Patents by Inventor Kazutoshi OBANA

Kazutoshi OBANA 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: 10796540
    Abstract: A sound source localization position indicating a position where a sound source is localized is set, and a sound signal for localizing the sound source at the set sound source localization position is generated and output. Then, a vibration signal for, in conjunction with the sound source localization position, vibrating a vibrator for imparting a vibration to a user is generated and output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Takafumi Aoki, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Kei Yamashita, Shoji Masubuchi, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Patent number: 10319199
    Abstract: Sound pressure information indicated by a sound signal and belonging to a frequency range above an upper limit that enables at least a user to perceive a vibration is converted into sound pressure information belonging to a frequency range less than or equal to the upper limit or belonging to a low-frequency range, and a vibration signal is generated using the sound pressure information after the conversion. This makes it possible to generate a vibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Patent number: 10286310
    Abstract: A portable information processing apparatus includes a display, stereo loudspeakers, a pair of vibrators, and one or more processors. The pair of vibrators is provided on a left side and a right side of a main body of the information processing apparatus with respect to a center of the display. The one or more processors are configured to: generate sound signals to be output to the stereo loudspeakers, and output the sound signals; generate vibration signals for vibrating the pair of vibrators by vibrations, each having a plurality of frequency components, and output the vibration signals; and control an image to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Patent number: 10135412
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus sets an amount of adjustment for adjusting an output in accordance with a user operation and generates a sound signal so that a sound volume of sound to be output from a sound output apparatus changes in accordance with the set amount of adjustment. Then, the information processing apparatus generates a vibration signal so that a magnitude of vibration to be imparted by a vibration apparatus changes in accordance with the set amount of adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Shoji Masubuchi, Kei Yamashita, Takafumi Aoki, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Patent number: 10062247
    Abstract: At least a first vibration output apparatus and a second vibration output apparatus used while physically separated from the first vibration output apparatus are included. The first vibration output apparatus includes a first vibration unit. The second vibration output apparatus includes a second vibration unit. It is possible to output a first vibration signal and a second vibration signal for, by changing a ratio of intensities of vibrating the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit, causing a user to perceive a single vibration source between the first vibration output apparatus and the second vibration output apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Shoji Masubuchi, Takafumi Aoki, Kei Yamashita, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Publication number: 20180221764
    Abstract: A portable information processing apparatus includes a display, stereo loudspeakers, a pair of vibrators, and one or more processors. The pair of vibrators is provided on a left side and a right side of a main body of the information processing apparatus with respect to a center of the display. The one or more processors are configured to: generate sound signals to be output to the stereo loudspeakers, and output the sound signals; generate vibration signals for vibrating the pair of vibrators by vibrations, each having a plurality of frequency components, and output the vibration signals; and control an image to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Kazutoshi OBANA, Kochi KAWAI, Junichiro MIYATAKE, Masahiko INAMI, Kouta MINAMIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9968846
    Abstract: A portable information processing apparatus includes a display, stereo loudspeakers, a pair of vibrators, and one or more processors. The pair of vibrators is provided on a left side and a right side of a main body of the information processing apparatus with respect to a center of the display. The one or more processors are configured to: generate sound signals to be output to the stereo loudspeakers, and output the sound signals; generate vibration signals for vibrating the pair of vibrators by vibrations, each having a plurality of frequency components, and output the vibration signals; and control an image to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Patent number: 9906856
    Abstract: A non-limiting example information processing apparatus comprises a housing, and a left speaker and a right speaker are provided in a left end portion and a right portion of the housing and in an inside of this housing. Each speaker is arranged such that a vibration direction of a diaphragm becomes in a direction perpendicular to a plane surface of a display panel that is provided in the front of the housing. Sound emission portions for emitting sounds from the speakers are formed in both end portions of the housing and on a side surface at near side or this side that the speakers are arranged. Therefore, sounds are emitted toward a side of a player who holds the information processing apparatus. A vibrator that is provided between the two speakers is driven simultaneously with the speakers or in a predetermined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Obana
  • Publication number: 20180050271
    Abstract: A portable information processing apparatus includes a display, stereo loudspeakers, a pair of vibrators, and one or more processors. The pair of vibrators is provided on a left side and a right side of a main body of the information processing apparatus with respect to a center of the display. The one or more processors are configured to: generate sound signals to be output to the stereo loudspeakers, and output the sound signals; generate vibration signals for vibrating the pair of vibrators by vibrations, each having a plurality of frequency components, and output the vibration signals; and control an image to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kazutoshi OBANA, Kochi KAWAI, Junichiro MIYATAKE, Masahiko INAMI, Kouta MINAMIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9833702
    Abstract: A portable information processing apparatus includes a display, stereo loudspeakers, a pair of vibrators, and one or more processors. The pair of vibrators is provided on a left side and a right side of a main body of the information processing apparatus with respect to a center of the display. The one or more processors are configured to: generate sound signals to be output to the stereo loudspeakers, and output the sound signals; generate vibration signals for vibrating the pair of vibrators by vibrations, each having a plurality of frequency components, and output the vibration signals; and control an image to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Patent number: 9753537
