SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CONTAINER SPECIAL EFFECTS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/672,079, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CONTAINER SPECIAL EFFECTS” and filed Jul. 16, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of interactive and visual guest experiences. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for providing special effects on food/beverage containers (e.g., vessels, receptacles, and so forth).

An amusement park or other entertainment venue may include a variety of features to entertain guests or patrons. As an example, the amusement park may have various attractions, which may include a ride, a performance, a decoration or prop, and so forth. Guests may also be entertained by purchasing or otherwise acquiring various items or objects (e.g., souvenirs) from the amusement park such as a gift, a container, a memento, an award, or the like. With the increasing sophistication and complexity of amusement park features, and the corresponding increase in expectations among amusement park guests, improved and more creative ways of entertaining the guests are desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the subject matter may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

In an embodiment, a food/beverage container includes one or more sensors configured to detect a change in a capacitance associated with a food/beverage substance in or on the food/beverage container caused by contact between the food/beverage substance and an external capacitive object. The food/beverage container also includes a special effects system configured to generate one or more special effects for the food/beverage container. The special effects system includes a processing system and a memory, the memory encoded with instructions configured to be executed by the processing system to cause the special effects system to receive sensor data indicative of the change in the capacitance; to determine the one or more special effects to be generated by the food/beverage container based on the sensor data; and to generate the one or more special effects on the food/beverage container.

In addition, in an embodiment, a food/beverage container includes special effects circuitry consisting essentially of one or more special effects devices configured to output one or more special effects, a circuit board, a power source, one or more sensors to detect a capacitance level caused by contact between the food/beverage substance and an external capacitive object, one or more resistors, and a controller configured to receive sensor data indicative of the capacitance level via the one or more sensors and to output the one or more special effects via the one or more special effects devices based at least in part on the sensor data.

In addition, in an embodiment, a special effects system includes one or more sensors configured to detect a change in a capacitance level associated with food being supported by a food container. The special effects system also includes a controller having processing circuitry configured to receive sensor data indicative of the change in the capacitance level, determine one or more special effects based on the sensor data, and generate the one or more special effects via one or more audio devices, one or more light sources, one or more haptic devices, or any combination thereof, of the food container.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example food/beverage container, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the food/beverage container including a special effects system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an example illustration of a guest consuming a food/beverage substance from the food/beverage container to activate special effects of the special effects system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an example illustration of the food/beverage container in a first configuration at a first time and a second configuration at a second time, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is schematic diagram of the special effects system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example food/beverage container including the special effects system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

The present disclosure is directed to a food/beverage container (e.g., vessel, receptacle, and so forth, which may contain or support food and/or beverages) that includes a special effects system to provide (e.g., output) special effects on the food/beverage container. The food/beverage container may include one or more sensors (e.g., capacitive sensors) to detect (e.g., measure) a capacitance level of a food/beverage substance (e.g., liquid, solid food, and so forth) within or carried on the food/beverage container. In one embodiment, the capacitance level through the food/beverage container may include an initial capacitance range (e.g., a baseline capacitance range) when the food/beverage container is empty or filled with (or carrying) the substance. When an object (e.g., a capacitive object) is in contact with the substance, the one or more sensors may detect an increase (e.g., above the initial capacitance range) of the capacitance level.

As an example, the food/beverage container may be a beverage container filled with liquid. A guest may consume the liquid within the beverage container by raising the beverage container to their mouth to enable contact with the liquid. Therefore, a capacitance level of the guest may affect a total capacitance level of the liquid, the beverage container, and the guest. As such, the one or more sensors may detect the change (e.g., the increase) of the capacitance level and provide sensor data to the special effects system (e.g., a controller of the special effects system) to cause activation of one or more special effects of the food/beverage container via the special effects system in response to the detected change of the capacitance level.

