Electromagnetic game board

Abstract

An electromagnetic game board includes a configurable grid of electromagnets under a game board to move game pieces on the board. Alternative to electromagnets is acoustic levitation through soundwave. In an oscillating electric field (four sides), a magnet can create excite ultrasound that quickly contract and rebound its original shape to push out pulses of air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a game board substrate comprising a first surface on which game pieces can move; and   a grid of electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the substrate with at least first and second EM being individually addressable to cause at least one game piece to move on the substrate; and   at least one processor configured with instructions executable to control energization of the EM to:   cause at least a first game piece to move from a first location to a second location;   avoid collisions with other game pieces when the first game piece moves.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to determine a path between first and second locations between which the first game piece moves and avoid collisions on the path with other game pieces. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first location is a current location of the first game piece and the second location is a demanded location of the first game piece. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 identify the first location at least in part using a camera that images the game board substrate.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 identify the first location at least in part using signals from a location receiver on the first game piece.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 identify the first location at least in part using a signal representing an electrical field generated by the first game piece being proximate to a deenergized EM.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 identify the first location at least in part using a magnetic field sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 identify the first location at least in part using one or more signals generated by one or more sensor devices in the first game piece.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 move the first game piece on the game board at a first speed; and   move a second game piece on the game board at a second speed.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 energize and deenergize individual EMs or individual groups of EMs to pull the first game piece along the path.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 energize and deenergize individual EMs or individual groups of EMs to push the first game piece.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed with instructions to:
 control the EM to flip the game piece from resting on a first surface to resting on a second surface.   
     
     
         13 . A device comprising:
 a game board substrate comprising a first surface on which game pieces can move; and   a grid of electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the substrate with at least first and second EM being individually addressable to cause at least one game piece to move on the substrate.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured with instructions to:
 identify a calibration image of the game piece; and   correlate an optical location of the game piece to a location of the game piece relative to the EM grid at least in part using the calibration image.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the game board substrate comprises a printed substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the game board substrate comprises a video display. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the game piece is a smart game piece comprising at least one processor communicating via a wireless link with at least one processor of a component other than the game piece. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one elevator configured to move the game piece onto the game board substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one robotic arm configured to move the game piece onto the game board substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 identify initial locations of respective game pieces on the game board substrate; and   automatically move the game pieces from the initial locations to destination locations for game play.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 correlate respective game pieces with respective owners; and   disposing game pieces related to respective owners in respective regions of the game board substrate.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 determine a height of the game piece.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 responsive to a demanded game piece image, produce the game piece using 3D printing.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 identify a surrogate game piece for use in lieu of a demanded game piece; and   execute a game using the surrogate game piece in place of the demanded game piece.   
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 identify a first location of the at least one game piece at least in part using a camera that images the game board substrate.   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 identify a first location of the at least one game piece at least in part using signals from a device on the first game piece.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising at least one processor configured with instructions to:
 identify a first location of the at least one game piece at least in part using a signal representing an electrical field generated by the first game piece being proximate to a deenergized EM.   
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 energizing a first electromagnet (EM) to move a first game piece toward a destination on a game board; and   deenergizing the first EM and energizing a second EM to move the first game piece toward the destination.