SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE TOYS BASED ON RECOGNITION AND TRACKING OF PRE-PROGRAMMED ACCESSORIES

• US 20100099493A1
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EyeCue Vision Technologies LTD
• Original Assignee: EyeCue Vision Technologies LTD
• Inventors: HOROVITZ, Ronen
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0007 Games with therapeutic effects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2419 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/287 Cameras therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys

Abstract

A system and method for interactive play that includes an object having a visible characteristic such as a color pattern that is recognizable in an image. The color pattern may be associated with an instruction. An imager in a toy captures an image of the object that is processed by a processor in the toy. The processor identifies the visible characteristic and finds the instruction associated with the visible characteristic. The processor may signal an output device of the toy to take an action in accordance with the instruction.

Claims

1. A system for interactive toys comprising:

a object comprising;

a visible characteristic, said characteristic having a predefined association to a instruction from among a set of instructions; and

a housing for a toy, said housing to hold;

an imager, said imager to capture an image, said image including said object;

a memory, said memory to store said instruction, said set of instructions and said association between said visible characteristic and said instruction;

an output device, said output device suitable to output a response associated with said instruction; and

a processor, said processor to;

detect said object in said image;

identify in said memory said instruction associated with said visible characteristic; and

issue a signal to said output device to output said response.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said visible characteristic comprises a repeating pattern of said visible characteristic.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said output device is suitable to alter a location of said housing as said response associated with said instruction.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said output device is suitable to alter a position of an appendage of said housing as said response associated with said instruction.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein said output device is suitable to make a sound in said response associated with said instruction.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a receiver suitable to accept a signal to alter said instruction associated with said visible characteristic.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein said visible characteristic is removably attached to said object.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a toy vehicle, said vehicle suitable to alter a locomotion direction in response to said instruction.

9. The system as in claim 1, wherein said object is suitable to be worn on a player, and wherein said image is a first image, and said imager is suitable to capture a second image of said object, and said processor is to measure a change in a position of said object between said first image and said second image.

10. The system as in claim 1, wherein said visible characteristic is suitable to be printed and affixed to said object.

11. A method of interactive gaming comprising:

affixing a visible characteristic to an object;

capturing an image of said visible characteristic of said object with an imager included in a housing of a toy;

associating said visible characteristic in said image with an instruction stored in a memory included in said housing; and

issuing a signal from a processor included in said housing to activate an output device included in said housing to perform a physical action in accordance with said instruction.

12. The method as in claim 11, comprising identifying said visible characteristic from among a repeating pattern of said visible characteristic.

13. The method as in claim 11, comprising altering a physical location of said housing in response to said signal.

14. The method as in claim 11, comprising issuing a sound from a speaker included in said housing in response to said signal.

15. The method as in claim 11, comprising issuing a signal to a receiver in said housing, said signal to alter in said memory said instruction associated with said visible characteristic.

16. The method as in claim 11, comprising printing said visible characteristic on a paper, and removably attaching said paper to said object.

17. The method as in claim 11, comprising altering, in response to said signal, a direction of locomotion of said housing.

18. A method comprising:

associating a visible characteristic with an instruction in a memory of a toy to alter a position of said toy;

printing said visible characteristic; and

affixing said printed visible characteristic to an object in a field of view of an imager in said toy.

19. The method as in claim 18, comprising altering said instruction associated with said visible characteristic, and loading said altered association into said memory of said toy.

20. The method as in claim 18, comprising affixing a plurality of printed visible characteristics to said object, each of said visible characteristics associated with an instruction to alter a position of said toy.