The special effects system may include one or more light sources, one or more haptic devices, one or more audio devices (e.g., speakers), and/or other special effects features. Therefore, the special effects system may provide the special effects by activating (e.g., creating, generating) one or more light sources to provide one or more visual effects, one or more haptic devices to provide one or more haptic effects (e.g., vibration), and/or one or more audio devices to provide one or more audio effects based on the change in the capacitance level. As an example, the special effects system may instruct the one or more lights to light up and the one or more haptic devices to vibrate in response to the change in the capacitance level. It will be appreciated that any combination of special effects may be caused to occur in response to detection of the change in the capacitance level. Furthermore, it will also be appreciated that the special effects system may also be configured to discontinue the special effects (e.g., turn off the one or more light sources, cease vibration generated by the one or more haptic devices, stop playing audio effects via the one or more audio devices, and so forth) upon detection that the capacitance level has returned to the initial capacitance range.

In one embodiment, the food/beverage container may be a food container, such as a plate. The capacitive level of the food container may change based on placement of the food container on a surface (e.g., a table). For example, the surface may include one or more capacitive pads. The guest may place the food container on at least a portion of one of the one or more capacitive pads, which may cause the change in the capacitance level. In one embodiment, the capacitive level of the food container may change based on the guest contacting the food container either directly or indirectly (e.g., via a utensil, such as a fork, spoon, knife, and so forth). The one or more sensors may detect the change in the capacitance level and provide the sensor data to the special effects system to cause the one or more special effects of the food container. As such, the special effects system may improve guest experiences, create enjoyment, or enhance a narrative part of an immersive environment.

With the foregoing in mind, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example food/beverage container 10, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is a beverage container 10, which may include an amount of liquid. However, other types of food/beverage containers may utilize the special effects systems described herein. As described in greater detail herein, the beverage container 10 may include a special effects system to provide special effects via the beverage container 10. For example, the special effects may include one or more visual effects, one or more haptic effects, one or more audio effects, and/or any other suitable special effects. As will be described in further detail herein, the special effects system may activate the special effects based on contact of an object (e.g., a capacitive object) with a substance disposed within the beverage container 10.

The guest may interact with the beverage container 10 by drinking the liquid from the beverage container 10 or by positioning an extremity (e.g., finger, hand, and so forth) within the liquid. A capacitance level of the guest may affect the total capacitance level of the liquid within the beverage container 10, the beverage container 10, and the guest, thereby causing activation of the special effects system to provide the special effects. Additional details related to providing the special effects via the beverage container 10 will be described in further detail below with regards to FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the beverage container 10 including a special effects system 12, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The beverage container 10 may include one or more sensors 14. The one or more sensors 14 may include capacitive sensors and may be positioned at or adjacent a food/beverage substance (e.g., liquid, food, or other consumable) disposed within the beverage container 10 to detect a change in capacitance of the food/beverage substance within the beverage container 10, the beverage container 10, and an object (e.g., capacitive object) in physical contact with the food/beverage substance. Indeed, the change in capacitance may be caused by direct contact with the guest or contact with a conductive object (e.g., a utensil, such as a fork, spoon, knife, and so forth) being held by the guest. The one or more sensors 14 may be communicatively coupled (e.g., wired or wirelessly) to the special effects system 12. Therefore, the one or more sensors 14 may provide (e.g., transmit) sensor data indicative of a change in capacitance to the special effects system 12 to enable activation of the one or more special effects, as described in greater detail herein. In one embodiment, the one or more sensors 14 may be a part of the special effects system 12 of the beverage container 10. It should be noted that while the guest or the utensil are described herein, any suitable item or object having capacitance may activate the special effects system 12.

