Billiard game input device, billiard game system, game input device, and computer program

• US 20030096649A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Hideki, Hamano, Takashi, Mahara, Ryo, Kinomoto, Hiroshi, Atobe, Koki
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

Provided is an input device for a billiard game comprising: a simulative ball provided as an object to be shot by a player; a link portion having a ball axis on which the simulative ball is mounted; a support portion for movably supporting the link portion; and a sensor for outputting a signal that corresponds to an operation of the link portion,

wherein at least either one of rotational motion of the simulative ball around an axle of a ball axis and linear motion of the simulative ball in a predetermined range along an axial direction of the ball axis is permitted.

Claims

1. An input device for a billiard game comprising:

a simulative ball provided as an object to be shot by a player;

a link portion having a ball axis on which the simulative ball is mounted;

a support portion for movably supporting the link portion; and

a signal output device for outputting a signal that corresponds to operation of the link portion,

wherein at least either one of rotational motion of the simulative ball around an axle of the ball axis as a center and linear motion of the simulative ball in a predetermined range along an axial direction of the ball axis is permitted.

2. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the link portion includes a bearing portion supported by the support portion, and the ball axis is engaged with the bearing portion to be movable in the axial direction thereof and rotatable around the axle, whereby both of the rotational motion and the linear motion are permitted.

3. The input device according to claim 2,

wherein an engagement portion movably engaged with the bearing portion in the axial direction is provided at the ball axis, and a stopper device for restricting a movement range of the ball axis relevant to the bearing portion are provided at both ends in the axial direction of the engagement portion.

4. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the link portion is supported by the support portion so that the ball axis can move between a shot position at which the ball axis extends in a vertically downward direction from the simulative ball and a standby position at which the ball axis inclines from the shot position.

5. The input device according to claim 4, comprising

a buffering device for, when the link portion has moved from the shot position to the standby position, receiving the simulative ball, and then, absorbing motion energy of the simulative ball.

6. The input device according to claim 4, comprising

a driving device for restoring the link portion from the standby position to the shot position.

7. The input device according to claim 4, comprising

a sensor whose output changes depending on whether or not the link portion exists at the shot position, as the signal output device.

8. The input device according to claim 4, comprising

two sensors whose outputs change depending on whether or not the link portion exists at a respective one of two detection portions set between the shot position and the standby position, as the signal output device.

9. The input device according to claim 4, comprising as the signal output device:

a first sensor whose output changes depending on whether or not the link portion exists at the shot position;

a second sensor whose output changes depending on whether or not the link portion exists at an intermediate detection position set adjacent to the shot position; and

a third sensor whose output changes depending on whether or not the link portion exists at the standby position.

10. The input device as claimed in claim 7, comprising

a discrimination device for discriminating whether or not the simulative ball has been shot based on an output signal of the sensor.

11. The input device according to claim 8, comprising

a speed computing device for detecting a time interval from a time when an output signal of one of the sensors changes to a time when an output signal of another of the sensors changes, and then, computing a speed at which the simulative ball has been shot based on the detection result.

12. A billiard game system comprising:

a simulative ball movably provided in a predetermined direction from a predetermined shot position as an object to be shot by a player;

a plurality of image acquiring devices for outputting data on images of a predetermined detection range set in a direction in which the player shoots, which are scanned from viewpoints different from each other relevant to the simulative ball at the shot position;

a coordinate specifying device for specifying a three-dimensional coordinate of at least two typical points of a cue in a three-dimensional coordinate system set with respect to the detection range based on data outputted from each image acquiring device;

a position/angle specifying device for specifying a shooting point and a shot angle of the simulative ball based on the coordinate of the typical points of the cue specified by the coordinate specifying device;

a speed information detecting device for detecting information correlated with a speed of the simulative ball;

a speed specifying device for specifying a speed at which the simulative ball has been shot based on information detected by the speed information detecting device; and

a computing device for computing an operation of a virtual cue ball to be displayed on a screen of a predetermined display unit in correspondence with the simulative ball based on the specified shooting point, angle, and speed.

13. The billiard game system according to claim 12, comprising:

a simulative ball operation detecting device for detecting the presence or absence of an operation from the shot position of the simulative ball; and

a discriminating device for discriminating whether or not the simulative ball has been shot, based on a detection result of the simulative ball operation detecting device,

wherein the position/angle specifying device specifies the shooting point and the angle based on the coordinate of the cue at a time when it is discriminated that the simulative ball has been shot.

