Patents Examined by Julie Brochetti
  • Patent number: 6716033
    Abstract: A system uses objects that can be combined to learn mathematical operations. Operand objects illustrate a numerical operand and an associated set of possible numerical solutions to operations performed on the operand number. Operator objects illustrate an operation symbol and a numerical operator. When an operator object and an operand object are combined, a mathematical operation consisting of the operand, the operation symbol and the operator is illustrated, and a solution to the operation is illustrated. The operand objects also include a non-numerical representation of the value of the operand, and the operator objects also include a non-numerical representation of the value of the operator. When combined, the representation of the value of the operator, and the representation of the value of the operand cooperate to represent the value of the solution to the mathematical operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: KidSpark, LLC
    Inventor: Oksana Lassowsky
  • Patent number: 6682426
    Abstract: An operating device used in a game machine for playing a television game includes a main body portion of the operating device and first and second grip portions protruding from one side on respective end parts of the main body portion. A first operating unit is mounted on one end of the main body portion and a second operating unit is mounted on the opposite end of the main body portion. The first and second operating units are provided with a plurality of thrusting operators protruding from the upper surface of the main body portion and a plurality of signal input elements actuated by the thrusting operators. A third operating unit and a fourth operating unit are arranged facing each other on the proximal ends of the first and second grip portions. Each of the third and fourth operating units has a rotation member and a plurality of signal input devices actuated by the rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Teiyu Goto, Hiroki Ogata
  • Patent number: 6648769
    Abstract: An instrumented golf club system having an instrumented golf club, an interface means and a computing means is disclosed herein. The instrumented golf club includes a plurality of sensors, an internal power supply, an angular rate sensor and an internal ring buffer memory for capturing data relating to a golf swing. The interface means is capable of transferring data from the instrumented golf club to the computing means for processing the data and presenting the data in a useful and informative format. The data may be used to assist a golfer's swing, or to design an appropriate golf club for a specific type of golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Nathan J. Lee, J. Andrew Galloway, William Kelly Borsum
  • Patent number: 6540614
    Abstract: Provided is a game device capable of notifying a player of the timing for observing individual display units without ruining the game-world view. A game device comprising a first display unit (113) for displaying a, first image in conformity with the game progress and a second display unit (39) for displaying a second image corresponding to the first image further comprises perceptive stimulation elements (34-37) for stimulating the perception of the player operating the game device. In consideration of the game progress, when it is desired for the player to observe the second display unit (39), the perspective stimulation elements (34-37) are individually activated in order to stimulate the perception of the player operating the game device. The player learns the display of individual information by sound or vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Akira Nishino, Kunihiro Shirahata, Takaharu Terada, Katsuhito Goto, Masanobu Tsukamoto, Makoto Hara, Jun Ishida
  • Patent number: 6443839
    Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: James Stockdale, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 6422943
    Abstract: By transmitting function information indicative of functions of a game machine manipulation device CT10, previously stored therein, to a game machine main body 27 with a command from the game machine main body 27, it is possible to retrieve functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 required for the game machine main body 27 and to set the retrieved functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 in the game machine manipulation device CT10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinohara, Toshio Honda
  • 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: 6406370
    Abstract: A highly entertaining video game machine that allows a character to appear in a game space is provided. The video game machine includes a storage medium for storing a plurality of preset behavior patterns. A behavior-pattern selection unit selects one of the behavior patterns according to various situations, such as the temperament and emotion of the character. A character-behavior control unit causes the character to behave according to the selected behavior pattern. The temperament setting of the character is changed by a temperament setting unit. The emotion setting of the character is changed by an emotion setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kumagai