Patents by Inventor Yutaka Hiramuki

Yutaka Hiramuki 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).

  • Publication number: 20230398446
    Abstract: When an object of interest is hidden by a first hiding object as viewed from a virtual camera, the virtual camera is moved, on a virtual line from the virtual camera toward the object of interest, to a first position that is a position where the virtual line first passes through the first hiding object or a position closer to the object of interest than this position. When the virtual camera is moved to the first position, if at least a part of the object of interest is further hidden by a second hiding object, the virtual camera is not moved to a second position that is a position where the virtual line first passes through the second hiding object or a position closer to the object of interest than this position, until a re-movement condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventor: Yutaka HIRAMUKI
  • Publication number: 20230302358
    Abstract: A blurred image is generated by blurring an image of a virtual space in a range of view from a virtual camera with a degree of blurring depending on a distance from the virtual camera. The blurred image is generated with the degree of blurring additionally depending on an imaging direction of the virtual camera. The blurred image is output on a display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventor: Yutaka HIRAMUKI
  • Publication number: 20230306560
    Abstract: A blurred image is generated by blurring an image of a virtual space in a range of view from a virtual camera with a degree of blurring depending on a distance from the virtual camera. The blurred image is output on a display screen. The degree of blurring is determined, additionally depending on a location in the blurred image, and for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image, is changed, depending on at least one of an imaging direction of the virtual camera and a distance between a location of interest in the virtual space and the virtual camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventor: Yutaka HIRAMUKI
  • Patent number: 9417761
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus writes a virtual space image obtained by imaging a virtual space in which objects are arranged from a virtual camera to an output area. When a pointer image representing a positional relationship between a referential position and an arrangement position of the object is depicted on the virtual space image stored in the output area, the pointer image to be depicted is changed in correspondence with conditions, such as the height of the virtual camera and the attribute of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Yutaka Hiramuki, Ryo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9387398
    Abstract: A first area and a second area are set in a virtual space. Then, based on first configuration information for configuring a first state of a game world, a first object to be placed in the first area is generated. In addition, a second object to be placed in the second area is generated based on second configuration information for configuring a second state different from the first state at a predetermined position in the virtual space to which the first configuration information is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Hiromu Takemura, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Patent number: 8690674
    Abstract: In a coordinate detection step, a series of coordinate values each of which indicates a position which is on a display screen and is inputted through a pointing device, are detected at intervals of a unit time. Further, an operation state determination step determines whether or not a player is controlling a first object with the pointing device. When the operation state determination step determines that the player is controlling the first object, the selection determination step determines whether or not an input track of the pointing device forms an enclosed area for enclosing a second object based on the series of coordinate values. When the enclosed area has been formed, the first object and the second object are caused to perform predetermined actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Patent number: 8506397
    Abstract: A game apparatus displays on a screen an image of a virtual space as viewed from a predetermined viewing direction. The game apparatus displays a viewing direction map in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied, such that the viewing direction is set to a predetermined direction on the screen. Furthermore, the game apparatus displays a fixed direction map in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied, such that a direction preset in the virtual space is set to a predetermined direction on the screen. Note that when map images are displayed, the fixed direction map is preferably displayed after the viewing direction map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Yutaka Hiramuki, Hiromu Takemura, Ryo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8430751
    Abstract: Action information for controlling a series of at least one action performed by a first object is stored. Then the at least one action of the first object is controlled in accordance with the action information. At this time, an action of a second object is controlled in accordance with an operation signal from a predetermined input device operated by a player. Furthermore, while the action of the second object is being controlled, the information about the at least one action of the first object is displayed on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Eiji Aonuma, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Patent number: 8419540
    Abstract: In a coordinate detection step, a series of coordinate values each of which indicates a position which is on a display screen and is inputted through a pointing device, are detected at intervals of a unit time. Further, an operation state determination step determines whether or not a player is controlling a first object with the pointing device. When the operation state determination step determines that the player is controlling the first object, the selection determination step determines whether or not an input track of the pointing device forms an enclosed area for enclosing a second object based on the series of coordinate values. When the enclosed area has been formed, the first object and the second object are caused to perform predetermined actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Publication number: 20120308078
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus writes a virtual space image obtained by imaging a virtual space in which objects are arranged from a virtual camera to an output area. When a pointer image representing a positional relationship between a referential position and an arrangement position of the object is depicted on the virtual space image stored in the output area, the pointer image to be depicted is changed in correspondence with conditions, such as the height of the virtual camera and the attribute of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidemaro FUJIBAYASHI, Yutaka Hiramuki, Ryo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8172681
