Patents by Inventor Takao Sawano

Takao Sawano has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8500552
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes operation means operated by a player, selection means, player object action control means, display control means, and evaluation means. The game apparatus displays a first game image and a second game image concurrently. The player selects either one of the first game image and the second game image with the selection means. The player further operates the operation means to operate a player object related to the selected game image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Tatsuhiro Shirai
  • Publication number: 20130033358
    Abstract: A non-limiting example system includes at least one sender, and a beacon signal sent from the sender is received by a portable terminal. In accordance with a sender ID included in the beacon signal, the portable terminal displays on an LCD a map image and a current position of the portable terminal or a user having the portable terminal, and displays on the LCD a guide image as for events or exhibition items in a predetermined place. Furthermore, the portable terminal stores state information included in the beacon signal for each sender (sender ID), and transmits or moves the state information to a central terminal at a predetermined timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi YAMAZAKI, Takao Sawano
  • Publication number: 20120108272
    Abstract: A plurality of positional information transmitters 100, each of which transmits positional information to which a plurality of unit spaces are each uniquely assigned, are disposed on a ceiling. A mobile terminal 10 receives the positional information transmitted from each of the positional information transmitters 100 and changes a terminal-side image in accordance with the received positional information. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 transmits to a server 300 current positional information and operation information indicating an instruction inputted by a user. The server 300 changes, in accordance with the current positional information and the operation information received by the mobile terminal 10, a floor image displayed on a plurality of floor displays 200 disposed on a floor. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a highly interesting and novel position detecting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru MIYAMOTO, Takao SAWANO, Hitoshi YAMAZAKI, Shinya KAWADA
  • Publication number: 20120108341
    Abstract: A game controller includes at least four load sensors for detecting a load applied on a support board on which player's legs are ridden, and the game controller transmits a load value detected as manipulation data by the four load sensors to a game machine. The game machine determines a necessary quantity of load values, and the game machine computes the necessary quantity of load values based on the detected load value from the game controller. Then, game processing is performed based on the necessary quantity of computed load values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi YAMAZAKI, Takao SAWANO, Tadashi SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8115699
    Abstract: A plurality of positional information transmitters 100, each of which transmits positional information to which a plurality of unit spaces are each uniquely assigned, are disposed on a ceiling. A mobile terminal 10 receives the positional information transmitted from each of the positional information transmitters 100 and changes a terminal-side image in accordance with the received positional information. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 transmits to a server 300 current positional information and operation information indicating an instruction inputted by a user. The server 300 changes, in accordance with the current positional information and the operation information received by the mobile terminal 10, a floor image displayed on a plurality of floor displays 200 disposed on a floor. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a highly interesting and novel position detecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyamoto, Takao Sawano, Hitoshi Yamazaki, Shinya Kawada
  • Patent number: 8100770
    Abstract: A game controller includes at least four load sensors for detecting a load applied on a support board on which player's legs are ridden, and the game controller transmits a load value detected as manipulation data by the four load sensors to a game machine. The game machine determines a necessary quantity of load values, and the game machine computes the necessary quantity of load values based on the detected load value from the game controller. Then, game processing is performed based on the necessary quantity of computed load values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamazaki, Takao Sawano, Tadashi Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20110124414
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Hitoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7905782
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Hitoshi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20100169110
    Abstract: A healthcare professional terminal 90 creates a question message based on an input operation of a healthcare professional, and transmits the question message to a game apparatus 12. The game apparatus 12 creates, based on an input operation of a healthcare recipient, an answer message including an answer to a question contained in the question message received from the healthcare professional terminal 90, and transmits the answer message to the healthcare professional terminal 90 together with automatically obtained biological information (weight data, exercise time data, and step count data) of the healthcare recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Takao SAWANO, Kenji Yamamoto, Tsutomu Kaneshige
  • Publication number: 20090322788
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises position information obtaining means, decoration image selection means, and composite image generation means. The position information obtaining means obtains position information indicative of a position where the imaging apparatus is present. The decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from predetermined storage means based on the position information. The composite image generation means composites the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means and a taken image to generate a composite image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Takao Sawano
  • Publication number: 20080261696
    Abstract: A game controller includes at least four load sensors for detecting a load applied on a support board on which player's legs are ridden, and the game controller transmits a load value detected as manipulation data by the four load sensors to a game machine. The game machine determines a necessary quantity of load values, and the game machine computes the necessary quantity of load values based on the detected load value from the game controller. Then, game processing is performed based on the necessary quantity of computed load values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamazaki, Takao Sawano, Tadashi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7411612
