JP2000102671A - Position specifying device and recording medium storing position specifying program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position specifying device for using a controller and a beam gun and to provide a recording indium in a shooting game conducted by an information processing device such as a personal computer having a display device for displaying a scene by a scanning line. SOLUTION: When a trigger 4a of a beam gun 4 is triggered, a position specifying device 1 inputs picture data for showing a scene alternately displaying white and black lines to a display device 3. When opposite pixels are scanned, a light-receiving sensor disposed at a gun point detects a light of a luminous point of a scanning line and outputs the light in the beam gun 4. The position specifying device 1 specifies a position opposing to the gun point by using horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals of video signals being inputted to the display device 3 and detection signals inputted from the beam gun 4, and the specified position is inputted as a shooting position to a PC 2. The PC 2 judges whether a target is displayed at the shooting position, and when the target is displayed, the target is judged to be hit. A shooting game is played by using the beam gun 4 in the PC 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position specifying device for specifying a position of a screen facing a light receiving sensor at a certain timing, and a recording medium on which a position specifying program is recorded. The present invention relates to a position specifying device for specifying the position of the screen where the muzzle of the light gun faces when the position of the light gun is opposite, and a recording medium on which a position specifying program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a video game (hereinafter, referred to as a shooting game) aiming at a game character (hereinafter, simply referred to as a character) displayed on a television screen. In a shooting game, a ray gun is recently used as a controller (an operation unit operated by the player) so as to increase the real feeling felt by the player, and when the trigger of the ray gun is pulled, the muzzles of the ray gun face each other. The position of the screen being shot (sniping position) is specified, and if a character is displayed at the position specified here, it is determined that a hit has occurred.

[0005] In the game machine main body, a process for specifying the sniper position will be briefly described. A general light gun outputs a trigger signal (firing signal) when a trigger (trigger) is triggered. In addition, a light receiving sensor that receives light from a light spot of a scanning line in the television main body is disposed at the muzzle. When a trigger signal is input from the light gun (when the light gun is triggered), the game machine body displays the next one frame (normally, 30 frames are displayed per second).
Is an emission image in which all pixels are white. At this time, the light receiving sensor arranged at the muzzle of the light gun detects light from the light spot of the scanning line when the pixel facing the muzzle (light receiving sensor) is scanned. The main body of the game machine specifies, from the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals of the television main body, pixels scanned when the light receiving sensor detects light from the light spot of the scanning line (pixels facing the muzzle of the light gun). . The main body of the game machine determines that the character is displayed at the previously specified pixel in the image (frame) subsequent to the light emission image, that is, the hit.

As described above, the light gun used in the shooting game does not emit a light beam from a muzzle, but detects light from a light spot of a scanning line of a television by a light receiving sensor.

[0005]

By the way, as is well known, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer can enjoy a game like the above-mentioned video game.
However, game software corresponding to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) generally uses a keyboard, a mouse, or the like provided in the PC as a controller. There has not been proposed a general-purpose light gun that can be used as a light gun. Therefore, P
In C, a shooting game could not be played using a light gun.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light gun as a controller (especially in a conventional video game) as a controller in a shooting game executed on an information processing device such as a personal computer having a display device for displaying images by scanning lines. It is an object of the present invention to provide a position specifying device capable of using a used light gun) and a recording medium recording a position specifying program.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position specifying device, comprising: an information processing device such as a personal computer having a display device for displaying an image by scanning lines based on input image data; A specific signal is output when the operation is performed, and an input operation device that outputs a detection signal by a light receiving sensor; and a position specifying device connected to the input operation device, wherein the display is performed based on the specific signal. Image data input means for inputting image data of a predetermined image to the device, and when the predetermined image is displayed on the display device, a detection signal of the light receiving sensor and a horizontal and vertical synchronization signal of a scanning line in the display device. A position specifying unit for specifying a screen position where the light receiving sensor faces the display device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the predetermined image is an image in which white lines and black lines are alternately displayed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the input operation device is a light gun in which the light receiving sensor is arranged at a muzzle, and the specific operation is an operation of pulling a trigger.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided an output means for outputting the screen position specified by the position specifying means.

Further, a display device for displaying an image by a scanning line based on the input image data,
An input operation device that outputs a specific signal when a specific operation is performed and outputs a detection signal by a light receiving sensor, and a position specifying program applied to an information processing device such as a personal computer to which the input operation device is connected. A first step of inputting image data of a predetermined image to the display device based on the specific signal, and when the predetermined image is displayed on the display device, Using a detection signal and a horizontal and vertical synchronization signal of a scanning line in the display device to specify a screen position where the light receiving sensor faces the display device. .

