Game apparatus having general-purpose remote control function

• US 8,858,336 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• 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): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US14/187,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/39, 463/40
• 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 emitters 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 emitters, 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 emitters to output an infrared signal of the signal pattern selected by the selection means.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for use with a display device, comprising:

a handheld control unit having manually operable controls thereon and having an inertial sensor therein, the inertial sensor providing an output indicating at least aspects of orientation of the handheld control unit for use in positioning objects on displays of the display device;

a processing unit operatively coupled to the handheld control unit and the manually operable controls; and

a radiation emitter operatively coupled to the processing unit;

the processing unit controlling the radiation emitter to emit a patterned radiation signal corresponding to a command, the patterned radiation signal remotely controlling at least the display device, the processing unit selecting the patterned radiation signal from a plurality of patterned radiation signals corresponding to different display device commands.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the radiation emitter is an infrared light emitter.

3. A method of operating an information processing apparatus for use with a display device, the information processing apparatus comprising a processing unit and a handheld control unit having manually operable controls thereon and having an inertial sensor therein, the inertial sensor providing an output indicating at least aspects of orientation of the handheld control unit for use in positioning objects on displays of the display device, the method comprising:

(a) operatively coupling the processing unit to the handheld control unit and the manually operable controls;

(b) operatively coupling a radiation emitter to the processing unit;

(c) the processing unit controlling the radiation emitter to emit a patterned radiation signal corresponding to a command, the patterned radiation signal remotely controlling at least the display device, and selecting the patterned radiation signal from a plurality of patterned radiation signals corresponding to different display commands.

4. The method of operating an information processing apparatus for use with a display device according to claim 3, wherein

the radiation emitter is an infrared light emitter.

5. 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, the information processing apparatus comprising a handheld control unit having manually operable controls thereon and having an inertial sensor therein, the inertial sensor providing an output indicating at least aspects of orientation of the handheld control unit for use in positioning objects on displays of a display device, the information processing program causing the computer to execute:

(a) operatively coupling the computer to the handheld control unit and the manually operable controls;

(b) operatively coupling a radiation emitter to the computer;

(c) the computer controlling the radiation emitter to emit a patterned radiation signal corresponding to a command, the patterned radiation signal remotely controlling at least the display device, and selecting the patterned radiation signal from a plurality of patterned radiation signals corresponding to different display commands.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable physical storage medium according to claim 5, wherein

the radiation emitter is an infrared light emitter.

7. An information processing system comprising:

a display device;

a handheld control unit having manually operable controls thereon and having an inertial sensor therein, the inertial sensor providing an output indicating at least aspects of orientation of the handheld control unit for use in positioning objects on displays of the display device;

a processing unit operatively coupled to the handheld control unit and the manually operable controls; and

a radiation emitter operatively coupled to the processing unit;

the processing unit controlling the radiation emitter to emit a patterned radiation signal corresponding to a command, the patterned radiation signal remotely controlling at least the display device, the processing unit selecting the patterned radiation signal from a plurality of patterned radiation signals corresponding to different display device commands.

8. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein

the radiation emitter is an infrared light emitter.