- Number
- 9959962
- Published
- 2018-05-01
- Filed
- 2016-01-11
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Bassett; Katherine M.; Goslin; Michael Paul; Olson; Blade Alexander
- CPC
- H04S7/304; A63H3/28; A63H5/00; A63H33/26; H01F7/064; H01F7/206; A63H13/00; H01F7/0205
- Verdict
- High Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Magnetic actuation of physical object (levitating/moving toy).
Abstract
In an interactive environment, a user action may dictate what type of action a base device performs using an entertainment object. In one embodiment, the base device includes a controllable electromagnet that uses magnetism to move one or more permanent magnetics mounted in or on the entertainment object. For example, the entertainment object may be a doll or character that jumps, vibrates, slides, or sways in response to a changing magnetic field generated by the electromagnet. Moreover, the user may wear headphones that determine the location of the base device (and the toy) relative to the user. Using this location, the headphones can output 3D positional audio that the user perceives as originating from the location of the entertainment object on the base device. The 3D positional audio can be outputted synchronously with the action performed by the entertainment object to further immerse the user in the interactive environment.
Background
BACKGROUND(1) Computer graphics technology has come a long way since video games were first developed. Relatively inexpensive 3D graphics engines now provide nearly photo-realistic interactive game play on hand-held video game, home video game and personal computer hardware platforms costing only a few hundred dollars. These video game systems typically include a hand-held controller, game controller, or, in the case of a hand-held video game platform, an integrated controller. A user interacts with the controller to send commands or other instructions to the video game system to control a video game or other simulation. For example, the controller may include a joystick and buttons operated by the user.(2) While video games allow the user to interact directly with the video game system, such interactions primarily influence the graphical depiction shown on the video game device (or on a connected display), and rarely influence any other objects outside of the virtual world. That is, a user may specify an input to the video game system, indicating that the user's avatar should perform a jump action, and in response the video game system displays the user's avatar jumping. However, such interactions are typically limited to the virtual world, and any interactions outside the virtual world are limited (e.g., a hand-held gaming device could vibrate when certain actions occur).SUMMARY(3) One embodiment described herein is an apparatus that includes a base comprising a support sur
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a base comprising a support surface; a first electromagnet disposed in the base and configured to generate a first magnetic field at the support surface, wherein the first electromagnet comprises: a first coil formed from a first electrically conductive wire, wherein the first coil forms a first loop from a viewpoint perpendicular to the support surface, wherein the first electromagnet has only the first coil, and a voltage generator coupled to both ends of the first wire; a controller disposed in the base and configured to control the first magnetic field generated by the first electromagnet according to a predefined gameplay motion pattern configured to induce an entertainment object proximate to the support surface to perform a desired action causing spatial separation of the entertainment object relative to the support surface; and a second electromagnet configured to generate a second magnetic field at the support surface according to the predefined gameplay motion pattern, wherein the second electromagnet has only a single second coil formed from a second electrically conductive wire, wherein the second coil forms a second loop from the viewpoint perpendicular to the support surface, and wherein the base comprises at most two coils; wherein the first coil is disposed a first distance from the support surface, and the second coil is disposed a second distance from the support surface, wherein the first coil overlaps the second coil relative to the viewpoint perpendicular to the support surface.
6. A system comprising: a base comprising a body, wherein the body comprises: an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field at a support surface, a controller configured to control the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet to induce an entertainment object proximate to the support surface to perform a desired action, and a wireless transmitter configured to emit a location signal; and an audio system comprising: a plurality of speakers, at least one receiver configured to receive the location signal, and a sound controller configured to: determine a location of the base relative to the audio system based on the location signal, and output 3D positional audio using the speakers that a user perceives as originating from the location of the base.
13. A method, comprising: activating, by a controller, an electromagnet in a base to affect a permanent magnetic fixedly disposed on an entertainment object to cause the entertainment object to perform a desired action when the entertainment object is proximate to a support surface of the base; receiving a location signal transmitted by a wireless transmitter in the base at an audio system, wherein the base comprises a body, wherein the body comprises the controller, the electromagnet and the wireless transmitter; determining a location of the base relative to the audio system based on the location signal; and generating 3D positional audio using the audio system that a user perceives as originating from the location of the base, wherein the 3D positional audio is output synchronously with the desired action performed by the entertainment object.