It should be noted that while the one or more sensors 14 are described herein as including capacitive sensors, in other embodiments, the one or more sensors 14 may also include various other types of sensors. For example, the one or more sensors 14 may include any number of resistive sensors, force sensors, motion (e.g., movement) sensors, vibration sensors, switches, light (e.g., ambient light) sensors, and so forth. In this manner, the special effects system 12 may employ any of the various types of sensors to detect a change to the food/beverage substance and/or the food/beverage container 10. As a non-limiting example, a vibration sensor may detect a change to the food/beverage substance based on vibrations in a container wall of the food/beverage container 10 (e.g., in response to the food/beverage substance being moved, stirred, shaken, sloshed). In such embodiments, the special effects system 12 may activate the one or more special effects in response to the detected change based on the vibrations. As another non-limiting example, a light sensor may detect a change in an amount of light hitting its surface. Thus, if a hand of the guest or any other suitable object is near the light sensor, then the amount of light may decrease, enabling the light sensor to detect the change in the amount of light. As such, the special effects system 12 may activate the one or more special effects in response to the detected change based on the amount of light.

The special effects system 12 may include a controller 16, which includes one or more processors 18 (referred to herein as a processor or processing system for convenience) and memory 20. The processor 18 may be any type of computer processor or microprocessor capable of executing computer-executable code. The processor 18 may also include multiple processors, processing circuitry, or a processing system that may perform the operations described herein.

The memory 20 may include a volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM), and/or a nonvolatile memory (ROM). The memory 20 may store a variety of information and may be used for various purposes. For example, the memory 20 may store processor-executable instructions, such as instructions for activating components of the special effects system 12. The memory 20 may also include flash memory, or any suitable optical, magnetic, or solid-state storage medium, or a combination thereof. The memory 20 may store data, instructions (e.g., software or firmware for controlling the special effects), and any other suitable information.

The special effects system 12 may include one or more light sources 22, one or more audio devices 24, and/or one or more haptic devices 26. The one or more light sources 22 may include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), LED strips, lasers, incandescent lights, and/or any other suitable light source. The one or more audio devices 24 may include speakers, headphones, earphones, and/or any other suitable device designed to produce sound. The one or more haptic devices 26 may include haptic feedback devices (e.g., to produce vibration), thermal feedback devices (e.g., to adjust temperature), and/or any other suitable haptic device designed to provide physical sensation to the guest. The controller 16 may receive the sensor data from the one or more sensors 14 and instruct the one or more light sources 22, the one or more audio devices 24, and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 to provide special effects based on the sensor data.

FIG. 3 is an example illustration of a guest 28 consuming a substance 30 from the beverage container 10 to activate the special effects system 12 (FIG. 2), in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Indeed, the beverage container 10 may include the substance 30, such as a liquid substance. The guest 28 may raise and/or tilt the beverage container 10 to their mouth to enable contact with the substance 30 for consumption. As the guest 28 contacts the substance 30, a capacitance level of the guest 28 may affect a total capacitance level of the substance 30, the beverage container 10, and the guest 28. Indeed, for example, the capacitance level of the guest 28 may increase the total capacitance level. The one or more sensors 14 (FIG. 2) may detect the change of the total capacitance level and provide the sensor data to the controller 16 (FIG. 2). The controller 16 may then instruct the one or more light sources 22 (FIG. 2) to provide one or more visual effects 32, may instruct the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2) to provide one or more audio effects 34, and/or may instruct the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2) to provide one or more haptic effects 36 based on the sensor data.

In one embodiment, the special effects system 12 (FIG. 2) may provide the one or more special effects based on a type of the substance 30 and/or the capacitance level of the substance 30. For example, the special effects system 12 may provide a first set of special effects based on a first type of liquid (e.g., having a first expected capacitance level or expected capacitance level range) and a second set of special effects based on a second type of liquid (e.g., having a second expected capacitance level or expected capacitance level range). As another example, the special effects system 12 may provide the first set of special effects based on a first capacitance level of the first type of liquid and the second set of special effects based on a second capacitance level of the first type of liquid (e.g., based on an increase or decrease of the capacitance level of the substance 30).