In the position specifying device having the above structure, when the input operation device outputs a specific signal when a specific operation is performed, a predetermined image is displayed on a display device connected to an information processing device such as a personal computer. Enter the data. In the display device, image display is performed by scanning lines,
The light receiving sensor detects light at the light spot of the scanning line when the opposing pixel on the display screen is scanned. The position specifying device uses the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals of the image signal of the display device to specify the scanned pixel when the light receiving sensor detects the light at the light spot of the scanning line. That is, the position specifying device can specify the position on the screen where the light receiving sensor is facing, from the output of the light receiving sensor and the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals of the image signal.

In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, the horizontal synchronization signal of the display device is about 31 kHz, which is about twice that of a home television (15 kHz). Therefore, in the present invention, white,
By providing a screen in which black lines are alternately displayed, it is possible to process the light receiving sensor assuming that the scanning speed of the display device is half the actual scanning speed.

Further, if the input operation device is a light gun in which a light receiving sensor is arranged at a muzzle and a signal is output when a trigger is fired, the position of the display screen at which the muzzle is opposed at the time when the trigger is fired. Can be specified. That is, the position on the screen shot by the light gun can be specified.

Further, the position specified in the above processing is output, and can be used for processing (for example, a shooting game) executed in the information processing apparatus.
That is, in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a light gun can be used as a controller.

The position specifying program described in claim 5 is a program for causing a main body of an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer to execute processing equivalent to the position specifying apparatus described in claim 1.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system to which a position specifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a position specifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, 2 denotes a main body of a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as PC), 3 denotes a display device of the PC 2, and 4 denotes a device conventionally used in a video game. It has been a ray gun.
Reference numeral 4a in the drawing denotes a trigger (trigger) of the light gun 4. The display device 3 is of a type that performs screen display by scanning lines. In the light gun 4, a trigger signal (specific signal according to the present invention) indicating that the trigger 4 a has been pulled and a detection signal (sensor output) of a light receiving sensor arranged at the muzzle are input to the position specifying device 1. ing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the light gun, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a position specifying device according to this embodiment. The light gun 4 amplifies the output of the light receiving sensor 11 arranged at the muzzle as shown in FIG. 2 with an amplifier 12 (AMP 12), and outputs a signal obtained by shaping the waveform with a waveform shaping circuit 13 from an output circuit 14 (sensor). Output). When the trigger 4a is operated, the output circuit 14 outputs a trigger signal. The light gun 4 has the same configuration as that conventionally used as a controller in a video game machine.

The position specifying device 1 performs processing based on the trigger signal output from the light gun 4 and the sensor output. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 22 denotes an image memory. The image data stored in the image memory 22 is an image in which white lines and black lines are alternately displayed (see FIG. 4) (predetermined image according to the present invention). Image data. 23 is a display device 3
Is an image data switching circuit for switching image data to be input to the CPU. The image data switching circuit 23 stores the image data (game image) input from the PC 2 or the image memory 2
2 is a switch circuit for inputting one of the image data stored in the display device 2 to the display device 3, and switches the image data input to the display device 3 based on a switching signal input from the control unit 21. The control unit 21 instructs the image data switching circuit 23 to perform the above switching based on a trigger signal input from the light gun 4.

Hereinafter, the operation of the position specifying device according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the position specifying device according to this embodiment. The PC 2 executes a shooting game program (hereinafter, simply referred to as game software) supplied by a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or an FD.

When the PC 2 starts executing the game software, the position specifying device 1 executes the processing shown in FIG. 5 if the operation power is supplied. First, it is determined whether or not the light gun 4 is connected (n1). Here, if the light gun 4 is not connected, the present processing is terminated without performing the processing of n2 and thereafter. In this case, PC2
The image data input from the main unit is an image data switching circuit 2
The data is input to the display device 3 via the display 3. Note that even when the operation power is not supplied to the position specifying device 1, the image data input from the PC 2 is input to the display device 3 via the image data switching circuit 23. Also, the position specifying device 1
When the operating power is not supplied to the PC 2 or when the operating power is supplied to the position specifying device 1 but the light gun 4 is not connected, the PC 2 is set to use an input device such as a mouse as a controller. That is, in the above case,
It is possible to play game software executed on the PC 2 using a mouse or the like as a controller as in the related art.

When the position specifying device 1 determines that the light gun 4 is connected at n1, it determines whether the trigger 4a of the light gun 4 is pulled (n2). At this time, in the PC 2 main body, setting is performed using the light gun 4 as a controller.
However, when the controller is a light gun, there is no need to make settings so that an input device such as a mouse cannot be used as a controller. That is, both the light gun 4 and an input device such as a mouse may be used as a controller. When the light gun 4 is used as a controller,
In the game software executed on the PC 2 main body, a process of determining whether or not a character has been hit based on the sniper position specified by the position specifying device 1 is added.
The other processing is almost the same as when the mouse is used as the controller.

