Soccer game apparatus

• US 7,335,105 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ueshima, Hiromu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/223,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 8, 463 30- 43, 463/46, 463/47, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/440, 273/440.1, 273/445, 273/447, 273/451, 273/454
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

A soccer game apparatus includes a game processor, and the game processor allows at least a character of a soccer ball to be displayed on a television monitor screen. An signal outputting device is attached to a player'"'"'s leg, and when the player moves the leg, an acceleration correlation signal correlated with an acceleration as of that time is output from the signal outputting device. Upon receipt of the acceleration correlation signal by an infrared signal, for example, the game processor causes a change to the character of the soccer ball displayed on the screen.

Claims

1. A soccer game apparatus for playing a soccer game by displaying on a television monitor screen at least a character of a soccer ball, comprising:

a signal outputting device that attaches to a player'"'"'s leg and outputting an acceleration correlation signal correlated with an acceleration generated by movement of a player'"'"'s leg to which said signal outputting device is attached, wherein said signal outputting device comprises a piezoelectric buzzer element having a main surface; and

a game processor which receives said acceleration correlation signal so as to cause a change to said character of the soccer ball displayed on said screen, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer element is arranged on said signal outputting device such that when said signal outputting device is attached to a player'"'"'s leg, said main surface of said piezoelectric buzzer element becomes perpendicular to a moving direction of said player'"'"'s leg.

2. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal outputting device includes a digital signal generating means which generates a digital signal in accordance with said acceleration correlation signal, and a digital signal transmitting means which transmits said digital signal to said game processor.

3. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said digital signal transmitting means includes a wireless signal transmitting means which wirelessly transmits said digital signal to said game processor.

4. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric buzzer element includes a metal plate and a piezoelectric ceramic plate provided on said metal plate, and is arranged on said signal outputting device in such a manner that a main surface of said piezoelectric ceramic plate is perpendicular to a displacing direction of said leg upon being attached to said leg.

5. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said game processor

determines that a kick has been performed by said player at a time that said acceleration correlation signal received from said signal outputting device reaches a peak,

determines that the player missed the ball with the kick when coordinates of the soccer ball do not exist within kickable range at said time,

evaluates a moving parameter of the soccer ball when the coordinates of the soccer ball exist within said kickable range at said time, and

moves the character of the soccer ball on said screen in accordance with said moving parameter.

6. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said game processor evaluates respective axial speeds of the soccer ball after kicking on the basis of the respective axial coordinates of the soccer ball at said time and a kicking speed calculated from a maximum value of the acceleration correlation signal, and moves the character of the soccer ball on said screen on the basis of said respective axial speeds.

7. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said game processor updates respective axial coordinates of the soccer ball based on said respective axial speeds of the ball and a gravitational acceleration.

8. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said game processor updates a coordinate of a goalkeeper displayed on the screen to an arbitrary position, and determines whether or not the goalkeeper catches the soccer ball based on said coordinate of the goalkeeper and at least a part of respective axial coordinates of the soccer ball.

9. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said game processor determines whether or not said goalkeeper catches said soccer ball by determining whether a Z coordinate of the soccer ball has a predetermined relationship with a Z coordinate of the goalkeeper and an XY coordinate of the soccer ball is included within a predetermined range of an XY coordinate of the goalkeeper.

10. A soccer game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said game processor further determines when it is determined that said goalkeeper could not catch said ball, whether or not the Z coordinates of said soccer ball has reached a Z coordinates plane including a goal, and if it is determined that the Z coordinates of said soccer ball has reached said Z coordinates plane, further determines whether or not the XY coordinates are included in an XY coordinates range of said goal so as to determine a shoot failure in a case that the XY coordinates are not included in the XY coordinates range of said goal or a shoot successful in a case that the XY coordinates are included in the XY coordinates range of said goal.