Portable game machine having image capture, manipulation and incorporation

• US 6,540,615 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohno, Takashi, Tanaka, Hirokazu, Teramoto, Noriaki
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US10/187,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30, 463/31, 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 463/46, 463/47, 463/48, 273/148.B, 396/29, 396/297, 396/429, 396/439, 348/49, 348/61, 348/73, 348/906, 348/909
• US Class Current: 463/44
• 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 13/655 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• 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 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

An improved portable game machine having a removably attachable external cartridge that includes an integrally formed image capturing apparatus is provided. The portable game machine preferably includes a user interface which may be manipulated by a user to capture images via the image capturing device of the external cartridge. The thus captured images may then be used in game play, or may be manipulated by the user to extend the range of enjoyment of the game. For example, according to the present invention, the user has the ability to associate hot spots with captured images which, when uncovered, cause the portable game machine to exhibit an effect associated with the hot spot. Additionally, the user is provided with the ability to incorporate line drawings or predefined stamp images into a captured image. The captured images may also be arranged to form an animation or loop of images that are displayed according to a sequence defined by the user. Another feature provided by the improved portable game machine of the present invention is the ability to print out composite images made up of a plurality of captured images. The composite image is typically larger than a single image, and therefore, is not easily displayed on a display of the portable game machine, but may be printed as a composite on an associated printer.

Claims

1. A portable game machine comprising:

a removably attached external cartridge comprising a memory for storing a game, a captured image memory for storing a captured image and an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory;

a user interface enabling a user to capture an image and to provide inputs to the portable game machine; and

a processor operable to associate, using said user interface, effect linking information with a captured image, said effect linking information comprising an address corresponding to another memory location of the external cartridge.

2. The portable game machine according to claim 1, wherein said effect linking information includes at least one of an address of a predetermined sound effect, an address of a predetermined visual effect, and an address of another captured image.

3. The portable game machine according to claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to edit existing effect linking information previously associated with the captured image.

4. The portable game machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface for defining an actuation area of a captured image with which said effect linking information is associated; and

said processor operable to execute an effect defined by said effect linking information associated with said captured image when said actuation area is located by a user via said user interface.

5. The portable game machine according to claim 4, wherein said effect includes at least one of a sound effect, a visual effect and a jump to another captured image location within the memory.

6. The portable game machine according to claim 5, wherein up to five actuation areas of a captured image may have effect linking information associated therewith.

7. The portable game machine according to claim 4, wherein said effect linking information includes coordinates corresponding to an actuation area of said captured image defined by the user, enabling information of the actuation area, and at least one of an address of a predetermined sound effect that is executed upon location of an actuation area, an address of a predetermined visual effect that is executed upon location of an actuation area, and an address of another image to be displayed upon location of an actuation area.

8. A removably attachable external cartridge for a portable game machine having a user interface for providing inputs to said external cartridge when said external cartridge is removably attached to said portable game machine, said removably attachable external cartridge comprising:

a memory for storing a game;

a captured image memory for storing a captured image;

an integrally formed camera for capturing images and storing said captured images in said captured image memory; and

a processor operable to associate, using said user interface, effect linking information with a captured image, said effect linking information comprising an address corresponding to another memory location of the external cartridge.