Storage medium storing a load detecting program and load detecting apparatus

• US 9,421,456 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okamoto, Motoi, Kasamatsu, Shigehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Application Number:
  US12/230,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,906 Days
• Field of Search: 463/3, 463/16, 463/20, 463 35- 37, 463/40, 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, 273460-461, 345/475, 345/606, 472/15, 473451-452, 482/1, 482/9, 482/54, 482/70, 482/78, 482/91, 482/121, 482/140, 725/38, 725/40, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• 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 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

A load detecting apparatus includes a load controller. In order to identifying predetermined number of motions performed on the load controller by the player, for example, a condition of a ratio of load values to a body weight value and a condition relating to a position of a center of gravity are defined in advance. The ratio of the detected load values to the body weight value and the position of the center of gravity are calculated, and on the basis of the ratio and the position of the center of gravity, a motion performed on the load controller by the player is determined.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a load detecting program to be executed in a computer of a load detecting apparatus provided with a support board which has two or more load sensors spaced with each other, and on which a player puts his or her foot, said load detecting program causes said computer to execute instructions comprising:

detecting load values put on said support board measured by said two or more load sensors;

calculating a ratio of said detected load values to a body weight value of said player;

calculating a position of the center of gravity based on said detected load values, and

determining a motion performed on said support board by said player on the basis of said ratio and said position of the center of gravity.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein whether or not a predetermined motion is performed on the basis of said ratio and said position of the center of gravity is determined.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined motion in a past is performed in a past as a determination condition.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 2, wherein said load detecting program causes said computer to further execute instructions comprising:

instructing said player to perform any one motion out of a plurality of motions as said predetermined motion, and

counting an elapsed time from when an instruction is given, wherein

whether or not the motion instructed is performed while said elapsed time falls within a predetermined time is determined.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein which motion is performed out of a plurality of motions set in advance on the basis of said ratio and said position of the center of gravity is specified.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein said position of center of gravity in a right direction and a left direction is calculated based on a difference between load values at a right of a player and load values at a left of the player, and said position of center of gravity in a back and forth direction is calculated based on a difference between load values in a front of the player and load values in a rear of the player.

7. A load detecting apparatus provided with a support board which has two or more load sensors spaced with each other, and on which a player puts his or her foot, comprising:

a load value detecting unit for detecting load values put on said support board measured by said two or more load sensors;

a ratio calculating unit for calculating a ratio of said load values detected by said load detecting unit to a body weight value of said player;

a position of the center of gravity calculating unit for calculating a position of the center of gravity based on said load values detected by said load detecting unit, and

a motion determining unit for determining, via one or more processors, a motion performed on said support board by said player on the basis of said ratio and said position of the center of gravity.

8. A load detecting system comprising:

a load detecting apparatus comprising;

a support board having two or more load sensors spaced with each other, the support board configured to allow a player to put his/her foot on the support board;

a data transmission device for transmitting data from the load detecting apparatus; and

a processing device comprising;

a load value detecting unit for detecting load values put on said support board measured by said two or more load sensors;

a ratio calculating unit for calculating a ratio of said load values detected by said load detecting unit to a body weight value of said player;

a position of the center of gravity calculating unit for calculating a position of the center of gravity based on said load values detected by said load detecting unit, and

a motion determining unit for determining a motion performed on said support board by said player on the basis of said ratio and said position of the center of gravity.

9. A method for processing load values, via one or more processors, using a load detecting apparatus having a support board which has two or more load sensors spaced with each other, and on which a player puts his or her foot, the method comprising:

detecting load values put on said support board measured by said two or more load sensors;

calculating a ratio of said detected load values to a body weight value of said player;

calculating a position of the center of gravity based on said detected load values; and

determining a motion performed on said support board by said player on the basis of said ratio and said position of the center of gravity.