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US 11,351,443 B2Granted
Electromagnetic game board
AssigneeSony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
InventorsCharles McCoy, True Xiong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electromagnetic game board includes a configurable grid of electromagnets under a game board to move game pieces on the board. Alternative to electromagnets is acoustic levitation through soundwave. In an oscillating electric field (four sides), a magnet can create excite ultrasound that quickly contract and rebound its original shape to push out pulses of air.
Claims49
A device comprising:
- a game board substrate comprising a first surface on which game pieces can move;
- and
- a grid of electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the substrate with at least first and second EM being individually addressable to cause at least one game piece to move on the substrate;
- and
- at least one processor configured with instructions executable to control energization of the EM to:
- cause at least a first game piece to move from a first location to a second location;
- determine a path between the first and second locations to avoid collisions with other game pieces when the first game piece moves on the path from the first location to the second location.
4 more elements
A device comprising:
- a game board substrate comprising a first surface on which game pieces can move;
- and
- a grid of electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the substrate with at least first and second EM being individually addressable to cause at least one game piece to move on the substrate;
- and
- at least one processor configured with instructions to:
- identify that the game board substrate is tilted;
- and
- responsive to identifying that the game board substrate is tilted, energize at least one EM to hold the game piece onto the game board.
5 more elements
A device comprising:
- a game board substrate comprising a first surface on which game pieces can move;
- and
- a grid of electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the substrate with at least first and second EM being individually addressable to cause at least one game piece to move on the substrate;
- and
- at least one processor configured with instructions to:
- identify a surrogate game piece for use in lieu of a demanded game piece;
- execute a game using the surrogate game piece in place of the demanded game piece;
- and
- visibly indicate that the surrogate game piece is being used for the demanded game piece.
6 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a game board substrate on which at least a first game piece can move;
- plural spaced-apart electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the game board substrate;
- at least one processer programmed with instructions to:
- selectively energize the EM to move the first game piece on the game board substrate;
- identify a surrogate game piece for use in lieu of a demanded game piece;
- execute a game using the surrogate game piece in place of the demanded game piece;
- and
- visibly indicate that the surrogate game piece is being used for the demanded game piece.
5 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a game board substrate on which at least a first game piece can move;
- plural spaced-apart electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the game board substrate;
- at least one processer programmed with instructions to:
- selectively energize the EM to move the first game piece on the game board substrate;
- control energization of the EM to cause the first game piece to move from a first location to a second location;
- and
- determine a path between the first and second locations to avoid collisions with other game pieces when the first game piece moves on the path from the first location to the second location.
4 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a game board substrate on which at least a first game piece can move;
- plural spaced-apart electromagnets (EM) juxtaposed with the game board substrate;
- at least one processer programmed with instructions to:
- identify that the game board substrate is tilted;
- and
- responsive to identifying that the game board substrate is tilted, energize at least one EM to hold the game piece onto the game board.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.