JP2009513223A - Playing piece that changes shape - Google Patents

Abstract

A playing piece ( 10, 20 ) for use in a board game, and comprising at least one shapeable segment ( 11, 21 ), an input ( 12 ) and shaping means ( 13 ). An input signal from an outside control unit ( 17 ) is received at the input ( 12 ), the input signal representing a particular shape and/or size of the playing piece ( 10, 20 ). The shaping means ( 13 ) couples the input ( 12 ) to the shapeable segment ( 11, 21 ) to deform the shapeable segment ( 11, 21 ) in dependence of the input signal, for obtaining the particular shape and/or size of the playing piece ( 10, 20 ).

Description

  The present invention relates to a playing piece used in a board game. The playing piece includes an input unit that receives an input signal from the external control unit, and means for changing the appearance of the playing piece based on the input signal.

  The present invention further relates to a system for playing a board game.

  Such a playing piece is known from unpublished patent application number EP05103952.7 (patent document 1) (attorney docket number PH 000431 EP1). In this document, computer controlled pawns are described. The game board has a horizontal display surface to carry the pawn. The bottom surface of the pawn has an image detector that detects a control image on the display surface below the bottom surface. The pawn further has control means coupled to the image detector to control the appearance or placement of the pawn depending on the control image. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) or small LCD display screens are used to change the appearance of the pawn. One or more wheels are used to move the pawn relative to the game board.

In a conventional board game, it is necessary to have playing pieces of different shapes and sizes for different games. Often in games, playing pieces of different shapes and sizes have different functions. With a pawn according to the patent literature mentioned above, such different functions can be shown by showing different images on the LCD display screen.
Unpublished patent application number EP05103952.7

  A playing piece according to the invention is known in that the input signal indicates a specific shape and / or dimensions of the playing piece, and that the playing piece has at least one deformable segment and shaping means. Different from the playing piece. The shaping means couples the input to at least one moldable segment so as to deform the moldable segment in dependence on an input signal to obtain a particular shape and / or size of the playing piece.

  When the external control unit sends an input signal to the playing piece, the shaping means instructs the moldable segment to deform depending on the input signal. The shaping means can simply pass the input signal to a moldable segment, redirect the input signal to a different moldable segment, or analyze the input signal and based on the input signal , Instructions can be made to change the shape and / or dimensions of the deformable segment. A wide variety of shapes can be obtained by cooperatively changing the shape of individual segments or small groups of segments. A relatively small local shape change of the segment can result in a complete transformation of the playing piece. The moldable playing piece provided by the present invention may perform different functions during the game or may adapt its shape depending on the game being played or the function in the game. This not only makes it possible to have a limited set of “electronically augmented” playing pieces for use in multiple games, but also in the playing piece its function or actual playing situation It also improves the gaming experience by giving it an appearance and atmosphere that matches. The advantage of the playing pieces according to the invention is that the player no longer has to sort the playing pieces and put them in their starting position on the game board. The playing piece can be placed at any starting position on the game board, and then each piece is formed into a shape corresponding to the starting position.

  In a preferred embodiment, the playing piece further comprises an output for transmitting the playing piece information to the external control unit. The playing piece information includes an indication for indicating the playing piece, a location indicating the position of the playing piece, and a sensor output indicating the information detected by the playing piece (sensor output). ) At least one of the groups having The external control unit may reshape the playing piece depending on the playing piece information and / or game rules. The sensor output can be generated from, for example, a touch sensor, a voice sensor, a temperature sensor, or a light sensor. The shape of the playing piece can be influenced, for example, by touching or talking to the playing piece. By providing playing piece information to an external control unit, it is possible to adapt the shape of the playing piece to an external or player triggered trigger.

  In one particular embodiment, the forming means is configured to sequentially deform adjacent groups of formable segments of the playing piece to move the playing piece. Such a playing piece can move in a worm-like manner.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the moldable segment has a skeleton of nodes and edges. Each knot joins at least two edges and at least a portion of the edges is a controlled actuator edge. The shaping means is configured to adjust the length of the controllable actuator edge. For example, a skeleton can be a collection of stacked polyhedra, such as prisms or tetrahedrons. By extending and contracting the actuator edge cooperatively, a wide variety of types of shapes can be obtained.

