Building Elements with Sonic Actuation

Abstract

A toy includes a building element apparatus having coupling mechanisms on at least two exterior surfaces of a housing containing a vibration speaker that includes a permanent magnet that is moveable relative to a base; a coil positioned near the permanent magnet, moveable relative to the permanent magnet, and configured to receive the electromagnetic signal from a control system such that both the coil and the permanent magnet vibrate at the same time in manners that are based on the electromagnetic signal frequencies; and a sound producer including a diaphragm that is mechanically linked to the coil to move with the coil. The simultaneous vibration of the diaphragm and the permanent magnet causes the simultaneous vibration of the at least two exterior surfaces of the building element apparatus, movement of a toy component mechanically linked to the permanent magnet, and the production of audible sound.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy construction system comprising:
 a plurality of interconnectible building elements;   a control system that generates an electromagnetic signal;   a vibration speaker including:
 a permanent magnet that is moveable; 
 a coil positioned near the permanent magnet and moveable relative to the permanent magnet, the coil configured to receive the electromagnetic signal from the control system such that the coil, the permanent magnet, or both vibrate in a manner that is based on the electromagnetic signal; and 
 a sound producer including a diaphragm that is mechanically linked to the coil to vibrate with the coil as the coil vibrates; and 
   a building element apparatus that houses the vibration speaker and is mechanically linked to the permanent magnet of the vibration speaker;   wherein:
 the coil vibrates relative to the permanent magnet when the electromagnetic signal includes frequencies within a first frequency range, the vibration of the coil causing the diaphragm to vibrate and produce an audible sound, and 
 the permanent magnet vibrates when the electromagnetic signal includes frequencies within a second frequency range, the vibration of the permanent magnet causing the building element apparatus to vibrate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the building element apparatus comprises:
 a top surface including coupling mechanisms; and   a bottom surface including coupling mechanisms; and   both the top surface and the bottom surface are caused to vibrate due to the vibration of the permanent magnet.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more vibration isolator devices each having a coupling mechanism that mates with the coupling mechanisms of the building element apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the building element apparatus and the vibration speaker are mechanically and fixedly linked together. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the vibration speaker comprises a base on which the permanent magnet is moveably mounted, the building element apparatus and the vibration speaker base being fixed together. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bristle module including a bristle pad positioned between a first building element and a second building element, the first building element connectible to the building element apparatus,
 wherein the vibration of the building element apparatus causes the first building element to vibrate, the vibration of the first building element is converted into a unidirectional movement of the second building element by way of the bristle pad.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the bristle pad comprises a plurality of slantable bristles extending below a plate, the plate sized to fit within an opening of the second building element and the bristles resting on a top surface of the first building element. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the control system is within the building element apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the building element apparatus includes a platform building element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the building element apparatus completely encloses the vibration speaker. 
     
     
         11 . A toy comprising:
 a control system that generates an electromagnetic signal;   a building element apparatus having coupling mechanisms on at least two exterior surfaces of a housing, the coupling mechanisms for connecting to building elements of a toy construction system, the building element apparatus housing containing a vibration speaker, the vibration speaker including:
 a permanent magnet that is moveable relative to a base; 
 a coil positioned near the permanent magnet, the coil moveable relative to the permanent magnet, the coil configured to receive the electromagnetic signal from the control system such that both the coil and the permanent magnet vibrate at the same time in manners that are based on the frequencies of the electromagnetic signal; and 
 a sound producer including a diaphragm that is mechanically linked to the coil to move with the coil as the coil moves; and 
   a toy component that is mechanically linked to the permanent magnet;   wherein the simultaneous vibration of the diaphragm and the permanent magnet causes the simultaneous vibration of the at least two exterior surfaces of the building element apparatus, movement of the toy component, and the production of audible sound that complements the toy component movement.   
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the at least two exterior surfaces of the building element apparatus comprise at least two opposite sides of the building element apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the at least two opposite sides of the building element comprise a top side of the building element and a bottom side of the building element. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the simultaneous vibration of the diaphragm and the permanent magnet causes the housing of the building element apparatus to vibrate in a plurality of directions.