Interactive toy

Abstract

A system for detecting proximity of two or more interlocking pieces of an interactive toy, the system comprising: a sensor configured to sense proximity between two or more interlocking pieces, and an electronic circuit configured to detect an interlocking status of said pieces according to the proximity sensed by said sensor, wherein said electronic circuit is further configured to transmit an acoustic communication signal from an acoustic transmitter upon detection of a change in the interlocking status of said pieces, said acoustic communication signal being indicative of the pieces interlocking status; and a receiving device configured to receive said acoustic communication signal and issue an alert indicative of the pieces interlocking status.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interactive toy proximity detector comprising:
 a sensor configured to sense proximity between two or more pieces of an interactive toy; and   an electronic circuit configured to detect an interlocking status of said pieces according to proximity sensed by said sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) configured to sense light amount between said interlocking pieces to determine proximity, and a resistance to voltage converter. 
     
     
         3 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises:
 an inductive proximity circuit comprising a LC oscillating component, a signal evaluator and a switching amplifier embedded in a first interlocking piece; and   a ferromagnetic metal plate embedded in a second interlocking piece;   said sensor configured to sense electromagnetic field frequency depending on distance between said interlocking pieces to determine proximity; and a voltage conditioner.   
     
     
         7 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a Hall Effect detector comprising a magnet embedded in a first interlocking piece, and a Hall Effect sensor embedded in a second interlocking piece, configured to sense magnetic field flux density depending on distance between said interlocking pieces to determine proximity, and a voltage conditioner. 
     
     
         10 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises:
 an acoustic detector comprising a acoustic signal source embedded in a first interlocking piece; and   an acoustic sensor embedded in a second interlocking piece;   said sensor configured to sense acoustic signal frequency depending on distance between said interlocking pieces to determine proximity; and   a voltage conditioner.   
     
     
         13 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a magnetic detector comprising a switch configured to change state under the presence of magnetic field embedded in a first interlocking piece, and a ferromagnetic metal plate embedded in a second interlocking piece, configured to change state depending on distance between said interlocking pieces to determine proximity. 
     
     
         16 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises:
 a color detector comprising one or more filtered photodiodes, A/D converter and control function embedded in a first interlocking piece; and   one or more color signs embedded in a second interlocking piece;   said sensor configured to sense light wavelength depending on said interlocking piece color coding to identify said interlocking piece.   
     
     
         17 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said electronic circuit comprises an A/D (Analog to Digital) converter configured to convert analog output voltage of said sensor to digital data. 
     
     
         18 . The detector according to  claim 1 , wherein said electronic circuit comprises a microcontroller configured to process the proximity data received from sensor and to perform computations determining the interlocking status of said pieces. 
     
     
         19 . A system for detecting proximity of two or more interlocking pieces of an interactive toy, the system comprising:
 a sensor configured to sense proximity between two or more pieces of an interactive toy, and an electronic circuit configured to detect an interlocking status of said pieces according to the proximity sensed by said sensor, wherein said electronic circuit is further configured to transmit an acoustic communication signal from an acoustic transmitter upon detection of a change in the interlocking status of said pieces, said acoustic communication signal being indicative of the pieces interlocking status; and   a receiving device configured to receive said acoustic communication signal and issue an alert indicative of the pieces interlocking status.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said system is further configured to transmit said acoustic communication signal with varying parameters such as frequency, periodicity, amplitude, duration, and duty cycle, according to interlocking pieces proximity detected by the sensor. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein said acoustic communication signal
 is in frequency range of above 22 KHz.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said receiving device utilizes an
 acoustic sensor, such as a microphone.   
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said receiving device utilizes a display module, such as a screen. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said receiving device utilizes a sound producing module, such as a speaker. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said receiving device converts the pieces interlocking status to a visual signal, an audio signal, and/or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said receiving device is further configured to provide feedbacks, hints and/or instructions to the user, regarding the pieces interlocking status. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said receiving device is portable, within the acoustic signal range from said transmitter. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein said receiving device is further configured to communicate with one or more remote devices, utilizing a technology selected from the group consisting of: USB, HDMI, WiFi, Bluetooth, SMS, cellular data communication and push notification protocol.