WO2018021792A1

WO2018021792A1 - Polyhedron modular assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2018021792A1
Application number: PCT/KR2017/007985
Authority: WO
Inventors: 박진영
Original assignee: 박진영
Priority date: 2016-07-27
Filing date: 2017-07-25
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Also published as: KR20180012516A; KR101898770B1

Abstract

The present invention provides a polyhedron modular assembly comprising: at least two unit modules configured as polyhedrons; and at least one connecting medium installed on the unit modules, each connecting medium comprising a magnetic body core and a conductive layer formed on the surface of the magnetic body core as a coating, wherein unit modules adjacent to each other are coupled by magnetic force from the magnetic body core, thereby constituting a combined shape, and a part of the conductive layer is exposed to the surface of each unit module such that an electrical connection is made between different unit modules.

Description

Polyhedral Modular Assembly

The present invention relates to a polyhedral modular assembly, and more particularly, to a polyhedral modular assembly having a structure in which coupling between unit modules is made by magnetic force.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in a polyhedral modular assembly that gives a specific function to a cube-shaped unit module and assembles unit modules having different functions to form a finished product. Such polyhedral modular assemblies have been widely applied to toys and teaching aids for the purpose of creative play or learning, and have recently been applied to DIY and robotic products.

Each unit module constituting the polyhedral modular assembly is generally provided with a fastening means such as a magnet on each side of the unit module in order to facilitate disassembly / assembly between the modules. In addition, a connector or contact terminal, which is provided as a separate part from the fastening means, may be added to each side of the unit module to connect electrical signals between the unit modules. The technique for this is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

Patent document 1 is formed in a polyhedral shape, the main body casing having a hole formed in the center of each side, and coupled to a hole formed on one side of the main body casing, the power transmission line, power receiving line, data transmission line and data therein on one surface A plurality of coils, each of which is connected to a receiving line, is coupled to an external substrate including a first contact terminal formed at a predetermined interval spaced in a loop pattern, and a hole formed on the other side of the main body casing, and the power transmission line and the number of powers on one surface thereof. Disclosed is a polyhedral modular assembly characterized in that a plurality of contact pieces electrically connected to any one of a wire, a data transmission line, and a data receiving line include an outer coupling portion including a second contact terminal protruding a predetermined distance apart. .

However, if a connector or a terminal for connecting an electrical signal to the unit module is provided as a separate part from the fastening means, the number of parts increases and the installation structure becomes complicated, making it difficult to miniaturize the unit module. In addition, for surface coupling between modules, the first unit module has a male connector and the second unit module has a female connector in such a manner that the connectors exist in pairs. According to such a coupling structure, since the same coupling structure cannot be provided on all sides of the unit module, the compatibility of the unit module is inferior, and there is a restriction in combining various unit modules to form various shapes.

Meanwhile, in the case of the conventional robot toys, when the assembly of the driving unit such as the motor of the robot is used, it is necessary to use the connection parts provided by the toy manufacturer or to add the small assembly aid parts to assemble by bolt / nut fastening method. It is inconvenient to require components, and to connect power and control signal lines for driving the respective motors separately from the outside of the robot.

[Preceding technical literature]

[Patent Documents]

Patent Document 1: Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1605059

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above technical background, and the polyhedral unit modules are coupled to each other by a magnetic force to enable a combination of various shapes, and between different unit modules at substantially the same point as the magnetic force is applied. It is an object to provide a polyhedral modular assembly having a structure in which electrical signal transmission can be made.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a polyhedral modular assembly having a structure capable of reducing the number of components for coupling and electrical connection between unit modules.

The present invention to achieve the above object is at least two or more unit modules made of a polyhedron; And at least one connection medium installed in the unit module and including a magnetic core and a conductive layer coated on a surface of the magnetic core, wherein unit modules adjacent to each other are coupled to each other by a magnetic force of the magnetic core. It provides a polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that the configuration, and a part of the conductive layer is exposed on the surface of the unit module is made an electrical connection between the different unit modules.

The connection medium may be arranged in plural intervals with respect to the center of the surface of the unit module.

The connection medium may be arranged on at least one surface of the unit module in a '-' shape or a '+' shape.

