Patents Assigned to Sega Enterprise, Ltd.
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Publication number: 20030032483Abstract: The present invention provides a picture processing device capable of realizing the detailed shape and pattern of a display object which is far away from a viewpoint and which attracts a game player's attention. For example, a display object (or player) in a soccer game is composed of a small number of polygons to be displayed on a CRT-type display, etc. when the display object is far away from the viewpoint (or camera position). However, even if the player is at a far position, the player will attract the game player's attention when a ball is passed to the player. If the number of polygons composing the player is small in such a situation, the game player will gain an unnatural impression. For example, assuming that a ball rolls to a certain player and this player obtains priority, a priority mark will be displayed above the player's head. Then, it is determined whether or not the player with the priority mark is close to a certain viewpoint.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2002Publication date: February 13, 2003Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA ENTERPRISES, d/b/a SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Mifune, Masaki Yamashita
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Patent number: 6514142Abstract: A picture processor for processing a plurality of objects which include a user-controlled object and a specific object each moving against a background, and existing in a virtual three-dimensional coordinate space, and displaying an image of the objects, operation signals obtained so that movement of the user-controlled object is controlled In the coordinate space according to operation signals from the processor comprising moving direction control for adjusting relative movement between the objects so that user-controlled and enemy objects on a display device move in the same direction while the enemy object is positioned in front of the user-controlled object, and the moving direction control is released when the user-controlled object reaches the specific enemy object, and a picture is developed on the display device.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1997Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Takanori Hattori, Tatsuya Watanabe
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Patent number: 6501468Abstract: A stereoscopic display device in accordance with the present invention utilizes a display screen for displaying images for right and left eyes. The display device comprises: a drawing circuit which generates image data for the right and left eyes according to view point data including view point position and light of sight directions, and object data to be displayed; and image processing unit which determines an attention target object from the plurality of objects to be displayed according at least to the shortness of the distance from the view point position to the object position, modifies the line of sight directions for the images for the right and left eyes according at least to the distance of the attention target object, and provides view point data and object data to the drawing circuit, where the drawing circuit performs perspective conversion based on the modified line of sight directions.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kaji
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Publication number: 20020198047Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a method of expressing, in an easily visible manner, a game proceeded in a plurality of game fields formed hierarchically.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Hinami, Toshiyasu Kamiko, Takaharu Terada, Yasushi Fujisawa
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Publication number: 20020191840Abstract: When a car turns, a visual point position CP and a sight line direction T are moved (from CP′ to CP and from T′ to T) in accordance with a turning angle of the car, and a displacement u of the visual point position (CP″) is made different from a displacement v of the sight line direction (T″). A ratio of the visual point position displacement u to the sight line direction displacement v is about 1:5.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Ryuji Ochi, Takeshi Yamazaki, Hisaki Nimiya, Masayuki Ao, Katsu Oshida, Yasuhiro Hayashida, Taishi Yasuda
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Patent number: 6484942Abstract: Reading sections (21a, 21b) wherein disks (10a, 10b) bearing barcodes are installed, are provided, and code sensors (23a, 23b) for reading out these barcodes are provided in the reading sections (21a, 21b). When a player rotates a disk (10a, 10b) installed on a turntable (22a, 22b), the barcode is read out by the code sensors (23a, 23b), and parameters are set respectively on the basis of this barcode. Thereafter, if the player rotates the disk (10a, 10b) while simultaneously operating the buttons (25a-27a, 25b-27b), this combination is input as a command, and the game is developed accordingly. Thereby, it is possible to provide an information storage medium, information reproduction device, game machine, and information reproduction method, whereby code, such as barcode, or the like, can be used effectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1998Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises Ltd.Inventors: Nobuo Yokoyama, Eiji Takuma, Takashi Matsuda
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Patent number: 6486870Abstract: Character input control equipment enables the decrease of moving distance of a cursor between key positions and also enables efficient key input. The character input control equipment includes character input display field display controller for displaying a plurality of character input display fields in a display part, cursor movement controller for specifying one character input display field out of the plurality of character input display fields displayed in the display part by moving the cursor, and input character selector for selecting one character out of the plurality of characters corresponding to the one character input display field specified by the cursor movement controller wherein a plurality of characters correspond to each one of the plurality of character input display fields.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventor: Akira Kozu
