JPH06165881A - Electronic game device and image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a game of high instantanity which necessitates technique to a user by providing two input means for inputting separately two image data, and constituting the device so that victory or defeat of both the image data is determined by comparing both the image data. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with two game device main bodies 11 having a display part 11a and operating buttons 11b-11d, and in each of them, an area sensor 12 consisting of an inexpensive CCD being a simple electronic camera, and an external interface to be connected to the other game device main body 11 are provided additionally. In such a state, an image photographed by the area sensor 12 is binarized to black and white at every picture element in the game device main body 11 and converted to matrix-like image data in which '1 ' and '0' are enumerated. Also, with regard to the image data, for instance, they are collected and subjected to blocking at every picture element of 4-4, and 8--8, and thereafter, the image data in which the number of picture elements is decreased is communicated, and by comparing the communicated contents and the contents of his own machine, its victory or defeat is determined, and its result is displayed on an indicator 11a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for image processing input image data to calculate strength, an electronic game apparatus and an electronic game function for competing for victory using the image processing technology of this image processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a provided television device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a game in which each user reads a bar code that he / she owns to determine the win or loss depending on the strength of the bar code. In this game, the algorithm that calculates the parameter that indicates the strength of the bar code is unknown to the user, and the strength of the strength cannot be known only by looking at the bar code.It is attached to everyday products. It is popular because it can be used as it is for barcodes.

[0003]

However, in the game as described above, since the win or loss is determined by targeting the existing bar code, it means that there is already no game when the bar code to be used is selected. As a result, the user's skill does not seem to be felt, and the immediacy of the game is killed, and the game is exacerbated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to calculate the degree of strength by causing each of a plurality of users to read image data having some information. In a game that decides whether to win or lose, the image processing device by the image processing technology with extremely flexible and highly instant image processing technology in which the degree of strength changes depending on the user's proficiency level, operation timing of a predetermined key at the time of competition, etc. An object is to provide an electronic game device using the technology and a television device having an electronic game function.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A first image data input unit for inputting first image data, a second image data input unit for inputting second image data, and a comparison for comparing the first image data and the second image data And a determination unit that determines the outcome of the first image data and the second image data based on the comparison result of the comparison unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, at least two electronic game apparatus main bodies capable of inputting and holding image data respectively are provided. By connecting these electronic game apparatus main bodies, image data held by each other are compared. , The outcome of the comparison is to determine the outcome.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, an image pickup section, a memory for storing image data picked up by the image pickup section, a detecting section for detecting a predetermined pattern from the image data stored in the memory, and the above-mentioned A specific image display unit that displays a specific image corresponding to the pattern detected by the detection unit is provided.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the degree of the strength of the image data greatly changes depending on the shooting method of the simple electronic camera or the like by performing the battle with the image data obtained by each user. It can be a game with high immediacy that requires a technique for the user.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly flexible game in which a large number of users can simultaneously compete with each other based on the image data inputted.

According to the invention of claim 7, a predetermined pattern is detected from the image data picked up by the user, and a specific image prepared in advance is combined with the corresponding portion to be output. An unpredictable image is suddenly displayed at an unpredictable position, and it can be considered to be applied to a game device or the like having high immediacy.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the principle of an electronic game device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 11, 11 are game device main bodies. An area sensor 12 composed of a CCD and an external interface (I / F) 13 for connecting to another game apparatus main body 11 are connected to the game apparatus main body 11, and the main body is provided with a display unit such as a liquid crystal display panel. 11a and operation buttons 11b to 11d are provided.

The area sensor 12 is an inexpensive CC with low accuracy.
The image captured by the area sensor 12 is used as a simple electronic camera using the D.
Each pixel is binarized into black and white and converted into matrix-shaped image data in which “1” and “0” are listed. Since the obtained image data has too many pixels, it is collectively post-processed into blocks of, for example, 4 × 4 and 8 × 8 pixels, and the number of pixels is reduced. In this way, a parameter indicating strength is given by some algorithm according to the image data in which the number of pixels is reduced.

However, by connecting the external interface 13 of each of the two game device main bodies 11 and communicating the image data in which the number of pixels is reduced or the parameter indicating strength or weakness, one of them becomes the master machine, Alternatively, both sides compare the contents that have been communicated with the contents of their own device to determine the win or loss, and display the result on the display unit 11a.

FIG. 2 exemplifies a picture imaged by the area sensor 12. FIG. 2A shows a flower as a near view, and FIG.
(B) shows the case where a mountain in the distant view is imaged. The picture thus picked up is binarized in the game apparatus main body 11 and converted into matrix image data in which "1" indicating a black pixel and "0" indicating a white pixel are arranged as shown in FIG. The same figure shows the concept.
The data is 160 dots across.

The data of vertical 120 dots × horizontal 160 dots is divided into blocks as shown in FIG. 4 to reduce the number of pixels. In the figure, 4 dots in the vertical direction and 4 dots in the horizontal direction are set as one block.
If there are more "1" s in the block as shown in (1), the block is "1", and if there are more "0" s in the block as shown in FIG. 4B, the block is "0". The image data is reduced to 1/16. Therefore, if the entire image data is reduced to a total of 1200 dots of vertical 30 dots × horizontal 40 dots.

However, various methods can be considered as a method of adding a parameter indicating strength to the image data in which the number of dots is reduced in this way, but here, the number of pixels of "1" and "0" are used. It is assumed to be strongest when the ratio to the number of pixels is 1: 1.

Therefore, in the case where the entire image data is composed of a total of 1200 dots of vertical 30 dots × horizontal 40 dots as described above, "the number of" 1 "pixels" to "the number of" 0 "pixels" is The image data of 600: 600 is the strongest.

The number of "1" pixels versus the number of "0" pixels is the same as the image data of 598: 602, 603: 59.
Among image data having a ratio close to 1: 1 like the image data of No. 7, the one having a larger number of pixels of “1” is won.

Next, the electronic circuit provided in the game apparatus body 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The figure shows the configuration within one game device body 11 in which two game device bodies 11 are interconnected, and the configuration within the other game device body 11 is similar.

In the figure, a CCD 21 constituting an area sensor 12
The image data picked up in 2 is binarized by the binarization circuit 22 in a pixel-by-pixel manner by a predetermined threshold value, and "1" indicating a black pixel is displayed.
Is converted into matrix-shaped image data of, for example, 120 dots in the vertical direction and 160 dots in the horizontal direction and stored in the screen memory 23.

The image data stored in the screen memory 23 is directly read to the display control circuit 30 and the blocking circuit 24. The blocking circuit 24 sequentially blocks the image data read out from the screen memory 23 as shown in FIG. 4 by setting, for example, vertical 4 × horizontal 4 dots as one block, and reduces the image data to 1/16 in the block memory 25. Remember.

The image data stored in the block memory 25 is sent to the opponent side through the external interface 13 and also to the counting circuit 26. The count circuit 26 counts, for example, the number of pixels of “1” in the image data read from the block memory 25, and outputs the count value to the determination circuit 27.

The determination circuit 27 also includes a count circuit 29.
The image data of the opponent is input from. That is,
The external interface 13 is connected to the external interface 13 of the game device body 11 on the opponent side, and the image data in which the number of pixels has been reduced by blocking is also sent. Image data is stored in the block memory 28 having the same configuration as the block memory 25. The count circuit 29 counts the number of pixels of "1" in the image data stored in the block memory 25 and the determination circuit 27 is reached. It is what is output.

Therefore, the determination circuit 27 determines whether the number of pixels of "1" in the image data of its own side input from the count circuit 26 and the value of "1" in the image data of the opponent side input from the count circuit 29. Compare with the number of pixels, which is more "60
If it is close to "0", or if it is close to the same level, it is compared and judged which value is larger, and the judgment result is output to the display control circuit 30.

In the display control circuit 30, the judgment result of the win or loss obtained by the judgment circuit 27 is displayed on the display unit 11a together with the non-blocked image data of its own side stored in the screen memory 23.
To display.

In the structure shown in FIG. 5, the block image data is transmitted / received, and the number of pixels of "1" in both image data is counted by both the self side and the opponent side to determine the win / loss. As shown in FIG. 6, the count value on the self side counted by the count circuit 26 is sent to the opponent side via the external interface 13 and is also sent via the external interface 13 as shown in FIG. It is also possible to store the count value of the opponent side that has been received in the count memory 31 and have the judgment circuit 27 compare and judge both count values.

Further, the count memory 31 is not provided, and the determination circuit 27 accesses the count memory of the opponent side through the external interface 13 to directly read the count value as shown in FIG. You may make it compare and determine.

In each of FIGS. 5 to 7, it has been described that both the player's side and the opponent's side judge the win or loss, but only one of them is used as the master machine to judge the win or loss. The other side may receive and display the determination result. Further, a single device may be configured so that a plurality of people play a match.

