CN112312981A - Modular toy construction system with interactive toy construction elements - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular toy construction system comprising: a plurality of interactive toy construction elements, each interactive toy construction element comprising a sensor and/or a function device operable to perform a user perceivable function; each interactive toy construction element further comprises a first communication circuit configured to wirelessly transmit a signal and wirelessly collect energy to operate the functional device and/or sensor.

Description

Modular toy construction system with interactive toy construction elements

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a modular toy construction system comprising one or more interactive toy construction elements.

Background

Toy construction systems have been known for decades. For many years, simple box-shaped building blocks have been supplemented with toy construction elements having a specific appearance or mechanical or electrical function to improve the play value of the system. Such functions include, for example, motors, switches, and lights, as well as programmable processors that accept input from sensors and can activate functional elements in response to received sensor input.

There is a self-contained function construction element having a function device adapted to perform a preconfigured function, an energy source for providing energy to the function device to perform the function, and a trigger responsive to an external triggering event to trigger the function device to perform the function. Generally, such known functional constructional elements are designed for manual activation of a mechanical trigger and provide only limited play values.

WO2007/137577 discloses a toy construction system comprising a functional element and a control element. The functional and control elements may be electrically interconnected by a system of wires and plugs, such that the functional elements receive electrical power and control signals from the control elements. Even if the system avoids the need to store electrical energy in the functional elements, it requires a level of abstract thinking and technical insight in order to correctly arrange the wiring and interconnect the construction elements in order to construct a functional toy model from such a system. Furthermore, the wires between the various elements limit the freedom of constructing the model from the free-form toy and may affect the visual appearance of the model.

WO2015/173246 discloses a toy construction system comprising a plurality of interactive toy construction elements, each comprising a coupling member configured for releasably interconnecting the interactive toy construction elements to each other. The system includes a functional construction element and an input construction element. Each input construction element comprises at least one subgroup of wireless transmitters for transmitting control signals to the functional construction elements. Each functional construction element includes: a function device adapted to perform a controllable function; a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless control signal; and a control circuit connected to the wireless receiver and the functional device and adapted to control the controllable function in response to the received control signal. Each interactive toy construction element comprises a user operable selector allowing a user to select one of a set of predetermined group identifiers. The interactive toy construction element further comprises a group indicator configured for outputting an indication indicative of the selected group identifier.

Although the need for wiring between interactive toy construction elements is avoided in the above described prior art systems, the interactive toy construction elements are relatively complex devices comprising user controllable selectors and indicators as well as a battery. Therefore, the interactive apparatus is relatively expensive to manufacture and difficult to reduce in size, thereby limiting the flexibility of freely designing toy construction models. In particular, when it is desired to add a plurality of functions to the toy construction model, the size and shape of the toy construction elements limits the freedom of designing the toy construction model.

It is generally desirable to provide a modular toy construction system that provides enhanced educational and/or gaming activities.

It is further desirable to provide a modular toy construction system that provides a high degree of flexibility in designing different toy construction models with rich functionality.

Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an interactive modular construction system that allows a user, in particular a child, to construct a plurality of interactive modular construction element models in a user-friendly, efficient yet flexible and reliable manner without detailed knowledge of the control structure, data communication and how to connect wires, conductors etc. correctly.

Various aspects of embodiments of toy construction systems disclosed herein address one or more of the above needs and/or other needs that exist in the art of toy construction systems.

Disclosure of Invention

Aspects of a modular toy construction system are disclosed herein. The modular toy construction system comprises a plurality of interactive toy construction elements, each interactive toy construction element comprising a sensor and/or a function device operable to perform a user perceivable function; each interactive toy construction element further comprises a first communication circuit configured to wirelessly transmit a signal and wirelessly collect energy to operate the functional device and/or sensor.

In some embodiments, the modular toy construction system further comprises at least one control toy construction element comprising a rechargeable energy storage device, processing circuitry, and second communication circuitry; the second communication circuit is configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of interactive toy construction elements and, optionally, to wirelessly transfer energy to the one or more interactive toy construction elements. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive sensor data from one or more interactive toy construction elements and to generate control signals for controlling user-perceivable functions of the one or more interactive toy construction elements.

The first and second communication circuits may be configured for contactless ultra-short distance communication, such as near field communication; and for contactless, e.g. inductive, energy transfer. Alternatively, the communication circuit may be configured for other forms of contactless energy transfer, for example based on ultrasound.

Here, the term contactless is intended to mean a transfer of data and/or energy from one device to another without conductive coupling, i.e. without the transfer of electrical energy by physical contact via a direct current conductive medium. It will be understood that the term contactless merely characterizes communication and power transfer and does not exclude that devices are physically connected to each other in other ways. In particular, two toy construction elements may be in physical contact with each other, for example mechanically interconnected with each other by means of their respective coupling members, while the communication and energy transmission between them is contactless, i.e. does not rely on physical contact as a carrier for transmitting energy or data.

The term ultra short range communication is intended to mean a communication technique for contactless, in particular wireless communication within a communication range of not more than 10cm, such as not more than 5cm, such as not more than 2 cm, such as not more than 1cm, such as less than 1 cm. Here and in the following, references to communication ranges refer to communication ranges under normal operating conditions and under normal operating environments (e.g. in a child's room).

In some embodiments, at least one of the interactive toy construction elements, for example each, is a passive interactive toy construction element, i.e. an interactive toy construction element that does not comprise its own battery or other energy storage. In contrast, the passive interactive toy construction element uses the energy received contactlessly via the first communication circuit at its sole power source to drive the functional device and the communication circuit. Thus, the passive interactive toy construction element is only operable to activate its functional device, whereas the passive interactive toy construction element is coupled to contactlessly receive energy from the control toy construction element. Thus, in the toy construction system only some of the toy construction elements, and in particular the control toy construction elements, comprise their own energy storage device, thus reducing the number of components that need their own energy storage device. This therefore reduces manufacturing costs, facilitates recycling and helps to extend the overall life of the system. In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the interactive toy construction elements, for example each, comprises its own energy storage device, for example its own battery. At least one, e.g. each, of the interactive toy construction elements may thus be a self-powered or energy-assisted passive toy construction element. The interactive toy construction element is operable to operate only when communicatively coupled to the control toy construction element, but includes its own energy storage device, such as its own battery.

The functional means may be any suitable means for performing a function, e.g. a function providing a user perceivable effect such as a visual and/or an auditory effect.

Examples of functional means may include any suitable mechanical and/or electrical means, arrangement and/or circuitry adapted to perform one or more mechanical and/or electrical functions.

Examples of mechanical functions that certain embodiments of the functional device described herein may perform include driving a rotatable output shaft, tightening a rope or chain that may draw an object up to a toy construction element, moving articulated parts of an interactive toy construction element, etc. The mechanical function may thus enable opening or closing of the door, ejecting objects, rotating the dial, moving the linear actuator, etc. This mechanical movement may be driven by an electric motor.

Examples of electronic functions that may be performed by certain embodiments of the functional apparatus described herein include emitting a constant or flashing light, activating a plurality of lights in a predetermined sequence, emitting an audible sound such as a beep, an alarm sound, an alarm bell, a siren sound, a voice message, music, a synthesized sound, a natural or simulated sound that simulates and/or stimulates gaming activity, playback of the sound, and/or other audio content, and the like.

Thus, the functional device may be selected from a motor, a light source (e.g. one or more LEDs) and a sound source (e.g. a speaker). In some embodiments, the plurality of interactive toy construction elements comprises:

-a first interactive toy construction element comprising a first type of functional device, such as a motor;

a second interactive toy construction element comprising a second type of functional device different from the first type of functional device, such as a light source or a sound source (e.g. for providing a different physical effect than the first functional device).

In general, a sensor may be any suitable device that is responsive to a predetermined sensor input (e.g., a physical quantity) and operable to generate a sensor signal that corresponds to, represents, and/or reflects the predetermined sensor input. One example of a sensor is a sound recording sensor for detecting the presence of sound. The sensor may be a relatively simple sensor, for example a sensor that simply records sound when the sound is above a predetermined level or threshold. Other examples of sensors may be more advanced, such as sensors for measuring the sound level of recorded sound.

The sensor may be selected from: position or rotation sensors (e.g., linear or rotary encoders), light detectors, and sound detectors (e.g., microphones). Other examples of sensors may be responsive to other sensor inputs, such as mechanical force, ultrasound, push, pull, rotation, tilt, human manipulation, touch, electrical signals, radio frequency signals, optical signals, visible light signals, infrared signals, magnetic signals, temperature, humidity, radiation, and the like. For example, other examples of sensors include proximity sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and the like. The sensor may be configured to provide a binary signal, for example indicating the presence or absence of an input. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor may be configured to generate a multi-level or even continuous signal indicative of a plurality of different inputs and/or indicative of an activation level or magnitude. Thus, the generated sensor signal may be indicative of an attribute of the received sensor input, such as a direction of rotation or tilt or a degree of a detected amount, such as a speed of rotation or movement, a force, a sound pressure, a light intensity, a tilt angle, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interactive toy construction elements comprises:

-a first interactive toy construction element comprising a first type of sensor, such as an encoder;

a second interactive toy construction element comprising a second type of sensor different from the first type of sensor, such as a light sensor or a sound sensor (e.g. for sensing a physical quantity different from the first sensor).

In some embodiments, at least one of the interactive toy construction elements comprises a function device configured to perform a user perceivable function, which is perceivable as a first physical quantity. The interactive toy construction element may further comprise a sensor operable to sense said first physical quantity. For example, the interactive toy construction element may comprise:

-a motor and an encoder, or

A light source and a light detector, or

-a sound source and a sound detector.

