Shape-shifting a configurable of reusable elements

Abstract

The invention provides a three-dimensional element comprising a centre point in said element, at least one face coupled to said centre point and said face comprising holding means, adapted for interacting with a functionally aligned holding means of a similar element, and comprising a holding state and a released state, said holding means in said holding state engaged with said aligned holding means of said similar element for holding said element positioned with respect to said similar element, and in said released state disengaged with said aligned holding means, and sensing means comprising a position sensor for sensing a position of said face of said similar element on said face of said element, said position sensor comprising an emitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation in an emitter pattern, a receiver for said electromagnetic radiation comprising detector elements in a receiver pattern, and said emitter pattern and receiver pattern mutually oriented for providing an alignment indication when said holding means are aligned with holding means of said similar element and said face is at a predefined orientation with respect to said face of said similar element, wherein said sensing means is functionally coupled to said holding means, and wherein said holding means takes said holding state when said sensing means provides said alignment indication.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A three-dimensional element comprising:
 a centre point in said three-dimensional element;   at least one face coupled to said centre point, said at least one face including:
 holding means, configured to interacting with a functionally aligned holding means of a second three-dimensional element, and which includes a holding state and a released state, said holding means in said holding state engaged with said aligned holding means of said second three-dimensional element for holding said three-dimensional element positioned with respect to said second three-dimensional element, and in said released state disengaged with said aligned holding means, and 
 sensing means including a position sensor for sensing a position of said face of said second three-dimensional element on said face of said three-dimensional element, said position sensor including an emitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation in an emitter pattern, a receiver for said electromagnetic radiation including detector elements in a receiver pattern, and said emitter pattern and receiver pattern mutually oriented for providing an alignment indication when said holding means are aligned with holding means of said second three-dimensional element and said face is at a predefined orientation with respect to said face of said second three-dimensional element, 
   wherein said sensing means is functionally coupled to said holding means, and said holding means is configured to take said holding state when said sensing means provides said alignment indication.   
     
     
         29 . The three-dimensional element of  claim 28 , wherein said emitter is provided for providing said emitter pattern in a first position pattern when said three-dimensional element is at said predetermined position with respect to said second three-dimensional three-dimensional element and with said predetermined holding means forming said first position pattern on or at said receiver, in which said first position pattern is a two-dimensional pattern. 
     
     
         30 . The three-dimensional element of  claim 28 , wherein said receiver is configured to provide said receiver pattern in a second position when said three-dimensional element is at said predetermined position with respect to said second three-dimensional element and with said predetermined holding means aligned, in particular, in particular said second position pattern is a two-dimensional pattern. 
     
     
         31 . The three-dimensional element of  claim 28 , wherein said emitter pattern and said receiver pattern result in a third alignment pattern when said three-dimensional element is at said predetermined position with respect to said second three-dimensional element and with said predetermined holding means aligned. 
     
     
         32 . The three-dimensional element of  claim 28 , wherein said emitter comprises an emitter element at said face and a reflector at said face, mutually positioned that when said face is at said predefined orientation with respect to said face of said second three-dimensional element, electromagnetic radiation from said emitter element radiates on said reflector of said face of said second three-dimensional element, providing said electromagnetic radiation in said emitter pattern on said receiver pattern of said receiver of said three-dimensional element. 
     
     
         33 . The three-dimensional element of  claim 28 , wherein said sensing means:
 is configured to determine a distance between said three-dimensional elements; and   comprises optical sensors with spatial resolution, in particular cameras, each camera comprising a field of view comprising a detection cone.   
     
     
         34 . The three-dimensional element of  claim 33 , wherein:
 said holding means comprises at least one holding module that includes two parts, adapted to exert a force to one another for holding faces positioned, and   said two parts are provided to faces that include said holding module, allowing each face provided with said holding module to be held in position with respect to a facing face provided with said holding module, with the one holding module part of a face interacting with an other holding part of a facing face.   
     
     
         35 . The three-dimensional element of  claim 33 , further comprising at least three of said faces, wherein:
 said holding means is coupled to a first face of said at least three faces, configured to interacting with said functionally aligned holding means of a facing face of a second three-dimensional element, for in said holding state cooperating for holding said first face positioned with respect to said facing face, and in said released state not holding said first face positioned;   said sensing means comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, said first sensor being coupled to a second face of said at least three faces, and said second sensor being coupled to a third face of said at least three faces; and   said first sensor and a second sensor are functionally coupled with said holding means of said first face for upon said grab-detection actuating of said holding means of said facing face between said holding state and said released state.   
     
