Control interface apparatus
First Claim
1. A method by which a person may play a game comprising:
- providing a game device including a radiation transmitter fixed to the device;
transmitting infrared radiation from the radiation transmitter away from the device to create a detection field encompassing a volume of space substantially remote from the device and sufficient so that the person playing the game may put at least a part or extension of his body therein without contacting the device;
providing a radiation receiver which has a fixed position relative to the radiation transmitter and this position being one where the receiver can detect reflections of the infrared radiation from the part or extension of the person within the detection field;
moving at least a part or extension of the person to a position within the detection field without touching the device thereby causing infrared radiation to reflect off of the part of the person within the detection field toward the receiver;
receiving radiation reflected from the part of the person within the detection field by the radiation receiver;
determining the strength of the radiation reflected from the part of the person within the detection field; and
triggering an action in the game corresponding to the strength of the reflected radiation, where the action of the game is represented by a response produced by the game device and discernable by the person.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention comprises a control interface between a machine and a physical object. The invention includes an infrared transmitter for transmitting a first infrared signal to an object. Upon striking the object, the infrared signal is reflected forming a reflected infrared signal. An infrared receiver receives the reflected signal from the object and the reflected signal is transformed into a second signal, which may be either an analogue type or a yes/no threshold type, representative of a distance between the object and the receiver. The second signal is coupled to the machine. The apparatus is a cordless touch-free controller interface for use with a machine. The present invention is ideally suited for controlling cursor position for use with computers and also with video games.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method by which a person may play a game comprising:
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providing a game device including a radiation transmitter fixed to the device; transmitting infrared radiation from the radiation transmitter away from the device to create a detection field encompassing a volume of space substantially remote from the device and sufficient so that the person playing the game may put at least a part or extension of his body therein without contacting the device; providing a radiation receiver which has a fixed position relative to the radiation transmitter and this position being one where the receiver can detect reflections of the infrared radiation from the part or extension of the person within the detection field; moving at least a part or extension of the person to a position within the detection field without touching the device thereby causing infrared radiation to reflect off of the part of the person within the detection field toward the receiver; receiving radiation reflected from the part of the person within the detection field by the radiation receiver; determining the strength of the radiation reflected from the part of the person within the detection field; and triggering an action in the game corresponding to the strength of the reflected radiation, where the action of the game is represented by a response produced by the game device and discernable by the person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An amusement device operable by a user without the user touching the device, comprising:
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a first radiation transmitter for outwardly transmitting radiation away from the device to create a first detection field encompassing a volume of space substantially remote from the device and sufficient so that the user may put at least a part or extension of the user'"'"'s body therein without contacting the device; a first radiation receiver which has a fixed position relative to the first radiation transmitter for receiving a reflection of the outwardly transmitted radiation from the part or extension of the user within the detection field, and for producing a first signal corresponding to the strength of the received reflection; and an indicator, operably associated with the first radiation receiver and triggered by the first signal, for producing an indication that a part or extension of the user is within the first detection field. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification