JP2001087549A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a (game) input into a game input device by a non-contact. SOLUTION: In the game machine provided with a storing part into which a game program is incorporated, a game control part for advancing a game by the game program read from the storing part and a game input device connected electrically with the game control part, the game is characterized by constituting the game input device by a light, a camera and an image processing part connected electrically with the camera, photographing shadow of a specified portion of a game player generated by the light by the camera, forming first projection data based on the photographed data, photographing shadow of the specified portion of the game player generated by the light again after prescribed time, forming second projection data based on the photographed data, and detecting movement of the game player and transmitting the movement as a game input to the game control part by comparing the first projection data and second projection data by the image processing part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a (game) input device used for a home game machine, an arcade game machine or a personal computer, and a game machine using the (game) input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to perform various game play for game input of a game player based on game software using the above-mentioned home game machine, arcade game machine or personal computer, the game software is used. Game inputs such as dedicated joysticks are sold separately.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide the above-mentioned (game) input device which has not existed conventionally. Specifically, like a conventional joystick or cross button switch, a game player inputs the game by pressing the above button with his / her finger or holding the joystick lever and tilting it. An object of the present invention is to enable a game input to a (game) input device without contact.

[0004]

The present inventor has adopted the following configuration in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a storage unit containing a game program, a game control unit that proceeds with a game according to the game program read from the storage unit, and the game control unit are electrically connected. In a game machine including a (game) input device, the (game) input device includes a light, a camera, and an image processing unit electrically connected to the camera, and is provided for a game player generated by the light. A specific part is photographed by a camera, and first projection data is formed based on the photographed data, and after a predetermined time, the specific part of the game player generated by the light is photographed again by the camera. Forming the second projection data based on the first projection data and the second projection data based on the image processing unit. By comparison, by detecting the motion of the game player, characterized in that transmitted to the game controller as game input. When the image processing unit compares the first projection data with the second projection data, the image processing unit performs pattern recognition on the two projection data, respectively.
For example, a projection of a camera photographed image as shown in FIG. 3B is taken and converted into projection data as shown below. This conversion is obtained by adding pixel values in the downward direction from the top in FIG.

The specific part of the game player may be, for example, a hand or an arm. In the case of a hand, for example, as described in an embodiment (FIG. 3) described later, a “certain threshold” is applied to the projection data, and the image processing unit detects the number of peaks equal to or larger than the threshold. Thereby, applause can be recognized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the light is a light for irradiating infrared rays, and the camera captures infrared rays reflected from a specific portion of the game player. And the light is configured to irradiate infrared rays in a shooting direction of the camera.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings using a game machine provided with a light for irradiating infrared rays as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a conventionally known arcade game machine to which the present invention is applied in explaining the present embodiment.

In this arcade game machine, a memory (storage unit) 1 for storing a game program 1A, a plurality of image data 1B and sound data 1C, and a game which advances the game based on the game program 1A read from the memory 1. And a control unit 2.

The game control unit 2 includes a CRT
Alternatively, it comprises a display device 3 such as a plasma display, a speaker 4 that emits sound toward a game player, a push button switch, a joystick, and the like (game).
A first input device 5 as an input device is electrically connected.

According to the arcade game machine, under the control of the game control unit 2, game information is displayed on the display device 3 along with the progress of the game program 1A, while sound is emitted from the speaker 4. Perform game effects. When the game player performs a game input using the first input device 5 based on this game effect, the game effect can be changed by the game control unit 2 as appropriate in accordance with the game input. It is.

The above is a general business game. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the first input device, a game player can input a game without contact (game). A second input device is used as the input device.

That is, the second input device 6 is electrically connected to the game control unit 2, and the second input device 6, the light 7 and the camera 8 are electrically connected to the camera. And an image processing unit 9. The second input device 6 shoots the shadow of a specific part of the game player caused by the light 7 a plurality of times with the time difference with the camera 8, and detects a change in the plurality of shot data by an image processing unit. , And the change obtained by the comparison detection is used as a game input. In this embodiment, the camera 8 employs an artificial retina LSI (M64283FP) manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, but the present invention is not limited to this.
However, the artificial retinal LSI (M64283F
If P) is adopted, since the camera 8 has infrared sensitivity, the light 7 is a light for irradiating infrared rays, thereby detecting a change other than the movement of the game player under the influence of external light. It is possible to reduce the risk of being lost.

