U.S. patent application number 11/582800 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for movement-information processing system, terminal unit for use in the system, and battery recharging unit for use with the terminal unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to Konami Sports & Life Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Motoki Toyama.
Application Number | 20070105629 11/582800 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38004474 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070105629 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Toyama; Motoki |
May 10, 2007 |
Movement-information processing system, terminal unit for use in
the system, and battery recharging unit for use with the terminal
unit
Abstract
Disclosed is a movement-information processing system, which
comprises a control unit 30 including an image display control
section 312 adapted to allow a guide image for instructing a
plurality of players to perform a physical training consisting of
plural types of body movements to be displayed on a projection
screen 20, and a plurality of terminal units each formed in a
belt-like configuration and provided with a movement detection
device 53 operable, when the terminal unit is worn on a body of
either one of the players, to detect body movements of the player.
Each of the terminal unit includes a communication processing
section 533 for transmitting a detection signal representing the
body movements detected by the movement detection device 53 to the
control unit 30. The control unit 30 includes a communication
processing section 313 for receiving the detection signal from the
communication section 533 of the terminal unit 50, a calorie
consumption calculation section 322 for evaluating an exercise
quality of the player wearing the terminal unit 50, based on the
received detection signal and a content of the guide image, and an
image display control section 312 for announcing the evaluation
result of the exercise quality through an announcement section.
Inventors: |
Toyama; Motoki; (Kobe-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JORDAN AND HAMBURG LLP
122 EAST 42ND STREET
SUITE 4000
NEW YORK
NY
10168
US
|
Assignee: |
Konami Sports & Life Co.,
Ltd.
Shinagawa-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
38004474 |
Appl. No.: |
11/582800 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/02 20130101;
A63B 2220/40 20130101; A63F 13/212 20140902; A63B 2024/0009
20130101; A63B 21/4001 20151001; A63B 2024/0025 20130101; A63B
2024/0068 20130101; A63B 2220/836 20130101; A63B 2208/12 20130101;
A63F 13/798 20140902; A63B 24/0006 20130101; A63B 24/0062 20130101;
A63F 13/5375 20140902; A63B 23/0458 20130101; A63F 13/44 20140902;
A63F 13/12 20130101; A63B 2225/72 20130101; A63F 13/10 20130101;
A63B 71/0622 20130101; A63B 2220/13 20130101; A63F 13/814 20140902;
A63F 2300/1012 20130101; A63B 24/0021 20130101; A63B 2225/30
20130101; A63B 2230/75 20130101; A63F 2300/8023 20130101; A63B
2024/0071 20130101; A63B 2220/803 20130101; A63F 13/428 20140902;
A63F 13/214 20140902; A63B 2225/15 20130101; A63B 2225/50
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/042 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 4, 2005 |
JP |
2005-321466 |
Claims
1. A movement-information processing system with a control unit and
a plurality of terminal units, said movement-information processing
system comprising: the plurality of terminal units corresponding to
the number of players capable of entry into a physical training,
each of said terminal units including: a movement detection device
operable, when the terminal unit is worn on a body of either one of
the players, to detect body movements of said player, and a
terminal-side communication section for transmitting a detection
signal representing said body movements detected by said movement
detection device to the control unit, and said control unit
including: image display control means adapted to allow a guide
image for instructing a plurality of players to perform the
physical training consisting of plural types of body movements in a
time-series manner, to be displayed on a presentation unit; a
control-side communication section for receiving the detection
signal from the terminal-side communication section of said
terminal unit; exercise evaluation means for evaluating an exercise
quality of the player wearing said terminal unit, based on said
received detection signal and a content of said guide image; and
announcement means for announcing the evaluation result of the
exercise quality through an announcement section.
2. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1,
wherein said control unit includes an audio output section for
outputting a music piece synchronous with said guide image to be
displayed.
3. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1,
wherein: each of said terminal units is adapted to transmit
identification information, uniquely given thereto, to said control
unit through said terminal-side communication section; and said
control unit is adapted to evaluate the exercise quality of the
player wearing said terminal unit, in association with said
identification information.
4. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1,
wherein said exercise evaluation means is adapted to calculate an
amount of virtual exercise of the player wearing said terminal
unit, based on the presence or absence of said detection signal and
the type of body-movement instructed by said guide image.
5. The movement-information processing system according to claim 4,
wherein said exercise evaluation means is adapted to calculate a
calorie consumption as said virtual exercise amount.
6. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1,
wherein said display control means is adapted to create, on a
screen of said presentation unit, a plurality of individual display
regions for displaying respective contents for said terminal units,
on a terminal unit-by-terminal unit basis, and displaying
information about the evaluation result of the exercise quality of
said player, in a corresponding one of said individual display
regions.
7. The movement-information processing system according to claim 1,
wherein said control unit includes printing-out means for printing
out the evaluation result of the exercise quality using a printer
on a terminal unit-by-terminal unit basis.
8. A terminal unit for use in a movement-information processing
system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal unit includes a
belt-like portion adapted to be wrapped around a waist of the
player, and wherein said movement detection device is mounted to
said belt-like portion.
9. The terminal unit according to claim 8, further comprising a
built-in rechargeable battery serving as a power source
thereof.
10. The terminal unit according to claim 9, further comprising a
buckle portion connected to a first end of said belt-like portion
and adapted to allow a second, opposite, end of said belt-like
portion to be engagingly inserted thereinto in a disengageable
manner, said buckle portion being provided with a recharging
connector for said battery.
11. The terminal unit according to claim 8, wherein said movement
detection device is detachably mounted to said belt-like
portion.
12. The terminal unit according to claim 11, wherein said movement
detection device has a peripheral surface formed in a curved shape
extending along a part of the entire circumference of the waist
region of the player when said belt-like portion is wrapped around
the waist of said player.
13. The terminal unit according to claim 8, wherein said movement
detection device includes a sensor for sensing a change in
acceleration.
14. A battery recharging unit used for a plurality of the terminal
units according to claim 10, said battery recharging unit
comprising a plurality of recharging electrodes each engageable
with said recharging connector of said buckle portion in each of
said plurality of terminal units.
15. The battery recharging unit according to claim 14, further
comprising: a base member capable of being placed on a floor, and a
support member extending upward from said base member, wherein said
recharging electrodes are arranged on an upper portion of said
support member; and said support member has a height from the floor
which is greater than the entire length of said terminal unit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a movement-information
processing system which comprises a control unit adapted to allow a
guide image for instructing a plurality of players to perform a
physical training consisting of plural types of body movements in a
time-series manner to be displayed on a presentation unit, and a
plurality of terminal units prepared corresponding to the number of
players capable of entry into the physical training and each
provided with a movement detection device. The present invention
also relates to a terminal unit for use in the movement-information
processing system and a battery recharging unit for use with the
terminal unit.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Heretofore, there has been proposed a game system which
comprises a dance game (control) unit adapted to be connected to a
domestic television for displaying a screen image for designating
dance step positions, and first and second terminal units each
formed as a sheet-like foot switch unit and adapted to be connected
to the dance game unit (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication
No. 2003-38696). This game system is intended to allow up to two
players per domestic television to play a dance game together.
Further, the dance game unit is equipped with a function of
calculating and displaying an amount of calories consumed by
stepping movements during the dance game, on a player-by-player
basis.
