Game Controller

Abstract

A game controller includes a plurality of LEDs formed on the rear of a case. The plurality of LEDs are arranged two-dimensionally in its layout area. The game controller has a plurality of PWM control units which are provided inside the case and control the lighting of the plurality of LEDs, respectively. The PWM control units control the lighting of the LEDs based on a control signal from a game apparatus. The game apparatus acquires a captured image of the game controller, and acquires the position of the game controller in the captured image based on the positions of the LEDs in the captured image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing use environment of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the external configuration of a controller;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the controller from the rear side;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the controller;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a game apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image processing unit;

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a current frame image, and

FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a differential image between the current frame image and a previous frame image;

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a binary image of the current frame image, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing an AND image;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for processing of detecting LED image candidates;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for LED extraction processing;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure for second LED detection processing shown in S122 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure for third LED detection processing shown in S124 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure for fourth LED detection processing shown in S126 of FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining an algorithm by which a virtual object corresponding to the controller makes a smooth follow-up operation within a game screen.

Claims

1. A game controller which transmits user's operation inputs to a game apparatus, the game controller comprising: a grip to be held by a user;a plurality of input units which are provided on a top of a case so that the user can make operation inputs thereon while holding the grip;a transmission unit which transmits the operation inputs to the game apparatus; anda plurality of light-emitting elements which are provided on a rear of the case.

2. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged in a layout area on the rear of the case; andthe layout area has colored in a color of lower lightness than the adjacent color of the case.

3. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged two-dimensionally on the rear of the case.

4. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein an input unit accompanied with a light-emitting element is provided on the top of the case.

5. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of PWM control units which control lighting of the plurality of light-emitting elements, respectively, are provided inside the case.

6. The game controller according to claim 5, wherein the PWM control units control the lighting of the light-emitting elements based on a control signal from the game apparatus.