INTERACTIVE VIDEO SYSTEM

• US 20130285919A1
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: LARSEN, Eric J.
• Application Number:
  US13/455,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/012 Walk-in-place systems for allowing a user to walk in a virtual environment while constraining him to a given position in the physical environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

An interactive video system includes a processor unit configured to provide output signals to a short throw projector. The output signals cause the short throw projector to project images on a projection area located on or parallel to a floor. The processor can receive input signals from one or more user input devices. The input signals represent a simulated user interaction with the images projected on the projection area. The processor can also alter one or more of the images projected on the projection area in response to the input signals. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. An interactive video system, comprising:

a processor unit;

a short throw projector coupled to the processor unit, wherein the short throw projector is configured to project images on a projection area located on or parallel to a floor; and

one or more user input devices coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to receive input signals from the one or more user input devices, wherein the input signals represent a simulated user interaction with the images projected on the projection area, wherein the processor is configured to modify the images projected by the projector in response to the input signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the short throw projector is configured to project horizontally and vertically with respect to a location of the short throw projector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input devices include an image capture device coupled to the processor unit wherein the processor unit is configured to analyze images obtained with the image capture device and to alter one or more images projected on the projection area in response to the resulting analysis of the images.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input devices include an image capture unit coupled to the processor, wherein the processor unit is configured to analyze images of the display area obtained with the image capture device, wherein the images obtained with the image capture device include portions of images projected by the short throw projector, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a portion of a projected image is occluded by an object and to cut out projection of the portion of the projected image that is occluded.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input devices include a touch sensor array coupled to the processor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input devices include a touch sensor array and an image capture device coupled to the processor unit, wherein the processor unit is configured to analyze images of the touch sensor array obtained by the image capture device and adjust projection of images projected by the projector such that the projected images align with the touch sensor array in a predetermined manner.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user input devices include a touch sensor array and an image capture device coupled to the processor unit, wherein the processor unit is configured to analyze images of the touch sensor array obtained by the image capture device and inputs from the touch sensor array in response to user interaction with the touch sensor array and alter one or more images projected on the touch sensor array in response to the inputs from the touch sensor array.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display unit coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to co-ordinate projection of images on the projection area with presentation of images on the display.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to co-ordinate projection of images on the projection area with presentation of images on the display by calculating a trajectory of an object in an image projected on the projection area and projecting images on the projection area and the display that track the object from the projection area to the display.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to co-ordinate projection of images on the projection area with presentation of images on the display by calculating a trajectory of an object in an image presented on the display and projecting images on the projection area and the display that track the object from the display to the projection area.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device and the short throw projector are incorporated into the same unit such that there is a fixed relationship between relative locations of the image capture device and the short throw projector.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the short throw projector is a stereo projection system configured to co-operate with polarized 3D glasses.

13. An interactive video system, comprising:

a processor unit,

wherein the processor unit is configured to provide output signals to a short throw projector, wherein the output signals are configured to cause the short throw projector to project images on a projection area located on or parallel to a floor;

and wherein the processor is further configured to receive input signals from one or more user input devices, wherein the input signals represent a simulated user interaction with the images projected on the projection area; and

wherein the processor is configured to alter one or more of the images projected on the projection area in response to the input signals.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a short throw projector coupled to the processor, wherein the short throw projector is configured to project images on a projection area located on or parallel to a floor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the short throw projector is configured to project horizontally and vertically with respect to a location of the short throw projector.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising one or more input devices coupled to the processor, wherein one or more input devices are configured to generate the input signals that represent the simulated user interaction with the images projected on the projection area.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more input devices include an image capture device.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more input devices include a touch sensor array, wherein the touch sensor array includes an array of sensors, wherein each sensor in the array has a known location in the array, and wherein each sensor in the array is configured to generate an input signal in response to a user'"'"'s contact with or proximity to the sensor.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the short throw projector is configured to project three-dimensional images.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the short throw projector is a stereo projection system configured to co-operate with polarized 3D glasses.