DE102021118401A1 - Symbol recognition system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for recognizing symbols (2) on at least one dice (1) comprises at least one digital camera (4) for recording an image of the stationary dice (1), which is connected to a computer device (14) with an image evaluation device (17). , the image evaluation device (17) having a storage device (16) with data for recognizing the symbols (2) on the dice (1) of the computer device (14) and an output device (18) for the optical and/or acoustic representation of certain recognized symbols ( 2) of the at least one stationary dice (1) is coupled.

Description

The invention relates to a system for recognizing symbols on at least one dice with at least one digital camera for recording an image of the dice at rest.

Dice used in dice games with six or more dice faces are known, with each dice face having at least one symbol, a representation of a number or the like. As a rule, in dice games, the faces facing upwards are evaluated, for example their number, which is also added when using several dice.

Furthermore, in dice games, especially when using several dice, dice game aids such as dice cups for swirling the dice, dice supports in the form of dice bowls, dice trays, dice plates or the like to limit the ejection area of the dice are used.

The object of the invention is to create a system of the type mentioned at the outset that detects and evaluates stationary dice with a camera in such a way that the symbols to be evaluated, which are usually located on an upper side of the dice, can be displayed in an evaluable manner.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the features of the independent claim.

In a system for recognizing symbols on at least one dice with at least one digital camera for recording an image of the stationary dice, which is connected to a computer device comprising an image evaluation device, the image evaluation device having a storage device with data for recognizing the symbols on the dice of the computer device and an output device for optically and/or acoustically displaying certain recognized symbols of the at least one stationary dice.

With the present system, it is possible using the data stored in the memory device, which relates, for example, to edge distances, the number of possible visible edges or also different symbols of dice such as points, number representations, image representations or the like, using the image evaluation device to create an image of at least one dice to be evaluated in such a way that the symbols arranged on a specific side, usually the top, of the dice are evaluated and/or displayed. Of course, the symbols can also be information in different languages or points of light on the game dice or the game dice themselves light up and thereby provide information or symbols. The perspective from which the picture was taken is irrelevant and it is also not relevant whether the dice or individual dice are lying on a base or are stacked on top of one another or partially cover each other, since the image evaluation device is on adjacent or arbitrarily aligned ones Recognizes symbols arranged on cube surfaces and based on their arrangement draws a conclusion about the symbol arranged, for example, on the top of the game cube. To train the image evaluation device or the computer device, it is possible, for example, to record defined images using the at least one camera and to mark the visible symbols so that they can be evaluated. After a dice has been photographed from all sides and several positions and the symbols have been marked so that they can be evaluated, the image evaluation device can access this data for future recognition and evaluation events. Of course, if only one camera is used, it is also possible to arrange a reflecting element, for example a mirror, in order to produce images of the dice or dice lying in particular on a table top or similar surface and feed them to the evaluation. To simplify the evaluation, the number of dice used can also be stored in the storage device so that they can be queried, in addition to the geometric data of the dice or dice. Of course, any optical device in the form of a lens, for example a so-called fish eye, can be assigned to the camera in order to record images that meet the requirements.

The camera can be positioned anywhere in relation to the dice, for example also under a base, whereby the base can also be made transparent, for example, or an image of the dice or dice can be generated with a mirror for the camera. The camera can be any camera with a CCD chip or a UV camera or a thermal imaging camera or the like.

The computer device comprising the image evaluation device can be directly wired or wirelessly connected to the camera. It is of course included within the scope of the invention that the computer device is part of an external computer, in particular a laptop, smartphone, tablet computer or the like. The data transfer between the individual components takes place according to known standards, for example by means of Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), in W-Lan or the like. Furthermore, of course, at least one accumulator, one battery, one power pack or the like can be provided for the energy supply. Of course, the computer device can be placed anywhere for the evaluation, for example underneath a base used for throwing the dice, such as a table top, or as described below.

The dependent claims represent advantageous developments of the invention.

At least one camera is expediently assigned to a wall of a dice cup or a dice bowl or a bridge spanning the dice bowl or a table tripod.

