Abstract: A sword (3: FIG. 2) which is intermittently irradiated infrared light by infrared emitting diodes (7: FIG. 2) is photograph by an imaging unit (5: FIG. 2), and thereby motion of the sword is detected. The sword locus object (117: FIG. 14) representing a movement locus of the sword is displayed on a television monitor (90: FIG. 1) in response to detection of swing of the sword as a trigger.

Abstract: A user terminal (5-N: FIG. 1) receives karaoke data from a Web server (1: FIG. 1). A writer (7-N: FIG. 1) writes the karaoke data as received by the user terminal (5-N) to a memory cartridge (13: FIG. 2). In this case, the writer (7-N) can only be written once in an area of the storage areas of the memory cartridge (13) in which data is not written yet. The system program is initially stored in the memory cartridge (13). Accordingly, a data delivery system can be realized with a high degree of security and with ease, but without resort to the prepaid system.

Abstract: When the sliding direction of a sliding operation piece (40) is changed while the sliding speed thereof exceeds a threshold value, a trigger is generated to start sound output. The termination process of the sound output started in response to the latest trigger is invoked when the sliding speed of the sliding operation piece (40) falls below a threshold value, while, when a new trigger is generated, the termination process of the sound output started in response to the previous trigger is invoked.

Abstract: A method of detecting an image of a reflective object includes the steps of capturing an exposure image by an image sensor while an LED is ON; down-sampling an exposure image signal from the image sensor to a first digital signal by comparing the level of the first image signal with a first reference level; capturing a dark image by the image sensor while the LED is OFF; down-sampling a second image signal from the image sensor to a second digital signal by comparing the level of the second image signal with a second reference level; computing an image of difference between the exposure image and the dark image by subtracting the second digital signal from the first digital signal; and specifying the image of the reflective object by locating a bright point remaining in the image of difference.

Abstract: A method of detecting a position of a rectangular object includes the steps of: capturing an image of the object by an image sensor having a rectangular image plane having four edges; detecting, for each edge of the four edges, a distance to a point of the image of the object closest to said each edge; and determining a position of a predefined point of the image of the object based on the detected distances.

Abstract: A card game apparatus 12 includes an image sensor 54. The image sensor photographs a design (31: FIG. 2) printed on a card 30. A photographic signal from the image sensor is sampled by a game processor 64, and is further re-sampled to form a photographic pixel data array. A ROM 66 is provided with a database (67A: FIG. 7) which is assigned a comparison data array and a card ID for each entry. By searching the database based on the photographic pixel data array, the processor 64 obtains one card ID and displays card data of the card identified by the card ID on a television monitor.

Abstract: A stroboscope is utilized as an input device of a golf game system (10), for example. The golf game system includes a game machine (12) as an information processing apparatus and a golf-club-shaped input device (14), and within a housing of the game machine, an imaging unit (28) is housed, and the imaging unit is provided with an image sensor (40) and an infrared-LED. By utilizing the infrared-LED, an infrared ray is intermittently emitted to a predetermined range of an upper portion of the imaging unit. Accordingly, the image sensor intermittently images a reflective body provided in the golf-club-shaped input device moving within the range. Such the stroboscope image processing of the reflective body enables calculation of a velocity, and so on as an input of the game machine.

Abstract: The game apparatus is provided with the cylindrical portion rotating with the axis on the side face of the base portion of the master control lever. Two projecting parts are sticking out from the columnar surface of the cylindrical portion. In addition, two leaf switches are provided corresponding to the master control lever. The leaf switch is turned on when the projecting part contacts with the contact member of the leaf switch while the master control lever is rotating. In this way, operation of the master control lever is detected by using the leaf switches rather than rotary switches.

Abstract: The automatic musical instrument contains a main body provided with a sliding saddle member and a sliding operation piece The sliding operation piece is provided with a reflecting pattern consisting of light reflecting regions and light absorbing regions The sliding saddle member is provided with a infrared emitting diode and two phototransistors inside. When the sliding operation piece is slidably moved in contact with the sliding saddle member, infrared light emitted from the infrared emitting diode is reflected by the reflecting pattern. Then, the phototransistors receive the reflected light and output pulse signals A and B. The high speed processor built in the main body calculates the sliding speed, the sliding direction and the sliding time on the basis of the pulse signals A and B. Also, the high speed processor controls the movement of the character image displayed on the screen on the basis of one of the sliding speed, the sliding direction and the sliding time.

