Image processor, image processing method, medium and game machine

• US 6,509,896 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Sugimori, Yuji, Kobayashi, Hirotsugu, Ogasawara, Shinichi, Shinyu, Tetsuo, Saikawa, Mitsuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sealey, Lance W.
• Application Number:
  US09/180,166
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 463/35, 369/63
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5258 by dynamically adapting the position of the virtual camera to keep a game object or game character in its viewing frustum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5372 for tagging characters, objects or locations in the game scene, e.g. displaying a circle under the character controlled by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 : for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6684 : by dynamically adapting its position to keep a game object in its viewing frustrum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 : Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 : Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 : Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 : Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

The invention provides an image processing unit for a shooting game in which suitable images can be displayed according to a given situation, and in which more exciting and easy-to-manipulate images are displayed. Coordinate values for objects in three-dimensional virtual space are established on the basis of prerecorded object shape data, view point positions are established on the basis of distances x1 and x2 from predetermined objects defined in; three-dimensional virtual space (for example, the positions are lower when the distance is shorter, and higher when the distance is longer), the coordinate values established as described above are received, and the coordinate values are converted to a visual field coordinate system as seen from the view points established in the manner described above.

Claims

1. An image processing unit, comprising:

shape memory in which object shape data are prerecorded;

a processing component for establishing coordinate values for objects in three-dimensional virtual space based on the shape data stored in said shape memory;

conversion means for receiving the coordinate values established by said processing component, and for converting the coordinate values to a visual field coordinate system based on a prescribed view point;

audio generating means for generating sounds based on the position of said objects in the three-dimensional virtual space;

view point establishment means for establishing the position of said view point on the basis of the sound generating state of said audio generating means; and

image means for adding desired texture to the shape data of the visual field coordinate system converted by said conversion means;

wherein

said view point establishment means directs the line of vision from said view point in the direction in which sounds are generated.

2. An image processing method, comprising:

a first step for establishing the coordinate values of objects in three-dimensional virtual space on the basis of prerecorded object shape data;

a second step for generating sounds on the basis of the position of said objects in the three-dimensional virtual space;

a third step for establishing the position of said view point on the basis of the sound generating state in said second step;

a fourth step for receiving the coordinate values established in said first step, and for converting the coordinate values to a visual field coordinate system based on the view point established in said third step;

a fifth step for adding desired texture to the shape data of the visual field coordinate system converted in said fourth step; and

a sixth step of directing a line of vision from the position of the view point established in the third step in the direction in which the sound is generated in the second step.

3. The medium on which has been recorded a program for executing said first through fifth steps according to claim 2 on a computer.

4. A game machine for simulated games that can be played by a plurality of players, said game machine comprising:

input means operated by said players;

shape memory means in which object shape data are prerecorded;

a processing component for establishing coordinate values for objects in three-dimensional virtual space based on the shape data stored in said shape memory and signals from said input means;

conversion means for receiving the coordinate values established by said processing component, and for converting the coordinate values to a visual field coordinate system based on a prescribed view point;

imaging means for adding predetermined texture to the shape data of the visual field coordinate system converted by said conversion means;

display means for displaying the imaging output of said imaging means;

back-up score calculating means for dividing the screen of said display means into a plurality of areas corresponding to said plurality of players, for matching the plurality of divided areas with said plurality of players, and for calculating the back-up score on the basis of the shooting results on a player'"'"'s own screen and the shooting results on another player'"'"'s screen; and

rating means for rating players according to said back-up score.

5. The game machine according to claim 4, characterized by comprising screen switching means for switching between a subjective screen as viewed from said player and an objective screen where part of the player is displayed on said screen.

6. The medium on which is recorded a program allowing a computer to function as the processing component, conversion means, view point establishment means, imaging means, and back-up score calculating means according to claim 4.

7. The game machine according to claim 4, characterized by comprising switch display means for displaying a switch on said screen, and for switching the screen when the switch is struck by said input means.

8. The game machine according to claim 7, characterized by comprising storyline generating means for displaying a prescribed mark on said screen, and for changing the way the game storyline unfolds when the mark is struck by said input means.

9. A game machine, comprising position calculating means for calculating in real time the coordinate positions of peripheral devices relative to the display screen, and presentation conversion means for converting a game presentation displayed on the display screen on the basis of the calculated results, said peripheral devices include a game gun, a photoreceptor element is disposed near a muzzle of the game gun, the photoreceptor element receives light emitted from the display screen and generates a prescribed photoreceptor signal, said calculating means calculates the position coordinates for the muzzle of the game gun relative to said display screen according to the photoreceptor signal, and a recoil generating device for simulating recoil when said game gun is fired, wherein said recoil generating device is air driven.

10. The game machine according to claim 9, characterized in that said recoil generating device comprises a cylinder, an inertia member which moves inside the cylinder, an air inlet which is connected to the cylinder and through which said inertia member is moved to generate recoil when air is compressed, and an elastic member for returning said inertia member to the position in which it was before it was moved.