Patents by Inventor Satoshi Mifune

Satoshi Mifune 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: 7737968
    Abstract: Games are processed in a more realistic and immediate manner during image processing for soccer games and the like. Specifically, the movements of characters more accurately simulate those of actual opponents, resulting in greater game realism. The invention is an image processing device for imaging and displaying the behavior of characters modeled on opponents in virtual three-dimensional space. It is determined (S21 to S24) whether or not there exists a certain situation in which the relation to the game contents (in the centering area, for example) or the positional relation (such as distance) between characters and a target (such as opponent characters or the ball) having a relation through the game to said characters matches certain conditions, and the eyes of the characters are directed to the target (S25, S26, S28, etc.) when it is determined that the certain situation exists. The invention is especially suitable for soccer games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha SEGA
    Inventors: Norio Haga, Tadanobu Numata, Satoshi Mifune, Makoto Yamamoto, Kaori Yamamoto, Masaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7532211
    Abstract: Games are processed in a more realistic and immediate manner during image processing for soccer games and the like. Specifically, the movements of characters more accurately simulate those of actual opponents, resulting in greater game realism. The invention is an image processing device for imaging and displaying the behavior of characters modeled on opponents in virtual three-dimensional space. It is determined (S21 to S24) whether or not there exists a certain situation in which the relation to the game contents (in the centering area, for example) or the positional relation (such as distance) between characters and a target (such as opponent characters or the ball) having a relation through the game to said characters matches certain conditions, and the eyes of the characters are directed to the target (S25, S26, S28, etc.) when it is determined that the certain situation exists. The invention is especially suitable for soccer games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Norio Haga, Tadanobu Numata, Satoshi Mifune, Makoto Yamamoto, Kaori Yamamoto, Masaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20090115781
    Abstract: Games are processed in a more realistic and immediate manner during image processing for soccer games and the like. Specifically, the movements of characters more accurately simulate those of actual opponents, resulting in greater game realism. The invention is an image processing device for imaging and displaying the behavior of characters modeled on opponents in virtual three-dimensional space. It is determined (S21 to S24) whether or not there exists a certain situation in which the relation to the game contents (in the centering area, for example) or the positional relation (such as distance) between characters and a target (such as opponent characters or the ball) having a relation through the game to said characters matches certain conditions, and the eyes of the characters are directed to the target (S25, S26, S28, etc.) when it is determined that the certain situation exists. The invention is especially suitable for soccer games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD.
    Inventors: Norio HAGA, Tadanobu NUMATA, Satoshi MIFUNE, Makoto YAMAMOTO, Kaori YAMAMOTO, Masaki YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 7300345
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to deploy soccer players in optimum positions in a soccer game. As means for achieving this object, a base position and ability parameters of player characters are stored in memory as attribute data. Player character/formation selection means obtain an operating signal from a controller and thereby obtain player character and formation information. Player character deployment means reference the attribute data to determine the optimum positions for the player characters on a soccer field. Game execution means execute the game on the basis of the determined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
    Inventors: Satoshi Mifune, Yutaka Ito
  • Patent number: 7199794
    Abstract: The present invention provides a picture processing device capable of realizing the detailed shape and pattern of a display object which is far away from a viewpoint and which attracts a game player's attention. For example, a display object (or player) in a soccer game is composed of a small number of polygons to be displayed on a CRT-type display, etc. when the display object is far away from the viewpoint (or camera position). However, even if the player is at a far position, the player will attract the game player's attention when a ball is passed to the player. If the number of polygons composing the player is small in such a situation, the game player will gain an unnatural impression. For example, assuming that a ball rolls to a certain player and this player obtains priority, a priority mark will be displayed above the player's head. Then, it is determined whether or not the player with the priority mark is close to a certain viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Satoshi Mifune, Masaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6989829
    Abstract: Games are processed in a more realistic and immediate manner during image processing for soccer games and the like. Specifically, the movements of characters more accurately simulate those of actual opponents, resulting in greater game realism. The invention is an image processing device for imaging and displaying the behavior of characters modeled on opponents in virtual three-dimensional space. It is determined (S21 to S24) whether or not there exists a certain situation in which the relation to the game contents (in the centering area, for example) or the positional relation (such as distance) between characters and a target (such as opponent characters or the ball) having a relation through the game to said characters matches certain conditions, and the eyes of the characters are directed to the target (S25, S26, S28, etc.) when it is determined that the certain situation exists. The invention is especially suitable for soccer games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Norio Haga, Tadanobu Numata, Satoshi Mifune, Makoto Yamamoto, Kaori Yamamoto, Masaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20050239547
