Title: Brightness adjusting apparatus of reflective type liquid crystal display device and program of game machine
Abstract: A brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display device is applicable to a portable game machine, for example. The portable game machine is provided with a reflective type color liquid crystal display device, and displayed colors of a game character and a background are determined on the basis of color data included in color palettes. When a player inputs an instruction for brightness adjustment, a brightness adjusting screen is displayed in response thereto, and the color data included in each of an OBJ color palette and a BG color palette is converted on the basis of an adjustment value (parameter) corresponding to designated brightness, and then, the brightness of the object and the brightness of the background are individually adjusted.
Patent Number: 6,992,648 Issued on 01/31/2006 to Yamada
| Inventors:
|
Yamada; Yoichi (Kyoto, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Kyoto, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
214639 |
| Filed:
|
August 9, 2002 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Aug 10, 2001[JP] | 2001-244245 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
345/88; 345/102 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
G09G 3/36 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
345/88,87,426,600,113,63,77,102,147
463/43
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5598516 | Jan., 1997 | Mori.
| |
| 5650832 | Jul., 1997 | Poradish et al.
| |
| 5933130 | Aug., 1999 | Wagner.
| |
| 6005636 | Dec., 1999 | Westerman.
| |
| 6023261 | Feb., 2000 | Ugajin.
| |
| 6094185 | Jul., 2000 | Shirriff.
| |
| 6322447 | Nov., 2001 | Okada et al.
| |
| 6628255 | Sep., 2003 | Ferrel et al.
| |
| 6665173 | Dec., 2003 | Brandenberg et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 0 869 473 | Oct., 1998 | EP.
| |
| 8-241067 | Sep., 1996 | JP.
| |
Primary Examiner: De Cady; Albert
Assistant Examiner: Alphonse; Fritz
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display
device for determining a displayed color on the basis of color data of a color
palette, comprising:
a character color palette for storing a plurality of first color data to display
a character;
a background color palette for storing a plurality of second color data to display
a background;
a brightness determining device for determining brightness of at least one of
said character and said background; and
a renewal device for renewing at least one of said character color palette and
said background color palette on the basis of an adjustment value corresponding
to the brightness determined by said brightness determining device, the adjustment
value being determined based on received user input relating to brightness.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brightness determining device
includes a first determination device for determining brightness of said character, and
said renewal device includes a first renewal device for renewing said character
color palette by converting said plurality of first color data with a first adjustment
value corresponding to the brightness determined by said first determination device,
the first adjustment value being determined based on the user input relating to brightness.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said brightness determining device
includes a second determination device for determining brightness of said background, and
said renewal device includes a second renewal device for renewing said background
color palette by converting said plurality of second color data with a second adjustment
value corresponding to the brightness determined by said second determination device,
the second adjustment value being determined based on the user input relating to brightness.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first adjustment value and
said second adjustment value are determined as values different from each other
based on the same user input relating to brightness.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a detector for detecting
said first color data and said second color data corresponding to a specified color, wherein
said first renewal device and said second renewal device renew said character
color palette and said background color palette by converting said first color
data and said second color data except for the first color data and the second
color data corresponding to said specified color.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brightness determining device
includes a first determination device for determining brightness of said background, and
said renewal device includes a first renewal device for renewing said background
color palette by converting said plurality of first color data with a first adjustment
value corresponding to the brightness determined by said first determination device,
the first adjustment value being determined based on the user input relating to brightness.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment value is determined
on the basis of a gradation characteristic of color.
8. A brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display
device for determining a displayed color on the basis of color data of a color
palette, comprising:
a brightness determining device for determining brightness;
a detector for detecting said color data corresponding to a specified color; and
a renewal device for renewing said color palette by converting said color data
except for the color data corresponding to said specified color with an adjustment
value corresponding to the brightness determined by the brightness determining device.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said color palette includes a character
color palette including a plurality of first color data for displaying a character, and
said renewal device includes a first renewal device for renewing the character
color palette by converting said first color data except for the first color data
corresponding to said specified color with a first adjustment value corresponding
to the brightness determined by said brightness determining device.
10. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the first adjustment value corresponding
to the brightness determined by the brightness determining device is determined
based at least on user input relating to brightness.
11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said color palette includes a
background color palette including a plurality of first color data for displaying
the background, and
said renewal device includes a first renewal device for renewing said background
color palette by converting said first color data except for the first color data
corresponding to said specified color with a first adjustment value corresponding
to the brightness determined by said brightness determining device.
12. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the first adjustment value corresponding
to the brightness determined by the brightness determining device is determined
based at least on user input relating to brightness.
13. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the adjustment value corresponding to
the brightness determined by the brightness determining device is determined based
at least on user input relating to brightness.
14. A program stored in a computer readable medium for a game machine provided
with a game program executed by a processor so as to allow a character and a background
to be displayed on a reflective type liquid crystal display device by utilizing
a character color palette storing a plurality of first color data and a background
color palette for storing a plurality of second color data, the program making
said processor execute following steps:
a display step for displaying a brightness adjusting screen for enabling user
input for adjusting brightness; and
a renewal step for renewing at least one of said character color palette and
said background color palette on the basis of an adjustment value corresponding
to brightness of at least one of said character and said background determined
from said user input received in connection with said brightness adjusting screen.
15. A program stored in a computer readable medium for a game machine provided
with a game program for determining a displayed color of a reflective type liquid
crystal display device so as to execute a game by a processor utilizing a color
palette storing a plurality of color data, the game program making said processor
execute following steps:
a display step for displaying a brightness adjusting screen;
a detecting step for detecting said color data corresponding to a specified color; and
a renewal step for renewing said color palette by converting said color data
except for the color data corresponding to said specified color with an adjustment
value corresponding to the brightness determined by said brightness adjusting screen.
16. The program as in claim 15, wherein the brightness adjusting screen enables
user input for adjusting brightness to be received.
17. In a video game, a method of adjusting brightness of at least one image of
the video game, the method comprising:
storing color palette data corresponding to the at least one image;
generating a brightness adjusting screen for enabling user input for adjusting brightness;
receiving user input for adjusting brightness in response to the brightness adjusting
screen; and
changing the color palette data corresponding to the at least one image based
on the received user input.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein generation of the brightness adjusting screen
is initiated by receipt of a user instruction requesting brightness adjustment.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one image is a character image.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the brightness adjusting screen includes
a button for user selection which enables individual brightness adjustment of the
character image.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one image is a background image.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the brightness adjusting screen includes
a button for user selection which enables individual brightness adjustment of the
background image.
23. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one image includes a character
image and a background image and the brightness adjusting screen includes a first
button for user selection which enables brightness adjustment of the character
image and a second button for user selection which enables brightness adjustment
of the background image.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the user input in response to the brightness
adjusting screen includes user selection of both the first and second buttons.
25. The method of claim 17 further comprising displaying the at least one image
on a reflective type liquid crystal display of a hand-held game machine.
26. In a video game, a method of adjusting brightness of an image to be displayed
in the video game, the method comprising:
storing color palette data corresponding to the image;
receiving user input indicating an adjustment to the brightness of the image;
determining whether or not the color palette data corresponding to the image
corresponds to a specified color; and
preventing brightness adjustment of the image if the color palette data corresponding
to the image corresponds to the specified color and allowing brightness adjustment
of the image based on the received user input if the color palette data corresponding
to the image does not correspond to the specified color.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the specified color is black or white.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the color palette data is character color
palette data.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the color palette data is background color
palette data.
30. The method of claim 26 further comprising displaying the image on a reflective
type liquid crystal display of a handheld game machine.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The technology described herein relates to a brightness adjusting apparatus of
a reflective type liquid crystal display device and a program of a game machine.
