Abstract:
Apparatus and method generate interactive signal for a moving article such as an airplane model. The airplane model is provided with a human-sensible interactive signal source; and the moving status of the air plane model such velocity is detected to generate a movement parameter. The movement parameter is operated with a frequency-dependent conversion function to obtain a first interactive data. A second interactive data is generated when a trace of the moving article is matched with a default pattern. A third interactive data is generated when the velocity along at least one dimension exceeds a threshold value. The interactive signal source, such as loudspeaker or lamps, is selectively driven by one of the interactive data to generate a movement-dependent audiovisual effect. Therefore, the apparatus and method generating interactive signal for moving article can provide enhanced amusement effect for user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method generating interactive signal for a moving article, especially to an apparatus and method generating interactive audio and visual signal for a moving airplane model. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0004]    The conventional toys for game are augmented with electronic gadget as the mature of semiconductor processing technology and digital signal processing ability. Therefore, the modern toys are featured with fancy audio-visual effect and versatile manipulation. 
         [0005]    US pre-grant publication 2006/0033713 discloses an interactive game system with a TV camera and video display such as a large-screen TV With reference to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , the interactive game system comprises two cameras  530  and a computer  535 , wherein the cameras  530  catch the images of marks  510 ,  511  and  512  on an airplane model  505  and provide the images to the computer  535  for obtaining a moving trajectory of the airplane model  505 . The computer  535  shows the image and moving trajectory of the airplane model  505  on TV screen. Therefore, user can play air combat with another airplane simulated by computer even though only one player is present. 
         [0006]    However, the above-mentioned game system needs bulky equipment such as camera  530  and computer  535  to achieve interactive game effect. It is troublesome for user. The compact acceleration sensor is widely available as the process of MEMS is improved. It is desirable to exploit the technology of speed or acceleration sensing to toys to provide enhanced amusement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method generating interactive signal for a moving article. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus generating interactive signal for a moving article. The apparatus generating interactive signal for a moving article comprises a velocity sensor; a micro controller unit (MCU) electrically connected to the velocity sensor; a database electrically connected to the MCU and storing a plurality of interactive data; and an interactive signal source. The velocity sensor is fixed to the moving article and senses a movement parameter of the moving article. The velocity sensor sends the movement parameter to the MCU for processing. The MCU selects at least one interactive data for driving the interactive signal source. 
         [0009]    Moreover, the present invention provides a method for generating interactive signal for a moving article with an interactive signal source. A movement status of the moving article is detected to generate a movement parameter. An operation is performed on the movement parameter with a frequency-dependent conversion function to obtain a first interactive data. The moving trace of the moving article is compared with a default trace. A second interactive data is generated when the comparison is matched. The velocities of the moving article in three dimensional are also compared with corresponding thresholds. A third interactive data is generated when one of the velocities of the moving article exceeds corresponding threshold. The first, second, and third interactive data are selectively supplied to interactive signal sources such as lamps or loudspeaker to generated movement-related audio and visual effect. For example, the audio frequency of loudspeaker or the flashing frequency of lamp can be increased with moving velocity. A special sound effect is generated when the trace of the moving article is matched with a default trace pattern for encouraging user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
         [0010]    The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  shows a prior art interactive game system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows the block diagram of the interactive-signal generating apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a preferred embodiment of the velocity sensor. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an example for the sound frequency variation. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows the example of database in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides an interactive-signal generating apparatus  10  for a moving article  20  such as an airplane model. The interactive-signal generating apparatus  10  senses a movement status of the airplane model  20  to generate human-sensible interactive signals such as sound or lighting. As shown in this figure, human-sensible interactive signal sources (such as sound unit or lighting unit) are provided at predetermined positions of the airplane model  20 . For example, two lateral lamps  22 A and  22 B are provided on two wings of the airplane model  20 , respectively, and a tail lamp  22 C is provided at tail of the airplane model  20 , and a loudspeaker  24  is provided within the airplane model  20 . The lamps  22 A,  22 B and  22 C and the loudspeaker  24  are electrically connected to the