  Desirably, the playing piece further comprises a stretchable material to cover the outer surface of the skeleton. A stretchable material such as rubber lubricates the surface of the playing piece. A non-flat skeleton has multiple edges and knots and therefore does not have the appearance or atmosphere of a conventional playing piece. The stretchable material shrinks or expands with the skeleton, giving the playing piece a more lubricated and natural look and feel.

  In one embodiment, the skeleton surrounds the cavity. The polyhedron can be assembled to form a shell. Because the polyhedron is structurally stable, it can be assembled with a single thickness, leaving a cavity inside the object. The cavity may have shaping means, power elements, lights, speakers, sensor elements, or other elements that are necessary to perform and support the playing piece tasks.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the moldable segment has at least one channel, and at least some walls of the channel have a set of electrodes. The shaping means has a power supply so as to apply a voltage difference between the electrodes of at least one set of electrodes with respect to contraction or expansion of the corresponding channel.

  When a voltage difference is applied across all sets of electrodes, all channels shrink due to electrostatic forces and the playing piece becomes smaller. When a voltage difference is applied to only part of the channel, only part of the channel contracts and the other part remains expanded. As a result, the shape of the playing piece changes. By co-contracting a particular channel, the desired shape can be obtained.

  In one embodiment, the wall has an elastic material so as to restore the corresponding channel to its original shape after removal of a given voltage difference.

  Alternatively, the wall has an insulating material to prevent electrical contact between at least one set of electrodes. In the contracted state, an equivalent voltage can be applied to both electrodes of the set. In that case, the electrostatic force results in channel expansion. Without an insulating material, the electrodes make electrical contact when the channel is contracted and it is not possible to apply different voltages to both electrodes.

  In a preferred embodiment, the moldable segment has a plurality of channels. Each channel wall of the plurality of channels has a corresponding set of electrodes. The shaping means is configured to provide a voltage difference independently between each set of electrodes.

  A wide variety of shapes can be obtained when the contraction of each channel is controlled independently.

  These and other aspects of the invention are clearly illustrated with reference to the examples described below.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to the present invention. The system has a game board 15 and one or more playing pieces 10. Desirably, the game board 16 has a display placed in a horizontal direction on which a plurality of different game board layouts can be displayed. Each different game board layout allows you to play different games. Furthermore, the game board layout can be changed during the game, depending on the game rules and user interaction. The game board 16 in FIG. 1 also has a control unit 17 for processing information from and to the playing piece 10 and for controlling the progress of the game according to the rules of the game. The control unit 17 has an input 19 for receiving information from the playing piece 10 and an output 18 for giving information to the playing piece 10. The control unit 17 may communicate with the playing piece 10 via the game board surface, for example using electrodes or visual codes. Alternatively, the communication can be implemented wirelessly, for example using BlueTooth or infrared communication means. The game board 16 may also be a conventional cardboard board. In that case, the control unit 17 may be provided in a separate unit. The separate unit can be, for example, a PC. An example of an interactive board game having a cardboard board with a control unit 17 is the “King Arter” game from Ravensberger (http://www.kingarthur.de/).

  The playing piece 10 has an input unit 12 and an output unit 14 for communication with the control unit 18. The shaping means 13 instructs the moldable segment 11 to deform depending on the input signal. The shaping means 13 can simply convey the input signal to the moldable segment 11 or can redirect the input signal to a different moldable segment 11. Desirably, the shaping means 13 has a processor 13 to process the input signal from the control unit 17 and to instruct the moldable segment 11 of the playing piece 10 to deform.

  In one embodiment, the processor is programmed to sequentially deform adjacent groups of moldable segments of the playing piece to move the playing piece. Such a playing piece can move like a worm.

  In one embodiment, the moldable segment has a knot and an edge skeleton. Each knot joins at least two edges, and at least a portion of the edges are controlled actuator edges. Here, the processor is programmed to adjust the length of the actuator edge to be controlled. For example, a skeleton can be a collection of polyhedrons, such as stacked prisms or tetrahedrons. By extending and contracting the actuator edges cooperatively, a wide variety of shapes can be obtained.

  In one simplest embodiment of the invention, the playing piece 10 has only one moldable segment 11 that can be reduced or expanded. Desirably, the playing piece 10 has a plurality of moldable segments 11 that are adjustable not only in size but also in shape. Furthermore, if each moldable segment 11 can be individually reshaped, the playing piece 10 can take a wide variety of shapes.

