Game system, image output device, and image display method

• US 8,613,672 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Mae, Kenichi, Kawai, Eizi, Watanabe, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US13/017,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/53
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization

Abstract

A game system includes an image output device connected to a display device via wiring and a game apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with the image output device. The game apparatus performs a game process and generates an image based on the game process. The generated image is transmitted to the image output device. The image output device receives the image transmitted by the game apparatus. The received image is outputted from the image output device to the display device and displayed on the display device.

Claims

1. A game system comprising an image output device connected to a display device via wiring and a game apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with the image output device and interoperable with a wireless user operating device configured to send wireless signals responsive to optical sensing of a first imaging subject, wherein,

the game apparatus includes:

a game process section for performing a game process in response to the wireless signals sent by the user operating device;

an image generation section for generating an image based on the game process; and

a first communication section for wirelessly transmitting the image to the image output device, and

the image output device includes;

a second communication section for wirelessly receiving the image from the game apparatus,

a first image output section for displaying the image on the display device, and

the first imaging subject,

wherein the first imaging subject comprises plural spaced-apart infrared lights, and

further comprising a second imaging subject connected to the game apparatus and different from the first imaging subject.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus further includes an image compression section for compressing the image generated by the image generation section,

the first communication section transmits the compressed image,

the image output device further includes an image expansion section for expanding the image received by the second communication section, and

the first image output section outputs the expanded image to the display device.

3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the image output device is further connected to an audio output device,

the game apparatus further includes an audio generation section for generating audio based on the game process,

the first communication section further transmits the audio to the image output device,

the second communication section further receives the audio from the game apparatus, and

the image output device further includes an audio output section for outputting the audio from the audio output device.

4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the user operating device is configured to generate operation information based on a player'"'"'s operation and wirelessly output the operation information, wherein the game process section performs the game process based on the operation information outputted by the operating device or based on information generated from the operation information.

5. The game system according to claim 4, wherein,

the image output device further includes a first operation information reception section for receiving the operation information outputted by the user operating device,

the second communication section transmits to the game apparatus the operation information received by the first operation information reception section or information generated from the operation information,

the first communication section receives the information transmitted by the second communication section, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the information received by the first communication section.

6. The game system according to claim 4, wherein,

the game apparatus further includes a second operation information reception section for receiving the operation information outputted by the user operating device, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the operation information received by the second operation information reception section.

7. The game system according to claim 4, wherein the user operating device includes at least one detector selected from among an acceleration sensor, an image pickup device and a gyroscope, and outputs a detection result by the detector as the operation information.

8. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the game system user operating device is equipped with an image pickup section capable of detecting the first imaging subject, the user operating device being capable of outputting an imaging result by the image pickup section, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the imaging result by the image pickup section.

9. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus further includes a readout section for reading information from an external storage medium having a game program stored therein, and

the game process section performs the game process based on the game program being read by the readout section.

10. The game system according to claim 9, wherein the readout section is a disk drive device for reading information from a disk storage medium loadable into the game apparatus.

11. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the game apparatus further includes a network communication section capable of connecting to a network and communicating with an information processing device capable of communication via the network.

12. The game system according to claim 1, wherein,

the game apparatus is connected via wiring to another display device different from the display device connected to the image output device, and

the game apparatus further includes a second image output section for displaying the image generated by the image generation section on the other display device.

13. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the second imaging subject comprises a marker device providing a light output controlled by the game apparatus.

14. The game system according to claim 13, wherein the first imaging subject comprises a marker section providing a light output controlled by the game apparatus.

15. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging subject comprises a marker section providing a light output controlled by the game apparatus.

16. An image display method for use in a game system including an image output device connected to a display device via wiring and a game apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with the image output device, wherein,

the game apparatus performs:

performing a game process in response to signals received from a wireless user operating device configured to send wireless signals responsive to optical sensing of a first imaging subject and a second imaging subject;

generating an image based on the game process; and

wirelessly transmitting the image to the image output device, and

the image output device performs;

wirelessly receiving the image from the game apparatus;

displaying the image on the display device; and

providing the first imaging subject and a second imaging subject connected to the game apparatus and different from the first imaging subject,

wherein providing the first imaging subject comprises radiating infrared radiation from plural spaced-apart infrared lights.

17. A game image output device connected to a display device via wiring and capable of wirelessly communicating with a game apparatus of the type that performs a game process in response to wireless signals sent by a user operating device that is configured to send said wireless signals responsive to optical sensing by the user operating device of a first imaging subject and a second imaging subject, the game image output device comprising:

a communication section for wirelessly receiving a game image from the game apparatus, the game image being generated based on a game process by the game apparatus and being wirelessly transmitted from a communication section of the game apparatus to the game image output device;

a game image output section for displaying the game image on the display device;

the first imaging subject; and

a second imaging subject connected to the game apparatus and different from the first imaging subject,

wherein at least one of the first and second imaging subjects comprises plural spaced-apart infrared lights.

18. The game image output device according to claim 17, wherein,

the game image is subjected to a predetermined compression process before transmission by the game apparatus,

the game image output device further includes a game image expansion section for expanding the game image received by the communication section, and

the game image output section outputs the expanded game image to the display device.

19. The game image output device according to claim 17, being further connectable to an audio output device, wherein,

the communication section further receives a game image generated based on the game process from the game apparatus, and

the game image output device further includes an audio output section for outputting audio from the audio output device.

20. The game image output device according to claim 17, capable of wirelessly communicating with the user operating device capable of generating operation information for use in the game process based on a player'"'"'s operation and wirelessly outputting the operation information, the game image output device further comprising an operation information reception section for receiving the operation information outputted by the operating device, wherein the communication section transmits to the game apparatus the operation information received by the operation information reception section or information generated from the operation information.

21. An entertainment system image output device comprising:

a housing;

a first imaging subject comprising plural spaced-apart markers disposed on the housing, the plural spaced-apart markers being sensible by a handheld controller optical sensor;

a second imaging subject connected to the game apparatus and different from the first imaging subject;

a wireless communications device within the housing, the wireless communications device being configured to wirelessly receive compressed image information that changes in response to sensing of the first and second imaging subjects by the handheld controller optical sensor and to also wirelessly receive audio information;

an image expansion device coupled to the wireless communications device, the image expansion device expanding the received compressed image information; and

an audio-video circuit coupled to the wireless communications device and to the image expansion device, the audio-video circuit outputting expanded received compressed image information to the display and outputting received audio information for audible reproduction.

22. The image output device of claim 21 further including a further wireless communications device disposed within the housing and coupled to the first-mentioned wireless communications device, the further wireless communication device wirelessly receiving sensing signals from the handheld controller optical sensor and providing the received sensing signals to be retransmitted by the first-mentioned wireless communications device.