In general, in some embodiments, each interactive toy construction element may comprise a single functional device and/or a single sensor. Thus, the functionality of each interactive toy construction system is easily understood by the user and may be combined in a modular manner.

Embodiments of the toy construction system may comprise different types of interactive toy construction elements, in particular a plurality of interactive toy construction elements with respective sensors and/or respective functional devices.

Each interactive toy construction element may comprise a housing. A functional device and/or a sensor is housed within the housing, and a first communication circuit is housed within the housing. The housing may be box-shaped, for example in the form of a relatively flat plate-like box, for example a square or rectangular plate. The housing may define a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. At least some of the coupling members may extend from the top surface. The housing may also include one or more side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces. In some embodiments, all interactive toy construction elements are configured to be interchangeably and detachably connected to other toy construction elements of the toy construction system. In particular, the interactive toy construction elements may all have the same size and shape and corresponding coupling members, at least to the extent that they may be interchangeably connected within the toy construction model, thereby selectively replacing each other at any given position of the toy construction model to which at least one interactive toy construction element may be attached.

Similarly, the control toy construction element may comprise a housing; an energy storage device, a processing unit, and a second communication circuit may be housed within the housing. The housing may be box-shaped as described in connection with the interactive toy construction element. The housing may comprise one or more coupling members, also as described in connection with the interactive toy construction element. In some embodiments, the control toy construction elements have the same shape and size as the interactive toy construction elements, at least to the extent that they may be interchangeably connected within the toy construction model, thereby selectively replacing each other at any given position of the toy construction model.

Each interactive toy construction element and/or each control toy construction element may comprise one or more coupling members for detachably attaching the interactive toy construction element or the control toy construction element to other toy construction elements of the toy construction system, e.g. one or more other interactive toy construction elements and/or one or more other control toy construction elements and/or one or more non-interactive and non-control toy construction elements of the toy construction system, i.e. the toy construction elements do not comprise a function device, a sensor or a processing unit. Thus, the toy construction system may comprise a plurality of toy construction elements, a plurality of toy construction elements comprising a plurality of interactive toy construction elements, one or more control toy construction elements and one or more other toy construction elements, in particular non-interactive and non-control toy construction elements, such as conventional toy construction elements, e.g. consisting of molded plastic elements without any electronic components.

Typically, each toy construction element, in particular each interactive toy construction element and/or each control toy construction element of the toy construction system, comprises a coupling member for detachably interconnecting the toy construction elements with each other to create a coherent spatial structure (also referred to as toy construction model). Thus, toy construction elements that have been interconnected with each other by means of the coupling member may be separated from each other again, so that they may be interconnected with each other again, or with other toy construction elements of the system, for example to form different spatial structures. In some embodiments, the toy construction element is provided with coupling members of a first and a second type, such as coupling pegs and peg receiving recesses for frictional engagement pegs, or other pairs of mating or complementary coupling members configured to engage with each other to form a physical connection. One type of coupling member may be located at one side of the toy construction element, e.g. the top side, and another complementary type of coupling member may be located at the opposite side of the toy construction element, e.g. the bottom side. In some embodiments, the toy construction element comprises a peg extending from a top surface of the toy construction element and a corresponding peg receiving cavity extending into a bottom surface of the toy construction element to frictionally engage the peg with a suitable clamping force. The coupling members may be positioned on grid points of a regular grid; in particular, the coupling members of the toy construction elements may be arranged such that the coupling members of a set of interconnected toy construction elements are positioned on grid points of a three-dimensional regular grid. The dimensions of the toy construction elements may be defined as integer multiples of a unit length defined by a regular grid. It will be understood that a three-dimensional grid may be defined by a single unit length, two unit lengths, e.g. one unit length applies to two spatial dimensions and another unit length to a third spatial dimension. Alternatively, the three-dimensional grid may define three unit lengths, one for each spatial length.

When the coupling members are detachably interconnectable, the user may deconstruct a previously built space structure and reuse the toy construction elements in order to build a new space structure. For example, the toy construction elements may be interconnected to each other by traction/friction or by an interlocking connection. The toy construction elements may be configured such that two toy construction elements may be connected to the toy construction model such that the respective faces of the toy construction elements are opposite or at least immediately adjacent to each other and facing each other. To this end, two toy construction elements may be interconnected directly to each other by their respective coupling members, or they may both be interconnected to a part of a toy construction model, each directly adjacent to each other.

Embodiments of the toy construction system described herein provide a distributed control system in which the functional devices and sensors are provided in interactive toy construction elements that may be separate from the control toy construction elements comprising the control electronics and the power storage device. The system also provides contactless communication and energy transfer between different types of toy construction elements. Thus, the individual toy construction elements can be made compact and relatively inexpensive. Furthermore, in this way a wide variety of functional interactions may be created with only relatively few different types of toy construction elements. The compactness and modularity further increase the flexibility in that the interactive toy construction elements and the control toy construction elements can be incorporated into even relatively small toy construction models. In some embodiments, the height of the interactive toy construction element and/or the housing of the control toy construction element (excluding the protruding coupling members) is between 3mm and 10mm, for example between 3.2mm and 9.6mm, for example 3.2mm or 6.4 mm or 9.6 mm. The length and width of the housing may each be between 5mm and 35mm, for example between 8mm and 32mm, for example 8mm, 16mm, 24mm or 32 mm. For example, the transverse dimension may be 16mm x 16mm or 16mm x 24mm or 16mm x 32 mm. However, it will be appreciated that other dimensions may also be selected.

The control toy construction element may comprise an energy receiving circuit for charging the energy storage device. In some embodiments, the energy receiving circuit is configured to receive energy wirelessly, for example by harvesting energy from an electromagnetic field, for example from an RF communication signal. The control toy construction element may comprise a third communication circuit (e.g. integrated into or separate from the second communication circuit) operable for short range wireless communication, e.g. short range RF communication, e.g. by bluetooth, Wifi or similar suitable short range communication technology.

Here, the term short-range communication is intended to mean a communication technology having a larger communication range than ultra-short-range communication, for example a communication range of more than 10cm, for example more than 50cm, for example more than 1 m. The communication range of the short-range communication may be no more than 100m, such as no more than 10m, such as no more than 5 m. In most cases, a communication range of less than 10m, and in most cases even less than 5m, is sufficient, even though longer ranges may be acceptable, or even desirable, in some embodiments.

The control toy construction element may be configured to detect the presence of one or more other control toy construction elements in the vicinity of the control toy construction element, e.g. within a communication range and/or within a predetermined range. In some embodiments, the control toy construction element may even be configured to detect a distance to one or more other detected control toy construction elements, e.g. based on signal strength of short-range communication, based on proximity sensors, etc.

The control toy construction element may be manufactured in a default behavior, e.g. with default executable instructions stored by and executable by the processing unit. To this end, the processing unit may comprise or be coupled to a suitable data storage device, such as a suitable memory. The default executable instructions may define a set of predetermined rules for creating control signals in response to received sensor signals and/or other data inputs. For example, the set of rules may represent control signals created and forwarded to one or more interactive toy construction elements depending on various conditions and parameters. The conditions and parameters may for example be selected from:

-the type of interactive toy construction element detected as being in contactless communication with the control toy construction element,

sensor type receiving sensor signals therefrom

-the type of the available functional device,

-a specific sensor input to be used for the operation,

-detected proximity of one or more other control toy construction elements,

-a detected physical topology of an interactive toy construction element in contactless communication with a controlling toy construction element,

-and so on.

In some embodiments, one or more of the control toy construction elements are operable to be programmed or configured by a user, for example by receiving program data and/or configuration parameters. Thus, the user may be able to modify the behavior of the control toy construction element.

The control toy construction element may be operable to receive program data and/or configuration parameters from a computer or from another external electronic device. The external electronic device may be, for example, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a laptop computer, or other programmable computing device. To this end, the third communication circuit is operable to provide a wireless communication interface for communicating program data and/or configuration parameters with one or more external electronic devices via a wireless communication protocol.

Other examples of external electronic devices include RFID tags or other data storage devices. For example, the control toy construction element is operable to read out such data storage means in a contactless manner via the second communication circuit.

In some embodiments, when the control toy construction element and the set of one or more interactive toy construction elements are directly or indirectly optionally interconnected with other toy construction elements of the toy construction system to form a toy construction model, the processing unit controlling the toy construction elements is configured to determine the physical topology of the set of interactive toy construction elements in the toy construction model from data received from the set of interactive toy construction elements. The physical topology may represent the physical arrangement of the interactive toy construction elements with respect to the control toy construction elements.

To this end, the control toy construction elements and the interactive toy construction elements of the set may be configured to form a network of communication nodes, and the processing unit may be configured to determine a network topology of the network. Furthermore, the toy construction system may be configured to impose structural rules for physically interconnecting toy construction elements of the toy construction system. Furthermore, ultra short distance communication between the control toy construction and the interactive toy construction elements imposes further physical constraints on the position of the control and interactive toy construction elements relative to each other. Hence, in some embodiments, the processing unit is operable to determine the physical topology of the interactive toy construction elements in the set from the determined network topology.

