Information processing device, information processing system, and launch program and storage medium storing the same providing photographing functionality

• US 9,630,099 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kuwahara, Masato, Koshiishi, Kazunori, Ehara, Yui, Fukasawa, Ryo
• Primary Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, NELSON D
• Application Number:
  US14/466,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20140362254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 34833301-33312, 348373
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 : for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2129 : Recording in, or reproducing from, a specific memory area or areas, or recording or reproducing at a specific moment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 : using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/216 : Arrangements for recording on different types of storage medium, e.g. IC card or magnetic tape; Recording on a plurality of storage media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 : Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/95 : Computational photography systems, e.g. light-field imaging systems

Abstract

A game device according to the present embodiment includes a camera as image pick-up means. An inner camera is accommodated in an upper housing. In addition, a microphone hole is provided in an inner surface of the upper housing so as to sense external sound through a microphone.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising:

a housing;

a display provided in a major surface of the housing;

a built-in camera arranged in the major surface of the housing and oriented along a surface normal of the major surface;

another camera orientated in a direction opposite the built-in camera;

a first operation control and a second operation control that are disposed on a first transverse surface of the housing that is transverse to the major surface of the housing, the first and second operation controls positioned on opposite sides of a center portion of the first transverse surface;

an audio output terminal configured to accept an external audio output connector, the audio output terminal disposed in a second transverse surface;

a memory device;

at least one speaker included with the housing; and

a processing system that includes at least one processing circuit coupled to the built-in camera, the another camera, and the memory device, the processing system configured to;

switch to a photographing operation mode;

(1) set the first and second operation controls as shutter controls for either the built-in camera or the another camera,

(2) responsive to actuation of the first or second operation controls, cause the built-in camera or the another camera to acquire first image pick-up data, and

(3) store the acquired first image pick-up data to the memory device;

when in a non-photographing operation mode where the first and second operation controls are not shutter controls for either the built-in camera or the another camera;

cause, in response to actuation of the first or second operation control, audio to be outputted from the at least one speaker of the information processing device.

2. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the surface in which the at least one speaker is disposed in the major surface of the housing in which the display is provided.

3. The information processing device of claim 2, wherein the at least one speaker includes first and second speakers that are respectively arranged on opposing sides of the surface.

4. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the first operation control is disposed at a distal end of the first transverse surface of the housing.

5. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch-enabled display and the processing system is further configured to output a button image to the display for display thereon,

wherein third image pick-up data is obtained, via the built-in camera, in response to detection of touch input on the display in correspondence with the button image displayed on the display.

6. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

output a live view obtained via the built-in camera for concurrent display with the button image on the display.

7. The information processing device of claim 6, wherein the concurrently displayed button image overlaps the displayed live view.

8. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the built-in camera is configured to acquire third image data, which is different from the first image pick-up data, in response to selective actuation of either one of the first operation control or the second operation control.

9. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the first operation control and the second operation control are configured to concurrently serve as controls for causing the built-in camera to acquire images such that a user can actuate either one of the first operation control and the second operation control to acquire an image with the built-in camera.

10. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the another camera is disposed in the housing.

11. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

output a button image to a touch screen for display thereon;

detect a touch input provided in correspondence with the button image; and

responsive to the touch input, switch an active camera between the built-in camera and the another camera.

12. The information processing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to directly communicate, via wireless transmissions, with another information processing device that includes a built-in camera,

the processing system further configured to instruct the wireless transceiver to transmit the stored first image pick-up data to the another information processing device.

13. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

execute a video game program; and

output images of the executed video game program to the display.

14. The information processing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one microphone disposed at a position offset from the center, in the lateral direction, of the housing.

15. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a memory card slot with electrical circuitry configured to connect an inserted memory device with the processing system.

16. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the first transverse surface and the second transverse surface are different surfaces of the information processing device.

17. The information processing device of claim 16, wherein the first transverse surface and the second transverse surface are also parallel to each other.

