Computer readable storage medium storing information processing program and information processing apparatus

• US 8,707,768 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Miyanaga, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US13/289,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 73 6501- 6509
• US Class Current: 73/65.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0334 Foot operated pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An information processing apparatus processes an input signal from a load controller including an input surface and a load detecting means for detecting a load value applied to the input surface. The information processing apparatus detects a center-of-gravity position of a load applied to the input surface of the load controller based on the input signal from the load detecting means. The information processing apparatus determines whether or not the load value applied to the load controller is smaller than a predetermined value, based on the load value detected by the load detecting means, and when the result of determination is positive, executes a menu operation process based on the center-of-gravity position.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions for use with an information processing apparatus that is configured to process a signal which is based on a load value output from a first input device including an input surface and a load sensor that is configured to detect the load value applied to the input surface, the stored computer readable instructions comprising instructions configured to:

determine a center-of-gravity position of a load applied to the input surface of the first input device based on the signal output from the first input device;

perform a determination of whether or not the load value applied to the input surface of the first input device is smaller than a predetermined value, based on the signal output from the first input device; and

execute a predetermined process based on the center-of-gravity position when a result of the determination of the load value is positive,

wherein execution of the predetermined process is further based on comparing the center-of-gravity position to a plurality of areas that correspond to sections of the input surface.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first input device outputs the load value detected by the load sensor,

the center-of-gravity position is calculated based on the load value, and

the determination is further based on the load value detected by the load sensor.

3. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first input device includes a plurality of load sensors, each one of the load sensors configured to detect a load value,

the center-of-gravity position is determined based on the load values detected by the plurality of load sensors, and

the load value applied to the input surface is substantially the sum of the load values of the plurality of detected load values.

4. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured to

output a display indicating that an operation using the first input device is available, when the result of the determination of the load value applied to the input surface is positive.

5. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured to execute a menu operation process for selecting and deciding an item as the predetermined process.

6. An apparatus for processing a signal which is based on a load value output from a first input device that includes an input surface and at least one load sensor that is configured to detect the load value applied to the input surface, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system that includes at least one processor, the processing system configured to;

determine a center-of-gravity position of a load applied to the input surface of the first input device based on the signal output from the first input device;

perform a determination of whether or not the load value applied to the input surface of the first input device is smaller than a predetermined value;

execute a predetermined process based on the center-of-gravity position when a result of the determination is the load value being smaller than the predetermined value;

assign a plurality of areas to portions of the input surface; and

determine when the center-of-gravity position is within at least one of the plurality of areas,

wherein the execution of the predetermined process is further based the determination of when the center-of-gravity position is within at least one of the plurality of areas.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing system is further configured to receive, from the first input device, the load value detected by the at least one load sensor,

wherein the center-of-gravity position is calculated based on the received load value, and

the load value applied to the input surface that is used in the determination is based on the load value detected by the at least one load sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one load sensor is a plurality of load sensors that respectively output a load sensor value,

the center-of-gravity position is determined based on the load sensor value detected by the plurality of load sensors, and

the load value applied to the input surface is substantially the sum of the load sensor value of the plurality of detected load values.

9. An information processing system that is configured to process a signal which is based on a load value output from a first input device that includes an input surface and at least one load sensor that is configured to detect the load value applied to the input surface, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system that includes at least one processor, the processing system configured to;

determine a center-of-gravity position of a load applied to the input surface of the first input device based on the signal output from the first input device;

perform a determination of whether or not the load value applied to the input surface of the first input device is smaller than a predetermined value; and

execute a predetermined process based on the center-of-gravity position when a result of the determination is the load value being smaller than the predetermined value;

assign a plurality of areas to portions of the input surface; and

determine when the center-of-gravity position is within at least one of the plurality of areas,

wherein the execution of the predetermined process is further based the determination of when the center-of-gravity position is within at least one of the plurality of areas.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing system is further configured to receive, from the first input device, the load value detected by the at least one load sensor,

wherein the center-of-gravity position is calculated based on the received load value, and

the load value applied to the input surface is based on the load value detected by the at least one load sensor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one load sensor is a plurality of load sensors that respectively output a load sensor value,

the center-of-gravity position is determined based on the load sensor value detected by the plurality of load sensors, and

the load value applied to the input surface is substantially the sum of the load sensor value of the plurality of detected load values.

12. A computer implemented method for use with an information processing apparatus that is configured to process a signal which is based on a load value output from a first input device including an input surface and a load sensor that is configured to detect the load value applied to the input surface, the method comprising:

determining a center-of-gravity position of a load applied to the input surface of the first input device based on the signal output from the first input device;

performing a determination of whether or not the load value applied to the input surface of the first input device is smaller than a predetermined value, based on the signal output from the first input device;

executing a predetermined process, on a processing system that includes at least one processor, based on the center-of-gravity position when a result of the determination of the load value is positive;

assigning a plurality of areas to portions of the input surface; and

comparing the center-of-gravity position to at least one of the plurality of areas to make a determination of when the center-of-gravity position is within at least one of the plurality of areas,

wherein executing the predetermined process is further based the determination.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one load sensor is a plurality of load sensors that respectively output a load sensor value,

the center-of-gravity position is determined based on the load sensor values output by the plurality of load sensors, and

the load value applied to the input surface is substantially the sum of the output load sensor values.

14. An input device, comprising:

an input surface that is configured to accept a load value applied thereto, where subsections of the input surface are respectively associated with a plurality of areas;

at least one load sensor that is configured to detect the load value applied to the input surface; and

a communicator that is set to communicate a signal based on the detected load value to a processing system that is configured to;

determine a center-of-gravity position of a load applied to the input surface of the input device based on the communicated signal;

determine when the load value applied to the input surface of the input device is smaller than a predetermined value;

execute a process based on the determined center-of-gravity position when the load value is smaller than the predetermined value; and

compare the center-of-gravity position to at least one of the plurality of areas to make a determination of when the center-of-gravity position is within at least one of the plurality of areas,

wherein executing the predetermined process is further based the determination.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein:

the at least one load sensor is a plurality of load sensors that are respectively configured to output a load sensor value,

the center-of-gravity position is determined based on the load sensor value output by the plurality of load sensors, and

the load value applied to the input surface is substantially the sum of the output load sensor values.