[0005] More specifically, the above game system is designed to
automatically recognize whether the dance game will be played by a
single player or two players, based on player's input into the foot
switch units, and select one of a 1P play mode for a single player
and a 2P play mode for two players so as to change a subsequent
processing. In the 1P play mode, only one step-position guide image
is displayed on the domestic television. Differently, in the 2P
play mode, two step-position guide images are displayed on the
domestic television. That is, the entire display region of a
television screen is divided into two separate display regions, and
the step-position guide image is displayed in each of the separate
display regions. In this manner, the display screen is divided into
a plurality of small image screens depending on the number of
players. Therefore, from a practical standpoint, the number of
players to be allowed to play the game together per dance game unit
will be inevitably limited to up to two. In other words, the above
game system is required to have one display screen on a
player-by-player basis. Moreover, two players will play the game
while watching on their respective step-position guide images,
which makes it difficult to foment a sense of unity between
them.
[0006] The sheet-like foot switch unit involves problems about poor
durability due to loads from player's jumping and stepping
movements thereon, and cumbersome operations for paving and
storage.
[0007] Further, in the conventional game system, a calorie
consumption is determined based on inputs to be achieved only when
a player actually steps on a step-detection switch incorporated in
the foot switch unit, without acquiring other player's movements,
such as steps out of the step-detection switch, and movements of
hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the above problems, it is an object of the
present invention to provide a movement-information processing
system capable of displaying a guide image for instructing a
plurality of players to perform various body movements without
relation to the number of players so as to offer the guide image
with enhanced visibility, and detecting player's movements using a
simplified terminal unit.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
terminal unit effectively usable in the movement-information
processing system.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a battery charger effectively usable for the terminal unit.
[0011] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides
a movement-information processing system which comprises a control
unit including image display control means adapted to allow a guide
image for instructing a plurality of players to perform a physical
training consisting of plural types of body movements in a
time-series manner, to be displayed on a presentation unit, and a
plurality of terminal units prepared corresponding to the number of
players capable of entry into the physical training. Each of the
terminal units includes a movement detection device operable, when
the terminal unit is worn on a body of either one of the players,
to detect body movements of the player, and a terminal-side
communication section for transmitting a detection signal
representing the body movements detected by the movement detection
device to the control unit. The control unit includes a
control-side communication section for receiving the detection
signal from the terminal-side communication section of the terminal
unit, exercise evaluation means for evaluating an exercise quality
of the player wearing the terminal unit, based on the received
detection signal and a content of the guide image, and announcement
means for announcing the evaluation result of the exercise quality
through an announcement section.
[0012] In the movement-information processing system of the present
invention, the control unit allows the guide image for instructing
the players to perform plural types of body movements to be
displayed on the presentation unit. Each of the players wears the
terminal unit on his/her body, and performs a given body movement
in conformity to a content of movement instruction represented by
the guide image. Then, the body movement of the player is detected
by the movement detection device of the terminal unit, and an
obtained detection signal is transmitted to the control unit
through the terminal-side communication section. After the
detection signal from the terminal-side communication section of
the terminal unit is received by the control unit through the
control-side communication section, the exercise evaluation means
evaluates an exercise quality of (the player wearing) the terminal
unit based on the received detection signal, and the announcement
means announces the evaluation result of the exercise quality
through the announcement section. This makes it possible to display
the guide image for instructing the players to perform various body
movements without relation to the number of players so as to offer
the guide image with enhanced visibility. For example, the terminal
unit is formed in a configuration similar to a waistband (band-like
configuration) and adapted to be wrapped around the player.
Alternatively or additionally, the terminal unit may be designed to
be worn on both arms or both legs of the player.
[0013] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon reading the
following detailed description along with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic downward perspective view showing an
interior of a training gym which employs a movement-information
processing system according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an external view showing a terminal unit of the
movement-information processing system in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an external view showing a battery recharging
station of the movement-information processing system in FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing another
example of the terminal unit.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the
terminal unit in FIG. 4 during a battery recharging operation.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of
a control unit of the movement-information processing system in
FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a movement
detection device of the terminal unit in FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a CPU of the
control unit in FIG. 6.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of a
screen image to be displayed on a projection screen during a
physical training in the movement-information processing system in
FIG. 1.
[0023] FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C are explanatory views showing a
relationship between an input timing of a detection signal and a
timing of overlapping between a reference mark RM and a
corresponding sequence mark SM, wherein: FIG. 10A is a timing chart
showing the timing of overlapping between the reference mark RM and
the corresponding sequence mark SM; FIG. 10B is a timing chart
showing the detection signal and a calorie-consumption calculation
range; and FIG. 10C is a timing chart showing the detection signal
and a valid time range for an evaluation on player's response.
[0024] FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are fragmentary explanatory view
showing individual display regions PA displayed in a portion of the
projection screen to inform the timing of body movements and an
evaluation result of the timing, wherein FIG. 11A shows a normal
display mode; FIG. 11B shows a pulsation-based motivational display
mode; and FIG. 11C shows a special motivational display mode.
[0025] FIG. 12 is an explanatory flowchart showing a control
process based on the CPU of the control unit in FIG. 6.
[0026] FIG. 13 is an explanatory flowchart showing a control
process based on the CPU of the control unit in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic downward perspective view showing an
interior of a training gym which employs a movement-information
processing system according to one embodiment of the present
invention. Specifically, one room of the training gym is renovated
as a training room using the movement-information processing system
according to this embodiment.
[0028] In FIG. 1, a plurality (e.g. twenty four) of mats 10
corresponding to the number of players capable of performing a
physical training at a time are paved on a floor of an
approximately rectangular parallelepiped-shaped training room 1
with a given distance therebetween. Each of the players may have a
physical training on either one of the mat 10. Preferably, each of
the mats 11 is prepared by laminating a plurality of resin sheet
members to have a given thickness, and formed in an approximately
square shape. The mat 10 has a top surface with a central region
and four stepping regions located, respectively, on front, rear,
right and left sides of the central region. Each of the stepping
regions has an arrow mark indicating a stepping direction from the
central region. In this embodiment, each of the arrow marks on the
mat 10 is a dummy mark. That is, even if the player steps on the
arrow marks in conformity to a guide image displayed on an
after-mentioned projection screen 20, an exercise quality of the
player is evaluated without relation thereto.
[0029] A projection screen 20 having a given size, e.g. about
100.times.100 inch, and serving as a presentation unit, is disposed
vertically on a front wall of the training room 1 to face rearward,
and a projector 21, such as liquid-crystal type, for projecting an
image onto the projection screen 20 is disposed on a rearward side
of an upper portion (ceiling) of the training room 1. The
respective players look at a guide image (see FIG. 9) which is
displayed on the projection screen 20 to instruct the players to
perform a physical training in a time-series manner, and move their
bodies on the mat 1 in conformity to an instruction of the guide
image. A pair of audio-output speakers 22 are disposed,
respectively, on right and left sides of an upper portion of the
training room 1.
[0030] The projector 21 may be a conventional type which comprises:
a white light source; an optical filter for spectrally dividing
white light into a plurality of lights different in color, e.g.
red, blue and green; a plurality of liquid-crystal panels each
disposed on a downstream side of the optical filter and on an light
path of a corresponding one of the colors and supplied with an
image signal of the corresponding color; a dichroic mirror for
combining the respective color light images transmitted through the
liquid-crystal panels; and a projecting optical lens system.
[0031] In this embodiment, a control unit 30 is disposed at an
appropriate position, e.g. on a left side of the training room 1,
to control an operation of the movement-information processing
system. However, it is not essential to arrange the control unit 30
within the training room 1. At least one (in this embodiment, two)
transceiver 40 is disposed adjacent to the control unit 30. The
transceiver 40 is operable to receive respective radio signals from
a plurality of terminal units 50 each including a belt-like portion
which is formed in a configuration similar to a conventional
waistbelt and adapted to be wrapped around a waist of the player so
as to allow the terminal unit 50 to be worn on the player. A
battery recharging station 60 is disposed at an appropriate
position in the training room 1, preferably, in the vicinity of a
doorway of the training room 1, to serve as both a battery
recharging unit and a storage unit for the terminal units. The
battery recharging station 60 is designed to store the terminal
units 50 in a maximum number equal to the number of the mats 10 in
such a manner that they are hung down thereon. Thus, a player who
intends to enter into the training can recognize at a glance
whether he/she is allowed to enter into the physical training,
i.e., an available mat remains. That is, if there is at least one
terminal unit 50 hung down on the battery recharging station 60,
the player can immediately recognize that the entry is allowed.