FIG. 8 shows a system configuration in which a circuit similar to that of FIG. 5 is constructed by using a microprocessor (CPU) 41. The same parts as those of FIG. Omit it.

The CPU 41 operates in accordance with the game program stored in the ROM 42, and has a binarization circuit 22, a screen memory 23, a block memory 25, and an external interface 1.
3, key input section 4 composed of the operation buttons 11b to 11d
3. Connected to the reading memory 44 and the display unit 11a for performing various data processing.

The CPU 41, which receives the image data from the binarization circuit 22, stores this image data in the screen memory 23, then divides the stored image data into blocks and greatly reduces the number of pixels to the block memory 25. Remember.

When the image data of the opponent or the count value of the number of pixels of "1" in the image data is read by the CPU 41 via the external interface 13, the CPU 41 stores the read content in the read memory 44. At the same time, the counting process is performed as necessary, and then the number of pixels of "1" in the image data stored in the block memory 25 is counted. Then, the CPU 41 compares and determines the two count values, and displays the determination result on the display unit 11a together with the image data before being divided into blocks stored in the screen memory 23.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the imaged image data is directly divided into blocks and used for judgment of winning or losing. However, as shown in FIG. 9, image processing is performed to enlarge, reduce, rotate, trim, and the like. You may make it a block later.

That is, in the figure, an image processing circuit 51 is inserted between the binarization circuit 22 and the screen memory 23 of FIG. The image processing circuit 51 has a screen memory under the control of a control unit 52 that controls the operation according to the operation of the key input unit 43.
The above-mentioned enlargement, reduction, rotation, trimming, etc. are performed on the image data stored in 23 to rewrite and set the contents stored in the screen memory 23, and the rewritten image data is controlled by the block circuit 24 in the subsequent stage and the display control. Output to circuit 30.

By executing various kinds of image processing in this way, it is possible to change the parameter indicating the strength of the photographed image data. Therefore, depending on the operation method of the key input unit 43, the image data once photographed You can also change it to something stronger.

FIG. 10 shows a circuit configuration according to another embodiment in which the above-mentioned various game functions are built in the liquid crystal television device. The television broadcast wave received by the antenna 61 is transmitted by the TV circuit 62. The channel is selected and demodulated to obtain moving image data of a desired channel. Then, the obtained moving image data is digitized by the A / D circuit 63, sequentially updated and stored in the image memory 64, and an image corresponding to the stored content is displayed on the display unit 65 composed of a liquid crystal display panel. .

The above-mentioned game function is provided to the control section 67 for controlling the TV circuit 62, the A / D circuit 63, the image memory 64 and the display section 65, and the image memory is provided in correspondence with the operation timing of the game key 66. 1 in the moving image data stored in 64
By selecting still image data and counting "1" and "0" of each pixel in the image data, a game can be played on the same principle.

In this case, although each pixel data in the image data displayed on the display unit 65 has gradation information, all the bits may be treated as they are as data indicating "1" and "0". If one pixel has 1 bit, for example, if 1 pixel has 4 bits, it is “0” if it is “0000” to “1000”, or “1” if it is “1001” to “1111”, or If there are three or more "1" s in 4 bits, they may be set to "1", or a plurality of pixels may be grouped into blocks and set to "1" and "0".

Further, as a modified example of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the game device bodies 73 and 74 may be connected to the video output terminals of the normal liquid crystal television devices 71 and 72, respectively, and the game device bodies 73 and 74 may be connected to each other. In this case, in each of the game device main bodies 73 and 74, the image data in the video signal is selectively input according to the timing of the key operation, and "1" and "0" of each pixel in the image data are counted to perform mutual input. It is also conceivable to decide the outcome between the connected game devices. With such a configuration, the area sensor 12 is
Not only is it unnecessary, but an ordinary video device, video camera or the like can be used as well as the liquid crystal television device as long as it has a video output terminal. Therefore, various video software and the like can be used as a source for obtaining image data.

In each of the above embodiments, the image data is assumed to be a black and white image, which is binarized, and is binarized according to the "1" or "0" state (the number of "1") of each pixel. Although it is shown that the game is decided to win or lose, it is possible to make the game more interesting if it is a color image.

