Electromagnetically coupled building blocks
US9914066B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63H2200/00
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A building block is described which has a plurality of faces each with an associated coupling element, such that a first coupling element is adjacent to a first face and a second coupling element is adjacent to a second face, etc. An RF switch in the block is arranged to selectively couple two of the coupling elements together under the control of a processor. The processor controls the RF switch in response to signals received from a transceiver module. A sensing and switching arrangement within the building block selectively connects the processor to one of the coupling elements based on a detected orientation of the block (e.g. so that power harvested from the transceiver module can be used to power the processor). The coupling elements are either all antennas or all electrodes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.