Object Tracking Interface Device for Computers and Gaming Consoles

• US 20090061971A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visual Sports Systems
• Original Assignee: Visual Sports Systems
• Inventors: Muellerchen, Peter, Weitzner, Daniel, Monestier, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/848,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20090061971A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/22 Dancing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 : for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 : for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 : Ball

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an object tracking interface device for use with computers and game consoles. The object tracking interface device tracks the movement of a moving object within the field of view of the object tracking interface device and provides input to the computer or game console on the movement of the moving object. The object tracking interface device comprises one or more detection means which view a viewed space through which the moving object moves, a means for receiving the output of the detection means for determining the presence of a moving object, a means calculating one or more parameters of the movement of the moving object, and a means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object into a signal which can be input into the computer or gaming console. The present invention also provides an apparatus for a sports simulation game for playing of sports utilizing a moving object, the game comprising a display screen, a object tracking interface device for tracking the movement of the moving object within the field of view of the object tracking interface, a projector for displaying the sports simulation game on the screen and a computer or game console for operation the sports simulation game. The object tracking interface device includes at least one detection means mounted at each of the top corners of the screen to provide a field of view of the detection means to cover the space in front of the screen. The object tracking interface device also includes a means for receiving the output of the detection means for determining the presence of a moving object, a means for calculating one or more parameters of the movement of the moving object and a means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object into a signal which can be input into the computer or gaming console.

Claims

1. An object tracking interface device for use with computers and game consoles for tracking the movement of a moving object within the field of view of the object tracking interface device and providing input to the computer or game console on the movement of the moving object, the object tracking interface device comprising one or more detection means which view a viewed space through which the moving object moves, a means for receiving the output of the digital means for determining the presence of a moving object and a means to calculating one or more parameters of the movement of the moving object and a means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object into a signal which can be input into the computer or gaming console.

2. An object tracking interface device according to claim 1 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the position and velocity vector of the moving object.

3. An object tracking interface device according to claim 2 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the spin of the moving object as well as the position and velocity of the moving object.

4. An object tracking interface device according to claim 3 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters of the moving object into a signal mimicking a mouse, joystick or game controller input.

5. An object tracking interface device according to claim 3 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters into a human interface device signal which is passed to the computer or gaming console through a universal serial bus.

6. An object tracking interface device according to claim 1 wherein, the detection means is a digital camera.

7. An object tracking interface device according to claim 6 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the position and velocity vector of the moving object.

8. An object tracking interface device according to claim 7 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the spin of the moving object as well as the position and velocity of the moving object.

9. An object tracking interface device according to claim 8 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters of the moving object into a signal mimicking a mouse, joystick or game controller input.

10. An object tracking interface device according to claim 9 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters into a human interface device signal which is passed to the computer or gaming console through a universal serial bus.

11. An apparatus for a sports simulation game for playing of sports utilizing a moving object, the apparatus comprising a display screen, an object tracking interface device for tracking the movement of the moving object toward the screen within the field of view of the object tracking interface device, a projector for displaying the sports simulation game on the screen and a computer or game console for operation of the sports simulation game, the object tracking interface device comprising at least one detection means mounted at each of the top corners of the screen to provide a field of view of the detection means to cover the space in front of the screen, a means for receiving the output of the detection means for determining the presence of a moving object, a means for calculating one or more parameters of the movement of the moving object and a means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object into a signal for input into the computer or gaming console.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the position and velocity vector of the moving object.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the spin of the moving object as well as the position and velocity of the moving object.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters of the moving object into a signal mimicking a mouse, joystick or game controller input.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters into a human interface device signal which is passed to the computer or gaming console through a universal serial bus.

16. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein, the detection means is a digital camera.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the position and velocity vector of the moving object.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein, the means for calculating the one or more parameters calculates the spin of the moving object as well as the position and velocity of the moving object.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters of the moving object into a signal mimicking a mouse, joystick or game controller input.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein, the means for converting the parameters of the movement of the moving object converts the parameters into a human interface device signal which is passed to the computer or gaming console through a universal serial bus.