    Abstract: Games are processed in a more realistic and immediate manner during image processing for soccer games and the like. Specifically, the movements of characters more accurately simulate those of actual opponents, resulting in greater game realism. The invention is an image processing device for imaging and displaying the behavior of characters modeled on opponents in virtual three-dimensional space. It is determined (S21 to S24) whether or not there exists a certain situation in which the relation to the game contents (in the centering area, for example) or the positional relation (such as distance) between characters and a target (such as opponent characters or the ball) having a relation through the game to said characters matches certain conditions, and the eyes of the characters are directed to the target (S25, S26, S28, etc.) when it is determined that the certain situation exists. The invention is especially suitable for soccer games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Norio Haga, Tadanobu Numata, Satoshi Mifune, Makoto Yamamoto, Kaori Yamamoto, Masaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6603479
    Abstract: The present invention provides a picture processing device capable of realizing the detailed shape and pattern of a display object which is far away from a viewpoint and which attracts a game player's attention. For example, a display object (or player) in a soccer game is composed of a small number of polygons to be displayed on a CRT-type display, etc. when the display object is far away from the viewpoint (or camera position). However, even if the player is at a far position, the player will attract the game player's attention when a ball is passed to the player. If the number of polygons composing the player is small in such a situation, the game player will gain an unnatural impression. For example, assuming that a ball rolls to a certain player and this player obtains priority, a priority mark will be displayed above the player's head. Then, it is determined whether or not the player with the priority mark is close to a certain viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Satoshi Mifune, Masaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20030083128
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to deploy soccer players in optimum positions in a soccer game. As means for achieving this object, a base position and ability parameters of player characters are stored in memory as attribute data. Player character/formation selection means obtain an operating signal from a controller and thereby obtain player character and formation information. Player character deployment means reference the attribute data to determine the optimum positions for the player characters on a soccer field. Game execution means execute the game on the basis of the determined positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Mifune, Yutaka Ito
  • Patent number: 6542155
    Abstract: The present invention provides a picture processing device capable of realizing a detailed shape and pattern of a display object having a plurality of elements and located at a distance far from a viewpoint. The picture processing device changes the number of elements of the display object based on the distance between the viewpoint and the display object and it determines whether attributes of the display object have changed. The picture processing device determines whether attributes of the display object have changed based on whether the display object has become an object of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Satoshi Mifune, Masaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20030032483
    Abstract: The present invention provides a picture processing device capable of realizing the detailed shape and pattern of a display object which is far away from a viewpoint and which attracts a game player's attention. For example, a display object (or player) in a soccer game is composed of a small number of polygons to be displayed on a CRT-type display, etc. when the display object is far away from the viewpoint (or camera position). However, even if the player is at a far position, the player will attract the game player's attention when a ball is passed to the player. If the number of polygons composing the player is small in such a situation, the game player will gain an unnatural impression. For example, assuming that a ball rolls to a certain player and this player obtains priority, a priority mark will be displayed above the player's head. Then, it is determined whether or not the player with the priority mark is close to a certain viewpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA ENTERPRISES, d/b/a SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Mifune, Masaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20010040575
    Abstract: Games are processed in a more realistic and immediate manner during image processing for soccer games and the like. Specifically, the movements of characters more accurately simulate those of actual opponents, resulting in greater game realism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: NORIO HAGA, TADANOBU NUMATA, SATOSHI MIFUNE, MAKOTO YAMAMOTO, KAORI YAMAMOTO, MASAKI YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 6052143
    Abstract: A spindle unit control method controls a plurality of spindle units which rotate in synchronism with each other, and comprises with respect to each of the spindle units a first step of obtaining a phase error by comparing phases of a detection signal indicating a rotary reference position of the spindle unit and a first clock signal, a second step of generating a second clock signal having a phase which is adjusted by delaying or advancing the phase of the first clock signal by the phase error, and a third step of controlling the rotation of the spindle unit by a phase locked loop based on the detection signal and the second clock signal. The first clock signal is used in common with respect to each of the spindle units, and the second clock signal is independent for each of the spindle units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshino, Satoshi Mifune, Yoshinori Wada