Patents by Inventor Takafumi Masaoka

Takafumi Masaoka 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: 11951383
    Abstract: Using output of an inertial sensor, whether an operation device is in a swing state of being swung is determined. Whether the operation device is rotated in a first direction about a predetermined axis of the inertial sensor or a second direction opposite to the first direction, is determined. Whether the operation device is swung in an upward direction or a downward direction is determined. First processing is executed in at least either a case where the operation device is rotated in the first direction about the predetermined axis or a case where the operation device is swung in the upward direction, during the swing state. Second processing is executed in at least either a case where the operation device is rotated in the second direction about the predetermined axis or a case where the operation device is swung in the downward direction, during the swing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tatsuta, Takafumi Masaoka, Kazuhiro Yoshikawa, Ryosuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11935697
    Abstract: A capacitor includes: a capacitor element; a pair of external electrodes provided at opposite ends of the capacitor element; and a pair of metal caps and or a metal foil, the pair of metal caps each covering a corresponding one of the pair of external electrodes, the metal foil covering at least part of the capacitor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Nishimura, Yukihiro Shimasaki, Hiroki Takeoka, Takafumi Okudo, Ritsuo Masaoka, Hiromasa Ozaki
  • Patent number: 11878247
    Abstract: In a virtual space of an own apparatus, the movement speed of a movement object is reduced on the basis of a reduction value according to a communication delay time with respect to an opponent apparatus. The reduction value is adjusted such that the movement speed of the movement object is reduced in accordance with the time having elapsed from start of movement of the movement object. The opponent character object is caused to perform an action on the movement object, on the basis of data received from the opponent apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tatsuta, Takafumi Masaoka, Kazuhiro Yoshikawa, Ryosuke Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20230256337
    Abstract: In a virtual space of an own apparatus, the movement speed of a movement object is reduced on the basis of a reduction value according to a communication delay time with respect to an opponent apparatus. The reduction value is adjusted such that the movement speed of the movement object is reduced in accordance with the time having elapsed from start of movement of the movement object. The opponent character object is caused to perform an action on the movement object, on the basis of data received from the opponent apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Hideyuki TATSUTA, Takafumi MASAOKA, Kazuhiro YOSHIKAWA, Ryosuke SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20230256336
    Abstract: The position of an opponent character is controlled on the basis of position data sequentially received from an opponent apparatus. The position of the opponent character is adjusted on the basis of the position data, the movement direction of a movement object, and a delay time in communication with an own apparatus. The opponent character is caused to perform an action on the movement object, on the basis of data received from the opponent apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Takafumi MASAOKA, Hideyuki TATSUTA, Kazuhiro YOSHIKAWA, Ryosuke SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20230256324
    Abstract: Using output of an inertial sensor, whether an operation device is in a swing state of being swung is determined. Whether the operation device is rotated in a first direction about a predetermined axis of the inertial sensor or a second direction opposite to the first direction, is determined. Whether the operation device is swung in an upward direction or a downward direction is determined. First processing is executed in at least either a case where the operation device is rotated in the first direction about the predetermined axis or a case where the operation device is swung in the upward direction, during the swing state. Second processing is executed in at least either a case where the operation device is rotated in the second direction about the predetermined axis or a case where the operation device is swung in the downward direction, during the swing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Hideyuki TATSUTA, Takafumi MASAOKA, Kazuhiro YOSHIKAWA, Ryosuke SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20230249068
    Abstract: During execution of a game, first-type processing is executed if it is determined that an input device has been moved in a first direction at a timing when a predetermined condition is satisfied during execution of the game, on the basis of operation data including at least data based on an output of an inertial sensor. In a case where, on the basis of the operation data, it is determined that the input device has been moved in a second direction at a timing when the predetermined condition is satisfied, if it is further determined that the input device has been moved in the first direction during a predetermined suspension period, the first-type processing is executed. If it is determined that the input device has not been moved in the first direction during the predetermined suspension period, second-type processing is executed after the predetermined suspension period has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Hideyuki TATSUTA, Takafumi MASAOKA, Kazuhiro YOSHIKAWA, Ryosuke SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10154229
    Abstract: A game apparatus as a video reproduction controlling apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU executes a reproduction control of a DVD. In the middle of reproducing the DVD, a content such as an video, a voice, etc. are reproduced. In a case that a reproduction operation such as pause, reproduction, fast reverse, fast forward, heading, etc. is not prohibited, in response to an instruction of the reproduced screen displayed on the monitor with a controller, an operation panel for reproduction operation is displayed. On the other hand, while a menu is reproduced or in a case that a screen button is displayed in accordance with the reproduction, the reproduction operation is prohibited, and even if the reproduced screen is instructed with the controller, the operation panel is not displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Sato, Shinobu Suzuki, Yasutaka Takeuchi, Takafumi Masaoka, Kyohei Seki
  • Patent number: 9310894
    Abstract: A position indicated on a predetermined plane is calculated based on a first operation signal output from a pointing device, and it is determined whether or not the indicated position has moved from out of a predetermined area on the plane into the predetermined area. When a result of the determination is positive in a state where a second operation signal is used for information processing, operation signals used for the information processing are switched from the second operation signal to the first operation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ohsawa, Takafumi Masaoka
  • Patent number: 9149718