    Abstract: When a player selects an object group displayed on a screen, a related selected area display indicating that the object group is in a selected state is displayed. While the display remains, the player performs an input by drawing a track which intersects the related selected area using a stick or the like. When it is determined that the inputted track and the related selected area intersect, the selected state is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Publication number: 20110306411
    Abstract: A game apparatus displays on a screen an image of a virtual space as viewed from a predetermined viewing direction. The game apparatus displays a viewing direction map in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied, such that the viewing direction is set to a predetermined direction on the screen. Furthermore, the game apparatus displays a fixed direction map in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied, such that a direction preset in the virtual space is set to a predetermined direction on the screen. Note that when map images are displayed, the fixed direction map is preferably displayed after the viewing direction map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Yutaka Hiramuki, Hiromu Takemura, Ryo Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110294574
    Abstract: A first area and a second area are set in a virtual space. Then, based on first configuration information for configuring a first state of a game world, a first object to be placed in the first area is generated. In addition, a second object to be placed in the second area is generated based on second configuration information for configuring a second state different from the first state at a predetermined position in the virtual space to which the first configuration information is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Hiromu Takemura, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Publication number: 20110092284
    Abstract: In a coordinate detection step, a series of coordinate values each of which indicates a position which is on a display screen and is inputted through a pointing device, are detected at intervals of a unit time. Further, an operation state determination step determines whether or not a player is controlling a first object with the pointing device. When the operation state determination step determines that the player is controlling the first object, the selection determination step determines whether or not an input track of the pointing device forms an enclosed area for enclosing a second object based on the series of coordinate values. When the enclosed area has been formed, the first object and the second object are caused to perform predetermined actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Publication number: 20110053687
    Abstract: In a coordinate detection step, a series of coordinate values each of which indicates a position which is on a display screen and is inputted through a pointing device, are detected at intervals of a unit time. Further, an operation state determination step determines whether or not a player is controlling a first object with the pointing device. When the operation state determination step determines that the player is controlling the first object, the selection determination step determines whether or not an input track of the pointing device forms an enclosed area for enclosing a second object based on the series of coordinate values. When the enclosed area has been formed, the first object and the second object are caused to perform predetermined actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji KANDO, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Patent number: 7828660
    Abstract: In a coordinate detection step, a series of coordinate values each of which indicates a position which is on a display screen and is inputted through a pointing device, are detected at intervals of a unit time. Further, an operation state determination step determines whether or not a player is controlling a first object with the pointing device. When the operation state determination step determines that the player is controlling the first object, the selection determination step determines whether or not an input track of the pointing device forms an enclosed area for enclosing a second object based on the series of coordinate values. When the enclosed area has been formed, the first object and the second object are caused to perform predetermined actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Patent number: 7762893
    Abstract: When a player is controlling a first object with a pointing device, an in-operation flag indicating that the player is controlling the first object with the pointing device is set as “ON”. When the in-operation flag is set as “ON” and a second object is within a predetermined distance from an input position of the pointing device, the second object is selected. When the in-operation flag is set as “OFF”, that is, when the player stops controlling the first object, the first object is caused to perform a process for exerting an effect on the second object having been selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Publication number: 20100144433
    Abstract: Action information for controlling a series of at least one action performed by a first object is stored. Then the at least one action of the first object is controlled in accordance with the action information. At this time, an action of a second object is controlled in accordance with an operation signal from a predetermined input device operated by a player. Furthermore, while the action of the second object is being controlled, the information about the at least one action of the first object is displayed on a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Yoichi YAMADA, Hidemaro FUJIBAYASHI, Eiji AONUMA, Yutaka HIRAMUKI
  • Publication number: 20060252531
    Abstract: When a player is controlling a first object with a pointing device, an in-operation flag indicating that the player is controlling the first object with the pointing device is set as “ON”. When the in-operation flag is set as “ON” and a second object is within a predetermined distance from an input position of the pointing device, the second object is selected. When the in-operation flag is set as “OFF”, that is, when the player stops controlling the first object, the first object is caused to perform a process for exerting an effect on the second object having been selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Publication number: 20060252540
    Abstract: In a coordinate detection step, a series of coordinate values each of which indicates a position which is on a display screen and is inputted through a pointing device, are detected at intervals of a unit time. Further, an operation state determination step determines whether or not a player is controlling a first object with the pointing device. When the operation state determination step determines that the player is controlling the first object, the selection determination step determines whether or not an input track of the pointing device forms an enclosed area for enclosing a second object based on the series of coordinate values. When the enclosed area has been formed, the first object and the second object are caused to perform predetermined actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki