Toy Construction System Image Capture 3D Virtual Object Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy construction systems require complex configurations and electronic components to create three-dimensional virtual objects from physical models, limiting user interaction and flexibility in creating virtual objects within virtual environments.
Innovation Solution
A toy construction system comprising image capturing devices and processors that extract two-dimensional views from physical models to create three-dimensional virtual objects, allowing users to construct models from a single image and automatically generate virtual objects with user-defined graphical representations, behaviors, and attributes without the need for advanced programming or electronic interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components and communication interfaces are added to enable control of virtual game play by physical toys, then the functionality and interactivity are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy or representation of the physical toy construction model in the virtual environment. The image capturing device captures the physical model, and the processor generates a corresponding virtual object that replicates the model's appearance and properties, enabling virtual interaction without requiring electronic components in the physical toy itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic communication interfaces and data transmission systems with an optical imaging system. Instead of using sensors, processors, and wireless communication hardware in the toys, the system uses an image capturing device to optically scan the physical construction and translate it into a virtual representation, substituting mechanical/optical processes for electronic ones
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple images from different viewpoints are required to create accurate three-dimensional virtual objects, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the loss of time and user interaction requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a camera's optical axis direction as the reference for the first direction in 3D space. By capturing a two-dimensional image and using the camera's inherent optical dimensionality, the system can infer three-dimensional structure from a single viewpoint, leveraging the camera's optical properties to reduce the need for multiple images
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the physical toy construction model to serve itself as the source of geometric information. The image capturing device automatically captures the model's appearance, and the processor automatically generates the three-dimensional virtual object without requiring manual measurement, configuration, or multiple manual image captures from different angles
Data Source
AI summary
A toy construction system comprising: a plurality of toy construction elements, each comprising one or more coupling members configured for releasably interconnecting the toy construction elements with each other; an image capturing device operable to capture one or more images of a toy construction model constructed from one or more of said toy construction elements; and a processor configured to extract a two-dimensional view of the toy construction model from the captured image; to create a virtual object in a virtual environment; and to create a three-dimensional graphical representation of the virtual object from the extracted two-dimensional view, wherein the created three-dimensional representation has a first view, seen along a first direction, defined by the extracted two-dimensional view, and a size along the first direction determined from a size of the extracted two-dimensional view.