Orientation detection marker, orientation detection device and video game decive

• US 20030032478A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Honda, Hiroki, Takahama, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

The invention provides an orientation detection marker having a simple structure and capable of providing information enabling the remote measurement of the orientation of a controller. Light source unit 13 (orientation detection marker) provides so-called biaxial direction information composed of one axis on which dotted light sources 131 to 133 are disposed at equal intervals and another axis on which dotted light sources 131, 134 and 135 are disposed at the same interval as the above intervals and which intersects with the aforementioned one axis at the dotted light source 131 or the like.

Claims

1. An orientation detection marker which is provided in either one of a device main body and a controller for performing input operations as being pointed to a screen of a display unit provided to the device main body for displaying images, for detecting the orientation of the controller with respect to the screen, and which supplies information for computing said orientation to a picture image generated by imaging means provided in the other of the device main body and the controller, wherein said orientation detection marker comprising a light source having a mode including biaxial direction information.

2. An orientation detection marker according to claim 1, wherein the two axes of said biaxial direction are orthogonal to each other.

3. An orientation detection marker according to claim 1, wherein said light source is formed of a plurality of dotted light sources.

4. An orientation detection marker according to claim 1, wherein said light source emits light of a specific color.

5. An orientation detection marker according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of dotted light sources are formed by first and second light source units for specifying first two points and second two points separated by a prescribed dimension on one axis and a third light source unit for specifying third two points separated by a prescribed dimension on the other axis being disposed on the orientation detection marker mounting section for mounting said orientation detection marker.

6. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, wherein the dimension between said first two points and the dimension between said second two points are set to be equal.

7. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, wherein said first and second light source units share the inner two dotted light sources on the axis.

8. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, wherein one of said dotted light sources is provided for common use at the intersecting point of the two axes.

9. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, further comprising a fourth light source unit for specifying fourth two points separated by a prescribed dimension on said other axis.

10. An orientation detection marker according to claim 9, wherein the dimension between said third two points and the dimension between said fourth two points are set to be equal.

11. An orientation detection marker according to claim 9, wherein said fourth light source unit includes a dotted light source at said fourth two points.

12. An orientation detection marker according to claim 11, wherein said third and fourth light source units share the inner two dotted light sources on the axis.

13. An orientation detection marker according to claim 1, wherein said dotted light source is an illuminator.

14. An orientation detection marker according to claim 1, wherein said dotted light source is a reflector capable of reflecting the incident light from the front.

15. An orientation detection marker according to claim 1, wherein said dotted light source emits infrared light.

16. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, wherein said orientation detection marker mounting section is formed with said dotted light source being exposed on both the front and back sides.

17. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, further comprising a fifth light source for representing the front and back of the orientation detection marker.

18. An orientation detection marker according to claim 17, wherein said fifth light source unit is formed of one dotted light source.

19. An orientation detection marker according to claim 18, wherein the dotted light source of said fifth light source unit is formed of one of the dotted light sources constituting the first through fourth light source units and has a light-emitting mode different from the other dotted light sources.

20. An orientation detection marker according to claim 19, wherein said different light-emitting mode is a difference in color.

21. An orientation detection marker according to claim 19, wherein said different light-emitting mode is blinking.

22. An orientation detection device, comprising:

imaging means, provided in either one of a controller and the device main body including a display unit having a screen for displaying images, for imaging an orientation detection marker;

identification means for identifying an image of a mode having a biaxial direction information included in the picture image imaged by said imaging means; and

computing means for computing the orientation of said controller with respect to the screen of said display unit from the state of the image of said identified mode.

23. An orientation detection device according to claim 22, wherein the orientation of said controller is computed based on the image position of said mode identified by said identification means and the rotation angle information of the axis.

24. An orientation detection device according to claim 22, wherein an orientation detection marker is disposed on said controller, and imaging means is disposed on said display unit.

25. An orientation detection device according to claim 24, wherein said computing means continuously seeks said orientation.

26. An orientation detection device according to claim 22, wherein said screen is a screen on which is displayed images projected from a projector.

27. An orientation detection device according to claim 22, wherein an orientation detection marker is disposed on said display unit and imaging means is disposed on said controller.

28. An orientation detection device according to claim 27, wherein said orientation detection marker can be disposed on the screen of said display unit.

29. An orientation detection device according to claim 27, wherein said orientation detection marker includes different types of orientation detection markers having different modes including axis information in which one of the two axes of said biaxial directions intersects the other axis in mutually reverse directions, and these different types of orientation detection markers are respectively disposed in a prescribed position relationship with respect to said display unit.

30. An orientation detection device according to claim 27, wherein the orientation of said controller is computed based on the position information within said screen with respect to the center of said picture image based on the position of the image of said light source unit and the rotation angle information of the axis.

31. An orientation detection device according to claim 27, wherein said computing means computes a visual line vector representing a direction of said imaging means to said screen based on the position information of said dotted light source, position of the image of the light source unit within said picture image, and rotational angle information of the axis, and further computes the intersecting point of said visual line vector and said screen.

32. A video game device, comprising:

An orientation detection device, including;

imaging means, provided in either one of a controller and the device main body including a display unit having a screen for displaying images, for imaging an orientation detection marker;

identification means for identifying an image of a mode having a biaxial direction information included in the picture image imaged by said imaging means; and

computing means for computing the orientation of said controller with respect to the screen of said display unit from the state of the image of said identified mode;

image generation control means for generating game images containing at least a game character;

image display means for displaying the generated game images on the screen of said display unit; and

game progress control means for progressing the game by giving movement to said game character in accordance with prescribed game rules within the game space;

wherein said game progress control means gives movement to said game character in relation to the orientation of said controller to said game character based on the relationship between the orientation of the controller obtained by said computing means and the position on the screen of said display unit where said game character is displayed.