Plug and play wireless video game

• US 9,383,814 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew S. Filo, David G. Capper
• Original Assignee: Andrew S. Filo, David G. Capper
• Inventors: Capper, David G., Filo, Andrew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Application Number:
  US12/617,633
• Time in Patent Office: 2,427 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/36, 463/39, 345/156
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/653 by matching three-dimensional models, e.g. conformal mapping of Riemann surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/121 using special illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training

Abstract

A video game device and method are provided. The device is a cordless touch-free video game device that is plug and play. The device includes an array of light transmitters for transmitting a light signal to an object. The object can be retroreflectors that are attached to a user'"'"'s feet or hands. Upon striking the objects, the transmitted signal is reflected, producing a reflected light signal. A light receiver including a detection array receives the reflected signal from the objects and the reflected signal is transformed into a second signal used to send and track motion of the objects. The motion is used by a game device that determines an activity of the user by sensing the type of user movement performed. The device is ideally suited for controlling cursor position for use with video dance games.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tracking motion comprising:

a transmitter configured to irradiate one or more objects;

a receiver comprising an array of detectors arranged to receive reflected radiation from the one or more objects;

a controller programmed to use the reflected radiation to track a motion of the one or more objects; and

one or more retroreflectors, designed for attachment to the one or more objects, wherein the array of detectors comprises an array of charge coupled devices and wherein the receiver comprises one or more lenses arranged to focus the reflected radiation onto the array of charge coupled devices, such that the controller tracks the motion of the one or more objects by tracing the movement of a first area receiving a first level of reflected radiation and a second area receiving a second level of reflected radiation, wherein the first level of the reflected radiation is higher than the second level of reflected radiation, and the controller distinguishes among the one or more retroreflectors using kinematic rules.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a monitor configured to display an image substantially reproducing the motion of the one or more objects.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more retroreflectors comprises a filter element configured to modify transmitted radiation from the transmitter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises multiple light emitting diodes arranged to substantially uniformly illuminate an area containing the one or more objects.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the array of charge coupled devices is rectangular.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects comprise feet, and the controller is further programmed to separately track motion of both feet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to compare the motion to a predetermined target motion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects comprise a hairbrush.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filter element is a passive device.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filter element is an active device.

11. A method of tracking motion comprising:

irradiating one or more objects each supporting a corresponding retroreflector, wherein each retroreflector includes a filter element;

receiving radiation reflected from the one or more retroreflectors onto an array of detectors;

tracking motion of the one or more objects by tracing the movement of a first area receiving a first level of reflected radiation and a second area receiving a second level of reflected radiation, wherein the first level of the reflected radiation is higher than the second level of reflected radiation; and

analyzing the motion to determine patterns of game play.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying an image on a monitor substantially reproducing the motion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the image comprises a picture of the one or more objects.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the array of detectors comprises an array of charge coupled devices.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising focusing the reflected radiation onto the array of charge coupled devices.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more objects comprise feet.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more objects comprise a sporting apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sporting apparatus is a bat, a club, a racket, a glove, a ball, a bow, a gun, or a fishing reel.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the motion is used to select a character displayed to a user.

20. A system comprising:

at least one external object each having a diffusively reflective surface; and

a self-contained electronic device configured to detect the at least one external object and to learn from current and past characteristics of each external object to thereby control at least one application element, wherein the self-contained electronic device comprises a controller configured to track a motion of the one or more objects by tracing the movement of a first area receiving a first level of reflected radiation and a second area receiving a second level of reflected radiation, wherein the first level of the reflected radiation is higher than the second level of reflected radiation.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the self-contained electronic device includes a camera.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the diffusively reflective surface comprises one of skin and clothing.

23. An apparatus for tracking motion comprising:

a transmitter configured to irradiate one or more objects;

a receiver comprising an array of detectors arranged to receive reflected radiation from the one or more objects;

a controller programmed to use the reflected radiation to track a motion of the one or more objects; and

one or more retroreflectors, each designed for attachment to the one or more objects,

wherein the array of detectors comprises an array of charge coupled devices and wherein the receiver comprises one or more lenses arranged to focus the reflected radiation onto the array of charge coupled devices, such that the controller tracks the motion of the one or more objects by tracing the movement of a first area receiving a first level of reflected radiation and a second area receiving a second level of reflected radiation, wherein the first level of the reflected radiation is higher than the second level of reflected radiation, and the controller distinguishes the type of motion.