Virtual input system

• US 9,606,674 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US14/834,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20150363045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 345/156
• 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:

a location sensor configured to detect a location of a user input;

a motion sensor configured to detect motion at a virtual input location; and

a controller configured to determine whether at least a portion of the motion at the virtual input location detected by the motion sensor is at the location of the user input detected by the location sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an output signal indicative of an actuation of a virtual input in response to a determination that the at least a portion of the motion at the virtual input location detected by the motion sensor is at the location of the user input detected by the location sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the location sensor 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 of the at least two micro-patch arrays is configured to operate as a transmitting antenna and a second micro-patch array of the at least two micro-patch arrays 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 motion sensor comprises an infrared emitter and an infrared camera.

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

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a surface, wherein the virtual input location is defined substantially on the surface.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the surface comprises an indication of the virtual input location.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a projector configured to project the indication 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:

detecting, by a location sensor, a location of a user input;

detecting, by a motion sensor, motion at a virtual input location; and

determining, by a controller, whether at least a portion of the motion at the virtual input location detected by the motion sensor is at the location of the user input detected by the location sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating, by the controller, an output signal indicating an actuation of a virtual input in response to determining that the at least a portion of the motion at the virtual input location detected by the motion sensor is at the location of the user input detected by the location sensor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the virtual input location is defined substantially on a surface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the surface is a non-planar surface.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the surface comprises an indication of the virtual input location.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

projecting, by a projector, the indication on the surface.