User controlled graphics object movement based on a amount of joystick angular rotation and point of view angle

• US 7,102,618 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishida, Yasunari, Koshima, Kazuo, Miyamoto, Shigeru, Nishiumi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US11/106,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/161, 345/419, 345/427, 463 32- 36
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• 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 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• 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 2300/6653 : for altering the visibility of an object, e.g. preventing the occlusion of an object, partially hiding an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 : for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 : Virtual fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 : characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04748 : Position sensor for rotary movement, e.g. potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 : Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 : with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 : the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 : using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 : Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 : Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 : Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 : Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 : Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 : Perspective computation

Abstract

Three-dimensional image display game system and method for use with a display for displaying an object in a three-dimensional space, including an operation controlling device including an operating member having a base end rotatably supported and a free end operable by an operator. The operation controlling device includes an inclination amount data output detector which detects an inclination amount of the operating member to output inclination amount data. The system further includes direction determining circuitry operable to determine a direction that corresponds to an inclination direction of the operating member based on the inclination amount data, and moving object direction determining circuitry which determines a moving direction of the object in three-dimensional space based upon the direction determined by the direction determining circuitry and a point of view angle at which the object is being viewed by the operator in three-dimensional space. A direction in which the operating member must be moved to cause forward movement of the object is offset from a forward direction of the operation controlling device by an angle corresponding to the point of view angle.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the direction of an object in a processor-managed three-dimensional space via an operating member manipulated by a user, comprising the steps of:

detecting a manipulation of the operating member;

determining, at the time of the manipulation, a moving direction the processor should move the object based on a direction in which the user moves the control member, offset by a camera angle at which the object is being viewed by the user; and

,

moving the object in the three-dimensional space in the above-determined moving direction.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said operating member is a joystick.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional space is a video game space.

4. In a three-dimensional image processing system, including an image processing apparatus connected to a display to generate image data for displaying an object existing in a three-dimensional space on said display according to a program, and an operating member manipulated by a user, a method of controlling the moving of an object, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an inclination direction from said operating member upon manipulation by the user;

determining a moving direction of the object in the three-dimensional space based on the inclination direction and a camera angle at which the object is being viewed by the user at a time when the inclination direction is detected; and

moving the object in the determined moving direction on said display.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein said operating member is a joystick.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein said three-dimensional space is a video game space.

7. A three-dimensional image processing system, including an image processing apparatus connected to a display to generate image data for displaying an object existing in a three-dimensional space on said display according to a program, and an operating member manipulated by a user that controls the moving of an object, wherein:

detecting means detect inclination direction data from said operating member upon manipulation by the user;

determining means for determining a moving direction of the object in the three-dimensional space based on the inclination direction and a camera angle at which the object is being viewed by said user at a time when the inclination direction is detected; and

moving means for moving the object in the determined moving direction on said display.

8. The three-dimensional image processing system of claim 7, wherein said operating member is a joystick.

9. The three-dimensional image processing system of claim 7, wherein said three-dimensional space is a video game space.