FIG. 4 is an example illustration of the beverage container 10 in a first configuration 40 at a first time and a second configuration 42 at a second time, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In the first configuration 40, the one or more light sources 22 (FIG. 2), the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2), and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2) may be turned off (e.g., inactive, deactivated). That is, the capacitance level of the substance 30 may be consistent (e.g., unchanged) or nearly consistent. For example, the capacitance level of the substance 30 may be constant based on a lack of contact of the guest 28 with the substance 30. Accordingly, the special effects system 12 may not cause activation of the one or more light sources 22 (FIG. 2), the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2), and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2). In one embodiment, the capacitance level of the substance 30 in the first configuration 40 may be within an initial capacitance range (e.g., a baseline capacitance range) expected for the particular substance 30.

In one embodiment, the beverage container 10 may include an on/off switch mounted on and/or accessible from an outer surface of the beverage container 10. In this manner, when the switch is toggled on, a power supply (e.g., portable power supply, such as batteries; wired power supplies) of the beverage container 10 may provide power to the one or more light sources (FIG. 2), the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2), and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2). Alternatively, when the switch is toggled off, the power supply of the beverage container 10 may cease providing power to the one or more light sources (FIG. 2), the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2), and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2). In this manner, the guest 28 may operate the on/off switch to toggle the special effects provided by the one or more light sources (FIG. 2), the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2), and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2) on and off.

In the second configuration 42, the one or more light sources 22 (FIG. 2), the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2), and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2) may be turned on (e.g., activated). That is, the one or more sensors 14 may detect a change in the total capacitance level of the substance 30, the beverage container 10, and the guest 28 based on contact with the guest 28 (e.g., contact with a mouth of the guest 28 with the substance 30; insertion of an extremity, such as a finger 44, of the guest 28 into the substance 30; and so forth). Indeed, the special effects system 12 (FIG. 2) may instruct activation of the one or light sources 22 (FIG. 2), the one or more audio devices 24 (FIG. 2), and/or the one or more haptic devices 26 (FIG. 2) based on the sensor data being indicative of a change of the total capacitance level above or outside of the initial capacitance range.

In certain embodiments, the special effects system 12 may be calibrated to be in a default state, where no special effects are currently being activated. For example, while the beverage container 10 is empty, the special effects system 12 may know that the beverage container 10 has a baseline capacitance level corresponding to the beverage container 10 being empty. It will be appreciated that the circuitry of the special effects system 12 may be calibrated with such a baseline capacitance level in the empty state at the time of manufacture. Then, when the beverage container 10 is in the first configuration 40 and filled with the liquid substance 30, the circuity of the special effects system 12 may determine the initial capacitance range by, for example, identifying that the capacitance level of the beverage container 10 is different than the baseline capacitance level by more than a threshold amount for at least a threshold level of time, which thereby indicates that there is a certain amount of the liquid substance 30 in the beverage container 10. At this point, the circuitry of the special effects system 12 may set the detected capacitance level (or detected capacitance level range, if there are variations, for example, to the liquid substance 30 moving around slightly) as the initial capacitance level (or initial capacitance level range).

In certain embodiments, the circuitry of the special effects system 12 (FIG. 2) may be configured to set an initial capacitance level range (e.g., centered around the detected initial capacitance level) even when the detected initial capacitance level is relatively constant. Determining such an initial capacitance level range (as opposed to a single initial capacitance level) enables the circuitry of the special effects system 12 to more accurately determine when relatively significant variations of detected capacitance away from the initial capacitance level range occur (e.g., when an external capacitive object comes into contact with the liquid substance 30, as illustrated by the second configuration 42 in FIG. 5) as well as more accurately determining when the detected capacitance level returns to being relatively close to the initial capacitance level range (e.g., indicating that the external capacitive object has been removed from physical contact with the liquid substance 30, as illustrated by the first configuration 40 in FIG. 4).