18. The information processing device of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio adjustment structure that is arranged on a surface that is transverse to the major surface, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust a volume of sound emitted from the speaker based on actuation of the audio adjustment structure.

19. The information processing device of claim 18, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the volume in response to input received via a touch screen that is layered with the display.

20. The information processing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power button structure arranged on a surface of the housing that is transverse to the major surface.

21. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the volume of the audio output from the at least one speaker of the information processing device is controlled in accordance with action of either one of the first and second operation controls.

22. An information processing device comprising:

a housing;

a display included in a major surface of the housing and layered with a touch input device;

first and second input controls included with the housing and both arranged on a first side surface of the housing that is different from the major surface, the first and second input controls both positioned on opposite sides of a central portion of the side surface;

a built-in camera arranged in the major surface of the housing and orientated along a surface normal of the major surface;

another camera disposed in the housing and orientated in a direction opposite an orientation of the built-in camera;

a connector for a microphone;

an audio output terminal configured to accept an external audio output connection;

a memory device;

a processing system that includes at least one processor circuit coupled to the memory device, the another camera, and the built-in camera, the processing system configured to;

obtain first image pick-up data with the built-in camera in response to activation of either one first and second input controls;

responsive to the first image pick-up data being obtained, store the first image pick-up data to the memory device;

in response to activation of either one of the first and second input controls when the information processing device is not in a photographing mode, cause audio to be outputted from the at least one speaker of the information processing device,

wherein the connector for the microphone is configured to provide audible input to the processing system.

23. The information processing device of claim 22, wherein the housing defines a microphone aperture in the second transverse surface of the housing at a position offset from the center, in the lateral direction, of the housing.

24. An information processing device comprising:

a housing;

a display included in a major surface of the housing;

first and second input controls included with the housing and both arranged on a first side surface that is different from the major surface, the first and second input controls both positioned on opposite sides of a central portion of the side surface;

a built-in camera disposed in the major surface of the housing and/or an opposing surface of the housing that is opposite the major surface;

another camera disposed in the housing and orientated in a direction opposite an orientation of the built-in camera;

an external port configured to accept an external connection that communicates audio to an external audio device, the external port arranged in a second side surface that is different from the major surface and the first side surface;

a speaker arrangement located in a surface of the housing;

a memory device;

a processing system that includes at least one processor circuit coupled to the memory device, the another camera, and the built-in camera, the processing system configured to;

switch to a photographing mode, and in the photographing mode;

acquire image pick-up data by using at least one of the built-in camera and the another camera in response to selective activation of one of the first input control or the second input control;

responsive to acquisition of the image pick-up data, store the image pick-up data to the memory device; and

switch to a non-photographing mode, and in the non-photographing mode;

in response to selective activation of the first input control or the second input control, cause audio to be output by the speaker arrangement or the external audio device.

25. The information processing device of claim 24, wherein the audio is adjusted in volume.

26. A game device comprising:

a touch screen display disposed in a major surface of a housing of the game device;

an outer camera;

an inner camera;

first and second input controls included with the housing and both arranged on a first side surface that is different from the major surface, the first and second input controls both positioned on opposite sides of a central portion of the side surface;

a speaker;

an external port included on a surface of the game device and configured to communicate audio to an external audio device;

a memory device; and

a processing system that includes at least one hardware processor coupled to the outer camera, the inner camera, and the memory device, the processing system configured to;

execute a computer process that generates images of at least one object located in a virtual space and causes the generated images to be displayed on the display;

while in an operation mode that is not a photographing operation mode;

in response to actuation of the first input control or the second input control, cause audio to be output by the speaker or by the external audio device;

switch to the photographing operation mode and while in the photographing operation mode;

in response to actuation of the first input control or second input control, cause the built-in camera or the another camera to acquire first image pick-up data; and

store the acquired first image pick-up data to the memory device.

27. The information processing device of claim 26, wherein the first side surface and a second side surface are transverse, wherein the speaker is provided in correspondence with the major surface of the housing.