14. The billiard game system according to claim 12,

wherein a respective one of the plurality of image acquiring devices outputs data that corresponds to a projected image onto each scanning plane different from each other, the scanning planes being set in the three-dimensional coordinate system, and

wherein the coordinate specifying device comprises:

a two-dimensional coordinate acquiring device for acquiring a two-dimensional coordinate of points that correspond to the typical points of a cue image included in the image scanned by each image acquiring device;

a straight line specifying device for referring to information associated with the three-dimensional coordinate assigned in advance to a respective one of the viewpoints and the scanning planes, thereby converting the two-dimensional coordinate of each point acquired by the two-dimensional coordinate acquiring device into the three-dimensional coordinate system, and then, specifying straight lines that connect each point at which the three-dimensional coordinate has been assigned and each viewpoint corresponding to each of the scanning planes to which each of the points belongs; and

a typical point coordinate determining device for determining a three-dimensional coordinate of each of the typical points on the cue from a mutual relationship between the specified straight lines.

15. The billiard game system according to claim 14,

wherein the typical point coordinate determining device determines a three-dimensional coordinate of a cross point of at least two straight lines, or alternatively, of a middle point of a perpendicular line common to at least two straight lines as the three dimensional coordinate of each of the typical points.

16. The billiard game system according to claim 14,

wherein the two-dimensional coordinate acquiring device extracts the cue image from a difference between a base image corresponding to a background image when the cue is excluded from the detection range and an image including the cue, and acquires a two-dimensional coordinate of at least each two points of the extracted image.

17. The billiard game system according to claim 16,

wherein a respective one of the plurality of image acquiring devices scans repeatedly the detection range and outputs each of the scanned image data, and

wherein the two-dimensional coordinate acquiring device comprises a base image updating device for specifying at least a part of a range of the background in a latest image based on a difference between the latest image and a past image, and then, replacing the base image relevant to the specified range with a content of the latest image.

18. The billiard game system according to claim 12,

wherein the position/angle specifying device specifies a shot angle relevant to a vertical direction and a shot angle relevant to a horizontal direction, respectively.

19. The billiard game system according to claim 12

wherein the speed information detecting device comprises two sensors whose outputs change according to the presence or absence of the simulative ball at a respective one of two detection positions spaced from each other with respect to the predetermined direction or a member that moves together with the simulative ball, and

wherein the speed specifying device detects a time interval from a time when an output signal of one of the sensors changes accompanied with movement of the simulative ball to a time when an output signal of another of the sensors changes, and computes a speed at which the simulative ball has been shot based on the detection result.

20. The billiard game system according to claim 19, comprising;

a link portion having a ball axis on which the simulative ball is capable of being mounted; and

a support portion for movably supporting the link portion,

wherein the sensors of the speed information detecting device are provided so that their outputs change depending on whether or not the link portion exists at a respective one of the two detection positions set in a movement range of the link portion.

21. The billiard game system according to claim 13,

wherein the simulative ball operation detecting device comprises a sensor whose output changes depending on whether or not the simulative ball exists at the shot position.

22. The billiard game system according to claim 12, the billiard game system being configured as an arcade game machine comprising

a predetermined chassis,

wherein a table portion simulating a part of a table of a billiard base is provided at the chassis;

an upper face of the table portion functions as a table face;

a space opening forwardly of the table portion is formed by the table face and a hood covering the face;

a simulative ball of the shot position is movable between the shot position and a standby position retracted to the depth of the space further than the shot position; and

a respective one of the plurality of image acquiring devices is disposed in the hood or under the hood in a state in which a scanning direction is oriented more downwardly than a horizontal direction.

23. A game input device comprising:

a simulative ball movably provided in a predetermined direction from a predetermined shot position as an object to be shot by a player;

a plurality of image acquiring devices for outputting data on images of a predetermined detection range set in a direction in which the player shoots, which are scanned from viewpoints different from each other relevant to the simulative ball of the shot position;

a coordinate specifying device for specifying a three-dimensional coordinate of at least each two typical points, of a rod shaped member in a three-dimensional coordinate system set with respect to the detection range based on the data outputted from each of the image acquiring devices; and

an information generating device for generating information required to specify a state in which the simulative ball has been shot, based on a coordinate of the typical points of the rod shaped member specified by the coordinate specifying device.