  Optionally, the playing piece 10 has a detection element 15 to detect touch, voice, acceleration, position, temperature, light, or other measurable quantities associated with the game system. The signal from the sensing element 15 can also be processed by the processor 113 to affect the shape of the playing piece 10. The signal from the detection element 15 can also be communicated to the control unit 17 via the output part 14 of the playing piece 10 and the input part 19 of the control unit 17. In this case, the signal from the detection element 15 can affect the progress of the game.

  The moldable segment 11 can be made with an inflatable or retractable unit, which can be filled with liquid or gas in a microfluidic or in a controlled way by filling or emptying the relative dimensions and Define the shape. Other techniques for controlling the shape of the moldable segment 11 are described below.

  FIG. 2 shows a playing piece 20 made with a prism 21 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The playing piece 20 has 96 deformable prisms. In FIG. 2, the playing piece 20 is formed in a box shape. Other shapes can be obtained by changing the shape of the individual prisms 21 in the playing piece 20. Desirably, the outer surface of the playing piece 20 is covered with a stretchable material, such as fabric, rubber, or an elastic polymer. The elastic material lubricates the sharp outer surface of the edge of the prism 21 framework. The stretchable material can be attached to the corners of the outer prism 21 to obtain an excellent fit of the stretchable material to the shape of the framework.

  FIG. 3 shows a prism 21 used in the playing piece 20 shown in FIG. The prism 21 is made with twelve edges 31 joined at eight nodes 32. The two reinforcing members 33 are connected to the prism 21 so as to provide mechanical stability. At least one, preferably all the edges 31, can be stretched and expanded. Desirably, the knots 32 are flexible so that the angle between the edges 31 can be changed. By changing the lengths of the plurality of edges 31, the shape of the prisms can be changed.

  FIG. 4 shows a controlled actuator edge 40 that can be used as the edge 41 of the prism 21 in FIG. The controlled actuator edge 40 has four parts 41, 42, 43. The first portion 41 and the last portion 43 are connected to the knot portion 32 of the prism 21. Portions 41, 42, 43 are coupled to each other by a slider 44. The diameters of the portions 41, 42, 43 are different so as to give a “telescopic effect”. As all parts 41, 42, 43 are slid toward each other, the controlled actuator edge 40 is in its shortest contracted shape. When all the parts 41, 42, 43 are slid out of each other, the controlled actuator edge 40 is in its longest expanded shape. A slider 44 is provided for expansion and contraction. A variety of techniques can be obtained and used to build the slider. For example, shape memory alloy (SMA) can be used. SMA has the ability to return to a previously defined shape when subjected to a suitable thermal process. The SMA wire below the transformation temperature can be stretched by an external spring, for example. When the wire is heated, for example by current and its own resistance, the wire returns to its original shape. Other techniques that can be used are small piezoresistive or DC servo motors.

  5a-d are front views of the playing piece 20 in two different shapes. In FIG. 5a, the playing piece 20 is in its original box shape. The outer surface is covered with a stretchable material. In FIG. 5b, the same playing piece 20 is shown with the stretch material removed. It can be observed that the prism 21 is in its original cubic shape. In response to an input signal from the control unit 17, the playing piece 20 is reshaped to indicate a house. A front view of this house is shown in FIG. 5c. FIG. 5d shows the house with the stretchable material removed. It is observed that the moldable prism 21 has been transformed into a non-cubic shape. The changed shape of the playing piece 20 is a result of the changed shape of all the individual prisms 21.

  FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a playing piece according to the invention made with a prism. Although some complex processing can be performed, the playing piece 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 can be transformed into the horse 60 shown in FIG. Further, the horse 60 is made with a plurality of prisms 61. Alternatively, the playing piece 60 may be given a horse shape. Changing the shape of the prism 61 in the horse 60 causes the horse 60 to move. The horse 60 can, for example, swing its head, swing its tail, and move its legs to walk a short distance.

  FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a playing piece 70 according to the present invention made with a tetrahedron 71. An enlarged view of the highlighted tetrahedron 71 is given in FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows a tetrahedron that can be used in a playing piece according to the invention. Similar to the prism 21 shown in FIG. 3, the tetrahedron 71 is made with an edge 81 joined by a knot 82. For the tetrahedron 71, six edges 81 and four knots 82 are used. The edge is preferably implemented as an actuator edge 40 that is controlled as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows another playing piece 90 according to the present invention. The playing piece 90 has a moldable outer shell 91 and a cavity 92. A single layer of polyhedron can be sufficiently structurally stable to form a shell of the playing piece 90. If fewer polyhedrons are used to make the playing piece 90, less freedom is required for control. Less freedom leads to less complex deformations. The cavity 92 may include, for example, the processor 13, a light, a power supply, or a speaker.