Furthermore, "1" of each pixel of the image data
The predetermined pattern may be detected from the dot pattern stored in the memory instead of determining the win or loss according to the state of "0" (the number of "1"). Such a case will be described below as still another embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Here, a case suitable for an electronic still camera having an electronic game function is shown, and FIG. 12 shows its external configuration. FIG. 12A is a perspective view seen from diagonally above, and FIG. 12B is a rear view.

In the figure, reference numeral 91 denotes a camera body, which has the same external structure as that of a general single-lens reflex camera for silver halide photography for the sake of explanation. Thus, the imaging lens 92 is provided on the front surface of the camera body 91, the shutter button 93 and the shutter speed dial 94 are provided on the upper surface, and the distance ring 95 is provided on the front side of the imaging lens 92 outside the lens barrel, and the aperture ring 96 is provided on the rear side thereof.
Is provided. In addition, in the grip portion of the camera body 91, a floppy disk 97 as a recording medium for recording captured image data is mounted in addition to a battery serving as a power source. Further, on the back surface of the camera body 91, a finder 98 for viewing an image to be captured and a monitor liquid crystal panel 99 for displaying the captured image data on a monitor are provided.

In the external structure as described above, the camera body 91 has substantially the same circuit configuration as that shown in FIG. 8, and a floppy disk for recording picked-up image data on the floppy disk 97. A disk device is provided, and further has a memory that stores a specific image (hereinafter abbreviated as “character”) as shown in FIGS. 13 (1) to 13 (6).

An image of an arbitrary subject is picked up by the camera shown in FIG. 12, and digital image data obtained by picking up
For example, a dot pattern of "1" and "0" is divided into 4 bits and converted into a hexadecimal number, and a special pattern such as "123456" or "ABC" which is determined in advance is detected. When a special pattern is detected in the image data, the image data of the character as shown in FIGS. 13 (1) to 13 (6) is combined with the original image data according to the special pattern at the detection position. Process and monitor LCD panel
It is displayed and output on 99, and the score corresponding to the synthesized character is added. FIG. 12 (1)-
The score of the character (6) is set to be higher corresponding to the pattern which is considered to have a low detection frequency.

By detecting the special pattern in the image data as described above, the image data of the character prepared in advance is synthesized and output, so that the image data in the imaged image as shown in FIG. In addition, when the image processing (special pattern detection processing) is finished, an unpredictable character is suddenly displayed at an unpredictable position as shown in FIG. be able to. Therefore, two such cameras are connected to each other to capture their favorite subjects and landscapes, and the captured images compete with each other depending on the score of the character that suddenly appears.

In other words, this camera does not see the characters of the monsters and aliens shown in FIGS. 13 (1) to 13 (6) when the viewfinder 98 is removed, but it does not show characters such as monsters that are not visible to the eyes. If you find a strong character and copy it, the score will increase dramatically,
It is possible to increase the fun of the game such that the probability of winning in the game battle is improved. For example, it would be interesting if rumors spread among children with this camera that there were strong monsters in Yoyogi Park.

Instead of detecting a special pattern from the dot pattern, the frequency component pattern is obtained by performing, for example, discrete cosine transform (hereinafter abbreviated as "DCT") on the captured image data. You may make it detect the pattern of this frequency component.

In FIG. 15, instead of the configuration of FIG. 9 described above, a DCT processing circuit 81 and a frequency component memory (shown as “f component memory” in the figure) 83 are inserted in the subsequent stage of the screen memory 23 of FIG. . The DCT processing circuit 81 executes the DCT processing on the image data stored in the screen memory 23 under the control of the control unit 82 which controls the operation according to the operation of the key input unit 43. Then, the frequency component data extracted by the conversion is stored in the frequency component memory 83. The stored contents of the frequency component memory 83 are sent to the counting circuit 26 as they are, and the score is converted according to the degree of correlation with the predetermined distribution pattern of the frequency component data.

FIG. 16 (1) shows the concept of DCT by the DCT processing circuit 81. As shown in FIG. 16 (1), certain image data is grouped into a certain number of pixels, for example 8 × 8 pixels. , DCT as orthogonal transform is executed.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 16B, the DC component and the first to seventh order frequency components are extracted.

FIG. 17 exemplifies a case where the distribution of the extracted frequency components is graphed. FIG. 17 (A) shows an example of an image in which the frequency components are relatively low, and FIG. 17 (B) compares the frequency components. An example of an extremely high image is shown.

