ILLUMINATING PUZZLE APPARATUS

Abstract

An illuminating puzzle apparatus includes a puzzle base and a puzzle piece removably placed on the puzzle base. The apparatus further includes a light sensor disposed on the puzzle base that emits an activation signal when the light sensor transitions from a light receiving state to a darkness state. The apparatus further includes a light disposed on the puzzle base and in proximity to the light sensor. The apparatus additionally includes a processor that obtains the activation signal from the light sensor when the puzzle piece is placed on the puzzle base above the light sensor and transmits a command signal to the light to illuminate the light, responsive to obtaining the activation signal.

Claims

1. An illuminating puzzle apparatus, comprising: a puzzle base; a puzzle piece configured to be removably placed on the puzzle base; a light sensor disposed on the puzzle base, wherein the light sensor is configured to emit an activation signal when the light sensor transitions from a light receiving state to a darkness state; a light emitting diode (LED) element disposed on the puzzle base and in proximity to the light sensor; and a processor electrically coupled with the light sensor and the LED element, wherein the processor is operative to: obtain the activation signal from the light sensor when the puzzle piece is placed on the puzzle base above the light sensor; and transmit a first command signal to the LED element to illuminate the LED element, responsive to obtaining the activation signal.

2. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the puzzle piece comprises a printed image on a puzzle piece top surface.

3. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 2, wherein the LED element is operative to illuminate with a light pattern correlated to the printed image.

4. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a speaker configured to output sound, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a second command signal to the speaker to output sound, responsive to obtaining the activation signal.

5. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sound is output in a pattern forming music.

6. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 4, wherein the puzzle piece comprises a printed image on a puzzle piece top surface and the sound output by the speaker responsive to obtaining the second command signal from the processor is correlated to the printed image.

7. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sensor exhibits the light receiving state upon receiving ambient light, and wherein the light sensor exhibits the darkness state upon not receiving the ambient light.

8. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a puzzle base cover operative to cover and be secured to the puzzle base, wherein the puzzle base cover is configured to receive the puzzle piece.

9. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional light sensors configured to emit the activation signal upon transitioning to the darkness state and one or more additional puzzle pieces corresponding to the one or more additional light sensors, wherein the processor is further operative to transmit one or more additional command signals indicating completion of a puzzle pattern when the one or more additional light sensors emit the activation signal.

10. The illuminating puzzle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the puzzle base further comprises an aperture formed thereon, operative to accept a nail for hanging, and wherein the puzzle base, the puzzle piece, the light sensor, the LED, and the processor are configured to maintain position when the illuminating puzzle apparatus is hung against a surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illuminating puzzle apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view depicting the components of the illuminating puzzle apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view thereof.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0015] For a further understanding of the nature and function of the embodiments, reference should be made to the following detailed description. Detailed descriptions of the embodiments are provided herein, as well as the best mode of carrying out and employing the present invention. It will be readily appreciated that the embodiments are well adapted to carry out and obtain the ends and features mentioned as well as those inherent herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following disclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting, as the specific details disclosed herein provide a basis for the claims and a representative basis for teaching to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or manner. It should be understood that the devices, materials, methods, procedures, and techniques described herein are presently representative of various embodiments. Other embodiments of the disclosure will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0017] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an illuminating puzzle apparatus 10 (or apparatus 10) in accordance with embodiments of the invention. FIG. 1 will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Specifically, FIG. 2 depicts an exploded perspective view of the components of the apparatus 10, and FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged and detailed perspective view of the apparatus 10 showing emitted light and music. Further, FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view and a schematic diagram of the wiring of the apparatus 10.

[0018] The apparatus 10 may be configured to output lights and music when a user completes the puzzle associated with the apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 may include a plurality of units including, but not limited to, a puzzle base 12, one or more puzzle pieces 14 (illuminated puzzle pieces are shown as puzzle pieces 14A in FIGS. 1 and 4), printed images 16 on the puzzle pieces 14, puzzle base cover 18, light emitting diode (LED) elements 20, light sensors 22, electric wiring 26, one or more batteries 28, one or more speakers 30, a power switch 32, a computer chip/controller/processor 34, and/or the like. The power switch 32 may enable a user to switch the apparatus 10 ON or OFF, i.e., to activate power to the LED elements 20 and the speakers 30. The puzzle pieces 14 may be configured to be removably placed on the puzzle base 12, specifically on the puzzle base cover 18.

[0019] When the apparatus 10 is switched ON and the user inserts or puts a puzzle piece 14 on its designated area/place on the puzzle base 12/puzzle base cover 18, the LED elements 20 underneath the puzzle piece 14 and its designated area may light up, as shown in FIG. 3, as emitted light 24A. Further, music may be emitted when the puzzle piece 14 is inserted on its designated area/place, shown in FIG. 3 as emitted sound 24B. In an example, when the user places a puzzle piece having a picture of a light source printed on it in its designated place on the apparatus 10, that piece lights up and music is emitted. Once all the puzzle pieces are inserted in their designated places on the puzzle base cover 18, light shows through specific puzzle pieces (for example, the star and the moon) from the puzzle base 12 and music is played. According to a specific embodiment of the apparatus 10, the lights may flicker or change colors along with playing music. When completed, the puzzle base 12 may be hung on a wall.

