Orientation detection marker, orientation detection device and video game device

• US 7,084,888 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Honda, Hiroki, Takahama, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US10/213,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/8, 463/34, 463/31, 463/32, 463/33, 345/2.3, 345/6, 345/649, 345/650, 345/653, 345/659, 345/5, 720/679, 359/241, 359/630, 348/583, 348/584
• US Class Current: 345/649
• 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 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

The invention provides an orientation detection marker having a simple structure and capable of providing information enabling the remote measurement of the orientation of a controller. Light source unit 13 (orientation detection marker) provides so-called biaxial direction information composed of one axis on which dotted light sources 131 to 133 are disposed at equal intervals and another axis on which dotted light sources 131, 134 and 135 are disposed at the same interval as the above intervals and which intersects with the aforementioned one axis at the dotted light source 131 or the like.

Claims

1. An orientation indicating marker provided in a device;

the device including a main body, a screen provided on the main body of the device for displaying images, a controller responsive to an input operation for aiming a target on an image displayed on the screen, the orientation indicating marker provided on either one of the main body of the device and the controller, and an imaging means provided on the other of the main body of the device and the controller for picking-up an image of the orientation indicating marker; and

said orientation indicating marker comprising a plurality of light sources arranged along biaxial directions such that the imaging means pick-ups the images of the light sources to determine the target aimed by the controller.

2. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 1, wherein two axes of said biaxial directions are orthogonal to each other.

3. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 1, wherein said light sources are formed of a plurality of point light sources.

4. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 1, wherein said light sources emit light of a specific color.

5. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 1, wherein said hi-axial direction are defined by a first axis and a second axis which is orthogonal to the first axis, said plurality of light sources include a first unit of point light sources arranged on the first axis with a predetermined space between adjacent point light sources, a second unit of point light sources arranged on the first axis with a predetermined space between adjacent point light sources, and third unit of point light sources arranged on the second axis with a predetermined space between adjacent point light sources.

6. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 5, wherein the space between said adjacent point light sources of the first unit is equal to the space between said adjacent point light sources of the second unit.

7. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, wherein said first and second light source units comprise a common point light source.

8. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 5, wherein the first and second axes intersect with each other;

and

an element of the first and second units is a common point light source is disposed at the intersecting point of the two axes.

9. An orientation detection marker according to claim 5, further comprising a fourth light source unit of point light sources arranged on the second axis with a predetermined space between adjacent point light sources.

10. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 9, wherein the space between said adjacent point light sources of the third unit is equal to the space between said adjacent point light sources of the fourth unit.

11. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 10, wherein said third and fourth light source units comprise a common point light source.

12. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 9, further comprising a fifth light source unit for representing the front and back side of the orientation detection marker.

13. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 12, wherein said fifth light source unit includes a single point light source.

14. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 13, wherein said fifth light source unit comprises one of the point light sources of the first through fourth light source units and has a light-emitting mode that is different from that of the other point light sources.

15. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 14, wherein said point light source of the fifth light source unit emits light that is different in color from the other point light sources.

16. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 14, wherein said point light source of the fifth light source unit blinks while the other point light sources emit light continuously.

17. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 5, further comprising a mounting section in which said point light sources are mounted to be exposed on both the front and back sides of the mounting section.

18. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 1, wherein said point light sources includes a light emitting member.

19. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 1, wherein each of said light sources includes a reflector capable of reflecting light which is incident thereon from a front thereof.

20. An orientation indicating marker according to claim 1, wherein each of said light sources includes an infrared light emitting member.

21. An orientation detection device provided in a device;

the device including a main body, a screen provided on the main body of the device for displaying images, and a controller responsive to an input operation for aiming a target on an image displayed on the screen;

the orientation detection device comprising;

an orientation indicating marker provided on either one of the main body of the device and the controller, and an imaging means provided on the other of the main body of the device and the controller for picking-up an image of the orientation indicating marker, said orientation indicating marker comprising a plurality of light sources arranged along biaxial directions such that the imaging means pick-ups the images of the light sources to determine the target aimed by the controller.

22. An orientation detection device according to claim 21, further comprising a computing means for computing the target aimed by said controller based on the positions of the images of light sources picked up by said imaging means and an angle of rotation of axes for the bi-axial directions.

23. An orientation detection device according to claim 22, wherein said computing means continuously seeks said orientation.

24. An orientation detection device according to claim 22, wherein said computing means computes a vector of a line of sight representing a direction of said imaging means relative to said screen, based on the positions of said point light sources, positions of the images of the light source units within said picture image, and rotational angle of the axes, and further computes a point where said vector of the line of sight intersects said screen.

25. An orientation detection device according to claim 21, wherein an orientation indicating marker is disposed on said controller, and said imaging means is disposed on said main body of the device.

26. An orientation detection device according to claim 21, wherein said screen is a screen on which is displayed images projected from a projector.

27. An orientation detection device according to claim 21, wherein an orientation indicating marker is disposed on said main body of the device and imaging means is disposed on said controller.

28. An orientation detection device according to claim 27, wherein said orientation indicating marker is disposed on the screen of said display unit.

29. An orientation detection device according to claim 27, wherein said orientation indicating marker includes different types of orientation indicating markers having different modes including axis information in which one of the two axes of said biaxial directions intersects the other axis in mutually reverse directions, and these different types of orientation detection markers are respectively disposed in a prescribed position relationship with respect to said display unit.

30. An orientation detection device according to claim 27, wherein the orientation of said controller is computed based on the positions of the images of the light sources within said screen, with respect to the center of a picture image displayed on the screen and the angle of rotation of the axes.

31. An orientation detection device comprising:

a body including a screen and a display unit for displaying images on said screen;

a controller;

a detection marker disposed on one of said body and said controller;

said detection marker including a biaxial light source and providing images relating to directional information, said light source including illuminating elements, said elements being disposed in a mutually fixed configuration;

said directional information defining a mode of said light source;

imaging means for receiving said images, said imaging means being disposed in the other of said device body and said controller; and

said detection marker being directed at said imaging means so that the device detects the orientation of the controller with respect to the screen and said imaging means generates an image of said detection marker.

32. An orientation detection device comprising:

a body including a screen and a display unit for displaying images on said screen;

a controller;

a detection marker disposed on one of said body and said controller;

said detection marker including a biaxial light source and providing images relating to directional information, said light source including illuminating elements, said elements being disposed in a mutually fixed configuration;

imaging means for receiving said images, said imaging means being disposed in the other of said device body and said controller;

said detection marker being directed at said imaging means so that said imaging means generates an image of said detection marker;

identification means for identifying said image received by said imaging means, said identified image defining a mode of said detection marker; and

computing means for computing from said identified image the orientation of said controller with respect to the screen.