[0032] As to signal receiving, the transceiver 40 may have, but
depending on the number of terminal units 50, only a conventional
function. Further, with a view to reliably determining from which
of the terminal units 50 each of the received signals is
transmitted, each of the terminal units 50 may be designed to
transmit a signal coded in a different manner from each other or to
transmit a signal on a carrier different in frequency from each
other. In a bidirectional communication, it may be designed such
that each of the terminal units 50 transmits a signal in response
to a transmission request sequentially issued from the transceiver
40, so as to substantially avoid a cross talk. Alternatively,
instead of using carriers different in frequency, the terminal
units 50 may be designed to simultaneously transmit signals each
additionally having individual identification information in the
same frequency band, and the transceiver 40 may be designed to
receive all of the signals and then determine whether each of the
received signals has predetermined valid identification
information, to extract only valid signals therefrom. In this
embodiment, the pair of transceivers 40 are provided, and one-half
of the terminal units 50 are designed to communicate in a different
manner from that of the remaining terminal units 50 so as to
further effectively prevent a cross talk.
[0033] FIG. 2 is an external view showing the terminal unit, and
FIG. 3 is an external view showing the battery recharging station.
The terminal unit 50 comprises a belt-like portion 51 made of a
stretchable elastic material and formed to have a given width and a
length allowing the belt-like portion 51 to be wrapped around a
waist of the player with an adequate pressure, and a buckle portion
52 connected to a first end of the belt-like portion 51 and adapted
to allow a second, opposite, end of the belt-like portion 51 to be
engagingly inserted thereinto in a disengageable manner. A movement
detection device 53 is mounted in the buckle portion 52. The
movement detection device 53 includes a sensor section composed,
for example, of an acceleration sensor which is made up of a
piezoelectric element and others and disposed to be oriented in a
direction for detecting one-axis acceleration component, such as a
vertical acceleration, when the belt-like portion 51, i.e., the
terminal unit 50, is worn on a waist of the player. In this case,
the movement detection device 53 is operable, in response to
occurrence of an acceleration, to generate a certain level of axial
voltage component corresponding to the acceleration. Further, any
other suitable acceleration sensor capable of detecting at least an
acceleration in a vertical axis among accelerations in vertical,
longitudinal and lateral directions, i.e. capable of detecting
two-axis or three-axis acceleration components, may be used as the
movement detection device 53. Alternatively, the sensor section of
the movement detection device 53 may have a structure, such as a
sensor section of a conventional pedometer, which comprises: a
metal mass body contained in a housing; a passage for allowing the
mass body to be freely moved therealong, for example, in a vertical
direction; and a pair of detection electrodes disposed at an upper
end of the passage and adapted to come into contact with the mass
body which is moved along the passage due to a change in inertia
force thereof caused by a gravity acceleration changed in
conjunction with player's movement, so as to have an electrical
conduction therebetween to allow the movement to be detected.
Further, the buckle portion 52 includes an after-mentioned
recharging connector within a slot for receiving therein the second
end of the belt-like portion 51.
[0034] Further, the movement detection device 53 internally has:
various functional sections for activating the sensor section,
converting a detection result of the sensor section into electrical
data, subjecting the electrical data to a given processing, and
converting the processed data into a radio signal and finally
transmitting the radio signal to the transceiver 40; and a built-in
rechargeable battery for supplying an electrical power to the
sensor section and the functional sections (see FIG. 7). A
plurality of light-emitting elements 54, such as LEDs, are arranged
on a front surface of the buckle portion 52 at appropriate
positions thereof. These light-emitting elements 54 are designed
such that the number of light-emitting elements to be turned on is
changed, or a different one of the light-emitting elements is
turned on, depending on a voltage level of the built-in battery.
This allows the player to visually check a remaining capacity of
the built-in battery.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, the battery recharging station 60
comprises a base member 61, a support member 62 extending upward
from the base member 61, and an elongated engagement member 63
which has a longitudinally central region fixed to an upper end of
the support member 62 and extends in a horizontal direction. The
engagement member 63 is provided with a given number (in this
embodiment, twenty four) of connector catching members 64 arranged
side-by-side in the longitudinal direction thereof. Each of the
connector catching members 64 is adapted to allow the recharging
connector of the buckle portion 52 after released from the
engagement with the second end of the belt-like portion 51 to be
detachably connected thereto. The terminal unit 50 connected to the
connector catching member 64 is hung downward from the connector
catching member 64. FIG. 3 shows a state when no terminal unit 50
is engaged with a leftmost one of the connector catching members
64. As seen in FIG. 3, the connector catching member 64 is provided
with a plurality (in this embodiment, three) of wedge-shaped
protruded pieces having a configuration conformable to that of the
slot for receiving therein the second end of the belt-like portion
51. For example, a central one of the protruded pieces is formed
with positive and negative electrodes adapted to allow the central
protruded piece to be electrically connected to the built-in
battery of the terminal unit therethrough.
[0036] The battery recharging station 60 internally has a recharge
control circuit disposed at an appropriate position thereof and
adapted to convert an electrical power from a commercial power
source (not shown) to a DC power and recharge the built-in battery
of the terminal unit 50 through the connector catching member 64. A
conventional AC-DC converter-type recharge control circuit may be
used as the recharge control circuit. The recharge control circuit
may be designed to automatically initiate a recharging operation in
response to detection of lowering in voltage between the positive
and negative electrodes of the connector catching member 64
connected to the terminal unit 50 or may be designed to initiate
the recharging operation in response to an instruction to be
manually given thereto.
[0037] An application for an entry into the physical training may
be performed by generating a detection signal by the movement
detection device 53 of a selected one of the terminal units 50
based on a movement to be caused when a player detaches the
selected terminal unit 50 from the battery recharging station 60 or
when a player subsequently wears the selected terminal unit 50 on
his/her waist, and transmitting the detection signal from the
selected terminal unit 50 to the control unit 30. Preferably, the
application is performed by detecting a fact that a player wears a
selected one of the terminal units 50 on his/her waist (i.e., a
fact that the second end of the belt-like portion 51 is inserted
into the buckle portion 52) by another detection device provided in
each of the terminal units 50, and transmitting an entry signal
from the selected terminal unit 50 to the control unit 30 together
with identification information uniquely given to each of the
terminal units 50. Alternatively, an entry button may be
additionally provided in each of the terminal units 50. In this
case, the application may be performed simply by pushing the entry
button of a selected one of the terminal units 50, and transmitting
an entry signal from the selected terminal unit 50 to the control
unit 30 together with identification information uniquely given to
each of the terminal units 50.
[0038] The battery recharging station 60 is designed such that the
engagement member 63 is located at a given height, i.e., the
support member has a given length, greater than at least the entire
length of the terminal unit 50, so as to prevent an lower end of
the terminal unit 50 being hung down on the battery recharging
station 60 from coming into contact with the floor. As above, the
battery recharging station 60 serves as both the batter recharging
unit and a storage rack for the terminal units 50.
