U.S. patent application number 13/613300 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for mobile device having a virtual spin wheel and virtual spin wheel control method of the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Chia-Yen Lin. Invention is credited to Chia-Yen Lin.
Application Number | 20140073391 13/613300 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50233797 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140073391 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Chia-Yen |
March 13, 2014 |
MOBILE DEVICE HAVING A VIRTUAL SPIN WHEEL AND VIRTUAL SPIN WHEEL
CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME
Abstract
A virtual spin wheel control method of a mobile device having a
rotation sensor has steps of generating a spin wheel image,
dividing the spin wheel image into multiple target zones with each
target zone corresponding to a selection result, setting up an
initial alignment direction on the spin wheel image, receiving
rotation data from the rotation sensor and calculating a rotation
angle, adding the rotation angle to determine a final alignment
direction, and determining a target zone to which the final
alignment direction points and executing an operation corresponding
to the selection result designated to the target zone. By spinning
the mobile device to mimic Wheel of Fortune game, a selection
result can be determined in place of the random number generator
algorithm and the entire process is viewed by users. Accordingly,
the virtual spin wheel control method is trustworthy and increases
the effect of virtual reality vividly.
Inventors: |
Lin; Chia-Yen; (Dongguan
City, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lin; Chia-Yen |
Dongguan City |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
50233797 |
Appl. No.: |
13/613300 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3209 20130101;
A63F 13/211 20140902; G07F 17/3213 20130101; A63F 13/5375 20140902;
G07F 17/3218 20130101; A63F 13/92 20140902 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/16 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A mobile device having a virtual spin wheel, comprising: a body
having a display mounted thereon; a rotation sensor mounted in the
body; and a processing module mounted in the body, electrically
connected to the display and the rotation sensor, having a virtual
spin wheel control procedure, and storing a spin wheel image and a
pointer image, wherein the virtual spin wheel control procedure
reads the spin wheel image and the pointer image and displays the
spin wheel image and the pointer image on the display, divides the
spin wheel image into multiple angular target zones with each
target zone defined to correspond to a selection result, sets up an
initial alignment direction on the spin wheel image for the pointer
image to point to the initial alignment direction, receives
rotation data outputted from the rotation sensor and calculates a
rotation angle of the mobile device according to the rotation data,
adds the rotation angle to the initial alignment direction to
determine a final alignment direction, determines one of the target
zones on the spin wheel image of the mobile device to which the
final alignment direction points, points the pointer image to the
final alignment direction on the corresponding target zone, and
executes an operation corresponding to the selection result
designated to the target zone.
2. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation
sensor is a compass; the initial alignment direction of the mobile
device is at an angle between 0.degree. and 360.degree. measured
with respect to a center line of the mobile device; and the compass
first detects a reference angle between the initial alignment
direction of the mobile device and the geomagnetic south or north
pole of the earth; and the processing module monitors if angle data
outputted from the compass keep changing after the mobile device is
rotated, determines if the mobile device has stopped spinning,
takes the angle data as a final angle when the angle data outputted
by the compass stop changing, and obtains the rotation angle by
subtracting the reference angle from the final angle.
3. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation
sensor is a gyroscope and the rotation data are a series of angular
acceleration data; the initial alignment direction of the mobile
device is at an angle between 0.degree. and 360.degree. measured
with respect to a center line of the mobile device; and the
processing module continuously receives the series of the angular
acceleration data, and obtains the rotation angle by a
calculation.
4. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pointer
image displayed on the mobile device is stationary, and when the
mobile device is rotated, the spin wheel image is rotated by an
identical angle in a reverse direction so that the pointer image
points to one of the target zones on the spin wheel image
corresponding to the final alignment direction.
5. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spin wheel
image displayed on the mobile device is stationary, and when the
mobile device is rotated, the pointer image is rotated by an
identical angle in a reverse direction so that the pointer image
points to one of the target zones on the spin wheel image
corresponding to the final alignment direction.
6. A virtual spin wheel control method of a mobile device, wherein
the mobile device has a rotation sensor, the method comprising
steps of: generating and displaying a spin wheel image and a
pointer image on the mobile device; dividing the spin wheel image
into multiple angular target zones with each target zone defined to
correspond to a selection result; setting up an initial alignment
direction on the spin wheel image for the pointer image to point to
the initial alignment direction; receiving rotation data outputted
from the rotation sensor and calculating a rotation angle of the
mobile device according to the rotation data; adding the rotation
angle to the initial alignment direction to determine a final
alignment direction; and determining one of the target zones on the
spin wheel image of the mobile device to which the final alignment
direction points, pointing the pointer image to the final alignment
direction on the corresponding target zone, and executing an
operation corresponding to the selection result designated to the
target zone.
7. The mobile device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rotation
sensor is a compass; in the step of setting up the initial
alignment direction, the initial alignment direction of the mobile
device is at an angle between 0.degree. and 360.degree. measured
with respect to a center line of the mobile device; and the step of
receiving rotation data and calculating a rotation angle has steps
of: detecting a reference angle between the initial alignment
direction of the mobile device and the geomagnetic south or north
pole of the earth; monitoring if angle data outputted from the
compass keep changing after the mobile device is rotated;
determines if the mobile device has stopped spinning; taking the
angle data acquired as a final angle when the angle data outputted
by the compass stop changing; and obtaining the rotation angle by
subtracting the reference angle from the final angle.
8. The mobile device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rotation
sensor is a gyroscope and the rotation data are a series of angular
acceleration data; in the step of setting the initial alignment
direction, the initial alignment direction of the mobile device is
at an angle between 0.degree. and 360.degree. measured with respect
to a center line of the mobile device; and the step of receiving
rotation data and calculating a rotation angle has steps of:
continuously receiving the series of angular acceleration data; and
obtaining the rotation angle by a calculation.
9. The mobile device as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the step of
receiving rotation data and calculating a rotation angle, the
pointer image displayed on the mobile device is stationary, and
when the mobile device is rotated, the spin wheel image is rotated
by an identical angle in a reverse direction so that the pointer
image points to one of the target zones on the spin wheel image
corresponding to the final alignment direction.
10. The mobile device as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the step of
receiving rotation data and calculating a rotation angle, the spin
wheel image displayed on the mobile device is stationary, and when
the mobile device is rotated, the pointer image is rotated by an
identical angle in a reverse direction so that the pointer image
points to one of the target zones on the spin wheel image
corresponding to the final alignment direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a mobile device and a
method for controlling virtualization software thereof and more
particularly to a mobile device having a virtual spin wheel and a
virtual spin wheel control method of the mobile device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The diversification of application software (abbreviated as
APP) in mobile devices is attributable to the rapid penetration of
mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablet personal computers
(Tablet PC) and the like, into all walks of life. Among those
diversified application software nowadays, lots of application
software is developed to simulate small games in real life for
users of mobile devices to experience fun of various games.
[0005] Given a virtual coin tossing method currently available in a
mobile device as an example, when executing the virtual coin
tossing method, the mobile device displays an image of a coin for
users to touch and toss the image with a hand and then displays a
coin toss animation. The mobile device finally uses a random number
generator algorithm to give a result, such as a random integer, and
displays a head or a tail based on the result that may be an odd
number or an even number. Besides, The image of coin can be
replaced by an image of dice having six surfaces determined and
displayed according to six determination results generated by a
random number generator algorithm, such as a remainder when a
generated random integer is divided by six.
[0006] Although the foregoing application software can simulate the
virtual reality of coin or dice tossing, the tossing results
heavily depend on the value randomly generated by the random number
generator algorithm. As the random number generator algorithm is
prone to manual alternation and the random number generation
process fails to be transparent, the random number generator
algorithm is hardly impartial and objective and the virtual
software approach using the random number generator algorithm is
not trustworthy in the public eye. Furthermore, as users simulate a
coin or dice tossing movement by touching and tossing the image of
a coin or a dice instead of actually tossing the coin or dice, the
feel of a real coin or dice tossing is dramatically distinct from
that of a virtual coin or dice tossing game with limited effect of
virtual reality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An objective of the present invention is to provide a mobile
device having a virtual spin wheel and a virtual spin wheel control
method with simulation effect resembling a spinning process of a
real spin wheel.
[0008] To achieve the foregoing objective, the mobile device having
a virtual spin wheel has a body, a rotation sensor and a processing
module.
[0009] The body has a display mounted thereon.
[0010] The rotation sensor is mounted in the body.
[0011] The processing module is mounted in the body, is
electrically connected to the display and the rotation sensor, is
built in with a virtual spin wheel control procedure, and stores a
spin wheel image and a pointer image. The virtual spin wheel
control procedure reads the spin wheel image and the pointer image
and displays the spin wheel image and the pointer image on the
display, radially divides the spin wheel image into multiple
angular target zones with each target zone defined to correspond to
a selection result, sets up an initial alignment direction on the
spin wheel image for the pointer image to point to the initial
alignment direction, receives rotation data outputted from the
rotation sensor and calculates a rotation angle of the mobile
device according to the rotation data, adds the rotation angle to
the initial alignment direction to determine a final alignment
direction, determines a target zone on the pre-rotated spin wheel
image of the mobile device to which the final alignment direction
points, and executes an operation corresponding to the selection
result designated to the target zone after the pointer image points
to the target zone corresponding to the final alignment
direction.
[0012] When executing the virtual spin wheel control procedure,
users flatly place and rotate the body until the body stops
spinning. The processing module then acquires rotation data through
the rotation sensor to obtain a rotation angle of the body, thereby
determining a target zone to which the final alignment direction
points and simulating real life Wheel of Fortune game. As the
entire course of a real spinning process of the mobile device is
viewed by users and the alignment of the pointer image displayed on
the mobile device before and after the spinning is also viewed by
users, users can check if the selection result corresponds to the
rotation angle. Besides, the rotation angle of the mobile device is
not controlled by random number algorithm software. Accordingly,
the coming result is trustworthy, increases the fun, excitement and
simulation effect for the random selection approach thereof similar
to a real spin wheel game.
[0013] To achieve the foregoing objective, the virtual spin wheel
control method of a mobile device having a rotation sensor has
steps of:
[0014] generating and displaying the spin wheel image and the
pointer image;
[0015] radially dividing the spin wheel image into multiple angular
target zones with each target zone defined to correspond to a
selection result;
[0016] setting up an initial alignment direction on the spin wheel
image for the pointer image to point to the initial alignment
direction;
[0017] receiving rotation data outputted from the rotation sensor
and calculating a rotation angle of the mobile device according to
the rotation data;
[0018] adding the rotation angle to the initial alignment direction
to determine a final alignment direction; and
[0019] determining a target zone on the pre-rotated spin wheel
image of the mobile device to which the final alignment direction
points, and executing an operation corresponding to the selection
result designated to the target zone after the pointer image points
to the target zone corresponding to the final alignment
direction.
[0020] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a mobile device in
accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a virtual spin wheel having
multiple target zones and a pointer in accordance with the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a virtual spin wheel control
method performed by the mobile device in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the virtual spin wheel in FIG.
2 having multiple target zones with different angular ranges;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a rotation angle of
a mobile device in accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the mobile device in FIG. 5
with a stationary pointer to the mobile device prior to
rotation;
[0027] FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the mobile device in FIG. 5
with a stationary pointer to the mobile device after rotation;
[0028] FIG. 7A is a schematic view of the mobile device in FIG. 5
with stationary target zones to the mobile device prior to
rotation; and
[0029] FIG. 7B is a schematic view of the mobile device in FIG. 5
with stationary target zones to the mobile device after
rotation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] It is common for current mobile devices to be equipped with
application software to simulate some positioning devices and
sensing devices, such as compass, GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope and
the like. The application software for compass outputs angle data
in a range of 0.degree. to 360.degree.. The application software
for GPS outputs a set of data associated with longitude and
latitude. The application software for accelerometer outputs
acceleration of gravity with respect to an orthogonal coordinate
system. The application software for gyroscope outputs angular
acceleration data around the rotation axes. Besides the information
acquired from each positioning and sensing device, the application
software can also acquire quaternion, rotation matrix, Euler angles
and the like required for representation of rotation using the
sensor fusion in the mobile devices.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 1, a mobile device having a virtual
spin wheel has a body 10, a rotation sensor 20 and a processing
module 30.
[0032] The body 10 has a display 11 mounted thereon. In the present
embodiment, the body 10 further has an input module 12 mounted
thereon.
[0033] The rotation sensor 20 is mounted in the body 10, and may be
a compass or a gyroscope.
[0034] The processing module 30 is mounted in the body 10, is
electrically connected to the display 11 and the rotation sensor
20, is built in with a virtual spin wheel control procedure, and
stores a spin wheel image and a pointer image. In the present
embodiment, the processing module 30 is electrically connected to
the input module 12.
[0035] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the virtual spin wheel
control procedure has the following steps.
[0036] Step S11: Generate the spin wheel image W1 or read the spin
wheel image W1 built in the processing module 30. In the present
embodiment, the processing module 30 displays the spin wheel image
W1 to increase the simulation effect and the fun of the game.
[0037] Step S12: Divide the spin wheel image W1 into multiple
angular target zones W11. Each target zone W11 is defined to
correspond to a selection result. In the present embodiment, the
selection result of each target zone W11 is inputted through the
input module 12. The input module 12 may be a touch panel or
mechanical press buttons. Furthermore, the spin wheel image W1 is
evenly divided into ten target zones W11 and each target zone W11
is allocated to 36.degree.. With reference to FIG. 4, the target
zones W11 differ in size and angular range so that users can adjust
the probability of each selection result based on personal
preference.
[0038] Step S13: Set up an initial alignment direction AL.sub.1 on
the spin wheel image W1 for the initial alignment direction
AL.sub.1 to point to one of the target zones W11 (or points to a
border line between adjacent two of the target zones W11). In the
present embodiment, further read and display the pointer image W2
and let the pointer image W2 point to the initial alignment
direction AL.sub.1. The initial alignment direction can be
configured to point to a top edge, a bottom edge or any other
direction.
[0039] Step S14: Receive rotation data outputted from the rotation
sensor 20 and calculate a rotation angle .theta. of the mobile
device according to the rotation data. Methods for calculating the
rotation angle .theta. with the types of the rotation sensors 20
are discussed in details later.
[0040] Step S15: Add the rotation angle .theta. to the initial
alignment direction AL.sub.1 to determine a final alignment
direction AL.sub.2.
[0041] Step S16: Determine a target zone W11 on the pre-rotated
spin wheel image W1 of the mobile device to which the final
alignment direction AL.sub.2points, and execute an operation
corresponding to the selection result designated to the target zone
W11 after the pointer image W2 points to the target zone W11
corresponding to the final alignment direction AL.sub.2. In the
present embodiment, each selection result may be operation of one
of an animation, audio information or an image. In the present
step, the display 11 plays an animation, audio information or an
image according to the selection result designated to the target
zone W11 to which the final alignment direction AL.sub.2
points.
[0042] Even the virtual spin wheel control method does not display
the spin wheel image W1 and the pointer image W2, users can still
spin the body 10 of the mobile device, and the selection result can
be displayed after the body 10 stops spinning. However, if the
virtual spin wheel control method displays the spin wheel image W1
and the pointer image W2, users can actually view the whole process
of relative rotation of the spin wheel image W1 and the pointer
image W2, and the spin wheel image W1 or the pointer image W2 is
rotated according to the received rotation data. While the spin
wheel image W1 or the pointer image W2 is rotated, people
participating in the spin wheel game can view if the entire course
matches the actual rotation of the mobile device, which makes the
virtual spin wheel control method more trustworthy and vividly
demonstrating the simulation effectiveness.
[0043] In view of different data outputted from a compass and a
gyroscope, Step S14 for calculating a rotation angle is further
described as follows to reflect the case that the rotation sensor
20 is a compass or a gyroscope.
[0044] If the rotation sensor 20 is a compass, with reference to
FIG. 5, the compass first detects a reference angle .theta..sub.0
between an initial alignment direction of the mobile device and the
geomagnetic south (or north) pole AL.sub.n of the earth. The
initial alignment direction of the mobile device may be at an angle
between 0.degree. and 360.degree. measured with respect to a center
line of the mobile device. After the mobile device is flatly placed
and rotated, the angle data outputted from the compass keep
changing. Once the angle data outputted by the compass stop
changing, it means that the mobile device has stopped spinning and
the angle data by then is taken as a final angle .theta..sub.1,
which is measured with respect to the geomagnetic south pole or
north pole. A rotation angle .theta. is obtained by subtracting the
reference angle from the final angle (.theta..sub.1-.theta..sub.0).
If the rotation sensor 20 is a gyroscope, an angle
.theta..sub..alpha. (0.degree. to 360.degree.) is selected in Step
S13 for setting up an initial alignment direction. And in step S
14, the rotation angle can be calculated from a series of angular
acceleration data. The angular acceleration of the mobile device
can be expressed as a function of time, f.sub..alpha.(t), and is
used to calculate the rotation angle, which can be obtained by the
following equation, namely, .intg..intg.f.sub..alpha.(t)dtdt.
[0045] Furthermore, in the last step of displaying the pointer
image W2 corresponding to the final direction AL.sub.2 on one of
the target zones W11, either the pointer image W2 can be set to be
stationary to the mobile device while the spin wheel image W1 is
set to be rotatable or vice versa. For example, in FIGS. 6A and 6B,
the pointer image W2 in the display is stationary to the mobile
device. And when the mobile device is rotated, the spin wheel image
W1 is rotated by an identical angle in a reverse direction. In FIG.
6A, before the mobile device is rotated, the pointer image W2
points to a border line between the target zone 10 and the target
zone 1 on the spin wheel image W1. And in FIG. 6B, after the mobile
device 10 is rotated by an angle .theta..sub.4, the spin wheel
image W1 is rotated by the angle of .theta..sub.4 in a reverse
direction, allowing the stationary pointer image W2 to point to the
corresponding target zone 2. However, from the perspective of
users, it appears that the spin wheel is stationary while the
pointer is rotated. With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the spin
wheel image W1 is stationary to the mobile device. And in FIG. 7B,
after the mobile device is rotated by an angle .theta..sub.5, the
pointer image W2 is rotated by the angle .theta..sub.5 in a reverse
direction, allowing it to point to the corresponding target zone of
the stationary spin wheel image W1. However, from the perspective
of users, it appears to users that the pointer is stationary and it
is the spin wheel that is rotating.
[0046] To randomly select one of the selection results with the
foregoing virtual spin wheel control method, users need to flatly
place and rotate the body 10 of the mobile device. After the body
10 stops spinning due to friction, the rotation angle defined by
the body 10 determines the final alignment direction AL.sub.2. The
final alignment direction AL.sub.2 aligns with the selection result
of one of the target zones W11. As software cannot control when the
mobile device stops spinning, users spin the mobile device as they
spin Wheel of Fortune with pointer stopping randomly at the divided
target zones. Participants of the spin wheel game can observe the
wheel-spinning process throughout the entire process, and
physically check the rotation angle in display to see if it matches
the rotation angle of the mobile device. This not only ensures a
trustworthy and credible spin wheel game but also increases the fun
and excitement of users when observing the wheel-spinning process
and awaiting a result of the game. Moreover, because the method of
spinning the spin wheel image W1 (or the pointer image W2) is
performed by users to rotate the body 10 of the mobile device, the
method can also simulate a real wheel-spinning situation, thereby
making the simulation more vivid.
[0047] In sum, the present invention allows users to spin a mobile
device for a spin wheel image or a pointer image displayed on the
mobile device to rotate, generates a random result determined by a
process of rotating mobile device, which mimics the Wheel of
Fortune game to make application software in mobile devices more
entertaining.
[0048] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made
in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of
parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent
indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the
appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *