Storage medium storing a load detecting program and load detecting apparatus

• US 10,343,058 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• 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): Torimiro, Adetokunbo O
• Application Number:
  US15/207,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20160317914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1, 463 20, 463 22, 463 36, 463 39
• 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, and on which a player puts his or her foot, said load detecting program comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the said computer to:

detect load values applied to said support board measured by said two or more load sensors;

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

determine a motion performed on said support board by said player on the basis of the detected load values and the calculated position of the center of gravity.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein said motion in a past is performed in a past as a determination condition.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein said load detecting program further causes said computer to:

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

count 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 specified time is determined.

4. 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 is specified on the basis of the detected load values and the calculated position of the center of gravity.

5. 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.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein said determined motion is a motion of putting a foot on and down from the support board.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein said determined motion is a motion of lifting a thigh on the support board by the player.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein a body weight value of the player is calculated by summing the load values measured by said two or more load sensors.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 8, wherein a ratio of load values to the body weight value of the player is calculated by dividing the sum of the detected load values by the body weight value.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 9, wherein the motion is determined based on the ratio of load values and the position of the center of gravity.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the load detecting program according to claim 1, wherein the player is instructed to perform a specific motion, and the specific motion is determined as being performed based on the detected load values and the calculated position of the center of gravity during a specified period of time.

12. A load detecting apparatus operatively coupled to a support board which has two or more load sensors, and on which a player puts his or her foot, the load detecting apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the load detecting apparatus to;

detect load values applied to said support board measured by said two or more load sensors;

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

determine a motion performed on said support board by said player on the basis of the detected load values and the calculated position of the center of gravity.

13. A load detecting system comprising:

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

an information processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry having at least one processor, the processing circuitry configured to;

detect load values applied to said support board measured by said two or more load sensors,

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

determine a motion performed on said support board by said player on the basis of the detected load values and the calculated position of the center of gravity.

14. A method for processing load values using a load detecting apparatus having a support board which has two or more load sensors, and on which a player puts his or her foot, the method comprising:

detecting load values applied to said support board measured by said two or more load sensors;

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 the detected load values and the calculated position of the center of gravity.