Virtual input system

• US 9,116,543 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees
• 

• Current Assignee: American Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US14/158,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 463/36, 463/37, 463/25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

an electromagnetic sensor module configured to determine a location of a user input at a virtual input location;

a camera configured to detect motion at the virtual input location; and

a controller coupled to the electromagnetic sensor and the camera, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a portion of the user input is within the virtual input location in a space that defines a virtual input.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate an output signal indicating an actuation of the virtual input in response to determining that the portion of the user input is within the virtual input location in the space that defines the virtual input.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic sensor module comprises a Doppler radar sensor.

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

5. The device of claim 4, wherein a first micro-patch array is configured to operate as a transmitting antenna and a second micro-patch array is configured to operate as a receiving antenna.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the Doppler radar sensor is configured to operate using a frequency modulated/continuous wave operation.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the Doppler radar sensor has a beam width between about 15 degrees and about 20 degrees.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises an infrared emitter and an infrared camera.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a visible light camera.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a surface, wherein the space that defines the virtual input is defined substantially on the surface.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the surface comprises an image indicating the space that defines the virtual input.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a projector configured to project the image on the surface.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the projector is configured to project the image as moving on the surface.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the surface is non-planar.

15. A method comprising:

determining, by an electromagnetic sensor module, a location of a user input at a virtual input location;

detecting, by a camera, motion at the virtual input location; and

determining, by a controller coupled to the electromagnetic sensor module and the camera, whether a portion of the user input is within the virtual input location in a space that defines a virtual input.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating, by the controller, an output signal indicating an actuation of the virtual input in response to determining that the portion of the user input is within the virtual input location in the space that defines the virtual input.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the space that defines the virtual input is defined substantially on a surface, and wherein the surface is at least one of a planar surface or a non-planar surface.

18. A system comprising:

means for sensing a location of a user input at a virtual input location;

means for detecting motion at the virtual input location; and

means for determining whether a portion of the user input is within the virtual input location in a space that defines a virtual input, wherein the means for determining is coupled to the means for sensing and the means for detecting.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for determining comprises:

means for generating an output signal indicating an actuation of the virtual input in response to determining that the portion of the user input is within the virtual input location in the space that defines the virtual input.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the space that defines the virtual input is defined substantially on a surface, and wherein the surface is at least one of a planar surface or a non-planar surface.