Gyro Sensor Orientation Control via Camera Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing game apparatus using gyro sensors face issues with error accumulation and require complex adjustments to provide a comfortable gaming experience, especially when detecting drastic changes in angular velocity.

Innovation Solution

A game apparatus with operation data acquisition, amount-of-change calculation, position orientation calculation, degree-of-contact calculation, and orientation change means to accurately control the player object's orientation based on motion data from input devices, minimizing the impact of gyro sensor errors by using angular velocity and acceleration data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a gyro sensor is used to detect angular velocity for controlling player object orientation, then the player object can be controlled to rotate according to the input device's motion, but error accumulation occurs over time making the control inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation controlVSAvoidangular velocity detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by detecting the player object's actual orientation changes through the camera and comparing this with the expected orientation based on gyro sensor input. This closed-loop feedback allows the system to identify and correct accumulated errors in the gyro sensor's angular velocity measurements, maintaining accurate orientation control over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent supplements the gyro sensor's mechanical detection system with a camera-based visual detection system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical angular velocity sensing, the system uses optical detection to measure the player object's actual orientation and position, substituting part of the mechanical measurement approach with an optical one to overcome gyro sensor limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If correction processes are performed using multiple angular velocity values to compensate for gyro sensor errors, then measurement accuracy improves, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular velocity measurement accuracyVSAvoidgame processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using complex multi-value correction processes, the patent employs a feedback mechanism where the camera detects the player object's actual orientation and provides this information back to the control system. This allows for simple, real-time error correction without requiring complex processing of multiple angular velocity values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The camera acts as an intermediary that provides independent verification of the player object's orientation. Instead of processing multiple gyro sensor readings to correct errors, the system uses the camera as a mediator to directly measure the actual orientation state, simplifying the correction process while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the neutral position value is constantly adjusted to correct gyro sensor drift, then orientation accuracy is maintained, but the system becomes sensitive to drastic changes in angular velocity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation measurement accuracyVSAvoidsystem stability under drastic motion
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism from camera-based orientation detection provides a stable reference that is not affected by the magnitude of motion. Whether the player makes small adjustments or drastic movements, the camera continuously provides the actual orientation state, allowing the system to maintain accurate and reliable orientation control without being sensitive to the rate of change.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables more accurate and intuitive orientation control of player objects in virtual game spaces, reducing the effect of gyro sensor errors and improving gaming experience by reflecting changes in orientation effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a gyro sensor for detecting the angular velocity around the axis vertical to the display screen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGyro sensor detection: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 2

an acceleration sensor for detecting accelerations in three-axis directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration sensor detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP2177250B1Game apparatus and computer-readable storage medium having game program stored therein
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP2177250B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2177250B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP2177250B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(B)

AI summary

Operation data acquisition means acquires operation data at least including motion data, which is data representing a motion of a predetermined input device, from the input device. Amount-of-change calculation means calculates an amount of change of the input device in a predetermined period of time, based on the motion data. Position orientation calculation means calculates a position and an orientation of a player object in a virtual game space. Degree-of-contact calculation means calculates a degree of contact, which represents a degree of the player object and a field object contacting each other in the virtual game space. Orientation change means changes the orientation of the player object, based on the amount of change and the degree of contact.