[0039] Further, the battery recharging station 60 is designed to
hang the terminal units 50 downward from the elongated engagement
member 63. This makes it easy to visually check a remaining number
of the terminal units 50, and allows a player who intends to entry
the physical training to recognize at a glance whether he/she is
allowed to enter into the physical training. That is, if there is
at least one terminal unit 50 hung down on the battery recharging
station 60, the player can immediately recognize that the entry is
allowed.
[0040] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing another
example of the terminal unit, and FIG. 5 is a fragmentary
perspective view showing the terminal unit in FIG. 4 during a
battery recharging operation. As shown in FIG. 4, this terminal
unit 500 has a configuration similar to a conventional waistbelt,
as with the terminal unit 50 illustrated in FIG. 2. Specifically,
the terminal unit 500 comprises: a belt body 501 having a given
width and a given length; a first surface fastener 502 formed to
have a given length and attached on a front surface of the belt
body 501, for example, with an adhesive; a belt pad 503 having a
front surface attached to a rear surface of the belt body 501, for
example, with an adhesive; and a second surface fastener 505 formed
to have a given length and attached on a rear surface of the belt
pad 503, for example, with an adhesive. When the terminal unit 500
is worn on a waist of the player, the first surface fastener 503 is
brought into engagement with the second surface fastener 504 at an
appropriate position allowing the belt body 501 to come into close
contact with the waist.
[0041] The belt body 501 includes a first tubular member 505
attached to a first end thereof to extend over the entire width
thereof, an approximately quadrilateral-shaped ring member 506
having one edge inserted through the tubular member 505, and a
second tubular member 507 through which an opposite edge of the
ring member 506 is inserted. The first tubular member 505, the ring
member 506 and the second tubular member 507 make up a buckle
portion. Further, a given number (in this example, six) of
retainers 508 are planted on a region of the front surface of the
belt body 501 on the side of the first end thereof.
[0042] In this example, a movement detection device 510 includes a
housing which has a width approximately equal to that of the belt
body 501 and a rear surface curved at a given curvature conformable
to a human waist. This makes it possible to prevent an unnecessary
movement during wearing of the terminal unit 500 so as to suppress
the occurrence of noise.
[0043] The rear surface of the housing of the movement detection
device 510 is provided with a given number (in this example, six)
of insertion members (although not located in view in FIG. 4) each
adapted to be fitted into a corresponding one of the retainers 508
in a semi-fixed manner. Each pair of the insertion member and the
retainer 508 have a relationship of male and female members. That
is, they are semi-fixed together through a press-fitting operation,
and can be detached from each other by a certain level of strong
force, for example, during replacement due to damage of the belt
body 501 or maintenance of a sensor in the movement detection
device 510. A number sticker 520 marked with identification
information (in this example, a serial number) of the terminal unit
5 is attached on the front surface of the housing of the movement
detection device 510 in such a manner as to allow the player to
visibly check the identification information. Further, a resin
cover film 521 having a given decorative pattern is attached on the
front surface of the housing of the movement detection device 510
except for at least a region of the number sticker 520.
[0044] The movement detection device 510 has the same function as
that of the movement detection device 53 of the terminal unit 50
illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the housing of the
movement detection device 510 is formed with a plug hole 511 at an
appropriate position thereof to recharge a built-in battery. In a
battery recharging operation, a plug 640 electrically connected to
a recharging-current output terminal of a recharge control circuit
is inserted into the plug hole 511 to electrically connect between
the recharge control circuit and the built-in battery in a
rechargeable manner. A conventional configuration may be employed
to establish an electrical conduction between of the plug hole 511
and the plug 640. For example, the plug 640 may have an edge with a
pair of first electrodes coaxially arranged through an insulating
material, and the plug hole 511 may have an inner peripheral
surface provided with a pair of second electrodes each adapted to
come into contact with a corresponding one of the first electrodes
at a different position in a depth direction. The plug 640 includes
a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed at appropriate
positions in a visible manner and adapted to be turned on so as to
distinguish between incompletion and completion of the recharging
operation. For example, one (e.g. red light-emitting element) of
the light-emitting elements may be turned on using a part of the
recharging current, and, in response to completion of the
recharging operation, another light-emitting element (e.g. green
light-emitting element) may be turned on using a power from a power
source. In this example, the recharging operation can be performed
after the movement detection device 510 is detached from the belt
body 501. Thus, the battery recharging station as shown in FIG. 3
can be reduced in size to facilitate space saving.
[0045] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of
the control unit. A CPU 31 is provided as a means to
comprehensively control an operation of the movement-information
processing system. The CPU 21 is connected to a ROM 32 pre-storing
a given program, required image information and various data
required for processing, and a RAM 33 for temporarily storing
processing data, via a bus. As the image data, the ROM 32
pre-stores a plurality of guide images (including a demonstration
image) to be switchingly displayed along with a progress of the
training so as to form a training image as shown in FIG. 9. The
guide images to be displayed during the training include a
reference mark and a sequence mark. The ROM 32 also pre-stores
image information about a plurality of individual display regions
for displaying personal information in a portion of the screen
image to serve as personal data fields of (respective players
wearing) the terminal units, the identification information of the
respective terminal unit 50 corresponding to the
personal-information display regions, and an image element for a
special motivational display mode. Further, ROM 32 pre-stores music
information about plural pieces of music. The music information
includes association information, such as information about
relationship between the music pieces and the guide images, and
timing information for displaying the guide images along with a
progress of the music pieces. This makes it possible to output each
of the guide images and a corresponding one of the music pieces in
a synchronized manner. The ROM 32 pre-stores a program for
evaluating a timing of player's body movement relative to each of
the guide images (i.e., player's response to each of the guide
images), and a program for calculating an amount of exercise, such
as an amount of consumed calories (i.e., calorie consumption),
based on player's body movements. Instead of or in addition to the
music information, voice information may be pre-stored in the ROM
32, and output in the same manner as the music pieces.
[0046] An imaging processing section 34 is operable, in response to
an imaging command issued by the CPU 31, to read requited image
data from the ROM 32 so as to perform an imaging processing to a
display area of the RAM 33, and repeatedly send an output to the
projector 21 in a high-speed cycle (e.g. 1/60 sec). In this
embodiment, the contents of the guide images consist time-series
instructions about positions of the upper, lower, right and left
regions on the mat 10 to be stepped on by player's foot (to be
stepped on in a given order and at given intervals so as to achieve
simulated body movements equivalent to walking, running and
jumping).
[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, the guide images GG are displayed in a
major area (in this embodiment, displayed as a common display
region in an approximately central area) of the projection screen
20. The guide images GG include four stationary reference marks RM
(RMI, RMb, RMf, RMr) displayed on an upper region of the projection
screen 20 to indicate, respectively, leftward, rearward, frontward
and rightward directions, and a plurality of sequence marks SM. One
or more of the sequence marks SM are displayed below a
corresponding one of the reference marks RM, and moved upward from
a lower end of the projection screen 20 at a given scroll speed. At
a timing of overlapping between a certain one of the reference
marks RM and the corresponding sequence mark SM, each of the
players steps on one of the regions of the mat 10 corresponding to
the certain reference mark RM. A plurality (in this embodiment,
twenty four) of individual display regions are displayed on right
and left areas of the projection screen 20. Each of individual
display regions comprises an image representing the identification
information (in this embodiment, either one of numbers 01 to 24)
and a frame image. Further, an elapsed time (time) from the
initiation of the training, and a remaining time (rest time) are
displayed, respectively, on a lower left area and a lower right
area.
