KR20030020181A - Motion sensing game apparatus using a motion sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motion detection game device using a human body sensor that allows the virtual character on the screen to move as it is, according to the result of detecting the vertical and horizontal movements of the game player using the human body sensor. Motion detecting means for detecting a motion in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the game player moving on the plane; As a game start signal is input, a game program is executed to display the display unit on the display unit, and display the selected virtual character on the display unit, in the horizontal and vertical directions of the virtual character based on a signal from the motion detecting means. Control means for controlling the movement of the; And virtual character driving means for driving the movement of the virtual character displayed on the display unit on the basis of the control signal from the control means, so that the whole body movement of the game player can be easily performed without using a complicated motion capture device. Not only can it provide a sense of unity with the virtual character, it gives a fresh sense and doubles the interest compared to the conventional game machine.

Description

Motion sensing game apparatus using a human body sensor

The present invention relates to a motion sensing game device using a human body sensor, and more particularly, a virtual character as a game player moves in a vertical and horizontal direction by using a sensor for detecting a vertical motion and a horizontal motion of the game player. The present invention relates to a motion detection game device in which a character is operated as it is.

As the entertainment market expands, various game consoles are released, and accordingly, user demand for new and wholesome games is gradually increasing.

Nowadays, in the game market, a dance simulation game machine that enjoys dance with light music is becoming popular, and it is excellent as a diet game with relieving stress due to active dance with light music compared to the conventional static entertainment game.

Many game machine manufacturers are launching dance simulation game consoles with product names such as Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), Pumps, The Rhythm & Dance, Lululla, Stepping Stage, etc., which is extremely popular with teenagers and gamers.

By the way, the dance game machine as described above is to step on the front / rear / left / right of the footrest in the direction of the arrow displayed on the screen of the monitor.

As described above, almost all dance game consoles operate in a similar manner, so the dance game machines released in the second half do not give the user a fresh feeling compared to the dance game machines released in the early years.

In addition, since the operation methods of almost all the above-described conventional dance game machines are almost similar, a problem arises that the user quickly becomes tired and halves interest.

Of course, an expensive motion capture device may be used as it is in a dance game machine, but in this case, in order to use the motion capture device by a gamer, a cumbersome process of attaching a sensor to each joint part of the gamer must be performed.

In addition, even if a large number of sensors are attached to each joint area, the signal processing ability and screen processing capability of the dance game machine is required to move the virtual character on the monitor in real time as the gamer moves in the dance game machine connected to the motion capture device. You have to be excellent.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described conventional situation, and a motion detection game using a human body sensor that allows the virtual character on the screen to be moved as it is according to the result of detecting the vertical and horizontal movements of the game player using the human body sensor. The object is to provide a device.

1 is an external perspective view of a motion detection game apparatus using a human body sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of a motion detection game apparatus using a human body sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3A and 3B are views illustrating a principle of detecting a direction of movement according to a horizontal movement of a game player employed in an embodiment of the present invention;

4A, 4B, and 4C are diagrams for explaining a principle of detecting a direction of movement according to a vertical movement of a game player employed in an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a motion detection game apparatus using a human body sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is an example of a guidance message employed in the method description of the present invention.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

10: game program storage unit 12: virtual character memory unit

14: key input unit 14a: game start button

14b: Left navigation button 14c: Right navigation button

14d: Selection button 15a-15d: Pause button

16: motion detection unit 16a: the upper sensor (human body sensor)

16b: lower sensor (body detection sensor) 17a, 17c: upper sensor support

17b, 17d: lower sensor support 18: display

19a, 19b, 19c, 19d: support rod 20: virtual character driving unit

22: game end determination unit 24: control unit

30: game machine body 32: coin slot

34: footrest 36: cable

In order to achieve the above object, a motion sensing game device using a human body sensor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a game device having a game machine body having a display unit, and a footrest connected to the game machine body through a signal transmission means. To

Key input means for inputting a selection signal for any one of a plurality of virtual characters displayed on the display unit before the game starts; Motion detection means for detecting a motion in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the game player moving on the footrest as a game starts; As a game start signal is input, a game program is executed to display the display unit on the display unit, and display the selected virtual character on the display unit, in the horizontal and vertical directions of the virtual character based on a signal from the motion detecting means. Control means for controlling the movement of the; And virtual character driving means for driving the movement of the virtual character displayed on the display unit based on the control signal from the control means.

