Game apparatus having general-purpose remote control function

• US 8,696,462 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sawano, Takao, Yamazaki, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US13/020,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20110124414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/24, 463/29, 463 36- 37, 463 39- 40, 463 46- 47, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/141.A, 273/141.R, 273/142.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.C, 273/142.H, 273/142.HA, 273/142.J, 273/142.R, 273/143.A, 273/143.R, 273/148.B, 273/309, 273/460, 381/311, 381/315, 370/913, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 345/2.3, 455/41.2, 455/106, 455/151.2, 455/226.2, 455/300, 455/311, 455347-349, 4554261-4262, 455/500, 455512-513, 455/526, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/575.5, 711102-104, 711/115, 711/163, 714 471- 473, 714 48- 49, 714735-737, 902/23
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

A game apparatus is capable of controlling infrared radiation emitters for radiating infrared light. The game apparatus executes game processing using imaging information on the infrared light obtained from an input device. The input device takes an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation emitters, and also receives an input from a user. The game apparatus comprises pattern storage means; selection means; and radiation control means. The pattern storage means stores at least one signal pattern of an infrared signal usable by a control target device. The selection means selects at least one of the at least one signal pattern stored by the pattern storage means, using the input received by the input device. The radiation control means causes the infrared radiation emitters to output an infrared signal of the signal pattern selected by the selection means.

Claims

1. A method of operating an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising a display, at least one radiation emitter and a processing unit coupled to the display and to the at least one radiation emitter, the method comprising:

(a) controlling the at least one radiation emitter to emit marking radiation;

(b) positioning objects on the display in response to wirelessly-received information concerning said marking radiation; and

(c) controlling the at least one radiation emitter to emit a patterned signal corresponding to a command, said patterned signal remotely controlling at least one target device, said patterned signal being selected from a list of patterned signals corresponding to different instructions for controlling the at least one target device.

2. The method of operating an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one radiation emitter is an infrared light emitter.

3. The method of operating an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one radiation emitter is in proximity to the display.

4. The method of operating an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the information processing apparatus comprises a plurality of radiation emitters.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

at least one radiation emitter; and

a processing unit coupled to the display and to the at least one radiation emitter, the processing unit;

(a) controlling the at least one radiation emitter to emit marking radiation;

(b) positioning objects on the display in response to wirelessly-received information concerning said marking radiation; and

(c) controlling the at least one radiation emitter to emit a patterned signal corresponding to a command, said patterned signal remotely controlling at least one target device, said patterned signal being selected from a list of patterned signals corresponding to different instructions for controlling the at least one target device.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one radiation emitter is an infrared light emitter.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one radiation emitter is in proximity to the display.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises a plurality of radiation emitters.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium having tangibly recorded thereon an information processing program executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus for controlling at least one radiation device for radiating light, for executing information processing using imaging information of the light radiated by the at least one radiation device, the information processing program causing the computer to execute:

(a) controlling the at least one radiation device to emit marking radiation;

(b) positioning objects on a display in response to wirelessly-received information concerning said marking radiation; and

(c) controlling the at least one radiation device to emit a patterned signal corresponding to a command, said patterned signal remotely controlling at least one target device, said patterned signal being selected from a list of patterned signals corresponding to different instructions for controlling the at least one target device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium of claim 9, the information processing apparatus further comprising

an input device for taking an image of the at least one radiation device and also receiving an input from a user.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium of claim 9, the information processing apparatus further

configured to execute information processing using the imaging information of the at least one radiation device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium of claim 9, wherein

the signal pattern represents at least one of an image and a sound to be reproduced by the at least one target device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium of claim 9, wherein

the signal pattern represents an instruction for causing the at least one target device to perform a predetermined motion.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium of claim 9, wherein

the at least one radiation device is an infrared light emitter.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium of claim 9, wherein

the at least one radiation device is in proximity to the display.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium of claim 9, wherein

the information processing apparatus comprises a plurality of radiation devices.

17. An information processing system comprising:

a display;

at least one radiation emitter; and

a processing system coupled to the display and to the at least one radiation emitter, the processing system, including one or more computer processors, configured to;

(a) control the at least one radiation emitter to emit marking radiation;

(b) position objects on the display in response to wirelessly-received information concerning said marking radiation; and

(c) control the at least one radiation emitter to emit a patterned signal corresponding to a command, said patterned signal remotely controlling at least one target device, said patterned signal being selected from a list of patterned signals corresponding to different instructions for controlling the at least one target device.