Vibration control system, vibration control apparatus, storage medium and vibration control method

• US 10,639,546 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamashita, Kei, Aoki, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US15/867,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20180200620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing

Abstract

A non-limiting example game apparatus comprises a main body apparatus functions as a vibration control apparatus and a first controller and a second controller that are attachable to or detachable from the main body apparatus. For example, the game apparatus is used in a first mode that two controller are attached to the main body apparatus, a second mode that the two controllers are detached from the main body apparatus and used independently, a third mode that the two controllers are detached from the main body apparatus and used with being connected integrally to each other, or a fourth mode that a third controller different from the two controllers is used. A vibration source and a reception portion of the vibration are set in a virtual space, and vibration generated from the vibration source is conveyed to the reception portion with being attenuated according to a situation in the virtual space. Attenuated vibration is generated in a vibration portion of the first or third controller, and attenuated vibration is generated in a vibration portion of the second or third controller.

Claims

1. A vibration control system including a processor operatively connected to first and second vibration actuators arranged on left and right when in use, the processor generating control signals that make the first and second vibration actuators vibrate, the processor configured to provide elements comprising:

a vibration source arrangement portion configured to arrange a vibration source in a virtual space;

a vibration data generation portion configured to generate vibration data corresponding to vibration that is generated from the vibration source;

a reception portion setting portion configured to set in the virtual space first and second reception portions each configured to receive the vibration from the vibration source, the reception portion setting portion being configured to set the first and second reception portions in the virtual space corresponding to the first and second vibration actuators, respectively, the first and second reception portions being arranged corresponding to left and right of an object comprising a virtual player;

a changing portion configured to change the vibration data that is generated by the vibration data generation portion based on a space situation between the vibration source that is arranged by the vibration source arrangement portion and the first and second reception portions that are set by the reception portion setting portion, the changing portion being configured to generate first changed vibration data obtained by changing the vibration data that is generated by the vibration data generation portion based on the space situation between the vibration source and the first reception portion, and to generate second changed vibration data obtained by changing the vibration data that is generated by the vibration data generation portion based on the space situation between the vibration source and the second reception portion; and

a vibration control portion configured to make the vibration actuators vibrate according to the vibration data that is changed by the changing portion, the vibration control portion being configured to make the first vibration actuator vibrate according to the first changed vibration data, and to make the second vibration actuator vibrate according to the second changed vibration data;

the reception portion setting portion being further configured to set a third reception portion other than the first and second reception portions on the virtual player, and

the changing portion being further configured to further change the vibration data having been changed based on the space situation between the vibration source and the first and second reception portions based on a space situation between at least one of the first and second reception portions and the third reception portion.

2. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the vibration source corresponds to a further object that is arranged in the virtual space.

3. The vibration control system according to claim 1, further comprising a player object arrangement portion configured to arrange in the virtual space a player object that is moved in the virtual space according to an operation of a player, wherein

the reception portion setting portion is configured to set the first and second reception portions in relation to the player object that is arranged by the player object arrangement portion.

4. The vibration control system according to claim 3, wherein the changing portion is configured to change the vibration data according to a state of the player object.

5. The vibration control system according to claim 3, wherein the changing portion is configured to change a changing rate of the vibration data according to a state of the player object.

6. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the vibration source arrangement portion is configured to arrange a plurality of vibration sources in the virtual space, and the vibration data generation portion is configured to generate the vibration data corresponding to vibration that is generated from each of the plurality of vibration sources, and the changing portion is configured to change each vibration data based on the space situation between each of the plurality of vibration sources and the first and second reception portions, further comprising a synthesizing portion configured to synthesize each changed vibration data with each other, wherein

the vibration control portion is configured to make the first and second vibration actuators vibrate based on the vibration data that is synthesized by the synthesizing portion.

7. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the object is a virtual camera.

8. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the changing portion is configured to change the vibration data so that a difference between the vibration that is received by the first reception portion and the vibration that is received by the second reception portion becomes large.

9. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the space situation includes a medium between the vibration source and the first and second reception portions, and the changing portion is configured to change a changing rate of the vibration data according to the medium.

10. The vibration control system according to claim 1, wherein the vibration data is data about a set of values of a frequency and an amplitude of a vibration waveform, and

the changing portion is configured to change at least one of the frequency and the amplitude according to a space situation.