Hereinafter, a motion detection game apparatus using a human body sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an external perspective view of a motion detection game apparatus using a human body sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, the game program (eg, obstacle passing program, shooting program) that is executed at the upper front of the game machine main body 30 and the game start; And a display unit 18 (for example, a monitor) for displaying an image of a competitive game program).

In the center panel of the game machine main body 30, a game start button 14a for instructing game start and a left move button 14b and a right move button 14c used for selecting a desired virtual character before the game starts. ) And a select button 14d are provided.

In addition, a coin inlet 32 for inserting coins is installed on the lower front of the game machine main body 30.

In addition, the game console main body 30 and the rectangular footrest 34 are connected to each other through a signal transmission cable 36, and support bars 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d are formed at each corner of the footrest 34. In the vertical direction, the support rods 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d are respectively provided with pause buttons 15a to 15d, which are used when the player wants to rest for a while. When the pause buttons 15a to 15d are pressed, the movement of the image and the virtual character displayed on the display unit 18 is temporarily stopped (for example, about 3 to 5 seconds), and then automatically resumes operation. . Frequent pressing of the pause buttons 15a to 15d can halve the interest of the game, allowing it to be used two or three times per game.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the pause buttons 15a to 15d are provided at the uppermost ends of the supporting rods 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d, but the installation positions of the pause buttons 15a to 15d may be different. .

Among the four support rods 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d on the footrest 34, two support rods 19a and 19b positioned at the front end of the footrest 34 provided close to the game machine main body 30, Two sensor supports 17a and 17b across the lower ends of the two support rods 19a and 19b are spaced apart from each other vertically at predetermined intervals. In addition, the two support rods 19c and 19d positioned at the rear end of the footrest 34 have two sensor supports 17c and 17d crossing the lower ends of the two support rods 19c and 19d at predetermined intervals. It is installed spaced up and down. More specifically, in the specification of the present invention, the sensor supports 17a and 17c are referred to as upper sensor supports, and the sensor supports 17b and 17d are referred to as lower sensor supports.

In addition, the installation height of the upper sensor support 17a and the installation height of the upper sensor support 17c are the same and are kept horizontal. In addition, the installation height of the lower sensor support 17b and the installation height of the lower sensor support 17d are the same and are horizontal.

In Fig. 1, two sensor supports 17a and 17b are provided at the front end of the scaffold 34 and two sensor supports 17c and 17d are provided at the rear end. You can also increase

The upper sensor supports 17a and 17c and the lower sensor supports 17b and 17d may face a plurality of human body detecting sensors 16a and 16b (eg, infrared sensors, optical sensors, etc.) capable of detecting a human body at equal intervals. Is installed. Here, the motion detection sensors 16a and 16b are dual element sensors, and the motion detection sensor 16a installed on the upper sensor support 17a serves as a light emitting role, and is installed on the upper sensor support 17c. The motion detection sensor 16a is a sensor that performs a light receiving role. Similarly, the motion detection sensor 16b installed on the lower sensor support 17c is a sensor for emitting light, and the motion detection sensor 16b provided on the lower sensor support 17d is a sensor for receiving light. In addition, the human body sensor 16a installed on the upper sensor supports 17a and 17c is referred to as an upper sensor, and the human body sensor 16b installed to the lower sensor supports 17b and 17d is referred to as a lower sensor.

For example, the number of the upper sensors 16a and the lower sensors 16b may be increased as needed in order to increase the accuracy of the horizontal movement and position detection of the gamers.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b are installed only at the front end and the rear end of the footrest 34 to detect the horizontal movement and the jumping motion of the player. If it is necessary to further detect the movement, the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b may be further installed on the left and right sides of the footrest 34.

2 is a block diagram of a motion detection game apparatus using a human body sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, the game program storage unit 10 for storing a game program (for example, may be one or a plurality) ; A virtual character memory unit 12 storing various types of virtual characters; A key input unit 14 for inputting a key signal for initiating a game, selecting a virtual character, and temporarily stopping the game while the game is in progress; A motion detection unit 16 that detects a movement direction of the game player moving on the footrest 34 (eg, horizontal movement (left-right movement), vertical movement (jump)); A display unit 18 for displaying a screen and a virtual character related to the game program to be executed; A virtual character driver 20 for driving a virtual character displayed on the display unit 18; A game end determination unit (22) having a built-in calculation program for determining the end of the game and determining a time to end the game based on the input result of the movement of the virtual character and outputting the result; And a controller 24 for controlling the overall operation of the game progress based on the signals from the key input unit 14, the motion sensing unit 16, and the game end determining unit 22.

