner may use any master unit that is capable of handling this type of play- pattern transaction .
- the current owner 21 enters the same password previously stored in the toy.
- This security information is verified by the master unit 1012. This is done assuming that the play object is within the area of detection, i. e. the RFID reader/interrogator communicates with the RFID tag ICs of 26 the play object.
- the RFID reader/interrogator of the master unit reads the RFID tag ICs of the play object —particularly the password.
- the password entered is then verified against the information read. This is done by 31 the microcontroller, under the control of a' program. l If the password entered matches the one stored, the master unit enables the new owner to provide new ownership information and security information via an input device .
- This new ownership information and security information are stored in the RFID tag IC of the traded play object, 6 for example, card 1014, 1016.
- Password security thus ensures that only valid transactions are written into the play objects. Theft and illegal possession of play objects are thus alleviated. This process may be repeated if the play object is ll later on transferred to another owner. Ownership information history may also be stored thus enabling users to see its history. Other types of information may also be stored in play objects, including numeric values (e. g. monetary values), alphabetic values, and nonalphabetic 16 values. With the transfer, values of the play object may also be updated according to the rules or logic of handling such transactions 1018.
- Non-face-to-face exchanges and trades may also be done.
- the current owner may send the play object and the 21 valid password to the new owner.
- the new owner may then use an available and appropriate master unit to store new ownership information.
- the new owner does' this by supplying the valid password and new ownership information.
- each play object is associated with a card, like an ATM (automated teller machine) card.
- This card contains information about the play object or collection of play objects owned, for example, by an 31 individual.
- each owner only has to wave the card or place the card near the master unit or l master/host/server to effect the transfer and enter the appropriate security or PIN information. This way, owners can have their collection information in one master card.
- each play object may have its own associated card containing ownership information about
- a master unit may handle the transfer of more than one type or product line of play objects. Meaning that a ll master unit may handle various play objects so long as the master unit 1033 (Fig. 10B) is able to read/write information from the RFID tag ICs of the play objects. This means that play objects may be sold without corresponding master units 1033. So long as a user has
- all master units regardless of the play-patterns or game processed, can handle exchange and transfer transactions of all or a number of
- play objects This may be done, for example, by having certain information be stored in these play objects. In another embodiment, only certain master units handle this type of transaction, e. g. exchanges and transfers.
- a master unit 1033 handling transfers and exchanges,
- 26 generally has an antenna 1032, a display 1042, an RFID reader/interrogator 1034, a speaker 1040, and an input device (keyboard) 1044, (microphone) 1052 .
- the play object or the container of the play object 1002, 1004 contains the
- each respective action figure enters their user name and l password 1050, 1052.
- the master unit 1033 processes this information. If the information entered is correct, the RFID tag IC of each respective play object or container of each respective play object is updated accordingly to reflect new ownership information .
- Values such as money value, play currency value, strength, hit points, and the like are associated with each action figures . This information and values depends on game or play-pattern designs and thus may also be accordingly updated during the exchange function. ll Information and values may also be updated and revised by connection via a master unit to a network, the internet, store point-of-purchase registers, and the like.
- each play object 1002, 1004 is associated with a master control card 1050, 1060.
- Each play object 1002, 1004 also contains a unique serial number or any other identity-type information in its RFID
- the master control card also contains an RFID tag IC and an antenna.
- the RFID tag IC also contains the serial number of the associated play object.
- the master control card also contains a personal identi ication number (PIN) so that unauthorized transfers
- action figure 1 (1002)
- the owner of the action figure waves or places his or her master control card 1050 over the transactor master unit 1033. The owner then is prompted,
- the owner enters the PIN via an input device, such as a i keyboard 1044 or microphone (voice commands) 1052.
- an input device such as a i keyboard 1044 or microphone (voice commands) 1052.
- the master control card 1050 associated with 6 action figure 1 (1002) is then asked to be waved over the master unit 1033 so that the PIN of the new owner may be written into the memory of the tag IC.
- action figure 1 (1002) may also be asked to be waved over the master unit 1033 so that information, e. g. transfer ll history, new PIN, variable play substance information change, and the like, may be written into the tag IC of the traded or exchanged action figure 1.
- a game or toy 1100 includes a master unit in the form of a toy car or toy moving vehicle and several play objects in the form of cards 1104, 1106, 1108 and three- dimensional objects 1110, 1112, 1114, with each play
- the antenna of the master unit is preferably at the bottom of the plastic car 1102 and/or in the side of the car.
