Video game system an camera accessory for a video game system

• US 20040242333A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: McCarten, David, James, Donald W., Shirk, Wayne A., Arakawa, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/47
• 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 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light

Abstract

A digital camera accessory is provided for use with a game system having a processing system to execute a video game program and player controls operable by a user to generate video game control signals. The digital camera accessory includes an image sensor for capturing video images, communication circuitry configured to transmit the captured video images, and a connector that, in use, electrically connects the digital camera accessory to the game system.

Claims

1. A digital camera accessory for a display system comprising:

a first unit removably attachable to the display system and comprising receiver circuitry for receiving transmitted images; and

a second unit removably attachable to the first unit, the second unit comprising an image sensor and transmitter circuitry for transmitting images captured by the image sensor.

2. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the second unit and the first unit are attachable via an opening formed in the first unit into which the second unit is at least partially inserted.

3. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, further comprising a memory in the first unit.

4. The digital camera accessory according to claim 3, wherein the memory stores a video game program.

5. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the receiving circuitry of the first unit receives images transmitted from the second unit when the first unit is attached to the display system and the second unit is detached from the first unit and located remotely with respect thereto.

6. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the receiving circuitry of the first unit receives images transmitted from a device other than the second unit when the first unit is attached to the display system and the second unit is attached to the first unit.

7. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the display system comprises a hand-held video game system.

8. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the display system comprises a system configured to emulate a video game system.

9. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the display system comprises a video game system.

10. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter circuitry of the second unit compresses the captured images prior to transmission.

11. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter circuitry of the second unit is operable to search for and select one of a plurality of channels for transmitting the captured images.

12. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the second unit further comprises a microphone and the transmitter circuitry transmits sounds detected by the microphone.

13. The digital camera accessory according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter is controllable to transmit the sounds detected by the microphone, but not the video captured by the image sensor.

14. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits wirelessly within a frequency band comprising 2.4 to 2.488 GHz.

15. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits wirelessly using a frequency-hopping scheme.

16. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the images captured by the image sensor comprise video images.

17. The digital camera accessory according to claim 1, wherein the first unit is attachable to the display system via a opening formed in the display system into which the first unit is at least partially inserted.

18. A digital camera accessory for a display system comprising:

a first unit removably attachable to the display system and comprising receiver circuitry for receiving wirelessly transmitted images; and

a second unit removably attachable to the first unit, the second unit comprising an image sensor and transmitter circuitry for wirelessly transmitting images captured by the image sensor.

19. A digital camera accessory for a display system comprising:

a base unit removably attachable to the display system via an opening formed in a housing of the display system into which the base unit is at least partially insertable, the base unit comprising receiver circuitry for receiving wirelessly transmitted images; and

a camera unit removably attachable to the base unit via an opening formed in a housing of the base unit into which the camera unit is at least partially insertable, the camera unit comprising an image sensor and transmitter circuitry for wirelessly transmitting images captured by the image sensor,

wherein the receiver circuitry of the base unit receives images transmitted from the camera unit when the base unit is attached to the display system and the camera unit is detached from the base unit and located remotely with respect thereto.

20. A video game system comprising two or more video game machines, each video game machine comprising:

a processing unit;

user controls;

a digital camera; and

communication circuitry responsive to inputs to the user controls for connecting to a communication channel to which one or more other video game machines are connectable,

wherein images captured by the digital cameras of the two or more video game machines are communicated over the communication channel so that each video game machine displays images captured by the digital cameras of the other video game machines.

21. The video game system according to claim 20, wherein the digital camera and the communication circuitry are provided as a unitary cartridge that is removably attachable to the video game machine via a slot into which the cartridge is at least partially inserted.

22. The video game system according to claim 20, wherein at least the digital camera and the communication circuitry are provided as two units that are removably attachable to each other.

23. The video game system according to claim 20, wherein the communication circuitry compresses the captured images prior to transmission over the communication channel.

24. The video game system according to claim 20, wherein the communication channel is used by two video game machines.

25. The video game system according to claim 20, wherein the communication channel is used by more than two video game machines.

26. The video game system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a microphone,

wherein the communication circuitry transmits sounds detected by the microphone over the communication channel.

27. The video game system according to claim 26, wherein the communication circuitry is responsive to inputs to the user controls to stop communication of images captured by the digital camera, while continuing communication of sounds detected by the microphone.

28. The video game system according to claim 20, wherein the video game machines comprise hand-held video game machines.

29. A video game machine for use in the video game system according to claim 20.

30. A video game machine comprising:

a processing unit;

user controls; and

communication circuitry configured to receive images transmitted from a first remote source and audio transmitted from a second, different remote source,

wherein the video game machine displays the received images on a display device while outputting the received audio via at least one speaker.

31. An accessory for a display system comprising:

a base unit removably attachable to the display system, the base unit comprising receiver circuitry for receiving wirelessly transmitted data; and

a detecting unit removably attachable to the base unit, the detecting unit comprising a detector and transmitter circuitry for wirelessly transmitting data detected by the detector,

wherein the receiving circuitry of the base unit receives data transmitted from the detecting unit when the base unit is attached to the display system and the detecting unit is detached from the base unit and located remotely with respect thereto.

32. A video game system comprising:

a remotely controllable vehicle comprising an image sensor for capturing video images, a communication circuit configured to transmit the captured video images, and a control circuit for controlling said vehicle; and

a game system comprising a communication circuit configured to receive the video images transmitted from said remote controllable vehicle, a display for displaying the received video images, and controls operable by a user to generate vehicle control signals for controlling said vehicle in response to the displayed video images, wherein

said communication circuit of said game system is configured to transmit the vehicle control signals to said remotely controllable vehicle,

said communication circuit of said remotely controllable vehicle is configured to receive the vehicle control signals transmitted from said game system and to supply the received vehicle control signals to the control circuit of said vehicle, and

said control circuit of said vehicle controls said vehicle in accordance with the vehicle control signals.

33. The video game system according to claim 32 wherein said remotely controllable vehicle further comprises an audio sensor for sensing audio, said communication circuit of said remotely controllable vehicle is configured to transmit the sensed audio, said communication circuit of said game system is configured to receive the audio transmitted from said remotely controllable vehicle, and said game system further comprises a speaker for outputting the received audio.

34. The video game system according to claim 32, wherein said game system is a portable game system.

35. The video game system according to claim 32, wherein the remotely controllable vehicle is a remotely controllable car.