For example, the control toy construction element and the set of interactive toy construction elements may be stacked along at least a first direction such that the control toy construction element and the set of interactive toy construction elements form a linear sequence of nodes, e.g. starting with the control toy construction element as a root node. The second communication circuit of the control toy construction element and the first communication circuit of the corresponding interactive toy construction element, respectively, may be configured to communicate only along said sequence with its nearest neighbors. Furthermore, each interactive toy construction element in the sequence is operable to receive information about a downstream interactive toy construction element in the sequence from its respective downstream nearest neighbour and to communicate the received information along the sequence towards the control toy construction element to its upstream nearest neighbour. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the control toy construction elements may form the roots of a plurality of sequences of nodes, e.g. extending in different directions. In further embodiments, the controlling toy construction elements may form a root node of a more complex network structure, such as a tree structure, wherein the interactive toy construction elements form respective nodes of the network structure and are operable to pass information from node to node along links between nodes, such as between adjacent nodes. In these embodiments, the processing unit controlling the toy construction elements may determine the network structure, including the position of the individual interactive toy construction elements within the network. When the communication circuits of the control toy construction elements and the interactive toy construction elements employ near field communication, the range of which is limited to physically adjacent interactive toy construction elements or control toy construction elements, the processing unit of the control toy construction elements may determine the physical topology of the interactive toy construction elements from the determined network topology. It will be appreciated that determining the physical topology from the determined network topology may also be performed when other forms of communication are used, such as communication between electrical (galvanic) contacts between adjacent toy construction elements. When the interactive toy construction elements and the control toy construction elements are part of consecutive toy construction models constructed from toy construction elements of a toy construction system, the relative positions and/or orientations between the interconnected toy construction elements follow the construction rules of the toy construction system, thus allowing the processing unit to determine an accurate model of the physical topology of the interactive toy construction elements in communication therewith.

This may be useful for allowing the processing unit to control the interactive toy construction elements of the model to provide a desired model behaviour. For example, when the model is a vehicle having a plurality of interactive toy construction elements including respective motors, each driving a respective wheel of the vehicle, the processing unit controlling the toy construction elements may determine the relative positions and orientations of the motors, thereby ensuring coordinated operation of the motors to propel the vehicle.

In some embodiments, at least two of the interactive toy construction elements are configured such that their respective functional devices interact with each other when the interactive toy construction elements are interconnected with each other in a predetermined manner, e.g. stacked on each other or interconnected by their respective coupling members. The individual functional means may, for example, interact to provide a common function, for example, in intensity, amplitude or other size or complexity that is greater than the respective size of the function provided by the individual functional means. For example, two interactive toy construction elements may each comprise a motor for applying a torque to a shaft. When two interactive toy construction elements are in a predetermined manner on top of each other, for example stacked on top of each other, so that their respective motors can interact with a common shaft, they can together exert a greater torque onto the common shaft. Similarly, two interactive toy construction elements each comprising a light source may interact to provide a higher light intensity and/or a more complex light effect; similarly, however, two interactive toy construction elements each comprising a sound source may interact to provide a higher sound pressure and/or a more complex sound effect. Thus, the interconnected toy construction elements are operable to complement each other's functions, e.g. under control of the controlling toy construction element, where the physical topology has been detected, i.e. the two interactive toy construction elements are interconnected with each other.

As mentioned above, the processing unit controlling the toy construction elements may be pre-programmed to exhibit a predetermined behavior, e.g. by selecting what functions should be performed in response to what sensor inputs are received, depending on what interactive toy construction elements are detected, etc. Thus, the interactive toy construction element may be controlled to exhibit relatively complex behaviour without requiring the user to have advanced technical or programming skills. In some embodiments, the processing unit may alternatively or additionally be user programmable, for example via a wireless communication link.

In some embodiments, the processing unit is operable to implement a learning mode, wherein the processing unit is operable to infer one or more expected functions from one or more sensor inputs. During such a learning mode, the processing unit may detect user interactions with the toy construction model, such as light displayed on the model, sound, movements/forces exerted on the model, etc., based on sensor signals received from the respective interactive toy construction elements of the toy construction model. The processing unit may then infer a corresponding action, such as the output of light and/or sound and/or the activation of one or more motors in response to the received sensor data. For example, the processing unit may be configured to mirror or match physical interactions, such as by mirroring the detected tempo or frequency of the clapping sound or flashing, by activating the motor in response to a pushing force, and the like.

Thus, a simple way of adding functionality to a modular toy construction system or model and controlling such functionality is provided. One or more interactive toy construction elements are only added or used in the system or model.

In some embodiments, the data communication via the first communication circuit is the only input device of the interactive toy construction element, except for the optional sensor, i.e. the interactive toy construction element does not comprise any buttons, displays, switches or other user interfaces. Similarly, in some embodiments, the data communication via the second and optionally third communication circuit is the only input means for controlling the toy construction element, i.e. the control toy construction element does not comprise any buttons, displays, switches or other user interfaces. Thus, the size and manufacturing costs of the interactive toy construction element and/or the control toy construction element may be kept small, while still allowing rich interaction of the user with the system of control and interactive toy construction elements.

The arrangement of the individual sensors and/or functional devices in separate housings provides an intuitive use even for small children, since the sensors and functional devices and their functional relationships are easily understood intuitively.

In some embodiments, one or more control toy construction elements comprise sensors and/or functional devices, e.g. as described in connection with embodiments of the interactive toy construction element.

In some embodiments, the modular toy construction system includes one or more additional electronic toys, such as dolls or dolls. The additional electronic toy may comprise a rechargeable energy storage device, a processing unit and a communication circuit operable for short range wireless communication, e.g. short range RF communication, e.g. via bluetooth, Wifi or similar suitable communication technology, with one or more control toy construction elements or interactive toy construction elements. Additional electronic toys can be toy construction elements that include the coupling members disclosed herein. The additional electronic toy may further comprise one or more functional devices, such as a motor and/or a light source and/or a sound source. Alternatively or additionally, the additional electronic toy may further comprise one or more sensors, such as encoders and/or light sensors and/or sound sensors and/or accelerometers, etc.

The first additional electronic toy and/or the first control toy construction element may be configured to detect proximity to one or more other control toy construction elements and/or additional electronic toys. In some embodiments, the first additional electronic toy and/or the first control toy construction element may be operable to determine a distance to one or more other control toy construction elements and/or additional electronic toys. The detected distance may be absolute or relative, e.g. with respect to another control toy construction element or an additional electronic toy or with respect to a previous position of the detected control toy construction element or additional electronic toy. In particular, the first control toy building element and/or the first additional electronic toy may detect when the further control toy building element or the additional electronic toy is close to the first control toy building element and/or the first additional electronic toy, when the further control toy building element or the additional electronic toy is closer to the first control toy building element and/or the first additional electronic toy than a certain threshold distance. Alternatively or additionally, the first control toy construction element and/or the first additional electronic toy may detect which of a set of other control toy construction elements and/or additional electronic toys is closest to the first control toy construction element or the first additional electronic toy. Thus, a first control toy construction element may control one or more interactive toy construction elements communicatively coupled to the first control toy construction element to perform a function in response to a detected proximity to one or more other control toy construction elements and/or additional electronic toys. Similarly, an additional electronic toy may perform a function in response to a detected proximity and/or wirelessly communicate the detected proximity to another additional electronic toy or control toy construction element. Thus, the toy construction model may comprise two or more control toy construction elements, e.g. communicatively coupled to a respective one or more interactive toy construction elements. The control toy construction elements may be positioned at any location within the model, not necessarily in close proximity, e.g. not necessarily adjacent to each other or even in direct physical contact with each other, and outside the scope of ultra-short communication. Two or more control toy construction elements are still able to detect each other and/or communicate with each other via short-range wireless communication. Thus, the controlling toy construction elements are aware of each other. Furthermore, since each control toy construction element is communicatively coupled to one or more interactive toy construction elements by ultra short range communication, each control toy construction element is aware of the interactive toy construction element directly coupled thereto. Furthermore, the controlling toy construction elements may even exchange information about the individual interactive toy construction elements to which they are each communicatively coupled, thereby allowing coordinated behaviour/functionality of the interactive toy construction elements over the entire model. Thus, embodiments of the toy construction system described herein provide a simple, inexpensive, yet powerful and flexible architecture for creating an interactive self-perception model. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the controlling toy construction elements of one toy construction model may even communicate wirelessly with the controlling toy construction elements of another model, thereby providing interaction between the models and allowing the models to know the game scenario in which they are a part.

In some embodiments, the additional electronic toy may comprise a camera or other image capturing device and be configured to capture one or more images of a game scene comprising one or more interactive toy construction elements and/or control toy construction elements. In some embodiments, the additional electronic toy may be configured to process the captured one or more images in order to detect one or more aspects of the game scene. For example, these aspects of the game scenario that may be detected by the additional electronic toy may include the relative proximity between the detected interactive toy construction elements and/or control toy construction elements, the visible functions performed by one or more interactive toy construction elements, the recognition of one or more toy construction models or other electronic toys, etc.

According to some embodiments, a toy construction system comprises one or more relay toy construction elements comprising:

-a first communication circuit configured to wirelessly communicate signals and wirelessly collect energy;

-a second communication circuit; the second communication circuit is configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of interactive toy construction elements and to wirelessly transmit the collected energy to the one or more interactive toy construction elements.

The first and second communication circuits of the relay toy construction element may be separate circuits operatively coupled to each other, or they may be integrated into a single communication circuit, or at least share one or more components. The relay toy construction element may be a passive element as described in connection with the interactive toy construction element or an energy assisted toy construction element. However, relay toy construction elements differ from interactive toy construction elements in that they do not comprise sensors or functional devices. Instead, the relay toy construction element relays communication signals and energy only between the interactive toy construction elements or between the control toy construction element and the interactive toy construction element.

In some embodiments, the interactive toy construction element further comprises a second communication circuit configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of interactive toy construction elements and to wirelessly forward the collected energy to the one or more interactive toy construction elements. The first and second communication circuits of the interactive toy construction element may be separate circuits operatively coupled to each other, or they may be integrated into a single communication circuit or at least share one or more components.

Drawings

Fig. 1-3 show examples of interactive toy construction elements.

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of an example of an interactive toy construction element.