[0048] Returning to FIG. 6, an audio processing section 35 is
operable to transfer ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code
Modulation) data of the music piece read from the ROM 32, to a work
area of the RAM 33, and read out the ADPCM data stored in the work
area as a sound source using a clock signal with a frequency, for
example, of 44.1 KHz. The audio processing section 32 is operable
to subject the ADPCM data read from the work area to various
processings, such as pitch conversion, noise addition, envelope
setting, level setting and reverb addition, and then output the
processed music pieces from the speakers 22.
[0049] Data of the music pieces and the guide images may be loaded
from an external memory through a driver (not shown). In this case,
the external memory may be a DVD, a CD-ROM, a hard disk, an optical
disk, a flexible disk and a semiconductor memory. In one embodiment
where image data, audio data and/or program data are read from an
external memory through a driver, the read data is loaded into the
RAM through a decoder (not shown), or into the audio processing
section 35. Along with a progress of the music pieces, the guide
images associated with respective playing times of the music pieces
in advance are sequentially output from the projector 21 in
synchronization with the playing times.
[0050] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional sections of
the movement detection device. The movement detection device in
FIG. 7 is used in both the terminal units illustrated in FIGS. 2
and 4. The movement detection device 53 comprises: a sensor section
531 adapted to sense body movements of a player wearing the
terminal unit; a movement detection processing section 532 adapted
to subject a sensed signal from the sensor section 531 to waveform
shaping, and compare the waveform-shaped signal with a given
threshold so as to form a detection signal based on a signal
component equal to or greater than the threshold; a communication
processing section 533 adapted to superimpose an identification
signal for identifying the terminal unit of the player, on the
detection signal, and transmit the superimposed signal to the
transceiver 40 in a cycle (e.g. one more tenth of a second); and a
battery for supplying an electric power for respective operations
of the functional sections. In one embodiment where the detection
signal is formed to allow types of player's body movements to be
distinguished from each other, the communication processing section
533 (the movement detection processing section 532) will be
designed to form a code signal representing each type of body
movement as the detection signal. Further, in one embodiment where
the detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 30 in
parallel with detection of body movement, irrespective of whether
the detection signal can distinguish between types of player's body
movements, the communication processing section 533 is not
particularly required to transmit temporal information representing
a detection timing.
[0051] The storage section 535 is provided, where necessary, as a
memory for storing the detection signal and the temporal
information. In this embodiment, the time-series guide images are
displayed to instruct the players to perform various body movements
in a given cycle. Thus, for example, a plurality of detection
signals in a plurality (e.g. two or three) of time periods each
between the initiation of one body movement instruction and the
initiation of the next body movement instruction (this time period
will hereinafter be refereed to as "unit sequence period") may be
stored in the storage section 535 together with temporal
information representing each of the unit sequence periods and a
detection timing of each of the detection signals within the unit
sequence period, and then the detection signals and the temporal
information may be collectively transmitted to the control unit 30
at given time intervals.
[0052] According to need, a remaining capacity of the battery 530
is checked, and the result is informed using the light-emitting
elements 54.
[0053] FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the CPU 31 of
the control unit 30. In FIG. 8, a training progress control section
311 serves as a means to control a progress of the training based
on a program stored in the ROM 32.
[0054] An image display control section 312 serves as a means to
send a given image signal to the projector 21 through the imaging
processing section 34 so as to allow the projector to project an
image onto the projection screen 20. The image to be displayed
includes an entry image (not shown), the training image illustrated
in FIG. 8, and a training-termination image (not shown). The entry
image is used for displaying the contents of the training, and an
entry status representing how many players will enter the training.
While this embodiment employs the projection screen 20 as a
presentation unit, any other suitable type of presentation unit
capable of displaying an image, such as a television monitor, may
be employed.
[0055] The image display control section 312 is designed to change
a display mode, such as brightness or color, of the individual
display region PA corresponding to an entry-authorized terminal
unit 50, so as to allow a player to visually check the
authorization of entry.
[0056] As mentioned above, the training image illustrated in FIG. 9
includes the four reference marks RMI, RMb, RMf, RMr displayed on
the upper region of the projection screen 20 from a left side in
this order, and the plurality of sequence marks SM one or more of
which are displayed below a corresponding one of the reference
marks RM and moved upward from the lower end of the projection
screen 20 at a given scroll speed. This scroll display is achieved
by shifting a position of each of the sequence marks SM in an
upward direction stepwise by a given address during an operation of
rewriting an image to be formed in the display area of the RAM 33,
at given time intervals. The timing of displaying each of the
sequence marks SM at the lower end of the projection is calculated
back on the basis of the timing of overlapping with the
corresponding reference mark RM and in consideration of the scroll
speed.
[0057] In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, a body movement to be
designated next is to simultaneously step on the right and left
stepping regions of the mat 10, i.e., a jumping, and a body
movement to be subsequently designated is to simultaneously step on
the front and rear stepping regions of the mat 10, i.e., a jumping.
A body movement to be further subsequently designated is to step on
the left stepping region of the mat 10. For example, in this
embodiment, a walking movement is simulated by continuously
stepping on the rear (or front) stepping region, one of the right
and left stepping regions and the front (or rear) stepping region
in this order. A running movement is simulated by continuously
stepping on the rear (or front) stepping region, and the front (or
rear) stepping region in this order, and a jumping movement is
simulated by simultaneously stepping on two of the different
stepping regions. When the movement detection section 53 is not
designed to distinguish between the types of body movements, the
type of body movement may be distinguished by a processing of
associating a detection signal with a corresponding one of the
contents of the guide images, because the detection signal is
obtained as the result of a player's body movement in response to a
specific one of the contents of the guide images.
[0058] Further, the image display control section 312 is operable
to additionally display an instructor image IG prepared as a
background image, on the projection screen 20 in the form of a
moving image. The movement, particularly leg's movement, of the
instructor image IG is pre-set to correspond to the guide images.
The instructor image IG is operable, in synchronization with the
timing of overlapping between the reference mark RM and the
corresponding sequence mark SM, or at a given timing irrespective
of the overlapping timing, to instruct the players to perform a
body movement other than the leg's movements, such as arm's
movement, specifically, a movement of stretching player's arms
outward or upward, so as to allow the physical training to be a
more worthwhile training including upper-body movements in addition
to lower-body movements. In this embodiment, the arm's movements
are not particularly detected, and a given amount of calories to be
consumed by the arm's movements is preset.
[0059] Returning to FIG. 8, a communication processing section 313
serves as a means to cyclically load the detection signal from the
sensor section 531 of each of the terminal units 50 through the
transceiver 40 while identifying each of the terminal units 50. A
music-piece determination section 314 serves as a means to select
one of the music pieces stored in the ROM 32 in association with
one of the time-series guide images. In one embodiment where each
of the music pieces is manually selected by a manual operation
section (not shown), the music-piece determination section 314 may
be designed to perform a replay processing for outputting a
selected/entered music piece. An electronic-key-input
discrimination section 315 serves as a means to discriminate the
identification information in each of the detection signals
transmitted from the terminal units 50, so as to allow the
identification information to be used in a processing during entry
and in various other processings, for example, of evaluating
player's response and calculating a calorie consumption while
associating the detection signals with the corresponding terminal
units 50, during the training. An entry-number detection section
316 serves as a means to detect whether the number of the received
identification information of the terminal units reaches a given
value (in this embodiment, twenty four). As a target number of
players who enter into the training, the entry-number detection
section 316 may be designed to detect the total number of the
terminal units 50, or one-half (in this embodiment, twelve) of the
terminal units 50, or a given elapsed time from a time of the first
entry, or a given elapsed time from a training start time when the
training start time is pre-determined. An audio output control
section 317 serves as a means to instruct the audio processing
section 35 to transfer ADPCM data of the selected music piece to
the work area of the RAM 33 and output the ADPCM data to the
speaker 22 as time advances.
