Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Data storage or retrieval
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-03
2003-04-01
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Data storage or retrieval
C463S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06540615
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to portable game machines using portable game machine cartridges. In particular, the invention is directed to a portable game machine using a portable game machine cartridge having the ability to capture an image, the portable game machine allowing the user to manipulate the captured image and to incorporate the captured and or manipulated captured image into a game that is being played on the portable game machine.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable hand-held game machines have been known for quite some time. Typically, these portable game machines include a hand held game machine housing a processing unit and associated hardware for running a gaming program, and include a display for displaying images of the game. The gaming program is typically contained in a game program memory, such as, for example, a semiconductor memory (e.g. ROM, EPROM, etc.) that is part of a removable cartridge. By storing the gaming program in a removable cartridge, the user is allowed to conveniently and easily change the game being played, by simply exchanging the cartridge with one containing a different game. An example of such a portable game machine is the “Game Boy™” product manufactured and sold by Nintendo Corporation, assignee of the instant application.
However, it will be understood, that conventional portable game machines of the type described above, can only execute the game that is contained in the game program memory of a particular removable cartridge. The images displayed during game play are limited to those that are contained in a memory of the removable game cartridge. While the images may change based on various inputs received from the user, these images are predefined and are not subject to any manipulation or variation by the user, other than those predetermined changes that occur based on the various situations encountered during game play.
Having only limited predetermined images available for use in a portable game machine restricts the ability of the user to enjoy the machine. It would be more enjoyable for the user to have a more interactive relationship with the game program and the portable game machine. To that end, what is needed is a portable game machine that enables the user to define, manipulate and incorporate images into the game being played. Additionally, it would be beneficial to provide the user with the ability to capture images for use with a game, or even to merely store captured the images for use with various other features of the portable game machine.
Image capture and manipulation technologies are well known and exist in many forms. Typically, these image capturing and manipulation devices are very costly and are cumbersome to use, especially in the context of a portable game machine. For example, there are many different types of video cameras and digital still cameras available for capturing images. However, video cameras and digital still cameras are typically very expensive (especially as compared to portable game machines), and would not be used as a toy or game for children. It is also very complicated to manipulate the images captured by these devices, especially for use in a portable game environment.
There are also various computer based applications that provide a user with the ability to receive a digital image and to manipulate the digital image. There are also numerous computer programs that enable a user to draw an image or to create animation. However, as set forth above, all of these known image capturing and manipulation technologies are ill suited for portable game use, and are typically prohibitively expensive in the context of gaming applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the above-noted and other deficiencies of prior portable game systems, and to improve the enjoyment of portable game system users, the instant invention provides a portable same machine that includes a portable game cartridge incorporating a digital camera for capturing digital images, which is inexpensive and easy for children to use in a portable game environment. In addition, numerous features are provided that enable the user to easily manipulate the captured images and incorporate these images (manipulated or not) into the games being played.
Related co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/026,804 filed Feb. 20, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, describes a portable game machine and portable game machine cartridge capable of capturing an image and processing the image as a still picture, to extend the range of use of the portable game machine for entertainment, thereby expanding the entertainment value of the system.
The instant invention provides specific features for use in manipulating and processing the captured image for use in the portable game system. Among the features described in the instant application are: hot spots; game face; animation and loops; panoramic picture taking and printing: and other image manipulation, including the use of doodling functions, such as, for example, stamp and paint functions.
In operation, the user of the portable game machine inserts the removable cartridge into the portable game machine. The removable cartridge includes a digital camera and associated image capturing and storage hardware and software, substantially as set forth in commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/026,804. Upon starting of the game operation, the user will be given to option to select whether to shoot an image. By selecting the option of shooting an image, the display of the portable game machine will show a virtual View Finder Screen which shows the user the images being received via the digital image capturing apparatus of the removable cartridge. The camera lens of the image capturing apparatus can be rotated to change its image capturing direction (as will be described in detail herein). As the image is displayed, various functions may be implemented to create the desired image to be captured. These functions include brightness, contrast, sharpness, and the like. Other interesting functions, such as flipping the captured image with respect to a central horizontal or vertical axis may also be accomplished thereby providing an upside down version of the image or mirror image, respectively of the image to be captured.
Once the user is satisfied with the image appearing in the View Finder Screen, the user may then capture the image by pressing the appropriate button on the face of the portable game device. The number of images that may be captured will, of course be limited by the memory availability associated with the removable cartridge. At the present time, it is contemplated that up to thirty captured images may be stored in the portable game cartridge according to the present invention. However, it will be understood that any number of images may be stored depending upon memory size. It is also envisioned that the captured images will be stored in, and retrievable from, a memory that may be displayed to the user in the form of a captured image photo album.
When the image has been captured, the user has the option of scrolling through the images captured in a check mode. When checking the images that have been captured, the display will show a Check Screen, as opposed to the View Finder Screen displayed when capturing an image. In the Check Screen, the user is provided with numerous options. For example, the user may choose to print the captured image on an associated printer that may be, for example, a thermal printer including paper having an adhesive backing, thereby allowing the user to make stickers showing the captured image. The user may wish to delete the image altogether. Additionally, the user is given the option to manipulate the image by doodling using predefined stamps, or drawing directly on the captured image. Another option may include associating a comment field with the image to provide a message or associate a sound with a given imag
Ohno Takashi
Tanaka Hirokazu
Teramoto Noriaki
Nintendo Co. Ltd.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
O'Neill Michael
LandOfFree
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