Embodiments disclosed herein include methods and apparatus for tracking three-dimensional puzzle components using embedded signature and rotation sensors. A system of unique signatures enable the identification of the components by internal sensors and rotation sensors enable tracking the components as the move around on the puzzle surface. The system fosters greater enjoyment of the puzzles by offering interactive feedback and guidance. Competitions are also facilitated.

Presented herein is an electronic gaming device comprising a first axel with a first center cubelet rotatably coupled to the first axel, a first sensor operatively coupled to the first axel to detect rotation of the first cubelet, and responsive to detecting rotation of the first cubelet, transmit a first signal, a second axel with a second center cubelet rotatably coupled to the second axel, a second sensor operatively coupled to the second axel to detect rotation of the second cubelet, and responsive to detecting rotation of the second cubelet, transmit a second signal, a third axel with a third center cubelet rotatably coupled to the third axel, a third sensor operatively coupled to the third axel to detect rotation of the third cubelet, and responsive to detecting rotation of the third cubelet, transmit a third signal, a plurality of interchangeable cubelets positioned about the first, second, and third axel such that mechanical rotation of a set of the interchangeable cubelets having a common plane causes one of the first, second, and third sensors to transmit one of the first, second, and third signals, storage for storing a position of each of the plurality of interchangeable cubelets, and a processor configured to receive signals from one of the first, second, and third sensors, determine changes in the position of the some of the cubelets, and write the changed positions for the some of the cubelets in the storage.

A smart magic cube with a ball shaft includes the ball shaft, six center blocks, eight corner blocks fitted with the center blocks, and twelve edge blocks fitted with the corner blocks and the center blocks. The center blocks are respectively arranged on a rotating shaft sensing assembly of the ball shaft. The smart magic cube with the ball shaft has a, clever design. Six printed circuit boards consist an electronic control system of the ball shaft. With each rotating shaft sensing assembly installed on each of the printed circuit boards, position sensing of the smart magic cube is accurate and a rate of lost steps of the smart magic cube is reduced. Further, the smart magic cube is not assembled by wire welding, has high integration, has a low cost, and is easy to assemble.

Disclosed are a smart spindle with a replaceable battery, and a smart Rubik's cube. The smart spindle comprises a core (100), a sensor (200) and a main control module (310), wherein the core (100) comprises a housing (110) with a cavity (111); the main control module (310) is mounted inside the cavity (111); the sensor (200) is electrically connected to the main control module (310); the sensor (200) is mounted at the core (100); the cavity (111) is also used for mounting a battery (400), the housing (110) is provided with a notch (112) for having access to the battery (400), and the notch (112) is in communication with the cavity (111); or, the exterior of the housing (110) is used for mounting the battery (400), and the housing (110) is provided with a through hole (113), such that the cavity (111) is in communication with the exterior of the housing (110) via the through hole (113). When the power for the smart Rubik's cube is insufficient, a player can remove the used battery and replace same with a fresh battery, such that the smart Rubik's cube can continue to be used immediately, without the need to perform charging and the need to stop use for a period of time, thereby facilitating the use by the player.

A smart center shaft, a smart Rubik's Cube, and a timing method therefor. The smart center shaft comprises a core, a sensor, and a master control module. The core comprises a housing having a cavity. The sensor is mounted on the core. The sensor comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator is fixed on the housing. The rotor is configured to be connected and rotate simultaneously with a Rubik's Cube layer of the smart Rubik's Cube, thus allowing the rotor to rotate with the Rubik's Cube layer relative to the stator. The master control module is mounted within the cavity. The master control module is electrically connected to the sensor. The master control module acquires a rotation signal of the Rubik's Cube layer on the basis of the relative rotation between the rotor and the stator. The sensor and the core form one integral body, the degree of integration is high, and the consideration of complex assembly relations between the stator and a center block or an intermediate connecting block is avoided.

A Rubik's cube includes a plurality of blocks. Each block is spliced from a splicing piece, a central shell and a mounting base, splicing piece is mounted at top of central shell, mounting base is mounted at bottom of central shell; an outer side of central shell forms a friction surface; central shell is provided with a first mating portion, splicing piece is provided with a second mating portion fixedly connected to first mating portion by snap-fitting; bottom of central shell is provided with a third mating portion, mounting base is provided with a fourth mating portion fixedly connected to third mating portion by snap-fitting; a color piece is mounted on splicing piece, an outer side of color piece forms an exhibition surface, color piece is provided with a fifth mating portion, splicing piece is provided with a sixth mating portion fixedly connected to fifth mating portion by snap-fitting.

A cube puzzle solver includes: a position sensing element; at least one user interface (UI) output; and a controller that receives position information from the position sensing element, determines a suggested move, and directs the at least one UI output to provide an indication associated with the suggested move. An automated method of determining a position of a cube puzzle solver includes: monitoring a set of sense pins; identifying rotation based on a change in state of at least one sense pin; identifying a face associated with the identified rotation; and updating a state of the cube puzzle solver based on the identified face and the identified rotation. A cube puzzle system includes: a cube puzzle device including: a wireless communication interface; and a user device communicatively coupled to the cube puzzle solver over the wireless communication interface.

A three-dimensional platform comprising a tessellated surface of pieces, each piece comprising a top and sides. The pieces comprise a fixed square piece having at least two opposing sides orientated acutely relative to the top to define a fixed square retention surface. The remaining surfaces orientate substantially perpendicular relative to the top. There is a mobile square piece having at least two opposing sides orientated obtusely relative to the top to define a mobile square retention surface. The remaining surfaces are oriented substantially perpendicular relative to the top. A mobile triangular piece having all sides orientated obtusely relative to the top. The fixed square retention surface indexes only with either the mobile square retention surface or the triangular piece surface to effect retention of the pieces to define the three-dimensional platform.

An intelligent magic cube, and a sensing shaft center structure and a timing method used thereby. The sensing shaft center structure comprises a main body; the main body comprises a core (1) having an internal cavity, and several tubular shafts (2) communicated with the core (1). An internal central control module (3) is provided inside the cavity, and comprises a state obtaining unit. Each tubular shaft (2) is provided with a state signal sending set (4). The state signal sending set (4) comprises a signal selector and multiple signal exciters. The signal selector may be paired with any signal exciter, and generate a corresponding state signal. The state obtaining unit is configured to be able to receive the state signal sent from the state signal sending set (4).

A sensor used by a smart magic cube is disclosed. The sensor includes: a stator configured to be fixedly disposed on the smart magic cube; a first rotor rotatable in synchronization with a first magic cube layer of the smart magic cube, such that when the first rotor rotates with the first magic cube layer with respect to the stator, the stator or the first rotor outputs a rotation signal of the first magic cube layer; and a second rotor rotatable in synchronization with a second magic cube layer of the smart magic cube, such that when the second rotor rotates with the second magic cube layer with respect to the stator, the stator or the second rotor outputs a rotation signal of the second magic cube layer. A smart center shaft, a smart magic cube and a monitoring method for the smart magic cube are also disclosed.