Touch sensitive juggling apparatus
OwnerJD Clemon Lee Meredithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary interactive device and method are disclosed that electronically tracks the manipulation of the device by a person and guides via visual or sensory feedback to the person their performance in juggling or manipulating that device, e.g., as a teaching or reinforcement tool for the person to learn or practice juggling or for enhancing a performance in relation to that device. The exemplary method allows the exemplary device to be fabricated having a center of mass conducive for juggling and consistent or repeatable manipulation. The exemplary device is configured to receive and track programmable inputs from the user to adjust the visual or sensory feedback and to adjust the mode of operation for play or performance.
Claims18
A juggling apparatus comprising:
- an object that forms a shell having an inside surface and an outside surface to define a volume therein;
- a plurality of sensors disposed on or at the shell, including a first sensor disposed at a first location and a second sensor disposed at a second location, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are each configured to capacitively touch or contact and provide a measured capacitance signal;
- a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on or at the shell at a plurality of locations on or at the shell;
- and
- a controller assembly comprising a housing and a controller, the controller being configured to (i) receive the measured capacitance signal, the controller being configured, (ii) track a number of touch or contact, and (iii) direct output to the plurality of light emitting diodes based on the tracked number of touch or contact
- wherein the housing is fixably coupled to an energy storage device, and wherein the controller assembly has a center of mass with or without a counterweight, the controller assembly being fixably positioned within the volume of the shell such that the center of mass of the controller assembly with or without the counterweight is at or near a center of mass of the apparatus.
A method comprising:
- forming an object for a juggling apparatus, the object having a shell having an inside surface and an outside surface to define a volume therein;
- mounting a plurality of sensors on or at the shell, including a first sensor disposed at a first location and a second sensor disposed at a second location, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are each configured to capacitively touch or contact and provide a measured capacitance signal;
- mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on or at the shell at a plurality of locations of the shell;
- and
- mounting a controller assembly comprising a housing and a controller in the shell, the controller being configured to (i) receive the measured capacitance signal, the controller being configured (by instructions or electric circuit), (ii) track a number of touch or contact, and (iii) direct output to the plurality of light emitting diodes based on the tracked number of touch or contact,
- wherein the housing is fixably coupled to an energy storage device, and wherein the controller assembly has a center of mass, and wherein the controller assembly is fixably positioned within the volume of the shell at or near a center of mass of the apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.