Subsequently, any significant variations in capacitance level from the initial capacitance level (or initial capacitance level range) detected by the circuitry of the special effects system 12 (FIG. 2) will indicate to the special effects system 12 that an external capacitive object (e.g., mouth of a guest 28, the finger 44 of the guest 28, a utensil held by the guest 28, and so forth) has come into physical contact with the liquid substance 30, as illustrated by the second configuration 42, and the special effects system 12 should cause one or more of the special effects to be activated, as described in greater detail herein. Then, once the external capacitive object has been removed from physical contact with the liquid substance 30, the circuitry of the special effects system 12 may determine when a detected capacitance level returns to relatively close to the initial capacitance level (or initial capacitance level range), for example, within a threshold amount. At this point, the special effects system 12 may cause the activated special effects to be discontinued (e.g., deactivated).

With the foregoing in mind, FIG. 5 is an example illustration of one or more components (e.g., circuitry) of the special effects system 12, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the one or more components may include a circuit board 60 (e.g., breadboard), the controller 16 (e.g., Arduino Uno), a power source 62 (e.g., 9-volt battery), the one or more sensors 14 (e.g., including conductive material), one or more resistors 64, the one or more audio devices 24, and/or the one or more light sources 22 (e.g., NeoPixel Ring, 12×5050 red, blue, green, white (RBGW) LEDs). It should be noted that the one or more components described herein are merely illustrative, and any other suitable components may be included in the special effects system 12 to activate the one or more special effects for presentation via the beverage container 10 (FIG. 1). Additionally, it should be noted that each of the one or more components may be a part of the special effects system 12 and/or the beverage container 10.

In certain embodiments, the special effects system 12 may comprise the components illustrated in FIG. 5. In other words, the special effects circuitry of the special effects system 12 that enable the special effects described herein may be relatively simple, only including the components illustrated in FIG. 5. For example, specific tuning of the circuitry (e.g., selection of specific resistors 64 and/or characteristics of the circuit board 60) may enable the special effects system 12 to generate specific special effects without the need for relatively complex computational processing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example food/beverage container 50 including the special effects system 12 (FIG. 2), in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The food/beverage container 50 illustrated in FIG. 6 is a food container (e.g., plate) configured to support food. The food container 50 may include substantially similar components as the components of the beverage container 10 (FIG. 1) described herein.

For example, the food container 50 (e.g., plate, bowl, and so forth) may also include the one or more sensors 14 (FIG. 2) and may be located within a venue (e.g., a food and beverage venue). Moreover, the food container 50 may be placed on a surface 54 (e.g., table surface) within the venue, which includes one or more pads 56 (e.g., capacitive pads). The special effects system 12 (FIG. 2) may activate the one or more special effects described herein in response to placement of the food container 50 on at least a portion of one of the one or more pads 56 on the surface 54. Indeed, the special effects system 12 may activate based on contact between the one or more sensors 14 and the one or more pads 56. That is, the one or more sensors 14 may detect the change in a capacitance level based on contact of the food container 50 with the one or more pads 56 and provide sensor data indicative of the change in capacitance level to the special effects system 12 to cause activation of the one or more special effects, as described in greater detail herein. In one embodiment, the special effects system 12 may activate a first set of special effects based on placement of the food container 50 on a first pad 56 of the one or more pads 56 and a second set of special effects based on placement of the food container 50 on a second pad 56 of the one or more pads 56.

In one embodiment, the guest 28 (FIG. 3) may hold a utensil 52 (e.g., fork, spoon, knife, and so forth) and contact the food container 50 and/or food 58 (e.g., as another type of food/beverage substance) supported by the food container 50 with the utensil 52. In certain embodiments, the utensil 52 may include a conductive material (e.g., metal). Thus, contact of the guest 28 with the food container 50 via the utensil 52 may create an electrical connection between the food container 50 and the utensil 52, which may cause the increase in the capacitance level detected (e.g., measured) by the one or more sensors 14 (FIG. 2). The special effects system 12 (FIG. 2) may then activate the one or more special effects based on the sensor data indicative of the change.

While only certain features of the disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for (perform)ing (a function) . . . ” or “step for (perform)ing (a function) . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).