Virtual Camera Zooming Without Changing Imaging Direction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing game systems require players to physically touch specific positions on a touch panel to zoom in on objects within a virtual space, which can be cumbersome and disrupt the gaming experience by changing the camera's gaze point.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows players to zoom in on virtual camera subjects using a virtual camera positioned in a virtual space, where the zooming operation can be performed by any position on a coordinate input means without changing the camera's direction, enabling improved operability and intuitive control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the gazing point of the virtual camera is set to the center point of the desired object and the angle of view is changed to zoom in, then the object can be displayed in detail, but the player must touch the object on the touch panel which complicates the operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the zooming function from the gazing point control. The zooming operation is decoupled from touch position requirements, allowing the camera to zoom in on the current imaging subject regardless of where the player touches on the touch panel. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by making zooming independent of precise touch positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel is given universal functionality where any position on the panel can trigger zooming, not just touches on specific objects. This multi-functional approach allows the same input mechanism to serve both navigation and zooming purposes, improving ease of operation while maintaining zooming capability.
2Measurement precision
If the gazing point changes according to the touch position, then the camera can focus on the touched object, but the operation becomes cumbersome as players must precisely touch objects
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the gazing point follow the touch position (traditional approach), the patent inverts the logic: the zooming operation occurs at the current gazing point regardless of touch position. This inversion eliminates the need for precise touch positioning while maintaining the ability to focus on objects of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the current camera view and imaging subject as the basis for zooming operations. The camera automatically maintains its gazing point while zooming, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for additional player input to maintain focus on the subject.
3Area of moving object
If the angle of view is changed to reduce it for zooming, then the imaging subject can be displayed larger, but the camera's gazing point must be precisely positioned which complicates control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic zooming where the angle of view can be changed at any touch position on the panel. The system dynamically adjusts the field of view while maintaining the current gazing point, allowing flexible zooming without requiring precise camera repositioning or complex control sequences.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to attain the object described above, a game apparatus is able to use coordinate input means and display means, and positions a virtual camera Ca in a three-dimensional virtual space. When a predetermined operation is performed at any position in a predetermined range on a touch panel (coordinate input means), the game apparatus performs zooming-in-on operation (changes an angle θ1 of view of the virtual camera) without changing an imaging direction of the virtual camera.