Input unit for games and musical keyboards

• US 20050057495A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Parker, Andrew J., Taylor, Charles E., Brenner, Patricia I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/161 with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing graphical user interface or touchscreen input G10H2220/091; microtonal keyboard G10H2210/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/415 Infrared beams

Abstract

A computer game system uses an infrared sensor which produces an infrared light to produce pulse of infrared light. Optics focus reflections from the infrared light pulse from different portions of the environment to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors. The detectors produce indications of the distance of the closest objects. The indications can be used by a processor to determine each action. The determined action can be used as input to a computer game. The infrared sensor can also be used with a musical keyboard system.

Claims

1. A computer game system comprising:

an infrared sensor, the sensor including an infrared light source to produce pulses of infrared light, optics to focus reflections from the infrared light pulse from different portions of the environment to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors, the detectors producing indications of the distances to the closest object in an associated portion of the environment; and

a processor receiving the indications from the infrared sensor to determine a user action, the processor interpreting the action as an input to a computer game, the processor providing the input to the computer game.

2. The computer game system of claim 1, further including a computer game display.

3. The computer game system of claim 1, wherein different areas of the environment are associated with different input values.

4. The computer game system of claim 1, wherein the interpretation of a user input changes during the operation of the computer game.

5. The computer game system of claim 1, wherein the computer game system is a PC-based system.

6. The computer game system of claim 1, wherein the computer game system is a console-based system.

7. A method comprising:

producing pulses of infrared light;

focusing reflections of the infrared light pulse from different portions of the environment to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors;

at the detectors, producing indications of the distances to the closest object in associated portions of the environment; and

using the indications from the infrared sensor to determine a user action which is interpreted as an input to a computer game.

8. The method of claim 7, further including displaying the computer game.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein different areas of the environment are associated with different inputs in the computer game.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the interpretation of a user input changes during the operation of the computer game.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the method operates on a PC-based system.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the method operates on a console-based system.

13. A music keyboard system comprising:

an infrared sensor, the sensor including an infrared light source to produce pulses of infrared light, optics to focus reflections from the infrared light pulse from different portions of the environment to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors, the detectors producing indications of the distances to the closest objects in associated portions of the environment; and

a processor receiving the indications from the infrared sensor to determine a user selected music keyboard key, the processor initiating the production of a musical sound corresponding to the music keyboard key.

14. The music keyboard system of claim 13, further comprising a speaker for producing the musical sound.

15. The music keyboard system of claim 13, further comprising a musical keyboard display generator.

16. The music keyboard system of claim 15, wherein the musical keyboard display generator produces a projected light display.

17. The music keyboard system of claim 15, wherein the indications are used to determine a user'"'"'s finger touching a musical keyboard key location.

18. The music keyboard system of claim 15, wherein the indications are used to determine a user'"'"'s finger position.

19. The music keyboard system of claim 15, wherein the indications are used to determine a user'"'"'s finger velocity.