Virtual input system

• US 8,668,584 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US13/618,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/42, 463/8, 463/7, 463/25, 345/158
• 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 device comprising:

a position sensing device for determining a location of a 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 wherein the electromagnetic transceiver module is a Doppler radar sensor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the Doppler radar sensor includes at least two micro-patch arrays.

5. The device of claim 4, 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.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the Doppler radar sensor is configured for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) operation.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the Doppler radar sensor has a beam width between 15°

to 20°

.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the position sensing device includes a module selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor module, an electromagnetic sensor module, and a camera sensor module.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the camera sensor module comprises an infrared (IR) emitter and an IR camera.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the camera sensor module comprises a visible light camera.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic sensor module includes a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic sensor module operates in a frequency range between 38 kHz and 80 kHz.

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

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

15. The device of claim 14 including an image on the surface, the image indicating the location of the virtual input.

16. The device of claim 15, including a projector to project the image on the surface.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the surface is non-planar.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the image is projected as moving on the surface.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the surface is non-planar.

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