Interactive application platform for a motorized toy entity and display

• US 9,766,610 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rehco LLC
• Original Assignee: Rehco LLC
• Inventors: Rehkemper, Jeffrey, Rehkemper, Steven, Kadile, Michael, Peach, John
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US13/659,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00659 LCD's
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2444 Light detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2458 LCD's
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/246 Computer generated or synthesized image
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2486 the computer being an accessory to a board game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/395 steered by program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36168 Touchscreen
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70

Abstract

An illustrative application control system is provided having an entity and an electronic device with a display. The control system includes software operating instructions to direct movement of the entity and to direct display operation to interact with the entity. The entity may have the capability to move when positioned on the display and to detect pixels and pixel arrangements on the display. The electronic device may include the capability to generate and display the pixels and pixel arrangements in subsequent locations on the display to trigger entity responses. The software operating instructions may include content such as audio output and/or performance instructions to facilitate interaction between the entity and electronic device.

Claims

1. A control system for a motorized entity comprising:

an electronic device with a display, and an electronic device integrated circuit with a set of marker control software instructions with a capability to generate and display a position marker having an area within a pixel arrangement;

an entity with one or more sensors in communication with an entity integrated circuit, the entity integrated circuit in communication with a motorized capability to move the entity and including a set of entity control software instructions, the one or more sensors capable of detecting a pixel arrangement and configured to send a detection signal to the entity integrated circuit upon detection thereof; and

a capability to direct entity movements,

wherein the set of marker control software instructions is configured to direct the electronic device to

(i) generate and display the position marker on the display, and

(ii) generate and display the position marker in subsequent locations on the display in a programmed pattern,

wherein the set of entity control software instructions is configured to direct the entity to

(i) receive one or more detections signals from the one or more sensors indicating detection of a pixel arrangement, and

(ii) send control signals to the motorized capability to move the entity to maintain entity positioning in relation to the detected pixel arrangement,

and wherein when the entity is positioned within the pixel arrangement at an initial position and the one or more sensors detect the pixel arrangement and send a detection signal to the entity integrated circuit to activate the motorized capability to move the entity to maintain entity positioning in relation to the pixel arrangement such that the entity moves in accordance to the programmed pattern of the displayed subsequent locations of the position marker.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein

the pixel arrangement surrounding the position marker area forms a border,

wherein the one or more sensors positioned within the border defines a ready state alignment,

and wherein the set of entity control software instructions is further configured to activate the motorized capability to move the entity to adjust entity positioning and move to the ready state alignment in the subsequent locations of the position marker.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the entity further comprises a speaker in communication with the entity integrated circuit further comprising audio content,

wherein the set of marker control software instructions further includes a capability to generate and display a pixel arrangement with audio instructions embedded therein and in accordance with the audio content,

and wherein the set of entity control software instructions is further configured to

(i) receive one or more detection signals from the one or more sensors indicating detection of a pixel arrangement with audio instructions embedded therein,

(ii) direct the entity integrated circuit to translate the audio instructions to audio control signals, and

(iii) direct the audio content to output via the speaker in accordance with the audio control signals.

4. The control system of claim 2, wherein the entity further includes at least one light emitting diode configured to illuminate a surface such that the one or more sensors may detect a position marker on the surface to activate the capability to move the entity.

5. The control system of claim 2, wherein the entity further includes a light pipe configured to utilize light emitting from the display to illuminate a portion of the entity.

6. The control system of claim 2, wherein the display further includes touch capacitance,

wherein the entity further includes a capability to trigger a change in capacitance levels of the display at different locations on the display in accordance to the positioning of the entity when a user touches the entity,

and wherein the electronic device integrated circuit determines the entity'"'"'s location on the display when a user touches the entity.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the motorized capability to move the entity comprises

two motors in communication with the entity integrated circuit and a power source, each motor in communication with a respective wheel,

wherein the entity integrated circuit is configured to send control signals to activate the two motors to rotate each wheel in accordance with the set of entity control software instructions to move the entity.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the display further includes

a touch capacitance controller in communication with the device integrated circuit such that the touch capacitance controller directs the marker control software instructions to generate the position marker in a user determined pattern to direct movement of the entity in accordance thereto.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the motorized capability to move the entity comprises:

two motors in communication with the entity integrated circuit and power source, each motor in communication with a respective wheel;

a receiver in communication with the entity integrated circuit; and

a remote control unit with a transmitter,

wherein entity movements are initiated by user by sending commands to the receiver to activate the two motors to rotate each wheel in accordance to the commands.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the entity integrated circuit further includes programmed entity performance content and software operating instructions to activate the entity performance content,

wherein the pixel arrangement is further defined as an instructional pixel arrangement with the software operating instructions embedded therein,

wherein the marker control software instructions further include a capability to generate and display the instructional pixel arrangement,

wherein the one or more sensors includes an image sensor in communication with the entity integrated circuit and including a capability to capture the instructional pixel arrangement,

wherein the entity control software instructions are further configured to

(i) receive one or more detection signals from the image sensor indicating detection of the instructional pixel arrangement,

(ii) direct the entity integrated circuit to translate the software operating instructions to control signals, and

(iii) direct the entity to operate in accordance with the control signals such that

the entity executes the entity performance content in accordance to the control signals.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein

the entity integrated circuit further includes programmed entity performance content and software operating instructions to activate the entity performance content,

a flash display pattern of the pixel arrangement corresponding to the entity performance content,

wherein the marker control software instructions further include a capability to generate and display the pixel arrangement in the flash display pattern to trigger the operating software instructions,

and wherein the entity control software instructions are configured to

(i) receive one or more detection signals from the one or more sensors indicating detection of the flash display pattern,

(ii) direct the entity integrated circuit to translate the flash display pattern to control signals in accordance with the entity performance content, and

(iii) direct the entity to operate in accordance with the control signals.