More specifically, the technology described herein relates to a brightness adjusting
apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display device and a program of a
game machine, applicable to a portable terminal such as a portable type liquid
crystal game machine, a PDA and etc.
2. Description of related Art
One example of such a kind of conventional reflective type liquid crystal display
device is disclosed in a Japanese patent No. 8-241067 [G09G 5/06, G06T 1/00, G06T
11/00] laid-open on Sep. 17, 1996. In a video accelerator board device of this
reference, a true color code determined by a vectorial sum of respective elements
of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) is converted by using a correction coefficient
matrix, and deviance between a color determined by the true color code and a displayed
color actually displayed on the display is corrected.
In a case of controlling display of the reflective type liquid crystal display
device utilizing the video accelerator board device of this reference, it is possible
to adjust a displayed color on a display as described above. In general, the portable
game machine and etc. provided with the reflective type liquid crystal display
device is utilized indoors and outdoors, illuminated in a light of a fluorescent
and a natural light such as sunlight etc. Accordingly, brightness is determined
depending on a usage environment. A brightness adjusting function is thus not provided.
However, there is a problem that in intensive sunlight the screen of the reflective
type liquid crystal device wholly becomes bright while in weak sunlight it wholly
becomes dark. The character (object) is therefore hidden under the background and
it is difficult for the user to view the screen.
Even if a brightness adjusting function is provided for avoiding this problem,
a mere brightness adjustment as in a liquid crystal display of a backlight system
makes a whole screen light or dark and therefore, the problem is not yet solved.
SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS.
Therefore, one aspect of exemplary non-limiting embodiments is to provide
a novel brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display
device and a program of a game machine.
Another aspect of exemplary non-limiting embodiments is to provide a brightness
adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display device and a program
of a game machine, capable of adjusting brightness according to a usage environment.
An apparatus according to one exemplary non-limiting embodiment is a brightness
adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display device (a reference
numeral of a component corresponding thereto in the embodiment: 14) for
determining a displayed color on the basis of color data of a color palette, comprising:
a character color palette (OBJ palette in the embodiment) for storing a plurality
of first color data to display a character (object: OBJ); a background color palette
(BG palette in the embodiment) for storing a plurality of second color data to
display a background (BG); a brightness determining means (S25, S35,
S57, and S67 in the embodiment) for determining brightness of at
least one of the character and the background; and a renewal means (S31,
S41, S63, and S73 in the embodiment) for renewing at least
one of the character color palette and the background color palette on the basis
of an adjustment value (OBJ brightness adjusting parameter and/or BG brightness
parameter in the embodiment) corresponding to the brightness determined by the
brightness determining means.
The brightness adjusting apparatus according to exemplary non-limiting embodiments
is applicable to a portable type game machine, for example. Such the portable type
game machine is provided with a reflective type color liquid crystal display device,
and a displayed color of the character (object: OBJ) such as a game character and
the background (BG) is determined on the basis of the color data included in the
color palette. The brightness adjusting apparatus is provided with the character
color palette and the background color palette. The character color palette is
provided with the plurality of first color data to display various characters while
the background color palette is provided with the plurality of second color data
to display various backgrounds. For example, if and when a user such as a player
inputs an instruction for adjusting brightness, a screen for brightness adjustment
(brightness adjusting screen) is displayed in response thereto. When the user specifies
(selects) the brightness on the brightness adjusting screen, the brightness of
the screen (character and background) is determined by the determining means. Thereupon,
the renewal means adjusts (converts) the first color data and the second color
data with the adjustment value depending on the determined brightness so as to
renew at least one of the character color palette and the background color palette.
That is, since the color palette according to the brightness designated by the
user is utilized, it is possible to display a screen with the displayed color according
to the brightness.
For example, a first determining means determines the brightness of the character,
and therefore, a first renewal means can convert (adjust) the first color data
with a first adjustment value corresponding to the brightness so as to renew the
character color palette. That is, it is possible to adjust the brightness of the
character (object) image.
