Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a game requiring an element of a participants physical...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-26
2001-10-16
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a game requiring an element of a participants physical...
C463S001000, C434S255000, C235S105000, C428S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302789
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pedometers with a game mode and, more specifically, to a pedometer with game mode which varies an image of a character or a scene displayed thereon for a game based on the pedometer's count value. Thus, even a child can enjoy game play provided by the pedometer with a game mode.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, it seems that recently, the number of playgrounds for children has decreased in towns, more children do not get enough exercise. The number of overweight children and the number of children suffering from symptoms of geriatric-disease are growing. It is well known that walking is effective for solving the problem of lack of exercise. However, walking can be a monotonous and weary exercise. Adults find it difficult to stick to a regime of walking regularly. It is even more difficult for a child.
To encourage a person to walk regularly despite the monotony and weariness of walking, conventional pedometers are known which indicate the number of steps the walker has taken. Conventional pedometers are used to count the number of steps when a person when walking for the sake of health, and to display the number of steps counted. Some the conventional pedometers have auxiliary modes such as calculating the calories consumed by the walker based on step-number data. However conventional pedometers, even with such auxiliary modes, generally lack entertainment features, so that children will not take pleasure in using them. Children may not be motivated to walk or run by the conventional designed for adults. For this reason, there is a need for a pedometer device that can be enjoyed even by a child.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a pedometer with a game mode is in use, attached to a part of a user's body. The pedometer displays the number of steps a user in walking, the pedometer includes a:
vibration detector for detecting vibrations created by the user's walk.
A counter count outputs of the vibration detector to obtain the number of steps;
A step-number display displays a count value of the counter as step-number information.
A character display for displaying a character for a game.
A character-display controller controls a display state of the character displayed on the character display so as to vary the state based on at least the count value of the counter.
As apparent from the above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to control the character image based on the number of waking steps the user takes.
According to a second aspect, provided by the present invention a pedometer with a game mode has a character-display controller that includes
a character-display-variation-data generator for generating data to vary the display state of the character for the game, and
a modification-data supplier for supplying data which adds a different modification to the display state of the character based on the count value of the counter.
As apparent from the above, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further modify the display state of character based on the number of walking steps.
According to a further aspect provided by the present invention, a pedometer with a game mode, has a character-display controller that includes
a character-display-variation-data generator for generating data to vary the display state of the character for the game, and
a modification-data supplier for supplying data which adds a different modification to the display state of the character by using the count value of the counter as random data. As apparent from the above, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to modify the display state of character based on the number of walking steps at random.
According to a still further aspect provided by the present invention, a pedometer with a game mode, further comprises time data generator for generating time data,
wherein the modification-data supplier varies the display state of the character based on the time data and the count value of the counter.
According to yet another aspect provided by present invention, in the first aspect, a pedometer with a game has a character-display-variation-data generator that include:
a game-program storage for storing programs capable of displaying a character for a plurality of games,
a processor for executing a selected program from among the programs for character display for the plurality of games stored in the game-program storage, and
a program selector for selecting any one of programs from among the plurality of game programs stored in the game-program storage, based on the count value of the counter.
According to a further aspect, provided by the present invention a pedometer with a game mode, further comprising a reset switch for resetting the step-number information by the user's operation, wherein
the counter includes a first counter and a second counter,
the first counter resets its count value in response to the operation of the reset switch, and counts the output of the vibration detector which is received thereafter to obtain the number of steps,
the step-number display displays the count value of the first counter,
the second counter accumulatively counts the output of the vibration detector to obtain an accumulated value of the number of steps, and
the character-display controller controls the display state of the character displayed on the character display so as to vary the state based on the count value of the second counter.
According to yet another aspect provided by the present invention,
a pedometer with a game mode, further comprises a reset switch for resetting the step number information by the user's operation,
wherein the counter includes a first counter and a third counter for counting the output of the vibration detector to obtain the number of steps the user has walked;
the first counter resets its count value in response to the operation of the reset switch, then counts the output of the vibration detector which is received thereafter to obtain the number of steps, and makes the step-number display display its count value;
the third counter increments its count value each time the count value of the first counter increases by a predetermined value;
the character display displays a virtual pet and is capable of varying representation of the virtual pet according to a plurality of patterns.
the pedometer with a game mode further comprises a control switch controller for selecting and inputting desired count-value data to be given as a present to the virtual pet within the value counted by the third counter wherein
The character-display controller controls an expression of the virtual pet displayed by the character display so as to vary the expression based on the count value data selected, inputted and given by the operation of the control switch.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a pedometer with a game mode is used by being attached to a part of a user's body. The pedometer displays the number of steps the user walks.
The device includes a vibration detector for detecting a vibration created by the user's walk;
a counter for counting at least an output of the vibration detector to obtain the number of steps;
a step-number display for displaying a count value of the counter as step number information;
a character display for displaying a virtual pet for a game; and
a character-display controller for controlling a behavior state of the virtual pet displayed on the character display so as to vary the state based on at least the count value of the counter.
According to a still further aspect provided by the present invention, a pedometer with a game mode, further comprises a time data generator for generating time data, wherein
the character-display controller controls a first display state to make the virtual pet behave
Harada Takahiro
Shimizu Kazunobu
Kasick Julie
Martin-Wallace Valencia
Nintendo Co. Ltd.
Nixon and Vanderhye
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