Patents by Inventor Kenzo Nishikawa

Kenzo Nishikawa 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: 11944897
    Abstract: An input device includes a case body and a plurality of markers 30d, 30e, and 30p configured to emit light to the outside of the case body. When an angle difference between the normal directions of the two markers 30d and 30e is less than a predetermined threshold value, a distance between the two markers 30d and 30e is equal to or greater than a predetermined first distance. When an angle difference between the normal directions of the two markers 30d and 30p is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, a distance between the two markers 30d and 30p is equal to or greater than a predetermined second distance, and the second distance is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Kenzo Nishikawa, Takanori Minamino
  • Patent number: 11831993
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires, using an image obtained by capturing a device including a light-emitting marker with exposure times shorter than a time corresponding to one frame, information regarding a position and a posture of the device. The light-emitting marker is caused to emit light for light emission times equal to or shorter than the exposure times. The information processing apparatus causes the light-emitting marker to emit light in a predetermined flashing pattern, and identifies the exposure times on a time axis of the device on the basis of whether or not the image appears in the captured image, to thereby synchronize the exposure and the light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc., Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tsuru, Kenzo Nishikawa, Winesh Sharwin Raghoebardajal
  • Patent number: 11794095
    Abstract: A captured image acquisition unit acquires an image obtained by capturing a first device that includes a plurality of markers and a second device that includes a plurality of markers. An estimation processing unit first derives position information and posture information of the first device on the basis of marker image coordinates in the captured image and then derives position information and posture information of the second device on the basis of remaining maker image coordinates excluding marker image coordinates of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Nishikawa, Takanori Minamino
  • Publication number: 20230191243
    Abstract: The detection stability of a camera regarding light-emitting sections is enhanced. An input device (100) includes a tracked region in which a plurality of light-emitting sections (H) are arranged. The tracked region includes a rear tracked section (31A) located on the rear side of operation members (13, 14, and 15) in side view and a front tracked section (31B) that is located on the front side of the rear tracked section (31A) and that extends in a direction different from that of the rear tracked section (31A) in side view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Taichi NOKUO, Kenzo NISHIKAWA, Takeshi IGARASHI
  • Patent number: 11663737
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a captured image acquisition unit that acquires an image captured by imaging a device including plural markers. A marker image coordinate specification unit specifies a representative coordinate of each marker image from the captured image, and a position and posture derivation unit derives position information and posture information of the device using the representative coordinates of the marker images. The marker image coordinate specification unit specifies a first boundary box surrounding a region within which pixels having a first luminance or more continuously appear, specifies a second boundary box surrounding a region within which pixels having a second luminance or more continuously appear in the first boundary box, the second luminance being higher than the first luminance, and derives a representative coordinate of each marker image based on pixels in the first or second boundary box in response to the number of specified second boundary boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Kenzo Nishikawa, Takanori Minamino
  • Patent number: 11521366
    Abstract: A data processing device comprises an analyser to analyse successive images captured by a camera and to detect an optically detectable marker in the captured images, a first location detector to detect a location of the optically detectable marker with respect to a location of the camera according to a first detection mode and to generate a first detection result, a second location detector to detect the location of the optically detectable marker with respect to the location of the camera according to a second detection mode different to the first detection mode and to generate a second detection result, and a processor to select at least one of the first detection result and the second detection result and to generate data indicative of the location of the optically detectable marker with respect to the location of the camera based on the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Sharwin Winesh Raghoebardajal, Kenzo Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20220184489
    Abstract: An input device includes a case body and a plurality of markers 30d, 30e, and 30p configured to emit light to the outside of the case body. When an angle difference between the normal directions of the two markers 30d and 30e is less than a predetermined threshold value, a distance between the two markers 30d and 30e is equal to or greater than a predetermined first distance. When an angle difference between the normal directions of the two markers 30d and 30p is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, a distance between the two markers 30d and 30p is equal to or greater than a predetermined second distance, and the second distance is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Kenzo NISHIKAWA, Takanori MINAMINO
  • Publication number: 20220161126
    Abstract: An input device includes a case body and a plurality of markers configured to emit light to the outside of the case body. A first light source is a dedicated light source for lighting one marker, and a second light source is a shared light source for lighting a plurality of markers. The second light source is connected to a plurality of markers with a light guide pipe so as to supply light to the plurality of markers through the light guide pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Nishikawa, Takanori Minamino
  • Publication number: 20220161127
    Abstract: A captured image acquisition unit acquires an image obtained by capturing a first device that includes a plurality of markers and a second device that includes a plurality of markers. An estimation processing unit first derives position information and posture information of the first device on the basis of marker image coordinates in the captured image and then derives position information and posture information of the second device on the basis of remaining maker image coordinates excluding marker image coordinates of the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Nishikawa, Takanori Minamino
  • Publication number: 20220155848
    Abstract: Two light-emitting units are to be prevented from overlapping each other in an image obtained through a camera. A tracked unit (30) has a first outer surface (A1) provided with a first light-emitting unit (H1), a second outer surface (A2) provided with a second light-emitting unit (H2), and a light shield portion (B). The second outer surface (A2) faces a second direction different from that of the first outer surface (A1). The light shield portion (B) is located further outside than the first light-emitting unit (H1) and the second light-emitting unit (H2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takanori Minamino, Kenzo Nishikawa, Takeshi Igarashi, Yoshiaki Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20220143495
    Abstract: An input device includes a case body, a plurality of markers configured to emit light to the outside of the case body, and an indicator configured to indicate the state of the input device. A control portion lights the plurality of markers at predetermined intervals, and lights the indicator in a period during which the plurality of markers are unlit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Nishikawa, Takanori Minamino
