Game Device

• US 20120157201A1
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mizutani, Takashi, Yamada, Yuji, Takahashi, Tomoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A frame image acquiring unit acquires a captured image of an input device that is provided with an illuminator. A device information deriving unit derives position information of the input device from the captured image. An input receiving unit acquires attitude information of the input device. An operation object control unit controls the motion of an operation object in accordance with the position information and the attitude information of the input device. A non-operation object control unit controls the motion of a non-operation object. A collision control unit determines the motion of at least one of the operation object and the non-operation object in accordance with a collision mode for the collision between the operation object and the non-operation object.

Claims

1. A game device, comprising:

an image acquiring unit operative to acquire a captured image of an input device that is provided with an illuminator;

a device information deriving unit operative to derive position information of the input device from the captured image;

a receiving unit operative to acquire attitude information of the input device;

an operation object control unit operative to control the motion of an operation object in accordance with the position information and the attitude information of the input device;

a non-operation object control unit operative to control the motion of a non-operation object;

an image generating unit operative to generate a display screen image in accordance with the motion of the operation object and the motion of the non-operation object; and

a collision control unit operative to detect a collision between the operation object and the non-operation object, wherein

the collision control unit determines the motion of at least one of the operation object and the non-operation object in accordance with a collision mode for the collision between the operation object and the non-operation object.

2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the collision control unit determines the collision mode based on the motion of the operation object at the time of the collision.

3. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the collision control unit determines the collision mode based on the velocity or the acceleration of the operation object at the time of the collision.

4. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the non-operation object control unit allows the non-operation object to move in accordance with the motion determined by the collision control unit.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a computer program, which when executed on a processing device causes the processing device to exhibit functional modules, comprising:

a module operative to acquire a captured image of an input device that is provided with an illuminator;

a module operative to derive position information of the input device from the captured image;

a module operative to acquire attitude information of the input device;

a module operative to control the motion of an operation object in accordance with the position information and the attitude information of the input device;

a module operative to control the motion of a non-operation object;

a module operative to generate a display screen image in accordance with the motion of the operation object and the motion of the non-operation object;

a module operative to detect a collision between the operation object and the non-operation object;

a module operative to determine a collision mode for the collision between the operation object and the non-operation object; and

a module operative to determine the motion of at least one of the operation object and the non-operation object in accordance with the collision mode.

6. (canceled)

7. A game device comprising:

a receiving unit operative to acquire attitude information of an input device that is provided with an illuminator;

an operation object control unit operative to control the motion of an operation object in a virtual space;

a non-operation object control unit operative to control the motion of a non-operation object in the virtual space;

a searching direction determining unit operative to determine a direction for searching for a non-operation object based on the position of the operation object and attitude information of the input device;

a determining unit operative to determine whether a non-operation object exists in the searching direction; and

a lighting control unit operative to control the lighting of the illuminator if the determining unit determines that a non-operation object exists.

8. The game device according to claim 7, wherein

the determining unit acquires, upon determining that a non-operation object exists, status information of the non-operation object, and

the lighting control unit controls the lighting of the illuminator based on the status information.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a computer program, which when executed on a processing device causes the processing device to exhibit functional modules, comprising:

a module operative to acquire attitude information of an input device that is provided with an illuminator;

an module operative to control the motion of an operation object in a virtual space;

a module operative to control the motion of a non-operation object in the virtual space;

a module operative to determine a direction for searching for a non-operation object based on the position of the operation object and attitude information of the input device;

a module operative to determine whether a non-operation object exists in the searching direction; and

a module operative to control the lighting of the illuminator if it is determined that a non-operation object exists.

10. (canceled)