Game Pieces for Use with Touch Screen Devices and Related Methods

• US 20120062490A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Heatherly, Christopher W., Mkrtchyan, Armen, Backer, Jonathan, White, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,274,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00697 Playing pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 : Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 : for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface, the method comprising:

detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device; and

identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device;

communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of touches are contemporaneous.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising generating, using the processor, the data based on a position of the peripheral device over the touch surface.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising generating, using the processor, the data based on a position of the peripheral device relative to a digital element of the touch-sensitive system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device moves in response to the data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data controls an actuator of the peripheral device.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising directing, using the processor, movement of the peripheral device across the touch surface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the data to the receptive circuit of the peripheral device is performed utilizing light generated by a display of the touch-sensitive system.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising storing the data in a memory of the peripheral device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the data to the receptive circuit of the peripheral device is performed utilizing a radio frequency (RF) transmission.

11. A touch-sensitive system for communicating to at least a peripheral device of a plurality of peripheral devices, the touch-sensitive system comprising:

a touch surface;

a processor, the processor being configured to;

detect a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device;

identify the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device; and

communicate data to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to identifying the first peripheral device.

12. The touch-sensitive system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to generate the data based on a position of the peripheral device over the touch surface.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to generate the data based on a position of the peripheral device relative to a digital element that is on a display of the touch-sensitive system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the peripheral device moves in response to the data.

15. A peripheral device for use with a touch-sensitive system having a touch surface, the peripheral device comprising:

a plurality of touch points configured to contact the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system;

the plurality of touch points further configured to provide touches to the touch-sensitive system for identifying the first peripheral device;

a receptive circuit configured to receive data that is communicated to the peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.

16. The peripheral device of claim 15, wherein the receptive circuit comprises a light sensor that is configured to receive light that is generated by a display of the touch-sensitive system.

17. The peripheral device of claim 15 comprising an actuator that is configured to be controlled by the data.

18. The peripheral device of claim 15 comprising a memory that is configured store the data.

19. The peripheral device of claim 15, wherein the receptive circuit is configured to receive the data from an RF transmission.

20. The peripheral device of claim 15, wherein the peripheral device is configured to communicate data to a processor through the touch surface by manipulating the plurality of touch points.