Interactive surface game system based on ultrasonic position determination

Abstract

A system for users to play games on regular surface ( 201 ) such as printed material is provided. The system consists of an ultrasonic pointing unit ( 216 ), an ultrasonic base unit ( 213 ), a control unit ( 220 ) and a response unit ( 240 ), together with response data ( 500 ) and game rules ( 1100 ). The user interacts with the surface ( 201 ) by placing the ultrasonic pointing unit ( 216 ) on various areas of the surface ( 10 ). Ultrasonic wave propagates between the ultrasonic point unit ( 216 ) and ultrasonic base unit ( 213 ). By measuring multiple time-of-flight of ultrasonic wave, the location of the ultrasonic pointing unit ( 216 ) could be determined, and the device makes appropriate audio or other responses. Also, with the additions of game rules ( 1100 ), the system could ask users questions, or instruct users to tracing pictures or letters, or instruct users to walk a maze, etc. A surface ( 201 ) is thereby transformed into an interactive experience with various sound or visual effects. The sound effects or other response data ( 540 ) and game rules ( 1100 ) are stored in data storage ( 230 ) accessible by the control unit ( 220 ). Any number of different surfaces ( 201 ) can be used as long as the specific response data ( 540 ) for each different surface ( 201 ) is stored in data storage ( 230 ) accessible by the control unit ( 220 ).

1 . An interactive surface game system for allowing a user to play games on a surface, the interactions being determined according to visual icons depicted on the surface and the response data, with the addition of game rule. The system comprising: 
 an ultrasonic position determination device having an ultrasonic pointing unit and an ultrasonic base unit.    a surface, said surface contains visual icons. Some of said visual icons have response data associated with them. Said response data is stored in data storage.    a response unit.    a control unit for locating the response data corresponding to a said visual icon according to the location of said ultrasonic pointing device. Said control unit processes game rules.    Game rules to be processed by control unit in order to provide game activity to said user.    
   
   
       2 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic position determination device further includes means for determining the position of said ultrasonic pointing unit by measuring time-of-flight of ultrasonic wave propagating between said ultrasonic pointing unit and base unit.  
   
   
       3 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic position determination device further includes means for determining the position of said ultrasonic pointing unit by measuring difference of time-of-flight of ultrasonic wave propagating between said ultrasonic pointing unit and base unit.  
   
   
       4 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic base unit includes at least 2 ultrasonic transducers. Said ultrasonic transducers are located in fixed positions relative to each other.  
   
   
       5 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic pointing unit includes at least one ultrasonic transducer.  
   
   
       6 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 3 , wherein said means for determining the position of said ultrasonic pointing device include measurement of at least 2 time-of-flight of ultrasonic wave propagating between said ultrasonic pointing unit and base unit.  
   
   
       7 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 3 , wherein said means for determining the position of said ultrasonic pointing device further include a method of calculating the position of said ultrasonic point device by triangulating multiple time-of-flight. The method comprising: 
 calculating the distance between a said ultrasonic transducer of said ultrasonic pointing unit and a said ultrasonic transducer of said ultrasonic base unit by multiplying said time-of-flight with sound speed.    calculating 2 dimensional position of said ultrasonic pointing unit based on at least 2 calculated distances between ultrasonic pointing unit and transducers of ultrasonic base unit and known distance between transducers of said ultrasonic base unit. Said calculation is based on triangulation.    
   
   
       8 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 3 , wherein said means for determining the position of said ultrasonic pointing device further include a method of calculating the position of said ultrasonic point device by triangulating multiple time-of-flight. The method comprising: 
 calculating the distance between a said ultrasonic transducer of said ultrasonic pointing unit and a said ultrasonic transducer of said ultrasonic base unit by multiplying said time-of-flight and sound speed.    calculating 3 dimensional position of said ultrasonic pointing unit based on at least 3 calculated distances between ultrasonic pointing unit and transducers of ultrasonic base unit and known distance between transducers of said ultrasonic base unit. Said calculation is based on triangulation.    
   
   
       9 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said surface is paper.  
   
   
       10 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said surface is plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said surface is wood.  
   
   
       12 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said surface has 3D objects on it.  
   
   
       13 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said surface can be detached from other said units.  
   
   
       14 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said visual icon is text.  
   
   
       15 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said visual icon is graphic.  
   
   
       16 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said visual icon is picture.  
   
   
       17 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said visual icon is photo.  
   
   
       18 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said visual icon is symbol.  
   
   
       19 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said response data is audible data.  
   
   
       20 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said response data is visual data.  
   
   
       21 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said response data is control data.  
   
   
       22 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said data storage is flash memory.  
   
   
       23 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said data storage is memory card.  
   
   
       24 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said data storage is external hard drive.  
   
   
       25 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said data storage is external optical drive.  
   
   
       26 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said response unit further includes an audio output.  
   
   
       27 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said response unit further includes visual output  
   
   
       28 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said control unit includes a micro controller and access means to said data storage.  
   
   
       29 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 37 , wherein said access mean is wired connection.  
   
   
       30 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 37 , wherein said access mean is wireless connection.  
   
   
       31 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 37 , wherein said micro controller further includes a program to search and present said response data. The program comprises: 
 a routine to search for response data corresponding to said visual icon according to position of said ultrasonic pointing unit.    a routine to determine the response unit output for said response data.    a routine to present response data to said user via said output of response unit.    
   
   
       32 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 40 , wherein said program further include a routine to process response data before present response data.  
   
   
       33 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 40 , wherein said program further include a routine to decode response data before present response data.  
   
   
       34 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 37 , wherein said micro controller further includes a program to process game rules.  
   
   
       35 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interacts with said surface by positioning said ultrasonic pointing device on a said visual icon.  
   
   
       36 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 44 , wherein said user triggers the propagation of ultrasonic wave between said ultrasonic pointing unit and base unit.  
   
   
       37 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 45 , wherein said time-of-flight of ultrasonic wave propagating between said ultrasonic pointing unit and base unit is measured.  
   
   
       38 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 46 , wherein said position of ultrasonic pointing device is determined by said means for determining position of ultrasonic pointing device.  
   
   
       39 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 47 , wherein said position of ultrasonic pointing device is input to said control unit.  
   
   
       40 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 48 , wherein said control unit search for response data corresponding to said visual icon according to position of said ultrasonic pointing device.  
   
   
       41 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 49 , wherein said control unit present response data to said user via said response unit.  
   
   
       42 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said pointing unit is a pen.  
   
   
       43 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said pointing unit is a toy car.  
   
   
       44 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said pointing unit is a toy airplane.  
   
   
       45 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said pointing unit is a toy characters.  
   
   
       46 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said pointing unit is a remote control toy.  
   
   
       47 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said game rules are questions and answers.  
   
   
       48 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said game rules are tracing letters or pictures.  
   
   
       49 . The interactive surface game system of  claim 1 , wherein said game rules are walking mazes.