Multi-user touch-responsive entertainment device

Abstract

An entertainment device comprising a housing or base unit that supports display surface is disclosed. A display generating device displays visual images on the display surface. The display generating device may be a projection-type display device or a display panel device. A touch/proximity sensing device detects positions of a user appendage on the display surface in the course of a game or activity. In addition, users may interact with the entertainment device with an input controller device that comprises buttons, directional pad devices, etc. A control unit, connected to the touch/proximity sensing device and to the display generating device, is responsive to signals from the at least one input controller and/or position detections from the touch/proximity sensing device to, among other operations, alter the visual image displayed on the display surface.

1 . An entertainment device comprising: 
 a display surface;    a display generating device operable to display a visual image on the display surface;    a touch/proximity sensing device that detects positions of a user appendage in proximity to the display surface;    a control unit operably coupled to the touch/proximity sensitive device and to the display generating device; and    at least one input controller operably coupled to the control unit;    wherein the control unit is responsive to signals from the at least one input controller and position detections from the touch/promixity sensing device to generate and supply data to the display generating device for displaying visual images on the display surface.    
   
   
       2 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein the touch/proximity sensing device is positioned beneath the display surface and is responsive to user touches on or in proximity to said display surface to output a signal indicative of the position thereof, and wherein the display generating device comprises a projection system for projecting the visual image on the display surface.  
   
   
       3 . The entertainment device of  claim 2 , wherein the projection system comprises a back-lit projection device having an illumination source, wherein the illumination source comprises at least one of: a light-emitting diode, a halogen bulb, and an incandescent bulb.  
   
   
       4 . The entertainment device of  claim 2 , wherein the projection system comprises a transmissive display panel that generates the visual image in response to data supplied by the control unit.  
   
   
       5 . The entertainment device of  claim 2 , wherein the projection system comprises a reflective display device that generates the visual image.  
   
   
       6 . The entertainment device of  claim 2 , wherein the projection system is moveably mounted with respect to the display surface to assume a first position for projecting the visual image onto the display surface from above, the projection system being located apart from the display surface in the first position.  
   
   
       7 . The entertainment device of  claim 6 , wherein the projection system is configured to assume a second position, the projection system being located proximate the display surface in the second position.  
   
   
       8 . The entertainment device of  claim 7 , and further comprising a base member that supports the display surface, and at least one arm member that extends from the base member to said projection system to hold said projection system above said display surface.  
   
   
       9 . The entertainment device of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one arm is collapsible towards said base member.  
   
   
       10 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein said display surface, said display generating device and said touch/proximity sensing device are housed within display monitor/touch panel device that is coupled to the control unit.  
   
   
       11 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of user positions around said display surface at which a user interacts with the entertainment device, wherein said control unit controls the display generating device to change an orientation of the visual image depending on which user position is engaged in an activity or game.  
   
   
       12 . The entertainment device of  claim 11 , wherein said control unit further adjusts how it responds to signals from the touch/proximity sensing device when there is a change in the orientation of the visual image.  
   
   
       13 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , and further comprising a port to receive a memory device that stores one or more computer programs for a game or activity, wherein said control unit is connected to said port to read and execute said one or more computer programs.  
   
   
       14 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio output generating device operably coupled to said control unit, said audio output generating device configured to generate audio output in response to signals from said control unit, wherein said audio output is synchronized to displayed visual images.  
   
   
       15 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , and further comprising a port connected to said control unit that removeably receives a memory module that stores instructions executed by said control unit to perform a particular activity or game that involves displaying a particular visual image and responding to commands derived from a user touching or coming into close proximity with certain positions on said display surface.  
   
   
       16 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , and further comprising at least one controller port that is connected to said control unit and which receives said at least one input controller, wherein the least one controller port is further capable of accepting other accessory devices.  
   
   
       17 . An entertainment device comprising: 
 a base unit;    a display surface on said base unit;    a plurality of player positions on said base unit circumscribing said display surface;    a display generating device operable to display a visual image on said display surface;    a touch/proximity sensing device that detects positions of a user appendage on said display surface;    a control unit operably coupled to the touch/proximity sensing device and to the display generating device;    an input controller at each player position that is operably coupled to the control unit; and    wherein the control unit is responsive to signals from the controller and signals representing user appendage positions detected by touch/promixity sensing device to alter data supplied to said display generating device.    
   
   
       18 . The entertainment device of  claim 17 , wherein said touch/proximity sensing device is positioned beneath said display surface and is responsive to user touches on or in proximity to said display surface to output a signal indicative of the position thereof, and wherein said display generating device comprises a projection system for projecting the visual image on the display surface.  
   