However, the data of the frequency component extracted in the extracted DCT processing circuit 81 is stored in the frequency component memory 83, and the counting circuit 26 determines in advance based on the frequency component data stored in the frequency component memory 83. The score is calculated according to the degree of correlation with the distribution pattern of the obtained frequency component data.

By thus calculating the score based on the distribution pattern of the frequency components of the image data, the score according to the degree of change in the image data can be obtained, so that the user can obtain the score to some extent from the surrounding scenery. You can select the scenery that seems to be high, and you will be able to get a high score by learning.

It should be noted that not only the mere win or loss or the level of the score as in the above embodiment, but also a plurality of parameters such as the attack power, the defense power, the total power, etc. are set so that they are collectively played. Is also good.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a game in which a plurality of users each read image data having some kind of information, the degree of strength of the plurality of users is calculated to determine the win or loss. An image processing apparatus using an extremely flexible and highly instantaneous image processing technology in which the degree of strength changes depending on the degree of proficiency, the timing of operation of a predetermined key during a battle, etc., an electronic game apparatus and an electronic game using the image processing technology A television device having a function can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration concept according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a captured image obtained by the area sensor of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram partially showing the obtained image data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a concept of blocking image data.

5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration provided in the game apparatus main body of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another partial circuit configuration of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another partial circuit configuration of FIG.

8 is a block diagram illustrating another circuit configuration provided in the game apparatus body of FIG.

9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an additional circuit of FIG. 5 or FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration concept according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an external structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a character to be combined in image data.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display state of imaged image data according to the embodiment.

15 is a block diagram illustrating another circuit configuration provided in the game apparatus main body of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the concept of DCT (discrete cosine transform) of image data.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a distribution pattern of frequency components extracted by DCT.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 73, 74 ... Game device main body, 11a ... Display unit, 11b to 11
d ... Operation button, 12 ... Area sensor, 13 ... External interface, 21 ... CCD, 22 ... Binary circuit, 23 ... Screen memory, 24 ... Blocking circuit, 25, 28 ... Block memory, 2
6, 29 ... Count circuit, 27 ... Judgment circuit, 30 ... Display control circuit, 31 ... Count memory, 41 ... CPU, 42 ... ROM, 43
... key input section, 44 ... reading memory, 51 ... image processing circuit,
52, 82 ... Control unit, 61 ... Antenna, 62 ... TV circuit, 63 ... A
/ D circuit, 64 ... Image memory, 65 ... Display section, 66 ... Key, 67
... Control unit, 71, 72 ... Liquid crystal television device, 81 ... DCT processing time, 83 ... Frequency component memory, 91 ... Camera body, 92 ... Imaging lens, 93 ... Shutter button, 94 ... Shutter speed dial, 95 ... Distance ring, 96 ... Aperture ring, 97 ... Floppy disk, 98 ... Finder, 99 ... Monitor LCD panel.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first image data input unit for inputting first image data, a second image data input unit for inputting second image data, the first image data and the second image. An electronic game apparatus comprising: a comparing means for comparing data, and a determining means for determining a win or loss of the first image data and the second image data based on a comparison result of the comparing means. 2. The first image data input means and the second image data input means
2. The electronic game device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image data inputting means comprises an image sensor. 3. The first image data input means and the second image data input means
2. The electronic game device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image data inputting means comprises an interface circuit connected to an external device. 4. The first image data input means and the second image data input means
2. The electronic game device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image data inputting means comprises an interface circuit connected to another same electronic game device. 5. The first image data input means and the second image data input means
2. The electronic game device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the image data inputting means comprises a television tuner. 6. At least two electronic game device main bodies each capable of inputting and holding image data, respectively, and connecting the electronic game device main bodies to compare the image data held by each other, and win or lose based on the comparison result. An electronic game device characterized by determining. 7. An image pickup means, a memory for storing image data picked up by the image pickup means, a detecting means for detecting a predetermined pattern from the image data stored in the memory, and a detecting means for detecting the predetermined pattern. An image processing apparatus comprising: a specific image display means for displaying a specific image corresponding to a pattern. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern composed of a combination of “0” and “1” of the image data stored in the memory. 9. The image processing apparatus is an electronic camera equipped with a finder, the finder displays image data captured by the image capturing means, and when the detecting means detects a predetermined pattern, the pattern is displayed in the pattern. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a corresponding specific image is displayed. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image processing apparatus is an electronic game apparatus, and the image processing apparatus includes a determining unit that determines the strength of a game based on the image data stored in the memory. .