Shape Changing Playing Pieces

Abstract

A playing piece ( 10, 20 ) for use in a board game, and comprising at least one shapeable segment ( 11, 21 ), an input ( 12 ) and shaping means ( 13 ). An input signal from an outside control unit ( 17 ) is received at the input ( 12 ), the input signal representing a particular shape and/or size of the playing piece ( 10, 20 ). The shaping means ( 13 ) couples the input ( 12 ) to the shapeable segment ( 11, 21 ) to deform the shapeable segment ( 11, 21 ) in dependence of the input signal, for obtaining the particular shape and/or size of the playing piece ( 10, 20 ).

1 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) for use in a board game, and comprising:
 an input ( 12 ) for receiving an input signal from an outside control unit ( 17 ), the input signal representing a particular shape and/or size of the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ), and   at least one shapeable segment ( 11 ,  21 ),   shaping means ( 13 ) for coupling the input ( 12 ) to the at least one shapeable segment ( 11 ,  21 ) to deform the shapeable segment ( 11 ,  21 ) in dependence of the input signal for obtaining the particular shape and/or size of the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ).   
   
   
       2 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an output ( 14 ) for sending playing piece information to the outside control unit ( 17 ), the playing piece information comprising at least one out of the group: identification for indicating the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ), location for indicating a position of the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) and, sensor output for indicating information sensed by the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ). 
   
   
       3 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shaping means ( 13 ) is constructed for sequentially transforming neighboring groups ( 141 - 144 ) of shapeable segments ( 11 ,  21 ) of the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) for moving the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ). 
   
   
       4 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shapeable segment ( 21 ) comprises a skeleton of nodes ( 32 ) and edges ( 31 ), each node ( 32 ) joining at least two edges ( 31 ), at least part of the edges ( 31 ) being a controlled actuator edge ( 40 ), and wherein the shaping means ( 13 ) is constructed for adjusting a length of the controllable actuator edge ( 40 ). 
   
   
       5 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a stretchable material for covering the outer faces of the skeleton. 
   
   
       6 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the stretchable material is attached to the nodes ( 32 ) only. 
   
   
       7 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  91 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the skeleton encloses a cavity ( 92 ). 
   
   
       8 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  91 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the cavity ( 92 ) comprises the shaping means ( 13 ). 
   
   
       9 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shapeable segment ( 11 ) comprises at least one channel ( 110 ), walls of at least part of the channel ( 110 ) comprising a pair of electrodes ( 113 ,  114 ), the shaping means ( 13 ) comprising a voltage source for applying a voltage difference between the electrodes ( 113 ,  114 ) of at least one pair of electrodes ( 113 ,  114 ) for contraction or stretching of the corresponding channel ( 110 ). 
   
   
       10 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the walls comprise elastic material for recovering the corresponding channel ( 110 ) to its original shape after removal of the applied voltage difference. 
   
   
       11 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the walls comprise electrically isolating material for preventing electrical contact between the electrodes of the at least one pair. 
   
   
       12 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the walls comprise a polymer layer. 
   
   
       13 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a cross section of at least one channel of the plurality of channels is hexagonal. 
   
   
       14 . A playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the shapeable segment ( 11 ) comprises a plurality of the channels ( 10 ), walls of each channel ( 110 ) of the plurality of channels ( 110 ) comprising a corresponding pair of electrodes ( 113 ,  114 ) and wherein the shaping means ( 13 ) is constructed for applying the voltage difference between the electrodes ( 113 ,  114 ) of each pair of electrodes ( 113 ,  114 ) independently. 
   
   
       15 . A system for playing board games, comprising
 at least one playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) as claimed in  1 ,   a game board ( 16 ) for supporting the at least one playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ),   the outside control unit ( 17 ) for sending the input signal to the input ( 12 ) of the at least one playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ).   
   
   
       16 . A system for playing board games as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein
 the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) comprises an output ( 14 ) for sending playing piece information to the outside control unit ( 17 ), the playing piece information comprising at least one out of the group identification for indicating the playing piece, location for indicating a position of the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ) and, sensor output for indicating information sensed by the playing piece ( 10 ,  20 ), and   the outside control unit ( 17 ) is arranged for receiving the playing piece information and for providing the input signal based on the playing piece information.