According to another aspect of the invention, at least two or more unit modules made of a polyhedron; And a conductive support holder installed in the unit module and having a magnetic material coated with a conductive material and an inner space for accommodating the magnetic material. And at least one connection medium, wherein adjacent unit modules are coupled to each other by a magnetic force of the magnetic material to form a combined shape, and a portion of the conductive layer is exposed on a surface of the unit module to electrically connect the different unit modules. It provides a polyhedral modular assembly characterized in that the connection is made.

Preferably, the inner space of the support holder has a size capable of rotating or inverting the magnetic material.

The support holder may have a disc or cylinder shape.

The support holder may be formed in a ring shape.

The connecting medium may be arranged in plural concentrically from the center of the plane of the unit module.

According to the present invention, since the polyhedral unit modules are coupled to each other by using magnetic force and at the same time, electrical signals or power can be supplied, assemblability is good and various electric drive control can be easily performed. Therefore, when the present invention is applied to various toys, children can be easily assembled and there is an effect of easily producing a creative robot with power.

In addition, since the number of components for coupling and electrical connection between the unit modules can be reduced, the production cost can be reduced and the structure of the assembly can be simplified.

The following drawings attached to this specification are illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention to serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention, the present invention is a matter described in such drawings It should not be construed as limited to.

1 is a perspective view of a unit module provided in the polyhedral modular assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the connection medium in FIG.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of FIG. 1.

4 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the connection medium.

5 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of FIG. 4.

6 is a perspective view of a unit module in which the connection medium of FIG. 5 is installed.

7 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly example of a polyhedral modular assembly to which the unit module illustrated in FIG. 5 is applied.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as having a conventional or dictionary meaning, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

1 is a perspective view of a unit module 100 which is a main component of a polyhedral modular assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the unit module 100 provided in the present invention is provided with a module main body 101 and the module main body 101 to provide a magnetic and electrical connection function between different unit modules 100. It comprises a connection medium (102). The polyhedral modular assembly is formed of various shapes by combining at least two or more unit modules 100 with each other.

The module body 101 has a body of a polyhedron shape such as, for example, a cube, a hexagonal pillar, an octagonal pillar, or the like. The material of the module body 101 is preferably plastic, but is not limited to this example.

The connection medium 102 is installed in each unit module 100 to perform magnetic and electrical connections between the unit modules 100. Connection medium 102 is preferably provided with a plurality corresponding to each surface constituting the unit module (100). For convenience of illustration, the drawing shows an example in which the connection medium 102 is provided only on one surface of the module body 101.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection medium 102 includes a magnetic core 102a and a conductive layer 102b coated on the surface of the magnetic core 102a. As the magnetic core 102a, a conventional ferromagnetic material may be employed. The conductive layer 102b is formed by coating a conductive material including a metal having relatively good electrical conductivity such as, for example, copper or gold. In the conductive layer 102b surrounding the magnetic core 102a, the surface facing the outside of the unit module 100 is exposed to the outside as it is. In this case, the exposed surface of the conductive layer 102b and the surface of the unit module 100 may be configured to coincide on the same plane or to expose the exposed surface of the conductive layer 102b slightly by a predetermined height.

Preferably, the connection medium 102 may be formed in a tapered structure so that the diameter gradually decreases as the cross-sectional shape becomes a trapezoid . According to this structure, the connecting medium 102 can be prevented from being separated from the unit module 100 while exposing the front end surface of the connecting medium 102 to the outside of the unit module 100.

Connection medium 102 is preferably arranged in a plurality at equal intervals based on the center of the unit module 100 to provide a more powerful and symmetrical magnetic force. In addition, when a plurality of connection mediators 102 are provided, there is an advantage in that electrical signals and the like can be transmitted through various channels. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection medium 102 may be disposed in at least one surface of the unit module 100 in a '-' shape or a plurality of '+' shapes as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the connecting medium 102 may be arranged in an 'x' shape.

The rear end of the connection medium 102 is electrically connected to a predetermined circuit board in the unit module 100.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 4 includes a magnetic support material 103a coated with a conductive material and a conductive support holder 103b provided with an internal space for accommodating the magnetic material 103a. The unit module 100 having a connecting medium 103 is provided.