[0060] A demonstration processing section 318 serves as a means to
allow the entry-authorized players to take a preliminary practice
about the body movements in response to the guide images before
initiation of the training. A sensor input detection section 319
serves as a means to determine whether a detection signal from each
of the terminal units 50 in response to each of the guide images
(i.e., within each of the unit sequence periods) is present or
absent. A noise removal processing section 320 serves as a means to
remove a detection signal entered in a time period out of a given
time range above or below the timing of overlapping between the
reference mark RM and the corresponding sequence mark SM (this time
range will hereinafter be referred to as "valid time range", as
noise. In this embodiment, the noise removal processing section 320
is designed to remove such noise only for an evaluation on player's
response.
[0061] A timing evaluation section 321 serves as a means to
evaluate the player's response based on a deviation time, i.e., a
time deviating from the timing of overlapping between the reference
mark RM and the corresponding sequence mark SM within the valid
time range. The player's response is evaluated as "cool", "normal"
and "bad" in ascending order of the deviation time, and compiled
and displayed on player-by-player basis, for example, on the
projection screen after completion of the training.
[0062] FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C are explanatory views showing a
relationship between an input timing of the detection signal and
the timing of overlapping between the reference mark RM and the
corresponding sequence mark SM, based on a time axis advances
upward. FIG. 10A is a timing chart showing the timing of
overlapping between the reference mark RM and the corresponding
sequence mark SM, and FIG. 10B is a timing chart showing the
detection signal and a calorie-consumption calculation range. FIG.
10C is a timing chart showing the detection signal and the valid
time range for the player's response evaluation. In FIG. 10A, the
timing of overlapping between the reference mark RM and the
corresponding sequence mark SM is set at Times Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, Te
with a cycle .tau. in a direction of the time axis. As shown in
FIG. 10B, the calculation range r for calorie consumption is set,
for example, within .+-..tau./2 relative to each of Times Ta, Tb,
Tc, Td, Te. Further, as shown in FIG. 10C, the valid time range for
the player's response evaluation is set, for example, within
.+-..tau./3 relative to each of Times Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, Te. If a
detection signal Ia entered as a body movement of a certain one of
the players is approximately matched with an instruction of the
body movement at Time Ta, this detection signal Ia will be used for
the cumulative calculation of calorie consumption, and the use's
response will be evaluated as "cool". While a detection signal Ib
entered in a time period between the time .tau./3 and the time
.tau./2 relative to an instruction of the body movement at Time Tb
is excluded from the player's response evaluation, it is used for
the cumulative calculation of calorie consumption. If both
detection signals Ic1, Ic2 are entered in a time period within
.+-..tau./3 relative to an instruction of the body movement at Time
Tc, only a first one of the detection signals is used in the
player's response evaluation but the remaining detection signal is
not used in the player's response evaluation. Further, both the
detection signals Ic1, Ic2 are used for the cumulative calculation
of calorie consumption. If only a first one of two or more
detection signals is in a time period within .+-..tau./2 relative
to an instruction of the body movement at Time Td or Te, the
remaining detection signals are not used in the player's response
evaluation. In this manner, the calculation of calorie consumption
is performed using all detection signals generated based on
player's body movements, and the player's response is evaluated
based on more severe criterion. An after-mentioned reference
calorie value may be changed depending on a level of the deviation
time, for example, may be changed to become smaller as the
deviation time is increased.
[0063] When the player's response is evaluated as "cool", an image
of the individual display region PA for the corresponding terminal
unit 50 is displayed in a special motivational display mode which
is recognizable by the player, for example, by changing a color of
the image or by flashing the individual display region. This allows
the player to recognize that his/her movement timing is
accurate.
[0064] FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are fragmentary explanatory view
showing the individual display regions PA displayed in a portion of
the projection screen to inform the timing of body movements and an
evaluation result of the timing. At the timing of overlapping
between the reference mark RM and the corresponding sequence mark
SM, a normal display mode in FIG. 11A is changed to a pulsation
motivational display mode of increasing brightness of the images
only for just a moment and enlarging and slightly displacing the
display position, as shown in FIG. 11B. This allows the players to
know the movement timing in an additional way other than that of
looking at the sequence marks SM. Alternatively, the images of the
individual display regions PA illustrated in FIG. 11A may be
displayed in reduced brightness. When some of the individual
display regions PA (in this example, the individual display regions
PA having the identification numbers "3", "10", "11") are displayed
in the aforementioned special motivational display mode to inform
the evaluation "cool", as shown in FIG. 11C.
[0065] Returning to FIG. 8, a calorie consumption calculation
section 322 serves as a means to pre-store a reference calorie
value to be consumed depending on the types of body movements
designated by the guide images, and accumulate a calorie
consumption depending on whether a detection signal for each of the
guide images is present or absent (add the reference calorie value
depending on the types of body movements to the
previously-calculated calorie consumption). When a plurality of
detection signals are included in the calculation time range (in
the example illustrated in FIG. 10, .+-..tau./3), all of the
detection signals are used for the cumulative calculation of
calorie consumption on the assumption that a plurality of body
movements have been actually performed. A non-input count
processing section 323 serves as a means to estimate arm's movement
to be performed in advance depending on the types of leg's
movements, and add a calorie consumption to a value of the calorie
consumption calculation section 322.
[0066] A training result evaluation section 324 serves as a means
to accumulate the timing evaluation results of each of the players
wearing the corresponding terminal units 50, for example, in the
form of a point or the number of the evaluations "cool", "normal",
"bad", and display the accumulated result as the
training-termination image on the projection screen 20 in the form
of a list, or display the accumulated total calorie consumption in
the form of a list, such that "the identification number 01: 100
kcal", "the identification number 02: 105 kcal", ----.
[0067] The control unit 30 is connected to a printer 70. A
printing-out control section 325 serves as a means to print out at
least the total calorie consumption of each of the terminal units
50, i.e., the players in association with the identification
information of the terminal unit 50. The printing-out control
section 325 is operable, when the training is completed, to
automatically print out the total calorie consumption of each of
the entry-authorized terminal units 50 to a separate recording
sheet. Each of the players can obtain the recording sheet having
the identification information of the terminal unit 50 which has
been used by the player, and keep it as a record. While some of the
players are likely to be unable to check the evaluation of total
calorie consumption during the training due to concentration only
on physical movements, such players can obtain the recording sheet
and check the evaluation result in a relaxed manner after the
training. A timer 326 serves as a means to perform a time-of-day
control and a time management.
[0068] FIGS. 12 and 13 are an explanatory flowchart showing a
control process based on the CPU 31 of the control unit 30. In
response to power-on, a personal computer is set in a standby
state, and the training progress control section 311 determines
whether a studio start time, i.e., a training stat time, comes
(Step S1). If the studio start time has come, the image display
control section 312 displays on the projection screen 20 an
announcement to the effect that an acceptance of the identification
information (electronic keys) from the terminal units 50 is
initiated (Step S3). At this timing, the processing of selecting
one of the music pieces is performed (Step S5). Then, it is
determined whether an input of the identification information is
present or absent (Step S7). If no identification information has
been input (NO in Step S7) and an entry number has not reach a
predetermined value (NO in Step S9), it is determined whether a
predetermined entry time period has elapsed (Step S11). If the
entry time period has not elapsed, the process returns to Step S7.
When the entry number reaches the predetermined value, a basic
stepping image (demonstration image) for a preliminary practice
before the training is displayed on the projection screen 20 for
the remaining entry time period (Step S13). If the timing
evaluation section 321 determines that respective detection signals
of all of the entry-authorized terminal units 50 adequately respond
to the basic stepping image (Step S15), the preliminary practice
will be terminated even in the remaining entry time period to enter
into an actual training.
