Illuminating puzzle apparatus

Abstract

An illuminating puzzle apparatus includes a puzzle base and a puzzle piece removably placed on the puzzle base. The apparatus further includes a light sensor disposed on the puzzle base that emits an activation signal when the light sensor transitions from a light receiving state to a darkness state. The apparatus further includes a light disposed on the puzzle base and in proximity to the light sensor. The apparatus additionally includes a processor that obtains the activation signal from the light sensor when the puzzle piece is placed on the puzzle base above the light sensor and transmits a command signal to the light to illuminate the light, responsive to obtaining the activation signal.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . An illuminating puzzle apparatus, comprising:
 a puzzle base;   a puzzle piece configured to be removably placed on the puzzle base;   a light sensor disposed on the puzzle base, wherein the light sensor is configured to emit an activation signal when the light sensor transitions from a light receiving state to a darkness state;   a light emitting diode (LED) element disposed on the puzzle base and in proximity to the light sensor; and   a processor electrically coupled with the light sensor and the LED element, wherein the processor is operative to:
 obtain the activation signal from the light sensor when the puzzle piece is placed on the puzzle base above the light sensor; and 
 transmit a first command signal to the LED element to illuminate the LED element, responsive to obtaining the activation signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the puzzle piece comprises a printed image on a puzzle piece top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the LED element is operative to illuminate with a light pattern correlated to the printed image. 
     
     
         4 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker configured to output sound, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a second command signal to the speaker to output sound, responsive to obtaining the activation signal. 
     
     
         5 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the sound is output in a pattern forming music. 
     
     
         6 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the puzzle piece comprises a printed image on a puzzle piece top surface and the sound output by the speaker responsive to obtaining the second command signal from the processor is correlated to the printed image. 
     
     
         7 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light sensor exhibits the light receiving state upon receiving ambient light, and wherein the light sensor exhibits the darkness state upon not receiving the ambient light. 
     
     
         8 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a puzzle base cover operative to cover and be secured to the puzzle base, wherein the puzzle base cover is configured to receive the puzzle piece. 
     
     
         9 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional light sensors configured to emit the activation signal upon transitioning to the darkness state and one or more additional puzzle pieces corresponding to the one or more additional light sensors, wherein the processor is further operative to transmit one or more additional command signals indicating completion of a puzzle pattern when the one or more additional light sensors emit the activation signal. 
     
     
         10 . The illuminating puzzle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the puzzle base further comprises an aperture formed thereon, operative to accept a nail for hanging, and wherein the puzzle base, the puzzle piece, the light sensor, the LED, and the processor are configured to maintain position when the illuminating puzzle apparatus is hung against a surface.