Toy set with sensor and controller or actuator

Abstract

A toy or play set is provided that includes one or more components having a sensor with a state, and an actuator coupled to the sensor. The sensor is capable of sensing an action of a user/object in the play area or a proximity of the object and setting the state of the sensor in accordance with the sensed action or proximity. A controller determines the state of the sensor and performs or initiates an action in accordance with the state of the sensor.

1 . A toy set, comprising:
 a movable toy object;   a play area, comprising a sensor having a state; and   an actuator coupled to the sensor,   wherein
 the sensor is operable to sense a proximity of the toy object to the sensor and set the state of the sensor in accordance with the sensed proximity, and 
 the actuator is operable to determine the state of the sensor and perform an action in accordance with the state of the sensor. 
   
   
   
       2 . The toy set of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is wirelessly coupled to the sensor. 
   
   
       3 . The toy set of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder. 
   
   
       4 . The toy set of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor further comprises one of a switch and a light sensor. 
   
   
       5 . The toy set of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator determines the state of the sensor by interrogating the RFID transponder and is further capable of supplying the sensor with electrical power during the interrogation of the RFID transponder. 
   
   
       6 . The toy set of  claim 1 , wherein the play area further comprises a second movable toy object and the action comprises moving the second toy object. 
   
   
       7 . The toy set of  claim 1 , wherein the play area further comprises an indicator and the action comprises one of activating and deactivating the indicator. 
   
   
       8 . A toy set, comprising:
 a play area, comprising a sensor having a state; and   an actuator wirelessly coupled to the sensor,   wherein
 the sensor is capable of sensing an action of a user in the play area and setting the state of the sensor in accordance with the sensed action, and 
 the actuator is capable of determining the state of the sensor and performing an action in accordance with the state of the sensor. 
   
   
   
       9 . The toy set of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder. 
   
   
       10 . The toy set of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor further comprises a manually actuated switch. 
   
   
       11 . The toy set of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator determines the state of the sensor by interrogating the RFID transponder and is further capable of supplying the sensor with electrical power during the interrogation of the RFID transponder. 
   
   
       12 . The toy set of  claim 8 , wherein the play area further comprises a movable toy object and the action comprises moving the toy object. 
   
   
       13 . The toy set of  claim 8 , wherein the play area further comprises an indicator and the action comprises one of activating and deactivating the indicator. 
   
   
       14 . A toy set section, comprising:
 a sensor having a state;   a sound controller coupled to the sensor; and   a sound actuator coupled to the sound controller,   wherein
 the sensor is operable to sense passage of a toy object over the toy set section and set the state of the sensor in accordance with the sensed passage, 
 the sound controller is operable to determine the state of the sensor and cause the sound actuator to produce a sound in accordance with the state of the sensor, and 
 the toy set section has an external physical configuration that enables operational cooperation with other toy set sections. 
   
   
   
       15 . The toy set section of  claim 14 , wherein the toy set section includes an interior cavity in which the sensor, sound controller and sound actuator are located. 
   
   
       16 . The toy set section of  claim 15 , wherein the toy set section comprises a first piece and second piece, the first piece coupling with the second piece to form an outer surface of the toy set section and the interior cavity of the toy set section. 
   
   
       17 . A toy set comprising a first section and a second section, wherein:
 the first section and second section include features capable of cooperating to mechanically couple the first section and the second section;   the first section is substantially solid; and   the second section comprises a first piece and second piece, the first piece coupling to the second piece to form an outer surface and an interior cavity.   
   
   
       18 . The toy set of  claim 17 , wherein the second section further comprises:
 a sensor having a state;   a sound controller coupled to the sensor; and   a sound actuator coupled to the sound controller,   wherein
 the sensor is capable of sensing passage of a toy object over the toy set section and setting the state of the sensor in accordance with the sensed passage, 
 the sound controller is capable of determining the state of the sensor and causing the sound actuator to produce a sound in accordance with the state of the sensor, and 
 the sensor, sound controller and sound actuator are located in the interior cavity. 
   
   
   
       19 . A toy set, comprising a first section and a second section, wherein:
 the first section comprises a sensor having a state;   the second section comprises an actuator wirelessly coupled to the sensor, the sensor capable of sensing a proximity of a toy object to the sensor and setting the state of the sensor in accordance with the sensed proximity and the actuator capable of determining the state of the sensor and performing an action in accordance with the state of the sensor; and   the first and second sections having external physical configurations that enable operational cooperation with other toy set sections.