Patents by Inventor Yoshikazu Yamashita

Yoshikazu Yamashita 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: 8393961
    Abstract: A game apparatus calculates a reference direction of each boat by combining a velocity vector and a front direction vector of each boat at a predetermined rate. Next, the game apparatus calculates an average direction by performing weighted averaging of the calculated reference direction of each boat in accordance with a distance from the front boat. Then, the game apparatus calculates the imaging direction of the virtual camera based on the calculated average direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Suzuki, Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20120309523
    Abstract: An example game system includes a portable display that includes an image-capturing unit, and a display unit. The game device obtains first operation data representing an operation performed on a controller device, second operation data representing an operation performed on the portable display, and data of a image captured by the image-capturing unit. In a virtual space, an action of a first control object is controlled based on first operation data and an action of a second control object is controlled based on second operation data. The game device generates a first game image including a game image that represents the virtual space and corresponds to the first control object, and at least a portion of the captured image. The first game image is displayed on a predetermined display. The game device generates a second game image corresponding to the second control object, and displays the second game image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20120236034
    Abstract: An image is placed, based on a predetermined designation input, on a predetermined placement position in relation to a display area, and displayed. The image is enlarged and reduced in accordance with an enlargement ratio of the image, and an area within which the placement position can be set is changed in relation to the display area in accordance with the enlargement ratio. Then, based on an obtained designation input, a position within the area, which position corresponds to the designation input, is calculated as a placement position, and the image having been enlarged and reduced is placed on the placement position. The image is then displayed on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YOSHIKAZU YAMASHITA, Keiichi Minato
  • Patent number: 8267785
    Abstract: First, operation data including at least acceleration data and angular velocity data is obtained from an input device including at least an acceleration sensor and a gyrosensor. Next, based on the acceleration data and the angular velocity data, a moving velocity of the input device itself and/or a relative positional relationship between the input device and a center of a rotation motion applied on the input device itself is estimated. Then, predetermined game processing is executed based on the estimated moving velocity and/or relative positional relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamashita, Ichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8246458
    Abstract: As an example, a value obtained by adding the magnitudes of a plurality of angular velocities around respective axes indicated by angular velocity data obtained from an input device including gyroscopic sensors, is used to calculate a rotation parameter indicating a rotation amount. A predetermined object which is rotated, depending on the rotation amount corresponding to the rotation parameter, is displayed on a display device. As another example, when it is determined, based on the angular velocity data, that the attitude of the input device is stable, a stability flag which indicates that the attitude of the input device has been at least once stable is set and updated to ON. When there is an input device whose stability flag is OFF, the aforementioned determination is performed and a screen including a result of the determination is displayed on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Souichi Nakajima, Kenichi Nishida, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Takayuki Shimamura
  • Publication number: 20120190450
    Abstract: As an example, a value obtained by adding the magnitudes of a plurality of angular velocities around respective axes indicated by angular velocity data obtained from an input device including gyroscopic sensors, is used to calculate a rotation parameter indicating a rotation amount. A predetermined object which is rotated, depending on the rotation amount corresponding to the rotation parameter, is displayed on a display device. As another example, when it is determined, based on the angular velocity data, that the attitude of the input device is stable, a stability flag which indicates that the attitude of the input device has been at least once stable is set and updated to ON. When there is an input device whose stability flag is OFF, the aforementioned determination is performed and a screen including a result of the determination is displayed on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Souichi NAKAJIMA, Kenichi NISHIDA, Yoshikazu YAMASHITA, Takayuki SHIMAMURA
  • Patent number: 8226481
    Abstract: A game apparatus performs game processing on the basis of operation data output from a first input device including a first acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor and a second input device including a second acceleration sensor. The game apparatus calculates an orientation of an object within a game space on the basis of a first acceleration and a second acceleration, and causes the object to make a predetermined motion on the basis of the angular velocity data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimamura, Takuhiro Dohta, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Shinya Hiratake
  • Publication number: 20120157209
    Abstract: A handheld terminal 200 performs wireless communication with a game apparatus 103 and determines whether the wireless communication with the game apparatus 103 is possible. The game apparatus 103 performs wireless communication with the handheld terminal 200 and determines whether the wireless communication with the handheld terminal 200 is possible. The game apparatus 103 performs a return home determination process, based on the determination about whether the wireless communication is possible, when the wireless communication with the handheld terminal 200 has become, after having become disabled, enabled again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20120119992
    Abstract: An example input system calculates a specified position on a screen of a display device, the position being specified by an operating device. The input system includes an attitude calculation section, an identification section, and a specified position calculation section. The attitude calculation section calculates an attitude of the operating device. The identification section identifies one of a plurality of display devices toward which the operating device is directed, based on the attitude of the operating device. The specified position calculation section calculates a specified position in accordance with the attitude of the operating device as a position on a screen of the display device identified by the identification section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi NISHIDA, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Takayuki Shimamura
  • Patent number: 8144933
    Abstract: A motion information obtaining step successively obtains motion information from a motion sensor. An imaging information obtaining step successively obtains imaging information from an imaging means. An invalid information determination step determines whether the imaging information is valid information or invalid information for predetermined processing. A motion value calculation step calculates a motion value representing a magnitude of a motion of the operation apparatus in accordance with the motion information. A processing step executes, when the imaging information is determined as the invalid information in the invalid information determination step and when the motion value calculated in the motion calculation step is within a predetermined value range, predetermined processing in accordance with most recent valid imaging information among valid imaging information previously obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20120052959