The key input section 14 is composed of a game start button 14a, a right move button 14b, a left move button 14c, a select button 14d, and a pause button 15a to 15d shown in FIG. Here, the right move button 1b and the left move button 14c may be configured in the form of a joystick instead of a button.

The motion detector 16 includes a plurality of upper sensors 16a and lower sensors 16b shown in FIG. 1, and the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b are dual element types capable of detecting a human body. It consists of an infrared sensor or an optical sensor.

The game end determination unit 22 determines the amount of energy deduction according to the degree of movement error of the virtual character during game play, and determines that the game can no longer be performed when the accumulated value of the amount of energy deduction is greater than or equal to the threshold. The end signal is transmitted to the controller 24.

In the present invention, the game end determination unit 22 and the control unit 24 are configured separately, but the function of the game end determination unit 22 may be inherent in the control unit 24.

3A and 3B illustrate the principle of detecting the direction of motion according to the horizontal movement of the game player employed in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, the left side of the game player on the footrest 34 is left. The upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b located in the output the value of "0", for example, and the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b located in the right, for example, the value of "1". On the contrary, when the position of the player on the footrest 34 is the right as shown in FIG. 3B, the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b located on the left output a value of “1”, for example, and the upper sensor located on the right. 16a and the lower sensor 16b output a value of "0", for example.

When the player moves horizontally from the left to the right, the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b located on the left output a value of "0", and then output a value of "1", and the upper sensor located on the right. 16a and the lower sensor 16b output a value of "1" and then output a value of "0", so that the control unit 24 outputs signal values from the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b. Based on this, it is determined that the player has moved horizontally from left to right.

In addition, even when the player moves horizontally from right to left, the direction of movement may be determined according to the above-described method.

Accordingly, the controller 24 determines how much the player has horizontally moved left or right based on the output signal values of the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b, and selects the virtual character according to the determination result. The control signal (that is, the virtual character horizontal movement control signal) about how much to move horizontally to the left or the right is transmitted to the virtual character driver 20.

4A, 4B, and 4C are diagrams illustrating a principle of detecting a direction of movement according to a vertical movement of a game player employed in an embodiment of the present invention, and the game player on the footrest 34 maintains a landing state as shown in FIG. 4A. In this case, the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b both output a value of "0", for example, and when jumping slightly as shown in FIG. 4B, the upper sensor 16a, for example, "0". Outputs the value of " 1 " in the lower sensor 16b, and when jumping a lot as shown in FIG. 4C, the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b both display, for example, " 1 " Print the value.

Accordingly, the controller 24 determines how much the player has jumped based on the output signal values of the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b, and how much to jump the virtual character according to the determination result. The control signal (ie, the virtual character vertical movement control signal) is transmitted to the virtual character driver 20.

Next, the operation of the motion detection game apparatus using the human body sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the game program stored in the game program storage unit 10 is an obstacle passing program.

When a person (game player) who wants to play a game puts a coin of a predetermined amount into the coin inlet 32 (step S10), the controller 24 selects a predetermined guide text (for example, a guide text to select a virtual character). It generates and displays the game initial screen on the display unit 18, and also reproduces a plurality of virtual characters ("ga", "me", "da") stored in the virtual character memory unit 12 to display the video. The game initial screen on step 18 is displayed (step S12).

Accordingly, the player operates the left navigation button 14b and the right navigation button 14c of the key input section 14 to select the desired virtual character after viewing the guidance text displayed on the display section 18. The selection button 14d is pressed by placing the cursor at the position of the virtual character. If the player does not select the virtual character (“No” in step S14), for example, the controller 24 selects the virtual character selection signal for a predetermined time. If is not input, the control unit 24 sets the virtual character (for example, "ga") set as a default as the virtual character required for the game (step S16).

If the virtual character selection signal is input to the control unit 24 within a predetermined time ("Yes" in step S14), the control unit 24 waits for the game start command signal to be input from the key input unit 14.