In one embodiment, several cameras are attached inside the dice cup or on its outer peripheral wall. The dice cup is used in particular in dice games with several dice to twirl them, with the dice either being poured out of the dice cup onto a tabletop, for example, or the dice cup with the dice turned upside down and placed on a tabletop or similar surface in such a way that the free circumference of the dice cup and the dice are on the table top. Usually, with a conventional dice cup, the same is then removed from the tabletop so that the dice are visible to the human eye. The cameras arranged inside the dice cup can take pictures of the dice in their actual position when the dice cup is not lifted from the tabletop or similar documents, which images are evaluated on the image evaluation device to determine the symbols on the upper side in particular and for output on the output device. Here, the cubes can also be stacked or arranged tilted. Particularly in the case of a coupled position of the dice in which no clear upper side can be determined, the surface which comes closest to a position aligned parallel to the underside or the dice support surface is evaluated as the upper side on the image evaluation device. If the dice cup is emptied, the cameras assigned to the outer peripheral wall are used in the same way, recording their images for recognizing, assigning and displaying the symbols according to the number of dice used and their position. Here the dice cup serves as a kind of table tripod.

In order to only take pictures for the evaluation of dice results when the turbulence and thus the dice have been rolled, a motion sensor and/or an acceleration sensor is preferably assigned to the dice cup, which is connected to the computer device for evaluating sensor data controls the cameras to record at least one image when the dice cup is at rest.

In order to produce images of high quality, which can be evaluated relatively easily on the basis of various optically perceptible features, a light source is expediently assigned to the dice cup or the camera, which illuminates when the image is recorded.

In an alternative embodiment, several cameras are arranged on a peripheral wall of the dice shell and/or on the bridge spanning the dice shell. The dice tray is an aid for delimiting the area that is available for throwing the dice, i.e. for throwing or rolling the dice out of your hand or the dice cup. Several cameras arranged on the peripheral wall and/or the bridge deliver images of the dice different perspectives or viewing directions, which can be clearly evaluated on the image evaluation device with regard to the symbols thrown, which can then also be output on the output device in an optically and/or acoustically perceptible manner. It is also possible here to produce several images one after the other, with the image evaluation device determining an end position, ie a rest position, of the cubes.

According to a further development, a vibration sensor is assigned to the dice tray or the table tripod, which is connected to the computer device for evaluating sensor data, which controls the cameras to record at least one image when a signal is present which indicates that the dice are stationary. Accordingly, the amount of image data to be processed is reduced compared to serial image recording. Of course, the recorded scene can also be illuminated here by means of the cube shell, the bridge or the table tripod or the lamps assigned to the cameras.

In order to provide a compact and easy-to-handle unit, the computer device is preferably assigned to the dice cup, the dice tray or the table stand. The computer device with its associated components can be installed, for example, in a false bottom of the dice cup or dice bowl or in another cavity, as well as in a housing of the table stand, together with a voltage/power supply and, if necessary, required Connections or energy storage devices such as accumulators can be accommodated.

Advantageously, the cameras and/or the computer device are wirelessly connected to the output device. Known technology, in particular Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), W-Lan or similar technology or the like, can be used in order to transmit the evaluated and displayed data to a loudspeaker and/or monitor or screen or similar display device, for example.

In a further refinement, dice games can be selected on the computer device and the computer device evaluates the symbols displayed on the upper side of the stationary dice in accordance with the rules and displays the result of the game.

The system, in particular the image evaluation device, can be a learning computer-aided system that can be assigned to what is known as artificial intelligence and that carries out these evaluations more quickly as the number of image evaluations and the results to be assigned increases.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations. The scope of the invention is defined only by the claims.

The invention is explained in more detail below using several exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawing.

• 1 eine erste schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems mit einem Würfelbecher,
• 2 eine zweite schematische Darstellung des Systems nach 1,
• 3 eine perspektivische Darstellung des Würfelbechers,
• 4 eine Schnittdarstellung des Würfelbechers,
• 5 eine dritte schematische Darstellung des Systems nach 1 mit einer eine Brücke umfassenden Würfelschale,
• 6 eine vierte schematische Darstellung des Systems nach 1 mit einer Würfelschale,
• 7 eine fünfte schematische Darstellung des Systems nach 1 mit einer alternativen Würfelschale,
• 8 eine schematische Darstellung der Würfelschale,
• 9 eine schematische Darstellung einer alternativen Würfelschale und
• 10 eine schematische Darstellung eines Tischstativs.

It shows:

• 1 a first schematic representation of a system according to the invention with a dice cup,
• 2 a second schematic representation of the system 1 ,
• 3 a perspective view of the dice cup,
• 4 a sectional view of the dice cup,
• 5 a third schematic representation of the system 1 with a dice shell encompassing a bridge,
• 6 a fourth schematic representation of the system 1 with a dice bowl,
• 7 a fifth schematic representation of the system 1 with an alternative dice shell,
• 8th a schematic representation of the dice shell,
• 9 a schematic representation of an alternative dice shell and
• 10 a schematic representation of a table tripod.