The artificial retina has a function of outputting a projection result to the outside.

Next, comparison detection in the image processing section 9 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart for detecting image data captured by the camera 8 and detecting a change. In this flow, for example, the image processing unit 9 performs processing according to a procedure predetermined by the game program 1A, and a threshold value is set in the game program 1A in advance.

First, projection data is stored in a memory (not shown) in the image processing unit 9 by the camera 8.

Then, the image processing unit 9 calculates the number of mountains (peaks) for which the stored projection data exceeds the threshold,
The electronic data formed as the first projection data is stored in the memory. FIG. 3 shows a real image (FIG. 3A) of a specific part of the game player (in this case, the hand of the game player) photographed by the camera 8 and a specific image of the game player photographed by the camera 8. FIG. 3 illustrates a camera photographed image of a part (FIG. 3B) and projection data (FIG. 3C) obtained by projecting the camera photographed image and stored in the memory.

Next, in the same procedure as when the electronic data formed as the first projection data is stored in the memory, the electronic data is photographed by the camera 8 and the number of peaks exceeding the threshold L is determined. The image processing unit 9 calculates and stores the electronic data formed as the second projection data in the memory.

Finally, the first projection data and the second
The image processing unit compares the projection data with the projection data, thereby detecting the movement of the game player and transmitting it to the game control unit 2 as a game input. In other words, in the state shown in FIG. 3C, the number of peaks (peaks) calculated from the projection data is “2”, but when the hands of the game players are together, the number of peaks (peaks) is small. Becomes “1”. When the change from “2” to “1” is transmitted to the game control unit 2 in this way, the game control unit 2 reflects the transmitted information in the game information according to a procedure defined in the game program. . There are various methods for reflecting the character. For example, when the sound of applause is emitted from the speaker, or when the image displayed on the display device 3 is a dance in which the character dances, the character is excited by the applause. It is conceivable that the singer character is displayed on the display device 3 and claps in time with the music emitted from the speaker 4 according to the intention of the game player. It might be an interesting game even if you set the game to be more familiar.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, only the game machine in which applause is input as a game has been described as an example, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 5 is an external view of the above-mentioned game machine (business game machine). In the figure, the description of the same reference numerals will not be repeated.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a housing. The housing 10 includes the storage unit 1, game control unit 2, display device 3, speaker 4, button switch 5 as a first input device, and light 8 described above. , A camera 7 are provided.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, which appears for each claim, the following effects can be obtained for each claim.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
By adopting the configuration described above, game input can be performed in a non-contact manner. Also, since it is configured to detect changes in the movement of the game player using projection data,
For example, there is an effect that the applause of the game player can be detected as an image.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a game machine whose installation location is difficult to specify both indoors and outdoors is hardly affected by external light and the like, and an accurate game input can be performed in a non-contact manner. Such effects can be expected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a conventionally known arcade game machine to which the present invention is applied in describing the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a (game) input device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for capturing image data captured by a camera and detecting a change.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a game machine (business game machine).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage part 2 Game control part 3 Display device 7 Light 8 Camera 9 Image processing part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit containing a game program,
In a game machine comprising: a game control unit that advances a game according to a game program read from the storage unit; and a (game) input device that is electrically connected to the game control unit. A light, a camera, and an image processing unit electrically connected to the camera, wherein a specific portion of the game player generated by the light is photographed by the camera, and first projection data is formed based on the photographed data. On the other hand, after a predetermined time, the specific portion of the game player generated by the light is photographed again by a camera, and second projection data is formed based on the photographed data, and the first projection data and the second projection data are formed. The image processing section compares the projection data with the projection data, thereby detecting the movement of the game player and using the game control as a game input. A game machine characterized in that it is transmitted to a section. 2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the light is a light for irradiating infrared rays, and the camera is a camera capable of capturing infrared rays, and the lights emit infrared rays in a shooting direction of the camera. It is characterized in that it is configured to irradiate.