Patents Assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
  • Patent number: 6417854
    Abstract: The image processing system comprises means for preparing a plurality of textures for providing to at least one first texture thereof a background image, in which a movable object is either in a stationary or low-speed state and means for providing to at least one of the remaining second textures a background image of when a movable object is in a low-speed or faster state of travel and for mapping to a screen in accordance with the state of themovable object the second texture in addition to the first texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Takashi Isowaki, Junichi Yamanaka, Hiroshi Masui, Takashi Fujimura, Takeshi Iwasaki, Naotake Nishimura, Makoto Osaki, Koki Koiwa, Saori Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 6409603
    Abstract: A game apparatus requiring certain operations of a player within a time limit which displays a first window (W1) for a period of time within a first time limit (TM1), displays a second window (W2) for a period of time within a second time limit (TM2) separate from the first time limit (TM1), and displays at least once the aforementioned first window (W1) during the second time limit (TM2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Akira Nishino, Toru Ohara, Shuntaro Tanaka, Yuichi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 6409596
    Abstract: A small screen which enables a player to easily grasp the situation of a game field as well as the positional relationship between the game objects is displayed on a game screen in a game device. A game device which displays on a monitor screen a picture of a game being proceeded in a virtual space by a first object controlled by a player and a second object controlled by a computer comprises a supplementary screen forming means (S210) for forming on the monitor screen a small screen showing the surrounding condition with the first object in the center, a distance calculating means (S202) for calculating the distance between the first object and the second object in the virtual space, and a display magnification setting means (S208) for setting the display magnification on the small screen in correspondence with the distance between the above objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hayashida, Atsushi Ueno, Taishi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6406371
    Abstract: Double registration or improper registration of the data of participating teams is prevented in an online-participation game system. Provided is a data communication method for game systems in which game meets are carried out by sending transmission files including data of each team to a server from each of a plurality of game terminal devices, and by thus simulating a competition among the teams, the above-mentioned method comprising: a process wherein the game terminal devices generate transmission files including an identification code (login ID) and game data and send the files to the server; and a process wherein the server checks the identification code of the transmission files received and appends the transmission files received to a registration file for the game meet, in the case when the files do not comprise identification codes identical to those in the accepted transmission file group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Yasuhito Baba, Eiji Horita, Hiroyuki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6394894
    Abstract: A baseball game is provided which imitates reality more closely by reflecting player data in game characters. Data relating to good hitting courses and bad hitting courses for each batter are incorporated as batter parameters, and the selection of a good or bad course by the batter can be reflected in the result of a hit, by varying the size of a collision object, or the like, in accordance with the batter parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okitsu, Toyoji Kurose, Jun Okubo, Tomoko Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6386980
    Abstract: A game apparatus comprises: a macro group, with a scenario described therein, for commanding a procedure to process the scenario; a data group consisting of video data VD, graphics GF, texts TXT, audio data AD and other information used in accordance with the progress of the scenario; and a program for causing a CPU to make a game progress by using the data group on the basis of the command of the macro group. This game apparatus comprises: a first device for externally incorporating a scenario macro of, for example, a puzzle game; and a second device for giving a command to the program by means of the scenario macro SM obtained externally by the first device, and of providing a new scenario by reusing the data group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Akira Nishino, Kunihiro Shirahata, Takaharu Terada, Katsuhito Gotoh, Takashi Tsukamoto, Ryutaro Nonaka, Naoya Soma, Katsutoshi Hayashida
  • Patent number: 6386984
    Abstract: Amusement facilities for providing predetermined images to passengers inside a vehicle for amusement on the basis of a scenario while the vehicle (ride)(1) is moving in a predetermined course, wherein the course includes bright areas and dark areas, and acceleration/deceleration of the ride (1) is done at the boundaries of these areas. A video camera (11) provides images outside the vehicle to the passengers in the bright areas and images of a video disk player (34) are provided to the passengers in the dark areas. Further, sways are imparted by a motor (23) for rolling and a motor (24) for pitching to the ride (1) in accordance with scenarios. These images, acceleration/deceleration and sway give the passengers an illusion as if they had moved over a longer distance than an actual distance in the dark areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hara, Kenichiro Hayashi, Kazuhide Arai, Tatsuya Kono, Hiroshi Uemura, Hiroki Ito
