Animated character system with real-time control
First Claim
1. A system for controlling an animated character, comprising:
- an animated character, responsive to a surrounding environment, having;
a body including a head and at least one video camera for viewing objects in front of the head,at least one character microphone, located in proximity to the body, for detecting external sounds, andmovement means, responsive to remotely generated signals, for moving the head with respect to the body;
a speaker co-located with the animated character;
a control station, remotely located from the animated character, including;
visual means, responsive to said at least one video camera, for displaying said objects;
audio means, responsive to said at least one character microphone, for generating the sounds detected thereby;
a station microphone for generating utterances through the speaker; and
control means for generating the remotely controlled signals such that the animated character moves in response to the surrounding environment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a control station for remotely controlling an animated character. Radio frequencies are used to transfer audio, video and other control signals to the animated character to provide speech, hearing, vision and practically any movement in real-time. A camera is used in the head of the animated character, and microphones are used in its ears to provide vision and hearing to a monitoring operator at the control station. A speaker is co-located with the animated character to generate sound from the operator. Servo control units are included within the animated character to provide a plurality of body movements. Other aspects of the animated character includes a multi-layer skin composite to make it appear more life-like, and an audio driver circuit for controlling the mouth of the animated character in proportion to the level of an audio signal generated at the control station.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A system for controlling an animated character, comprising:
-
an animated character, responsive to a surrounding environment, having; a body including a head and at least one video camera for viewing objects in front of the head, at least one character microphone, located in proximity to the body, for detecting external sounds, and movement means, responsive to remotely generated signals, for moving the head with respect to the body; a speaker co-located with the animated character; a control station, remotely located from the animated character, including; visual means, responsive to said at least one video camera, for displaying said objects; audio means, responsive to said at least one character microphone, for generating the sounds detected thereby; a station microphone for generating utterances through the speaker; and control means for generating the remotely controlled signals such that the animated character moves in response to the surrounding environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An animated character for interacting with an audience in real-time in response to control signals generated from a remote station, the animated character comprising:
-
a body having a plurality of movably controllable members, including a head, and including within close proximity to the body; a speaker, a microphone, a video camera, and interface means including means for communicating with the remote station; wherein the microphone and the video camera are communicatively coupled to the remote station to allow an operator to monitor the audience and to send the control signals so that sounds are produced through the speaker and at least one of the members move.
-
-
7. An animated character which responds to control signals sent from a remote station, comprising:
-
a body having a plurality of arm members and a heat; a microphone located in close proximity to said head; a video camera located in close proximity to said head; and remote interface means including; transmission means for sending signals generated from the microphone and the video camera to the remote station; reception means, coupled to the body and the speaker, for receiving the control signals from the remote station for controlling the body of the animated character. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An animated character system, comprising:
-
an animated character body, movably controllable in response to control signals, having audio and video sensors housed therein; and a control station, responsive to said audio and video sensors, for generating the control signals so as to control the animated character interactively with its surrounding environment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification