Description

CELL OF INTERACTIVE DEVICES FOR MULTIPLE USERS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to the technical field of electromechanical and digital interactive devices integrated for use in several environments such as stands, domes, kiosks, inflatable tents, classrooms and meeting rooms, and other facilities used in fairs, events, commercial centers, whose applications may take place in several areas, such as providing training, education, entertainment and other purposes, specially experience marketing. Said integrated devices form a cell of interactive devices comprised of an inclined table of interactive surface, an exhibition screen in collaborative surface with software-applied projections and other auxiliary accessories, such as keyboard projected for decision making, wireless communication devices and laser pointers.

Background Art

[2] There are several devices in background art aiming to achieve maximum interaction with user, so as to provide ergonomic and functional features, such as positioning of the game table, positioning of the viewing screen, and easy access to decision making, so as to assure a complete integration between users and training means, education, entertainmentor or games.

[3] For example, Patent Application published under no. US 2004/0224777 describes a card game simulation device. Such device is comprised of two areas for image projection, wherein one is in a relatively horizontal plane for simulating the top of the game table and another in vertical plane to project a virtual dealer.

[4] Patent no. US 6,761,634 describes an interactive game over a display in which the visual image of the game is projected with optical sensors to detect the position of the game pieces. The image projected over the surface is altered by a controller according to the position of the pieces.

[5] International Publication no. WO 2005/024739 yet describes a table configured in

'T' for games comprised of one or more screens. A central controller is connected to each of the screens and controls what is presented according to the inputs from a touch pad. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] The solutions mentioned in above documents and other existing in backgoundart, as can be verified, do not conveniently and efficiently solve problems existing in in- teractivedevices for multiple users with applications in various fields, such as training,

education, entertainment and games.

[7] For example, said game table disclosed in document no. US 2004/0224777 do not allow team interactivity during games, for example, RPG games, and enterprise games, among others. Also, an inclination of the table is not defined so as to provide players with more comfort.

[8] The interactive game over a display described in document no. US 6,761,634 needs a controller and optical sensors to change the image projected over the surface according to the positioning of the pieces, so the controller needs to be constituted in a complex way to employ such operation.

[9] Another complex operation is also described in document WO 2005/024739 through a table configured in 'T' with central controller and actuated through a touch pad.

[10] Therefore, there is still the need to obtain a cell of interactive devices allowing a collaborative and creative work associated with decision making in groups of people; in which devices have simplicity and efficiency to allow users to interact among themselves through said devices.

Technical Solution

[11] The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide maximum interaction with users for a low cost, through novel electro-electronic, mechanic, structural, computational, optical and ergonomic features.

[12] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bigger and more appropriate access for decision making so as to assure complete interaction between users and training means, education, entertainment, and games.

[ 13] Another yet objective of the present invention is to enable interactive access by multiple users, preferably around ten (10) users, since groups over thirteen (13) users, besides becoming diffused during group works, also generate very large and difficultly produced devices, while groups under seven (7) users reduce too much the possibilities of providing multiple collective experiences.

[14] In order to achieve above mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a novel embodiment of the communication interface through the positioning of the slightly inclined table, actuating with the positioning of the translucent screen with bilateral view. Also, the present invention is provided with projections in interactive command keyboards, through a novel arrangement of electromechanical touch with reduced dimensions and reinforced pieces, with a more simple operation, less manufacture costs, and more robustness, whose dimensions are optimal to be used by seven (7) to thirteen (13) users, preferably ten (10). In addition, the present invention also foresees mobile devices for communication between user and table, and high quality sound equipment.

Advantageous Effects

[15] The cell of interactive devices disclosed in the present invention results in several advantageous technical effects. Firstly, creating and adapting a set of interactive devices in an appropriate dimension for simultaneous user for approximately ten (10) users results in a convenient means to serve the ideal number of users to perform collaborative works and make decisions in groups of people. For example, the interactive table keyboard associated to the appropriate dimensions and the inclination relative to the vertical screen provides a surface in which all users can interact - viewing and operating the table - in a similar ratio, without losing personal contact among users. In especial, the inclination of the table avoids tangential viewing in the horizontal case, improving the framing of the users' visual field on screen, thus providing an improvement in inserting users to activity, besides making good use of the collaborative and interactive elements, with game symmetry, simultaneous media and decision interface.

[16] Additionally, the collaborative and interactive set of the surfaces approximately arranged in 'L' is arranged so as to be used, for example, by a group of users that can make decisions in group through a vertical interface to information viewing and a horizontal interface for decision making.

[17] Another important factor is the use of communication interface with personal portable devices allowing users to communicate with the cell, as well as allowing transactions and credit accumulation or monetary (or not) points to be used in interaction with the cell.

[18] The bilateral visualization allows a more flexible arrangement of the environment where the cell is, since people can be both together around the table or in the opposite side.

[19] High quality audiovisual devices assure the immersion of the users to the content of the event.

Description of Drawings

[20] In order to enable the understanding and execution of the present invention, the following figures are presented for illustrative and non restrictive purposes of the final form of the invention.

[21] Figure 1 depicts a frontal perspective view of the cell of interactive devices.