[0020] In some aspects, the puzzle base 12 may be made of wood, plastic, acrylic, and/or the like, and may house all the electric components of the apparatus 10 (including the electric wiring 26 that connects all apparatus components). The bottom side of the puzzle base 12 may include an opening in the back for the battery 28 or an opening on the side to charge a rechargeable battery of the apparatus 10. In further aspects, the puzzle base 12 may include one or more openings in proximity to the speaker 30 to enable sound waves to propagate out of the apparatus 10 from the speaker 30. The puzzle base 12 may further include one or more openings for nails to hang the puzzle base 12 and the complete apparatus 10 on a wall. Furthermore, the LED elements 20 and the light sensors 22 may be positioned on the puzzle base 12 according to where the light source is on the final artwork (puzzle pieces). Stated another way, the LED elements 20 and the light sensors 22 may be positioned on the puzzle base 12 underneath the corresponding puzzle piece 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the light sensors 22 may be disposed adjacent to or in proximity to the LED elements 20.

[0021] The puzzle base cover 18 may also be made of wood, plastic, acrylic, and/or the like, and configured to cover and be secured with the puzzle base 12. During manufacturing of the apparatus 10, holes may be drilled through the puzzle base cover 18 to enable/allow the LED elements 20 and the light sensors 22 to poke out.

[0022] Further, the puzzle pieces 14 may be made of acrylic, and may have printed artwork (e.g., the printed image 16) on the puzzle piece top surface. In some aspects, the printed image 16 may not substantially obstruct the light emitted by the LED elements 20, and may allow the light (emitted by the LED elements 20) to effectively spread out or emanate from the puzzle piece top surface.

[0023] In some aspects, most of the apparatus components, e.g., the LED elements 20, the light sensors 22, the electric wiring 26, the battery 28, the speaker 30, the processor 34, etc., may be disposed in the puzzle base 12. During operation, when the user inserts a puzzle piece (e.g., the puzzle piece 14) in its designated place on the apparatus 10/puzzle base 12 over a light sensor (e.g., the light sensor 22) exposed to light, the light sensor 22 detects a transition from light to darkness over the previously empty slot on the apparatus 10 (since the puzzle piece 14 may be disposed over the light sensor 22, thereby obstructing light input to the light sensor 22). Responsive to detecting the transition from a light receiving state to a darkness state, the light sensor 22 may output an activation signal to the processor 34. In some aspects, the light sensor 22 may be configured to receive ambient light when the light sensor 22 is in the light receiving state, and not receive ambient light when the light sensor 22 is in the darkness state.

[0024] Responsive to obtaining the activation signal from the light sensor 22, the processor 34 may transmit a first command signal to an LED element (e.g., the LED element 20) associated with the light sensor 22. Specifically, the LED element 20 may be disposed adjacent to the light sensor 22 and underneath the inserted puzzle piece 14. The LED element 20 may illuminate/activate responsive to obtaining the first command signal. In this manner, the LED element 20 underneath the puzzle piece 14 lights when the user inserts the puzzle piece 14 in its designated place in the apparatus 10.

[0025] In further aspects, responsive to obtaining the activation signal from the light sensor 22, the processor 34 may transmit a second command signal to the speaker 30. The speaker 30 may output sound/music associated with the light sensor 22 responsive to obtaining the second command signal. In some aspects, the light (or light pattern) produced/emitted by the LED element 20 (responsive to obtaining the first command signal) and/or the sound/music emitted by the speaker 30 (responsive to obtaining the second command signal) may correspond to or be associated with the printed image 16 on the puzzle piece 14. For example, if the printed image 16 is associated with a candle, the emitted light may flicker. As another example, if the printed image 16 is associated with Christmas lights, the emitted lights may change colors.

[0026] In some aspects, the processor 34 may be programmed to control the light show from the LED elements 20 and play music with the speaker 30 when the puzzle is completed (i.e., when the puzzle piece 14 is inserted in its correct/designated position in the apparatus 10). The processor 34 may be specifically programmed to recognize the shift of light to dark using the light sensor 22 (e.g., by obtaining the activation signal from the light sensor 22) and then control the light show with the LED elements 20 and play music with the speaker 30 when the puzzle is completed.

[0027] To use the apparatus 10, the user may work on the puzzle, get a light feedback on specific puzzle pieces when placed in the correct position, and complete the puzzle to enjoy the light show and music. In some aspects, the apparatus 10 may be additionally used for a music game and/or art. For example, the intensity of the light emitted from the LED elements 20 may be made to change, and the changing of the light colors may be synchronized with the music emitted from the speaker 30 (which may accordingly change).

[0028] Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article a or an if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, the description or a claim to a single element to which the article refers. Rather, the article a or an if and as used herein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the text expressly indicates otherwise.

[0029] This invention is susceptible to considerable variation within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.