System and method for the operation and management of wireless devices

Abstract

The portable device identification system includes a display screen, a transceiver, a portable device, and an interactive device system. The portable device includes multiple antennas. A transceiver, separate from the portable device, is configured to work in conjunction with the multiple antennas of the portable device to generate data based on signals communicated between the transceiver and the multiple antennas. The interactive device system tracks the location and / or orientation of the portable device based on the data, identifies the aiming position of the portable device based on the location and / or orientation of the portable device, and functions to control the display screen to present a graphic at the aiming position in response to the aiming position being on the display screen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to related applications) This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 472,147, filed on June 9, 2023, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF WIRELESS DEVICE", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Background Art

[0002] This section aims to introduce the reader to various aspects of technologies that may be relevant to various aspects of the present disclosure. The discussions here are considered to be useful in providing the reader with background information that facilitates a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that these descriptions are not an admission of prior art and should be read in light of this perspective.

[0003] An amusement park can include various entertainment attractions. Some entertainment attractions can provide an interactive environment for guests and are sometimes called interactive attractions. In an exemplary interactive attraction, a guest can use a device operable by the user to interact with the characteristic elements of the environment to trigger a response. As a specific example, a toy incorporating a battery - powered laser pointer can be used for tagging in targeting, and thereby can be made to operate to initiate a special effect in response to the detection of light from the laser pointer. In this example, it can be necessary to perform various operations such as maintaining various targetings (e.g., light detectors), replacing the battery for the laser pointer, and other operations that reduce operating efficiency. In fact, it has been recognized that it is desirable to develop systems and methods for efficiently providing interactive attractions.

[0004] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this disclosure will be further understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate similar elements throughout the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0005] [Figure 1] This figure shows an interactive system that facilitates interaction within an interactive environment, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a portable device inserted into a charging station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0007] [Figure 3] This is a schematic bottom view of the nose cone of a portable device and the cradle of a charging station, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the electrical coupler of the portable device is coupled to the electrical coupler of the charging system.

[0008] [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of a charging system and various protective layers within the charging system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes one or more specific embodiments. For the sake of brevity in describing these embodiments, this specification will not describe all features of the actual embodiments. It should be understood that, as with any technical or design project, in developing any such actual implementation configuration, a number of implementation-specific decisions will need to be made to achieve the specific goals of the developer, which may differ from implementation to implementation, such as compliance with system and business-related constraints. Furthermore, it should be understood that while such development efforts can be complex and time-consuming, they are routine design, fabrication, and manufacturing tasks for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0010] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” mean that one or more of the elements exist. The terms “equip,” “include,” and “have” are comprehensive and mean that additional elements other than those described may exist. One or more specific embodiments of the present invention are described below. For the sake of brevity in describing these embodiments, not all features of the actual embodiments are described herein. It should be noted that, as with any technical or design project, in developing any such actual implementation, it is necessary to make numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the specific goals of the developer, which may differ from implementation to implementation, such as compliance with system and business-related constraints. Furthermore, it should be noted that while such development efforts can be complex and time-consuming, they are routine design, fabrication, and manufacturing tasks for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0011] This disclosure generally relates to interactive environments that utilize portable devices to provide guests (e.g., users) with an interactive experience. In one embodiment, the interactive environment is implemented within an amusement park attraction, such as a ride attraction in which guests are transported through the interactive environment in a vehicle and / or a walk-through attraction in which guests walk through the interactive environment. In one embodiment, the amusement park attraction may be a hybrid attraction in which guests are transported (e.g., on a moving walkway) and allowed to walk through the interactive environment (e.g., along a moving walkway). The interactive environment may be distributed across multiple different zones within an attraction, or across multiple different amusement park attractions (e.g., geographically separated from each other), such as multiple different ride attractions, walk-through attractions, and / or hybrid attractions. In addition or alternatively, the interactive environment may be contained within one or more themed areas and / or distributed across multiple different themed areas having a common or different theme. In addition or alternatively, the interactive environment may include a live show (e.g., by performers) in which audience guests can participate in the live show using portable devices.

[0012] A portable device can be any of various types of devices configured to be carried, held, and / or worn by a guest. For example, a portable device may include a targeting device (e.g., a blaster), a cane, a toy, a figurine, clothing, jewelry, a bracelet, headgear, a medallion, eyeglasses, and / or any combination thereof (e.g., a targeting device integrated into a bracelet). In one embodiment, a portable device may be configured for use by multiple different guests over a period of time. For example, a guest may receive a portable device at the entrance to the interactive environment, use the portable device to participate in the interactive environment as they move through it, and return the portable device when they exit the interactive environment. A portable device may include a rechargeable battery system (e.g., a single battery or multiple batteries operating together or separately) that powers the portable device's functions (e.g., lighting, a haptic feedback device, an audio speaker). Once charged or otherwise ready for reuse (for example, after cleaning), the portable device can be made available again at the entrance to the interactive environment, where another guest can then pick up the portable device and use it to participate in the interactive environment.