[22] Figure 2 depicts a side perspective view of the cell of interactive devices.

[23] Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the interactive table.

[24] Figure 4 depicts a block diagram of the control process of the cell of interactive devices.

[25] Figure 5 depicts a block diagram of the communication process between personal

portable devices and the other interactive devices.

[26] Figure 6 depicts a perspective view of the projection device over the table.

Mode for Invention

[27] In accordance with referred illustrations, the present invention is comprised of a cell of interactive devices for multiple users, which is comprised of an inclined table (1) of interactive surface (2), a screen for vertical exhibition (3) in collaborative surface with projections applied by a synchronization and control software, wherein the inclination of the table (1) of approximately 100 degrees with the screen for vertical exhibition (3) and other auxiliary accessories, such as keyboard projected on interactive surface (2) for decision making, and wireless communication devices.

[28] The screen for vertical exhibition (3) allows the exhibition of images, such as films and animations, for more interaction and immersion of the user with the event. These exhibitions are controlled by software also allowing the subscription and insertion of users pictures in the character and environment related to the event.

[29] Additionally, the interactive surface (2) is positioned over the table (1), wherein such surface is inclined in approximately 100 degrees with vertical screen (3) for better viewing of the projection and comfort for the users.

[30] Also, the interactive surface (2) is comprised of a keyboard desktop computer, a screen computer, a table projector (4), a screen projector, a table with rectangular keys covering the whole surface of the table, as illustrated in Figure 3, and covered by a screen for projection.

[31] The interactive surface (2) is also comprised of a sustentation structure (5), and support for the keys, actuation keys and a micro controlled electronic circuit. As shown in Figure 4, the micro controller periodically scans the keys and stores their status. The status of such keys is sent to a keyboard desktop computer, through a specific communication protocol and under command of the keyboard desktop computer. In an embodiment of the invention, the communication interface used to transport data is RS-485, due to the distance of the keyboard table to the keyboard desktop computer; a RS 232/485 converter is used to convert the data signal from a physical means to another, when the keyboard desktop computer is not provided with RS-485 interfaces.

[32] The software for keyboard event treatment, which is run in the keyboard desktop computer, reads and interprets the status of the keys and sends through messages the events of status change to the application software. The application based on rules and specific algorithms interprets the messages and generates results as audiovisual information which is displayed through the table projector and speakers connected to computer audio output. Other images regarding application are generated by a screen projector (4) through the screen computer control, wherein such images are synchronized with the images projected over the table.

[33] Video signals, both from interactive surface (2) projector (4) and from screen projector for vertical exhibition (3) are converted to differential mode, through video extensors, such as VGA extensors, in order to reduce losses in signal transmission, since the distance in which this system is operated has impact on signal quality.

[34] The control of the projectors is done through commands sent through communication network, for example an Ethernet, to an appropriate converter, for example Ethernet/RS-232. The synchronization of the devices to serve the application sequencing is performed through signalization exchanged between computers through the communication network.

[35] Alternatively, the screen for vertical exhibition (3) can also be an interactive surface through laser pointers and the application of an optical filter and a video camera. The projection of laser pointers over the screen for vertical exhibition (3) is captured by the camera and sent to acquiring board of the screen computer. In the screen computer, information is processed analogue with information obtained in interactive surface (2).

[36] The communication system of the generated information is therefore provided through collaborative and interactive surfaces arranged approximately in 'L', wherein the collaborative surface (3) is vertically arranged and the interactive surface (2) over the inclined surface of the table (1), thus enabling the use by several users, for example a group of ten people. The dimensions of the interactive surface (2) are projected to facilitate the positioning of several users, with dimensions of approximately 2,24m high and 1,68m wide for groups of about ten users, and a rigid frame to assure the robustness of the device.

[37] For more interaction among users, the use of jackets with personal portable wireless communication devices is additionally disclosed, so as to contribute for decision making. As in Figure 5, these personal portable devices, such as cell phones with communication via Bluetooth or protocol 802.11, PDA with communication via protocol 802.11, remote controls with communication via radiofrequency or infrared, interact real-time through a local communication network to which desktop computers and screen computers are also connected. Additionally, the communication between cell phones and keyboard desktop and screen computers may be performed through the mobile phone service provider by sending and receiving MMS and SMS messages from user to computers connected to Internet.

[38] Also, to allow the application of the cell in environments with reduced height, it is alternatively forseen, as illustrated in Figure 6, the use of a mirror (6) to help the projection of the interactive surface (2) assuring the quality of the image displayed. Thus, the set of interactive and collaborative surfaces provided in cell, has appropriate sizing also for environments under 6 meters high.

Industrial Applicability

[39] The set of cells of interactive devices disclosed may be reproduced in any type of industry having appropriate technologies for producing electro - electronic and mechanic devices associated to computational technologies, with various applications in various technical fields, such as providing training, education, entertainment, games, publicity, marketing and other purposes, in special experience marketing; in which uses may take place in several environments, such as stands, domes, kiosks, inflatable tents, classroom, meeting room, and other facilities used in fairs, events, commercial centers.