Game apparatus having general-purpose remote control function

• US 7,905,782 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sawano, Takao, Yamazaki, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/598,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 5, 463 7- 9, 463 30- 34, 463 36- 43, 463 49- 57, 273/108.1, 273/127.R, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/309, 273/317.1, 273/340, 273/348, 273361-367, 273/461, 348/14.15, 348/39, 348/42, 348 47- 52, 348/115, 348/117, 348/121, 348135-137, 348/141, 348/211.14, 348/576, 348588-589, 348/719, 348/721, 348/E13.004, 348E13064-E13067, 717168-178, 345 11- 13, 345 21- 23, 345 31- 34, 345/24, 345/419, 345467-469, 345/473, 345/539, 345543-544, 345/625, 345/636, 345/638, 345653-656, 345664-666, 345682-683, 345/686, 345949-950, 345/FOR.139, 345/FOR.153, 434 37- 38, 434 43- 44, 434/69, 434/118, 434/240, 434256-257, 37524015-24016, 375/240.25
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

A game apparatus is capable of controlling infrared radiation means for radiating infrared light. The game apparatus executes game processing using imaging information on the infrared light obtained from an input device. The input device takes an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation means, and also receives an input from a user. The game apparatus comprises pattern storage means; selection means; and radiation control means. The pattern storage means stores at least one signal pattern of an infrared signal usable by a control target device. The selection means selects at least one of the at least one signal pattern stored by the pattern storage means, using the input received by the input device. The radiation control means causes the infrared radiation means to output an infrared signal of the signal pattern selected by the selection means.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, for controlling infrared radiation devices for radiating infrared light, for executing information processing using imaging information on the infrared light obtained wirelessly from an input device for taking an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation devices and also receiving an input from a user, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a pattern storage memory device configured to store at least one signal pattern corresponding to a respective infrared signal emitted wirelessly by said infrared radiation devices to control a control target device;

selection programmed logic circuitry configured to select at least one of the at least one signal patterns stored by the pattern storage memory device in response to receiving a respective input to the input device from the user; and

radiation control programmed logic circuitry configured to cause the infrared radiation devices to wirelessly output the infrared signal corresponding to the signal pattern selected by the selection programmed logic circuitry, said signal pattern sent from the information processing apparatus to the infrared radiation devices, and said infrared signal being wirelessly received by the control target device, wherein

the at least one signal pattern corresponds to the respective input to the input device from the user, the input configured to control the operation of the control target device.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infrared signal represents at least one of an image and a sound to be reproduced by the control target device.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infrared signal represents an instruction for causing the control target device to perform a predetermined motion.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising information processing programmed logic circuitry configured to execute the information processing using the imaging information on the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation devices.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infrared signal represents an instruction for causing the control target device to perform a predetermined motion.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the control target device is a display device connected to the information processing apparatus for displaying a predetermined image obtained as a result of the information processing; and

when a predetermined button provided in the input device is operated, the selection programmed logic circuitry selects a signal pattern for turning on the display device.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising motion determination programmed logic circuitry configured to determine a motion of a character appearing in a virtual space generated by the information processing, using the input used for selecting the signal pattern.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising display control programmed logic circuitry configured to cause a display device to display an image representing the input used for selecting the signal pattern.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

input information storage locations for storing input history data representing a history of inputs used for selecting the signal pattern; and

information data determination programmed logic circuitry configured to determine information data to be used for the information processing based on the input history data.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising motion determination programmed logic circuitry configured to determine a motion of a character appearing in a virtual space, using the input received by the input device;

wherein the selection programmed logic circuitry selects a signal pattern using the input used for determining the motion of the character.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

input information storage locations for storing input history data representing a history of inputs used for determining the motion of the character;

wherein the selection programmed logic circuitry selects a signal pattern based on the input history data.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising information processing programmed logic circuitry configured to execute the information processing using the imaging information on the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation devices.

13. An information processing apparatus, for controlling infrared radiation devices for radiating infrared light, for executing information processing using imaging information on the infrared light obtained wirelessly from an input device for taking an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation devices and also receiving an input from a user, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a pattern storage memory device configured to store at least one signal pattern corresponding to a respective infrared signal emitted wirelessly by said infrared radiation devices to control a control target device;

selection programmed logic circuitry configured to select at least one of the at least one signal patterns stored by the pattern storage memory device in response to receiving a respective input to the input device from the user; and

radiation control programmed logic circuitry configured to cause the infrared radiation devices to wirelessly output the infrared signal corresponding to the signal pattern selected by the selection programmed logic circuitry, said signal pattern sent from the information processing apparatus to the infrared radiation devices, and said infrared signal being wirelessly received by the control target device, wherein

the at least one signal pattern corresponds to the respective input to the input device from the user, the input configured to control the operation of the control target device, wherein

the infrared signal represents an instruction for causing the control target device to perform a predetermined motion,

the information processing apparatus further comprising;

mode switching programmed logic circuitry configured to switch a device operation mode and information processing mode to each other at a predetermined timing; and

information processing programmed logic circuitry configured to execute the information processing using the imaging information only in the information processing mode;

wherein;

the selection programmed logic circuitry selects a signal pattern only in the device operation mode; and

the radiation control programmed logic circuitry continuously causes the infrared radiation devices to output the infrared light in the information processing mode.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

in the device operation mode, a part of a plurality of buttons provided in the input device are each associated with a signal pattern to be selected by the selection programmed logic circuitry when the respective button is operated; and

the mode switching programmed logic circuitry switches the device operation mode to the information processing mode under at least one of the condition that there has been no input to any button provided in the input device for a predetermined time duration and the condition that a button which is not associated with any signal pattern has been operated.