Fig. 5A-B show examples of controlling toy construction elements.

Fig. 6A-C show examples of relay toy construction elements.

Figures 7A-D illustrate examples of toy construction models constructed from toy construction systems as described herein.

Fig. 8 shows another example of a toy construction system.

Fig. 9 shows an example of a mechanism for transmitting data, such as configuration parameters and/or a computer program, to a controlling toy construction element.

Fig. 10 schematically shows another example of a toy construction model constructed from toy construction elements as described herein.

Fig. 11-15 illustrate examples of uses of a toy construction system as described herein.

Detailed Description

Various aspects and embodiments of a modular toy construction system comprising a plurality of interactive toy construction elements and one or more control toy construction elements will now be described with reference to toy construction elements in the form of bricks. In this particular and corresponding embodiment, the interactive toy construction element and the control toy construction element each have a housing which is generally shaped as an orthogonal polyhedron with flat sides and has a coupling member extending from its upper surface and a cavity extending to its bottom surface. However, other shapes and sizes of interactive toy construction elements may be used, such as box-shaped or brick-shaped toy construction elements with different sizes and different numbers of coupling members. Moreover, although a brick shape has proven particularly useful, the invention may be applied to other forms of toy construction elements used in gaming applications, educational applications, and the like.

Fig. 1 shows an example of an interactive toy construction element, generally designated 100. In particular, the interactive toy construction element comprises a substantially box-shaped housing 101 with coupling pegs 104 extending from its top surface and with a cavity extending from the bottom into the element. The cavity is defined by a sidewall 102 and a central downwardly extending tube 103. The coupling peg of another toy construction element may be accommodated in the cavity in a frictionally engaged manner as disclosed in US 3005282. The construction elements shown in the remaining figures have coupling members of this known type in the form of cooperating pegs and cavities. However, other types of coupling members may be used in addition to or instead of the peg and cavity. The coupling studs are arranged across the top surface in a square planar grid, i.e. defining orthogonal directions along which the sequence of coupling studs is arranged. The distance between adjacent coupling studs is uniform and equal in both directions. This or a similar arrangement of the coupling members at the coupling positions defining a regular planar grid allows the toy construction elements to be interconnected in a discrete number of positions and orientations relative to each other, in particular at right angles to each other. Thus, in the constructed model, the coupling members of the plurality of toy construction elements may be located on grid points of a three-dimensional grid defined with respect to the toy construction model.

In some embodiments, the toy construction elements are made of a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic polymer or other suitable material. The toy construction element may be manufactured, for example, by an injection molding process or other suitable manufacturing process.

The interactive toy construction element 100 comprises a sensor in the form of a microphone 106 and a functional device in the form of a loudspeaker 105 or other sound source, which are both accommodated in a housing 101 of the interactive toy construction element. As will be described in more detail below, other examples of interactive toy construction elements may comprise another type of sensor and/or another type of functional device.

For example, fig. 2 shows another example of an interactive toy construction element similar to the interactive toy construction element of fig. 1, generally designated 200. However, the interactive toy construction element of fig. 2 comprises a light sensor 206 instead of a microphone and an LED or other suitable light source 205 instead of a speaker.

Likewise, fig. 3 shows a further example of an interactive toy construction element similar to the interactive toy construction element of fig. 1, generally indicated at 300. However, the interactive toy construction element of fig. 3 includes a tubular bore 315 extending through the housing and configured to receive a shaft, such as a shaft having a suitable cross-section, such as a cruciform cross-section. Interactive toy construction element 300 includes a motor for applying torque to a shaft extending into a bore and a rotary encoder configured to detect an angular position of the shaft. The motor and encoder are housed within a housing 101 and are not visible in fig. 3.

The interactive toy construction elements of fig. 1-3 are similar in construction. They all have the same overall shape and therefore can be interchangeably inserted into the toy construction model and easily attached to each other. They also each comprise a sensor, a functional device, a communication circuit and a first and a second inductive element, as will be described in more detail with reference to fig. 4. The interactive toy construction elements of fig. 1-3 differ only in the type of sensors and functional devices they comprise. However, it should be understood that other embodiments of the toy construction system may comprise interactive toy construction elements of different shapes or sizes, for example in order to accommodate specific sensors of the functional device and/or to make it easier for the user to distinguish between them.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an example of an interactive toy construction element, such as one of the interactive toy construction elements shown in fig. 1-3, generally indicated at 400.

The interactive toy construction element comprises a housing 101 defining a top surface provided with coupling members 104 as described above. The interactive toy construction element further comprises a communication circuit 409, a first inductive element 407 and a second inductive element 408, a sensor 406 and a function device 405, which are accommodated within the housing 101.

The first and second inductive elements may comprise respective loops or coils of conductive wire, tape, or the like. In the example of fig. 4, the first inductive element 407 is arranged close to the bottom surface of the toy construction element and substantially defines a plane parallel to the bottom surface. Similarly, the second inductive element 408 is arranged close to the top face of the toy construction element and substantially defines a plane parallel to the top face. In this way, when another interactive toy construction element, control toy construction element or relay toy construction element is in close proximity to the housing 101, in particular when another interactive toy construction element, control toy construction element or relay toy construction element is attached to the housing 101 by a respective coupling member, the first inductive element may provide inductive coupling with a respective second inductive element of the other interactive toy construction element, control toy construction element or relay toy construction element, as described herein. Thus, the interactive toy construction element may communicate with and collect energy from said another interactive toy construction element, control toy construction element or relay toy construction element.

Similarly, the second inductive element 408 may provide inductive coupling with a corresponding first inductive element of another interactive toy construction element, a control toy construction element or a relay toy construction element to communicate and allow the other interactive toy construction element, the control toy construction element or the relay toy construction element to collect energy from the second inductive element 408.

The communication via the respective inductive couplings may use any suitable communication technology for ultra short distance communication, such as near field communication. Energy harvesting may use any suitable mechanism for contactless inductive energy transfer between inductive elements. Communication and energy transfer are controlled by communication circuitry 409.

Thus, the interactive toy construction element may receive electrical energy via the inductive element 407 to power the communication circuitry 409, the sensor 406 and the functional device 405. Furthermore, the interactive toy construction element may receive control signals and control the functional device in response to the received control signals. In particular, the control signal may represent an on/off signal and/or other operating parameters of the functional device. For example, when the functional device is a motor, the control signal may represent the direction and/or speed of rotation. Similarly, when the functional device is a speaker, the control signal may indicate the volume and/or audio content to be played; when the functional device is a light source, the control signal may represent the brightness and/or color of the light to be emitted.

The communication may be a two-way communication in order to allow the interactive toy construction element to communicate its identity and/or operational characteristics, e.g. by communicating a unique identifier and/or an identifier identifying the type of interactive toy construction element, e.g. whether it comprises a motor, a light source, a loudspeaker, etc. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the interactive toy construction element may transmit a sensor signal representing the quantity sensed by the sensor 406. Furthermore, the interactive toy construction elements may transmit identifiers identifying other interactive toy construction elements of a chain or network of interconnected interactive toy construction elements, as described below. To this end, the communication circuit may comprise a memory for storing the ID of an interactive toy construction element and/or an identifier received from a neighboring interactive toy construction element.

The interactive toy construction element may further forward control signals received via one of the inductive elements to the other inductive element. Similarly, the interactive toy construction element may inductively transmit via the other inductive element electrical energy that the interactive toy construction element has received by one of the inductive elements.

Data communication and/or energy transfer via the inductive elements is controlled by communication circuitry 409. The communication circuitry may perform related functions for implementing an appropriate communication protocol, such as encoding/decoding of data, message arbitration, error correction, and the like. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the interactive toy construction elements may comprise separate communication circuits associated with each inductive element. Further, the communication circuitry may control the operation of the functional device and/or the sensor, or at least receive sensor signals from the sensor and forward control signals to the functional device. Alternatively, the interactive toy construction element may comprise a separate control circuit communicatively coupled to the communication circuit 409.

It will be appreciated that several modifications may be made to the interactive toy construction element of figure 4. For example, some embodiments of the interactive toy construction element may comprise only a single inductive element, which may be used for collecting and forwarding electrical energy as well as for upstream and downstream communication. Yet another alternative embodiment of the interactive toy construction element may receive only electrical energy without being able to relay it inductively to another toy construction element. Still further, some embodiments of the interactive toy construction element may comprise one or more inductive elements near one or more sides of the interactive toy construction element in order to allow communication and/or energy transfer on said side. Such sensing elements may be provided in addition to or instead of sensing elements adjacent the top and bottom surfaces. Still further, some interactive toy construction elements may comprise only functional means, without sensors, and vice versa.

The sensor may be a light sensor, a sound sensor, a rotary encoder, a proximity sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or any other suitable sensor.

The functional device may be a light source such as a LED, a speaker, a motor and/or another functional device operable to perform a user perceivable function.

Fig. 5A-B illustrate an example of a control toy construction element, generally designated 500. In particular, fig. 5A shows a view of a control toy construction element, while fig. 5B shows a schematic block diagram of a control toy construction element. The control toy construction element comprises a housing 101 with coupling members 103 and 104 as described in connection with fig. 1.

Furthermore, the controlling toy construction element comprises a processing unit 511, a first and a second communication circuit 517 and 518, respectively, a first and a second inductive element 507 and 508, respectively, an energy storage device 514, a wireless communication circuit 512 and an antenna 513, which are accommodated in the housing.

The processing unit 511 may, for example, comprise one or more microcontrollers, one or more microprocessors, and/or one or more other suitable processing units, or a combination thereof.

The energy storage device 514 may be a rechargeable energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery, a rechargeable capacitor, or the like. The energy storage device 514 is configured to provide electrical energy to other components controlling the toy construction element, including energy to be inductively transmitted to other toy construction elements via the inductive elements 507 and 508.