  • Patent number: 6377264
    Abstract: Provided is a game screen display controlling method comprising the steps of displaying a first game screen obtained from a first projection of a virtual 3-D space; comparing the priority of the first projection with the priority of a second projection correlated with a predetermined area when there is a predetermined positional relationship between a character who moves in the virtual 3-D space and the predetermined area set within the virtual 3-D space; and displaying a second game screen obtained from the second projection of the virtual 3-D space when the priority of the second projection is higher than the priority of the first projection. Thereby, the invention allows game pictures for effectively rendering the virtual 3-D space to be presented corresponding to the situation of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Takashi Iizuka, Tetsu Katano, Yuji Naka, Takuya Matsumoto, Yojiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6368217
    Abstract: An input device includes a board whereon a player stands with both feet, and supporting mechanisms for supporting the board such that it can oscillate. The input device supplies oscillatory information when the player causes the board to oscillate with respect to the game machine. In the supporting mechanism, the central axis of oscillation is positioned on the lower portion of, or below, the board. The center of rotation of swinging movement in the supporting mechanism is positioned below the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Kenji Kanno, Kenji Tohma, Tomoya Takasugi
  • Patent number: 6354939
    Abstract: Provides a game processing apparatus capable of getting players more excited about playing games. For that reason, the game processing apparatus of the present invention processes games on the basis of players' operating signals, and is equipped with processing circuits (10), which process the above-mentioned games on the basis of operating signals supplied from input devices (2b) operated by the players, and which generate the image data for these games. When an operating signal equivalent to a player's victory declaration is input from an input device (2b), the processing circuits (10) process subsequent operating signals input by the player as invalid signals until a prescribed condition is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Masamoto Morita, Akiyoshi Shinpo, Akira Nishino, Tooru Ohara, Shuntarou Tanaka, Yuuichi Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20020024521
    Abstract: A game device whereby images of moving objects modelled on motor-bikes or cars moving through a virtual space is generated, the track along which a first such moving object moved through the virtual space being sampled at a prescribed interval in time in order to generate track data P1-P6, while transit points P1′-P6′ are set at prescribed intervals of distance along the track indicated by the track data, and a second moving object is moved in such a manner as to pass through these transit points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA ENTERPRISES
    Inventor: Takeshi Goden
  • Patent number: 6343987
    Abstract: In an image processing device composed such that it can display a prescribed object whilst changing the shape of the object. Furthermore, the image processing device includes a first memory for recording information for first polygons which form the object; a second memory for recording information for second polygons that form the object and are linked to the first polygons; and when the shape of the object is changed, the shapes of the second polygons are changed such that no gaps are produced between the first polygons and the second polygons. Using computer graphics in a video game it is possible to achieve a more realistic object representation, wherein joint regions move in a natural manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Yoshifusa Hayama, Kazunori O, Seiichi Yamagata, Shinobu Hayashi, Shigenobu Nakamura, Kazuko Noguchi, Makio Kida, Takeharu Tanimura, Tadahiro Kawamura, Yuichiro Mine, Hideki Tanaka, Naohiro Warama
  • Publication number: 20020013172
    Abstract: This image processing device for games is a device whereby a prescribed number of models (characters) are setup in virtual space, these models are controlled such that they move in prescribed directions in the virtual space, and images of this virtual space from a virtual viewpoint are displayed on means for display. In order to display the movement of the models that are arranged in virtual space more realistically, in one construction thereof, this device is provided with means for image processing that apply virtual centripetal force to the models. Furthermore, in order to display the movement of the models more realistically and to heighten the dramatic effect, in one construction thereof, this device is equipped with means for processing residual image presentation in order to represent the track of movement of a model as residual images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA ENTERPRISES
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kaku, Yuichiro Mine, Takashi Ono, Norio Haga, Makoto Osaki, Takayuki Yamaguchi, Norihiro Sekine, Ryoya Yui, Saori Nishikawa, Tetsuya Sugimoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Manabu Nakatani, Masumi Uchida
  • Patent number: 6339430
    Abstract: To create images where the texture of a model changes with a relatively small image data volume three-dimensional model wherein texture changes from one texture to another is obtained by repeatedly superimposing images of the two three-dimensional models while changing the transparency of respective images complementarily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventor: Misaka Takeshita
