Method and apparatus for player interaction with animated characters and objects

• US 5,239,463 A
• Filed: 12/09/1991
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank S. Preston, Preston E. Blair
• Original Assignee: Frank S. Preston, Preston E. Blair
• Inventors: Blair, Preston E., Preston, Frank S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Application Number:
  US07/804,320
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 364/410, 273/433, 273/440, 352/87, 352/50, 352/51, 434/307, 434/317, 434/335, 340/709, 340/729
• US Class Current: 463/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• 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: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• 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: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication

Abstract

An improved video system that enables a player to interact with mid-air stereo perception images of foreshortened perspective animation and return the animation back to the playing field on the projection screen or monitor, or to effect other interactive dramatics with the animation. The improvements include placing an ultrasonic transducer on the player'"'"'s body for allowing the player'"'"'s position to be calculated and providing the player with a pair of glasses that improve 3-D viewing of the animation. The animation reacts according to the movement of an instrument such as a baseball bat, a tennis racket or a rifle controlled by the player, as well as to the speed and direction of the player'"'"'s body movement. The relative positions of the player'"'"'s body, the instrument and the animation are tracked with an array of point microphones that receive signals from the ultrasonic transducers.

Claims

1. An interactive video game system providing repeated switching of multiple tracks of animated action sequences displayed on viewing media before a player and providing interactive dramatics between the animated action sequences and the player, said video system comprising:

first storage means for storing multiple tracks of data representing animated visual image sequences corresponding to playing action in preselected games, said data including coded frames for track switching and rewinding thereof and coded coordinates of animation locations;

video switching means coupled to said storage means for switching said multiple tracks of animation;

first player input means including a playing instrument having a first transducer installed therein for transmitting a first position signal;

second player input means including a second transducer, said second transducer worn by said player during said game action, said second transducer for transmitting a second position signal;

detection means for detecting said first transmitted position signal and generating instrument position signals representative of the coordinates of said playing instrument with respect to a currently displayed visual image and for detecting said second transmitted position signal and generating player position signals representative of the coordinates of said player with respect to the location of said detection means;

processor means coupled to said video switching means and said detection means, said processor means responsive to said instrument position signal and said player position for comparing said instrument position signals to said coded coordinates of a preselected currently displayed visual image location and generating selection signals derived therefrom, said video switching means responsive to said selection signals for selecting and switching to a next successive track of animated visual image sequences for display before said player;

calculating means coupled to said detection means and to said processor means responsive to said transmitted first and second position signals to generate velocity signals indicative of said playing instrument and said player velocity vectors for providing said selection signals based on said velocity vectors in combination with said instrument an said player position signals to effect the selection of said next successive tracks by said player'"'"'s actions in response to a currently displayed video image sequence; and

display means coupled to said video switching means for displaying said selected tracks of animated video image sequences.

2. An interactive video game system as in claim 1 wherein said processor means is responsive to said player position signal for determining said player position within area zones defined with respect to said display means and said currently displayed video image within an area before said display means and for generating portions of said selection signals as a function of said player position within said area zones.

3. An interactive video game system providing repeated switching of multiple tracks of animated action sequences displayed on viewing media before a player and providing interactive dramatics between the animated action sequences and the player, said video system comprising:

first storage means for storing multiple tracks of data representing animated visual image sequence corresponding to playing action in preselected games, said data including coded frames for track switching and rewinding thereof and coded coordinates of animation locations;

video switching means coupled to said storage means for switching said multiple tracks of animation;

first player input means including a playing instrument having a first transducer installed therein for transmitting a first position signal;

second player input means including a second transducer, said second transducer worn by said player during said game action, said second transducer for transmitting a second position signal;

detection means for detecting said first transmitted position signal and generating instrument position signals representative of the coordinates of said playing instrument with respect to a currently displayed visual image and for detecting said second transmitted position signal and generating player position signals representative of the coordinates of said player with respect to the location of said detection means;