- the game or play pattern is designed such that the
- 3i vehicle 1102 makes an audio response as it recognizes each play object.
- This response for example, includes "That's l the letter ⁇ A'" 1104, "This is a turtle 1106," “That's a triangle,” “What a pretty oak tree” 1110, music, sound effects , and the like .
- a child pushes or remotely controls the car 1102 to travel 1122 on a predefined track 6 1116.
- the moving vehicle may also be self-powered. As it travels through the track 1116 and over each card, it recognizes the play objects, 1104, 1106, 1108, and accordingly generates and projects the proper audio presentation through the car's speakers.
- a child freely pushes the car 1102 in an arbitrary path 1124, i. e. without a predefined track. As the car passes or comes near the play objects 1110, 1112, 1114, the car generates the appropriate audio response, such as "What a pretty oak tree" 1110, "Oh,
- the car can also make other types of sound effects, besides speech, as well as activate other effects in the moving vehicle such as flashing lights, changing speed, turning motor on and off, and causing moving pieces to
- a game 1200 (Fig. 12) includes a hand-held unit 1203, such as a l wand, scanner, or waver master/host/server or master unit, with an RFID reader/interrogator circuit and antenna, or portions thereof, within it.
- the hand-held unit may be in various three-dimensional forms.
- the antenna 1213 is around the open viewport of the hand-held unit 1203.
- the 6 master unit toy 1203 also includes a microcontroller, an RFID reader/interrogator, and a voice/sound generator.
- the play objects each contain an RFID tag IC and at least one antenna.
- Such response may include, "That's the letter W" 1202, "That's a black rabbit” 1204, "That's a star” 1206, “That's, a green turtle” 1208, and "That's an airplane” 1210.
- 16 responses may be varied.
- the user presentation may also be varied, such as there could be additional visual presentation or visual effects displayed by the hand-held scanner unit, the hand-held unit can vibrate as each play object is recognized, pieces of the hand-held unit may
- Another play pattern can be that moving the RFID- tagged play object close to the hand-held unit or scanner 1203 will activate a price charge in a toy cash register or store play set, like a retail supermarket check-out,
- the hand-held unit may also take another form.
- the master unit toy may be in the form of a glove, a hand-held puck or pod, a long stick, a rod, a pencil , and the like .
- the antenna/energy and data-coupling element is located in the tip or end of the wand/rod — hand-held l element. This "sweet spot" can be waved and scanned over the tags .
- the master unit 1223 (Fig. 12B) is not entirely housed in one object or toy.
- the antenna 1233 and the RFID reader/interrogator are in the hand-held unit itself .
- Other components of the master unit such as the microcontroller 1241 and the voice/sound synthesizer 1239 are in another unit such as a box 1237.
- Power source may 16 also be stored in this box 1237.
- the wand 1223 and the box 1237 are connected by a wired connection 1225.
- the master unit engine be partitioned and housed in several entities and locations .
- the 21 RFID reader/interrogator circuit and the antenna or coupling element be in close physical proximity with each other so as to minimize detuning effects .
- a play object 1250 in this example a toy doll, contains a number 26 of RFID tag ICs and antennas 1252.
- Each RFID tag IC is associated with an antenna to identify a particular location or body part of the doll .
- This play object may also be a game board with a number of RFID tag ICs, or any two- or three-dimensional play object with a number of RFID tag ICs in various locations of the object.
- game instructions may be given in accordance with the game or play pattern played at that time .
- This hand-held unit thus may be fashioned as to look like a game controller or a playing piece .
- the master unit toy 1300 is a loop-like device.
- the game is designed such that various play objects are flown through the loop 1302.
- This loop also contains the antenna
- a voice/sound synthesizer 1306, a speaker 1310, a microcontroller 1308 are also housed in this toy unit.
- 26 unit toy 1302 accordingly generates the proper user presentation, such as audio responses .
- the master unit says "Hey, It's Superman,” “Show me Batman,” or “It a Firefighter,” when the play objects 1354, 1356, 1352 are respectively flown into the loop.
- a i battle play pattern may be initiated. For example, a play by play story, for example, "Superman took some three points damage,” “Batman's strength went up by two,” and the like may be presented to the users .
- the RFID tag ICs of respective action figures are also accordingly updated 6 to reflect new or updated information due to the play that has ensued.