[0069] In Step 17, a replay of the music piece is initiated, and
the guide image GG corresponding to the respective music piece is
displayed in synchronization with the music piece to initiate a
sequential instruction in conjunction with appearance of an initial
sequence mark SM on the projection screen 20 (Step S19). Then, it
is determined whether the music piece has been terminated (Step
S21). If the music piece has not been terminated, it is determined
whether the non-input count has been set (Step S23). If the
non-input count has been set, a virtual calorie consumption is
calculated, i.e., a virtual reference calorie consumption is added
to the previously-calculated calorie consumption (Step S25).
[0070] Then, it is determined whether an input of detection signals
from the terminal units is present or absent (Step S27). If the
detection signals are input, the noise removal processing is
performed, and the player's response and the calculated calorie
consumption are evaluated (Step S29). Respective results of
evaluations consisting of the evaluation on player's response and
the calculation on calorie consumption are written in a storage
area associated with the identification information of the
corresponding terminal unit as a movement record. Further, the
respective results of the evaluations consisting of the evaluation
on player's response and the calculation on calorie consumption in
each of the unit sequence periods are displayed on the projection
screen 20 in association with the above identification information
(Step S31). The result of the evaluation on player's response is
displayed in the individual display region PA in the special
motivational display mode, as described above.
[0071] If the music piece has been terminated in Step S21, a
comprehensive evaluation for the music piece is displayed on the
projection screen 20, and data of the evaluation result is
transferred to a printing buffer or the like (Step S33) to print
out it. In this embodiment, the players are changed to new players
every time one music piece is terminated. Thus, information about
the exercise stored in the time period of the music piece is
cleared from the storage area every time one music piece is
terminated (Step S35).
[0072] Then, it is determined whether all of the music pieces have
been terminated (Step S37). If all of the music pieces have not
been terminated, the process returns to Step S3, and the above
steps will be repeated. When all of the music pieces have been
terminated, an image representing the termination of the training
is displayed on the projection screen 20 (Step S39).
[0073] The above embodiment of the present invention may be
modified as follows.
[0074] (1) The movement-information processing system according to
the above embodiment may be applied to games as well as physical
training. Further, the system is suitable for a rehabilitation
exercise and training for care receivers, and usable in
rehabilitation facilities and nursing-care facilities. Furthermore,
the system may be applied to games for children and infants.
[0075] (2) The control unit 30 may be designed to transmit a start
signal for informing the terminal units 50 of a training start
timing. In this case, each of the terminal units 50 may be designed
to perform a timing management based on the unit sequence period
and transmit a combination of a detection signal and information
about the timing of generating the detection signal to the control
unit, in response to receiving the start signal. This makes it
possible to achieve the aforementioned function of temporarily
storing detection signals over the plurality of unit sequence
periods in the storage section 535 and then collectively
transmitting the detection signals to the control unit 30.
[0076] (3) The communication between the terminal unit 50 and the
control unit 30 in the above embodiment is designed to be
unidirectional. In the above configuration where the detection
signals for the plurality of unit sequence periods are collectively
transmitted to the control unit 30, a bidirectional communication
is essentially required to transmit the start signal to the
terminal units in synchronization with initiation of the training
in Step S17 so as to match respective internal timers (clocks) of
the terminal units 50 with a timer (clock) of the control unit 30.
Even in the configuration where the detection signals are
transmitted for each of the unit sequence periods, the
bidirectional communication may be employed, for example, to output
a request for transmitting a detection signal.
[0077] (4) While the terminal unit and the player in the above
embodiment are not directly associated with each other, the
terminal unit and the player may be associated with each other
through a transponder wearable on a body, such as wrist, of the
player. In this case, the terminal unit 50 may have a function of
authenticating contents stored in the transponder. Specifically,
the terminal unit 50 may be provided with an antenna for reading
personal information written in a memory of the transponder TP, and
a storage section for temporarily storing the read personal
information, and designed to receive the stored personal
information from the transponder TP when the player pushes an entry
button of the terminal unit 50 so as to associate the player's
personal information with the identification information of the
terminal unit 50. Thus, instead of the identification information,
the player's personal information, such as player's name, can be
displayed in the individual display region PA on the projection
screen 20.
[0078] (5) The mat 10 is simply used for assisting the body
movements of the player, but not essential. As an alternative for
achieving the function of the mats 10, a large-size carpet or a
floor having the same patterns as that of the plurality of mats 10
may be used in place of the mats 10.
[0079] (6) Each of the terminal units 50 may be also provided with
an announcement section, such as a speaker, light-emitting means or
a vibrating element, to perform a motivational announcement when an
evaluation result of player's response is excellent. In this case,
a bidirectional communication may be employed between the terminal
unit 50 and the control unit 30. Further, the control unit 30 may
be designed to transmit an instruction signal for the special
motivational announcement when an evaluation result of player's
response is excellent (in the above embodiment, "cool", and the
terminal unit 50 may be designed to activate the announcement
section in response to receiving the instruction signal.
[0080] (7) As shown in FIG. 10, in the above embodiment, validity
of a player's input corresponding to a specific stepping
instruction is determined based on a fixed criterion.
Alternatively, the criteria of the determination may be changed,
for example, depending on player's physique. The terminal unit in
the above embodiment is formed in a belt-like configuration adapted
to be worm on player's waist, and the following phenomenon is
observed due to the terminal unit adapted to be worn on player's
body. Specifically, if the player, for example, is an obesity type,
a skin surface is slightly delayed to a body movement even during
same body movements, and thereby vibrations of the terminal unit
are likely to be generated with a slight delay. As the result, even
if the player performs an accurate body movement in response to a
stepping instruction, an input is likely to be slightly delayed and
determined that "the body movement has not been accurately
performed" in the input evaluation. From this point of view, based
on information about player's living body (body height, body
weight, body fat, etc.), an acceptable range of the determination
on the input validity may be widened, or a processing of temporally
shifting the input backward may be performed, to compensate for an
individual difference about physique or the like.
[0081] In summary, the present invention relates to a
movement-information processing system which comprises a control
unit including image display control means adapted to allow a guide
image for instructing a plurality of players to perform a physical
training consisting of plural types of body movements in a
time-series manner, to be displayed on a presentation unit, and a
plurality of terminal units prepared corresponding to the number of
players capable of entry into the physical training. Each of the
terminal units includes a movement detection device operable, when
the terminal unit is worn on a body of either one of the players,
to detect body movements of the player, and a terminal-side
communication section for transmitting a detection signal
representing the body movements detected by the movement detection
device to the control unit. The control unit includes a
control-side communication section for receiving the detection
signal from the terminal-side communication section of the terminal
unit, exercise evaluation means for evaluating an exercise quality
of the player wearing the terminal unit, based on the received
detection signal and a content of the guide image, and announcement
means for announcing the evaluation result of the exercise quality
through an announcement section.
[0082] In the movement-information processing system of the present
invention, the control unit allows the guide image for instructing
the players to perform plural types of body movements to be
displayed on the presentation unit. Each of the players wears the
terminal unit on his/her body, and performs a given body movement
in conformity to a content of movement instruction represented by
the guide image. Then, the body movement of the player is detected
by the movement detection device of the terminal unit, and an
obtained detection signal is transmitted to the control unit
through the terminal-side communication section. After the
detection signal from the terminal-side communication section of
the terminal unit is received by the control unit through the
control-side communication section, the exercise evaluation means
evaluates an exercise quality of (the player wearing) the terminal
unit based on the received detection signal, and the announcement
means announces the evaluation result of the exercise quality
through the announcement section. This makes it possible to display
the guide image for instructing the players to perform various body
movements without relation to the number of players so as to offer
the guide image with enhanced visibility. For example, the terminal
unit is formed in a configuration similar to a waistband (band-like
configuration) and adapted to be wrapped around the player.
