Multiple part toy coding and recognition system

Abstract

A toy comprises of a first part comprising sensor means and means to generate at least one activity; and a second part comprising a mark adapted to be identified by the sensor means; such that when the first part and the second part are aligned, the sensor means detect and identify the mark and trigger an activity.

1 . A electronic toy comprises: 
 (a) a first part comprising sensor means and means to generate at least one activity;    (b) a second part comprising a mark adapted to be identified by the sensor means;    such that when the first part and the second part are aligned, the sensor means detect and identify the mark and trigger an activity.    
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the mark comprises a series of concentric rings.  
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the concentric rings comprise circles.  
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor means comprises a source of electromagnetic energy and a detector adapted to sense electromagnetic energy reflected from the mark.  
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 4 , wherein the source of electromagnetic energy is adapted to direct said electromagnetic energy to the mark, and the detector is adapted to identify patterns of electromagnetic energy respectively reflected from or absorbed by the mark.  
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the detector is adapted to identify concentric bands of reflected light.  
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the mark is provided with a pattern comprising an identification code.  
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein the series of concentric rings comprises an identification code.  
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the series of concentric circles comprises an identification code.  
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the detector means comprises computer processing means to correlate a detected signal from the mark, and to trigger a toy activity appropriate to the second part.  
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second parts corresponding to a plurality of toy activities.  
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of second parts corresponding to a plurality of toy activities.  
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second parts corresponding to a plurality of physical arrangements with the first part.  
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the toy comprises multiple components, a plurality of which comprise both a first part and a second part.  
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises generation of sound.  
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises movement.  
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises activation of one or more lights.  
     
     
         18 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises computer operations.  
     
     
         19 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises activation of a display screen.  
     
     
         20 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising alignment means adapted to orient the sensor of the first part with the mark of the second part.