    Abstract: A photographed image composing apparatus includes a CPU and an imaging unit. In this photographed image composing apparatus, an operator photographs an object's face in at least two partial images successively while aligning a predetermined region of the face with an imaging index displayed on a display, and boundary processing between partial images is performed and a montage image is produced. In the boundary processing, pixel data adjacent to a boundary line is extracted from a first image on one side of the boundary line and a second image on the other side of the boundary line, as first basic pixel data and second basic pixel data, respectively. Then, the pixel data of the first image and the second image are mixed with the second basic pixel data and the first basic pixel data in a pixel row that corresponds to the relevant pixel, respectively, based on previously stored mixing ratios in accordance with the distance from the boundary line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takao Sawano, Tsutomu Araki
  • Publication number: 20080039202
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Hitoshi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20070080831
    Abstract: A plurality of positional information transmitters 100, each of which transmits positional information to which a plurality of unit spaces are each uniquely assigned, are disposed on a ceiling. A mobile terminal 10 receives the positional information transmitted from each of the positional information transmitters 100 and changes a terminal-side image in accordance with the received positional information. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 transmits to a server 300 current positional information and operation information indicating an instruction inputted by a user. The server 300 changes, in accordance with the current positional information and the operation information received by the mobile terminal 10, a floor image displayed on a plurality of floor displays 200 disposed on a floor. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a highly interesting and novel position detecting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyamoto, Takao Sawano, Hitoshi Yamazaki, Shinya Kawada
  • Patent number: 7115031
    Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of game machines each of which has an LCD. A game world in which a plurality of characters individually operated by the plurality of game machines appear is displayed on a CRT as a common display and on the LCD as an individual display of each of players. Specifically, a game world having a fixed viewpoint capable of viewing the plurality of characters is displayed on the CRT, and a three-dimensional game world having a viewpoint with reference to one's character is displayed on the LCD. One of the CRT or one's LCD is changeably selected as an operation screen. When a direction instructing key is operated, a moving direction of one's character is determined with reference to the operation screen, and one's character is moved to the determined moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyamoto, Takao Sawano, Tomohiro Kawase, Tsutomu Araki
  • Publication number: 20050202868
    Abstract: A game apparatus mincludes operation means operated by a player, selection means, player object action control means, display control means, and evaluation means. The game apparatus displays a first game image and a second game image concurrently. The player selects either one of the first game image and the second game image with the selection means. The player further operates the operation means to operate a player object related to the selected game image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Tatsuhiro Shirai
  • Publication number: 20050057657
    Abstract: A photographed image composing apparatus includes a CPU and an imaging unit. In this photographed image composing apparatus, an operator photographs an object's face in at least two partial images successively while aligning a predetermined region of the face with an imaging index displayed on a display, and a boundary processing between partial images is performed and a montage image is produced. In the boundary processing, pixel data adjacent to a boundary line is extracted from a first image on one side of the boundary line and a second image on the other side of the boundary line, as first basic pixel data and second basic pixel data, respectively. Then, the pixel data of the first image and the second image are mixed with the second basic pixel data and the first basic pixel data in a pixel row that corresponds to the relevant pixel, respectively, based on previously stored mixing ratios in accordance with the distance from the boundary line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takao Sawano, Tsutomu Araki
  • Patent number: 6677967
    Abstract: A frame of still picture data is captured at an instant specified by a user from video signals supplied from a given video source, such as a television receiver, a video camera, etc., and the image data is displayed. When the user specifies an area of image to be cut out from the displayed still picture, the image data in the specified area is cut out and recorded as a cutout image. Each cutout image recorded is displayed in the form of an icon. When any of the icons is selected by the user, the corresponding cutout image data is read and pasted in a part to be changed in the original image data. Thus an image can be easily created by user's choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Hirofumi Matsuoka, Takashi Endo
  • Patent number: 6544126
    Abstract: A portable handheld game machine includes a capability to download and execute code from a source such as another game machine. The portable game machine enters a download mode in which it is receptive to receipt of executable code downloaded from the source. The portable game machine stores the executable code in an internal random access memory, and executes the code out of the memory. Successive downloads can be used to download an application that is larger than the internal memory capacity of the portable game machine. The source may issue a reset command to cause the portable game machine to re-enter the download mode to receive an next successive block of code. This allows multiplayer capabilities to be achieved without requiring a separate memory cartridge to be installed in each of the portable game machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Sawano, Tomohiro Kawase
  • Publication number: 20020165028
    Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of game machines each of which has an LCD. A game world in which a plurality of characters individually operated by the plurality of game machines appear is displayed on a CRT as a common display and on the LCD as an individual display of each of players. Specifically, a game world having a fixed viewpoint capable of viewing the plurality of characters is displayed on the CRT, and a three-dimensional game world having a viewpoint with reference to one's character is displayed on the LCD. One of the CRT or one's LCD is changeably selected as an operation screen. When a direction instructing key is operated, a moving direction of one's character is determined with reference to the operation screen, and one's character is moved to the determined moving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyamoto, Takao Sawano, Tomohiro Kawase, Tsutomu Araki