Abstract:
A human-machine interaction system is provided for executing a script. The human-machine interaction system includes a display device, a mechanical device, a sensing module and a processing module. The display device is used for showing an interactive image within an interactive zone. The mechanical device is movable within the interactive zone. The sensing module is used for receiving an input action within the interactive zone. The processing module is electrically connected with the display device, the sensing module and the mechanical device. According to the input action and the script, the processing module controls operations of the mechanical device and controls the display device to update the interactive image. By the inventive human-machine interaction system, the physical and virtual interactive elements can be integrated to provide the user with a new operating mode.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to China Patent Application No. CN201010233676.7, filed on Jul. 16, 2010. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a human-machine interaction system, and more particularly to a human-machine interaction system integrating physical and virtual interactive elements. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With increasing development of science and technology, intelligent toys are now rapidly gaining in popularity. For example, an interactive doll (e.g. a robot or a mechanical animal) which interacts with the user has become one of the most favorite toys among different age groups. 
         [0004]    The interactive doll has capability of communicating and interacting with the user. For example, by cuddling or patting the interactive doll, the interactive doll can be directly interacted with the user. When the sensor of the interactive doll detects the cuddling or patting action, the interactive doll will respond with a specified action or a specified sound. 
         [0005]    However, since the interactive way of playing with the interactive doll is usually monotonous, the user may usually feel bored after a long time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a human-machine interaction system for executing a script, in which an interactive image is created by a display technology and integrated with the interactive doll. Consequently, the interactive image may be designed to comply with different scenarios so as to meet the requirements of the user. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a human-machine interaction system capable of integrating the physically mechanical device and virtually interactive image so as to provide a new operating mode and enhance the interactive efficacy. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a human-machine interaction system for executing a script. The human-machine interaction system includes a display device, a mechanical device, a sensing module and a processing module. The display device is used for showing an interactive image within an interactive zone. The mechanical device is movable within the interactive zone. The sensing module is used for receiving an input action within the interactive zone. The processing module is electrically connected with the display device, the sensing module and the mechanical device. According to the input action and the script, the processing module controls operations of the mechanical device and controls the display device to update the interactive image. 
         [0009]    The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating a human-machine interaction system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an application example of the human-machine interaction system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates an application example of a human-machine interaction system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating a human-machine interaction system according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  schematically illustrates an application example of the human-machine interaction system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating a human-machine interaction system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an application example of the human-machine interaction system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the human-machine interaction system  2   a  comprises a processing module  20 , a display device  22 , a sensing module  24 , a mechanical device  26  and a driving mechanism  28 . 
         [0017]    The processing module  20  is electrically connected with the display device  22 , the sensing module  24 , the mechanical device  26  and the driving mechanism  28 . The human-machine interaction system  2   a  has a predetermined interactive zone  23 . In a case that the user&#39;s hand is located within the interactive zone  23 , the user may interact with the mechanical device  26  through the sensing module  24 . Moreover, the human-machine interaction system  2   a  is configured to execute a script. For example, the script contains program codes of a game, an interactive electronic book or other application program. 
         [0018]    In this embodiment, the display device  22  is a flat panel display. The display device  22  is electrically connected with the processing module  20 . The displaying surface of the display device  22  abuts against a border of the interactive zone  23  to display a two-dimensional interactive image  36  on the interactive zone  23 . In some other embodiments, the display device  22  is a projector, which is disposed at another position for projecting the interactive image onto the interactive zone  23 . In some other embodiments, the display device  22  is any display device capable of producing a stereoscopic vision effect within the range of the interactive zone  23 . In some other embodiments, the display device  22  is a holographic display device capable of directly displaying a stereoscopic image. 
         [0019]    The mechanical device  26  is movable within the interactive zone  23 . That is, the mechanical device  26  can be moved within the interactive zone  23  rather than fixed in a specified position. By the driving mechanism  28 , the mechanical device  26  is driven to move within the interactive zone  23 . The driving mechanism  28  is electrically connected with the processing module  20 . Moreover, the driving mechanism  28  comprises a retractable push rod  281  and a shaft  282 . The shaft  282  is pivotally fixed at an edge of the interactive zone  23 . A first end of the retractable push rod  281  is connected with the shaft  282 . A second end of the retractable push rod  281  is coupled with the mechanical device  26 . In response to a rotating action of the shaft  282  and the linear moving action of the retractable push rod  281 , the mechanical device  26  can be moved to a specified position of the interactive zone  23 . 
         [0020]    Moreover, the shape of the mechanical device  26  may be varied according to the practical requirements. Depending on the shape of mechanical device  26 , the mechanical components are varied. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the mechanical device  26  is a robot. The robot has some mechanical components for simulating various actions. In some embodiments, the mechanical device  26  has another shape such as an animal or a vehicle. Moreover, the mechanical device  26  is electrically connected with the processing module  20  through a built-in circuitry of the driving mechanism  28  so as to receive commands from the processing module  20 . 