15. An information processing apparatus, for controlling infrared radiation devices for radiating infrared light, for executing information processing using imaging information on the infrared light obtained wirelessly from an input device for taking an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation devices and also receiving an input from a user, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a pattern storage memory device configured to store at least one signal pattern corresponding to a response infrared signal emitted wirelessly by said infrared radiation devices to control a control target device;

selection programmed logic circuitry configured to select at least one of the at least one signal patterns stored by the pattern storage memory device in response to receiving respective input to input device from the user; and

radiation control programmed logic circuitry configured to cause the infrared radiation devices to wirelessly output the infrared signal corresponding to the signal pattern selected by the selection programmed logic circuitry, said signal pattern sent from the information processing apparatus to the infrared radiation devices, and said infrared signal wirelessly received by the control target device, wherein

the at least one signal pattern corresponds to the respective to the input device from the user, the input configured to control the operation of the control target device, wherein

the signal pattern is selected using the input received by the input device, wherein the infrared signal represents an instruction for causing the control target device to perform a predetermined motion, the information processing apparatus further comprising;

mode switching programmed logic circuitry configured to switch a device operation mode and information processing mode to each other at a predetermined timing; and

information processing programmed logic circuitry configured to execute the information processing using the imaging information only in the information processing mode;

wherein;

the selection programmed logic circuitry selects a signal pattern only in the device operation mode; and

the radiation control programmed logic circuitry continuously causes the infrared radiation devices to output the infrared light in the information processing mode.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

in the device operation mode, a part of a plurality of buttons provided in the input device are each associated with a signal pattern to be selected by the selection programmed logic circuitry when the respective button is operated; and

the mode switching programmed logic circuitry switches the device operation mode to the information processing mode under at least one of the condition that there has been no input to any button provided in the input device for a predetermined time duration and the condition that a button which is not associated with any signal pattern has been operated.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium having tangibly recorded thereon an information processing program executable by a computer Of an information processing apparatus, for controlling infrared radiation devices for radiating infrared light, for executing information processing using imaging information on the infrared light obtained wirelessly from an input device for taking an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation devices and also receiving an input from a user, the information processing program causing the computer to execute:

selection for selecting at least one of at least one signal pattern which are stored by a storage device, of the information processing apparatus in response to receiving a respective input to the input device from the user, said at least one of at least one signal pattern corresponding to an infrared signal emitted wirelessly by said infrared radiation devices to control a control target device; and

radiation control for causing the infrared radiation devices to wirelessly output the infrared signal corresponding to the signal pattern selected in the selection, said signal pattern sent from the information processing apparatus to the infrared radiation devices, and said infrared signal being wirelessly received by the control target device, wherein

the at least one signal pattern corresponds to the respective input to the input device from the user, the input configured to control the operation of the control target device.

18. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the infrared signal represents at least one of an image and a sound to be reproduced by the control target device.

19. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the infrared signal represents an instruction for causing the control target device to perform a predetermined motion.

20. An information processing system including an input device, having a plurality of types of operation keys and a wireless communication function, and an information processing apparatus wirelessly communicable with the input device, the information processing system comprising an infrared radiation device connected to the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes:

a memory for storing at least one signal pattern corresponding to an infrared light signal emitted wirelessly by said infrared radiation device to control a control target device; and

infrared control programmed logic circuitry for, in accordance with key information corresponding to an operation key which is transmitted from the input device by wireless communication, reading a signal pattern corresponding to the key information from the memory in response to receiving a respective input to the input device from the user and controlling the infrared radiation device to output the infrared light signal based on the signal pattern to control the control target device, wherein the signal corresponds to the respective input to the input device from the user, the input configured to control the operation of the control target device.

21. An information processing system according to claim 20, wherein:

the input device includes;

an imaging camera for taking an image of the infrared light which is output from the infrared radiation device; and

position information transmission programmed logic circuitry configured to transmit position information on the position of the infrared light on an image taken by the imaging camera to the information processing apparatus;

the information processing apparatus includes information processing execution programmed logic circuitry configured to execute information processing based on the position information and the key information received from the input device; and

the infrared control programmed logic circuitry reads a signal pattern from the memory in accordance with the state of the information processing, and controls the infrared radiation device to output the infrared light based on the signal pattern.

22. A method for controlling infrared radiation devices for radiating infrared light, for executing information processing by an information processing apparatus using imaging information on the infrared light obtained wirelessly from an input device for taking an image of the infrared light radiated by the infrared radiation devices and also receiving an input from a user, the method comprising:

selecting at least one of at least one signal pattern which are stored by a storage device of the information processing apparatus in response to receiving a respective input to the input device from the user, said at least one of at least one signal pattern corresponding to an infrared signal emitted wirelessly by said infrared radiation devices to control a control target device; and

causing the infrared radiation devices to wirelessly output the infrared signal corresponding to the signal pattern selected in the selection, said signal pattern sent from the information processing apparatus to the infrared radiation devices, and said infrared signal being wirelessly received by the control target device, wherein

the at least one signal pattern corresponds to the respective input to the input device from the user, the input configured to control the operation of the control target device.