Interactive lcd display back light and triangulating toy brick baseplate

Abstract

A baseplate assembly, used with releasably coupleable playing pieces, includes a baseplate operably coupled to an image generating device. The baseplate includes a display region, having playing pieces coupling elements, and means for transmitting images generated by the image generating device to the display region. An image generating and playing-piece-interacting assembly includes a receptor operably coupled to an image generating device, having a display screen for generated images, including integrated visual and optically encoded message images, a playing piece at a location relative to the display screen having an optical display message sensor, and a messaging transponder. The optical display message sensor receives the generated images and generates a first signal at least partially based upon the optically encoded message image. The messaging transponder receives the first signal and generates and sends the receptor a second signal at least partially based thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baseplate assembly, for use with playing pieces configured to allow the playing pieces to be releasably coupled to one another, comprising:
 a baseplate comprising a display region, the display region comprising coupling elements, by which playing pieces can be releasably mounted to the display region, and areas adjacent to the coupling elements;   an image generating device operably coupled to the baseplate;   means for transmitting images generated by the image generating device at least to the display region of the baseplate.   
     
     
         2 . An image generating and playing-piece-interacting assembly comprising:
 an image generating device having a display screen on which generated images can be displayed;   the generated images comprising integrated visual and optically encoded message images;   a receptor operably coupled to the image generating device;   a first playing piece at a first location relative to the display screen, the first playing piece comprising:
 an optical display message sensor configured to receive the integrated visual and optically encoded message image and to generate a first signal at least partially based upon the optically encoded message image; 
 a messaging transponder coupled to the optical display message sensor for receipt of at least the first signal from the optical display message sensor; and 
 the messaging transponder coupled to the receptor for generating and sending to the receptor a second signal at least partially based upon the first signal. 
   
     
     
         3 . A method for generating images and interacting with playing pieces, comprising:
 displaying images comprising integrated visual and optically encoded message images on a display screen of an image generating device;   locating a first playing piece at a first location relative to the display screen, the first playing piece comprising an optical display message sensor and a messaging transponder;   receiving the integrated visual and optically encoded message image by the optical display message sensor;   generating a first signal by the optical display message sensor at least partially based upon the optically encoded message image;   transmitting the first signal to the messaging transponder;   generating a second signal by the messaging transponder, the second signal at least partially based upon the first signal; and   sending the second signal to a receptor operably coupled to the image generating device.