[0013] As discussed herein, portable devices can enable guests to interact with (e.g., control) features within an interactive environment. For example, a portable device can be a targeting device, and a guest can activate the portable device's input mechanism (e.g., trigger switch, push button) to initiate a simulation of firing a virtual projectile (e.g., virtual launch) towards an interactive element in the interactive environment (e.g., a physical interactive element in the physical real world space or a virtual interactive element in a virtual space on a display screen). In response, the interactive environment can represent the virtual projectile landing on the interactive element (e.g., "hit"; "striking"). For example, a display screen can display an image (e.g., video) representing the virtual projectile landing on the interactive element. In another example, a change in the behavior of a physical interactive element, or the presence of special effects in the interactive environment (e.g., sound, light, smoke, vibration), can indicate that the targeting of the physical interactive element was successful.

[0014] Generally, there can be two types of interactive elements: interactive physical elements, which are props or physical objects in the physical real-world space within an interactive environment, and interactive virtual elements, which are images / animations of virtual objects displayed in a virtual space on a display screen. Both interactive physical and interactive virtual elements can be dynamic interactive elements that include parts that move around and / or move within the interactive environment / on the display screen. Furthermore, interactive hybrid elements can simultaneously have both interactive physical and interactive virtual elements by having a physical part in the physical real-world space within the interactive environment and a virtual part displayed in a virtual space on a display screen. Here, "interactive element" generally refers to any of the interactive physical, interactive virtual, or interactive hybrid elements.

[0015] It is now recognized that, with respect to interactive physical elements, interactive virtual elements, and non-interactive elements (e.g., mere props), it can be useful to facilitate the user of a portable device (e.g., a targeting device) in easily identifying where the targeting device is aimed. For example, if an attraction includes an interactive game where points are awarded for successful targeting (e.g., pointing to a physical or virtual element and activating a trigger while aligned with it), it would be useful to be able to see a reticle or visual indicator of where the portable device is aimed. In conventional systems, this can be achieved by some form of light-emitting element (e.g., a laser pointer) integrated with the portable device and projecting light onto one of various different surfaces (e.g., a screen displaying a virtual element or the surface of a physical element), indicating where the portable device is aimed. However, it is recognized that such targeting techniques conventionally require the integration of components (e.g., a laser pointer) into the portable device and the use of extra power by the portable device. Furthermore, from an efficiency standpoint, it is recognized that it is desirable to avoid such onboard features in order to limit associated costs and inefficiencies.

[0016] Accordingly, this disclosure relates to an interactive device system that provides location tracking and / or orientation tracking of a portable device being used in an interactive environment, based on signals transmitted from an external transceiver (e.g., via antennas) to a plurality of antennas located on the portable device. Generally, the antennas of a portable device are located at different locations on the portable device (e.g., one or more surfaces, such as one or more inner surfaces, one or more outer surfaces, or both). Thus, signals transmitted by an external transceiver can be received by each antenna over a period of time related to the distance between each antenna and the external transceiver. A processor system (e.g., on a separate device and / or on a portable device) receives signals via a plurality of antennas associated with one or more transceivers and determines a time of flight indicating the time the antennas received the signals. For example, the time of flight information may include a first timestamp corresponding to the transmission of the signal by the transceiver via that antenna and a second timestamp corresponding to the reception of the signal by the transceiver or receiver via that antenna (e.g., a timestamp corresponding to the reception of the signal by each interactive device, the difference between the timestamps corresponding to the reception of the signal, etc.). Based on the determined time of flight, the processor can communicate signals containing positional information (e.g., 3D Cartesian coordinates, polar coordinates, etc.), azimuth information (e.g., the direction a particular position of the interactive device is facing, the degree of roll, pitch, and / or yaw of the interactive device), or both, to an external controller (e.g., an environment controller) (e.g., via ultra-wideband (UWB) communication), allowing the environment controller to adjust one or more functions of the interactive environment. By detecting an antenna mounted on the portable device, the tracking azimuth and / or positional information of the portable device can be obtained without using expensive sensors such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) and / or sensors that utilize relatively high power.Furthermore, since the position and / or orientation of the portable device can be determined, it is possible to determine which way the portable device is facing, and a reticle or other visual indicator can be represented to indicate which way the portable device is facing without using an onboard light-emitting element (e.g., a laser pointer) that is capable of providing such a visual indicator (e.g., a reticle).

[0017] In some embodiments, the portable device may be any of the wearable device, the handheld device, or any other device configured in any other way to be carried (e.g., held or worn) by the user. For example, the portable device may be a cane, a helmet, a bracelet, a headband, a head-mounted display (e.g., included or configured to be coupled to a headband or other structure that supports the head-mounted display on the user's head; configured to display images for visualization by the user wearing the head-mounted display in order to create an augmented reality [AR], virtual reality [VR], or mixed reality [both AR and VR] experience for the user wearing the head-mounted display), or any other device. In addition to or alternatively, in some embodiments, the portable device may be an interactive tool such as a projectile (e.g., virtual and / or physical projectile) launcher, which includes other devices capable of emitting, firing, or launching virtual and / or physical projectiles (e.g., virtual and / or physical projectiles may consist of virtual and / or physical kinetic output, energy, fluid, and / or light) and used in an interactive environment. In either case, directional and / or positional information can be used to determine whether a virtual or physical projectile, as well as a projectile, is aiming at or otherwise interacting with one or more features of the interactive environment.