The present system is used to recognize symbols on at least one game dice 1. The game dice can be classic game dice 1 with six symbols 2 having faces 3 or any polyhedral game dice 1, for example three, four, five, eight, ten , twelve, twenty, thirty or 100 symbols 2 bearing surfaces 3 have. As symbols 2 points can be applied to the surfaces 3 as in a classic dice 1 or Roman or Latin numbers or letters, images, color elements, luminous elements, characters or similar characters.

At least one camera 4 is provided for detecting or capturing the dice 1, which of course supplies digital images and, for example, on a handheld device, which is designed as a table stand 6 comprising a housing 5, a dice cup 7 or a dice tray 8 or a bridge 9 spanning the dice tray 8 on the upper side or a holder 10 extending from the dice tray 8 on the upper side. The camera 4 can also be installed in a dice tray 8 on the bottom, in particular in a transparent bottom of the dice tray 8 . Of course, the camera 4 can be assigned an optical device, for example a lens in the form of a fish eye or a mirror of the like. In order to provide images from several different directions and/or a larger environment, several cameras 4 are provided, which can be installed, for example, in the case of the table tripod 6 in the peripheral housing surfaces 11, in the case of the dice cup 7 both inside and outside, in particular on the peripheral surface 12, and are distributed in the case of the dice tray 8 over its peripheral band 13 and/or over the bridge 9 or the holder 10 and/or a tray base 22, which can also be made transparent. In order to provide a high-quality image, the dice cup 7 and/or at least one of the cameras 4 is assigned a light source 20, for example a light-emitting diode or a light band, at least inside the dice cup 7, with illumination on the outside of the dice cup 7 and the band 13 the dice tray 8 is also conceivable to illuminate the environment.

The cameras 4 are connected to a computer device 14 which, in addition to a computer unit 15 and a storage device 16, generates an image evaluation device 17 includes. Furthermore, an optical and/or acoustic output device 18 is connected to the computer device 14 . The computer device 14 can be part of an external device such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop, a personal computer, a games console or the like or can be integrated into the dice cup 7 , the dice tray 8 or the table stand 6 . For this purpose, for example, a free space is provided in a base 24 of the dice cup 7 or the dice shell 8 or in the housing 5 of the table stand 6, in which, for example, a battery 19 with associated charging technology, which is particularly inductive, for example, according to a Ql standard or by means of a Charging socket 21 is working, is installed to supply power to the cameras 4 and/or the computer device 14, although charging indicator lights 26 can of course also be provided. The connection between the cameras 4 and the internal computer device 14, i.e. the one assigned to the dice cup 7, the dice tray 8 or the table tripod 6, or the external computer device 14 is made in any way, either wired or via air interfaces such as Bluetooth, infrared, W-Lan, WI-FI or Near Field Communication (NFC). In order to prevent incorrect operation, the base 24 is surrounded by an edge 25 and has an indicator light 29 for a successful connection, for example via Bluetooth.

In order to enable an image to be generated at the end of a dice roll when the dice 1 are stationary, the dice cup 7 is assigned a motion sensor 22 and/or an acceleration sensor, which is connected to the computer device 14 for evaluating sensor data and which, when the dice cup 7 is in the idle state, the cameras 4 controls to take at least one picture. For the same purpose, a vibration sensor 23 is assigned to the dice tray 8 or the table stand 6, which is connected to the computer device 14 for the evaluation of sensor data controls image.

To use the system, the power supply for the electrical/electronic components is switched on by means of a switch 27 and the dice are rolled.

When using the dice cup 7 , after the dice 1 have been twirled, they can either be emptied out of the dice cup 7 , for example onto a surface such as a tabletop or the like, or into the dice tray 8 . The dice cup 7 is then placed on the base and the cameras 4 on the outside produce images, with the light source 20 on the outside being switched on to illuminate the surroundings depending on the existing brightness, which can be measured. The images or image data produced are transmitted to the image evaluation device 17 for evaluation. The storage device 16 contains basic information about various types of dice 1, such as edge lengths, number of faces, arrangement of symbols and the like, which the image evaluation device 17 accesses. Since the symbol on the upper side of the dice 1 is valid and possibly countable in a conventional dice game, the image evaluation device 17 evaluates the image data of the dice 1 in order to determine the symbol 2 on the upper side. Here it is possible, if the upper side is not recognizable or not clearly evaluable on the image, on the basis of the recognized symbols 2 on the circumference of the dice 1 it is possible to infer the symbol 2 on the upper side. This symbol 2 on the upper surface 3 of one or more dice 1 is transmitted from the computer device 14 to the output device 18 and either a voice output takes place via a loudspeaker 28, which can also be integrated in the dice cup 7 or in the dice tray, or it is an image is shown on a display which, for example, is enlarged and displayed to a number of viewers or players.

