Image generation method, program, and information storage medium

• US 7,084,855 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Bandai Games Inc.
• Inventors: Kaku, Ryoichi, Nishimura, Norihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US10/232,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-159, 345/162
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/302 the image being transformed by computer processing, e.g. updating the image to correspond to the changing point of view

Abstract

A detection device detects positions at which a sword-shaped controller traverses first and second sensor planes, which are formed by first and second sensors, respectively, and positions of which are associated in a one-to-one manner to positions on a screen. A position on the screen, an amount of change in the position per unit time, an absolute value of the amount of change of the position, and an orientation of the sword-shaped controller with respect to the screen are obtained from input information from the detection device. At least one of a special-effect image, a sound effect, and a parameter that causes a change in the special-effect image is changed, based on one of the obtained position, amount of change in the position per unit time, absolute value of the amount of change in the position, and the orientation of the sword-shaped controller, so that a special effect is changed with respect to the operator of the sword-shaped controller.

Claims

1. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and a change of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen or change of the position on the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

2. The image generation method as defined by claim 1,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

3. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen or amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

4. The image generation method as defined by claim 3,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

5. The image generation method as defined by claim 3,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

6. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

7. The image generation method as defined by claim 6,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

8. The image generation method as defined by claim 6,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the absolute value of the amount of change of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

9. The image generation method as defined by claim 6,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

10. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and an orientation of an object to be detected with respect to a direction toward a screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and orientation of the object to be detected with respect to the direction toward the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

11. The image generation method as defined by claim 10,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

12. The image generation method as defined by claim 10,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the absolute value of the amount of change of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

13. The image generation method as defined by claim 10,

wherein the detection device comprises two pairs of sensors which form first and second sensor planes, respectively, the first and second sensor planes being disposed parallely with the predetermined distance,

wherein positions at which the object to be detected traverses the first and second sensor planes are specified by the detection device, and

wherein the orientation of the object to be detected with respect to the direction towards the screen is obtained based on first and second positions at which the object to be detected traverses the first and second sensor planes, respectively.

14. The image generation method as defined by claim 10,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a given combination of the position on the screen, the absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and a changing direction of the position on the screen.

15. The image generation method as defined by claim 10,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

16. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processings of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and a change of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen or change of the position on the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

17. The program as defined by claim 16,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

18. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program as defined by claim 16.

19. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processings of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen or amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

20. The program as defined by claim 19,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

21. The program as defined by claim 19,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

22. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program as defined by claim 19.

23. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processings of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

24. The program as defined by claim 23,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

26. The program as defined by claim 23,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the absolute value of the amount of change of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

27. The program as defined by claim 23,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

28. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program as defined by claim 23.

25. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processings of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and an orientation of an object to be detected with respect to a direction toward a screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two sensor planes, each position of the sensor plane corresponding to the position on the screen, a predetermined distance being disposed between the two sensor planes; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and orientation of the object to be detected with respect to the direction toward the screen,

wherein the two sensor planes are parallel and disposed to face the screen.

29. The program as defined by claim 25,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

30. The program as defined by claim 25,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed, when the absolute value of the amount of change of the position on the screen is at least a given threshold.

31. The program as defined by claim 25,

wherein the detection device comprises two pairs of sensors which form first and second sensor planes, respectively, the first and second sensor planes being disposed parallely with the predetermined distance,

wherein positions at which the object to be detected traverses the first and second sensor planes are specified by the detection device, and

wherein the orientation of the object to be detected with respect to the direction towards the screen is obtained based on first and second positions at which the object to be detected traverses the first and second sensor planes, respectively.

32. The program as defined by claim 25,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a given combination of the position on the screen, the absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and a changing direction of the position on the screen.

33. The program as defined by claim 25,

wherein at least one of the image, sound, and given parameter is changed in accordance with a changing direction of the position on the screen.

34. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program as defined by claim 25.

35. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and a change of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given par the obtained position on the screen or change of the position on the screen.

36. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen or amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen.

37. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given par the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen.

38. An image generation method for generating an image, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and an orientation of an object to be detected with respect to a direction toward a screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given par the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and orientation of the object to be detected with respect to the direction toward the screen.

39. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processing of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and a change of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given par the obtained position on the screen or change of the position on the screen.

40. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program as defined by claim 39.

41. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processing of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section and an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen or amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen.

42. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program as defined by claim 41.

43. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processing of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given par the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, and absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen.

44. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program, as defined by claim 43.

45. A program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium, the program causing a computer to implement processing of:

obtaining at least one of a position on a screen of a display section, an amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, an absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and an orientation of an object to be detected with respect to a direction toward a screen, based on input information from a detection device which detects an object to be detected traversing two parallel sensor planes, each position of the respective sensor plane corresponding to the respective position on the screen; and

changing at least one of an image, a sound, and a given parameter, based on the obtained position on the screen, amount of change per unit time of the position on the screen, absolute value of the amount of change in the position on the screen, and orientation of the object to be detected with respect to the direction toward the screen.

46. A computer-readable information storage medium storing a program as defined by claim 45.