24. The game input device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a speed information detecting device for detecting information correlated with a speed of the simulative ball; and

a speed specifying device for specifying a speed at which the simulative ball has been shot based on the information detected by the speed information detecting device,

wherein the information generating device generates information correlated with a shooting point of the simulative ball and a shot angle thereof.

25. The game input device according to claim 23, comprising:

a simulative ball operation detecting device for detecting an operation of the simulative ball from the shot position; and

a discriminating device for discriminating whether or not the simulative ball has been shot, based on a detection result of the simulative ball operation detecting device,

wherein the information generating device generates the information based on a coordinate of the rod shaped member at a time when it is discriminated that the simulative ball has been shot.

26. The game input device according to claim 23,

wherein a respective one of the plurality of image acquiring devices outputs data that corresponds to each projected image onto scanning planes different from each other, the scanning planes being set in the three-dimensional coordinate system, and

wherein the coordinate specifying device comprises:

a two-dimensional coordinate acquiring device for acquiring a two-dimensional coordinate of each point that corresponds to each of the typical points of an image of the rod shaped member included in the image scanned by each image acquiring device;

a straight line specifying device for referring to information associated with the three-dimensional coordinate assigned in advance to a respective one of the viewpoints and the scanning planes, thereby converting the two-dimensional coordinate of each point acquired by the two-dimensional coordinate acquiring device into the three-dimensional coordinate system, and then, specifying straight lines that connect each of the points at which the three-dimensional coordinate has been assigned and each of the viewpoints corresponding to each of the scanning planes to which each of the points belongs; and

a typical point coordinate determining device for determining a three-dimensional coordinate of each of the typical points on the rod shaped member from a mutual relationship between the specified straight lines.

27. The game input device according to claim 26,

wherein the typical point coordinate determining device determines a three-dimensional coordinate of a cross point of at least two straight lines, or alternatively, a middle point of a perpendicular line common to at least two straight lines, as a three-dimensional coordinate of the typical points.

28. The game input device according to claim 26,

wherein the two-dimensional point coordinate acquiring device extracts an image of the rod shaped member from a difference between a base image that corresponds to a background image when the rod shaped member is excluded from the detection range and an image including the rod shaped member, and acquires a two-dimensional coordinate of at least each two points of the extracted image.

29. A game input device as claimed in claim 28,

wherein a respective one of the plurality of image acquiring devices outputs data on an image obtained by repeatedly scanning the detection range;

and

wherein the two-dimensional coordinate acquiring device comprises a base image updating device for specifying at least a part of a range of the background in a latest image based on a difference between the latest image and a past image, and then, replacing the base image relevant to the specified range with a content of the latest image.

30. The game input device according to claim 23,

wherein the information generating device generates information required to specify a shot angle relevant to a vertical direction and a shot angle relevant to a horizontal direction, respectively.

31. The game input device according to claim 24,

wherein the speed information detecting device comprises two sensors whose outputs change according to the presence or absence of the simulative ball at a respective one of two detection positions spaced from each other relevant to the predetermined direction or a member that moves together with the simulative ball, and

wherein the information generating device detects a time interval from a time when an output signal of one of the sensors changes accompanied with movement of the simulative ball to a time when an output signal of another one of the sensors changes, and then, computes a speed at which the simulative ball has been shot based on the detection result.

32. The game input device according to claim 31, comprising:

a link portion having a ball axis on which the simulative ball is capable of being mounted; and

a support portion for movably supporting the link portion,

wherein the sensors of the speed information detecting device are provided so that their outputs change depending on whether or not the link portion exists at a respective one of the two detection positions set in a movement range of the link portion.

33. The game input device according to claim 25,

wherein the simulative ball operation detecting device comprises a sensor whose output changes depending on whether or not the simulative ball exists at a position where the simulative ball is to be shot by a cue.

34. The game input device according to claim 23,

wherein the game input device is configured as an input device for a billiard game.

35. A computer program for, based on data on an image outputted from a respective one of a plurality of image acquiring devices for scanning a predetermined detection range from viewpoints different from each other, recognizing a rod shaped member poked in the detection range, the computer program causing a computer to function as:

a coordinate specifying device for specifying a three-dimensional coordinate of at least two typical points of the rod shaped member in a three-dimensional coordinate system set with respect to the detection range based on data outputted from each image acquiring device; and

an information generating device for generating information required to specify a state in which a predetermined target disposed in the three-dimensional coordinate system has been shot by the rod shaped member based on a coordinate of each of the typical points of the rod shaped member specified by the coordinate specifying device.