The magnetic body 103a is installed to rotate, invert, and / or move forward and backward in the inner space of the support holder 103b. According to this structure, when the different unit modules 100 are in contact with each other during the assembly operation, the magnetic material may be rearranged or rotated to face the opposite polarity in the internal space of the support holder 103b. .

Preferably, the magnetic body 103a may be formed in a tapered structure so as to gradually decrease in diameter while going to the front end. According to this structure, the magnetic body 103a can be prevented from being separated from the support holder 103b while exposing the front end surface of the magnetic body 103a to the outside of the support holder 103b.

The support holder 103b is made of a material having a conductive surface without magneticity, such as aluminum. The support holder 103b performs a function of supporting the magnetic body 103a and energizing the circuit board and the magnetic body 103a with each other.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the connecting medium 104 may be formed in a 'donut' shape, that is, in a ring shape having a predetermined width. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of support holders 104b may be arranged concentrically from the center of the plane of the unit module 100 to provide a stronger and more symmetrical magnetic force. In addition, when a plurality of connection medium 104 is provided, as shown in FIG. 7, an electrical signal or the like may be transmitted through various channels. Each connection medium 104 electrically contacts the first circuit board 110 disposed close to one surface of the unit block 100, and the second connection medium 104 is disposed close to the other surface via a predetermined wiring 111. It is connected to the circuit board 112.

As shown in FIG. 8, the polyhedral modular assembly forms various shapes in which unit modules 100 adjacent to each other are combined by a magnetic force of the magnetic core 104a.

At this time, the front surface of the magnetic body 103a is exposed at each surface of the unit module 100 so that different unit modules 100 are in contact with each other, so that electrical connection is made between different unit modules 100 to transmit various electrical signals. Can be. At this time, the electrical signal is transmitted in the order of the

circuit board

110, 112, the support holder 104b, the magnetic body 103a in one unit module 100, the other unit module 100 coupled thereto Electrical signals are transmitted in the order of the magnetic material 103a, the support holder 104b, and the

circuit boards

110 and 112.

In the case of applying the present invention, it is possible to make an assembly toy that can be electrically connected by only a block-type assembly, and can be controlled remotely, and can be assembled and electric war signal transmission in all aspects of the unit module 100, thereby enabling various applications. There is an effect that can produce a robot.

Although the present invention has been described above by means of limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and will be described below by the person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims.

[Description of the code]

100: unit module 101: module body

102, 103, 104: connection medium 102a: magnetic core

102b:

conductive layer

103a, 104a: magnetic material

103b: support holder

Claims

At least two unit modules consisting of a polyhedron; And

And at least one connection medium installed in the unit module and including a magnetic core and a conductive layer coated on a surface of the magnetic core.

Unit modules adjacent to each other are combined by the magnetic force of the magnetic core to form a combined shape,

A portion of the conductive layer is exposed on the surface of the unit module polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that the electrical connection between the different unit modules are made.
The method of claim 1,

The connecting medium is a polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that a plurality of arranged at equal intervals based on the center of the unit module.
The method of claim 2,

The connecting medium is a polyhedron modular assembly, characterized in that arranged on at least one side of the unit module '-' or '+' shape.
The method of claim 1,

The connecting medium is a polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that consisting of a tapered structure gradually decreases in diameter in one direction.
At least two unit modules consisting of a polyhedron; And

And at least one connection medium installed on the unit module and having a conductive material coated with a conductive material and a conductive support holder having an internal space for accommodating the magnetic material.

Adjacent unit modules are combined to form a combined shape by the magnetic force of the magnetic material,

A portion of the conductive layer is exposed on the surface of the unit module polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that the electrical connection between the different unit modules are made.
The method of claim 5,

The polyhedral modular assembly of the support holder, characterized in that the magnetic body is rotatable or inverted.
The method of claim 5,

The support holder is a polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that the disk or cylinder shape.
The method of claim 5,

The support holder is a polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that consisting of a ring.
The method of claim 5,

The connecting medium is a polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that consisting of a tapered structure gradually decreases in diameter in one direction.
The method of claim 9,

The connecting medium is a polyhedral modular assembly, characterized in that a plurality of concentrically arranged from the center of the plane of the unit module.