Magical wand and interactive play experience
First Claim
1. An interactive play system for simulating magical effects, the play system comprising:
- a wand having an elongated body including distal and proximal ends, said wand further comprising a light emitting module configured to output a first signal from at least one of said distal and proximal ends;
a display device capable of receiving the first signal at arbitrary positions on the display device;
an image generator configured to cause at least one image to appear on said display device;
at least one camera directed toward at least a portion of said display device and configured to output image data indicative of said arbitrary positions of the first signal; and
control circuitry in communication with said image generator and said at least one camera, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to process said output image data to recognize the arbitrary positions, and wherein said control circuitry is configured to cause said image generator to modify said at least one image based on the arbitrary positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a unique interactive play experience carried out utilizing a toy “wand” and/or other actuation/tracking device. In one embodiment the wand incorporates a wireless transmitter and motion-sensitive circuitry adapted to actuate the transmitter in response to particular learned wand motions. The wand allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment simply by pointing, touching and/or using their wands in a particular manner to achieve desired goals or produce desired effects. Various wireless receivers or actuators are distributed throughout the play facility to support such wireless interaction and to facilitate full immersion in a fantasy experience in which participants can enjoy the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic.
340 Citations
55 Claims
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1. An interactive play system for simulating magical effects, the play system comprising:
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a wand having an elongated body including distal and proximal ends, said wand further comprising a light emitting module configured to output a first signal from at least one of said distal and proximal ends;
a display device capable of receiving the first signal at arbitrary positions on the display device;
an image generator configured to cause at least one image to appear on said display device;
at least one camera directed toward at least a portion of said display device and configured to output image data indicative of said arbitrary positions of the first signal; and
control circuitry in communication with said image generator and said at least one camera, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to process said output image data to recognize the arbitrary positions, and wherein said control circuitry is configured to cause said image generator to modify said at least one image based on the arbitrary positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An interactive play system comprising:
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an orientation-sensitive toy device configured to output a directional wireless signal, wherein said wireless signal is receivable by a display medium at an arbitrary position;
an image generating device configured to display at least one image on said display medium;
a camera configured to output image data indicative of the arbitrary position on the display medium; and
a processor in communication with said camera to receive said output image data, wherein said processor is further configured to recognize from said output image data at least one change in location of the arbitrary position, and wherein said processor is coupled to said image generating device and configured to cause at least one modification to said image based on the at least one change in location of the arbitrary position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of manufacturing an interactive game play system for simulating one or more magical effects, the method comprising:
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providing an orientation-sensitive toy device comprising a light emitting module capable of outputting a directional wireless signal;
providing an image generating device capable of displaying at least one image on a display medium;
providing at least one sensing device capable of detecting an arbitrary position of said wireless signal, wherein said arbitrary position corresponds to a location on the display medium where the display medium intercepts said first signal; and
providing control circuitry capable of communication with the image generating device and the at least one sensing device, wherein said control circuitry is capable of recognizing at least one movement of the arbitrary position, and wherein said processor is also capable of outputting at least one control signal causing said image generating device to modify said image based on the at least movement of the arbitrary position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of interactive game play, said method comprising:
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displaying a first image on a display medium;
sensing a plurality of arbitrary positions of a directional wireless signal, wherein said arbitrary positions correspond to locations on said display medium where said display medium receives said first signal; and
generating a plurality of image data signals indicative of said plurality of arbitrary positions;
processing the plurality of said image data signals to recognize said plurality of arbitrary positions; and
causing a modification of said first image based at least in part on said plurality of arbitrary positions. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A toy device for use in interactive game play, said toy device comprising:
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an elongated body having distal and proximal ends;
a wireless transmitter;
a first motion-sensitive element and a second motion-sensitive element each coupled to said body, wherein said first and second motion-sensitive elements are configured to generate respective first and second signals in response to movement of said body in at least one direction; and
a processor in communication with said first and second motion-sensitive elements so as to receive said first and second signals, wherein said processor is configured to determine a duration of time between receiving the first signal and receiving the second signal, and wherein said processor is further configured to cause the wireless transmitter to output a third signal based on said first signal, said second signal and said duration of time, said third signal being adapted to trigger or control at least one effect. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of generating control signals for use in generating one or more effects during interactive game play, said method comprising:
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sensing with a first motion-sensitive device and a second motion-sensitive device at least one motion of an object having an elongated body, wherein said first and second motion-sensitive devices are disposed within said object;
outputting with said first motion-sensitive device a first signal indicative of the at least one motion of said object;
outputting with said second motion-sensitive device a second signal indicative of the at least one motion of said object;
determining a duration of time between the outputting of said first signal and the outputting of said second signal; and
transmitting at least one wireless signal to a receiver so as to trigger or control one or more effects, wherein said wireless signal is derived from information from said first signal, said second signal and said duration of time. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. An interactive play system for simulating magical effects, the play system comprising:
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a wand having an elongated body including distal and proximal ends, said wand further comprising a light emitting module configured to output a first signal from at least one of said distal and proximal ends;
at least one display object capable of receiving the first signal at arbitrary positions on the at least one display object;
at least one camera directed toward at least a portion of said at least one display object and configured to output image data indicative of said arbitrary positions of the first signal; and
control circuitry in communication with said at least one camera, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to process said output image data to recognize the arbitrary positions, and wherein said control circuitry is configured to trigger or control at least one effect based on the arbitrary positions. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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Specification