Patents by Inventor Hiromasa Shikata

Hiromasa Shikata 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: 10661177
    Abstract: Transmission data including at least data regarding luminances of a plurality of small areas obtained by dividing the entirety of an at least partial area of a captured image captured by an image capturing unit is acquired. Then, using the acquired transmission data, and based on a luminance of the entirety of the at least partial area of the captured image and the luminance of any of the plurality of small areas, a shape of an image capturing target and/or a position of the image capturing target relative to a data transmission device are determined, and based on the result of the determination, predetermined information processing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Kataoka, Hiromasa Shikata
  • Patent number: 10653959
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes a first object control unit for changing an orientation or a direction of movement of a first object in a three-dimensional space, a virtual camera control unit for determining a direction of shooting of the virtual camera in the three-dimensional space, and a display data generation unit for generating display data based on the determined direction of shooting of the virtual camera. The virtual camera control unit includes a detection unit for detecting whether the first object is hidden by another object when viewed from the virtual camera and a first following change unit for increasing a degree of causing the direction of shooting of the virtual camera to follow the orientation or the direction of movement of the first object based on a result of detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Shinji Okane
  • Patent number: 10410418
    Abstract: At least one determination coordinate is set near a virtual camera, and whether or not an obstacle object is present in a predetermined range in a direction based on a predetermined object from the determination coordinate, is determined. As a result, if the obstacle object is present, the virtual camera is moved so that the obstacle object will not be present in the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kiuchi, Hiromasa Shikata, Shiro Mouri
  • Patent number: 10146340
    Abstract: An information processing system including first and second information processing apparatuses capable of communicating with each other is provided. Each of the first and second information processing apparatuses includes an input portion which accepts an operation by a user and a display. The first information processing apparatus includes a first display control module which has, in response to a first input to the input portion, a first image corresponding to the first input displayed in a first manner of representation within a display area of the display of the first information processing apparatus and a second display control module which has, in response to a second input following the first input to the input portion, the first image displayed in a second manner of representation different from the first manner of representation within the display area of each of the first and second information processing apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Mari Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20180056192
    Abstract: Transmission data including at least data regarding luminances of a plurality of small areas obtained by dividing the entirety of an at least partial area of a captured image captured by an image capturing unit is acquired. Then, using the acquired transmission data, and based on a luminance of the entirety of the at least partial area of the captured image and the luminance of any of the plurality of small areas, a shape of an image capturing target and/or a position of the image capturing target relative to a data transmission device are determined, and based on the result of the determination, predetermined information processing is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Ryo KATAOKA, Hiromasa SHIKATA
  • Publication number: 20160349866
    Abstract: An information processing system including first and second information processing apparatuses capable of communicating with each other is provided. Each of the first and second information processing apparatuses includes an input portion which accepts an operation by a user and a display. The first information processing apparatus includes a first display control module which has, in response to a first input to the input portion, a first image corresponding to the first input displayed in a first manner of representation within a display area of the display of the first information processing apparatus and a second display control module which has, in response to a second input following the first input to the input portion, the first image displayed in a second manner of representation different from the first manner of representation within the display area of each of the first and second information processing apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Hiromasa SHIKATA, Mari SHIRAKAWA
  • Patent number: 9446303
    Abstract: Diversification of a game field is realized while maintaining appropriate visibilities of the game field and a player object. An information processing apparatus includes: an object control section which controls movement of the virtual object by performing, based on a predetermined condition, switching between a first and a second state in which a virtual object movable region in the virtual space is restricted to a first and a second region, respectively; an image generation section which generates an image taken by a virtual camera; and a virtual camera control section which sets, in the first state, the position of the virtual camera to a first viewpoint that is a high-angle viewpoint with respect to the first region, and sets, in the second state, the position of the virtual camera to a second viewpoint that is a viewpoint other than the high-angle viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Masahiro Nakamura, Shiro Mouri, Shinji Okane, Kentaro Tominaga, Yoshihiko Sakuraba
  • Patent number: 9445084
    Abstract: A virtual object placed in a three-dimensional virtual space and a user interface are stereoscopically displayed on an upper LCD of a game apparatus. An image used for adjusting a display position of the user interface in the depth direction is displayed on a lower LCD. A user adjusts a UI adjustment slider by using a touch pen to adjust the parallax of the user interface. This allows the adjustment of the parallax of the user interface separately from the parallax of the three-dimensional virtual space, and thereby the depth perception of the user interface can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Shiro Mouri, Shinji Okane
  • Patent number: 9433860
    Abstract: An example game system causes an image, based on an operation performed on a terminal apparatus including a display section, to be displayed on a stationary display apparatus separate from the terminal apparatus, and also causes an image based on an operation performed on a controller to be displayed on the display apparatus. Further, in the game system, an image based on the operation performed on the terminal apparatus is displayed on the display section of the terminal apparatus. In this case, when displayed on the stationary display apparatus, the image based on the operation performed on the controller is displayed so as to be larger than the image based on the operation performed on the terminal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiromasa Shikata
  • Publication number: 20140357358
    Abstract: Diversification of a game field is realized while maintaining appropriate visibilities of the game field and a player object. An information processing apparatus includes: an object control section which controls movement of the virtual object by performing, based on a predetermined condition, switching between a first and a second state in which a virtual object movable region in the virtual space is restricted to a first and a second region, respectively; an image generation section which generates an image taken by a virtual camera; and a virtual camera control section which sets, in the first state, the position of the virtual camera to a first viewpoint that is a high-angle viewpoint with respect to the first region, and sets, in the second state, the position of the virtual camera to a second viewpoint that is a viewpoint other than the high-angle viewpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa SHIKATA, Masahiro NAKAMURA, Shiro MOURI, Shinji OKANE, Kentaro TOMINAGA, Yoshihiko SAKURABA
