Theremin-based tracking and triggering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12496519-B2
Application number	US-202217947488-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2022
Priority date	Sep 20, 2021
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for tracking a presence of a body part via a theremin-based sensor and outputting a usable signal. For example, a tracking system includes a signal processor and a theremin circuit including at least one antenna. The theremin circuit detects a varying position of a body part relative to the at least one antenna and outputs an analog signal to the signal processor having a varying frequency or amplitude based on the varying position of the body part relative to the at least one antenna. The digital processor determines a rate of change of the varying frequency or amplitude of the analog signal, determines at least a velocity of the body part based on the rate of change, and outputs a digital signal corresponding to at least the velocity to a system or device coupled to the theremin-based tracking system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A theremin-based tracking system, comprising:
a signal processor; and a theremin circuit including at least one antenna, the theremin circuit configured to:
detect a varying position of a body part relative to the at least one antenna, and
output to the signal processor an analog signal having a varying frequency or amplitude based on the varying position of the body part relative to the at least one antenna, wherein the signal processor is configured to:
determine a rate of change of the varying frequency or amplitude of the analog signal,
determine at least a velocity of the body part based on the rate of change, and
output a digital signal corresponding to at least the velocity to another system or device coupled to the signal processor.

2 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal is output to control a moving element of a video game.

3 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal is output to trigger an interactive element of an attraction.

4 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal is output to trigger an alarm or safety system.

5 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 ,
wherein the signal processor and the theremin circuit are coupled to a lap bar of a ride vehicle, and wherein the at least one antenna is housed within the lap bar.

6 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 5 , wherein the theremin circuit is configured to detect the varying position of the body part relative to the lap bar.

7 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one antenna is housed within a headset configured to be worn by a person operating the theremin-based tracking system.

8 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 7 , wherein the theremin circuit is configured to detect the varying position of the body part relative to the headset.

9 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cable made of a conductive material and positioned in parallel to the at least one antenna, wherein the cable is insulated from the theremin circuit, the signal processor, and the at least one antenna, and wherein the at least one antenna wirelessly attenuates to the cable.

10 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 9 , wherein the theremin circuit is configured to detect the varying position of the body part relative to the cable.

11 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a water medium filled with water, wherein the cable is inserted in the water medium, and wherein the at least one antenna wirelessly attenuates to the cable inserted in the water medium.

12 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 11 , wherein the theremin circuit is configured to detect the varying position of the body part relative to the water medium.

13 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the signal processor is further configured to:
determine an accretion of the body part based on the rate of change, wherein the digital signal further corresponds to the accretion.

14 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the signal processor is further configured to:
determine at least one of an acceleration, a jerk, or a jounce of the body part based on the velocity, wherein the digital signal further corresponds to the at least one of the acceleration, the jerk, or the jounce.

15 . The theremin-based tracking system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a headset configured to be worn by a person operating the theremin-based tracking system, wherein the headset is configured to:
detect spatial coordinates corresponding to a field of view of the person, and
output the spatial coordinates from the headset to the other system or device coupled to the signal processor, wherein the spatial coordinates are used in connection with the digital signal output from the signal processor.

16 . A method of tracking a body part using a theremin-based tracking system, comprising:
detecting, via a theremin circuit, a varying position of a body part relative to at least one antenna; outputting, from the theremin circuit to a signal processor, an analog signal having a varying frequency or amplitude based on the varying position of the body part relative to the at least one antenna; determining, via the signal processor, a rate of change of the varying frequency or amplitude of the analog signal; determining, via the signal processor, at least a velocity of the body part based on the rate of change; and outputting, from the signal processor, a digital signal corresponding to at least the velocity to another system or device coupled to the signal processor.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the digital signal is output to control a moving element of a video game.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the digital signal is output to trigger an interactive element of an attraction.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the digital signal is output to trigger an alarm or safety system.

20 . The method of claim 16 ,
wherein the signal processor and the theremin circuit are coupled to a lap bar of a ride vehicle, wherein the at least one antenna is housed within the lap bar, and wherein the detecting includes detecting the varying position of the body part relative to the lap bar.

21 . The method of claim 16 ,
wherein the at least one antenna is housed within a headset configured to be worn by a person operating the theremin-based tracking system, and wherein the detecting includes detecting the varying position of the body part relative to the headset.

22 . The method of claim 16 ,
wherein a cable made of a conductive material is positioned in parallel to the at least one antenna, wherein the cable is insulated from the theremin circuit, the signal processor, and the at least one antenna, wherein the at least one antenna wirelessly attenuates to the cable, and wherein the detecting includes detecting the varying position of the body part relative to the cable.

23 . The method of claim 22 ,
wherein the cable is inserted in a water medium filled with water, wherein the at least one antenna wirelessly attenuates to the cable inserted in the water, and wherein the detecting includes detecting the varying position of the body part relative to the water medium.

24 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining, via the signal processor, an accretion of the body part based on the rate of change, wherein the digital signal further corresponds to the accretion.

25 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining, via the signal processor, at least one of an acceleration, a jerk, or a jounce of the body part based on the velocity, wherein the digital signal further corresponds to the at least one of the acceleration, the jerk, or the jounce.

26 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
detecting, via a headset configured to be worn by a person operating the theremin-based tracking system, spatial coordinates corresponding to a field of view of the person; and outputting the spatial coordinates from the headset to the other system or device coupled to the signal processor, wherein the spatial coordinates are used in connection with the digital signal output from the signal

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Williams Thomas Owen
• Burnette Brandon David
• Goergen Patrick John

Classifications

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G06F2203/04101

  2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/046

  by electromagnetic means · CPC title