Image control apparatus

• US 5,229,756 A
• Filed: 05/14/1992
• Issued: 07/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Kosugi, Naohiro, Semba, Youji, Yoshimura, Katsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US07/885,051
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 273/85 G, 273/433, 273/438, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• 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 13/428 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 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

An image control apparatus which is essentially composed of a movement detector, a judging device, and a controller wherein the movement detector detects the movement of the operator and generates a movement signal corresponding to the detected movement of the operator. The judgement device determines the state of the operator on the basis of the movement signal provided by the movement detector. The controller controls the image in accordance with the movement signal and the judgement of the judgement device. The movement detector, judging device and the controller cooperate so as to control the image in accordance with the movement of the operator.

Claims

1. An image control apparatus for controlling an image displayed on a display device, comprising:

movement detection means for detecting a movement of an operator and for generating a movement signal corresponding to said movement of the operator, said movement detection means being adapted to be attached to a portion of the body of said operator adjacent to a joint and detecting continuously the bending angle of the joint;

judgement means for judging a state of said operator based on said movement signal; and

controlling means for controlling said image in accordance with the judging result of said judging means and preceding image information displayed on said display device,

whereby said image is varied in response to said movement of said operator.

2. An image control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movement detection means detects the velocity of said movement of said operator.

3. An image control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said operator'"'"'s body portion is an elbow.

4. An image control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movement detection means further comprises means, adapted to be grasped by the hand of said operator, for detecting movement of said hand.

5. An image control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movement detection means further comprises means for detecting foot movement of said operator.

6. An image control apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising storing means for storing various image data representing various situations in accordance with a state of said operator.

7. An image control apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said controlling means selects an image datum from said various image data stored in said storing means.

8. An image control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movement detection means detects the velocity of movement of said operator and the position of said body portion, and wherein said judgment means judges said state of said operator based on a combination of said velocity and said position.

9. An image control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image which is varied in response to movement of said operator includes images not corresponding to said operator.

10. An video game controller for controlling a video game displayed on a display device, said video game controller comprising:

a plurality of attachments adapted to be attached to a plurality of body portions of an operator adjacent plural joints of the operator;

movement detection means for continuously detecting angular movements of said joints of said operator based on displacements of said attachments;

control signal generating means for generating control signals in accordance with movements detected by said movement detection means; and

means for controlling said video game displayed on the display device in response to said control signals.