Throwable Objects
AssigneeTomTom International B.V.
InventorMichiel Kersteman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to throwable toys such as shuttles and balls. In some of the illustrative embodiments a shuttle includes means to determine information relating to the throw or state of motion of the shuttle, and means to convey an audio information signal to a user during the throw.
Claims95
A throwable object comprising:
- a body housing a capacitive proximity sensor arranged to measure a change in capacitance at the surface of the body;
- and a processor arranged to determine that the object is in touch-contact, or has been thrown, based on the measured change in capacitance.
A throwable object according to clause 1, wherein the processor is arranged to determine that the object is in touch-contact, or has been caught, when the capacitive proximity sensor measures a change in capacitance that equals or exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold, or measures a change in capacitance that is inside a predetermined threshold range.
A throwable object according to clause 2, wherein the predetermined threshold or threshold range is set to indicate that the object is in touch-contact because it is being held by a user or it has been caught, or to indicate that the object has been thrown because the object is no longer being held by a user.
A throwable object according to any preceding clause, the body further housing a speaker and the speaker being arranged to emit a sound when the processor determines that the object is in touch-contact.
A throwable object according to any preceding clause, the body further housing an inertial measurement unit (IMU), arranged to periodically measure travel data describing the motion of the object, wherein the processor is arranged to process the travel data depending on when the object is determined to be in touch-contact and/or to have been thrown.
A throwable object according to any preceding clause, further comprising a throw sensor comprising at least one of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a barometric pressure sensor, the throw sensor arranged to periodically measure travel data describing the motion of the object, wherein:
- the travel data relates to one or more of the object's position, speed, height, acceleration, velocity, angular rate, roll, pitch, or yaw;
- and
- the processor is arranged to receive a travel data measurement from the throw sensor and determine that the object is in touch-contact, and/or that the object has been thrown, further based on a travel data measurement, or a difference between a current travel data measurement and a previous travel data measurement.
A throwable object according to clause 6, wherein the processor is arranged to evaluate the travel data measurements from a time when the processor detects that the object has been thrown to a subsequent time when the processor detects that the object is in touch-contact so as to evaluate travel data describing the motion of the object during a throw.
A throwable object according to clause 7, wherein the processor is arranged to determine a distance between a position of the object at a time when the object was thrown and a position of the object at a time when the object was in touch-contact based on the travel data measurements.
A throwable object according to clause 7 or 8, wherein the processor is arranged to determine a maximum height of the object between a time when the object was thrown to a time when the object was in touch-contact based on the travel data measurements.
A throwable object according to clause 9, wherein the maximum height is relative to a height of the object at the time when the object was thrown.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 7 to 10, wherein the processor is arranged to count the number of full rolls or partial rolls the object makes during the throw based on the travel data measurements.
A throwable object according to any preceding clause, wherein the body has a front end that faces forward when the object is thrown in a forward direction, wherein the front end is shaped to provide the least amount of air resistance against a forward motion of the object when the object is thrown with the front end facing in the forward direction, the throwable object further comprising a speaker facing away from the front end so as to direct sound in a backward direction that is substantially opposite to the forward direction.
A throwable object according to clause 12, wherein the speaker is arranged to emit a sound when the processor determines that the object is in touch-contact.
A throwable object according to clause 12 or 13, when dependent on any of clauses 4 to 8, wherein:
- the processor is arranged, during the throw, to determine whether a recent travel data measurement is different to a previous travel data measurement;
- and
- the speaker is arranged to emit a sound when the processor determines a difference.
A throwable object according to clause 14, wherein the speaker is arranged to emit a sound when the processor determines a difference that exceeds or equals a predetermined threshold.
A throwable object according to clause 14 or 15, wherein sound emitted by the speaker is different to an earlier sound emitted by the speaker prior to the processor determining the difference.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 14 to 16, wherein the recent travel data measurement is the current travel data measurement from the IMU.
A throwable object according to clause 17, wherein the previous travel data measurement is the most recent travel data measurement preceding the current travel data measurement.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 3 to 18, wherein the IMU comprises an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and optionally a geomagnetic field sensor, arranged to provide travel data relating to one or more of the object's position, speed, height, accelerometer, velocity, angular rate, roll, pitch, or yaw.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 6 to 19, wherein the barometric pressure sensor is arranged to measure the height of the object based on an atmospheric pressure measurement.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 6 to 20, wherein the barometric pressure sensor comprises a temperature sensor, and is arranged to measure the height of the object based on an atmospheric pressure and temperature measurement.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 12 to 21, wherein the body further comprises a major axis, and the speaker has a centre of mass that is substantially centred on the major axis.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 12 to 22, wherein the body further comprises a back end opposing the front end, and the speaker is located within the back end, or adjacent to the back end.