11. The vibration control system according to claim 10, wherein the changing portion is configured to change a changing rate of the amplitude according to a frequency.

12. A vibration control apparatus including a processor operatively connected to first and second vibration actuators arranged on left and right when in use, the processor generating control signals that make the first and second vibration actuators vibrate, the processor configured to perform operations comprising:

arrange a vibration source in a virtual space;

generate vibration data corresponding to vibration that is generated from the vibration source;

set in the virtual space first and second virtual receivers each configured to receive the vibration from the vibration source, including set the first and second virtual receivers in the virtual space corresponding to the first and second vibration actuators, respectively, and arrange the first and second virtual receivers corresponding to left and right of an object comprising a virtual player;

change the vibration data that is generated by the vibration data generation portion based on a space situation between the vibration source and the first and second virtual receivers, including generate first changed vibration data obtained by changing the generated vibration data based on the space situation between the vibration source and the first virtual receiver, and generate second changed vibration data obtained by changing the generated vibration data based on the space situation between the vibration source and the second virtual receiver; and

make the vibration actuators vibrate according to the changed vibration data, including make the first vibration actuator vibrate according to the first changed vibration data, and make the second vibration actuator vibrate according to the second changed vibration data;

set a third virtual receiver other than the first and second virtual receivers on the virtual player, and

change the vibration data having been changed based on the space situation between the vibration source and the first and second virtual receivers based on a space situation between at least one of the first and second virtual receivers and the third virtual receiver.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a vibration control program executable by a computer, wherein the vibration control program causes one or more processors of the computer to perform operations comprising:

arranging a vibration source in a virtual space;

generating vibration data corresponding to vibration that is generated from the vibration source;

setting in the virtual space two receivers each configured to receive the vibration from the vibration source;

changing the generated vibration data based on a space situation between the vibration source and the receivers;

making two vibration portions, configured to be arranged on left and right when in use, vibrate according to the changed vibration data;

set the two receivers in the virtual space corresponding to the two vibration portions, respectively;

generate first changed vibration data obtained by changing the generated vibration data based on the space situation between the vibration source and one of the two receivers, and generate second changed vibration data obtained by changing the generated vibration data based on the space situation between the vibration source and the other of the two receivers;

make one of the two vibration portions vibrate according to the first changed vibration data, and the other of the two vibration portions vibrate according to the second changed vibration data;

arrange the two receivers corresponding to left and right of a second object comprising a virtual player;

set a further receiver other than the two receivers on the virtual player; and

further change the already-changed vibration data based on a space situation between at least one of the first and second receivers and the further receiver.

14. The storage medium of claim 13 wherein the first vibration portion comprises a first vibration actuator, and the second vibration portion comprises a second vibration actuator.

15. A vibration control method, comprising steps of:

(a) arranging a vibration source in a virtual space;

(b) generating vibration data corresponding to vibration that is generated from the vibration source;

(c) setting in the virtual space a reception portion configured to receive the vibration from the vibration source;

(d) changing the vibration data that is generated in the step (b) based on a space situation between the vibration source that is arranged in the step (a) and the reception portion that is set in the step (c);

(e) making two vibration portions vibrate according to the vibration data that is changed by the step (d), the two vibration portions configured to be arranged on left and right when in use;

(f) set the two reception portions in the virtual space corresponding to the two vibration portions, respectively;

(g) generate first changed vibration data obtained by changing the generated vibration data based on the space situation between the vibration source and one of the two reception portions;

(h) generate second changed vibration data obtained by changing the generated vibration data based on the space situation between the vibration source and the other of the two reception portions;

(i) make one of the two vibration portions vibrate according to the first changed vibration data, and the other of the two vibration portions vibrate according to the second changed vibration data;

(j) arranging the two reception portions corresponding to left and right of a second object, wherein the second object is a virtual player,

(k) set a further reception portion other than the two reception portions on the virtual player; and

(l) further change the vibration data having been changed based on the space situation between the vibration source and the reception portion based on a space situation between the reception portion and the further reception portion.

16. The vibration control method of claim 15 wherein the first vibration portion comprises a first vibration actuator that vibrates a player'"'"'s left hand, and the second vibration portion comprises a second vibration actuator that vibrates the player'"'"'s right hand, and the first, second and third reception portions comprise virtual receivers.