     
         36 . A system, comprising:
 three-dimensional elements, each including a centre point in said element, and at least one face coupled to said centre point, said face including:
 holding means, configured to interact with a functionally aligned holding means of another three-dimensional element in said three-dimensional elements, and which includes a holding state and a released state, said holding means in said holding state being engaged with said aligned holding means of said another three-dimensional element to hold said three-dimensional elements positioned with respect to said another three-dimensional element, and in said released state disengaged with said aligned holding means, and 
 sensing means including a position sensor for sensing a position of said face of said another two three-dimensional element on said face of said three-dimensional elements, said position sensor including an emitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation in an emitter pattern, a receiver for said electromagnetic radiation including detector elements in a receiver pattern, and said emitter pattern and receiver pattern mutually oriented for providing an alignment indication when said holding means are aligned with holding means of said another three-dimensional element and said face is at a predefined orientation with respect to said face of said another three-dimensional element, 
   wherein said sensing means is functionally coupled to said holding means, and said holding means is configured to take said holding state when said sensing means provides said alignment indication.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , said face further comprising:
 a motion-guiding module, defining a trajectory over at least part of said face;   a motion module, configured to displacing the centre point of said three-dimensional elements with respect to a second centre point of another three-dimensional element, said motion module configured to engage the motion-guiding module of the another three-dimensional element;   a motion-restriction module, configured to limit the displacement of said centre point with respect to said centre point of one of the other three-dimensional elements to at least one trajectory that includes said trajectory and said trajectory of said other three-dimensional element, when interacting with said motion module,   wherein:
 said motion module is configured to be coupled to a face of one of said three-dimensional elements, and configured to displace said centre point of said one three-dimensional element with respect to said centre point of one of the other three-dimensional elements when interacting with the motion-guiding module of said one of the other three-dimensional elements, said motion-guiding module, said motion module and said motion-restriction module defining different module types, 
 to displace said centre point of said first element away from said centre point of said other three-dimensional element and towards said centre point of said another three-dimensional element, a first face of said at least one face of said three-dimensional element faces at least one of a second face of said at least one face of said second element and a third face of said at least one face of said third element, to provide facing faces, and 
 for said displacing, said motion module interacts with at least one motion-guiding module, and with at least one motion-restriction module, with said facing faces providing said interacting modules while displacing, at least one module of said first face interacts with at least one module of at least one different module type of at least one other of said facing faces while displacing, and said at least one module of said first face interacts with at least one module of a different module type of said second face and at least one module of a different module type of said third face. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein:
 said sensor means of at least two of said three-dimensional elements is configured to provide grab-detection, said grab-detection including detection of an action leading to a grip of said three-dimensional element, having a grip on said three-dimensional element, an action of releasing a grip of said three-dimensional element, and a combination thereof,   said sensing means is functionally coupled to said holding means for upon said grab-detection actuating at least one of said functionally aligned holding means between said holding state and said released state, and   said sensing means is further configured to determine a distance to a second three-dimensional element, or an orientation with respect to another three-dimensional element.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein said at least two of said three-dimensional elements comprise:
 at least three faces coupled to said centre point, wherein said holding means is coupled to a first face of said at least three faces, and configured to interact with said functionally aligned holding means of a facing face of a second three-dimensional element, for in said holding state cooperating for holding said first face positioned with respect to said facing face, and in said released state not holding said first face positioned;   said sensing means comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, with said first sensor coupled to a second face of said at least three faces, and said second sensor coupled to a third face of said at least three faces, wherein said at least two sensors are functionally coupled with said holding means of said first face for upon said grab-detection actuating of said holding means of said facing face between said holding state and said released state.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein said holding means comprises a holding module on each face, and said sensing means comprises a sensor on each face, said sensors and said holding modules functionally coupled for upon said grab-detection actuating of said holding modules of said facing face between said holding state and said released state. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein:
 said holding means is actuated between said holding state and said released state when said grab-detection includes one of an action leading to a grip of said element, and an action of releasing a grip of said element,   said holding means comprises at least one holding module that includes two parts, and is configured to exert a force to another three-dimensional element for holding faces positioned, and   said two parts are provided to faces that include said holding module, allowing each face provided with said holding module to be held in position with respect to a facing face provided with said holding module, with the one holding module part of a face interacting with an other holding part of a facing face.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said sensing means comprises optical sensors with spatial resolution, optical sensor has a field of view that includes a detection cone. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein:
 said holding module comprises two parts, adapted to exert a force to one another for holding faces positioned, and   said two parts are provided to faces that include said holding module, allowing each face provided with said holding module to be held in position with respect to a facing face provided with said holding module, with the one holding module part of a face interacting with an other holding part of a facing face.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said three-dimensional elements comprise at least one face having a surface provided with said holding module, said surface having a flat plane. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said three-dimensional elements comprise a series of coupled faces forming faces of said three-dimensional elements. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said three-dimensional elements comprise at least six faces defining an outside surface of said three-dimensional elements. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said sensing means is configured to provide said alignment indication and to provide said grab detection.