  FIG. 10 shows a spherical playing piece 100 made with a polyhedron 71.

  FIG. 11 shows the honeycomb structure used in the playing piece. The structure is made with a plurality of sheets 111, 112 stacked on top of each other. In multiple portions, the adhesive layer 115 bonds the structure together. In other parts, the sheets are separated to form hexagonal channels 110. In the channel walls, the sheets 111, 112 have respective electrodes 113, 114. The basis of the sheets 111 and 112 can be a so-called PolyMEMS (polymer microelectromechanical system) structure. A double layer composite structure having a polymer film (such as acrylate) and a conductive film (such as chromium) can be used.

When a voltage difference is applied between the electrodes 113 and 114, the electrostatic force pulls the sheets 111 and 112 toward each other, reducing the channel height. When the voltage difference is removed, the channel 110 can return to its original shape due to, for example, the elastic properties of the sheets 111 and 112. Alternatively, applying different voltages to the electrodes 113, 114 can result in an electrostatic force that repels to restore the original shape of the channel 110. In a preferred embodiment, the sheets 111, 112 are characterized by an initial tensile stress, also referred to as a pre-strain stress, which ranges from 0 to 50 mPa. Negative values of compression prestress result in unwanted sheet wrinkling.
It is noted that applying a voltage difference to electrodes 113 and 114 in a fully contracted channel is only possible if the electrodes are separated by an insulating layer. The electrodes 113 and 114 cannot be provided with different potentials when making electrical contact. Desirably, the walls of each channel have a set of electrodes, and the power source is configured to independently apply a voltage difference between each set of electrodes 113, 114 of the electrodes 113, 114. When the contraction of each channel 110 is controlled independently, a wide variety of shapes can be obtained. Alternatively, a small group of channels 110 are contracted and stretched simultaneously by a set of common electrodes.

  FIG. 12 shows the shrinkage of the honeycomb-like structure. In FIG. 12a, all channels 110 have their original hexagonal shape. In FIG. 12b, a voltage difference is applied to the electrode set and all channels 110 are contracted.

  FIG. 13 shows an exemplary playing piece 130 according to the present invention in three different shapes. In FIG. 13, the voltage difference is only applied to the set of channel electrodes at a particular location. A wide variety of shapes can be obtained by cooperatively contracting channels at specific locations. In FIG. 13a, the channels in the left portion 131 and the right portion 133 of the boxed playing piece 140 are deflated while the channels in the central portion 132 are expanded. This results in a car-shaped playing piece 130. In FIG. 13b, the channels in the left and right portions 131 and 133 of the same playing piece 130 are expanded, while the channels in the central portion 132 are contracted. As a result, the playing piece 130 has a generally different shape. FIG. 13 c again shows the same playing piece 130. Here, only the channel in the front part of the central part 132 of the playing piece 140 is deflated. A wide variety of shapes can be applied to the playing piece 140 by contracting and stretching individual channels or small groups of channels.

  FIG. 14 shows a playing piece 140 that can move like a worm. In this playing piece 140, the channels in adjacent portions 141, 142, 143, 144 are sequentially contracted and expanded to move the playing piece 140 in a worm-like manner. In FIG. 14a, the playing piece 140 is in its original position. In FIG. 14b, the channel in the third portion 143 of the playing piece 140 is deflated. As a result, the width of the third portion 143 increases. As a result, the overall width of the playing piece 140 is also increased. The playing piece 140 requires a larger range on the game board 145. The fourth portion 144 is pushed to the right (indicated by the arrow) because the total friction of the first two portions 141, 142 with the game board 145 is greater than the friction of the fourth portion 144 with the game board 145. Meanwhile, the first two portions 141, 142 remain in their original positions. In FIG. 14c, the channel in the second portion 142 is contracted while the channel in the third portion 143 is expanded. This reshaping does not affect the overall width of the playing piece 140 and the playing piece 140 remains in place. In FIG. 14d, the channel of the second portion 142 is expanded and the width of the playing piece 140 is reduced. Since the friction of the first part 141 with the game board 145 is less than the total friction of the third and fourth parts 143, 144 with the game board 145, the first part 141 is to the right (indicated by the arrow) While being pulled, the last two parts 143, 144 remain in their original positions. As a result, the playing piece 140 in FIG. 14d has the same shape as the playing piece in FIG. 14a and has been moved to the right. The playing piece 140 can move in either direction across the game board with this worm-like movement.