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Patent number: 6483939Abstract: A picture processing apparatus having a shape memory with shape data of an object previously stored therein, a processor to set a coordinate value of an object in a three-dimensional virtual space of the basis of the shape date stored in the shape memory, a transformation device to receive the coordinate value set by the processor and transform the coordinate value into a visual field coordinate system based on a specified visual point, and a visual point setting device to move the visual point position from a predetermined standard position for a predetermined base object as defined in the three-dimensional virtual space on the basis of data of the base object as well as changes in the situation caused by the movement of the base object, and for sending a new position after the movement to the transformation device.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1998Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Ryuji Ochi, Takeshi Yamazaki, Hisaki Nimiya, Masayuki Ao, Katsu Oshida, Yasuhiro Hayashida, Taishi Yasuda
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Publication number: 20020169013Abstract: An object is to provide a free-entry type of race game apparatus wherewith a player can join at any time. This is a race game that simulates an endurance race in which many vehicles run for a long period of time. The vehicles are continually running on the track (ST 1), from which number a player selects any vehicle at will (ST 3) and joins the race in progress (ST 4, 5). The game is terminated on the basis either of a pass count indicating the number of cars passed (or passed by) (ST 6), or a limiting time (ST 7).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2002Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises, LtdInventors: Narito Serizawa, Manabu Washio, Hiroyuki Izuno
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Patent number: 6478679Abstract: A memory device has a small-sized LCD disposed on an upper part of the front side of a case, and operation buttons disposed below the LCD. An external connection terminal for connecting a game apparatus or others to an outside apparatus is disposed in the lower side of the case nearer the front side thereof. A controller has a card slot for the memory device to be loaded in, which is provided in an upper part of an operation side thereof. The card slot has a window opened so as to expose a required part of the memory device when the memory device is loaded in the controller. With the memory device loaded in the controller a game player operates the operation buttons while watching the LCD of the memory device.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1999Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Atsunori Himoto, Kenji Tosaki, Madoka Nakayama, Miyuki Yasuoka, Koji Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 6469696Abstract: There is provided a position detector including a member having a surface and a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged antennas; a controller for sequentially driving the vertically arranged antennas in vertical positive and vertical negative directions, and for sequentially driving the horizontally arranged antennas in horizontal positive and horizontal negative directions so that the antennas sequentially radiate radio waves; a receiver for receiving the sequentially radiated radio waves on the surface of the member; and a detector for detecting the position of the receiver on the surface of the member based on the levels of the received radio waves.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1999Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshifumi Ishimura, Hirotsugu Tomizawa
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Patent number: 6464586Abstract: A structure of a box-like game unit to be arranged in large number outside of and adjacently to a main body of a game machine such as a casino game machine, a horse race game machine, a boat race game machine or the like. The game unit comprises a game unit cabinet of box-shape having a front face and a top face; a display instrument housed in the game unit cabinet having a display surface for displaying progress of game.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Osamu Kamata, Hirobumi Miyauchi, Jyoji Suga, Koji Yamaguchi, Keiji Yano
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Patent number: 6437779Abstract: The present invention is an image processing method for drawing an integrated shaping model which has a plurality of models linked by a hierarchical structure, where at least a first models has a plurality of vertices constituting polygons and at least the position of a first vertex is influenced by positions of a plurality of models and weight values from these models. The data (110) of the integrated shaping model comprises: format data of a common vertex buffer which stores data on the plurality of vertices in the plurality of models for each model; a vertex list which is created for each model which influences the vertices and has vertex data specified by a vertex ID in the common vertex buffer; and a polygon list which is created for each model having the polygon and includes polygon data where the vertex ID is attribute data.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Tomoaki Saito, Takashi Ando