When the position specifying device 1 (control unit 21) determines that the trigger 4a is pulled at n2 (when a trigger signal is input from the light gun 4), it inputs a switching signal to the image data switching circuit 23. I do. Thereby, the image memory 22
Is input to the display device 3, and
The display device 3 displays an image (predetermined image) in which the white-black lines shown in FIG. 4 are alternately displayed (n).
3). At this time, the position specifying device 1 executes a sniper position specifying process for specifying a position on the screen where the muzzle of the light gun 4 is opposed (n4).

The light receiving sensor 11 is disposed at the muzzle of the light gun 4 as described above.
When the pixel facing is scanned, the light receiving sensor 1
In 1, the light at the light spot of the scanning line can be detected.
Here, the light receiving sensor 11 does not face only one pixel, but faces a plurality of pixels. For example, when each pixel in a region surrounded by a circle in FIG. 6 is scanned, the light receiving sensor 11 detects light at a light spot on a scanning line. That is, the light receiving sensor 11 does not detect the light at the light spot of the scanning line only when a specific pixel (a certain pixel) is scanned, but as shown in FIG.
1) When a plurality of pixels existing in the region facing each other are scanned, the light at the light spot of the scanning line is detected.

The light gun 4 has been conventionally used in a video game machine, and the waveform shaping circuit 13 in the light gun 4 is designed in accordance with the scanning speed of a scanning line in a television. In the video game, when the trigger 4a of the light gun 4 is pulled, a luminescent image in which all the pixels are white is displayed, and the position where the muzzle is opposed is specified. The horizontal synchronizing signal of a general television is 15 kHz, while the horizontal synchronizing signal of the display device 3 connected to a general PC 2 is about 31 kHz.
That is, the scanning speed of the display device 3 is about twice that of a general television. As described above, since the waveform shaping circuit 13 is adapted to the scanning speed of the television, when the display device 3 displays a light-emitting screen in which all the pixels are white, the output waveform of the waveform shaping circuit 13 is distorted. The pixel to which the light receiving sensor 11 is facing cannot be specified with high accuracy using the blunt waveform. Therefore, in this embodiment, the screen of the display device 3 is an image (the image shown in FIG. 4) in which white-black lines are alternately displayed. For this image,
When the black line is displayed, since the light receiving sensor 11 does not detect the light at the light spot of the scanning line, it is assumed that the display device 3 of the light gun 4 is scanning at half the actual scanning speed. Can be processed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the output waveform of the waveform shaping circuit 13 from being rounded, and as a result, it is possible to accurately specify the pixel position where the light receiving sensor 11 (muzzle) faces.

When the position specifying device 1 completes the display of the image in which the white-black lines are alternately displayed, the position of the pixel which has been scanned when the light receiving sensor 11 detects the light at the light spot of the scanning line. Is detected, and the center of the detected region is assumed to be a sniper position. When specifying the area, the position specifying device 1 uses the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals in the display device 3 as in the video game.

When the position specifying device 1 specifies the target position, it inputs the specified target position to the PC 2 main body (n5), inputs a switching signal to the image data switching circuit 23, and sends the PC 2 to the display device 3. A screen switching instruction for displaying the image data (game image) output from the main body is issued (n6), and the process returns to n2. The position specifying device 1
Is repeated until the game software running on the PC2 main unit ends.

Note that the PC 2 main body to which the sniper position has been input from the position specifying device 1
If there is a character at the sniper position input from the position specifying device 1 (if it is displayed), it is determined that a hit has occurred, and the game proceeds.

As described above, when playing a shooting game executed on the main body of the PC 2, the light gun 4 conventionally used in a video game can be used as a controller. Therefore, even a user who plays a game on the PC 2 can be made to feel realistic according to the game characteristics, and the player can be sufficiently enjoyed. In the above embodiment, when the trigger 4a is pulled, the image of the display device 3 is set to the image shown in FIG. 4, but the waveform shaping circuit 13 in the light gun 4 is set to the scanning speed of the display device 3. By setting them together, it is also possible to specify a sniper position by displaying a white light-emitting screen in all pixels.