[0018] The interactive device system described above provides location and / or orientation tracking of the portable device based on signals transmitted from an external transceiver (e.g., via an antenna) to multiple antennas positioned on the portable device. Tracking the portable device in this manner eliminates certain power-consuming features that were conventionally present on the portable device. However, the portable device may still include features that consume a significant amount of power (e.g., haptic feedback devices, lighting, one or more speakers). Therefore, this embodiment also includes a rechargeable battery and a charging system. The charging system includes a charging station that internally or communicatively couples a power source and communicatively couples with the portable device to supply power to the portable device. The charging station may include an electrical coupler that easily couples with the portable device without the need for tools or fasteners. For example, the electrical coupler may be a pad, cradle, receptacle, or other engagement feature that engages with the portable device in a manner that allows power to be transmitted from a power source to a battery system (e.g., one or more batteries) mounted on the portable device.

[0019] A charging station can interface with and charge a portable device through a connection via conductive (e.g., metal) components (e.g., charging pins). However, direct metal-to-metal contact can cause problems with the lifespan of circuit boards and associated electronics. Therefore, to protect the portable device from the transmission of abnormal voltages and / or currents (e.g., transient voltages and / or currents), this embodiment can incorporate various electrical protection layers. For example, these layers can prevent damage to the portable device, or at least damage to its particular critical and / or expensive components, by protecting against oscillating / periodic currents and / or unwanted voltage fluctuations (e.g., caused by electromagnetic interference).

[0020] The first and second layers of this electrical protection can be located outside the portable device (for example, integrated with or coupled to the charging station). In particular, the first layer may include a surge stopper in the charging system that prevents overcurrent or overvoltage events from entering the portable device. The second layer may include a circuit breaker (for example, a 24V / 2Amp circuit breaker). Even if the voltage or current from the charging system is transient, such as for about 20 milliseconds, the surge stopper and / or circuit breaker may activate to prevent the voltage or current from reaching the portable device.

[0021] A third layer of electrical protection may include a hot-swap circuit incorporated into the portable device in a position where it can operate to engage with the charging station, in order to facilitate the transfer of electricity from the charging station to the portable device's battery system. The hot-swap circuit may employ one or more linear diodes to prevent transient voltages / currents from entering the portable device. The hot-swap circuit (e.g., a hot-swap integrated circuit) may be located on the nose (e.g., nose cone) of the portable device (e.g., a blaster) and may include onboard conductive parts (e.g., conductive pins) that contact conductive parts (e.g., conductive pins) of the charging system in an engaging configuration. For example, the hot-swap circuit may engage and conduct when the portable device (e.g., a blaster) is holstered into the charging receptacle of the charging system. The hot-swap circuit may include an electronic circuit breaker (ECB) and a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) that can operate to ensure that the voltage does not exceed the voltage that the portable device can actually receive (e.g., 28V / 2Amp or less) without damaging certain components. If a hot-swap circuit receives current or voltage exceeding a threshold (for example, a level designated to protect other components of the portable device), the hot-swap circuit may fail (for example, self-sacrifice or diode blowout) to prevent damage to other aspects of the portable device (for example, the battery management system). If such a failure occurs, the event may be detected and indicated by the charging system.

[0022] As mentioned above, the conductive parts of the portable device (e.g., conductive pins) can be integrated with or coupled to a hot-swap circuit. The conductive parts can be positioned on the body of the portable device (e.g., on the nose or barrel of the blaster) to facilitate engagement with the charging system. As a fourth protective layer, the conductive parts are offset conductors. That is, the first conductor can be offset from the second conductor along the engagement path with the charging station so that primary engagement with ground is ensured when the portable device is coupled to the charging system. Specifically, the portable device can slide into the receptacle of the charging station to enter the charging configuration, and the ground conductor can be positioned to engage with the corresponding conductor of the charging station before the conductor for supplying positive power engages. Furthermore, one or more diodes can be placed to prevent reverse polarity. In fact, even if the wiring of the charging system is reversed due to an assembly error, one or more diodes will prevent undesirable electrical transmission and associated damage. For example, even if positive power is accidentally applied to the ground pin, the diodes will prevent it from passing through.