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Patent number: 6436516Abstract: Information of a product for an information seal to be adhered to is printed on an information side of the information seal. An adhesive for adhering the information seal to the product is applied to a pattern side of the information seal, and a conduction pattern corresponding to a serial number is further formed on the pattern side. The conduction pattern includes a required number of terminals opposed to each other, and lines interconnecting those of the opposed terminals required to indicate the serial number indicated on the information side.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Nagashima, Maki Tanaka
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Patent number: 6424353Abstract: It is provided a computer game apparatus for displaying an image of virtual space in which first and second characters locate, the image being viewed from a first point in the virtual space to a direction from the first point to a second point in the virtual space, comprising: a first processor for obtaining positions of the first and second characters in the virtual space; and a second processor for setting the first or second point in accordance with a distance between the positions of the first and second characters which are aligned in the direction in the virtual space. According to the present invention, when the characters approach each other in virtual space in a game, the first point in virtual space is raised, so that the image is displayed as virtual space is looked down. Therefore, since the first character manipulated by the player and the enemy character do not overlap in the image, the player can clearly observe the movements of the enemy character.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Shinichiro Yamamoto, Kenji Yamamoto, Hisashi Endo
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Patent number: 6419581Abstract: A game apparatus and a method of replaying a game display a moving entity which moves in a given area on a display screen. The game apparatus has a memory for storing, for a predetermined period of time, absolute coordinates in the predetermined area of a moving entity which moves in the predetermined area in response to a control signal entered by an operator while a game is in progress, and a display data generating unit or reading the absolute coordinates from the memory in response to a replay request from the operator and processing the absolute coordinates into display data depending on processing information supplied from an input unit by the operator.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2001Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Toshinori Asai, Takayuki Yanagihori
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Patent number: 6411294Abstract: The image display apparatus of the present invention examines the transparency of a pixel to determine whether the Z coordinate of the pixel should be written in the depth buffer. Therefore, when the objects which are constituted by polygons, wherein opaque pixels and translucent pixels coexist, intersect each other, the variation in the display of image patterns which are to be displayed is increased. Since the writing control is performed under simple conditions, i.e., in accordance with the transparency of a pixel, an image closer to the ideal one can be selected without substantially increasing the load imposed on the rendering circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1999Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Furuhashi, Toshiyuki Kaji
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Patent number: 6398647Abstract: When a replay condition is established in advance of a game, a reproduced image which replays a specific scene in the advance of the game is displayed. In displaying the reproduced image, a parameter in the specific scene in the advance of the game is corrected for replay, and the specific scene is reproduced based on the corrected parameter. When the game display is resumed, a stored parameter is read. Suitable replay images can be displayed.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1999Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Hirai, Masaru Sugahara
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Patent number: 6400842Abstract: The present invention detects polygons located in a region of diffused light or specular light, divides that polygon and generates subdivided polygons, and for those polygons, carries out lighting processing and rendering processing using linear interpolation according to the conventional Gouraud shading method. In consideration of the efficiency of the image processing, the present invention does not subdivide all the polygons, but rather subdivides the polygons located within the area of diffused light or specular light. Or, the present invention subdivides only those polygons located within areas where the intensity of the diffused light or specular light varies.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1998Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventor: Nobuhiro Fukuda
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Patent number: 6394898Abstract: A loop track for race horses is disposed at the center of a horse race game device. Twelve race horses run on the track. A gate is disposed in a paddock in the track. The gate is advanced to a start point of the track from the paddock. Twelve satellites are disposed on three sides of the track. A large projector for displaying images of developments, etc. of a race is disposed on one of the short sides of the track. Speakers for live broadcasting, fanfares, BGM, etc. are disposed on both sides of the large projector. The horse race game device enables a larger number of running objects to be raced at once, whereby race developments are made more amusing.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1998Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Sega Enterprises Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Nagao, Takanori Akiyama, Naoki Kawajiri, Seiji Hayashi, Susumu Murata, Koji Yamaguchi, Yuji Ikeda, Mitsuru Todaiji, Yasuhiro Takagi, Shunichi Nakamura, Keiji Yano, Muneoki Kamata, Shingo Kataoka, Koji Osuka