Alternatively or additionally, the terminal unit may be designed to
be worn on both arms or both legs of the player.
[0083] In the aforementioned movement-information processing
system, the control unit may include an audio output section for
outputting a music piece synchronous with the guide image to be
displayed. In this specific embodiment, the music piece is output
in addition to the guide image. This makes it possible to instruct
the players to perform a rhythmic exercise to the music.
[0084] In the aforementioned movement-information processing
system, each of the terminal units may be adapted to transmit
identification information uniquely given thereto, to the control
unit through the terminal-side communication section, and the
control unit may be adapted to evaluate the exercise quality of the
player wearing the terminal unit, in association with the
identification information. In this specific embodiment, the
identification information given to the terminal unit is
automatically transferred to the control unit, and therefore the
body movement of the player wearing the terminal unit can be
informed in an identifiable manner on a terminal unit-by-terminal
unit basis. Identification information, such as unique character,
numeral, code and/or graphic symbol, may be described on an outer
surface of the terminal unit. In this case, the player can also
recognize the identification information of the terminal unit. This
allows the player to find his/her evaluation result from a
plurality of evaluation results of exercise qualities of the
respective terminal units announced by the announcement means,
based on the identification information.
[0085] In the aforementioned movement-information processing
system, the exercise evaluation means may be adapted to calculate
an amount of virtual exercise of the player wearing the terminal
unit, based on the presence or absence of the detection signal and
the type of body-movement instructed by the guide image. In this
specific embodiment, an exercise amount, such as a calorie
consumption or the number of body movements, in each of the types
of body movements designated by the guide image, may be preset to
obtain an exercise amount, based on the presence or absence of a
corresponding one of the types of body movements, i.e., the
presence or absence of a detection signal. Further, such a
processing may be performed in each unit sequence period of the
time-series display of the guide image to accumulate the exercise
amounts and calculate a total exercise amount, such as a total
calorie consumption. The evaluation may include an after-mentioned
evaluation on the level of matching between timings of the guide
image and the body movement.
[0086] The exercise evaluation means as described above may be
adapted to calculate a calorie consumption as the virtual exercise
amount. In this specific embodiment, the result of body movements
conforming to the time-series instruction of the guide image is
calculated as a calorie consumption.
[0087] In the aforementioned movement-information processing
system, the display control means may be adapted to create, on a
screen of the presentation unit, a plurality of individual display
regions for displaying respective contents for the terminal units,
on a terminal unit-by-terminal unit basis, and displaying
information about the evaluation result of the exercise quality of
the player, in a corresponding one of the individual display
regions. In this specific embodiment, the individual display
regions for displaying respective contents for the terminal units
are formed on a screen of the presentation unit on a terminal
unit-by-terminal unit basis, and information about the evaluation
result of the exercise quality of the player wearing the terminal
unit is displayed in a corresponding one of the individual display
regions. This allows the player to visually check the evaluation
result of his/her exercise quality only by looking at his/her
individual display region, without any difficulty.
[0088] In the aforementioned movement-information processing
system, the control unit may include printing-out means for
printing out the evaluation result of the exercise quality using a
printer on a terminal unit-by-terminal unit basis. In this specific
embodiment, in addition to display on the presentation unit, the
evaluation result of player's exercise quality can be printed out
to facilitate checking after the training.
[0089] As a second aspect, the present invention relates to a
terminal unit for use in the aforementioned movement-information
processing system and the terminal unit includes a belt-like
portion adapted to be wrapped around a waist of the player, and
wherein the movement detection device is mounted to the belt-like
portion. In the terminal unit, the player can make preparation for
the training only by wearing the belt-like portion on his/her waist
to facilitate the preparation.
[0090] The aforementioned terminal unit may include a built-in
rechargeable battery serving as a power source thereof. In this
specific embodiment, the need for replacing a battery every time it
runs out can be eliminated, and a recharging operation can be
performed in a nonuse state. The terminal unit may be designed to
house the battery through a housing cover so as to facilitate a
replacing operation of the battery when it deteriorates or has a
defect.
[0091] In addition, the terminal unit as described above may
further include a buckle portion connected to a first end of the
belt-like portion and adapted to allow a second, opposite, end of
the belt-like portion to be engagingly inserted thereinto in a
disengageable manner, the buckle portion being provided with a
recharging connector for the buttery. In this specific embodiment,
a recharging operation can be performed through the recharging
connector when the terminal unit is in a nonuse stare, typically,
stored. In addition, an insertion slot of the buckle portion can be
used for the recharging connecter to eliminate the need for
providing an additional structure for recharging so as to achieve a
rechargeable terminal unit while avoiding an increase in size and
structural complexity.
[0092] In the aforementioned terminal unit, the movement detection
device may be detachably mounted to the belt-like portion. In this
specific embodiment, even if the belt-like portion is damaged due
to long-term use, the movement detection device can be detached to
allow only the belt-like portion to be replaced so as to reduce a
running cost.
[0093] In the terminal unit as described above, the movement
detection device may have a peripheral surface formed in a curved
shape extending along a part of the entire circumference of the
waist region of the player when the belt-like portion is wrapped
around the waist of the player. In this specific embodiment, the
peripheral surface formed in a curved shape extending along a part
of the entire circumference of the waist region of the player can
come into close contact with a waist region of the player wearing
the terminal unit approximately in its entirety. This allows the
movement detection device to further accurately sense a body
movement of the player. In addition, wobble and waggle of the
movement detection device can be restricted to suppress the
occurrence of noise.
[0094] In the aforementioned terminal unit, the movement detection
device may include a sensor for sensing a change in acceleration.
In this specific embodiment, when an acceleration is changed in
conjunction with various movements, such as walking, running and
jumping, of the player, a variation in acceleration is sensed. The
structure of the sensor, an orientation (a direction of sensing
axis) of the sensor and/or the number of the sensors can be
appropriately adjusted and set up to sense plural types of
movements in a distinguished manner.
[0095] As a third aspect, the present invention relates to a
battery recharging unit for use in the aforementioned terminal,
which includes a built-in rechargeable battery as a power source, a
buckle portion connected to a first end of the belt-like portion
and adapted to allow a second, opposite, end of the belt-like
portion to be engagingly inserted thereinto in a disengageable
manner, and the buckle portion is provided with a recharging
connector for the buttery, said battery recharging unit comprises a
plurality of recharging electrodes each engageable with the
recharging connector of the buckle portion in each of the plurality
of terminal units. In the battery recharging unit, a recharging
operation can be performed, for example, by inserting the
recharging electrodes, respectively, into the recharge connectors
of the buckle portions of the terminal units in a stored state or
the like to facilitate the recharging operation for the terminal
unit having the built-in rechargeable battery.
[0096] The battery recharging unit as described above may include a
base member capable of being placed on a floor, and a support
member extending upward from the base member. Further, the
recharging electrodes may be arranged on an upper portion of the
support member, and the support member may have a height from the
floor which is greater than the entire length of the terminal unit.
In this specific embodiment, each of the terminal units can be
efficiently stored in such a manner as to be hung downward from the
respective recharging units, while allowing a recharging operation
to be performed during the storage.
[0097] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application
Serial No. 2005-321466, filed with Japan Patent Office on Nov. 4,
2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0098] Although the present invention has been fully described by
way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is
to be understood that various changes and modifications will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise
such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present
invention hereinafter defined, they should be construed as being
included therein.
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