PORTABLE TYPE GAME DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PORTABLE TYPE GAME DEVICE

• US 20110159957A1
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hiroi, Toshiyuki, Sugawara, Akihiko, Kawaguchi, Satoshi, Kageyama, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 9,662,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors

Abstract

Provided are a portable game device and a method of controlling the portable game device capable of making improved use of an image generated by image pickup unit. A pickup object image generating unit (52) picks up an image of a pickup object and generates a pickup object image. A pickup object distance measuring unit (54) measures a distance to the pickup object. An information processing execution unit (56) executes information processing based on the pickup object image and the distance measured by the pickup object distance measuring unit (54).

Claims

1. A portable game device, comprising:

image pickup means for picking up an image of a pickup object and generating a pickup object image;

distance measuring means for measuring a distance to the pickup object; and

information processing execution means for executing information processing based on the pickup object image and the distance measured by the distance measuring means.

2. The portable game device according to claim 1,

wherein the distance measuring means sequentially measures the distance, and

wherein the information processing execution means changes, according to a change in the distance measured by the distance measuring means, contents of the information processing to be executed.

3. The portable game device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing execution means displays, on display means, an image based on the distance measured by the distance measuring means.

4. The portable game device according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring means sequentially measures the distance, and

wherein the information processing execution means is configured to:

generate an image of a virtual space according to a position of a viewpoint disposed in the virtual space;

display, on display means, the image of the virtual space thus generated; and

change a position of the viewpoint in the virtual space, according to a change in the distance measured by the distance measuring means.

5. The portable game device according to claim 4,

wherein the image pickup means sequentially picks up an image of the pickup object and generates the pickup object image, and

wherein the information processing execution means changes, according to a change in the pickup object image picked up by the image pickup means, at least one of the position and an orientation of the viewpoint in the virtual space.

6. The portable game device according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup means and the distance measuring means are integrally formed.

7. A portable game device, comprising image pickup means for picking up an image of a pickup object and generating a pickup object image,

wherein the image pickup means comprises:

a plurality of lenses;

a reflective member for reflecting light; and

an image pickup device for receiving the light reflected by the reflective member and generating the pickup object image, and

wherein the reflective member is supported so as to be movable between reflective member positions each for reflecting light passing through the respective lens, toward the image pickup device.

8. The portable game device according to claim 7, further comprising reflective member driving means for driving the reflective member so that the reflective member moves between the reflective member positions by following a predetermined rule.

9. A method of controlling a portable game device, comprising:

an image pickup step of picking up an image of a pickup object and generating a pickup object image;

a distance measuring step of measuring a distance to the pickup object; and

an information processing execution step of executing information processing based on the pickup object image and the distance measured in the distance measuring step.

10. A method of controlling a portable game device comprising image pickup means for picking up an image of a pickup object and generating a pickup object image,

the image pickup means comprising:

a plurality of lenses;

a reflective member for reflecting light; and

an image pickup device for receiving the light reflected by the reflective member and generating the pickup object image,

the reflective member being supported so as to be movable between reflective member positions each for reflecting light passing through the respective lens, toward the image pickup device,

the method of controlling a portable game device comprising a reflective member driving step of driving the reflective member so that the reflective member moves between the reflective member positions by following a predetermined rule.