Electricity: measuring and testing – Magnetic – Displacement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2004-02-10
Snow, Walter E. (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Magnetic
Displacement
C324S226000, C273S237000, C463S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06690156
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to physical object location and more particularly but not exclusively to physical object detection for keeping track of the objects, which may be playing pieces or tokens in a game, and moving the objects. The object detection may be pat of a game or simulation platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, games have been played on a specially marked out playing surface or game board, and tokens are moved around the board in accordance with a set of rules.
More recently, however, games, simulations and the like have been run on computers, and many of the traditional board games have been computerized. Typically, the computerized board game has involved an animated board appearing on the screen, with animated playing tokens being moved around the board. Interactions between the player and the computer are carried out in the normal way using standard interface devices such as a keyboard, mouse and joystick.
Gameplay involving multiple players is awkward, especially if play is restricted to a single computer. Also it can be difficult for people used to tokens on a board to adjust to screen displays.
There have thus been numerous attempts to enable a computer to use physical playing pieces and a game board so as to make the computer/human interface as natural as possible.
The earliest attempts, from the times when computers able to play games first because available, involved the player setting up a board with playing pieces, making his move on the board, keying his move in to the computer and then waiting for the computer to indicate its move. The computer's move was then physically made by the user on the board. However there was no direct interaction between the computer and the board.
A number of existing patents allow for direct interaction between the computer and physical playing pieces set on a board. The interaction is typically based on apparatus bad within the playing pieces or tokens and corresponding sensing apparatus connected to a computer. In order for the computer to interact directly with the pieces, the human players and the board, such a sensing mechanism is needed to enable automatic location of the physical pieces or tokens relative to the board and preferably also to provide an ability to distinguish between the tokens.
A number of patents to Wacom describe electronic drawing devices or styluses. The movement of the stylus over a tablet is traced electronically and used to generate computerized drawing. Excitation is applied to a resonant circuit in the stylus, electromagnetic radiation emitted by the resonant circuit is detected by a sensing mechanism and location processing is used to locate the stylus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,555 is one such patent, in which a position detecting apparatus is disclosed which is capable of detecting position pointing devices of any combination simultaneously out of plural position pointing devices. A frequency of a resonance circuit provided inside a position pointing device is set by a command signal transmitted from a tablet, causing plural position pointing devices placed on the tablet to have different frequencies, thereby suppressing electromagnetic interference among position pointing devices on the tablet, so that simultaneous detection becomes available.
A key problem with the use of such a system in conjunction with a gameboard is that a layer of conductors arranged in a grid is placed on the tablet to give the device sufficient resolution in locating the stylus. In a game, the gameboard, however, should preferably be seen without interference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,368 to Ryan describes playing pieces having tuned circuits within. Each or the tuned circuits is tuned to a different frequency so that the playing pieces can be distinguished. The game board is divided into cells and coil circuits are embedded within the playing surface or game board, one per cell. The coil circuits are activated in turn, to excite the tuned circuits of any piece that may be located in the cell. A response is taken to indicate that a piece is located in the cell.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,327 to Gilboa, describes playing pieces containing an electromagnetic transponder arranged to give a coded signal identifying the individual playing piece. The game board is a flat surface on which are placed paper sheets representing the game. The board is divided into cells, each of which comprises an electromagnetic excitation coil built into the board. The cells are excited on a row and column basis and the position of each piece is determined.
In both of these solutions, the coil or transponder has to be built into the playing surface. Neither of these solutions disclose a combination of a sensing apparatus with an electronic screen.
Applicant's co-pending application. U.S. Ser. No. 09/1382,167 describes an active solution, meaning a solution involving playing tokens having powered circuitry therein, in which individual tokens visually detect activated pixels on a flat display screen used as a game board. The token transmits a signal when a pixel, over which the token is positioned, is activated, and the system is able to use the transmitted signal to deduce the position of the token because it knows which pixel was activated at the given time. Embodiments allow for search patterns of the activated pixels, and tokens with individually identifiable signals. The signals may be infrared, ultrasound and the like. In addition, embodiments provide for artificial computer players, or for remote players located over a network and whose moves may be made by a robot arm.
This solution allows detection to be provided in conjunction with an electronic screen. Being an active solution, however, it requires the tokens to have an independent power source. That is to say, there is a battery which requires to be replaced from time to time. Furthermore dirt picked up on the bottom of the piece can obscure the sensor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention allow for accurate determination of the location and identity of playing pieces on a playing board, such that one or more players are able to play a game in which some of those players may be artificial players and some may be remotely located players, playing for example over a network.
Embodiments of the present invention also provide for a solution which may be used in conjunction With an electronic screen and wherein a small amount of dirt on the playing piece will not interfere with use.
The present invention preferably utilizes a robotic arm, in conjunction with an accurate location and identification system, in order to move tokens in the game on behalf of artificial or remote players.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a method of detecting each one of a set of physical objects, placed in association with a graphic display device, each of said objects comprising an identifier, the method comprising:
placing at least one of said objects at a location in association with said graphic display device,
detecting said identifier by means of a detector,
outputting a signal from said detector, which signal bears information of said location and
determining from said signal, information of said location.
In a preferred embodiment, each object has a unique identity within said set, wherein said indicator is indicative of said identity, said signal output from said detector further bearing information of said unique identity and wherein said step of determining comprises determining said unique identity.
In a further preferred embodiment, said identifier is a visual identifier, and said step of determining includes image processing.
In a farther preferred embodiment, said identifier is an electronic identifier, said identifier producing an output which is identifiable within said set.
In a further preferred embodiment, said electronic identifier is a resonant circuit and said output is electromagnetic radiation at a frequency unique within said set.
In a further preferred embodiment, said identi
Morag Meir
Perski Haim
Weiner Avish Jacob
G. E. Ehrlich (1995) Ltd.
N-trig Ltd.
Snow Walter E.
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