Virtual shadow for physical object placed on surface

• US 7,733,343 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: May, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajnik, Daniel F
• Application Number:
  US11/767,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/426
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/60 Shadow generation

Abstract

The placement of a physical object at a location on a surface is detected. A virtual shadow for the physical object is displayed at the location on the surface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting placement of a real-world physical object at a location on a surface; and

,

displaying a computer-generated virtual shadow for the physical object at the location on the surface in an interactive gaming environment,

wherein detecting the placement of the physical object at the location on the surface comprises one or more of;

detecting the placement of physical object at the location on an at least substantially horizontal surface;

detecting the placement of the physical object at the location on the surface disposed over a display mechanism, the virtual shadow being displayed by the display mechanism;

detecting the placement of the physical object at the location on the surface of the display mechanism, the virtual shadow being displayed by the display mechanism; and

,

detecting the placement of the physical object at the location on a touch-sensitive surface,

wherein the virtual shadow does not correspond to the shape of the physical Object, the virtual shadow is animated over a period of time even when the physical object remains stationary, and the virtual shadow reflects a personality or alter ego of the physical object in order to provide entertainment value for one or more users associated with the physical object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual shadow further represents information regarding the physical object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the virtual shadow for at least the period of time, signifying passage of time, based on changing position of a virtual light source on a basis of which the virtual shadow is generated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object is further displayed as one or more of:

interacting with one or more of a virtual shadow of a second physical object or the second physical object; and

,

being dynamically displayed in unison with dynamic display of virtual shadows for other objects that have been placed on the surface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object further corresponds to a property of the physical object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual shadow further represents one or more of:

guidance to a user of the physical object; and

,

a textual and/or a numeric identifier associated with the physical object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object is displayed based on the location on the surface at which the physical object has been placed.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a display mechanism;

a surface;

a detection mechanism to detect placement of a real-world physical object at a location on the surface; and

,

a shadow-generation mechanism to cause the display mechanism to display a computer-generated virtual shade for the physical object placed at the location on the surface,

wherein the detection mechanism is to one or more of;

detect the placement of the physical object at the location on the surface where the surface is at least substantially horizontal surfaces;

detect the placement of the physical object at the location on the surface where the surface is disposed over the display mechanism; and

,

detect the placement of the physical object at the location on a touch-sensitive surface, where the surface includes the touch-sensitive surface and the detection mechanism,

wherein the virtual shadow does not correspond to the shape of the physical object, the virtual shadow is animated over a period of time even when the physical object remains stationary, and the virtual shadow reflects a personality or alter ego of the physical object in order to provide entertainment value for one or more users associated with the physical object.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the virtual shadow further represents information regarding the physical object.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the shadow-generation mechanism is further to change the virtual shadow for at least the period of time, signifying passage of time, based on changing position of a virtual light source on a basis of which the virtual shadow is generated.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object is further displayed as one or more of:

interacting with one or more of a virtual shadow of a second physical object or the second physical object; and

being dynamically displayed in unison with dynamic display of virtual shadows for other objects that have been placed on the surface.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object further corresponds to a property of the physical object.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the virtual shadow further represents one or more of:

guidance to a user of the physical object; and

,

a textual and/or a numeric identifier associated with the physical object.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object is displayed based on the location on the surface at which the physical object has been placed.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a display mechanism;

a surface;

a detection mechanism to detect placement of a real-world physical object at a location on the surface; and

,

means for causing the display mechanism to display a computer-generated virtual shade for the physical object placed at the location on the surface,

wherein the detection mechanism is to one or more of;

detect the placement of the physical object at the location on the surface where the surface is an at least substantially horizontal surface,

detect the placement of the physical object at the location on the surface where the surface is disposed over the display mechanism; and

,

detect the placement of the physical object at the location on a touch-sensitive surface, where the surface includes the touch-sensitive surface and the detection mechanism,

wherein the virtual shadow does not correspond to the shape of the physical object, the virtual shadow is animated over a period of time even when the physical object remains stationary, and the virtual shadow reflects a personality or alter ego of the physical object in order to provide entertainment value for one or more users associated with the physical object.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the virtual shadow further represents information regarding the physical object.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the means is further for changing the virtual shadow for at least the period of time, signifying passage of time, based on changing position of a virtual light source on a basis of which the virtual shadow is generated.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object is further displayed as one or more of:

interacting with one or more of a virtual shadow of a second physical object or the second physical object; and

,

being dynamically displayed in unison with dynamic display of virtual shadows for other objects that have been placed on the surface.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the virtual shadow for the physical object further corresponds to a property of the physical object.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the virtual shadow further represents one or more of:

guidance to a user of the physical object; and

,

a textual and/or a numeric identifier associated with the physical object.