[0023] A fifth protective layer may include a battery charging circuit that communicates with a battery management system. The battery charging circuit induces and charges electricity into the battery system (e.g., one or more batteries) installed in the portable device. The battery charging circuit can communicate information about the status or condition of the battery system. Thus, the battery management system and the battery charging circuit can communicate about the power needs and cooperate to control the transfer of power through the portable device. Such control may include operating to avoid damage to specific components, such as by preventing overcharging.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an interactive system 10 that facilitates interactions within an interactive environment 14 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The interactive environment 14 can be within a theme park attraction or other suitable location. As shown, a guest (e.g., a user) 12 can carry or otherwise associate with a portable device 16 that can include a processor 18, a memory device 20, and additional components 22. The additional components 22 can include a circuit board, an input system (e.g., an input mechanism (e.g., a trigger switch, a push button)), a light emitting element (e.g., a light emitting diode [LED]), a tactile feedback device, a display screen, a battery, a battery management system, a speaker, a microphone, an inertial measurement unit, a near field communication (NFC) circuit, an ultra high frequency (UHF) circuit, one or more additional and / or alternative sensors, one or more additional and / or alternative output systems (e.g., a digital output system and / or a virtual output system, a physical output system, an output device), or any combination thereof. The portable device 16 can be used to target and / or interact with interactive elements (e.g., interactive virtual elements, interactive physical elements, and / or interactive hybrid elements).

[0025] Advantageously, the portable device 16 may be equipped with an ultra-wideband (UWB) tag 24 that enables monitoring (e.g., continuous monitoring) of the portable device 16's position and / or orientation (e.g., relative to a coordinate system; within the interactive environment 14). Furthermore, the UWB tag 24 is part of a UWB circuit (e.g., a UWB system) that generates and efficiently communicates position and / or orientation data, thereby enabling the interactive environment control system 32 to accurately determine the success of a virtual interaction of the interactive element with the portable device 16 (e.g., successful targeting). It should be understood that any other suitable component may be used to detect the position and / or orientation of the portable device 16 (e.g., one or more sensors on the portable device 16, such as an accelerometer, and a communication circuit for transmitting data from the sensors to the interactive environment control system 32; one or more sensors outside the portable device 16 and within the interactive environment 14, such as an imaging sensor / camera). Also, such components may be excluded to avoid associated maintenance and costs. In one embodiment, no light-emitting element, laser, or aiming line detection device is used to detect the position and / or orientation of the portable device 16.

[0026] The interactive environment 14 can include one or more display screens 26 configured to display interactive virtual elements 28. The interactive virtual elements 28 can include images (e.g., videos; video) of animated objects such as symbols, coins / prizes, vehicles, and / or characters. The interactive virtual elements 28 can move in two dimensions (2D) within the virtual space on the display screen 26. Further, the interactive environment 14 can include one or more interactive physical elements 30 disposed or incorporated into the interactive environment 14. The interactive physical elements 30 can include physical structures, props, vehicles, and / or robots. The interactive physical elements 30 can move in three dimensions (3D) within the physical real-world space within the interactive environment 14.

[0027] As the guest 12 moves within the interactive environment 14, the guest 12 can present interactive elements. For example, images of animated objects can move across the display screen 26 and / or robots can move within the interactive environment 14. The guest 12 can use the portable device 16 to virtually interact (e.g., target) with the interactive elements, such as by actuating an input mechanism of the portable device 16 to launch a virtual projectile towards the interactive element. The virtual projectile may not have a physical embodiment or actual representation (e.g., the virtual projectile may not be visible or perceptible and may not exist within the physical real-world space and / or virtual space). However, in one embodiment, an image of the virtual projectile can be displayed on the display screen 26. Further, the interactive element can respond to the virtual interaction with the virtual projectile by generating a response (e.g., move, stop, disappear, bend, sway) to provide feedback to the guest 12 regarding the trajectory of the virtual projectile.

[0028] In one embodiment, the interactive system 10 may award points (e.g., scores) to the guest 12 each time a "hit" is successful on an interactive element, and these points may be added to the guest 12's guest profile. In one embodiment, the interactive environment control system 32 (also referred to herein as "control system 32") may track the success of targeting interactive elements and update the guest 12's guest profile as the guest 12 moves through the interactive environment 14 (e.g., in real time). The guest profile and associated award points may be stored in one or more databases 40 accessible by the interactive environment control system 32. In one embodiment, the processor 34 (e.g., the processor 34 of control system 32) may transfer the award points and / or final guest profile to one or more databases 40 at the end of an interactive experience for use in future interactive experiences. In this way, the guest 12's guest profile can be maintained and updated over multiple visits to the interactive environment 14.

[0029] The interactive environment control system 32 can control the interactive physical element 30 and the interactive virtual element 28 to generate responses to virtual interactions (also referred to herein as “interactions”) between the virtual projectile emitted by the portable device 16 and the interactive elements in the interactive environment 14. For example, the control system 32 may move or otherwise modify the interactive elements (e.g., the interactive elements duck and / or move to avoid being targeted) in response to positional and / or orientation data indicating that the portable device 16 is directed toward the interactive elements before and / or during the operation of the input mechanism.

[0030] Furthermore, the control system 32 may be responsible for tracking interactions between physical objects (e.g., the portable device 16 and the interactive physical element 30) and virtual objects (e.g., the interactive virtual element 28) within the interactive environment 14. As previously mentioned, this may include calculating the trajectory of the virtual projectile for the purpose of determining whether the virtual projectile has reached or has reached its target (e.g., based on the operational position data and / or azimuth data of the input mechanism, as well as the respective positions of the interactive elements).