  The above-described embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and those skilled in the art can design many other embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Should be noted. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The verb “comprising” and variations thereof do not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. An element shown in the singular does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The present invention may be implemented using hardware having a plurality of individual elements as well as using a suitably programmed computer. In the claim enumerating a plurality of means, a plurality of such means may be realized by the same hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. For example, an element described as part of a playing piece made with a polyhedral skeleton may also be used in a playing piece made with a honeycomb-like structure and vice versa.

1 is a block diagram of a system according to the present invention. 1 illustrates a playing piece made with a prism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a prism that can be used in a playing piece according to the invention. Fig. 4 illustrates a controllable actuator edge that can be used in a playing piece according to the invention. Figures 5a-d show front views of the playing piece 20 in two different shapes. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a playing piece according to the present invention made with a prism. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a playing piece according to the present invention made with a tetrahedron. Fig. 4 illustrates a tetrahedron that may be used in a playing piece according to the present invention. 1 illustrates a playing piece having a cavity with a control element. 1 illustrates a spherical playing piece made with a tetrahedron. 1 illustrates a honeycomb structure for use in a playing piece. 12a-b illustrate the contraction of the honeycomb-like structure. Figures 13a-c illustrate an exemplary playing piece according to the present invention in three different shapes. Figures 14a-d illustrate playing pieces that can move like worms.

Claims (16)

Playing pieces used in board games:
An input for receiving an input signal indicating a specific shape and / or size of the playing piece from an external control unit;
At least one moldable segment;
Coupling the input to the at least one moldable segment to deform the moldable segment depending on the input signal to obtain the specific shape and / or dimensions of the playing piece; Forming means, and
Having a playing piece. An output unit for transmitting playing piece information to the external control unit;
The playing piece information includes at least one of a group including an indication indicating the playing piece, a location indicating the position of the playing piece, and a sensor output indicating information detected by the playing piece. Have
The playing piece according to claim 1. The forming means is configured to sequentially deform adjacent groups of formable segments of the playing piece to move the playing piece;
The playing piece according to claim 1. The moldable segment has a knot and an edge skeleton, each knot joining at least two edges, at least a portion of the edges being controlled actuator edges;
The shaping means is configured to adjust the length of the controlled actuator edge;
The playing piece according to claim 1. Further comprising a stretchable material to cover the outer surface of the framework;
The playing piece according to claim 5. The stretchable material is attached only to the knot portion,
The playing piece according to claim 6. The framework surrounds the cavity;
The playing piece according to claim 5. The cavity has the molding means.
The playing piece according to claim 8. The moldable segment has at least one channel, at least a wall of the channel has a set of electrodes, and the shaping means is at least against contraction or extension of the corresponding channel. Having a power supply to provide a voltage difference between the electrodes of a set of electrodes;
The playing piece according to claim 1. The wall comprises an elastic material so as to restore the corresponding channel to its original shape after removal of the applied voltage difference;
The playing piece according to claim 9. The wall has an insulating material to prevent electrical contact between the at least one set of electrodes;
The playing piece according to claim 9. The wall has a polymer layer;
The playing piece according to claim 9. The cross section of at least one of the plurality of channels is hexagonal.
The playing piece according to claim 9. The moldable segment has a plurality of the channels, and the walls of each channel of the plurality of channels have a corresponding set of electrodes;
The shaping means is configured to provide the voltage difference independently between the electrodes of each set of electrodes;
The playing piece according to claim 9. A system for playing board games,
At least one playing piece according to claim 1;
A game board carrying the at least one playing piece;
An external control unit that transmits an input signal to an input of the at least one playing piece;
Having a system. The playing piece has an output unit that transmits playing piece information to the external control unit, and the playing piece information includes an indication indicating the playing piece and a position of the playing piece. At least one of a group having a location to indicate and a sensor output indicating information detected by the playing piece;
The external control unit is arranged to receive the playing piece information and to provide the input signal based on the playing piece information;
The system of claim 15.

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