Prop input device and method for mapping an object from a two-dimensional camera image to a three-dimensional space for controlling action in a game program

A method for controlling a game program comprising the steps of:

• manipulating a physical object within a field of view of a single video camera connected to a processing unit having a memory area and a display wherein said physical object comprises a cylinder having a solid color;
• supplying two-dimensional pixel information picked up by said video camera to said processing unit:
• extracting at least one pixel group from said two-dimensional pixel information which corresponds to the physical object;
• determining a set of parameters from said at least one pixel group which define a two-dimensional geometric shape wherein the geometric shape defined by said extracted pixel group is a four-sided polygon;
• executing a predetermined algorithm on said set of parameters to map the definition of said two-dimensional geometric shape to a three-dimensional definition of a geometric volume, thereby providing a description of said geometric volume in three dimensions which corresponds to the position and orientation of the manipulated physical object wherein said predetermined algorithm comprises the steps of:
• determining a length l of said pixel group;
• determining at least two widths w1 and w2 of said pixel group at different lengths along said pixel group;
• determining an inclination θ of the object in the X-Y plane of the image between the Y axis and said length l;
• determining a depth Z of the object based on an average width wavg of the pixel group;
• and
• determining an inclination Φ of the object in the Y-Z plane based on the ratio l:wavg of said length l of the pixel group to the average width wavg;
• storing said three-dimensional definition in said memory;
• and
• using said description of said geometric volume to control action shown on said display.

A method for controlling a game program comprising the steps of:

• manipulating a physical object within a field of view of a single video camera connected to a processing unit having a memory area and a display wherein the physical object further comprises a sphere having one solid color mounted onto an end of a cylinder having another solid color;
• supplying two-dimensional pixel information picked up by said video camera to said processing unit;
• extracting at least one pixel group from said two-dimensional pixel information which corresponds to the physical object;
• determining a set of parameters from said at least one pixel group which define a two-dimensional geometric shape wherein the geometric shape defined by the extracted pixel group for said sphere is a circle, and the geometric shape defined by said extracted pixel group for said cylinder is a four-sided polygon;
• executing a predetermined algorithm on said set of parameters to map the definition of said two-dimensional geometric shape to a three-dimensional definition of a geometric volume, thereby providing a description of said geometric volume in three dimensions which corresponds to the position and orientation of the manipulated physical object wherein said predetermined algorithm comprises the steps of:
• determining a center point ps and a total pixel area of the extracted pixel group for said circle;
• determining another point p of a center line of the extracted pixel group for said four-sided polygon;
• determining a length l between said points ps and p;
• determining an inclination θ of the object in the X-Y plane of the image between the Y axis and said length l;
• determining a depth Z of the object based on a total number N of pixels in the pixel group for said circle;
• and
• determining an inclination Φ of the object in the Y-Z plane based on said length l between said points ps and p and said depth Z;
• storing said three-dimensional definition in said memory;
• and
• using said description of said geometric volume to control action shown on said display.

A method for controlling a game program comprising the steps of:

• manipulating a physical object within a field of view of a single video camera connected to a processing unit having a memory area and a display wherein said physical object comprises a cylinder having one solid color, said cylinder having a plurality of circumferential stripes thereon, said stripes being of a different solid color than said one solid color;
• supplying two-dimensional pixel information picked up by said video camera to said processing unit;
• extracting at least one pixel group from said two-dimensional pixel information which corresponds to the physical object wherein said extracting step further comprises determining a plurality a color transitions between the cylinder and said stripes;
• determining a set of parameters from said at least one pixel group which define a two-dimensional geometric shape;
• executing a predetermined algorithm on said set of parameters to map the definition of said two-dimensional geometric shape to a three-dimensional definition of a geometric volume, thereby providing a description of said geometric volume in three dimensions which corresponds to the position and orientation of the manipulated physical object wherein said predetermined algorithm comprises the steps of:
• setting a threshold value Dt defining a maximum separation in a two-dimensional chrominance color space;
• detecting color transitions based on a value D determined from combined chrominance signals Cr and Cb for both of the colors of said stripes and of said cylinder;
• determining that a color transition of sufficient magnitude has occurred when said value D exceeds said predetermined threshold;
• defining, by said color transitions of sufficient magnitude, respective lengths l1 and l2 between said stripes;
• determining an inclination Φ of the object in the Y-Z plane based on a ratio l1:l2 of the lengths l1 and l2 between said stripes;
• and
• determining a depth Z of the object based on the sum of said respective lengths and said inclination Φ of the object in the Y-Z plane;
• storing said three-dimensional definition in said memory;
• and
• using said description of said geometric volume to control action shown on said display.

A method for controlling a game program comprising the steps of:

• manipulating a physical object within a field of view of a single video camera connected to a processing unit having a memory area and a display wherein said physical object comprises a cylinder having one solid color, said cylinder having a helical stripe thereon, said helical stripe being of a different solid color than said one solid color;
• supplying two-dimensional pixel information picked up by said video camera to said processing unit;
• extracting at least one pixel group from said two-dimensional pixel information which corresponds to the physical object wherein said extracting step further comprises extracting at least one pixel group corresponding to said helical stripe;
• determining a set of parameters from said at least one pixel group which define a two-dimensional geometric shape;
• executing a predetermined algorithm on said set of parameters to map the definition of said two-dimensional geometric shape to a three-dimensional definition of a geometric volume, thereby providing a description of said geometric volume in three dimensions which corresponds to the position and orientation of the manipulated physical object;
• executing a predetermined algorithm for determining a degree of rotation of said object;
• storing said three-dimensional definition in said memory;
• and
• using said description of said geometric volume to control action shown on said display.