Retroreflector Motion Tracking for Wireless Gaming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless video games require users to stand near the console and hold complex controllers, limiting motion detection to predefined actions and increasing costs, while lacking ease in switching between activities and recognizing natural movements like foot placement or hand motions.
Innovation Solution
A camera-based system for mobile platform video gaming that uses retroreflectors attached to the user's feet or hands to detect and track movements, allowing intuitive control without the need for additional active components, enabling natural and varied gameplay experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If conventional wireless video games use complex controllers with radio transmitters, then motion detection capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic controllers with radio transmitters with a passive optical system using retroreflectors and camera detection. The retroreflectors passively reflect light from the camera, eliminating the need for active electronic components, radio frequency oscillators, and complex signal processing hardware in the controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical copy or representation of the user's motion through retroreflectors that reflect light patterns back to the camera, allowing the camera to detect and track motion without requiring the user to hold or wear active electronic devices.
2Measurement precision
If conventional video games require users to stand near the console, then motion detection accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retroreflector system serves multiple functions: it provides passive optical tracking, works at various distances from the camera, and enables diverse motion detection capabilities without requiring the user to maintain a fixed position or hold additional equipment.
3Reliability
If video games use predetermined motion recognition, then reliability of motion detection is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, predetermined motion recognition to dynamic, real-time optical tracking that can adapt to various motion types. The camera continuously captures retroreflector positions and the system processes this data to recognize diverse activities including walking, running, jumping, and specific sports movements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy operation and enhances gameplay by allowing natural movement recognition, simplifying game play and reducing hardware complexity, while allowing for varied and intuitive control of video games.
Implementation Method 1
A camera-based system for mobile platform video gaming that uses retroreflectors attached to the user's feet or hands to detect and track movements
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention embody motion detection via a camera for mobile platform video gaming and exercise, in either integrated or separately attachable components. The system includes an oral care device. The oral care device, such as a toothbrush, includes one or more targets. Each target designates a specific area of the toothbrush, such as back side, a front side, a brush head or a brush end. A target can be a color or a tag, and can be removably coupled or integrally formed with the toothbrush. The system also includes an application configured to detect the targets, to determine that a property of any of the targets has changed. Based on at least the determination, the application is configured to monitor progress of brushing and to control an element in the application.