Virtual input system

• US 20060040739A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device, such as for a gaming machine, for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator is disclosed. The device comprises a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator and a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.

Claims

1. For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual game interface device for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator, the device comprising;

a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator; and

a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller generates an output signal indicating actuation of the virtual input when the controller determines a portion of the user input actuator is within the virtual input location.

3. The device of claim 1 including a programmable component for selectively adjusting the sensitivity of the position sensing device.

4. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of the position sensing devices.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device includes an electromagnetic transceiver module.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the electromagnetic transceiver module is a Doppler radar sensor.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the Doppler sensor includes a two micro-patch arrays.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein one of the micro-patch arrays functions as a transmitting antenna, and the other of the micro-patch arrays functions as a receiving antenna.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the Doppler sensor is configured for frequency modulated-continuous wave (FM-CW) operation.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the Doppler sensor has a beam width between 15°

to 20°

.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein the Doppler sensor includes a digital signal processor.

12. The device of claim 5 including a plurality of the electromagnetic receivers.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the position locating device includes an ultrasonic sensor module.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the position locating device includes an electromagnetic sensor module.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the position locating device includes a camera sensor.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the camera sensor includes an IR emitter and an IR camera.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the camera sensor includes a conventional camera.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic transceiver module includes a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic transceiver module operate in a frequency range between 38 kHz and 80 kHz.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic transceiver module includes a microprocessor.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device includes an infrared laser scan sensor.

22. The device of claim 1 including a surface, wherein the virtual input is defined substantially on the surface.

23. The device of claim 22 including an image on the surface, the image indicating the location of the virtual input.

24. The device of claim 23, including a projector to project the image on the surface.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the surface is non-planar.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the image is projected as moving on the surface.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the surface is non-planar.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device is an optical sensor.

29. For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual game surface interface device for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator, the device comprising:

a game surface;

an position sensing device for determining a location of the user input; and

a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input substantially on the game surface.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the controller generates an output signal indicating actuation of the virtual input when the controller determines a portion of the user input actuator is within the virtual input location.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein the position sensing device comprises an ultrasonic transceiver module.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein the ultrasonic transceiver module includes a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers.

33. The device of claim 29, wherein the position sensing device includes a microprocessor.

34. The device of claim 29, wherein the surface is non-planar.

35. A user interface comprising:

a surface;

a virtual input defined at a location substantially on the surface;

a non-contacting position sensor determining a location of the user input;

controller coupled to the non-contacting position sensor, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is located at the virtual input.

36. The user interface of claim 35 wherein the non-contacting position sensor comprises an electromagnetic position sensor.

37. The user interface of claim 36, wherein the electromagnetic position sensor comprises a Doppler radar.

38. The user interface of claim 35 including a projector for projecting an image of an input at the location of the virtual input.

39. A method of determining actuation of a virtual input comprising:

defining a virtual position of the virtual input in space;

determining a presence of the input actuator at the virtual input; and

generating a signal indicative of the determination of the presence of the input actuator at the virtual input.

40. The method of claim 39, including using a Doppler sensor to determine the presence of the input actuator at the virtual input.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the virtual position is located on a surface.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the surface is non-planar.

43. The method of claim 39 including:

defining a plurality of virtual inputs in space; and

determining a presence of the input actuator at each of the virtual inputs.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the virtual inputs are located on a surface.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the surface is non-planar.

46. For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator, the device comprising;

a first position sensor module including a first position sensor and a first digital signal processor for creating a first data image of the user input actuator;

a second position sensor module including a second position sensor and a second digital signal processor for creating a second data image of the user input actuator;

a controller defining a virtual location in space of the virtual input, and responsive to the first data image and the second data image to determine whether a portion of the user input actuator is within the virtual location of the virtual input.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the first position sensor is an electromagnetic sensor.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is a Doppler radar.

49. The device of claim 46, wherein the second position sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

50. The device of claim 46 comprising a surface, and the virtual location is defined relative to the surface.

51. The device of claim 46 including an image on the surface, the image including an indicium indicating the location of the virtual location.

52. The device of claim 51 including a projector to project the image on the surface.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein the image is projected as moving on the surface.

54. The device of claim 50, wherein the surface is non-planar.

55. The device of claim 54 including an image on the surface, the image including an indicium indicating the location of the virtual location.

56. The device of claim 55 including a projector to project the image on the surface.

57. The device of claim 56, wherein the image is projected as moving on the surface.

58. A method of attracting players to a gaming machine comprising:

sensing a potential player in a vicinity of the gaming machine;

upon detection of the potential player, projecting a dynamic image on a surface of the gaming machine, the dynamic image including an indicium defining a location of a virtual input to the gaming machine; and

initiating a game up on actuation of the virtual input.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the indicium is dynamic.

60. The method of claim 58 including:

sensing a characteristic of the potential player; and

selecting the dynamic image to be projected based upon the sensed characteristic of the potential player.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the characteristic is gender.