[0031] The control system 32 includes a processor 34, a memory device 36, and a communication circuit 38, which enable the control system 32 to control features within the interactive environment 14 (for example, to control interactive elements and / or generate special effects within the interactive environment 14) and / or communicate with the portable device 16. The processor 34, memory device 36, and communication circuit 38 enable the control system 32 to control the movement of the interactive physical elements 30 and the interactive virtual elements 28, track the positions of the interactive physical elements 30 and the portable device 16, access the positions of the interactive virtual elements 28, and calculate / simulate the trajectory of the virtual projectile.

[0032] The memory device 36 may include one or more tangible, non-temporary computer-readable media for storing instructions executable by the processor 34 and / or data processed by the processor 34 (e.g., guest profiles). For example, the memory device 36 may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), rewritable non-volatile memory such as flash memory, a hard drive, an optical disc, and / or these. Furthermore, the processor 34 may include one or more general-purpose microprocessors, one or more application-specific processors (ASICs), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or any combination thereof. In addition, the memory device 36 may store instructions executable by the processor 34 for performing the methods and control operations described herein for the interactive system 10.

[0033] Tracking virtual interactions between the portable device 16 and interactive elements may involve mapping physical objects existing in the physical real-world space (e.g., the portable device 16 and the interactive physical element 30) to the virtual space / interactive space. In one embodiment, the virtual space and the interactive space may be the same space. In this case, it may not be necessary to map the interactive virtual element 28 that exists in the virtual space. In one embodiment, the virtual space may be different from the interactive space. In this case, the interactive virtual element 28 can be mapped from the virtual space to the interactive space.

[0034] Generally, the physical real-world space refers to the “space” where only interactions between physical objects (e.g., portable device 16, interactive physical element 30) and the guest 12 take place. That is, the physical real-world space is where the guest 12 physically exists. The virtual space refers to the “space” that the guest 12 sees on the display screen 26. The image on the display screen 26 may not appear to be two-dimensional (2D). Instead, the image on the display screen 26 may appear as a three-dimensional (3D) extension of the interactive environment 14 (e.g., an extension of the physical real-world space and / or an extension connected to the real-world space). The interactive space is the “space” where dynamic interactions between physical objects (e.g., portable device 16, interactive physical element 30) and virtual objects (e.g., virtual projectile, interactive virtual element 28) take place. For example, a virtual projectile may “hit” an interactive physical element 30 in the interactive space. Thus, in the interactive space, the guest 12 can interact across the physical real-world space and the virtual space and observe the interactions.

[0035] In general, there are various ways to map physical / virtual objects to interactive space. In one embodiment, mapping a portable device 16 and an interactive physical element 30 from physical reality to interactive space may include tracking the location of the portable device 16 and the interactive physical element 30 in physical space via a UWB tag 24 and translating that location to the interactive space. In one embodiment, mapping an interactive physical element 30 and an interactive virtual element 28 from physical / virtual space to interactive space may include accessing the pre-programmed location / movement of the interactive physical element 30 and the interactive virtual element 28 via a processor 34 of a control system 32 and translating the pre-programmed location / movement to the interactive space. In this embodiment, the precise location of the interactive element can be known without using a UWB tag 24. In one embodiment, mapping a portable device 16 and an interactive element to interactive space may include a combination of the above embodiments (for example, using a UWB tag 24 to track the location of the portable device 16 and the interactive physical element 30 and evaluating the pre-programmed location / movement of the interactive physical element 30 and the interactive virtual element 28).

[0036] In one embodiment, the UWB tags 24 can be used to track the location of the portable device 16 and the interactive physical element 30. In particular, the UWB tags 24 and UWB anchors 44 communicating with the control system 32 may be part of a real-time position tracking system that performs continuous position tracking (e.g., position tracking and / or direction tracking) within the interactive environment 14. For example, the UWB tags 24 on the portable device 16 and the interactive physical element 30 can communicate with UWB anchors 44, which can be distributed throughout the interactive environment 14, to transmit positioning data. The UWB anchors 44 can then transmit the positioning data to the control system 32.

[0037] Data from the UWB tag 24 and UWB anchor 44 can enable the processor 34 to perform trajectory mapping of a virtual projectile in the interactive environment 14 (for example, determining a trajectory such as a virtual flight path). The virtual projectile's trajectory can be used to represent the virtual projectile's "hit" position and / or collision angle in the interactive environment 14 (for example, on the display screen 26) to provide the guest 12 with a realistic experience. For example, when guest 12 "fires" a virtual projectile towards an interactive physical element 30, it is not obvious to guest 12 that the virtual projectile will reach the interactive physical element 30 because the virtual projectile is not visible in the physical real space. However, the trajectory of the virtual projectile can be calculated / simulated in the interactive space, and the mapped position of the interactive physical element 30 can be used to determine the likelihood of a collision. Thus, the success of a virtual interaction (e.g., targeting, aiming, "hit", "strike") between the interactive physical element 30 and the virtual projectile can be determined in the interactive space. If the virtual interaction with the interactive physical element 30 is successful, a response that may be affected by the virtual projectile's trajectory can be generated. For example, after being "hit" by a virtual projectile, the interactive physics element 30 may fall in the direction of the "hit."