  • Publication number: 20140354687
    Abstract: At least one determination coordinate is set near a virtual camera, and whether or not an obstacle object is present in a predetermined range in a direction based on a predetermined object from the determination coordinate, is determined. As a result, if the obstacle object is present, the virtual camera is moved so that the obstacle object will not be present in the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshikazu KIUCHI, Hiromasa SHIKATA, Shiro MOURI
  • Patent number: 8882592
    Abstract: An example game apparatus calculates the attitude of a terminal device on the basis of a value of a gyro sensor of the terminal device. The game apparatus sets the position of an aim in a game image on the basis of the calculated attitude of the terminal device, and also sets the attitude of a virtual camera. The game apparatus sets the firing direction of an arrow on the basis of the position of the aim, and causes the arrow to be fired in the firing direction in accordance with the cessation of a touch operation on a touch panel of the terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Kenta Sato
  • Patent number: 8764564
    Abstract: An example game device arranges, in a game space, a plurality of first characters corresponding to a plurality of controllers and a second character corresponding to a portable display device. The second character is caused to move in the game space based on an input operation performed on an analog stick. An orientation of the second character is changed based on an input operation performed on the analog stick and an input operation performed on a change in an attitude of the portable display device. On the other hand, the first character is caused to normally automatically move along a predetermined path, and to move toward an enemy character when the enemy character is present within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ninendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Kenta Sato
  • Patent number: 8753207
    Abstract: In an example game device, a second character is caused to rotate based on an input operation performed on a stick of a terminal device and a change in an attitude of the terminal device. In the game device, when an enemy character is present behind the second character, a rotation angle based on an input operation performed on the stick is adjusted so that the second character is easily caused to face the enemy character. In the game device, when an orientation of the second character is changed based on the change in the attitude of the terminal device, a rotation angle based on the change in the attitude of the terminal device is adjusted so that the second character is easily caused to face the enemy character. In the game device, the second character is caused to rotate based the adjusted rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Kenta Sato
  • Patent number: 8740700
    Abstract: An object control section individually moves, in a virtual space, a plurality of first objects each associated to a direction input section among a plurality of direction input sections disposed on a first operating device, in accordance with directions inputted through the associated direction input sections. A virtual camera control section controls a first virtual camera in the virtual space. A game image generation section generates a first game image based on the first virtual camera. The virtual camera control section rotates the first virtual camera in accordance with the positions of the plurality of the first objects in the virtual space, such that a certain one of the first objects first game image is displayed on a predetermined side with regard to a displayed position of another one of the first objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Shikata, Shinji Okane
  • Publication number: 20130288789
    Abstract: An example game system causes an image, based on an operation performed on a terminal apparatus including a display section, to be displayed on a stationary display apparatus separate from the terminal apparatus, and also causes an image based on an operation performed on a controller to be displayed on the display apparatus. Further, in the game system, an image based on the operation performed on the terminal apparatus is displayed on the display section of the terminal apparatus. In this case, when displayed on the stationary display apparatus, the image based on the operation performed on the controller is displayed so as to be larger than the image based on the operation performed on the terminal apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiromasa SHIKATA
  • Patent number: 8425319
    Abstract: An example game apparatus determines, when an input has been made with a cross button, whether an input direction indicates a diagonal direction. When the input direction indicates a diagonal direction, a follow parameter is set such that a virtual stick vector is changed so as to slowly approach an input vector. When the input direction does not indicate a diagonal direction, the follow parameter is set such that the virtual stick vector is changed so as to approach the input vector fast. Further, the game apparatus calculates the follow parameter according to an inner product of the virtual stick vector and the input vector. The game apparatus updates the virtual stick vector based on the virtual stick vector having been most recently obtained, the input vector, and the follow parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Sato, Hiromasa Shikata
  • Publication number: 20130095921
    Abstract: An object control section individually moves, in a virtual space, a plurality of first objects each associated to a direction input section among a plurality of direction input sections disposed on a first operating device, in accordance with directions inputted through the associated direction input sections. A virtual camera control section controls a first virtual camera in the virtual space. A game image generation section generates a first game image based on the first virtual camera. The virtual camera control section rotates the first virtual camera in accordance with the positions of the plurality of the first objects in the virtual space, such that a certain one of the first objects first game image is displayed on a predetermined side with regard to a displayed position of another one of the first objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa SHIKATA, Shinji Okane
  • Publication number: 20130090165
    Abstract: An example game device arranges, in a game space, a plurality of first characters corresponding to a plurality of controllers and a second character corresponding to a portable display device. The second character is caused to move in the game space based on an input operation performed on an analog stick. An orientation of the second character is changed based on an input operation performed on the analog stick and an input operation performed on a change in an attitude of the portable display device. On the other hand, the first character is caused to normally automatically move along a predetermined path, and to move toward an enemy character when the enemy character is present within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa SHIKATA, Kenta SATO
  • Publication number: 20130090168
    Abstract: In an example game device, a second character is caused to rotate based on an input operation performed on a stick of a terminal device and a change in an attitude of the terminal device. In the game device, when an enemy character is present behind the second character, a rotation angle based on an input operation performed on the stick is adjusted so that the second character is easily caused to face the enemy character. In the game device, when an orientation of the second character is changed based on the change in the attitude of the terminal device, a rotation angle based on the change in the attitude of the terminal device is adjusted so that the second character is easily caused to face the enemy character. In the game device, the second character is caused to rotate based the adjusted rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa SHIKATA, Kenta Sato