interactive-signal generating apparatus  10  and controlled by the interactive-signal generating apparatus  10 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the block diagram of the interactive-signal generating apparatus  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The interactive-signal generating apparatus  10  comprises a velocity sensor  12 , a micro controller unit (MCU)  14 , a database  16  (explained in more detail later), an interactive-signal output driver  18 , which are electrically connected to each other. Moreover, the interactive-signal generating apparatus  10 , the lamps  22 A,  22 B and  22 C and the loudspeaker  24  are electrically connected to a power source (not shown) such as a battery to acquire electrical power. The velocity sensor  12  is fixed to the airplane model  20  to sense the movement of the airplane model  20  and generates movement parameters such as velocity, acceleration and trajectory (trace) for the airplane model  20 . The MCU  14  refers to the movement parameters and the data in the database  16  to generate interactive-signal for driving the lamps  22 A,  22 B and  22 C and the loudspeaker  24 . Therefore, interactive audio-visual effect in response to the velocity, acceleration or trajectory of the airplane model  20  can be produced. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the database  16  comprises, for example, transfer function and weight parameter data  160 , velocity threshold data  161 , acceleration threshold data  162 , default sound effect data  163 , special sound effect data  164 , flashing light mode data  165 , and default trace pattern data  166 . The MCU  14  determines an interactive effect with reference to the transfer function and weight parameter data  160 , the velocity threshold data  161 , the acceleration threshold data  162 , and the default trace pattern data  166 ; and then selectively reads audio-visual data in the default sound effect data  163 , the special sound effect data  164 , and/or the flashing light mode data  165 . The audio-visual data is used to drive the lamps  22 A,  22 B and  22 C and/or the loudspeaker  24  through the interactive-signal output driver  18 . The interactive-signal output driver  18  is functioned to generate audio signal and visual signals according to the audio-visual data in the special sound effect data  164 , and/or the flashing light mode data  165 . The interactive-signal output driver  18  also adjusts the level or power of audio signals and visual signals. Therefore, the audio signals and visual signals can be adaptively generated for loudspeaker and lamps of different specifications, for example, loudspeakers of different output powers or LEDs (light emitting diode) of different colors. The interactive-signal output driver  18  can also be built in the MCU  14 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a preferred embodiment of the velocity sensor  12 . The velocity sensor  12  comprises, for example, an acceleration sensor  120  and an integrator  122 . The acceleration sensor  120  is, for example, the H48C sensor of Hitachi, which can sense the accelerations Ax′, Ay′, Az′ along three axes of the acceleration sensor  120 . The accelerations Ax′, Ay′, Az′ are integrated once to obtain velocities Vx′, Vy′, Vz′ along three axes of the acceleration sensor  120 . The acceleration Ax′, Ay′, Az′ are integrated twice to obtain trajectory S(x′, y′, z′). The acceleration sensor  120  uses a coordinate frame itself for sensing and the velocity sensor  12  is fixed to the airplane model  20 . Therefore, the above-mentioned movement parameters of velocity (Vx′, Vy′, Vz′), accelerations (Ax′, Ay′, Az′) and trajectory S(x′, y′, z′) can be easily transformed to the movement parameters based on the coordinate frame (x, y, z) of the airplane model  20 . Hereinafter, the movement parameters of velocity, accelerations and trajectory will be expressed in terms of the coordinate frame (x, y, z) of the airplane model  20 . Moreover, the acceleration sensor  120  can also be integrated into the MCU  14  to exploit the computation power of the MCU  14 . 
         [0021]    The interactive-signal generating apparatus  10  according to the present invention for airplane model  20  can be exemplified by following applications. 
         [0022]    I. The Simulation for Flying Sound and Lighting of Airplane 
         [0023]    The interactive-signal generating apparatus  10  according to the present invention is arranged in an airplane model  20 . The airplane model  20  can be held by a user to move in air. The velocity sensor  12  senses the three axes accelerations (Ax, Ay, Az) and the MCU  14  converts the three axes accelerations (Ax, Ay, Az) into three axes velocities (Vx, Vy, Vz). The MCU  14  uses the three axes velocities (Vx, Vy, Vz) as parameters to generate audio effect. For example, the MCU  14  fetches sound data in the default sound effect data  163  for velocity of each axis and mixes the sound data with weighting ratio dependent to the three axes velocities (Vx, Vy, Vz). The mixed sound data is sent to the interactive-signal output driver  18  to drive the loudspeaker  24 . Moreover, the MCU  14  can select the largest one of the three axes velocities (Vx, Vy, Vz), and select sound data associated with the largest velocity from the default sound effect data  163 . The selected sound data sent to the interactive-signal output driver  18  to drive the loudspeaker  24 . 
         [0024]    The sound data corresponding to different axes are explained below. 
         [0025]    The velocity Vx represents the flying direction (forward direction) of the airplane and the default sound effect data  163  contains data for flying sound effect. 
         [0026]    The velocity Vy represents the left turn and right turn directions of the airplane and the default sound effect data  163  contains data for screaming sound effect to simulate the turning of airplane. 
         [0027]    The velocity Vz represents the speeding upward or stalling downward of the airplane and the default sound effect data  163  contains data for engine sound effect for the airplane. 
         [0028]    The MCU  14  can find the largest one among the three velocities Vx, Vy, and Vz, and selects sound effect in the default sound effect data  163  with respect to the largest velocity component. For example, if the largest velocity component is velocity Vy, then the MCU  14  fetches sound effect corresponding to screaming sound effect of a turning airplane. The screaming sound effect is then sent to the loudspeaker  24 . Moreover, the MCU  14  can also mix the sound effect corresponding different velocity components when the velocity components exceed certain threshold stored in the velocity threshold data  161 . For example, if the velocity components Vx and Vy exceed certain threshold, the sound effect corresponding to flying sound and turning sound of the airplane are fetched and then mixed by the MCU  14 . The mixed sound effect is then sent to the loudspeaker  24 . 
         [0029]    Beside the sound effect for different velocity components along three dimensions, the sound effect or lighting effect can also be generated with frequency variation.  FIG. 5  shows an example for the sound frequency variation. Specific velocity-sound frequency conversion function or acceleration-sound frequency conversion function can be set for each dimension. 
         [0030]    For example, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the velocity-sound frequency conversion function can set as: 
         [0000]      Sound=ƒ 1 ( v   x )         ƒ(ω 1 )+ƒ 2 ( v   y )         ƒ(ω 2 )+ƒ 3 ( v   z )         ƒ(ω 3 ) 
         [0031]    As can be seen from above formula, there is a specific conversion function ƒ 1 , ƒ 2 , ƒ 3  (such as linear function, piece-wise function or Gaussian function) for the velocity components Vx, Vy, and Vz. Moreover, there are different weighting values for different frequencies, namely, weighting values ƒ(ω n ), n=1, 2, 3. The above-mentioned conversion functions and weighting values are stored in the transfer function and weight parameter data  160 . Moreover, the conversion functions and weighting values are different for different dimensions. 
         [0032]    Provided that the conversion function is a linear function and the weighting factor is a constant, the sound frequency of the loudspeaker  24  is higher when the velocity of the airplane model  20  is higher. Moreover, linear functions with different slopes can be used as conversion function for velocities Vx, Vy, Vz in three dimensions respectively. The sound effects for the velocities Vx, Vy, Vz in three dimensions are mixed to drive the loudspeaker  24 . Therefore, the sound effect is different when the user moves the airplane model  20  in different 3D trajectories. Moreover, the similar conversion function can also be applied to the lighting effect of the airplane model  20 . The light flash is faster when the airplane model  20  is moved faster. 
         [0033]    II. The Sound Effect for Flying Trace of the Airplane Model 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the database  16  comprises default trace pattern data  166 , which stores default trace pattern such as circle shape, triangular shape, number-8 shape or square shape. The database  16  also comprises special sound effect data  164  corresponding to the default trace patterns. When the trace of the airplane model detected by the apparatus for generating interactive signal of the present invention is matched with one of the default trace patterns, the MCU  14  drives the loudspeaker  24  to generate bonus soundtrack for informing or encouraging user. Moreover the MCU  14  can drive the loudspeaker  24  to generate sound emulating machine gun when the MCU  14  senses a vibrational movement of the airplane model  20 . 
         [0035]    III. Flying Lighting for Airplane Model 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the airplane model  20  is assumed to move forward along Vx direction, move leftward and rightward along Vy direction and upward and downward along Vz direction. The MCU  14  measures the velocity/acceleration along three dimensions of the airplane model  20  and compares the velocity/acceleration of the airplane model  20  with the velocity/acceleration thresholds in the velocity threshold data  161  and the acceleration threshold data  162 . When the left or right velocity along Vy direction exceeds a predetermined threshold, the MCU  14  drives the interactive-signal output driver  18  to light one of the lamps  22 A and  22 B in order to manifest the left turn or right turn of the airplane model  20 . When the forward velocity along Vx exceeds a predetermined threshold, the MCU  14  drives the interactive-signal output driver  18  to light the lamp  22 C at tail of the airplane model  20  in order to manifest the jet of the airplane model  20 . 
         [0037]    Moreover, the airplane model  20  can be provided with an operation switch (not shown) to select one of the three above-mentioned operations, or other mode. For example, the MCU  14  can be controlled by the operation switch to select the flashing light mode data  165  and drives the lamps in predetermined modes (sequentially flashing or randomly flashing). 
         [0038]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.