[0038] As mentioned above, it can also be beneficial to provide the user with feedback indicating where the portable device 16 is aiming, such as through a graphical indicator (e.g., a reticle). Conventionally, aiming feedback can be provided via light emitted from the portable device 16 (e.g., via the laser pointer of the portable device 16). However, this requires maintenance and is costly. Therefore, in this embodiment, data from the UWB tag 24 and UWB anchor 44 is used to enable the processor 34 to determine the location (aiming position) that the portable device 16 (e.g., a blaster) is pointing to in the interactive environment 14. Using the determined aiming position, a graphical indicator of the aiming position can be provided to the user as feedback. For example, a display screen 26 (e.g., a backlit display such as an LED television) can present an aiming point graphic 46 (e.g., a reticle graphic) at a position on the display screen 26 corresponding to the aiming position. Therefore, whenever the portable device 16 is determined to be aimed at any of the multiple display screens (e.g., display screen 26), the aiming point can be indicated by the corresponding aiming point graphic 46, providing feedback to the user without requiring any kind of light-emitting element (e.g., a laser pointer) on the portable device for this purpose. Furthermore, if the portable device 16 is pointed at something other than a display screen (e.g., a wall, a pillar, or an interactive physical element), the aiming point can still be determined and can be employed by a projector 48 (which can be controlled based on instructions from the interactive environment control system 32) to project the aiming point graphic 46 onto any surface, including the surface of the display screen 26. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the projector 48 is indicated to present a version of the aiming point graphic 46 on a portion of the interactive physical element 30 (with another portion presented on the background surface).It should be noted that the projector 48 represents any number of projectors that can cooperate to provide a single reticle, multiple reticles, and / or a projection range (e.g., to reach different surfaces in the environment). Furthermore, the aiming point graphic 46 can be adjusted by the interactive environment control system 32, the projector 48, and / or the display screen 26 to change color or other graphic aspects based on the operating mode of the portable device 16 (e.g., the type of virtual projectile the portable device is firing (e.g., the type of virtual ammunition (ammo))). By detecting position and orientation using the UWB tag 24 and UWB anchor 44, this embodiment can provide aiming feedback, such as via the reticle, without requiring the portable device 16 to house a function for emitting light to provide such feedback.

[0039] In one embodiment, additional components 22 of the portable device 16 can provide the guest 12 with various types of feedback (e.g., special effects) based on the interaction between the portable device 16 and the interactive elements in the interactive environment 14. For example, additional components 22 (e.g., light-emitting devices, haptic devices, display screens, speakers) can provide feedback when targeting of an interactive element is successful and / or when a point is assigned to the guest's profile. For example, the feedback provided by additional components 22 may include vibration / recoil when a virtual projectile is "fired". In another example, the feedback provided by additional components 22 in response to a virtual projectile "hitting" an interactive virtual element 28 may include a bang sound emitted by a speaker. In one embodiment, the additional device(s) providing feedback / special effects (e.g., light-emitting devices, haptic devices, speakers, or a combination thereof) can be distributed throughout the physical real-world space within the interactive environment 14.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a portable device 16 inserted into a charging station 52 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As previously described, this embodiment can save energy by eliminating the need for certain onboard devices (e.g., a laser pointer). However, this embodiment may still employ onboard devices that require energy and battery systems. Therefore, this embodiment provides a charging function through the features of the portable device 16 and the charging station 52, which are described in more detail below. Note that embodiments of the charging station 52 and embodiments of the portable device 16, such as the battery of the portable device 16, can be redundantly referred to as a charging system.

[0041] With respect to Figure 2, one embodiment is shown in which the portable device 16 can be slid into the cradle 54 of the charging system 52 to establish a charging configuration of the portable device 16 and the charging system 52. When the portable device 16 is slid into the cradle 54, an electrical coupling can be established between the portable device electrical coupler 56 (e.g., charging pins) and the charging system electrical coupler 58 (e.g., charging pads). In the illustrated embodiment, the portable device electrical coupler 56 is located on the nose cone 60 of the portable device, and the charging system electrical coupler 58 is located inside the cradle 54. However, other embodiments may employ different arrangements, such as a method of facilitating electrical engagement between the portable device 16 and the charging system 52 without requiring the use of fasteners or tools. In other embodiments, the portable device electrical coupler 56 may include a plug (e.g., prongs) associated with the receptacle of the charging system electrical coupler 58, or other types of electrical engagement and physical support.