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus for outputting a predetermined sound selectively from a plurality of sound output apparatuses and vibrating a predetermined vibration apparatus selects from the plurality of sound output apparatuses a sound output apparatus to output the sound, performs vibration control for vibrating the vibration apparatus, and performs different types of vibration control in accordance with the selected sound output apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Keisuke Seko, Shoji Masubuchi, Takafumi Aoki, Kei Yamashita, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Publication number: 20170154506
    Abstract: At least a first vibration output apparatus and a second vibration output apparatus used while physically separated from the first vibration output apparatus are included. The first vibration output apparatus includes a first vibration unit. The second vibration output apparatus includes a second vibration unit. It is possible to output a first vibration signal and a second vibration signal for, by changing a ratio of intensities of vibrating the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit, causing a user to perceive a single vibration source between the first vibration output apparatus and the second vibration output apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Kazutoshi OBANA, Kochi KAWAI, Junichiro MIYATAKE, Shoji MASUBUCHI, Takafumi AOKI, Kei YAMASHITA, Masahiko INAMI, Kouta MINAMIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9606626
    Abstract: At least a first vibration output apparatus and a second vibration output apparatus used while physically separated from the first vibration output apparatus are included. The first vibration output apparatus includes a first vibration unit. The second vibration output apparatus includes a second vibration unit. It is possible to output a first vibration signal and a second vibration signal for, by changing a ratio of intensities of vibrating the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit, causing a user to perceive a single vibration source between the first vibration output apparatus and the second vibration output apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Obana, Kochi Kawai, Junichiro Miyatake, Shoji Masubuchi, Takafumi Aoki, Kei Yamashita, Masahiko Inami, Kouta Minamizawa
  • Publication number: 20160192067
    Abstract: A non-limiting example information processing apparatus comprises a housing, and a left speaker and a right speaker are provided in a left end portion and a right portion of the housing and in an inside of this housing. Each speaker is arranged such that a vibration direction of a diaphragm becomes in a direction perpendicular to a plane surface of a display panel that is provided in the front of the housing. Sound emission portions for emitting sounds from the speakers are formed in both end portions of the housing and on a side surface at near side or this side that the speakers are arranged. Therefore, sounds are emitted toward a side of a player who holds the information processing apparatus. A vibrator that is provided between the two speakers is driven simultaneously with the speakers or in a predetermined order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: Kazutoshi OBANA
  • Publication number: 20160012687
    Abstract: Sound pressure information indicated by a sound signal and belonging to a frequency range above an upper limit that enables at least a user to perceive a vibration is converted into sound pressure information belonging to a frequency range less than or equal to the upper limit or belonging to a low-frequency range, and a vibration signal is generated using the sound pressure information after the conversion. This makes it possible to generate a vibration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventor: Kazutoshi OBANA
  • Patent number: 9220987
    Abstract: A communication system which includes a plurality of communication terminals, each communication terminal includes: a memory that stores a group attribute representative of an attribute of a group, the group attribute assigned to a communication terminal or a user of the communication terminal; a communication unit that transmits the group attribute stored in a memory of a correspondent terminal located within a predetermined range from the communication terminal, and receives a group attribute stored in a memory of the correspondent terminal; and a controller that compares the group attribute received by the communication unit with the group attribute stored in the memory of the communication terminal and initiates selectively one of a first information processing and a second information processing based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Obana
  • Publication number: 20150356838
    Abstract: At least a first vibration output apparatus and a second vibration output apparatus used while physically separated from the first vibration output apparatus are included. The first vibration output apparatus includes a first vibration unit. The second vibration output apparatus includes a second vibration unit. It is possible to output a first vibration signal and a second vibration signal for, by changing a ratio of intensities of vibrating the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit, causing a user to perceive a single vibration source between the first vibration output apparatus and the second vibration output apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Obana
  • Publication number: 20150348378
    Abstract: A sound source localization position indicating a position where a sound source is localized is set, and a sound signal for localizing the sound source at the set sound source localization position is generated and output. Then, a vibration signal for, in conjunction with the sound source localization position, vibrating a vibrator for imparting a vibration to a user is generated and output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Kazutoshi OBANA
  • Publication number: 20150323996
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus for outputting a predetermined sound selectively from a plurality of sound output apparatuses and vibrating a predetermined vibration apparatus selects from the plurality of sound output apparatuses a sound output apparatus to output the sound, performs vibration control for vibrating the vibration apparatus, and performs different types of vibration control in accordance with the selected sound output apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Obana
  • Publication number: 20150263685
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus sets an amount of adjustment for adjusting an output in accordance with a user operation and generates a sound signal so that a sound volume of sound to be output from a sound output apparatus changes in accordance with the set amount of adjustment. Then, the information processing apparatus generates a vibration signal so that a magnitude of vibration to be imparted by a vibration apparatus changes in accordance with the set amount of adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Kazutoshi OBANA