         [0021]    The sensing module  24  is configured to receive an input action of a user within the interactive zone  23 . According to the input action and the script, the processing module  20  controls operations of the mechanical device  26  and updates the interactive image  36  shown on the display device  22 . In this embodiment, the sensing module  24  is a touch panel  241 , which is installed on the display device  22 . In response to an input action of the user on the touch panel  241 , for example the action of clicking and dragging the interactive image  36  shown on the display device  22 , a corresponding touching signal is received by the touch panel  241  and then transmitted to the processing module  20 . 
         [0022]    Then, the touching signal is analyzed by the processing module  20 . According to the touching signal and the script, a next action of the human-machine interaction system  2   a  is determined by the processing module  20 . For example, the processing module  20  may control the driving mechanism  28  to move the mechanical device  26  within the interactive zone  23 , directly control movement of the mechanical device  26  or control the display device  22  to update the interactive image  36 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates an application example of a human-machine interaction system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the human-machine interaction system  2   b , the driving mechanism  28  comprises a track  283  and a retractable push rod  281 . The retractable push rod  281  is installed on the track  283  and movable along the track  283 . In addition, the retractable push rod  281  may be stretched out or drawn back in a direction perpendicular to the track  283 . A first end of the retractable push rod  281  is connected with the track  283 . A second end of the retractable push rod  281  is coupled with the mechanical device  26 . In such way, the mechanical device  26  can be moved to a specified position of the interactive zone  23  by the driving mechanism  28 . 
         [0024]    For example, the human-machine interaction system  2   b  may be used to execute a ball game or a hitting game. In this embodiment, the mechanical device  26  is a robot holding a bat. During an operation of the human-machine interaction system  2   b , the user&#39;s finger may touch the touch panel  241  overlying the display device  22  and a user&#39;s gesture on the interactive image  36  may be made to control the motion of the interactive image  36 . After the user&#39;s gesture is detected by the touch panel  241 , the touch panel  241  issues a touching signal to the processing module  20 . Then, the touching signal is analyzed by the processing module  20 . According to the user&#39;s gesture and the script, the processing module  20  will control operations of the mechanical device  26  and control the display device  22  to update the interactive image  36 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating a human-machine interaction system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  schematically illustrates an application example of the human-machine interaction system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the human-machine interaction system  2   c  comprises a processing module  20 , a display device  22 , a sensing module  24 , a mechanical device  26 , a first wireless transmission unit  30  and a second wireless transmission unit  32 . 
         [0026]    The first wireless transmission unit  30  and the second wireless transmission unit  32  are in communication with each other to receive and transmit data according to a wireless transmission technology. In this embodiment, the first wireless transmission unit  30  is disposed on the display device  22  and electrically connected with the processing module  20 , but it is not limited thereto. The second wireless transmission unit  32  is disposed on the mechanical device  26 . 
         [0027]    The sensing module  24  comprises a touch panel  241 , a camera  242  and a touch-sensitive unit  243 . The functions of the touch panel  241  are similar to those of the above embodiments, and are not redundantly described herein. The camera  242  is used for shooting the mechanical device  26  and the user&#39;s gesture, thereby acquiring a digital image. The digital image is transmitted to the processing module  20 . Consequently, the user&#39;s gesture contained in the digital image is analyzed by the processing unit  20 . 
         [0028]    The touch-sensitive unit  243  is disposed on the mechanical device  26  and electrically connected with the second wireless transmission unit  32 . In addition, the touch-sensitive unit  243  is used for sensing a touching action of a user. In response to the touching action on the touch-sensitive unit  243 , the touch-sensitive unit  243  issues a sensing signal. The sensing signal is transmitted to the processing module  20  through the first wireless transmission unit  30  and the second wireless transmission unit  32 . 
         [0029]    The mechanical device  26  comprises a movable unit  29 . In this embodiment, the movable unit  29  is a bipedal walking system. Alternatively, the movable unit  29  is a wheel-moving system or a caterpillar-walking system. Moreover, the touch-sensitive unit  243  and the second wireless transmission unit  32  are disposed on the mechanical device  26 . The mechanical device  26  is electrically connected with the touch-sensitive unit  243  and the movable unit  29 . 
         [0030]    The processing module  20  is electrically connected with the display device  22 , the touch panel  241 , the camera  242  and the first wireless transmission unit  30 . According to the script, the user&#39;s gesture and the touching action of the user, the processing module  20  will control operations of the mechanical device  26  and control the display device  22  to update the interactive image  36 . In other words, the movable unit  29  is controlled by the processing module  20  through the first wireless transmission unit  30  and the second wireless transmission unit  32 , so that the mechanical device  26  is moved within the interactive zone. 
         [0031]    From the above description, since the human-machine interaction system integrates the physically mechanical device and virtually interactive image, a new operating mode can be provided and the interactive efficacy is enhanced. 
         [0032]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.