Virtual Suction Tool for Immersive Game Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video game and consumer systems face challenges in providing effective and user-friendly input devices for interacting with virtual environments, especially on portable platforms like cellular telephones and personal digital assistants, where the limited set of standard input devices restricts the complexity and realism of virtual tool interactions.
Innovation Solution
A 3D graphical computer interface enhances the functionality of a physical object, such as a stylus, by simulating virtual tool characteristics like suction and exhaust properties through computer graphics and sound effects, allowing it to interact with virtual environments in a more immersive and intuitive manner, even when the object itself is static or non-electronic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional input devices (keyboard, mouse, buttons) are used to control virtual tools, then the system is easy to operate on portable platforms, but the interaction lacks realism and immersion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by creating a virtual representation of a physical vacuum cleaner tool within the game environment. The virtual tool visually and functionally replicates the real-world vacuum cleaner, allowing players to interact with it through familiar button inputs while experiencing realistic virtual tool behavior, including suction effects and object manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical suction mechanism of a real vacuum cleaner with a computer-generated visual and audio simulation. Instead of actual mechanical suction, the system uses graphical effects, particle animations, and synthesized sounds to create the illusion of suction, substituting physical mechanics with digital representations that enhance realism without requiring physical components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If advanced authentic controls and input devices are used, then the interaction with virtual tools is realistic and immersive, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a virtual tool system that can be controlled through standard game input devices (buttons, joysticks) while maintaining realistic tool behavior. The same input interface controls both the virtual vacuum cleaner's movement and its suction function, eliminating the need for separate specialized controls and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the vacuum cleaner's essential functions within the virtual environment, focusing only on the key interactions (movement and suction) rather than replicating every mechanical detail. This selective copying maintains realism for player experience while avoiding the complexity of modeling all physical components.
3Ease of operation
If a stylus is used as a virtual suction tool, then the interaction is intuitive and immersive, but the stylus itself has no actual suction capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces computer graphics and audio systems as intermediary elements between the stylus input and the virtual suction effect. The stylus serves as an intermediary control device that triggers virtual effects through software processing, mediating between the physical input and the simulated suction output without requiring direct physical connection or actual suction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical suction function with a computer-generated visual and audio simulation. Instead of the stylus physically creating suction, the system uses graphical particle effects, animated dust removal, and synthesized vacuum sounds to create the illusion of suction, replacing physical mechanics with digital representations.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch-based computer graphics user interface enhances a stylus pen with virtual suction to create a virtual vacuum or suction tool. The virtual tool may simulate a physical world suction tool and/or provide capabilities not available in the real world. The virtual suction tool allows the user to feel as if he or she has transcended the boundary between the virtual world and the real world by physically holding in his or her hand an object that is able to interact with and virtually attract and contain items (e.g., objects with characteristics and behaviors) removed from or expellable into the virtual world. The resulting highly intuitive user interface provides fun and exciting video game play and has other applications as well.