Tray-and-block apparatus for device programming

A device programming apparatus, comprising:

• a tray, the tray having a plurality of recesses containing electrical connections for positive and negative charge, the tray connected to a power source that provides electrical power to recesses in the plurality;
• and
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block in the plurality of blocks configured to insert into a recess in the plurality of recesses in the tray, each programming block including a positive electrical connection, a negative electrical connection, an electrical element connected between the positive electrical connection and the negative electrical connection, and a magnet on the block's bottom surface,
• wherein programming blocks placed in a sequence on the tray combine to represent commands issued to a device based on the electrical characteristic of the block and its placement on the tray in relation to other blocks placed on the tray.

A device programming apparatus, comprising:

• a tray, the tray having a plurality of recesses containing electrical connections for positive and negative charge and a magnet, the tray connected to a power source that provides electrical power to recesses in the plurality;
• and
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block in the plurality of blocks configured to insert into a recess in the plurality of recesses in the tray, each programming block including a positive electrical connection and a negative electrical connection and an electrical element connected between the positive electrical connection and the negative electrical connection,
• wherein programming blocks placed in a sequence on the tray combine to represent commands issued to a device based on the electrical characteristic of the block and its placement on the tray in relation to other blocks placed on the tray.

A device programming apparatus, comprising:

• a tray, the tray having a plurality of recesses containing electrical connections for positive and negative charge, the tray connected to a power source that provides electrical power to recesses in the plurality;
• and
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block in the plurality of blocks configured to insert into a recess in the plurality of recesses in the tray, each programming block including a positive electrical connection and a negative electrical connection and a resistor connected between the positive electrical connection and the negative electrical connection,
• wherein programming blocks placed in a sequence on the tray combine to represent commands issued to a device based on the electrical characteristic of the block and its placement on the tray in relation to other blocks placed on the tray.

A device programming apparatus, comprising:

• a tray, the tray having a plurality of recesses containing electrical connections for positive and negative charge, the tray connected to a power source that provides electrical power to recesses in the plurality;
• and
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block in the plurality of blocks configured to insert into a recess in the plurality of recesses in the tray, each programming block including on its bottom surface a recessed positive electrical connection, a recessed negative electrical connection and an electrical element connected between the positive electrical connection and the negative electrical connection,
• wherein programming blocks placed in a sequence on the tray combine to represent commands issued to a device based on the electrical characteristic of the block and its placement on the tray in relation to other blocks placed on the tray.

A device programming apparatus, comprising:

• a tray, the tray having a plurality of recesses containing protruding electrical connections for positive and negative charge, the tray connected to a power source that provides electrical power to recesses in the plurality;
• and
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block in the plurality of blocks configured to insert into a recess in the plurality of recesses in the tray, each programming block including a positive electrical connection and a negative electrical connection and an electrical element connected between the positive electrical connection and the negative electrical connection,
• wherein programming blocks placed in a sequence on the tray combine to represent commands issued to a device based on the electrical characteristic of the block and its placement on the tray in relation to other blocks placed on the tray.

A computer programming apparatus utilizing tangible objects representing computer program code, comprising:

• a tray having an array of pairs of electrical connections arranged on a substrate thereof;
• a voltage divider on said tray and in circuit with said pairs of electrical connections;
• a microcontroller on said tray and in circuit with said voltage divider, utilizing software that assigns program code values to voltage input received from said voltage divider;
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block having a pair of counterpart electrical connections configured to complement one pair of said array of pairs of electrical connections of said tray when said block is placed on said tray;
• and
• an electrical element carried by each of said blocks, and in circuit between said pair of counterpart electrical connections.

A computer programming apparatus utilizing tangible objects representing computer program code, comprising:

• a tray having an array of pairs of electrical connections arranged on a substrate thereof;
• a processing circuit in circuit with said array of pairs, assigning program code values to electrical input received from said array of pairs;
• an electric switch on said tray and in circuit with said processing circuit, that changes input values received by said processing circuit;
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block having a pair of counterpart electrical connections configured to complement one pair of said array of pairs;
• an electrical element carried by each block of said plurality of programming blocks and in circuit between said pair of counterpart electrical connections,
• wherein each block of said plurality of programming blocks comprise:
• a bottom face, to which said pair of counterpart electrical connections are mounted;
• a top face, opposite said bottom face;
• and
• a second pair of electrical connections mounted on said top face, and in circuit with said electrical element.

A computer programming apparatus utilizing tangible objects representing computer program code, comprising:

• a tray having an array of pairs of electrical connections arranged on a substrate thereof;
• and
• a plurality of programming blocks, each programming block having
• a pair of counterpart electrical connections configured to complement one pair of said array of pairs of electrical connections of said tray when said block is placed on said tray, and
• a resistive electrical element connected between said pair of counterpart electrical connections
• wherein programming blocks placed in a sequence on said tray combine to represent commands issued to a device based on the electrical characteristics of said blocks and their placement on said tray in relation to other blocks placed on said tray.