[0042] Figure 3 is a schematic bottom view of the nose cone 60 and cradle 54 of a portable device 16, in which a portable device electrical coupler 56 is coupled to a charging system electrical coupler 58, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the portable device electrical coupler 56 includes a ground pin 66 and a positive power pin 68. Correspondingly, the charging system electrical coupler 58 includes a ground pad 70 and a positive power pad 72, which provide a ground connection and a positive power supply, respectively. As previously stated, the portable device 16 slides to engage with the charging station 52, and therefore the portable device electrical coupler 56 slides in the direction (as indicated by arrow 74) to engage with the charging system electrical coupler 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the ground pin 66 and the positive power pin 68 are offset by a distance 76 along direction 74, while the ground pad 70 and the positive pad 72 are aligned. This positioning facilitates the electrical coupling of the ground pin 66 and the ground pad 70 before a positive current is applied through the positive pad 72 and the positive power pin 68. By establishing a ground connection before applying power, this embodiment can avoid problems that could cause unintended grounding and other electrical damage. Furthermore, by positioning one or more diodes 78 to prevent reverse polarity, even if the wiring in the charging system is reversed due to an assembly error, one or more diodes 78 can prevent electrical transmission and associated damage. For example, even if positive power is accidentally applied to the ground pin 66, the diodes 78 will prevent that electrical flow.

[0043] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a charging system and various protective layers within the charging system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. To protect the portable device 16 from the transmission of abnormal voltages and / or currents (e.g., transient voltages and / or currents), this embodiment can incorporate various layers of electrical protection. For example, these layers can prevent damage to the portable device 16 or at least prevent damage to certain critical and / or expensive components by protecting against oscillating / periodic currents and / or unwanted voltage fluctuations (e.g., caused by electromagnetic interference).

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the charging station 52 can interface with and charge the portable device 16 via connections through conductive (e.g., metallic) components such as a portable device electrical coupler 56 (e.g., a ground pin 66 and a positive power pin 68) and a charging system electrical coupler 56 (e.g., a ground pad 70 and a positive pad 72). The charger interface 84 may include a charging system electrical coupler 56, and the hot-swap circuit 86 may include (or at least directly couple) a portable device electrical coupler 56.

[0045] The power for charging the portable device 16 originates from a power source 88 (e.g., a generator, a large battery, an outlet, or another connection to the power grid) and can pass through the charging system's surge stopper 89 (first protective layer) and circuit breaker 90 (second protective layer), which prevent overcurrent or overvoltage events from entering the portable device 16. The surge stopper 89 and circuit breaker 90 are capable of rapidly removing transient voltages or currents, even if they are transient for only 20 milliseconds.

[0046] The hot-swap circuit 86 can act as a third layer of electrical protection. The hot-swap circuit 86 is incorporated into the portable device 16 (for example, in the nose cone 60) to facilitate engagement with the charging station 52 and the transfer of electricity from the charging station 52 to the portable device 16. The hot-swap circuit 86 may employ one or more linear diodes to prevent transient voltages / currents from entering the portable device 16. As described above, the hot-swap circuit 86 may include onboard conductive parts (for example, the ground pin 66 and the positive power pin 68) that contact features of the charger interface 84 in the engagement configuration. For example, the hot-swap circuit 86 can engage and conduct electricity when the portable device 16 is holstered in the charging receptacle of the charger interface 84. The hot-swap circuit 85 may be designed such that, in order to prevent damage to downstream components of the portable device 16, such as the battery management system 96, the battery system 98 (for example, one or more batteries), and the circuit board 100, any current or voltage exceeding a threshold entering the hot-swap circuit 86 will sacrifice the hot-swap circuit 86, blow up the diode 78, or execute some other failure mechanism.

[0047] As described with respect to Figure 3, the fourth protective layer may include the positioning (e.g., relative positioning) of the feature elements of the portable device electrical coupler 56 and / or the charging system electrical coupler 56. Specifically, as described above with respect to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the ground pin 66 and the positive power pin 68 may be offset by a distance 76 along direction 74, while the ground pad 70 and the positive pad 72 are aligned along direction 74 so that ground contact is initiated when the portable device 16 slides into the cradle 54, prior to the engagement of the power pin 68 and the positive pad 72. Other offset arrangements of different conductive components are also conceivable to achieve similar results and add a layer of protection from unintended electrical conduction scenarios.

[0048] A fifth layer of protection may include a battery charging circuit (BCS) 104 that communicates with a battery management system (BMS) 96. The BMS 96 can perform monitoring functions over the battery system 96 (e.g., an assembly of battery cells) and power functions. The BMS 96 can enable the supply of a target amount of voltage and / or current to address a particular power scenario. The BCS 104 can function as an override control function. In normal operation, the BCS 104 can instruct power to the battery system 96 (e.g., one or more batteries) for charging the battery system 96. The BMS 96 and / or BCS 104 can communicate information about the state or status of the battery system 96. Thus, the BCS 104 and BMS 96 can communicate about power needs and cooperate to control the transfer of power through the portable device 16. For example, the BMS 96 and BCS 104 can cooperate to power a haptic feedback device 106, a visual output 108 (e.g., an LED), or an input 110 (e.g., a trigger mechanism). Such control may also include actions to prevent damage to specific components, such as preventing overcharging. For example, the BCS104 can instruct the BMS96 to limit or interrupt the electrical flow to facilitate power management functions. Alternatively, the BCS104 can act to interrupt the flow (for example, in an overcharging scenario) to protect the BMS96.

