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US 4,894,040 AGranted
Toy building element with elements for providing positional information
AssigneeInterlego A.G.
InventorsErik Bach, Allan Toft
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy construction set may utilize blocks with electrical connections, this block receives electrical power, outputs energy in the electromagnetic spectrum, receives reflected energy and outputs a result to be utilized elsewhere in the toy assembly. Though it has connectors to attach it to other like blocks, it has a bearing shaft to enable an anemometer (FIG. 5) or a tachometer. It may sense bar codes and enable an assembled vehicle to accept trackway commands.
Claims8
A toy building set with elements featuring projections on one surface engageable with apertures on a surface of another element;
- at least one element for providing positional information by detection of reflected energy, such as light, said one element including both an energy radiating source and an energy receiving detector and including at least one of said projections on one surface and said apertures on another surface which provide means for mechanically coupling said one element with other elements belonging to the building set, a power input means for driving said energy radiating source and a signal output means as a conduit for a signal from said energy receiving detector;
- energy reflecting means;
- and,
- means for operatively coupling said one element with said energy reflecting means.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.