Patents by Inventor Eiji Aonuma

Eiji Aonuma 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: 11498004
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, on the basis of a first direction input performed on an operation device, a player object is caused to perform a posturing action of holding an item object in an orientation corresponding to an input direction according to the first direction input. Further, in accordance with cancelation of the first direction input, the player object is caused to perform a swinging action of swinging the item object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Aonuma
  • Publication number: 20210394068
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, on the basis of a first direction input performed on an operation device, a player object is caused to perform a posturing action of holding an item object in an orientation corresponding to an input direction according to the first direction input. Further, in accordance with cancelation of the first direction input, the player object is caused to perform a swinging action of swinging the item object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji AONUMA
  • Patent number: 11135519
    Abstract: A non-limiting example game system includes a processor incorporated within a main body apparatus, and the processor creates, based on operation inputs of a player, a game stage by selecting components corresponding to a virtual room and by arranging panels corresponding to the components on a grid-shaped arrangement area. In the virtual room, a passage, a stairs, a door with lock blocking the passage and a treasure chest are arranged. A key for releasing the door with lock is contained in the treasure chest. The player creates the game stage by connecting all of the passages and the stairs from a start room that a game is started to a room where a boss enemy object is arranged and by taking arrangement of the doors with lock and the treasure chests containing the key into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Aonuma, Shingo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200384368
    Abstract: A non-limiting example game system includes a processor incorporated within a main body apparatus, and the processor creates, based on operation inputs of a player, a game stage by selecting components corresponding to a virtual room and by arranging panels corresponding to the components on a grid-shaped arrangement area. In the virtual room, a passage, a stairs, a door with lock blocking the passage and a treasure chest are arranged. A key for releasing the door with lock is contained in the treasure chest. The player creates the game stage by connecting all of the passages and the stairs from a start room that a game is started to a room where a boss enemy object is arranged and by taking arrangement of the doors with lock and the treasure chests containing the key into consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Eiji AONUMA, Shingo WATANABE
  • Patent number: 9827492
    Abstract: Instead of using an operation inputted by a player, a series of operation data for continuously moving a player character for a predetermined time period of a game is previously stored as automatic operation data. Automatic control means moves the player character based on the automatic operation data. Furthermore, the automatic control means receives a play start operation indicating that the player starts to play the game while the automatic control means moves the player character. A movement of the player character controlled based on the automatic operation data is finished at a time when the play start operation is received, and the movement of the player character starts to be controlled based on an operation of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Eiji Aonuma
  • Patent number: 9327191
    Abstract: A pivoting camera viewpoint is provided so that when an animated game character uses a bow and arrow or other weapon, the camera adopts a third person 3D view based on the relative position of the game character and the target that game character is aiming his bow at. The user positions a target cursor on the desired target. This causes an imaginary line segment or plane to be drawn in 3D space between the desired target and the game character (or possibly the game character's bow). The imaginary line segment or plane continues through and past the game character, and the character keeps the weapon, if it is a missile weapon, pointed along this line segment. Additionally, the player can lock onto a target, and freely move a character around. While in lock-on mode, the camera automatically repositions itself to keep both the character and the target visible to a player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma
  • Publication number: 20140121020
    Abstract: Instead of using an operation inputted by a player, a series of operation data for continuously moving a player character for a predetermined time period of a game is previously stored as automatic operation data. Automatic control means moves the player character based on the automatic operation data. Furthermore, the automatic control means receives a play start operation indicating that the player starts to play the game while the automatic control means moves the player character. A movement of the player character controlled based on the automatic operation data is finished at a time when the play start operation is received, and the movement of the player character starts to be controlled based on an operation of the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Hidemaro FUJIBAYASHI, Eiji AONUMA
  • Patent number: 8690656
    Abstract: Instead of using an operation inputted by a player, a series of operation data for continuously moving a player character for a predetermined time period of a game is previously stored as automatic operation data. Automatic control means moves the player character based on the automatic operation data. Furthermore, the automatic control means receives a play start operation indicating that the player starts to play the game while the automatic control means moves the player character. A movement of the player character control led based on the automatic operation data is finished at a time when the play start operation is received, and the movement of the player character starts to be controlled based on an operation of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Eiji Aonuma
  • Patent number: 8674937
    Abstract: A pointing device includes a controller for pointing a position on a display surface by imaging an imaging objective such as two markers positioned with a predetermined interval therebetween in a vicinity of the display surface of a monitor. With the pointing device, a width of the display surface and the interval between the markers are obtained to determine an appropriate distance between the controller and the monitor. Further, a current distance between the controller and the monitor (markers) is calculated. Relation between the current distance and the appropriate distance is notified by such as image display or sound output. For example, an image indicating the appropriate distance and an adjustment image varying in size in conjunction with the current distance are displayed on the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Aonuma, Kenji Matsutani
  • Patent number: 8556717
    Abstract: A user can move the position of a pan flute in a horizontal direction on a screen by sliding a touch position in the horizontal direction on the screen while touching a touch panel with a stick. Moreover, when the user blows on a microphone hole, a musical sound of a pitch corresponding to a pipe of the pan flute which is displayed in an overlapping manner with a valid position display image at this time is outputted via a sound hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Junya Osada, Arisa Hosaka, Eiji Aonuma, Toru Minegishi, Daiki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8430751
