Game device

• US 6,607,443 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1998
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yasushi, Kikuchi, Tomio, Kamata, Muneoki, Itonaga, Junichi, Miyamoto, Tomoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERUBIN, YVESTE GILBERTE
• Application Number:
  US09/179,748
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12-13, 463/20, 463/7-8, 463/36-41, 463/40, 273/149.R, 273/149.P, 273/148.B, 273/309, 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/237, 273/238, 273/193.R, 273/292, 273/269, 273/274, 273/138.2, 273/148.R, 345/156
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen

Abstract

Provides a game machine with exceptional interactivity capable of ascertaining players'"'"' psychological states from player'"'"'s voices and actions. It is a game device for executing a prescribed game program in response to information input by players. Comprises a device for recognizing voices or actions made by players, and a processing board for ascertaining the condition of recognized voices and actions, and, for a given voice or given action, modifying the game device response processing operations to the voice or action in response to the condition of the voice or action.

Claims

1. A game device for a game, comprising:

an optical sensor for detecting a player'"'"'s free-hand movement, wherein said optical sensor comprises a luminous body section for emitting infrared light into a prescribed space, and a photoreceptor section for receiving reflected light in accordance with the player'"'"'s free-hand movement, wherein said photoreceptor section comprises a dark box, and an infrared sensor unit accommodated in said dark box, said infrared sensor unit including a plurality of infrared elements;

a first processor communicating with said optical sensor, for determining at least one of a plurality of predetermined motions wherein each of the plurality of predetermined motions is assigned to a game procedure for the game;

a second processor communicating with said first processor, for executing the game procedure corresponding to the at least one of predetermined motions determined by said first processor; and

a controller controlled by the player, wherein said controller is located closer to the player than said optical sensor, and wherein said second processor executes said game procedure corresponding to the at least one of predetermined motions determined by said first processor and control commands from said controller.

2. A game device for a game, comprising:

an optical sensor for detecting a player'"'"'s free-hand movement, wherein said optical sensor comprises a luminous body section for emitting infrared light into a prescribed space, and a photoreceptor section for receiving reflected light in accordance with the player'"'"'s free-hand movement, wherein said photoreceptor section comprises a dark box, and an infrared sensor unit accommodated in said dark box, said infrared sensor unit including a plurality of infrared elements;

a first processor communicating with said optical sensor, for determining at least one of a plurality of predetermined motions wherein each of the plurality of predetermined motions is assigned to a game procedure for the game; and

a second processor communicating with said first processor, for executing the game procedure corresponding to the at least one of predetermined motions determined by said first processor.

3. The game device according to claim 2, wherein said optical sensor comprises:

a luminous body section for emitting infrared light into a prescribed space; and

a photoreceptor section for receiving reflected light in accordance with the player'"'"'s free-hand movement.

4. The game device according to claim 3, wherein said photoreceptor section comprises:

a dark box; and

an infrared sensor unit accommodated in said dark box, said infrared sensor unit including a plurality of infrared elements.

5. The game device according to claim 2, wherein said first processor is configured to determine one of subtle motions including at least either of sideways motions of hand or lengthwise motions of hand.

6. The game device according to claim 2, wherein said optical sensor comprises:

a first sensor section provided with at least two sensors; and

a second sensor section provided with at least one sensor,

wherein said second sensor section is located off a line formed by said sensors of said first sensor section.

7. The game device according to claim 6, wherein said first processor determines the at least one of predetermined motions according to which sensor has detected said player'"'"'s free-hand movement and in what order said player'"'"'s free-hand movement has been detected.

8. The game device according to claim 6, further comprising a panel describing a picture of said predetermined motions to be determined by said first processor.

9. A game device for a game, comprising:

an optical sensor for detecting a player'"'"'s free-hand movement, wherein said optical sensor comprises a luminous body section for emitting infrared light into a prescribed space, and a photoreceptor section for receiving reflected light in accordance with the player'"'"'s free-hand movement, wherein said photoreceptor section comprises a dark box, and an infrared sensor unit accommodated in said dark box, said infrared sensor unit including a plurality of infrared elements;

a first processor communicating with said optical sensor, for determining at least one of a plurality of predetermined motions wherein each of the plurality of predetermined motions is assigned to a game procedure for the game, wherein said first processor determines said player'"'"'s free-hand movement according to signals output from said optical sensor and an order said signals have been output from said optical sensor; and

a second processor communicating with said first processor, for executing the game procedure corresponding to the at least one of predetermined motions determined by said first processor.