Virtual input system

• US 7,942,744 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/921,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,462 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/8, 463/25, 463 29- 34, 463 36- 39, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device, such as for a gaming machine, for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator is disclosed. The device comprises a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator and a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.

Claims

1. A virtual game interface device for determining actuation of a virtual input by a user input actuator associated with a user, the device comprising;

a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator at a virtual input location;

a motion sensing device including an electromagnetic transceiver module for detecting motion at the virtual input location; and

a controller coupled to the position sensing device and the motion sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within the virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller generates an output signal indicating actuation of the virtual input when the controller determines a portion of the user input actuator is within the virtual input location.

3. The device of claim 1 including a programmable component for selectively adjusting the sensitivity of the position sensing device.

4. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of the position sensing devices.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic transceiver module is a Doppler radar sensor.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the Doppler radar sensor includes at least two micro-patch arrays.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein one of the micro-patch arrays functions as a transmitting antenna, and the other of the micro-patch arrays functions as a receiving antenna.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the Doppler radar sensor is configured for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) operation.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the Doppler radar sensor has a beam width between 15°

to 20°

.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein the Doppler radar sensor includes a digital signal processor.

11. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of the electromagnetic transceivers.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device includes an ultrasonic sensor module.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the position sensing device includes an electromagnetic sensor module.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the position sensing device includes a camera sensor.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the camera sensor comprises an infrared (IR) emitter and an IR camera.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the camera sensor comprises a visible light camera.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic sensor module includes a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic sensor module operate in a frequency range between 38 kHz and 80 kHz.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic sensor module includes a microprocessor.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device includes an infrared laser scan sensor.

21. The device of claim 1 including a surface, wherein the virtual input is defined substantially on the surface.

22. The device of claim 21 including an image on the surface, the image indicating the location of the virtual input.

23. The device of claim 22, including a projector to project the image on the surface.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the surface is non-planar.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the image is projected as moving on the surface.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the surface is non-planar.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device is an optical sensor.

28. A virtual game surface interface device for determining actuation of a virtual input by a user input actuator associated with a user, the device comprising:

a game surface that extends across a portion of a belly glass or top glass of a gaming machine;

a position sensing device comprising an ultrasonic transceiver module for determining a location of the user input actuator; and

a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input substantially on the game surface.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the controller generates an output signal indicating actuation of the virtual input when the controller determines a portion of the user input actuator is within the virtual input location.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the ultrasonic transceiver module includes a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein the position sensing device includes a microprocessor.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein the surface is non-planar.

33. A user interface comprising:

an audio-visual output system;

a surface that extends across a portion of a belly glass or a top glass of a gaming machine;

a virtual input defined at a location substantially on the surface;

a non-contacting position sensor comprising an electromagnetic position sensor and configured to determine a location of a user input actuator; and

a controller coupled to the non-contacting position sensor, the controller configured to determine whether a portion of the user input actuator is located at the virtual input and cause the audio-visual output system to change its output when the user input actuator is determined to be at the virtual input.

34. The user interface of claim 33, wherein the electromagnetic position sensor comprises a Doppler radar.

35. The user interface of claim 33 including a projector for projecting an image of an input at the location of the virtual input.

36. A virtual interface device for determining actuation of a virtual input by a user input actuator associated with a user, the device comprising;

a first position sensor module including a first position sensor, wherein the first position sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor, and a first digital signal processor for creating a first data image of the user input actuator;

a second position sensor module including a second position sensor and a second digital signal processor for creating a second data image of the user input actuator;

a controller defining a virtual location in space of the virtual input, and configured, responsive to the first data image and the second data image, to determine whether a portion of the user input actuator is within the virtual location.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is a Doppler radar.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the second position sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

39. The device of claim 36 comprising a surface, and the virtual location is defined relative to the surface.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the surface is non-planar.

41. The device of claim 40 including an image on the surface, the image including an indicium indicating the location of the virtual location.

42. The device of claim 41 including a projector to project the image on the surface.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the image is projected as moving on the surface.

44. The device of claim 36 including an image on the surface, the image including an indicium indicating the location of the virtual location.

45. The device of claim 44 including a projector to project the image on the surface.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the image is projected as moving on the surface.