Accessory and information processing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9996107-B2
Application number	US-201615010153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

An example accessory can be attached to an information processing device. The accessory includes a housing, a movable operation section, and a movable portion. An inside of the housing is visible from an outside thereof through at least a portion thereof. At least a portion of the operation section is exposed on the outside of the housing. The movable portion is placed at a position inside the housing that is visible from the outside of the housing through the portion of the housing. A position and/or an attitude of the movable portion changes in response to the operation section being operated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processing system including an information processing device having a camera, and an accessory to which information processing device is removably attachable, wherein:
the accessory includes:
a housing having an opening;
a movable operation section at least a portion of which is exposed on the outside of the housing; and
a movable portion placed at a position inside the housing, wherein a position and/or an attitude of the movable portion changes in response to the movable operation section being operated;

the information processing device is attached to the accessory at such a position that the camera can capture an image of the inside of the housing through the opening; and
one or more processor of the information processing system:
determines an operation performed on the movable operation section based on a camera image captured by the camera and including an image of the movable portion; and
performs a predetermined process based on the determined operation.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the processor determines whether or not the movable operation section is operated based on the camera image; and
the processor performs a predetermined process based on whether or not the movable operation section is operated.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the processor calculates an amount of operation performed on the movable operation section based on the camera image; and
the processor performs a predetermined process based on the amount of operation.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
on the inside of the housing, a marker is provided at a position inside the housing, wherein the position at which the movable portion is provided is different from the position at which the marker is provided; and
the processor recognizes the marker in the camera image to determine an operation performed on the moveable operation section based on at least one of a position, a direction and a shape of an image of the movable portion with respect to the marker in the camera image.

Assignees

• Nintendo Co Ltd

Inventors

• Inoue Fumihiko
• Kinuwaki Shinichi
• Tamura Yoshitaka
• Ogasawara Yoshiyasu

Classifications

• A63F13/24

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• G06F1/1686

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera · CPC title

• G06F3/005

  Input arrangements through a video camera · CPC title

• H04M1/23

  Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof (by improving visibility H04M1/22) · CPC title

• G06F1/1607 Primary

  Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing (G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence) · CPC title