In the above embodiment, the light gun 4 can be used with the PC 2 by using the position specifying device 1.
It is also possible to make C2 execute the processing of the position identification device 1 described above. FIG. 7 shows a system configuration in this case. FIG.
The difference is that the position specifying device 1 is not provided, and that the light gun 4 is directly connected to the PC 2. Note that a program for executing processing equivalent to the processing executed by the position specifying device 1 of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the PC 2 in advance by a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or an FD.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the PC in this system. In the PC2 body,
In addition to the processing shown in FIG. 8, a game software execution processing including the following processing is also performed. The PC 2 according to this embodiment is provided with an image storage area (area A, area B, area C) for three frames as shown in FIG. 9, and the display device 3 stores the image stored in the area A. The display based on the data is performed. Note that the circles shown in the figure indicate the order of processing. When completing the display based on the image data stored in the area A, the PC 2 moves the image data stored in the area B to the area A. The display device 3 performs display based on the image data moved to the area A. After moving the image data of area B to area A, PC 2 writes the image data of the next screen to area B. By repeating this process, the image (game image) on the display device 3 is smoothly switched. The area C is used as a comparison area for image data as described later.

When starting the execution of the game software, the PC 2 determines whether or not the light gun 4 is connected (n
11). If the light gun 4 is not connected here, the PC
2 sets a mouse as a controller and executes the same game processing as before (the processing after n12 is not executed). If it is determined in n11 that the light gun 4 is connected, it is determined whether the trigger 4a of the light gun 4 has been pulled (n12). In n12, when it is determined that the trigger 4a is pulled (when a trigger signal is input from the light gun 4), the image data stored in the area B is moved to the area C (retracted) as shown in FIG. (N1
3). It should be noted that, in this figure, the circles shown in the figure indicate the order of processing. Then, image data for displaying the image shown in FIG. 4 is written in area B (n14). Therefore, when the display of the image data stored in the area A is completed, the image data for displaying the image shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the area A, and the display device 3 displays the image. The image data saved in the area C is returned to the area B again after the image data written in the area B is moved to the area A.

When the display device 3 displays the screen shown in FIG.
1 performs a sniper position specifying process for specifying a sniper position from a sensor signal detecting light at a light spot of a scanning line and a horizontal-vertical synchronization signal of the display device 3 (n15).
Returning to step 12, the above processing is repeated. If the character is displayed at the sniper position specified by n15 on the next screen, the PC 2 determines that a hit has occurred and proceeds with the game.

As described above, when playing a shooting game executed on the PC 2 itself, the light gun 4 conventionally used in a video game can be used as a controller. Therefore, even a user who plays a game on the PC 2 can be made to feel realistic according to the game characteristics, and the player can be sufficiently enjoyed.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer can play a shooting game using a light gun or the like as a controller. Thereby, even a user who plays a game on the information processing device can be made to feel realistic depending on the game property, and the player can be sufficiently enjoyed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system to which a position specifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a light gun.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a position specifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where a predetermined image according to the present invention is displayed on a display device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of the position specifying device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an area where a light receiving sensor detects light at a light spot on a scanning line.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a PC according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flow of image data relating to an image displayed on the display device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of image data relating to an image displayed on the display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-position specifying device 2-personal computer (PC) 3-display device 4-ray gun 4a-trigger 11-light receiving sensor 12-amplifier (AMP) 13-waveform shaping circuit 14-output circuit 21-control unit 22-image memory 23-Image data switching circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] An information processing device such as a personal computer having a display device for displaying an image by scanning lines based on input image data, and a specific signal is output when a specific operation is performed. An input operation device that outputs a detection signal from a light receiving sensor, and a position specifying device connected thereto, based on the specific signal, image data input means for inputting image data of a predetermined image to the display device; When the predetermined image is displayed on the display device, the light receiving sensor faces the display device using a detection signal of the light receiving sensor and a horizontal and vertical synchronization signal of a scanning line in the display device. And a position specifying means for specifying a screen position. 2. The position specifying device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image is an image in which white lines and black lines are alternately displayed. 3. The position specifying device according to claim 1, wherein the input operation device is a light gun in which the light receiving sensor is arranged at a muzzle, and the specific operation is an operation of pulling a trigger. 4. The position specifying device according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit configured to output the screen position specified by the position specifying unit. 5. A display device for displaying an image by scanning lines based on input image data, an input for outputting a specific signal when a specific operation is performed, and outputting a detection signal by a light receiving sensor. An operation device, a recording medium recording a position specifying program applied to an information processing device such as a personal computer connected thereto, and inputting image data of a predetermined image to the display device based on the specific signal. A first step of: when displaying the predetermined image on the display device, using a detection signal of the light receiving sensor and a horizontal and vertical synchronization signal of a scanning line in the display device to the display device. A second step of specifying a screen position where the light receiving sensor is facing, a recording medium storing a position specifying program.