Sensing ball game machine

• US 7,839,382 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ueshima, Hiromu, Kato, Shuhei
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPPAS, PETER
• Application Number:
  US11/595,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/646 for calculating the trajectory of an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

A sensing baseball game apparatus (10) has a game machine (12) connected to a television monitor (18). A bat input device (32) is provided with an acceleration sensor. An acceleration signal is transmitted by an infrared-ray LED (34) to an infrared-ray receiving part of the game machine (12) whereby the game machine (12) determines a moving speed of the bat input device (32) to calculate a moving parameter of a ball to be batted. Accordingly, a batted ball is moved in the game scene according to the parameter.

Claims

1. A body-sensing game apparatus for playing by first and second game players a game by displaying a character on a screen of a display, comprising:

a first input device to be grasped and moved in a three-dimensional space by said first game player;

a second input device to be grasped and moved in a three-dimensional space by said second game player;

first signal output means incorporated in said first input device to output a first acceleration correlated signal according to an acceleration upon moving said first input device in the three-dimensional space;

second signal output means incorporated in said second input device to output a second acceleration correlated signal according to an acceleration upon moving said second input device in the three-dimensional space;

first control means for making a change on said character in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal; and

second control means for making, in accordance with said second acceleration correlated signal, a change on said character that is made to be changed by said first control means,

wherein said first control means makes, in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal, a change on said character that is made to be changed by said second control means, wherein said first control means determines, when said character hit-back by said second acceleration correlated signal of said second input device reaches a first ball return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of said character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on said first acceleration correlated signal that said first input device was not swung, and

said second control means determines, when said character hit-back by said first acceleration correlated signal of said first input device reaches a second ball-return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of said character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on said second acceleration correlated signal that said second input device was not swung.

2. A body-sensing game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first input device and said second input device are respectively provided with serve switches.

3. A body-sensing game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said game is a ping-pong game, and said first input device and said second input device are respectively racket-type input devices.

4. A method for controlling a body-sensing ball game played on a game apparatus for playing by first and second game players a game by displaying a character on a screen of a display, said game apparatus comprising a first input device to be grasped and moved in a three-dimensional space by said first game player, a second input device to be grasped and moved in a three-dimensional space by said second game player, first signal output means incorporated in said first input device to output a first acceleration correlated signal according to an acceleration upon moving said first input device in the three-dimensional space, and second signal output means incorporated in said second input device to output a second acceleration correlated signal according to an acceleration upon moving said second input device in the three-dimensional space, the method comprising steps of:

making a change on said character in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal;

making, in accordance with said second acceleration correlated signal, a change on said character that is made to be changed by said step of making a change in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal;

making, in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal, a change on said character that is made to be changed by said second control means;

determining, when said character hit-back by said second acceleration correlated signal of said second input device reaches a first ball return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of said character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on said first acceleration correlated signal that said first input device was not swung; and

determining, when said character hit-back by said first acceleration correlated signal of said first input device reaches a second ball-return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of said character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on said second acceleration correlated signal that said second input device was not swung.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program that when executed by a computer performs a process, said process comprising:

displaying a character on a screen of a display;

receiving a first acceleration correlated signal corresponding to an acceleration of a first input device grasped and moved in a three-dimensional space by a first game player;

receiving a second acceleration correlated signal corresponding to an acceleration of a second input device grasped and moved in a three-dimensional space by a second game player;

making a change on said character in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal;

making, in accordance with said second acceleration correlated signal, a change on said character that is made to be changed by said step of making a change in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal;

making, in accordance with said first acceleration correlated signal, a change on said character that is made to be changed by said step of making a change in accordance with the second acceleration correlated signal;

determining, when said character hit-back by said second acceleration correlated signal of said second input device reaches a first ball return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of said character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on said first acceleration correlated signal that said first input device was not swung; and

determining, when said character hit-back by said first acceleration correlated signal of said first input device reaches a second ball-return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of said character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on said second acceleration correlated signal that said second input device was not swung.

6. A body-sensing ball game apparatus for playing by a game player a game by displaying a ball character on a screen of a display, comprising:

an input device to be grasped and moved in a three dimensional space by a game player;

a signal output unit incorporated in the input device to output an acceleration correlated signal according to an acceleration upon moving the input device in the three dimensional space; and

a control unit that causes a change of the ball character being displayed on the screen on the basis of the acceleration correlated signal,

wherein the control unit determines, when the ball character hit-back by an opponent player reaches a ball return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of the ball character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on the acceleration correlated signal that the input device was not swung.

7. A body-sensing ball game apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the input device includes a serve switch.

8. A method for controlling a body-sensing game played by a game player on a game apparatus for playing a game by displaying a ball character on a screen of a display, the game apparatus comprising an input device to be grasped and moved in a three dimensional space by a game player;

and a signal output unit incorporated in the input device to output an acceleration correlated signal according to an acceleration upon moving the input device in the three dimensional space, the method comprising steps of;

causing a change of the ball character being displayed on the screen on the basis of the acceleration correlated signal; and

determining, when the ball character hit-back by an opponent player reaches a ball return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of the ball character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on the acceleration correlated signal that the input device was not swung.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program that when executed by a computer performs a process, the process comprising:

displaying a ball character on a screen of a display;

receiving an acceleration correlated signal corresponding to an acceleration of a a first input device grasped and moved in a three-dimensional space by a first game player;

causing a change of the ball character being displayed on the screen on the basis of the acceleration correlated signal; and

determining, when the ball character hit-back by an opponent player reaches a ball return limit position, an out ball or safe ball in accordance with whether or not a reach position of the ball character is on a table character, at a time it is determined based on the acceleration correlated signal that the input device was not swung.