  • Patent number: 11232588
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a captured image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image captured by imaging a device that includes a plurality of markers, and an estimation processing unit configured to estimate position information and posture information of the device on the basis of a marker image coordinate in the captured image. The estimation processing unit includes an extraction unit configured to extract N marker image coordinates in the captured image, N being an integer equal to or greater than three, and a position and posture derivation unit configured to derive the position information and the posture information of the device from the extracted N marker image coordinates and three-dimensional coordinates of N markers in a three-dimensional model of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Kenzo Nishikawa, Takanori Minamino
  • Publication number: 20220021798
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires, using an image obtained by capturing a device including a light-emitting marker with exposure times shorter than a time corresponding to one frame, information regarding a position and a posture of the device. The light-emitting marker is caused to emit light for light emission times equal to or shorter than the exposure times. The information processing apparatus causes the light-emitting marker to emit light in a predetermined flashing pattern, and identifies the exposure times on a time axis of the device on the basis of whether or not the image appears in the captured image, to thereby synchronize the exposure and the light emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicants: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc., Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke TSURU, Kenzo Nishikawa, Winesh Sharwin Raghoebardajal
  • Patent number: 11227408
    Abstract: An information processing device disposes an object model of a target object in a virtual space, and projects a polygon of a marker onto an imaging plane. Visibility indicating a degree of occlusion of the marker is calculated from an area of an image of the marker on a model thereby obtained and an area of a corresponding image of the marker in a photographed image. When the visibility is equal to or higher than a threshold value, positional information of the marker which positional information is derived from the photographed image is determined to be valid, and is output to be used in calculation of position coordinates of the target object after a weight coefficient is determined. When the visibility is lower than the threshold value, the positional information of the marker is determined to be invalid, and is not output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Kenzo Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11065535
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing device that provides an operation signal of an analog stick to a game, including: a conversion processing unit configured to convert a detection value obtained by detection of a movement of a controller into an analog stick signal; and an output processing unit configured to provide the analog stick signal obtained by the conversion to the game. The conversion processing unit includes a first calculation unit configured to calculate a first signal from a detected angular velocity, a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second signal according to a deviation amount between a direction in which the controller is directed and a reference direction, an addition unit configured to add the first signal and the second signal to generate a motion operation signal, and an analog stick signal generation unit configured to generate an analog stick signal from the motion operation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takanori Minamino, Yoshiyuki Imada, Kenzo Nishikawa, Dean Sofer
  • Patent number: 10960296
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus that provides an operation signal of an input part of a controller to a game. The information processing apparatus includes an acquisition part configured to acquire a detected value of a motion of the controller, a conversion processing part configured to convert the acquired detected value to the operation signal of the input part of the controller, and an output processing part configured to provide the converted operation signal to the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takanori Minamino, Yoshiyuki Imada, Kenzo Nishikawa, Dean Sofer
  • Publication number: 20200356226
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an object approach determining unit and a display control unit. The object approach determining unit is configured to determine an approach of an object based on received data. The display control unit is configured to control a display to display a plurality of selectable icons. The display control unit is configured to control the display to change the display of the plurality of selectable icons to display only a portion of the plurality of selectable icons when the object approach determining unit determines that the object is close to the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: KENZO NISHIKAWA, TAKASHI NUNOMAKI, RYOKO AMANO, LYO TAKAOKA, RITSUKO KANO, TOMOYA NARITA, SHUNICHI KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20200349378
    Abstract: A data processing device comprises an analyser to analyse successive images captured by a camera and to detect an optically detectable marker in the captured images, a first location detector to detect a location of the optically detectable marker with respect to a location of the camera according to a first detection mode and to generate a first detection result, a second location detector to detect the location of the optically detectable marker with respect to the location of the camera according to a second detection mode different to the first detection mode and to generate a second detection result, and a processor to select at least one of the first detection result and the second detection result and to generate data indicative of the location of the optically detectable marker with respect to the location of the camera based on the selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Sharwin Winesh Raghoebardajal, Kenzo Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20200342621
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a captured image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image captured by imaging a device that includes a plurality of markers, and an estimation processing unit configured to estimate position information and posture information of the device on the basis of a marker image coordinate in the captured image. The estimation processing unit includes an extraction unit configured to extract N marker image coordinates in the captured image, N being an integer equal to or greater than three, and a position and posture derivation unit configured to derive the position information and the posture information of the device from the extracted N marker image coordinates and three-dimensional coordinates of N markers in a three-dimensional model of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo NISHIKAWA, Takanori MINAMINO
  • Publication number: 20200342624
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a captured image acquisition unit that acquires an image captured by imaging a device including plural markers. A marker image coordinate specification unit specifies a representative coordinate of each marker image from the captured image, and a position and posture derivation unit derives position information and posture information of the device using the representative coordinates of the marker images. The marker image coordinate specification unit specifies a first boundary box surrounding a region within which pixels having a first luminance or more continuously appear, specifies a second boundary box surrounding a region within which pixels having a second luminance or more continuously appear in the first boundary box, the second luminance being higher than the first luminance, and derives a representative coordinate of each marker image based on pixels in the first or second boundary box in response to the number of specified second boundary boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo NISHIKAWA, Takanori MINAMINO