Magical wand and interactive play experience
First Claim
1. An interactive play system for simulating magical effects, the play system comprising:
- a motion-activated toy wand comprising;
an elongated body including distal and proximal ends,sensor circuitry configured to detect one or more particular acceleration forces on the elongated body of said motion-activated toy wand, the sensor circuitry being further configured to generate an activation signal when a first acceleration force on the distal end of said elongated body exceeds a first threshold amount and a second acceleration force on the proximal end of said elongated body is less than a second threshold amount, the first threshold amount being different than the second threshold amount, anda light emitting module in communication with said sensor circuitry and configured to selectively output a first signal from at least one of said distal and proximal ends based on said activation signal;
a display device capable of receiving the first signal at arbitrary positions on the display device;
an image generator configured to cause at least one image to appear on said display device;
at least one camera directed toward at least a portion of said display device and configured to output image data indicative of said arbitrary positions of the first signal; and
control circuitry in communication with said image generator and said at least one camera, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to process said output image data to recognize the arbitrary positions, and wherein said control circuitry is configured to cause said image generator to modify said at least one image based on the arbitrary positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a unique interactive play experience carried out utilizing a toy “wand” and/or other actuation/tracking device. In one embodiment the wand incorporates a wireless transmitter and motion-sensitive circuitry adapted to actuate the transmitter in response to particular learned wand motions. The wand allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment simply by pointing, touching and/or using their wands in a particular manner to achieve desired goals or produce desired effects. Various wireless receivers or actuators are distributed throughout the play facility to support such wireless interaction and to facilitate full immersion in a fantasy experience in which participants can enjoy the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic.
471 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An interactive play system for simulating magical effects, the play system comprising:
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a motion-activated toy wand comprising; an elongated body including distal and proximal ends, sensor circuitry configured to detect one or more particular acceleration forces on the elongated body of said motion-activated toy wand, the sensor circuitry being further configured to generate an activation signal when a first acceleration force on the distal end of said elongated body exceeds a first threshold amount and a second acceleration force on the proximal end of said elongated body is less than a second threshold amount, the first threshold amount being different than the second threshold amount, and a light emitting module in communication with said sensor circuitry and configured to selectively output a first signal from at least one of said distal and proximal ends based on said activation signal; a display device capable of receiving the first signal at arbitrary positions on the display device; an image generator configured to cause at least one image to appear on said display device; at least one camera directed toward at least a portion of said display device and configured to output image data indicative of said arbitrary positions of the first signal; and control circuitry in communication with said image generator and said at least one camera, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to process said output image data to recognize the arbitrary positions, and wherein said control circuitry is configured to cause said image generator to modify said at least one image based on the arbitrary positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An interactive play system comprising:
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an orientation-sensitive toy device having at least one sensor disposed between a distal end and a proximal end of said orientation-sensitive toy device, the orientation-sensitive toy device being configured to output a directional wireless signal in response to said sensor detecting one or more particular motions of the orientation-sensitive toy device in which an acceleration of the distal end of said orientation-sensitive toy device is different than the acceleration of the proximal end of said orientation-sensitive toy device, wherein said wireless signal is receivable by a display medium at an arbitrary position; an image generating device configured to display at least one image on said display medium; a camera configured to output image data indicative of the arbitrary position on the display medium; and a processor in communication with said camera to receive said output image data, wherein said processor is further configured to recognize from said output image data at least one change in location of the arbitrary position, and wherein said processor is coupled to said image generating device and configured to cause at least one modification to said image based on the at least one change in location of the arbitrary position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An interactive play system for simulating magical effects, the play system comprising:
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a motion-activated wand having an elongated body including distal and proximal ends, said wand further comprising a light emitting module configured to selectively output a first signal from at least one of said distal and proximal ends based on one or more particular accelerations of at least one of the distal and proximal ends of said elongated body of said motion-activated wand; at least one display object capable of receiving the first signal at arbitrary positions on the at least one display object; at least one camera directed toward at least a portion of said at least one display object and configured to output image data indicative of said arbitrary positions of the first signal; and control circuitry in communication with said at least one camera, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to process said output image data to recognize the arbitrary positions, and wherein said control circuitry is configured to trigger or control at least one effect based on the arbitrary positions. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification