Interactive object systems and methods
An interactive object system includes an interactive object and a source of electromagnetic radiation, e.g., an external source. A power harvesting device of the interactive object receives and harvests power from the electromagnetic radiation to power a special effect system of the interactive object. In an embodiment, the interactive object includes a retroreflective material that reflects electromagnetic radiation, which may be of a same or different wavelength as the electromagnetic radiation from which power is harvested. The interactive object system detects the reflected electromagnetic radiation, which may be used to trigger one or more additional actions related to the interactive object.
1 . An interactive object system, comprising:
an interactive object comprising:
an exterior surface of a housing that is in part transparent to infrared light and is in part reflective of infrared light; and
a power harvesting device configured to receive the infrared light through the housing and to harvest power from the received infrared light;
a special effect system coupled to the interactive object that receives power from the power harvesting device to power one or more special effects; and
at least one infrared light emitter that emits light into the housing to the power harvesting device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the infrared light is in a range of 800 nm-1550 nm.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the special effect system comprises a haptic feedback device, wherein the haptic feedback device is configured to be activated in response to the power harvesting device harvesting power from the received infrared light.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the special effect system comprises a light source configured to be activated to shine light from the housing through the exterior surface in response to the power harvesting device harvesting power from the received infrared light.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface comprises a material that is transparent to the infrared light and at least partially opaque to visible light.
6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a detector configured to receive reflected light from the housing.
7 . The system of claim 6 , comprising a controller configured to identify a location of the interactive object based on a signal from the detector.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to activate an additional special effect system based on the signal from the detector.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the additional special effect system is activated concurrently with the special effect system.
10 . An interactive object, comprising:
a power harvesting device, wherein the power harvesting device harvests power from electromagnetic radiation;
a housing within which the power harvesting device is disposed, the housing comprising a reflector assembly that transmits the electromagnetic radiation through a first portion of the reflector assembly to the power harvesting device and that reflects the electromagnetic radiation to an external detector from a second portion of the reflector assembly, wherein the first portion of the reflector assembly comprises a transmissive material and wherein the second portion of the reflector assembly comprises a reflective material; and
a special effect system that is powered by the harvested power from the power harvesting device.
11 . The interactive object of claim 10 , wherein the interactive object comprises a wand, and wherein the reflector assembly is disposed on a tip of the wand.
12 . The interactive object of claim 10 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises infrared light.
13 . The interactive object of claim 10 , wherein the special effect system comprises a haptic feedback device, wherein the haptic feedback device is configured to be activated in response to the power harvesting device harvesting power from the received electromagnetic radiation.
14 . The interactive object of claim 10 , wherein the special effect system comprises a light source configured to be activated to shine light from the housing in response to the power harvesting device harvesting power from the received electromagnetic radiation.
15 . The interactive object of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a material that is transparent to infrared light and at least partially opaque to visible light.
16 . An interactive wand, comprising:
an optical power harvesting device;
a housing within which the optical power harvesting device is disposed, the housing comprising a reflector assembly that transmits infrared light through a first portion of the reflector assembly to the power harvesting device and that reflects the infrared light to an external detector from a second portion of the reflector assembly, wherein the first portion comprises a transmissive material and wherein the second portion comprises a retroreflective material;
a special effect system that is powered by the harvested power from the optical power harvesting device; and
an object controller that generates instructions to activate a special effect of the special effect system.
17 . The interactive wand of claim 16 , wherein the object controller receives a signal from one or more sensors and generates the instructions based on the signal.
18 . The interactive wand of claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to activate a plurality of light sources in a particular pattern or order.
19 . The interactive wand of claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise stored instructions associated with a matched user of the interactive wand.
20 . The interactive wand of claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise stored instructions associated with a nonmatched user of the interactive wand.