Abstract:
An interactive game includes a playing surface defining playing positions, a display operable to display a visual game image on the playing surface, a sensor operable to optically detect a playing piece placed on the playing surface, and a game controller connected to the sensor and the display. The game controller creates the game image on the display and alters the game image in response to a location or orientation of the playing piece on the playing surface.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to interactive games. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Interactive games include games that respond to the input and actions of a game player. For example, in an interactive game of chess, the movement of a playing piece by one player may cause a computer acting as an opponent to respond by moving another playing piece. Interactive games also may provide visual and audio effects based on the state of the game or in response to input from the players. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one general aspect, an interactive game includes a playing surface defining playing positions, a display operable to display a visual game image on the playing surface, a sensor operable to optically detect a playing piece placed on the playing surface, and a game controller connected to receive information from the sensor, configured to generate signals for use in creating the game image using the information from the sensor, and connected to the display to provide the signals to the display. The game controller causes the display to after the game image in response to a location or orientation of a playing piece on the playing surface. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the sensor may be operable to optically detect a foreign object in its field of vision and the game controller may alter the game image upon detection of the foreign object. 
     The interactive game may include a frame secured to the playing surface. The frame may be attached to a table, or may include a table. 
     The interactive game may include playing pieces that may be of different types. The playing pieces may include playing cards, tokens, vehicles, or figurines. 
     The display may be implemented using, for example, a projector, a cathode ray tube, or a liquid crystal display. The sensor may include, for example, a digital camera, a laser, a bar code reader, or a tag reader. In some implementations, a tag writer may be employed to update the status of game tokens. 
     The game controller may be a computer configured to use an optical character recognition system or machine vision technology. The interactive game may include a speaker and/or a microphone connected to the game controller. The game controller may be configured to emit sound in response to the location or orientation of a playing piece on the playing surface. Additionally, or alternatively, by using the microphone, the game controller may alter the game image in response to a sound. The game controller also may be configured to send a control signal to another device in response to a location or orientation of the playing piece on the playing surface. For example, the game controller may send the control signal to another toy, to a computer, or to audio equipment. The game controller also may be configured as an artificially intelligent opponent to a human player. 
     The interactive game provides an engrossing, interactive experience for one or more players. By altering the game image upon movement of a playing piece to another position, and by other interactive features, the players may stay more involved and find the game experience more enjoyable. 
     Implementations of the above features may include methods, systems and/or computer software. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interactive game that includes playing surface, playing pieces, a table, and a projector. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an interactive game that includes a playing surface, playing pieces, a table, and a CRT display. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an interactive game that includes a playing surface, playing pieces, a table, and an LCD display. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an interactive game that includes a playing surface, playing pieces, a table, and a camera. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of operations performed by an interactive game. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart of steps of playing an interactive game. 
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an interactive game  100  with a playing surface  110 , playing pieces  120 , a table  130 , and a projector  140 . The playing surface  110  may be a transparent board made of a material such as glass or plastic. The playing surface also may have etched or printed patterns to define the game boundaries. In other implementations, the playing surface  110  may be the surface of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the playing pieces may be figurines. The figurines may have different physical features representing different types of playing pieces  120 . In other implementations, the playing pieces may be game tokens or playing cards. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the table  130  may include a square top supported by legs. The top  130  may have a cut-out area structured and arranged to define the perimeter of the playing surface. The playing surface may be connected to a frame (not shown) that supports the playing surface and connects to the table  130 . The top may be made of plastic, glass, metal, wood, or one or more other rigid materials. The top  130  may have another shape, such as a circle, an octagon, or a triangle. The table  130  may be structured and arranged for use in an amusement arcade, and may include enclosed sides that define a cabinet and coin insert and coin return slots. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the display  140  may include a projector that is positioned under the table to project an image onto the playing surface  110 . In another implementation, as shown in FIG. 2, the projector  140  may be replaced by a CRT monitor  300 . In yet another implementation, as shown in FIG. 3, the projector  140  may be replaced by an LCD  300 , which may use, for example, active matrix or polysilicon technology. In other implementations, the projector  140  may use digital light processing (DLP) or light valve technology. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the interactive game may include a sensor  400 , such as a digital camera. The camera may be configured to obtain an image of the playing pieces  120  relative to the playing surface  110  to acquire the game state. Other types of optical sensors may be used in addition to or as an alternative to the sensor  400 . For example, other sensors may include a laser, a tag reader, or a bar code reader for detection and recognition of playing pieces  120  in conjunction with positioning the playing pieces  120  on the playing surface  110 . This permits the interactive game  100  to obtain additional information about the playing piece  120  prior to detecting the position and orientation of the playing piece  120  with the camera. 
     Additionally, sensors also may be used for detection of other sense impressions such as sound or temperature. For example, a microphone  440  may be connected to the game controller as an audio sensor. In a further implementation, a thermostat or touch sensor (not shown) may be used to detect the presence of a hand or finger on the playing surface  110 . 
     In another implementation, the interactive game may include a tag writer to update the playing pieces based upon the latest game state. 
     A game controller (not shown) may be connected to the sensor  400  and the projector  140 , the CRT  200 , or the LCD  300 , and may be configured to control or alter the game image. The game controller (not shown) may include a central processor unit (CPU) programmed and configured to use machine vision techniques for recognition of an image of the game state. The game controller (not shown) may alter the game state based on the recognized image of the game state. Since the playing pieces and playing surface may be recognized by the game controller (not shown). The game controller also may be configured to isolate a foreign object, such as a finger, in the field of vision of the digital camera and to produce a reaction such as varying the game image on the playing surface. 
     The game controller also may be configured to send a control signal to another device. For example, the game controller may send a control signal to a computer, to audio equipment, or to another toy. In a further implementation, the game controller and CPU may be configured as an artificial intelligence opponent of a human player. 
     The interactive game also may include speakers to produce sound and a light source to illuminate the playing pieces  120  and the playing surface  110 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a logical/functional block diagram of an interactive game  100  comprising visual input  510 , visual recognition  520 , visual recognition results  530 , an interactive response  540 , optional output results  550  and an output  560 . The visual input  510  may include the playing surface  110  and playing pieces  120 . Visual input  510  may also include foreign objects such as fingers. 
     Visual recognition  520  may be performed by comparing images of known playing pieces to the visual input  510 . Visual recognition  520  may also include comparing images of known games states to the visual input  510 . 
     Visual recognition results  530  may include storing information relative to the game state. The visual recognition results  530  may include information related to pointers and playing piece  120  identification, location and orientation relative to the playing surface  110 . 
     The interactive response  540  may use the visual recognition results  530  to generate a response based on the game state. As shown in FIG. 5, the interactive response  540  may also incorporate other input  570 , such as voice, sound, and other electrical, mechanical or optical information, to generate a response. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, optional output results  550  may use information generated by the interactive response  540  to produce optional output results such as sound, control signals and tag data. The output  560  may use the optional output results  550  in order to select and determine the appropriate output. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, playing an interactive game may include positioning a playing piece on a playing surface of an interactive game (step  610 ), detecting an image of the playing piece on the playing surface using an optical sensor (step  620 ), translating the image from the optical sensor into a signal using a game controller connected to the optical sensor and to a display (step  630 ), and creating a game image on the display in response to the signal (step  640 ). Additional steps may include changing the position of the playing piece on the playing surface (step  650 ), and altering the game image on the display based on the change of orientation of the playing piece (step  660 ). 
     Playing an interactive game also may include introducing a foreign object into a field of vision of the optical sensor, detecting the image of the foreign object, translating the image from the optical sensor into a second signal, and altering the game image on the display based on the second signal. 
     Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.