    Abstract: A reference character is generated by combining part objects prepared for each site. At least one candidate character object is generated by changing at least one part object among the part objects used in the reference character object. The reference character object and the candidate character object are displayed by a display device, and an input for selection from a user is accepted. Next, a site for which different part objects are used between the selected character object and the reference character object is determined. A new character object is generated by changing the part object used for the determined site with priority. The selected character object is displayed as the reference character, and the newly generated character is displayed as the candidate character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Takahashi, Takafumi Masaoka
  • Patent number: 8988455
    Abstract: A reference character is generated by combining part objects prepared for each site. At least one candidate character object is generated by changing at least one part object among the part objects used in the reference character object. The reference character object and the candidate character object are displayed by a display device, and an input for selection from a user is accepted. Next, a site for which different part objects are used between the selected character object and the reference character object is determined. A new character object is generated by changing the part object used for the determined site with priority. The selected character object is displayed as the reference character, and the newly generated character is displayed as the candidate character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Takahashi, Takafumi Masaoka
  • Patent number: 8678926
    Abstract: In order to achieve the above objective, a game apparatus determines whether there has been an input to each of an A button and a B button. It is determined whether there has been an input to the other of the A button and the B button before a predetermined time period elapses after a determination that there has been an input to one of the A button and the B button, that is, whether a simultaneous operation has been performed. Then, it is determined whether one of: a first timing which is a timing of the input to the one of the A button and the B button; and a second timing which is a timing of the input to the other of the A button and the B button is within a simultaneous operation period. When a result of the determination is affirmative, and it is determined that the simultaneous operation has been performed, it is determined that the simultaneous operation has been performed at a correct timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ohsawa, Takafumi Masaoka
  • Publication number: 20120135810
    Abstract: In order to achieve the above objective, a game apparatus determines whether there has been an input to each of an A button and a B button. It is determined whether there has been an input to the other of the A button and the B button before a predetermined time period elapses after a determination that there has been an input to one of the A button and the B button, that is, whether a simultaneous operation has been performed. Then, it is determined whether one of: a first timing which is a timing of the input to the one of the A button and the B button; and a second timing which is a timing of the input to the other of the A button and the B button is within a simultaneous operation period. When a result of the determination is affirmative, and it is determined that the simultaneous operation has been performed, it is determined that the simultaneous operation has been performed at a correct timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi OHSAWA, Takafumi Masaoka
  • Publication number: 20120133582
    Abstract: A position indicated on a predetermined plane is calculated based on a first operation signal output from a pointing device, and it is determined whether or not the indicated position has moved from out of a predetermined area on the plane into the predetermined area. When a result of the determination is positive in a state where a second operation signal is used for information processing, operation signals used for the information processing are switched from the second operation signal to the first operation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi OHSAWA, Takafumi MASAOKA
  • Publication number: 20100164987
    Abstract: A reference character is generated by combining part objects prepared for each site. At least one candidate character object is generated by changing at least one part object among the part objects used in the reference character object. The reference character object and the candidate character object are displayed by a display device, and an input for selection from a user is accepted. Next, a site for which different part objects are used between the selected character object and the reference character object is determined. A new character object is generated by changing the part object used for the determined site with priority. The selected character object is displayed as the reference character, and the newly generated character is displayed as the candidate character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Takahashi, Takafumi Masaoka
  • Publication number: 20090149252
    Abstract: A game apparatus as a video reproduction controlling apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU executes a reproduction control of a DVD. In the middle of reproducing the DVD, a content such as an video, a voice, etc. are reproduced. In a case that a reproduction operation such as pause, reproduction, fast reverse, fast forward, heading, etc. is not prohibited, in response to an instruction of the reproduced screen displayed on the monitor with a controller, an operation panel for reproduction operation is displayed. On the other hand, while a menu is reproduced or in a case that a screen button is displayed in accordance with the reproduction, the reproduction operation is prohibited, and even if the reproduced screen is instructed with the controller, the operation panel is not displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Sato, Shinobu Suzuki, Yasutaka Takeuchi, Takafumi Masaoka, Kyohei Seki
  • Publication number: 20080195238
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU executes a questionnaire application. In the game apparatus, a player object utilized in the application is registered, and each player object makes an answer to a questionnaire. Information of the questionnaire answered by the player object is managed by corresponding player data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Takahashi, Takafumi Masaoka, Masanori Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20080062198
    Abstract: A reference character is generated by combining part objects prepared for each site. At least one candidate character object is generated by changing at least one part object among the part objects used in the reference character object. The reference character object and the candidate character object are displayed by a display device, and an input for selection from a user is accepted. Next, a site for which different part objects are used between the selected character object and the reference character object is determined. A new character object is generated by changing the part object used for the determined site with priority. The selected character object is displayed as the reference character, and the newly generated character is displayed as the candidate character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Takahashi, Takafumi Masaoka