Alternatively, there is the possibility of leaving the dice 1 covered by the dice cup 7 after it has been twirled and evaluating the position of the dice 1 . In this case, the dice cup 7 is placed with its free edge 24 on the base and when a sensor signal is present, which indicates that the dice cup 7 is stationary, the cameras 4 record at least one image inside the dice cup 7, the image data of which is transmitted to the image evaluation device 17 be transmitted. Since the image evaluation device 17 can assign symbols 2 on the top of individual dice 1 using symbols 2 on the circumference that are recognizable, it is irrelevant if the dice 1 are stacked in the dice cup 7 . In order to improve the evaluation, it may be possible to position the cameras in different planes at different angles to one another. Furthermore, the evaluation speed can be increased by the specified information, which also includes, for example, the number of dice 1 used, the system being designed as a learning system that stores specific data and accesses this data the next time the dice are rolled.

The table tripod 6 is also placed on the base and the cameras 4 arranged in the housing 5 capture the dice lying on the base and transmit the corresponding image data to the image evaluation device 17 for the evaluation already explained.

When using the dice tray 8, the area in which the dice can roll is limited, which also limits the area to be evaluated, which the cameras 4 in the barrier 13 and/or the bridge 9 and/or the holder 10 record from different positions . The cameras 4 provided here also provide the image evaluation device with the image data for determining the symbol on the upper side of the stationary dice 4 and displaying the symbol or all symbols 2 that have been rolled by means of the output device 18. The dice tray 8 can also be equipped with a tower-like feed in which the Game cubes slide along 4 inclined planes and get twirled, be coupled. Such dice shells 8 are commercially available as so-called dice towers. In such a configuration, the tower can form the holder 10 for at least one camera 4, with further cameras 4 also being able to be accommodated in the band of the dice shell 8.

Of course, an evaluation is also possible if the dice 4 are not lying flat on a base and/or if the base is uneven.

Furthermore, all electrical/electronic components can be coupled to accumulators with associated charging technology, in particular inductively, for example according to the QI standard.

Reference List

1

game dice

2

symbol

3

Surface

4

camera

5

Housing

6

table tripod

7

dice cup

8th

dice bowl

9

Bridge

10

holder

11

housing surface

12

peripheral surface

13

band

14

computer setup

15

computing unit

16

storage facility

17

image evaluation device

18

output device

19

accumulator

20

light source

21

charging socket

22

motion sensor

23

shock sensor

24

floor

25

edge

26

charging indicator light

27

Switch

28

speaker

29

indicator light

Claims (12)

System for recognizing symbols (2) on at least one dice (1) with at least one digital camera (4) for recording an image of the stationary dice (1), which is connected to a computer device (14) comprising an image evaluation device (17), wherein the image evaluation device (17) has a storage device (16) with data for recognizing the symbols (2) on the dice (1) of the computer device (14) and an output device (18) for the optical and/or acoustic representation of certain recognized symbols (2 ) of the at least one stationary dice (1) is coupled. system after claim 1 , characterized in that at least one camera (4) is associated with a wall of a dice cup (7) or a dice tray (8) or a bridge (9) spanning the dice tray (8) or a table tripod (6). system after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the camera (4) is assigned at least one mirror for generating a second image. system according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that several cameras (4) are mounted inside the dice cup (7) or on its outer peripheral wall. system according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the dice cup (7) is assigned a motion sensor (22) and/or an acceleration sensor which is connected to the computer device (14) for the purpose of evaluating sensor data of the dice cup (7) controls the cameras (4) to record at least one image. system according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the dice cup (7) or the camera (4) is assigned a light source (20) which lights up when the picture is taken. system after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that several cameras (4) are arranged on a peripheral wall of the dice shell (8) and/or on the bridge (9) spanning the dice shell (8). system after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the dice tray (8) or the table stand (6) is assigned a vibration sensor (23) which is connected to the computer device (14) for the evaluation of sensor data, which when a signal is present which indicates stationary dice ( 1) can be closed, the cameras (4) controls to take at least one picture. system according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the computer device (14) is assigned to the dice cup (7), the dice tray (8) or the table stand (6). system according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the cameras (4) and/or the computer device (14) are wirelessly connected to the output device (18). system according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the output device (18) comprises a screen and/or a loudspeaker. system according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that dice games can be selected on the computer device (14) and the computer device (14) evaluates the symbols (2) displayed on the upper side of the stationary dice (1) in accordance with the rules and displays the game result.

Images