When a game start command signal is inputted to the controller 24 as a player presses the game start button 14a (YES in step S18), the controller 24 stores the game program storage unit 10 in the game program storage unit 10. The obstacle passing program is executed and the screen corresponding thereto is displayed on the display unit 18. At the same time, the controller 24 outputs the selected virtual character and transmits a control signal to the virtual character driver 20 to prepare to drive the virtual character (step S20).

Subsequently, as the game progresses, the player moves left and right or jumps on the scaffold 34. The obstacle (eg, a pit, a log, etc.) displayed on the display unit 18 moves forward in a certain state. Depending on whether it is coming, the player will move left or right to avoid the obstacle.

When the player moves left and right or jumps on the footrest 34, a signal according to the movement of the player is transmitted to the controller 24 by the upper sensor 16a and the lower sensor 16b installed on the footrest 34. . The controller 24 determines how much the player has moved left or right or jumps in the vertical direction based on the input signal (step S22).

The controller 24 transmits a virtual character horizontal control signal or a virtual character vertical control signal to the virtual character driver 20 in order to move the virtual character on the screen to the extent that the obstacle can be avoided based on the determined result. The virtual character drive unit 20 adjusts the movement of the virtual character in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction based on the input virtual character horizontal control signal or virtual character vertical control signal (step S24).

If the player does not move properly, the virtual character on the display unit 18 also does not move properly, and the mistake information of the virtual character (for example, mistake information such as falling into a pit or hitting a log) is terminated. It is sent to the determination unit 22. The game end determination unit 22 determines the amount of energy reduction according to the degree of the mistake of the movement of the virtual character, and determines the end time of the game based on the accumulated value of the amount of energy reduction (step S26).

If the cumulative value of the amount of energy deduction is greater than or equal to the threshold value (YES in step S28), the game end determination unit 22 determines that the game can no longer be performed and sends a game end signal to the controller 24. send.

Accordingly, the control unit 24 having received the game end signal ends the game (step S30).

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when the game is started, the player moves in the horizontal and vertical directions on the scaffold, and the movement of the player is detected by the sensor, and the virtual character on the monitor screen is displayed according to the detection result. Because it operates according to the movement, it is possible not only to perform the whole body movement of the game player without using a complicated motion capture device, but also provide a sense of unity with the virtual character, thereby increasing the interest more than a conventional game machine. It gives fresh persimmons.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified and modified within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, the technical idea to which such modifications and variations are also applied to the claims Must see

Claims (5)

A game device having a game machine main body having a display unit and a footrest connected to the game machine main body via signal transmission means, Key input means for inputting a selection signal for any one of a plurality of virtual characters displayed on the display unit before the game starts; Motion detection means for detecting a motion in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the game player moving on the footrest as a game starts; As a game start signal is input, a game program is executed to display the display unit on the display unit, and display the selected virtual character on the display unit, in the horizontal and vertical directions of the virtual character based on a signal from the motion detecting means. Control means for controlling the movement of the; And And a virtual character driving means for driving the movement of the virtual character displayed on the display unit based on the control signal from the control means. The method of claim 1, The key input means further comprises a pause button for commanding a temporary game stop while the game is in progress. The method of claim 2, The pause button is a motion detection game device using a human body sensor, characterized in that installed on the top end of the support bar installed perpendicular to the corner of the footrest. The method of claim 1, The motion detection means is composed of a plurality of infrared sensors or light sensors of the dual element, the motion detection game device using a human body sensor, characterized in that to detect the left and right movement and jump movement of the game player on the scaffold. The method of claim 4, wherein The plurality of infrared sensors or optical sensors, a pair of upper rods in the support rods installed vertically on the four corners of the scaffold pairs the two support rods horizontally across each pair of support rods installed at a predetermined interval apart from each other And the lower sensor support are installed at equal intervals, respectively, the infrared sensor or the optical sensor installed on one side and the other of the upper sensor support is installed at the same height, the lower sensor support of the one and the other side of the scaffold The infrared sensor or the optical sensor is installed at the same height with each other, the infrared sensor or the optical sensor of the upper and lower sensor support of both sides transmit and receive a signal, the infrared sensor or the optical sensor of the both lower sensor support, characterized in that the transmission and reception of the signal Motion detection game device using a human body sensor.