The first and second inductive elements 507 and 508 may each comprise a respective loop or coil of conductive wire, tape, or the like. In the example of fig. 5, the first inductive element 507 is arranged close to the bottom surface of the toy construction element and substantially defines a plane parallel to the bottom surface. Similarly, the second inductive element 508 is arranged close to the top surface of the toy construction element and substantially defines a plane parallel to the top surface. In this way, when the interactive toy construction element or relay toy construction element is in close proximity to the housing 101, in particular when the interactive toy construction element or relay toy construction element is attached to the housing 101 by a respective coupling member, the first inductive element may provide inductive coupling with a respective second inductive element of the interactive toy construction element or relay toy construction element, as described herein. Thus, the control toy construction element may communicate with and inductively provide energy to said interactive toy construction element or relay toy construction element.

Similarly, the second inductive element 408 may provide inductive coupling with a corresponding first inductive element of the interactive toy construction element or the relay toy construction element for communication and for inductively transferring electrical energy to the interactive toy construction element or the relay toy construction element.

As described in connection with the interactive toy construction element of fig. 4, the communication via the respective inductive couplings may use any suitable communication technology for ultra short distance communication, such as near field communication. Energy harvesting may use any suitable mechanism for contactless inductive energy transfer between inductive elements.

Thus, the controlling toy construction element may provide electrical energy to other toy construction elements via the inductive element 507 or via the inductive element 508. Furthermore, the control toy construction element may transmit control signals to an interactive toy construction element directly or indirectly inductively coupled to the control toy construction element to control the functional device of such an interactive toy construction element.

The control toy construction element may also receive signals from such inductively coupled interactive toy construction elements, e.g. signals representing the identity and/or operational characteristics of such interactive toy construction elements and/or sensor data representing the sensed quantities of the sensors of the interactive toy construction elements.

Data communication and/or energy transfer through the inductive elements is controlled by respective communication circuits 517 and 518, respectively. The communication circuitry may perform related functions for implementing an appropriate communication protocol, such as encoding/decoding of data, message arbitration, error correction, and so forth. It should be understood that in some embodiments, communication circuits 517 and 518 may be integrated into a single circuit.

The control toy construction element further comprises a wireless communication circuit 512 and an antenna 513 coupled thereto. The communication circuit 512 may for example comprise a communication transceiver or the like connected to the processing unit 511 and operable for short range radio frequency communication with other controlling toy construction elements and/or with one or more other electronic devices, for example with one or more additional electronic toys. Short-range radio frequency communication may be achieved using bluetooth technology or another suitable communication technology such as Wifi. Wireless communication circuitry 512 may also be operable to harvest energy from electromagnetic fields in the environment in which the toy construction elements are controlled (e.g., RF electromagnetic fields for communication). The harvested energy may be used to charge the rechargeable energy storage device 514. Alternatively or additionally, the control toy construction element may be operable to be charged in different ways, e.g. via one of the inductive elements, via a wired connector, etc.

The processing unit 511 is configured (e.g. by a suitable program executed on the processing unit) to control the communication circuitry and to process data received from the interactive toy construction elements, other control toy construction elements and/or control toy construction elements via the communication circuitry 517 and 518 and/or via additional electronic toys or other external processing devices communicatively coupled via the wireless communication circuitry 512. The processing unit also creates control data and/or other data to be sent to the interactive toy construction elements, the other control toy construction elements and/or the additional electronic toys to which the control toy construction elements are communicatively coupled via the communication circuits 517 and 518 and/or via the wireless communication circuit 512. These data may for example comprise control data for controlling the functional means of the interactive toy construction element.

In particular, the processing unit may execute a control process that determines control data responsive to the received sensor data and/or others responsive to other data. Furthermore, the processing unit may determine the physical topology of one or more interactive toy construction elements inductively coupled to the control toy construction element. Furthermore, the control toy construction element may communicate identification data, information about the determined physical topology and/or other information with other control toy construction elements and/or with one or more additional electronic toys.

The wireless communication circuit 512 is further operable to detect the signal strength of the received wireless communication signal to allow the processing unit 511 to determine at least an estimate of the relative distance to another controlling toy construction element or an additional electronic toy within the communication range of the wireless communication circuit. Alternatively or additionally, the processing unit may be configured to estimate the distance to another control toy construction element and/or other electronic toy in another way (or at least detect the presence of such a control toy construction element or other electronic toy in the vicinity of the control toy construction element 500).

It will be appreciated that several modifications may be made to the control toy construction element of figure 5. For example, some embodiments of control toy construction elements may include only a single inductive element. Furthermore, some embodiments of the control toy construction element may comprise one or more inductive elements near one or more sides of the control toy construction element to allow communication and/or energy transfer on said side. Such sensing elements may be provided in addition to or instead of sensing elements near the top and bottom surfaces. Furthermore, some control toy construction elements may also comprise functional devices and/or sensors.

Fig. 6A-B illustrate an example of a relay toy construction element, generally designated 600. In particular, fig. 6A shows a view of a relay toy construction element, while fig. 6B shows a schematic block diagram of a relay toy construction element. The relay toy construction element comprises a housing 101 having coupling members 103 and 104 as described in connection with fig. 1.

Further, the relay toy construction element comprises a first and a second inductive element 607 and 608, respectively, accommodated inside the housing.

The first and second inductive elements 607 and 608, respectively, may comprise respective loops or coils of conductive wire, tape, etc., and they may be arranged as described in connection with fig. 4. The inductive elements are optionally electrically connected to each other via suitable communication circuitry.

Thus, a relay toy construction element may receive electrical energy and/or communication signals via one of the inductive elements and forward (i.e. relay) the received energy and/or signals to another toy construction element via another inductive element. Thus, the control toy construction element may be inductively coupled with the interactive toy construction element via one or more relay toy construction elements, thereby allowing the interactive toy construction element and the control toy construction element to be spaced apart from each other, thereby increasing the flexibility of constructing the control structure.

As mentioned above, the interactive toy construction element may operate as a relay toy construction element in addition to performing a function by the functional device and/or sensing a physical quantity by the sensor.

It will be appreciated that several modifications may be made to the relay toy construction element of figure 6, for example in terms of the number and geometric arrangement of the sensing elements, for example as described in connection with the interactive toy construction element and/or the control toy construction element.

For example, FIG. 6C illustrates another example of a relay toy construction element having multiple inductive elements 607A-B and 608A-B for relaying power and communication signals along multiple paths, thereby allowing a user to construct more complex toy construction models.

Figures 7A-D illustrate examples of toy construction models constructed from toy construction systems as described herein. In particular, the toy construction model comprises one or more control toy construction elements, for example as described in connection with fig. 5A-B, one or more interactive toy construction elements, for example as described in connection with fig. 1-4, and optionally one or more relay toy construction elements, for example as described in connection with fig. 6A-C. Although not explicitly shown in fig. 7A-D for ease of illustration, it should be understood that examples of toy construction models may include other toy construction elements, including toy construction elements other than interactive, control and relay toy construction elements.

Fig. 7A schematically shows a toy construction model comprising a control toy construction element 500 and an interactive toy construction element 400 stacked on top of the control toy construction element such that the two elements are interconnected by their respective coupling members. The control toy construction element and the interactive toy construction element are inductively coupled via a first inductive element 407 of the interactive toy construction element and a second inductive element 508 of the control toy construction element. Thus, the controlling toy construction element may inductively forward a portion of the electrical energy stored in the energy storage device 514 to the interactive toy construction element 400 to drive the functional device 405 of the interactive toy construction device. Furthermore, the controlling toy construction element may receive sensor signals from the sensors 406 of the interactive toy construction element 400, process the received sensor signals in order to generate control signals, and forward the generated control signals to the interactive toy construction element in order to control the functional devices 405 of the interactive toy construction element 400.

Fig. 7B schematically shows another example of a toy construction model. The toy construction model comprises a control toy construction element 500, three interactive toy construction elements 400A-C and a relay toy construction element 600. The toy construction elements are stacked on top of each other such that adjacent elements are interconnected by their respective coupling members. The control toy construction element 500 is inductively coupled to the interactive toy construction element 400A as described in connection with fig. 47A.

Furthermore, the interactive toy construction element 400A and the interactive toy construction element 400B are inductively coupled via the first inductive element 407B of the interactive toy construction element 400B and the second inductive element 408A of the interactive toy construction element 400A. Thus, the interactive toy construction element 400A may forward electrical energy received from the control toy construction element 500 to the interactive toy construction element 400B. Furthermore, the interactive toy construction element 400A may relay sensor signals and control signals between the control toy construction element 500 and the interactive toy construction element 400B, i.e. the control toy construction element 500 is indirectly inductively coupled to the toy construction element 400B.

In a similar manner, the control toy construction element 500 is indirectly inductively coupled to the interactive toy construction 400C, i.e. via the relay toy construction element 600.

Thus, the control toy construction element 500 may supply electrical energy to each interactive toy construction element 400A-C and receive a sensor signal from each sensor 406A-C of the respective interactive toy construction element. Thus, the controlling toy construction element 500 may control the functional devices 405A-C of the various interactive toy construction elements based on the various received sensor signals. For example, the controlling toy construction element 500 may control the functional device 405B of the interactive toy construction element 400B in response to sensor signals received from the sensor 406C of the interactive toy construction element 400C. This allows relatively complex interactions using only a few simple toy construction elements.