processor means coupled to said video switching means and said detection means, said processor means responsive to said instrument position signal and said player position signal for comparing said instrument position signals to said coded coordinates of a preselected currently displayed visual image location and generating selection signals derived therefrom, said video switching means responsive to said selection signals for selecting and switching to a next successive track of animated visual image sequences for display before said player;

said playing instrument including a rifle, said rifle having a pair of transducers installed therein, one disposed at the distal end of the barrel and the other disposed approximate the end of the barrel adjacent the rifle stock, said processor means including claculator means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said transmitted position signals for calculating the respective locations of said transducers and the intersection point of a line projecting through both said pair of transducers with said video display with respect to said currently displayed video image; and

display means coupled to said video switching means for displaying said selected tracks of animated video image sequences.

4. An interactive video game system as in claim 3 wherein said rifle includes a recoil spring, said recoil spring trigger to simulate rifle recoil when said player operates the rifle trigger mechanism.

5. An interactive video game system providing repeated switching of multiple tracks of animated action sequence displayed on viewing media before a player and providing interactive dramatics between the animated action sequences and the player, said video system comprising:

first storage means for storing multiple tracks of data representing animated visual image sequences corresponding to playing action in preselected games, said data including coded frames for track switching and rewinding thereof and coded coordinates of animation locations;

video switching means coupled to said storage means for switching said multiple tracks of animation;

first player input means including a playing instrument having a first transducer installed therein for transmitting a first position signal;

second player input means including a second transducer, said second transducer worn by said player during said game action, said second transducer for transmitting a second position signal;

detection means for detecting said first transmitted position signal and generating instrument position signals representative of the coordinates of said playing instrument with respect to a currently displayed visual image and for detecting said second transmitted position signal and generating player position signals representative of the coordinates of said player with respect to the location of said detection means;

processor means coupled to said video switching means and said detection means, said processor means responsive to said instrument position signal and said player position signal for comparing said instrument position signals to said coded coordinates of a preselected currently displayed visual image location and generating selection signals derived therefrom, said video switching means responsive to said selection signals for selecting and switching to a next successive track of animated visual image sequences for display before said player;

display means coupled to said video switching means for displaying said selected tracks of animated video image sequences;

stereographic projection means including;

multiple tracks of stored data representing a left field of view and a right field of view of said animated visual image sequences;

said display means including means for displaying said left and right fields of view as distinguishable displays; and

filter means coupling to said display means for displaying said left field of view to said player'"'"'s left eye and said right field of view to said player'"'"'s right eye.

6. An interactive video game system as in claim 5 wherein said filter means includes cyclic shutter means for alternatingly viewing said left field of view with said left eye and viewing said right field of view with said right eye, said shutter means cycled at a selectable rate.

7. An interactive video game system providing repeated switching of multiple tracks of animated action sequences displayed on viewing media before a player and providing interactive dramatics between the animated action sequences and the player, said video system comprising:

first storage means for storing multiple tracks of data representing animated visual image sequences corresponding to playing action in preselected games, said data including coded frames for track switching and rewinding thereof and coded coordinates of animation locations;

video switching means coupled to said storage means for switching said multiple tracks of animation;

first player input means including a playing instrument having a first transducer installed therein for transmitting a first position signal;

second player input means including a second transducer, said second transducer worn by said player during said game action, said second transducer for transmitting a second position signal;

detection means for detecting said first transmitted position signal and generating instrument position signals representative of the coordinates of said playing instrument with respect to a currently displayed visual image and for detecting said second transmitted position signal and generating player position signals representative of the coordinates of said player with respect to the location of said detection means;

processor means coupled to said video switching means and said detection means, said processor means responsive to said instrument position signal and said player position signal for comparing said instrument position signals to said coded coordinates of a preselected currently displayed visual image location and generating selection signals derived therefrom, said video switching means responsive to said selection signals for selecting and switching to a next successive track of animated visual image sequences for display before said player;

said multiple tracks of data including multiple tracks of data representing visual image sequences of live action; and

display means coupled to said video switching means for displaying said selected tracks of animated video image sequences.