    Abstract: An example game system includes a game apparatus, an operating device, and a hand-held device. The game apparatus receives first operation data from the operating device and second operation data from the hand-held device, and performs a predetermined game control process. Furthermore, the game apparatus generates a first game image of a virtual game space representing a result of the game control process, based on a first virtual camera, and the game apparatus also generates a second game image based on a second virtual camera. The first game image is outputted to a first display device provided independently of the hand-held device. The second game image is outputted to a second display device of the hand-held device. Moreover, the game apparatus performs as the game control process a process for controlling an attitude of the first virtual camera based on the first operation data and a position of the first virtual camera based on the second operation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi NISHIDA, Takayuki SHIMAMURA, Yoshikazu YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20120052952
    Abstract: An example game system includes a game apparatus, an operating device, and a hand-held device. The game apparatus receives first operation data from the operating device and second operation data from the hand-held device, and performs a predetermined game control process. Furthermore, the game apparatus generates a first game image of a virtual game space representing a result of the game control process, based on a first virtual camera, and the game apparatus also generates a second game image based on a second virtual camera. The first game image is outputted to a first display device provided independently of the hand-held device. The second game image is outputted to a second display device of the hand-held device. Moreover, the game apparatus performs as the game control process a process for controlling a position of the second virtual camera based on the first operation data and an attitude of the second virtual camera based on the second operation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi NISHIDA, Takayuki Shimamura, Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8012004
    Abstract: While a ball is rising, a point of attention of a virtual camera is set at the current position of the ball. At the instant when the movement of the ball is changed from rising to falling, the point of attention of the virtual camera is moved from the position of the ball to the position of the shadow of the ball. While the ball is falling, the point of attention of the virtual camera is set at the position of the shadow of the ball. Thus, in a baseball game or the like, a game image capable of providing a realistic feeling to the player and also allowing the player to grasp an area below the ball before the ball drops on the ground can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20110141015
    Abstract: A motion information obtaining step successively obtains motion information from a motion sensor. An imaging information obtaining step successively obtains imaging information from an imaging means. An invalid information determination step determines whether the imaging information is valid information or invalid information for predetermined processing. A motion value calculation step calculates a motion value representing a magnitude of a motion of the operation apparatus in accordance with the motion information. A processing step executes, when the imaging information is determined as the invalid information in the invalid information determination step and when the motion value calculated in the motion calculation step is within a predetermined value range, predetermined processing in accordance with most recent valid imaging information among valid imaging information previously obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7916896
    Abstract: A motion information obtaining step successively obtains motion information from a motion sensor. An imaging information obtaining step successively obtains imaging information from an imaging means. An invalid information determination step determines whether the imaging information is valid information or invalid information for predetermined processing. A motion value calculation step calculates a motion value representing a magnitude of a motion of the operation apparatus in accordance with the motion information. A processing step executes, when the imaging information is determined as the invalid information in the invalid information determination step and when the motion value calculated in the motion calculation step is within a predetermined value range, predetermined processing in accordance with most recent valid imaging information among valid imaging information previously obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20110021274
    Abstract: Operation information which is output, depending on a motion of an input device is successively obtained, and based on the operation information, a direction and movement velocity of the input device is determined. Next, it is determined whether or not the movement velocity is larger than or equal to a first threshold value. When the movement velocity is larger than or equal to the first threshold value, a path along which an object is moved in a virtual world is determined based on predetermined information about the movement path. When the movement velocity is smaller than the first threshold value, a path in which the object is moved in the virtual world is determined based on the determined movement velocity. Based on the determined movement path, it is displayed how the object is moved through positions in the virtual world.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Sato, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Takayuki Shimamura
  • Publication number: 20100323795
    Abstract: First, operation data is acquired from an input device that is operated by a user. Next, a target is configured, by utilizing the operation data, within a predetermined range which is frontward in a forward direction of a course where a user object should move along and which is defined based on the course. Next, a moving direction of the user object is determined based on a position of the user object and a position of the target. Next, the user object is moved toward the moving direction determined by a moving direction determining means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamashita, Masahiro Nakamura, Yuichiro Okamura
  • Publication number: 20100304857
    Abstract: A game apparatus calculates a reference direction of each boat by combining a velocity vector and a front direction vector of each boat at a predetermined rate. Next, the game apparatus calculates an average direction by performing weighted averaging of the calculated reference direction of each boat in accordance with a distance from the front boat. Then, the game apparatus calculates the imaging direction of the virtual camera based on the calculated average direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Ichiro Suzuki, Yoshikazu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7833099
    Abstract: Operation information which is output, depending on a motion of an input device is successively obtained, and based on the operation information, a direction and movement velocity of the input device is determined. Next, it is determined whether or not the movement velocity is larger than or equal to a first threshold value. When the movement velocity is larger than or equal to the first threshold value, a path along which an object is moved in a virtual world is determined based on predetermined information about the movement path. When the movement velocity is smaller than the first threshold value, a path in which the object is moved in the virtual world is determined based on the determined movement velocity. Based on the determined movement path, it is displayed how the object is moved through positions in the virtual world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Sato, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Takayuki Shimamura
  • Publication number: 20100248844
    Abstract: As an example, a value obtained by adding the magnitudes of a plurality of angular velocities around respective axes indicated by angular velocity data obtained from an input device including gyroscopic sensors, is used to calculate a rotation parameter indicating a rotation amount. A predetermined object which is rotated, depending on the rotation amount corresponding to the rotation parameter, is displayed on a display device. As another example, when it is determined, based on the angular velocity data, that the attitude of the input device is stable, a stability flag which indicates that the attitude of the input device has been at least once stable is set and updated to ON. When there is an input device whose stability flag is OFF, the aforementioned determination is performed and a screen including a result of the determination is displayed on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Souichi NAKAJIMA, Kenichi Nishida, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Takayuki Shimamura