- the master unit toy 1333 is in table or box-like form.
- This toy 1333 includes an antenna 1332, an RFID reader/interrogator 1334, a microcontroller ll 1336, a speech/sound synthesizer 1338, and a speaker 1340.
- the play objects are flown or passed over the table 1333 the appropriate user presentation and update to the appropriate RFID tags are presented.
- 16 of this invention is not limited to audio presentation.
- Other forms, such as visual, tactile, and olfactory presentation may be incorporated in the master units .
- Appropriate components to handle such user presentation have to be incorporated in the master units .
- the various embodiments of the invention discussed herein generally works in a game environment that includes a master/host/server or master unit and at least one play
- the game environment generally works in such a way that communication, particularly, data exchange, is generally established when the play object is in at least one detection area of the master unit for the minimum time required to complete a successful RFID trans-
- a ll master unit vehicle 1402 such as a tractor, may be moved by a child.
- This vehicle 1402 contains an RFID reader/interrogator circuit and an antenna. This antenna is preferably placed at the bottom and/or side of the tractor. The RFID 16 reader/interrogator is hidden inside the vehicle. A microcontroller containing a program and a speech synthesizer are also housed in this vehicle.
- the tractor 1402 interacts with play objects 1404- 1410.
- play objects for example, may represent 21 things that a person sees in a farm. These objects may be placed by a parent around a young child so that the young child can play with the tractor and these play objects.
- These play objects 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410 include RFID tag ICs and associated antennas .
- the RFID tag ICs 26 contain information identifying the object. This set of information may include serial number, information to be digitally synthesized, and object name (e. g. "cow,” "pig,” or "sheep").
- the tractor 31 master unit 1402 closes a play object, for example, the cow 1404 so that a communication 1414 is established l between the RFID reader/interrogator of the tractor and the RFID tag IC of the cow
- the tractor responds, for example, by saying "Your tractor is in front of a cow. ⁇ Moo moo'" 1412.
- the cow is stationary/still while the tractor is in motion (Fig. 6 14B) .
- Questions and instructions may also be part of the play pattern . Instructions may be given such as "Drive the car to the pig.” The master unit may then determine if such instruction was properly carried out. ll When a communication 1414 is established, the RFID tag of the cow 1404 transmits and receives information in the form of data bit streams to and from the tractor 1402. The RFID tag receives their operating power from the RF energy transmitted by the master unit at the same time as
- This information is then processed by the microcontroller under the control of a program. Appropriate responses, as coded in the program, are accordingly generated.
- the speech synthesizer may
- the child may also move the play object, e. g. cow 1404, near the tractor 1402 so that a
- the child may also hold the tractor 1402 and the cow
- the tractor 1402 When a master unit toy, in this embodiment — the tractor 1402, is in a position to communicate with the object, the tractor 1402 is able to continuously recognize the object, e. g. the cow 1404. How often and how 16 continuous this recognition occurs may depend on power- saving mechanisms contained in the master unit toy.
- a master unit vehicle interacts with a mat or a board displaying various
- Each artwork is associated with an RFID tag IC and at least one antenna.
- a child may move the vehicle over the mat and when the vehicle is over or passes over an artwork (i. e. a
- the vehicle recognizes the artwork and responds accordingly with voices/sounds or any other responses instructed by the program controlling the microcontroller of the master unit. It may for example identify the artwork, for example, "Van Gogh, Starry
- the cards may also contain shapes, numbers, and the like.
- the play-pattern may also involve just counting the cards recognized, for example, saying “We have seen three stars and two squares . "
- a master/host/server or master unit is embodied in several devices such as in a cellular phone 1502 , a videophone 1504, or a computer 1506. These devices have a similar "engine” 103 as the dolls previously described ll (Figs . 1A and IB) . These various devices may be located in several places , such as the place where the play objects are purchased, the user's home, toy stores, etc. These devices also have a similar RFID reader/interrogator engine as the dolls, toys, and games previously described
- play objects such as POKE- MON® cards with RFID tag circuits are read by such game units 1502, 1504, and 1506.
- the RFID tag ICs include read and/or write memory devices and may contain identity
- information about the cards are presented to the users, preferably in both visual and audio form.
- the information provided to the users may be those directly contained in the tag ICs of the cards themselves or may be provided as part of the program contained in the microcontroller.