  • Patent number: 6324603
    Abstract: To provide a new data transmission system between a game device and related peripheral devices, and a device using same. Serial transmission data is divided into an odd-numbered bit sequence and an even-numbered bit sequence. Each bit of the odd-numbered bit sequence data is distributed respectively between pulses of a first pulse sequence signal having a constant interval, thereby forming a first pulse sequence signal (SDCKA). Each bit of the even-numbered bit sequence data is distributed respectively between pulses of a second pulse sequence signal having a constant interval, thereby forming a second pulse sequence signal (SDCKB). The respective time axes are adjusted such that the clock component of the first pulse sequence signal is located in the data section of the second pulse sequence signal, the clock .component of the second pulse sequence signal is located in the data section of the first pulse sequence signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Naoki Niizuma, Atsunori Himoto
  • Patent number: 6322448
    Abstract: This image processing device for games is a device whereby a prescribed number of models (characters) are set up in virtual space, these models are controlled such that they move in prescribed directions in the virtual space, and images of this virtual space from a virtual viewpoint are displayed on means for display. In order to display the movement of the models that are arranged in virtual space more realistically, in one construction thereof, this device is provided with means for image processing that apply virtual centripetal force to the models. Furthermore, in order to display the movement of the models more realistically and to heighten the dramatic effect, in one construction thereof, this device is equipped with means for processing residual image presentation in order to represent the track of movement of a model as residual images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kaku, Yuichiro Mine, Takashi Ono, Norio Haga, Makoto Osaki, Takayuki Yamaguchi, Norihiro Sekine, Ryoya Yui, Saori Nishikawa, Tetsuya Sugimoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Manabu Nakatani, Masumi Uchida
  • Publication number: 20010040586
    Abstract: To achieve a more realistic and richer shifting field, such as water surface over which a jet-ski or other object travels, thereby heightening the interest and ambiance of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: TAKAYUKI YOKOYAMA, ICHIRO KAWAOKA, TAISHI YASUDA, MASAYOSHI YAMADA, MITSURU KAWAMURA, TOSHIYUKI MAEDA
  • Patent number: 6312335
    Abstract: An input device in which a player moves the whole of the input device and a game processing device for processing a simulated game are disclosed. The input device is modeled on an instrument required for a prescribed action in real-life. The input device includes detecting means for detecting physical quantities corresponding to the movement of the input device as a whole and converting the physical quantities to a detection signal which is output. The input device further includes vibration transmitting means, fixed to the casing of the input device so that vibration is transmitted to the input device, for inducing mechanical displacement corresponding to prescribed instruction signals. The game processing device includes game developing means for developing a game simulating the real-life action and for providing a display indicating that the instrument has received an impact at a time during the game corresponding to a time when the instrument would receive an impact during the real-life action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Kenji Tosaki, Atsunori Himoto, Akitoshi Oikawa, Hisamichi Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20010033282
    Abstract: In an image processing device composed such that it can display a prescribed object whilst changing the shape of said object, there are provided: a first memory for recording information for first polygons 201 which form said object, and a second memory for recording information for second polygons 202, which form said object and are linked to said first polygons; and when the shape of said object is changed, the shapes of said second polygons are changed such that no gaps are produced between said first polygons 201 and said second polygons 202.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Yoshifusa Hayama, Kazunori O, Seiichi Yamagata, Shinobu Hayashi, Shigenobu Nakamura, Kazuko Noguchi, Makio Kida, Takeharu Tanimura, Tadahiro Kawamura, Yu Ichiro Mine, Hideki Tanaka, Naohiro Warama
  • Patent number: 6306039
    Abstract: By enabling exchange of information relating to players, apart from game data, “communication” between the players is increased, and the sense of rivalry and level of interest generated by a game are raised. The communication game system 1 forms a network comprising a plurality of game devices 2a-2d connected mutually by communication media 3. The plurality of game devices 2a-2d respectively comprise a communications system 31 for receiving data transferred over the network and transferring the received data and data generated by the home game device onto the network, and a host system 32 for accessing the received data. By this means, data comprising a game packet, sound packet and video packet can be transmitted by conducting broadcast communications based on the communications system 31 and host system 32 between the plurality of game devices 2a-2d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kaji, Toshihiro Nakane, Yoshinori Harada, Naoki Fuse