A throwable object according to clause 23, wherein the front end substantially curves towards the back end, and the back end is substantially planar.
A throwable object according to clause 23 or 24, wherein the body further comprises a battery arranged to power the speaker, and a charging port, wherein the charging port is connected to the battery and located within the back end.
A throwable object according to clause 25, wherein the speaker comprises a speaker cavity housing one or more of the battery, the capacitive proximity sensor, or the throw sensor.
A throwable object according to clause 26, wherein the speaker cavity is a waterproof casing, or is defined by an internal chamber within the body.
A throwable object according to clause 26 or 27, wherein the speaker cavity comprises a passive speaker membrane.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 23 to 28, wherein the speaker cavity extends into the body, towards the front end.
A throwable object according to clause 23 to 29, further comprising a fastener located at the back end of the body, wherein the fastener is arranged to removably connect the body to a tail.
A throwable object according to clause 30, wherein the fastener is one of the group comprising a push-fit fastener, a bayonet fastener, or a screw-fit fastener.
A throwable object according to clause 30 or 31, wherein the tail is one of a group of different tails, and the fastener may removably connect the body to any one of the group of different tails.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 30 to 32, wherein the tail has a major axis that is collinear with a, or the, major axis of the body.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 30 to 33, wherein the tail comprises a capping portion that is shaped to substantially cap the back end.
A throwable object according to clause 34, wherein the capping portion comprises one or more apertures for the passage of sound waves emitted by the speaker.
A throwable object according to any preceding clause, further comprising lift-generating fins extending radially from the body.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 30 to 35 further comprising lift-generating fins extending radially from the tail.
A throwable object according to clause 37, when dependent on clause 33, wherein:
- the tail comprises an elongate rod that is centred about, and extends along, the major axis of the tail;
- and
- the lift-generating fins extend radially from the elongate rod.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 30 to 38, wherein the tail comprises a handle.
A throwable object according to any preceding clause, further comprising a resilient outer body arranged to at least partially encase the body.
A throwable object according to clause 40, wherein the resilient outer body comprises a shock absorbent foam.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 5 to 41, the body further housing a transceiver arranged to transmit travel data and/or information relating to any of the determinations made by the processor.
A throwable object according to clause 42, wherein the transceiver is arranged to wirelessly transmit the travel data and/or information relating to any of the determinations made by the processor using a short-range wireless communications protocol.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 5 to 43, the body further housing a display arranged to display information relating to the travel data and/or information relating to any of the determinations made by the processor.
A throwable object comprising:
- a body having a front end that faces forward when the object is thrown in a forward direction, wherein the front end is shaped to provide the least amount of air resistance against the forward motion of the object when the object is thrown with the front end facing in the forward direction;
- and
- a speaker facing away from the front end so as to direct sound in a backward direction that is substantially opposite to the forward direction.
A throwable object according to clause 45, wherein the body further comprises a major axis, and the speaker has a centre of mass that is substantially centred on the major axis.
A throwable object according to clause 45 or 46, wherein the body further comprises a back end opposing the front end, and the speaker is located within the back end, or adjacent to the back end.
A throwable object according to clause 47, wherein the front end substantially curves towards the back end, and the back end is substantially planar.
A throwable object according to clause 47 or 48, wherein the back end comprises a substantially planer face arranged to intersect the major axis.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 45 to 49, wherein the front end has a three-dimensional shape substantially corresponding to a throwable ball such as a football or rugby ball.
A throwable object according to clause 7 or 50, wherein the body further comprises a battery arranged to power the speaker, and a charging port, wherein the charging port is connected to the battery and located within the back end.
A throwable object according to clause 51, wherein the speaker comprises a speaker cavity housing the battery.
A throwable object according to clause 52, wherein the speaker cavity is a waterproof casing, or is defined by an internal chamber within the body.
A throwable object according to clause 52, wherein the speaker cavity comprises a passive speaker membrane.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 52 to 54, wherein the speaker cavity extends into the body, towards the front end.
A throwable object according to clause 47 to 55, further comprising a fastener located at the back end of the body, wherein the fastener is arranged to removably connect the body to a tail.
A throwable object according to clause 56, wherein the fastener is one of the group comprising a push-fit fastener, a bayonet fastener, or a screw-fit fastener.
A throwable object according to clause 56 or 57, wherein the tail is one of a group of different tails, and the fastener may removably connect the body to any one of the group of different tails.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 56 to 58, wherein the tail has a major axis that is collinear with a, or the, major axis of the body.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 56 to 59, wherein the tail comprises a capping portion that is shaped to substantially cap the back end.