[0049] While only specific features of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of many variations and modifications. Therefore, it should be understood that the appended claims are intended to protect all such modifications and modifications that fall within the true technical spirit of this disclosure.

[0050] The methods presented and described in the claims herein are referenced and applied to substantial purposes and specific embodiments of a practical nature that clearly improves the art of the invention, and are therefore not abstract, intangible, or truly theoretical. Furthermore, if any claim appended to the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "means for performing a function" or "steps for performing a function," such elements shall be construed in accordance with Section 112(f) of the United States Patent Act. However, with respect to any claim containing elements designated in any other way, such elements shall not be construed in accordance with Section 112(f) of the United States Patent Act.

Claims

1. A portable device aiming and identification system, Display screen and, A portable device containing multiple antennas, A transceiver separate from the aforementioned portable device, configured to generate data based on signals communicated between the transceiver and the plurality of antennas, Interactive device system and Equipped with, The aforementioned interactive device system Based on the aforementioned data, the location and / or orientation of the portable device is tracked. Based on the position and / or orientation of the portable device, the aiming position of the portable device is determined. The display screen is controlled to present a graphic at the aiming position in response to the aiming position being on the display screen. A portable device aiming and identification system configured as follows.

2. The portable device aiming identification system according to claim 1, comprising a projector configured to present a projected graphic at the aiming position in response to the aiming position being on a surface other than the display screen.

3. The portable device aiming and identification system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas are arranged at different positions on one or more surfaces of the portable device.

4. The portable device targeting and identification system according to claim 1, wherein the interactive device system is configured to track the position and / or orientation of the portable device based on the data by determining flight time information.

5. The portable device targeting and identification system according to claim 1, further comprising a charging station configured to be electrically coupled to the portable device.

6. The portable device targeting and identification system according to claim 5, wherein the charging station comprises a surge stopper, a circuit breaker, or both.

7. The portable device targeting and identification system according to claim 1, further comprising a hot-swap circuit configured to prevent the portable device from receiving a voltage or current exceeding a threshold.

8. The portable device targeting and identification system according to claim 7, wherein the hot-swap circuit is configured to engage with a charging station configured to electrically couple with the portable device.

9. The aforementioned portable device is One or more feedback devices configured to emit feedback based on the aiming position of the portable device, A battery system configured to supply power to one or more of the aforementioned feedback devices, A battery charging circuit configured to limit the flow of electricity to the battery system, A portable device targeting and identification system according to claim 1, comprising:

10. The portable device aiming and identification system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a plurality of conductive parts arranged on the main body of the portable device, and the plurality of conductive parts are configured to be electrically coupled to a charging station.

11. A portable device identification system equipped with a portable device, The aforementioned portable device is Multiple antennas configured to communicate with a transceiver and provide data indicating the targeting position of the portable device, One or more feedback devices configured to emit feedback based on the aiming position of the portable device, A battery system configured to supply power to one or more of the aforementioned feedback devices, A charging station configured to be electrically coupled to the battery system of the portable device and to provide charge to the battery system, A system equipped with these features.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the portable device comprises a plurality of conductive parts arranged on the main body of the portable device, and the plurality of conductive parts are configured to be electrically coupled to the charging station.

13. The battery system according to claim 11, comprising a battery and a battery charging circuit, wherein the battery charging circuit is configured to limit the flow of electricity to the battery.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more feedback devices are configured to emit the feedback in response to the aiming position of the portable device corresponding to at least one of an interactive physical element target or an interactive virtual element target.

15. A processing circuit including one or more processors, Memory for storing instructions, Equipped with, The aforementioned instruction, When executed by the aforementioned processing circuit, Based on the aforementioned data, the aiming position of the portable device is determined. The system determines that the aiming position of the portable device corresponds to at least one of the interactive physical element target or the interactive virtual element target. In response to determining that the aiming position of the portable device corresponds to at least one of the interactive physical element target or the interactive virtual element target, the system instructs one or more feedback devices to emit the feedback. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processing circuit is made to perform the above.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a hot-swap circuit configured to prevent the portable device from receiving a voltage or current exceeding a threshold from the charging station.

17. A portable device system A charging station having a first electrical coupler including a first conductor and a second conductor, Portable devices and Equipped with, The aforementioned portable device is A second electrical coupler comprising a third conductor and a fourth conductor offset from each other with respect to the direction of movement of the portable device, for coupling with the charging station, A battery system configured to charge a battery in order to store power through contact between a first electrical coupler and a second electrical coupler, One or more feedback devices configured to emit feedback using the aforementioned power, A portable device system including...

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first conductor includes a grounding pad, the second conductor includes a positive power supply pad, the third conductor includes a grounding pin, and the fourth conductor includes a positive power supply pin.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are aligned relative to the direction of movement of the portable device in order to be coupled to the charging station.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the portable device comprises a hot-swap circuit configured to prevent the portable device from receiving a voltage or current from the charging station that exceeds a threshold.

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