INFRARED REFLECTIVE DEVICE INTERACTIVE PROJECTION EFFECT SYSTEM

• US 20160008718A1
• Filed: 07/09/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LUMO Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lumo Play, Inc.
• Inventors: Schaerer, Shawn, Athavale, Meghan Jennifer
• Granted Patent: US 9,993,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition

Abstract

Some embodiments herein include systems, methods, and software for IR object identification and motion detection. Consumers may project an interactive projection surface on the wall or floor of any room, and when IR object motion is detected, the interactive projection may update in response to the motion. A newly introduced IR object may be identified, and an effect specific to the IR object may be projected into the IR object.

Claims

1. A method of providing a virtual environment, the method comprising:

detecting a first ambient infra-red (IR) light level;

projecting a first IR light pattern onto an IR object, the first IR light pattern having an associated first intensity level selected according to the detected first ambient IR light level;

capturing a first IR image, the first IR image including the IR object; and

identifying the IR object within the first IR image.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further including:

detecting a second ambient IR light level,

comparing the detected second ambient IR light level with the detected first ambient IR light level, the second ambient IR light level being different from the first ambient IR light level; and

projecting a second IR light pattern onto an IR object, the second IR light pattern having an associated second intensity level selected according to the comparing of the first and second detected ambient IR light levels.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further including:

generating a first graphical image in response to identifying the IR object; and

projecting the first graphical image onto a surface.

4. The method of claim 3, the method further including:

capturing a second IR image, the second IR image being different from the first IR image;

comparing the first IR image to the second IR image, the comparison identifying an updated location of the IR object;

generating a second graphical image in response to the identifying; and

projecting the second graphical image onto a surface.

5. A method of providing a virtual environment, the method comprising:

capturing a first IR image and a second IR image, the first IR image being different from the second IR image;

comparing the first IR image to the second IR image, the comparison identifying movement of any IR object present in both images and introduction of an IR object in the second image;

generating a graphical image in response to the identifying; and

projecting the graphical image onto a surface.

6. The method of claim 5, further including projecting an IR light onto the IR object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein projecting the IR light onto the IR object includes projecting an IR pattern.

8. The method of claim 6, further including detecting an IR object signature reflected by the IR object.

9. The method of claim 5, further including detecting an IR object signature generated by the IR object.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the IR image of an IR object includes identifying a motion of the IR object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein updating the graphical image includes updating an object within the graphical image in response to the motion of the IR object.

12. The method of claim 10, further including predicting a future motion of the IR object.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein:

updating the graphical image includes adding an object-specific graphical component in response to identifying the IR image of the IR object; and

projecting the graphical image onto the surface includes projecting the object-specific graphical component onto the IR object.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein projecting the object-specific graphical component onto the IR object includes adding an appearance of an object to the appearance of the IR object.

15. An infrared reflective device interactive projection effect system, the system comprising:

an ambient IR light level detector;

an IR pattern projector configured to vary a projected IR pattern according to an ambient IR light level detected by the ambient IR light level detector;

an IR image sensor configured to capture a first IR image, the first IR image including a IR object; and

a visible light projector configured to project a first graphical image in response to the captured first IR image.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the visible light projector changes the appearance of the IR object by projecting the first graphical image onto the IR object.

17. The system of claim 15, further including a processor configured to:

identify the IR object within the first IR image; and

generate the first graphical image in response to identifying the IR object.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the IR image sensor is further configured to capture a second IR image, the second IR image being different from the first IR image; and

the processor is further configured to;

compare the first IR image to the second IR image, the comparison identifying an updated location of the IR object;

generate a second graphical image in response to identifying the updated location; and

cause the visible light projector to project the second graphical image.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first graphical image includes a projected object in a first projected object location;

the second graphical image includes a projected object in a second projected object location, the second projected object location being different from the first projected object location; and

the visible light projector is configured to project the second graphical image after projecting the first graphical image to provide an appearance of motion of the projected object.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify, using the updated location of the IR object, a predicted motion of the IR object; and

generate a third graphical image in response to identifying the predicted motion; and

cause the visible light projector to project the third graphical image.