Abstract: The memory cartridge which has identification data corresponding to its appearance is inserted to the mail exchange apparatus. The mail exchange apparatus displays a content of mail read from the inserted memory cartridge and an animal image corresponding to its identification data on the television monitor.

Abstract: A fishing game apparatus (10) has a casting rod (12) connected to a television monitor (16). The casting rod (12) is built therein with a game processor and an acceleration sensor. During casting, an acceleration signal is inputted from the acceleration sensor to the game processor. The game processor calculates a corresponding casting distance and displays, on a game screen of the monitor (16), a splashdown point according to a distance calculated. By providing a light gun in the casting rod (12), the game processor can recognize a direction of casting and move the rod in that direction on the game screen.

Abstract: A tennis game system includes a game machine connected to a television set via an AV cable, and a racket-shaped input device for inputting operation to the game machine. A game player instructs a ball striking player to strike a ball on a monitor screen by operating the racket-shaped input device. At this time, a game processor included in the game machine calculates a predicted return position of a ball returned by the opposite player, compares a current position of the ball striking player with the predicted return position, and judges whether the predicted return position is within a ball strikable range for the ball striking player. If a judgment means judges that the predicted return position is out of the ball strikable range, a ball striking position movement means, i.e. the game processor moves the ball striking position.

Abstract: The drawing apparatus images the operation article by intermittently emitting light to the operation article to derive a location of the operation article on the screen. The cursor is displayed at the location of the operation article on the screen. Therefore, the cursor follows movement of the operation article. Then, the star images are displayed on the motion path of the cursor. In this way, a motion path of the operation article can be displayed by operating the operation article in the air.

Abstract: Since a cursor displayed on a screen of a television monitor moves in conjunction with a motion of an operation article operated by a player, intuitive operation can be possible so that the player can play a game easily. A mermaid displayed on the screen follows the cursor when the player moves the cursor by operating the operation article. In this way, the player operates the mermaid indirectly and avoids obstacle objects and obstacle images.

Abstract: A coin image simulating a coin is displayed on a television monitor synchronized with the insertion of the coin from a coin insertion portion. The coin image moves on the television monitor. When a predetermined requirement is fulfilled, the coin is paid out from a coin ejection opening. An operating object image displayed on the television monitor can be controlled with a handle that is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

Abstract: Indication objects are displayed on a television monitor at the intervals in agreement with the rhythm of music, such that the player can generate musical tones in synchronization with music by striking the strike surface of a music game console in the appropriate timing as indicated by indication objects. In this case, the tone quality of the strike sound changes in the progress of music on the basis of strike sound indicating information.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: A boxing game system (10) includes a game machine (12) and a globe-type inputting apparatus (34). A game player holds a main body (40) of the inputting apparatus, and swings the inputting apparatus in such a manner as to actually play boxing. A piezoelectric buzzer is provided within the main body, and the piezoelectric buzzer detects an acceleration at a time of swinging the inputting apparatus. Acceleration information is transmitted by an infrared light, and the infrared light is received and demodulated by an infrared light light-receiving demodulating portion (32). Upon receipt of the demodulated acceleration information, a game processor calculates an intensity of a punch at a time of swinging the inputting apparatus. A damage value is determined by the intensity of the punch, and according to the damage value, a stamina value of a boxer displayed on a monitor (20) is calculated. When the stamina value runs out, the boxer is knocked down.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: A musical scale recognition apparatus includes an analog/digital converter and a processor, and can determine by the processor how close an input analog audio signal is to a musical scale of a musical tone to be recognized by repeatedly performing a calculation of a cumulative value As to find a coefficient of a Fourier sine series of the audio signal on the basis of a frequency f and digital data D, a cumulative value Ac to find a coefficient of a Fourier cosine series of the audio signal on the basis of the frequency f and the digital data D, and a frequency power spectrum effective value A of the audio signal on the basis of the cumulative value As and the cumulative value Ac, wherein the digital data into which the input analog audio signal is converted by the analog/digital converter is D, the frequency (musical scale) of the musical tone to be recognized is f, and a current time is t.