The skilled person will understand that the control toy construction element 500 and the interactive toy construction elements 400A-C may implement a bus architecture to allow the control toy construction element 500 to logically address a selected one of the interactive toy construction elements. To this end, the interactive toy construction elements may each comprise an ID which it is configured to return when queried. The ID may then be transmitted along the stack to the controlling toy construction element, which may then establish a digital representation of the topology of the toy construction element stack, including information of the respective type of interactive toy construction element of the stack. It should be appreciated that some embodiments of the toy construction model may allow a user to construct more complex bus or network structures, for example using the relay toy construction elements shown in fig. 6C.

Fig. 7C schematically shows yet another example of a toy construction model. The toy construction model comprises two control toy construction elements 500A-B stacked on top of each other and two interactive toy construction elements 300A-B stacked on top of each other and on top of the control toy construction elements 500A-B.

In this example, interactive toy construction elements 300A-B each include a motor as described in connection with fig. 3.

As shown in fig. 5, the two control toy construction elements each comprise an energy storage device and a processing unit. Thus, the inclusion of two or more inductively coupled control toy construction elements in the model provides additional energy which may be used to drive various functional devices of the interactive toy construction elements inductively coupled to the control toy construction elements. Alternatively or additionally, the processing unit controlling the toy construction elements may implement a suitable load sharing procedure to allow for more complex control mechanisms. For example, controlling the toy construction elements may control respective subsets of inductively coupled interactive toy construction elements of the toy construction model.

Similarly, the inclusion of two or more inductively coupled interactive toy construction elements in the model allows the interactive toy construction elements to complement each other to perform a combined function. In the specific example of fig. 7C, the interactive toy construction elements each comprise a central hole for receiving the shaft 721, as described in connection with fig. 3. In the embodiment of fig. 7C, the holes of stacked interactive toy construction elements 300A-B are aligned with each other to allow a shaft to extend into both holes simultaneously. Thus, the motors of both interactive toy construction elements may operate to drive the shaft, allowing a larger torque to be applied to the shaft.

It should be understood that other types of interactive toy construction elements may provide other types of combined functionality. For example, two inductively coupled interactive toy construction elements comprising respective light sources may emit a higher light intensity and/or light of multiple colors, etc.

Further, the individual sensors of the inductively coupled interactive toy construction elements may complement each other to provide a combined sensor signal.

Figure 7D shows two separate toy construction models. The first toy construction model comprises a control toy construction element 500A and an interactive toy construction element 400A, which are mechanically and inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500A, for example as described in connection with fig. 7A.

The second toy construction model further comprises a control toy construction element 500B and an interactive toy construction element 400B, which are mechanically and inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500B.

The control toy construction elements 500A and 500B comprise respective wireless communication circuits for short-range communication, as described in connection with fig. 5A-B. This allows the control toy construction elements 500A-B to detect each other's presence and communicate with each other within the communication range of the short-range communication. Thus, the controlling toy construction elements 500A-B may exchange control signals and/or information relating to the respective interactive toy construction elements inductively coupled to them. The exchanged information may comprise the type and/or identity of the respective interactive toy construction elements and/or their operational status and/or sensor signals from their respective sensors. Thus, the processing unit controlling the toy construction element 500A may be configured to control the functional device of the interactive toy construction element 400A inductively coupled thereto in response to the detected presence of the controlling toy construction element 500B. The control may even be in response to information received from the controlling toy construction element 500B, e.g. in response to the type of interactive toy construction element 400B, its operating parameters, sensor signals received therefrom, etc. It should be understood that interactive toy construction elements 400A-B may be of the same type (e.g., they may all include motors) or may be of different types. Similarly, one or two control toy construction elements may be connected and inductively coupled to more than one interactive toy construction element. Furthermore, in some embodiments, more than two control toy construction elements may communicate wirelessly with each other.

Although the example of fig. 7D shows two physically separate, physically unconnected toy construction models, it will be appreciated that a single coherent toy construction model may also comprise a plurality of control toy construction elements that are not inductively coupled to each other, for example because they are connected to the model at two respective locations that are far apart to achieve inductive coupling. Thus, such wireless short-range communication between control toy construction elements allows for coordinated control of functions of different parts of a larger model, such as different wheels of a larger vehicle.

Controlling wireless communication between toy construction elements allows more complex game scenarios involving larger toy construction models and/or involving multiple individual models, since the functionality of different models or different parts of a larger model can be controlled in a coordinated manner. However, such coordinated control may be achieved by a distributed control scheme without the need for a large, bulky and expensive central controller.

Fig. 8 shows another example of a toy construction model comprising a control toy construction element 500 and an interactive toy construction element 400 physically attached and inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500, e.g. as described in connection with fig. 7A.

The wireless communication circuitry controlling the toy construction element 500 may be configured to establish wireless communication with one or more other remote electronic devices, such as a tablet computer 810, an electronic toy 820, or another processing device. Such wireless communication allows the remote electronic device to communicate with one or more control toy construction elements of the same or different individual toy construction models. The remote electronic device may thus receive information about the interactive toy construction element 400 inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500, including information about its type and/or sensor signals. The remote electronic device may display or otherwise represent the received information, such as by presenting digital content corresponding to the received information. Alternatively or additionally, the remote electronic device may be operable to control the operation of the control toy construction element 500 and the interactive toy construction element 400.

The remote electronic device may also be operable to provide a user interface to allow a user to interact with the control toy construction element and thus with the interactive toy construction element 400. The remote electronic device may also be operable to reprogram the control toy construction element 500 to define new behaviors of the toy construction model comprising the control toy construction element 500.

It will be appreciated that the control toy construction element 500 may be connected and inductively coupled to more than one interactive toy construction element. Also, in some embodiments, two or more control toy construction elements may be in wireless communication with a remote electronic device at the same time.

In the example of fig. 8, the control toy construction element 500 communicates with two remote electronic devices, namely a suitably programmed tablet computer 810 and an electronic toy 820.

The electronic toy 820 is in the form of a doll or doll that includes a processing unit 811 housed within the doll, an energy storage device 814, a wireless communication circuit 812, and an antenna 813.

The processing unit 811 may, for example, include one or more microcontrollers, one or more microprocessors, and/or one or more other suitable processing units, or a combination thereof.

The energy storage device 814 may be a rechargeable energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery, a rechargeable capacitor, or the like. Energy storage device 814 is configured to provide electrical energy to other components of the electronic toy.

The wireless communication circuit 812 may for example comprise a communication transceiver or the like connected to the processing unit 811 and operable for short range radio frequency communication with the control toy construction element and/or one or more other electronic devices or additional electronic toys. Short-range radio frequency communication may be achieved using bluetooth technology or another suitable communication technology such as Wifi. Wireless communication circuitry 812 may also be operable to harvest energy from electromagnetic fields in the environment in which the toy construction elements are controlled (e.g., RF electromagnetic fields for communication). The harvested energy may be used to charge the rechargeable energy storage device 514. Alternatively or additionally, the electronic toy may be operable to be charged in a different manner, e.g., inductively, through a wired connector, etc.

The processing unit 811 is configured (e.g. by a suitable program executing on the processing unit) to control the communication circuitry and to process data received from one or more control toy construction elements and/or from additional electronic toys or other external processing devices communicatively coupled with the electronic toy 820 via the wireless communication circuitry 812. The processing unit also creates control data and/or other data to send to one or more control toy construction elements and/or additional electronic toys communicatively coupled with the electronic toy 820 via the wireless communication circuit 812. These data may for example comprise control data for controlling the functional means of the interactive toy construction element.

In particular, the processing unit may execute a control process that determines control data responsive to the received sensor data and/or others responsive to other data. The wireless communication circuit may further be operable to detect a signal strength of the received wireless communication signal to allow the processing unit to at least determine an estimate of a relative distance to the control toy construction element or another electronic toy within a communication range of the wireless communication circuit. Alternatively or additionally, the processing unit may be configured to estimate the distance to the control toy construction element and/or the other electronic toy in another way (or at least detect the presence in the vicinity of the electronic toy 820). The processing unit may thus base the processing on such estimated distances. In some embodiments, electronic toy 820 may include one or more sensors, such as light sensors, sound sensors, proximity sensors, accelerometers, and the like, and the processing unit may be configured to perform processing based on quantities sensed by such sensors. Alternatively or additionally, the electronic toy may comprise functional means, such as light sources, sound sources, motors, etc., and the processing unit may be configured to control the functional means, e.g. in response to sensed quantities, received information, etc.

For example, the electronic components described above may be housed within an appropriate portion of the doll, such as the torso portion. The doll may be constituted by a plurality of toy construction elements, for example by a central portion comprising electronic components and by one or more additional portions, for example a head, legs and/or arms, which may be detachably attached to the central portion.

In other embodiments, the control toy construction element 500 may communicate with only a single remote electronic device or with more than two remote electronic devices. Furthermore, the one or more remote electronic devices may be different types of devices, such as different types of computers, different types of electronic toys, and so forth. For example, electronic toys may have different physical appearances in addition to dolls or dolls.

As mentioned above, the wireless communication circuitry controlling the toy construction element 500 may further comprise wireless energy harvesting circuitry configured to harvest electrical energy from the electromagnetic field (e.g. from an RF communication system). The energy harvesting circuit may be configured to charge an energy storage device that controls the toy construction element. In some embodiments, this may be done continuously at a low charge rate. In some embodiments, the toy construction system comprises a dedicated charger device configured to wirelessly charge one or more control toy construction elements simultaneously.

In general, the control toy construction elements may be preprogrammed to react to sensor signals and other received information in a predetermined manner. Alternatively or additionally, the control toy construction element may be configured to implement adaptive behaviour, e.g. behaviour that varies over time, e.g. in response to received input.

