Using magnetism to move a physical object proximate a base

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017200544-A1
Application number	US-201614992437-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an interactive environment, a user action may dictate what type of action a base device performs using an entertainment object. In one embodiment, the base device includes a controllable electromagnet that uses magnetism to move one or more permanent magnetics mounted in or on the entertainment object. For example, the entertainment object may be a doll or character that jumps, vibrates, slides, or sways in response to a changing magnetic field generated by the electromagnet. Moreover, the user may wear headphones that determine the location of the base device (and the toy) relative to the user. Using this location, the headphones can output 3D positional audio that the user perceives as originating from the location of the entertainment object on the base device. The 3D positional audio can be outputted synchronously with the action performed by the entertainment object to further immerse the user in the interactive environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a base comprising a support surface; an electromagnet disposed in the base and configured to generate a magnetic field at the support surface; and a controller disposed in the base and configured to control the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet according to a predefined gameplay motion pattern configured to induce an entertainment object proximate to the support surface to perform a desired action.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet comprises:
a first coil formed from an electrically conductive wire, wherein the first coil forms a loop relative to a viewpoint perpendicular to the support surface; and a voltage generator coupled to both ends of the wire.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
another electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field at the support surface according to the predefined gameplay motion pattern, wherein the another electromagnet comprises a second coil formed from an electrically conductive wire, wherein the second coil forms a loop relative to the viewpoint perpendicular to the support surface.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the coil of the electromagnet is disposed a first distance from the support surface, and the coil of the another electromagnet is disposed a second distance from the support surface, wherein the coil of the electromagnet overlaps the coil of the another electromagnet relative to the viewpoint perpendicular to the support surface.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to:
synchronously control the electromagnet and the another electromagnet using the gameplay motion pattern to generate the desired action using the entertainment object.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the desired action comprises at least one of: the entertainment object jumping off the support surface, the entertainment object sliding along the support surface, and the entertainment object swaying back and forth relative to the support surface.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
activate the electromagnet to repulse a permanent magnet in the entertainment object such that the entertainment object jumps off the support surface; and activate the electromagnet, when the entertainment object is jumping off the support surface, to attract the permanent magnet such that the entertainment object lands in a desired location on the support surface.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the entertainment object is not mechanically coupled to the apparatus.

9 . A system comprising:
a base comprising:
an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field at a support surface,
a controller configured to control the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet to induce an entertainment object proximate to the support surface to perform a desired action, and
a wireless transmitter configured to emit a location signal; and
an audio system comprising:
a plurality of speakers,
at least one receiver configured to receive the location signal, and
a sound controller configured to:
determine a location of the base relative to the audio system based on the location signal, and
output 3D positional audio using the speakers that a user perceives as originating from the location of the base.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnet comprises:
a coil formed from an electrically conductive wire, wherein the coil forms a loop relative to a viewpoint perpendicular to the support surface; and a voltage generator coupled to both ends of the wire.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the audio system includes a plurality of wireless receivers that includes the receiver, wherein each of the wireless receivers is disposed on the audio system to receive the location signal from different defined regions.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the location of the base is imputed to a respective defined region corresponding to one of the wireless receivers that receives the location signal.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the audio system includes a plurality of wireless transmitters, each of the wireless transmitters is configured to emit signals to different defined regions, and
wherein the base includes an wireless receiver configured to receive the signals emitted by the wireless transmitters.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the base is configured to uniquely identify one of the plurality of wireless transmitters based on the received signals and transmit a confirmation message comprising the location signal to the audio system indicating the identified one of the plurality of wireless transmitters.

15 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of bases, wherein the sound controller is configured to:
determine respective locations corresponding to each of the bases, and simultaneously output 3D positional audio corresponding to each of the bases using the speakers such that a user perceives the 3D positional audio as originating from the respective locations of the bases.

16 . A method, comprising:
activating an electromagnet on a base to affect a permanent magnetic fixedly disposed on an entertainment object to cause the entertainment object to perform a desired action when the entertainment object is proximate to a support surface of the base; receiving a location signal transmitted by the base device at an audio system; determining a location of the base relative to the audio system; and generating 3D positional audio using the audio system that a user perceives as originating from the location of the base, wherein the 3D positional audio is output synchronously with the desired action performed by the entertainment object.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the location signal is a wireless signal that is received at one of a plurality of receivers disposed on the audio system, wherein each of the receivers is disposed on the audio system to receive the location signal from different defined regions.

18 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
transmitting an IR signal from the audio system to the base, wherein the signal includes data uniquely identifying one of a plurality of transmitters disposed on the audio system, and wherein the location signal is transmitted from the base to the audio system in response to receiving the signal.

19 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving location signals from a plurality of bases; determining respective locations of the base devices relative to the audio system based on the received location signals; and outputting 3D positional audio corresponding to each of the bases, wherein the user perceives the 3D positional audio as originating from the respective locations of the bases.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the desired action comprises at least one of:
the entertainment object jumping off the support surface, the entertainment object sliding along the support surface, and the entertainment object swaying back and forth relative to the support surface.

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Bassett Katherine M
• GOSLIN Michael Paul
• Olson Blade Alexander

Classifications

• A63H33/26 Primary

  Magnetic or electric toys (electric drives A63H29/22 {; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068}) · CPC title

• H01F7/0205

  Magnetic circuits with PM in general · CPC title

• H01F7/064 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets (circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325) · CPC title

• H01F7/206

  Electromagnets for lifting, handling or transporting of magnetic pieces or material (electromagnets for guidance of vehicles, workpieces B65G21/2009; for magnetic suspension or levitation H02N15/00) · CPC title

• H01F2007/208

  combined with permanent magnets · CPC title