- the program may also contain other instructions such as role-playing game instructions enabling the characters l represented by the cards to compete in duels and in car races, embark in adventure concerns, and other play- pattern activities and functions .
- Play objects in this scenario thus may be purchased from various vendors and locations .
- a user may use any combination of
- a board game 1600 (Fig. 16) is yet another embodiment of the invention. This board game may have one to four players, or more, depending on the game rules programmed
- Each player has his or her own set of coins or tokens — each containing a read only or read/write RFID tag IC (play objects) .
- the objective is to remove other coins off the game board or table .
- the board game is usually placed on a table.
- the board game 1600 generally contains a microcontroller 1619, a speech/sound synthesizer 1620, a speaker 1622, an RFID reader/interrogator 1616, and an antenna 6 1624.
- a control program controlling the microcontroller is also available.
- An antenna is associated with each RFID reader/interrogator 1604. ll Variations on the number and placement of RFID readers 1604 may be implemented based on the play-pattern desired. For example, there could be more than four RFID readers on the board, a number of antennas are placed in the middle of the playfield 1610, and the like.
- 16 could also be four separate antennas, one located in each corner of the board. Each area may have a separate antenna, which can be multiplexed by a single interrogator. This way, the game can be played knowing which specific objects are in which specific location in
- An example of coins that may be used is specialized POKEMON® coins . These coins each contain an RFID tag IC and antenna. One of the play patterns involves having an audio response when a user puts a coin down or flips a
- the play pattern may also be such that within the
- each coin grows up and gets special powers l permanently. This can be done by reading and updating the RFID read/ rite tag ICs of appropriate coins .
- special powers may be added or increased if the experience points of the coin reach a certain predetermined value. This value is controlled by the game 6 program.
- the coins are updated with initial value, such as initial hit points, power points , and special points .
- initial value such as initial hit points, power points , and special points .
- hit points are decreased, for example, by ten points .
- the coin "faints" or loses.
- a board game 1700 (Fig. 17) has a number of RFID tag ICs 1722 placed within the board identifying locations, letters, shapes, pictures, symbols, depictions, animals, fruits, or
- the play pattern of this game is the placing of hand-held units, such as three-dimensional items or tokens 1704, 1702 over or near the printed pictures 1720 on the board 1730. This could be used as part of a guessing
- Each three-dimensional detector 1704, 1702 generally includes an RFID reader/interrogator 1712, an antenna 1714, a processor, a 6 program controlling the processor, and a speaker to project sound, speech, and sound effects.
- Each detector functions as a master unit such that placing or moving the item over a board location triggers the detector to respond with programmed sounds, music, and the like.
- An RFID tag IC 1722 and an antenna 1724 are present underneath each printed depiction to identify the location or the picture. This way, when the detector master units 1702, 1704 are placed on the game board, the detectors can respond by saying if the tokens are placed in the correct
- Variable play substance information such as the number of times a detector is placed properly on a picture, is written into the memory associated with the RFID tag IC
- the detectors move about the game board and can detect tags at certain locations , thus
- variable play substance information affecting game play, variable play substance information, points, sounds, visual presentation (if available) , and other play patterns of the game .
- the present invention has been described above in 26 terms of preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the invention can be conveyed. There are, however, many configurations , forms , play-pattern environments , rules and logic, and circuit designs for master/server/host toys and play objects, not specifically described herein but to 31 which the present invention is still applicable. l
- the foregoing illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example , not by way of limitatio .
- the RFID reader/interrogator and/or the RFID tag may come from other manufacturers , the play-patterns modified to accommodate different set of play-patterns or 6 game rules, the play objects are housed in different forms (e. g.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (5)
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AU2002350229A AU2002350229B2 (en) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-11-13 | Object recognition toys and games |
CA002463302A CA2463302A1 (en) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-11-13 | Object recognition toys and games |
JP2003545384A JP2005509501A (en) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-11-13 | Object recognition toy and game |
EP02786760A EP1453581A4 (en) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-11-13 | Object recognition toys and games |
US10/844,070 US20040214642A1 (en) | 2001-11-14 | 2004-05-12 | Object recognition toys and games |
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JP2005509501A (en) | 2005-04-14 |
EP1453581A4 (en) | 2007-07-11 |
CA2463302A1 (en) | 2003-05-30 |
AU2002350229A1 (en) | 2003-06-10 |
AU2002350229B2 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
EP1453581A1 (en) | 2004-09-08 |
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