The control toy building elements may be manufactured in pre-programmed behaviors. Alternatively or additionally, the control toy construction elements may be reprogrammed by the user. To this end, the program executed by the processing unit controlling the toy construction elements may be received by the controlling toy construction elements by inductive data transmission via one of the inductive elements of the controlling toy construction elements or via wireless short-range communication by means of wireless short-range communication circuits of the controlling toy construction elements, for example as described in connection with fig. 8. Some tablets, smartphones or other electronic devices also allow ultra-short distance communication, for example by near field communication.

Fig. 9 shows a further example of a mechanism for transmitting data (such as for transmitting configuration parameters and/or computer programs) to control toy construction elements. In this example, the control toy construction element 500 is configured to read data from the RFID tag 923 or from another inductively readable device (e.g. by controlling one of the inductive elements of the toy construction element). The RFID tag may include a memory having stored thereon configuration data, program data, and the like. When the control toy construction element 500 is sufficiently close to the tag 923, the control toy construction element energizes the tag and reads the data stored by the tag.

Thus, in some embodiments, a toy construction set may comprise a plurality of toy construction elements, including one or more control toy construction elements and one or more interactive toy construction elements. The toy construction set may further comprise construction instructions providing instructions or guidance on how to construct the toy construction model from the toy construction elements of the toy construction set. The building instructions may be provided on a suitable medium, such as paper, for example in the form of a booklet or the like. The media may have a tag 923 attached thereto or embedded therein. The building instructions may instruct the user to place the control toy construction element in the vicinity of the tag in order to program the control toy construction element by reading a suitable program or configuration data from the tag. It will be appreciated that the tag may be provided in other ways, for example embedded in a box, container, package or the like comprising the toy construction element.

It will be appreciated that other mechanisms for transmitting data to the control toy construction elements may be utilised, for example by reading a visible code, by ultrasonic communication, infrared communication, etc.

Fig. 10 schematically shows another example of a toy construction model constructed from toy construction elements as described herein. In the example of FIG. 10, toy construction model 1024 is a vehicle, such as an automobile, but it will of course be appreciated that toy construction models representing other items may be constructed. The toy construction model 1024 is constructed from a plurality of conventional toy construction elements and a plurality of control and interactive toy construction elements such that each interactive toy construction element is inductively coupled (directly or indirectly) with at least one of the control toy construction elements. In the specific example of fig. 10, the toy construction model comprises four control toy construction elements 500A-D, respectively, each physically connected and inductively coupled to a respective interactive toy construction element 300A-D, e.g. as described in connection with fig. 7A. Each interactive toy construction element 300A-D comprises a motor for driving a shaft 721A-D, respectively, which is inserted into a hole of the interactive toy construction element. Each axle is attached to a respective wheel 1023A-D, respectively, such that each interactive toy construction element is operable to drive a respective one of the wheels.

The control toy construction elements are spaced apart from each other within the model and are not inductively coupled to each other. However, they can wirelessly communicate with each other via their respective wireless communication interfaces through short-range wireless communication. This may allow for coordinated control of the individual motors. For example, one of the controlling toy construction elements may act as a master sending control signals, including for example on/off signals, speed and/or direction signals, to the other controlling toy construction element. Alternatively, the controlling toy construction elements may all be in communication with and controlled by a remote electronic device, for example as described in connection with fig. 8. In other embodiments, each control toy construction element may operate autonomously. For example, each control toy construction element may control a motor of the interactive toy construction element inductively coupled thereto in response to a sensor signal from an encoder comprised in the interactive toy construction element inductively coupled to the control toy construction element. In particular, in an example, when the encoder detects that the wheel is turning due to an external torque (e.g. because the user is pushing the vehicle across a surface), the control toy construction element may control the motor in the same direction as the detected rotation, e.g. for a predetermined period of time or for a time depending on the detected duration of the wheel turning.

Fig. 11 illustrates an example use of a toy construction system as described herein. In particular, fig. 11 shows a toy construction set comprising an electronic toy 820 and toy construction elements from which toy construction models 1110 and 1120 have been constructed. In particular, the toy construction set comprises control toy construction elements 500A-B and interactive toy construction elements 100, 200 and 300. The control toy construction element 500A-B is the control toy construction element described in connection with fig. 5A-B, with the difference that the control toy construction element of fig. 11 is instead shaped as a relatively flat brick. Similarly, the interactive toy construction element 100 is an interactive toy construction element as described in connection with fig. 1 and it comprises a loudspeaker. The interactive toy construction element 200 is an interactive toy construction element as described in connection with fig. 2, comprising LED light sources, but the interactive toy construction element 200 of fig. 11 is instead shaped as a relatively flat brick. The interactive toy construction element 300 is an interactive toy construction element as described in connection with fig. 3, comprising a motor for driving a shaft 1121 insertable into a hole of a housing of the interactive toy construction element 300. The interactive toy construction element 300 of fig. 11 differs from the example of fig. 3 in that the hole for receiving the shaft 1121 is located on a side surface of the housing rather than a top surface.

Electronic toy 820 is in the form of a doll or doll, as described in connection with fig. 8. In particular, the electronic toy comprises wireless communication circuitry operable to communicate with corresponding wireless communication circuitry controlling toy construction elements 500A and 500B.

The toy construction model 1110 comprises a control toy construction element 500A, interactive toy construction elements 100 and 200 and additional non-interactive toy construction elements, such as conventional toy construction elements. In this particular example, the additional toy construction element comprises a transparent dome-shaped cover 1111, which is attachable to the interactive toy construction element 200 to create a void for accommodating a further toy construction element 1112. Thus, light emitted by the light source of interactive toy construction element 200 illuminates toy construction element 1112 and provides a visual effect that a user can observe through the transparent dome-shaped cover. The interactive toy construction elements 100 and 200 are both physically attached and inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500A.

Toy construction model 1120 comprises control toy construction element 500B, interactive toy construction element 300, and additional non-interactive toy construction elements, such as conventional toy construction elements. In this particular example, the additional toy construction elements comprise: a shaft 1121 inserted into a hole of the interactive toy construction element 300; and an elongate rod 1122 attached to the shaft 1121 such that the rod is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position. The interactive toy construction element 300 is physically attached to and inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500B.

The control toy construction element 500A may be configured to detect the presence of an electronic toy 820 in the vicinity of the control toy construction element 500A. In response to such detection, the control toy construction element 500A may control the interactive toy construction element 200 to emit light and the interactive toy construction element 100 to emit sound, for example to simulate a siren. In some embodiments, attributes of the light (e.g., blinking frequency, color, intensity, etc.) and/or attributes of the sound (e.g., volume, pitch, etc.) may be controlled by controlling toy construction elements in response to a detected type of electronic toy 820, in response to an estimated distance from the electronic toy, etc.

The control toy construction element 500A may also communicate with the control toy construction element 500B via their respective wireless short-range communication circuits. For example, the control toy construction element 500A may communicate information about the detected electronic toy 820 to the control toy construction element 500B. In response to the received information, the controlling toy construction element 500B may control the interactive toy construction element 300 to operate the motor in order to raise or lower the rod 1122. Alternatively or additionally, the control toy construction element 500B may be triggered to control the operation of the interactive toy construction element 300 in a different way. For example, the toy construction model 1120 may further comprise another interactive toy construction element comprising a sound sensor and inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500B. Thus, the controlling toy construction element 500B may be configured to control the interactive toy construction element 300 in response to a detected sound, e.g. a sound emitted by the interactive toy construction element 100 of the toy construction model 1110. Alternatively or additionally, the control toy construction element 500B may be triggered to control the operation of the interactive toy construction element 300 by a detected manual movement of the rod 1122, for example by a movement detected by a rotary encoder comprised in the interactive toy construction element 300.

Thus, the above examples show play scenarios where relative participation can be achieved with only some of the relatively inexpensive interactive toy construction elements and control toy construction elements described herein.

In the following, various examples of other play scenarios that may be implemented with embodiments of the toy construction system described herein will be described.

Fig. 12 shows another example of a toy construction set. The toy construction set of fig. 12 comprises a doll 820A-C and a toy construction model 1210 comprising one or more control toy construction elements and one or more interactive toy construction elements as described in connection with fig. 8 and 11. The teens may communicate and interact with each other and/or with the toy construction model in a similar manner as described in connection with fig. 11. For example, toy construction model 1210 may include a door that may be opened/closed when one of the teens is detected in its vicinity.

The toy construction set of fig. 12 differs from the example of fig. 11 in that the toy construction set of fig. 12 further includes an additional electronic toy 820D including a camera 821, a processing unit, a rechargeable energy storage device, and speakers 822. Optionally, the electronic toy 820D may further comprise wireless communication circuitry operable to communicate with the wireless communication circuitry of the figurines 820A-C and/or with control toy construction elements or interactive toy construction elements of the toy construction model 1210. The electronic toy 820D is operable to capture still or video images of a game scene including the figurines 820A-D and the toy construction model 1210, process the captured images, and detect one or more aspects of the game scene. Detectable aspects of the play scenario may be the presence or absence of one or more teens, the distance of the teens from each other and/or from the toy construction model 1210, the interaction between the teens and/or the toy construction model, and the like.

Electronic toy 820D may be operable to play audio content in response to aspects of a detected game scene. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic toy 820D may send control signals to the controlling toy construction elements of the electronic toys 820A-C and/or the toy construction model 1210 to cause the function of one or more of these elements.

Fig. 13 shows another example of a toy construction set. The toy construction set of fig. 13 comprises toy construction models 1310 and 1340, each comprising one or more control toy construction elements and one or more interactive toy construction elements. In particular, the toy construction model 1310 is an elongated rod constructed of a plurality of conventional toy construction elements as well as of a control toy construction element 500A and an interactive toy construction element 400 physically attached to and inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500A. The interactive toy construction element 400 comprises an accelerometer and is configured to transmit motion data to the control toy construction element 500A. Alternatively, the control toy construction element 500A may comprise an internal accelerometer.