    Abstract: Action information for controlling a series of at least one action performed by a first object is stored. Then the at least one action of the first object is controlled in accordance with the action information. At this time, an action of a second object is controlled in accordance with an operation signal from a predetermined input device operated by a player. Furthermore, while the action of the second object is being controlled, the information about the at least one action of the first object is displayed on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Eiji Aonuma, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Patent number: 8306768
    Abstract: Operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data is obtained from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor. Next, at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space is controlled based on the angular speed data. When at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled based on the angular speed data, it is determined whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions. As a result, if the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined object is caused to start a predetermined motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Eiji Aonuma
  • Patent number: 8103128
    Abstract: A video game device calculates an angle of an object 71, etc., with respect to a reference direction in a three-dimensional space. Then, the video game device defines a virtual cylindrical model for each of a plurality of objects so that a bottom surface of each cylindrical model is perpendicular to the reference direction. The video game device defines a plurality of cylindrical models for a predetermined object if the inclination of the predetermined object with respect to the reference direction is greater than a predetermined angle. Then, the video game device determines whether or not the defined cylindrical models have an overlap therebetween. Then, if two cylindrical models are determined to be overlapping with each other, the video game device gives a predetermined change to the two objects in response to the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Aonuma, Yoichi Yamada, Hajime Nakamura, Hiroshi Umemiya
  • Publication number: 20110210916
    Abstract: A pointing device includes a controller for pointing a position on a display surface by imaging an imaging objective such as two markers positioned with a predetermined interval therebetween in a vicinity of the display surface of a monitor. With the pointing device, a width of the display surface and the interval between the markers are obtained to determine an appropriate distance between the controller and the monitor. Further, a current distance between the controller and the monitor (markers) is calculated. Relation between the current distance and the appropriate distance is notified by such as image display or sound output. For example, an image indicating the appropriate distance and an adjustment image varying in size in conjunction with the current distance are displayed on the monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji AONUMA, Kenji MATSUTANI
  • Patent number: 7969413
    Abstract: A pointing device includes a controller for pointing a position on a display surface by imaging an imaging objective such as two markers positioned with a predetermined interval therebetween in a vicinity of the display surface of a monitor. With the pointing device, a width of the display surface and the interval between the markers are obtained to determine an appropriate distance between the controller and the monitor. Further, a current distance between the controller and the monitor (markers) is calculated. Relation between the current distance and the appropriate distance is notified by such as image display or sound output. For example, an image indicating the appropriate distance and an adjustment image varying in size in conjunction with the current distance are displayed on the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Aonuma, Kenji Matsutani
  • Publication number: 20110105230
    Abstract: A user can move the position of a pan flute in a horizontal direction on a screen by sliding a touch position in the horizontal direction on the screen while touching a touch panel with a stick. Moreover, when the user blows on a microphone hole, a musical sound of a pitch corresponding to a pipe of the pan flute which is displayed in an overlapping manner with a valid position display image at this time is outputted via a sound hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Junya Osada, Arisa Hosaka, Eiji Aonuma, Toru Minegishi, Daiki Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20100160045
    Abstract: Operation data including at least acceleration data and angular speed data is obtained from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyroscopic sensor. Next, at least one of an attitude and a position of a predetermined object in a virtual space is controlled based on the angular speed data. When at least one of the attitude and the position of the predetermined object is controlled based on the angular speed data, it is determined whether or not the acceleration data satisfies predetermined conditions. As a result, if the acceleration data satisfies the predetermined conditions, the predetermined object is caused to start a predetermined motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Eiji Aonuma
  • Publication number: 20100144433
    Abstract: Action information for controlling a series of at least one action performed by a first object is stored. Then the at least one action of the first object is controlled in accordance with the action information. At this time, an action of a second object is controlled in accordance with an operation signal from a predetermined input device operated by a player. Furthermore, while the action of the second object is being controlled, the information about the at least one action of the first object is displayed on a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Hidemaro FUJIBAYASHI, Eiji AONUMA, Yutaka HIRAMUKI
  • Publication number: 20100073367
    Abstract: A video game device calculates an angle of an object 71, etc., with respect to a reference direction in a three-dimensional space. Then, the video game device defines a virtual cylindrical model for each of a plurality of objects so that a bottom surface of each cylindrical model is perpendicular to the reference direction. The video game device defines a plurality of cylindrical models for a predetermined object if the inclination of the predetermined object with respect to the reference direction is greater than a predetermined angle. Then, the video game device determines whether or not the defined cylindrical models have an overlap therebetween. Then, if two cylindrical models are determined to be overlapping with each other, the video game device gives a predetermined change to the two objects in response to the collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Aonuma, Yoichi Yamada, Hajime Nakamura, Hiroshi Umemiya
  • Publication number: 20100069159
    Abstract: Instead of using an operation inputted by a player, a series of operation data for continuously moving a player character for a predetermined time period of a game is previously stored as automatic operation data. Automatic control means moves the player character based on the automatic operation data. Furthermore, the automatic control means receives a play start operation indicating that the player starts to play the game while the automatic control means moves the player character. A movement of the player character control led based on the automatic operation data is finished at a time when the play start operation is received, and the movement of the player character starts to be controlled based on an operation of the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Eiji Aonuma