12. The control system of claim 1, wherein the display further includes touch capacitance capability, and

wherein the set of marker control software instructions is further configured to generate and display the programmed pattern of position markers to direct movement of the entity from the initial location to the target location in response to a user touch to a target location on the display.

13. The control system of claim 1, wherein the entity further includes an animal housing.

14. The control system of claim 1, wherein the entity further includes a chassis with a capability to clean the display by contacting the display when positioned there upon.

15. A control system for a motorized entity comprising:

an electronic device with a display having a display area and an electronic device integrated circuit with a set of marker control software instructions with a capability to display a plurality of position markers each including a marker area within a pixel arrangement and

the plurality of position markers including a location marker and an initial marker having an initial marker area;

an entity with one or more sensors in communication with an entity integrated circuit in communication with a motorized capability to move the entity and including a set of entity control software instructions, the one or more sensors capable of detecting pixels and pixel arrangements and configured to send a detection signal to the entity integrated circuit upon detection thereof; and

a capability to direct entity movements,

wherein the set of marker control software instructions is configured to direct the electronic device to

(i) generate and display the position marker as the initial marker and

(ii) generate and display subsequent position markers, each subsequent position marker having an area smaller than a previous position marker area, the last of the subsequent position markers displayed being the location marker at a location,

wherein the set of entity control software instructions is configured to direct the entity to

(i) receive one or more detection signals from the one or more sensors indicating detection of a pixel arrangement and

(ii) send control signals to the motorized capability to move the entity to maintain entity positioning in relation to the detected pixel arrangement,

and wherein the entity is further configured to move to the location as the one or more sensors send detection signals to the entity integrated circuit to activate the motorized capability to move the entity in accordance with detected pixel arrangements.

16. The control system of claim 15, wherein the initial marker area is greater than the display area.

17. The control system of claim 15, wherein the initial marker area is equal to the display area.

18. The control system of claim 15, wherein the initial marker area is less than the display area.

19. The control system of claim 15, wherein

the pixel arrangement surrounding the position marker forms a border,

wherein the one or more sensors are positioned within the position marker area to define a ready state alignment,

and wherein the set of entity control software instructions is further configured to activate the motorized capability to move the entity to return to the ready state alignment as the plurality of position markers are displayed at subsequent locations.

20. The control system of claim 19, wherein the set of marker control software instructions is further configured to display the plurality of position markers in subsequent locations at incremental distances equal to a sensor detection distance defined as a distance less than or equal to the distance between the sensors as mounted upon the entity.

21. The control system of claim 15, wherein the motorized capability to move the entity comprises

two motors in communication with the entity integrated circuit and a power source, each motor further in communication with a respective wheel,

wherein the entity integrated circuit is configured to send control signals to activate the two motors to rotate each wheel to move the entity in accordance with the set of entity control software instructions.

26. The control system of claim 20, wherein the motorized capability to move the entity comprises

two motors in communication with the entity integrated circuit and a power source, each motor further in communication with a respective wheel,

wherein the entity integrated circuit is configured to send control signals to activate the two motors to rotate each wheel in accordance with the set of entity control software instructions to move the entity.

27. The control system of claim 20, wherein the motorized capability to move the entity comprises:

two motors in communication with the entity integrated circuit and power source, each motor in communication with a respective wheel;

a receiver in communication with the entity integrated circuit; and

a remote control unit with a transmitter,

wherein entity movements are controlled by a user by sending commands to the receiver to activate the two motors to rotate each wheel in accordance to the commands.

22. A control system for a motorized entity comprising:

an electronic device with a display and an electronic device integrated circuit including a set of marker control software instructions to generate and display a position marker having an area within a pixel arrangement;

an entity with one or more sensors in communication with an entity integrated circuit in communication with a motorized capability to move the entity upon the display and including a set of entity control software instructions, the one or more sensors capable of detecting pixel arrangements on the display and configured to send a detection signal to the entity integrated circuit upon detection thereof; and

the entity including a capability to locate the position marker wherein the set of entity control software instructions is configured to activate the motorized capability to move the entity to execute a location movement, the location movement further defined as a series of entity movements on the display in a preprogrammed pattern where the entity executes the movements until the sensors detect the pixel arrangement of the position marker,

wherein the electronic device is configured to generate and display the position marker such that when the entity is placed on the display and the set of entity control software instructions activates the location movement the entity moves in the preprogrammed pattern upon the display until the entity locates the position marker.

23. The control system of claim 22, wherein the entity further includes

a speaker in communication with the entity integrated circuit,

wherein the set of entity control software instructions is further configured to send a control signal to the speaker to emit an audio location output when the sensors detect the position marker,

wherein the electronic device further includes a microphone capable of detecting the audio location output and sending an audio output detection signal to the device integrated circuit,

and wherein the set of marker control software instructions is further configured to identify a location of the pixel illuminated at the time of sensor detection to determine the location of the entity.

24. The control system of claim 23, wherein the preprogrammed pattern is further defined as a zigzag pattern of entity movements.

25. The control system of claim 23, wherein the preprogrammed pattern is further defined as a spiral pattern of entity movements.