Toy construction model 1320 comprises a control toy construction element 500B and an interactive toy construction element 200 inductively coupled to control toy construction element 500B and including a light source as shown in fig. 2.

Toy construction model 1330 is similar to a doll and includes a control toy construction element (not explicitly visible in fig. 13) and an interactive toy construction element (not explicitly visible in fig. 13) inductively coupled to the control toy construction element and including a motor for rotating the doll.

Toy construction model 1340 resembles a musical instrument and includes control toy construction elements 500C-E and interactive toy construction elements 100A-C, each including a speaker and each inductively coupled to a respective one of control toy construction elements 500C-E.

When the user moves the wand 1310, this motion is detected by the accelerometer of the interactive toy construction element 400; alternatively or additionally, the relative position of the rod with respect to the toy construction elements 1320 and 1340, respectively, may be detected by the respective control toy construction elements, e.g. based on the signal strength of the wireless short-range communication between them or based on an internal accelerometer.

In response to the detected movement, the control toy construction element 500A may control the control toy construction elements of the toy construction models 1320-1340 to cause the respective interactive toy construction elements inductively coupled to the control toy construction elements to perform their various functions, e.g. to rotate the doll 1330, the light emitting of the interactive toy construction element 200 and/or the playing of music by the interactive toy construction elements 100A-C.

Alternatively or additionally, the control toy construction elements of the toy construction models 1320-1340 may control various functions based on the detected proximity of the wand 1310 and/or based on detected sound or light and/or based on control signals received from one or more other control toy construction elements.

Fig. 14 shows yet another example of a toy construction set. The set of toy constructs of fig. 14 includes an electronic toy 820 in the form of a doll described in connection with fig. 8 and a toy construction model 1410. Toy construction model 1410 includes control toy construction element 500 and interactive toy construction element 300, which includes a motor as described in connection with fig. 3. The interactive toy construction element 300 is inductively coupled to the control toy construction element 500 and is configured to rotate a rotatable part 1411 of a toy construction model 1410, which is shaped as a head of an animal or other living being.

The doll 820 includes an accelerometer and wireless communication circuitry for transmitting control signals indicative of the doll motion caused by the user to the control toy construction element 500. In response to the received control signals, the control toy construction element 500 causes the interactive toy construction element 300 to operate its motor to mimic the motion detected by the rotatable head 1411.

Thus, similar to the example of fig. 11, the doll may thus operate as a wand or controller operable to control the functionality of the toy construction model 1410.

Fig. 15 shows yet another example of a toy construction set. The toy construction set of fig. 15 includes toy construction models 1510 and 1520, each including one or more control toy construction elements and one or more interactive toy construction elements. In particular, toy construction model 1310 is a wearable toy construction model. It includes a wearable component, such as a wrist strap 1511, that includes a coupling member to which other toy construction elements may be attached. In this example, toy construction model 1510 comprises a control toy construction element 500 and an interactive toy construction element 400, which comprises an accelerometer and is inductively coupled and mechanically attached to control construction element 500.

Toy construction element 1520 resembles an automobile. It comprises one or more control toy building elements and corresponding interactive toy building elements (not explicitly shown) for driving one or more wheels of a car, e.g. as described in connection with fig. 10. Toy construction model 1520 also includes control toy construction elements and corresponding interactive toy construction elements (not explicitly shown) for actuating the steering mechanism of the car.

When the wearable part is worn on the user's wrist, the interactive toy construction element 400 of the wearable toy construction model 1510 may thus detect the movement of the user's hand. The control toy construction element 500 transmits corresponding control signals reflecting the detected movements to the control toy construction element of the toy construction model, which can control the wheels and the steering mechanism in response to the detected movements, for example to propel and steer the car.

The embodiments of the control circuit of the interactive modular construction element described herein may be implemented by hardware comprising a plurality of different elements and/or at least partly by a suitably programmed microprocessor.

In the claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware, component or item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, elements, steps or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims (39)

1. A modular toy construction system comprising a plurality of interactive toy construction elements, each interactive toy construction element comprising a sensor and/or a function device operable to perform a user perceivable function; each interactive toy construction element further comprises a first communication circuit configured to wirelessly transmit a signal and wirelessly collect energy to operate the functional device and/or sensor.

2. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 1; wherein the first communication circuit is configured for contactless ultra-short distance communication and for contactless energy transfer.

3. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 1 or 2; comprising at least one control toy construction element comprising a rechargeable energy storage device, processing circuitry and second communication circuitry; the second communication circuit is configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of interactive toy construction elements.

4. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 3; wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive sensor data from one or more interactive toy construction elements and to generate control signals for controlling user-perceivable functions of the one or more interactive toy construction elements.

5. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 3 or 4; wherein the second communication circuit is further configured to wirelessly transmit energy to the one or more interactive toy construction elements.

6. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5; wherein the first and second communication circuits are configured for contactless ultra-short distance communication and for contactless energy transfer.

7. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6; wherein the control toy construction element comprises an energy receiving circuit for wirelessly receiving energy and charging the energy storage device.

8. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7; wherein the control toy construction element is configured to detect the presence of one or more other control toy construction elements in the vicinity of the control toy construction element.

9. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8; wherein the control toy construction element is configured to receive and store one or more program instructions for controlling the behaviour of the control toy construction element.

10. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9; wherein the control toy construction element is configured to detect a physical topology of a set of one or more interactive toy construction elements in a toy construction model from data received from the set of interactive toy construction elements when the control toy construction element and the set of interactive toy construction elements are directly or indirectly interconnected with each other to form the toy construction model.

11. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10; wherein the processing unit controlling at least one of the toy construction elements is operable to infer one or more user selected functions from one or more sensor inputs received by an interactive toy construction element communicatively coupled to the at least one control toy construction element.

12. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 11; wherein the control construction element comprises a third communication circuit operable for short range wireless communication.

13. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the third communication circuit is configured to establish wireless communication with one or more remote electronic devices.

14. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 13, comprising the remote electronic device; wherein the remote electronic device is configured to communicate with one or more control toy construction elements of the same or different individual toy construction models.

15. A modular toy construction system according to claim 14, wherein the remote electronic device is configured to receive information from the control construction element about one or more interactive toy construction elements coupled to the control toy construction element.

16. A modular toy construction system according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the remote electronic device is configured to control the operation of the control construction element and/or one or more interactive toy construction elements coupled to the control toy construction element.

17. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein one or more of said plurality of interactive toy construction elements are passive interactive toy construction elements without their own energy storage means.

18. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein one or more of the plurality of interactive toy construction elements comprises an energy storage device.

19. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein the plurality of interactive toy construction elements comprises:

-at least a first interactive toy construction element comprising a first type of functional device;

-at least a second interactive toy construction element comprising a second type of functional device different from the first type of functional device.

20. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein the plurality of interactive toy construction elements comprises:

-at least a first interactive toy construction element comprising a first type of sensor;

-at least a second interactive toy construction element comprising a second type of sensor different from the first type of sensor.

21. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein at least one of the interactive toy construction elements comprises a functional device and a sensor; wherein the functional device is configured to perform a user perceivable function, which is perceivable as a first physical quantity; and wherein the sensor is operable to sense the first physical quantity.

22. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 21; wherein at least one of the interactive toy construction elements comprises a motor and an encoder.

23. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 21 or 22; wherein at least one of said interactive toy construction elements comprises a light source and a light detector.

24. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 23; wherein at least one of said interactive toy construction elements comprises a sound source and a sound detector.

25. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein at least two of said interactive toy construction elements are configured such that their respective function devices interact with each other to perform a combined function when the interactive toy construction elements are interconnected with each other in a predetermined manner.

26. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more electronic dolls; wherein the doll includes a rechargeable energy storage device, a processing unit, and communication circuitry operable for short-range wireless communication.

27. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 26; wherein the communication circuit of the doll is operable for short range wireless communication with one or more interactive toy construction elements and/or with one or more control toy construction elements.

28. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 26 or 27; wherein the doll comprises coupling members for detachably attaching the doll to other toy construction elements in the toy construction system.

29. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28; wherein the doll further comprises one or more functional devices, in particular a motor and/or a light source and/or a sound source.

30. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 29; wherein the doll further comprises one or more sensors, in particular an encoder and/or a light sensor and/or a sound sensor and/or an accelerometer.

31. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each interactive toy construction element comprises a coupling member for detachably attaching an interactive toy construction element to other toy construction elements of the toy construction system.

32. A modular toy construction system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an electronic toy having image capturing means and configured to capture one or more images of a play scene comprising one or more interactive toy construction elements and/or control toy construction elements.

33. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 32; wherein the electronic toy is configured to process the captured one or more images to detect one or more aspects of the game scene.

34. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 33; wherein the electronic toy is configured to play digital content in response to detecting one or more aspects of the game scene.

35. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 34; wherein the electronic toy comprises communication circuitry operable for short range wireless communication with one or more interactive toy construction elements and/or with one or more control construction elements.

36. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 35; wherein the electronic toy is configured to send control signals to one or more interactive toy construction elements and/or control toy construction elements comprised in the game scene.

37. A modular toy construction system as claimed in claim 36 when dependent on claim 33 or 34; wherein the electronic toy is configured to send control signals to one or more interactive toy construction elements and/or control toy construction elements comprised in a game scene in response to the detected one or more aspects of the game scene.

38. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each interactive toy construction element comprises a single functional device and/or a single sensor.

39. A modular toy construction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein the functional device of the at least one interactive toy construction element is selected from: a motor, a light source, and a sound source.

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