   
       19 . The entertainment device of  claim 17 , wherein said display surface, said display generating device and said touch/proximity sensing device are are integrated into a display monitor/touch panel device that is coupled to said control unit.  
   
   
       20 . The entertainment device of  claim 17 , wherein said control unit supplies data to said display generating device to change an orientation of a displayed visual image for viewing at each of said player positions around said display surface.  
   
   
       21 . The entertainment device of  claim 20 , wherein said control unit further adjusts how it responds to signals from the touch/proximity sensing device upon a change in the orientation of said visual image.  
   
   
       22 . An entertainment device comprising: 
 a housing having multiple player positions;    means for generating a visual image;    means on said housing for displaying said visual image on an image display surface    means for detecting positions of a user appendage on said image display surface;    an input controller at each player position for receiving user input; and    control means coupled to said means for generating a visual image, said means for detecting positions of a user appendage on said image display surface, and said input controller, said control means operable to alter data supplied to the means for generating a visual image in response to signals from said input controller and signals from said means for detecting positions of a user appendage on said image display surface.    
   
   
       23 . A method for generating entertainment in a multi-user device, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) displaying visual images on a surface around which there are a plurality of user positions;    (b) monitoring touch or proximity positions of a user's appendage on said surface;    (c) receiving input from a user via a user input device at one of said plurality of user positions; and    (d) controlling said step (a) based upon a detected touch or proximity positions of said user's appendage on said surface and input received from a user via said user input device.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (a) comprises projecting a visual image onto a display surface.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (a) comprises displaying the visual image with a display panel device.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (b) comprises monitoring the position of a user's hand with respect said surface with a touch or proximity sensing device, and wherein step (a) comprises projecting a visual image onto said surface.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (d) comprises changing an orientation of the visual image depending on which user position is active.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein step (d) further comprises adjusting data generated by said step (b) upon a change in the orientation of the visual image.  
   
   
       29 . An entertainment device comprising: 
 a touch or proximity-sensitive display surface;    a plurality of user positions around said display surface;    a display generating device operable to display a visual image on said display surface;    a control unit operably coupled to said display generating device, wherein said control unit executes a program to supply data to said display generating device to generate visual images for display on said display surface according to said program, and wherein said control unit supplies said data to said display generating device to change the orientation of said visual images for viewing by a user at a particular user position.    
   
   
       30 . The entertainment device of  claim 29 , and further comprising a touch/proximity sensing device that detects positions of a user appendage on said display surface, wherein said control unit is responsive to position detections made by said touch/proximity sensing device in supplying data to said display generating device.  
   
   
       31 . The entertainment device of  claim 30 , wherein said control unit is further responsive to signals from said touch/proximity sensing device upon a change in the orientation of visual images for a particular user position.  
   
   
       32 . The entertainment device of  claim 29 , wherein said control unit supplies data to said display generating device to rotate said displayed visual images for viewing at one user position to viewing at said particular user position.  
   
   
       33 . A method for generating entertainment in a multi-user entertainment device, comprising: 
 (a) displaying visual images on a touch or proximity-sensitive surface around which there are a plurality of user positions;    (b) controlling said step (a) to rotate said visual images on said touch or proximity-sensitive surface from one user position to another user position.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , and further comprising monitoring touch or proximity positions of a user's appendage on said touch or proximity-sensitive surface, and further comprising altering a response of said entertainment device upon receipt of signals representing said monitored positions when the visual images are rotated from one user position to another user position.  
   
   
       35 . An entertainment device comprising: 
 a base unit that supports a display surface;    a display generating device operable to display a visual image on said display surface;    at least first and second support members that attach to said base unit and operable to move between a first position and a second position with respect to said base unit;    first and second connectors attached to distal ends of said first and second support members that removeably hold said display generating device above said display surface when said support members are in said first position;    a cover member that fits over said display surface of said base unit and having a storage recess to store said display generating device therein when removed from said first and second connectors, said cover member having a body with surface portions that mate with corresponding surfaces of said first and second connectors when said first and second members are in said second position.    
   
   
       36 . The entertainment device of  claim 35 , wherein said cover member further comprises a carrying handle.  
   
   
       37 . The entertainment device of  claim 35 , wherein said cover member further comprises lateral portions configured to mate with complimentary portions of said base unit.  
   
   
       38 . The entertainment device of  claim 35 , further comprising a recess cover that selectively covers said storage recess in said cover member.