A throwable object according to clause 60, wherein the capping portion comprises one or more apertures for the passage of sound waves from the speaker.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 45 to 61 further comprising lift-generating fins extending radially from the body.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 56 to 61 further comprising lift-generating fins extending radially from the tail.
A throwable object according to clause 63, when dependent on clause 59, wherein:
- the tail has an elongate rod that is centred about, and extends along, the major axis of the tail;
- and
- the lift-generating fins extend radially from the elongate rod.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 59 to 64, wherein the tail comprises a handle.
A throwable object according to any preceding clause, further comprising a resilient outer body arranged to at least partially encase the body.
A throwable object according to clause 66, wherein the resilient outer body comprises a shock absorbent foam.
A throwable object according to any of clauses 45 to 67, wherein the throwable object takes the form of a shuttle, ball, football, projectile, torpedo, or vortex football.
A kit comprising a body and multiple different tail portions that can be interchangeably connected to the body to form multiple different throwable objects.
A kit according to clause 69, wherein:
- the body has a front end that faces forward when the object is thrown in a forward direction, the front end being shaped to provide the least amount of air resistance against the forward motion of the object when the object is thrown with the front end facing in the forward direction;
- and
- a speaker facing away from the front end so as to direct sound in a backward direction that is substantially opposite to the forward direction.
A kit according to clause 69 or 70, wherein the body further comprises a major axis, and the speaker has a centre of mass that is substantially centred on the major axis.
A kit according to any of clauses 69 to 71, wherein the body further comprises a back end opposing the front end, and the speaker is located within the back end, or adjacent to the back end.
A kit according to clause 72, wherein the front end substantially curves towards the back end, and the back end is substantially planar.
A kit according to clause 72 or 73, wherein the back end comprises a substantially planer face arranged to intersect the major axis.
A kit according to any of clauses 69 to 74, wherein the front end has a three-dimensional shape substantially corresponding to a throwable ball such as a football or rugby ball.
A kit according to clause 72 or 75, wherein the body further comprises a battery arranged to power the speaker, and a charging port, wherein the charging port is connected to the battery and located within the back end.
A kit according to clause 76, wherein the speaker comprises a speaker cavity housing the battery.
A kit according to clause 77, wherein the speaker cavity is a waterproof casing, or is defined by an internal chamber within the body.
A kit according to clause 78, wherein the speaker cavity comprises a passive speaker membrane.
A kit according to any of clauses 77 to 79, wherein the speaker cavity extends into the body, towards the front end.
A kit according to clause 72 to 80, further comprising a fastener located at the back end of the body, wherein the fastener is arranged to removably and separately connect the body to each of the multiple different tail portions.
A kit according to clause 81, wherein the fastener is one of the group comprising a push-fit fastener, a bayonet fastener, or a screw-fit fastener.
A kit according to any of clauses 81 to 82, wherein one or more of the tail portions comprise a major axis that is collinear with the major axis of the body, when connected together.
A kit according to clause 83, wherein one or more of the tail portions comprises a capping portion that is shaped to substantially cap the back end.
A kit according to clause 84, wherein the capping portion comprises one or more apertures for the passage of sound waves from the speaker.
A kit according to any of clauses 69 to 85, further comprising lift-generating fins extending radially from the body.
A kit according to any of clauses 83 to 86, wherein one or more of the tail portions further comprises lift-generating fins extending radially from the tail portion.
A kit according to clause 87, wherein:
- the tail portion has an elongate rod that is centred about, and extends along, the major axis of the tail portion;
- and
- the lift-generating fins extend radially from the elongate rod.
A kit according to any of clauses 83 to 88, wherein one or more of the tail portions comprises a handle.
A kit according to any of clauses 69 to 89, the body further comprising a resilient outer body arranged to at least partially encase the body.
A kit according to clause 90, wherein the resilient outer body comprises a shock absorbent foam.
A kit according to any of clauses 69 to 91, wherein the body houses:
- a capacitive proximity sensor arranged to measure a change in capacitance at the surface of the body;
- and
- a processor arranged to determine that the object is in touch-contact, or has been thrown, based on the measured change in capacitance.
A kit according to any of clauses 69 to 91, wherein the body houses a throw sensor comprising at least one of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a barometric pressure sensor, the throw sensor arranged to periodically measure travel data describing the motion of the object.
A kit according to clause 93, wherein the IMU comprises an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and optionally a geomagnetic sensor, arranged to provide travel data relating to one or more of the object's position, speed, height, acceleration, velocity, angular rate, roll, pitch, or yaw.
A kit according to any of clauses 93 to 94, wherein the barometric pressure sensor is arranged to measure the height of the object based on an atmospheric pressure measurement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.