Furthermore, a second determining means determines the brightness of
the background, and therefore, a second renewal means can convert (adjust) the
second color data with a second adjustment value corresponding to the brightness
so as to renew the background color palette. It is possible to adjust the brightness
of the background image.
In addition, both of the first determining means and the second determining means
are provided as well as the first renewal means and the second renewal means and
whereby, it is also possible to individually adjust the brightness of the character
image and the background image.
Also, the first adjustment value and the second adjustment value are determined
to be different values even with the same brightness, and therefore, it is possible
to prevent the character from being hidden under the background and the user from
viewing the screen with difficulty.
Furthermore, if a detecting means for detecting first color data and
second color data corresponding to a specified color, e.g., white or black is provided,
the first renewal means and the second renewal means can renew the color palette
by converting color data except for the first color data and the second color data.
For example, when displaying cosmos, night, letters or the like, in a case that
black becomes gray, the view of the world of the game is changed. On the other
hand, when displaying letters, a white background or the like, in a case that white
becomes gray, the view of the world of the game is changed as well. Thus, if black
or white is turned to another color, change of the view of the world and difficulty
of view occur and therefore, the black or white is intended not to be converted.
However, in a case where blue, red or another color has a great importance during
the game, blue, red or another color may not be intended to be converted.
For example, the adjustment value is determined on the basis of a gradation characteristic
of a color on the reflective type color liquid crystal display device. For example,
three primary colors (R, G and B) have different reflection ratios, and in view
of this, the adjustment value is determined. Accordingly, it is possible to make
a brightness adjustment taking advantage of a characteristic of the reflective
type color liquid crystal display device.
In one aspect, an apparatus is a brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective
type liquid crystal display device (a reference numeral of a component corresponding
thereto in the embodiment: 14) for determining a displayed color on the
basis of color data of a color palette, comprising: a brightness determining means
(S25, S35, S57 and S67 in the embodiment) for determining
brightness; a detecting means (S29, S39, S61 and S71
in the embodiment) for detecting color data corresponding to a specified color;
and a renewal means (S31, S41, S63 and S73 in the embodiment)
for renewing a color palette (OBJ palette and BG palette in the embodiment) by
converting the color data except for color data corresponding to a specified color
with an adjustment value (OBJ brightness adjusting parameter and BG brightness
adjusting parameter in the embodiment) corresponding to the brightness determined
by the brightness determining means (S25, S35, S57 and S67
in the embodiment).
Also in this embodiment, the brightness adjusting apparatus of the reflective
type liquid crystal display device is applicable to a portable type game machine,
for example. Such the portable game machine is provided with a reflective type
color liquid crystal display apparatus, and the displayed color of the character
such as a game character or the background is determined on the basis of the color
data included in the color palette. In the brightness adjusting apparatus, when
a user such as a player inputs an instruction for adjusting brightness, a screen
for brightness adjustment is displayed in response thereto. If and when the user
specifies (selects) the brightness on the brightness adjusting screen, the brightness
of the screen such as the character, background and etc. is determined by the determining
means. Thereupon, the color data is adjusted (converted) with an adjustment value
corresponding to the determined brightness so as to renew the color palette by
the renewal means. It is noted that in a case that the detecting means detects
the color data corresponding to the specified color such as white, black or the
like, color data except for that color data is renewed by the renewal means. That
is, it is possible to determine the displayed color of the character or the background
by utilizing the color palette corresponding to the brightness designated by the
user. Furthermore, since the brightness adjustment is not performed on white or
black, it is possible to prevent whitish or blackish display on the whole screen.
For example, the color palette includes the character color palette including
a plurality of first color data to display various characters, and the first renewal
means converts (adjusts) the first color data included in the character color palette
with the first adjustment value corresponding to the determined brightness so as
to renew the character color palette. That is, it is possible to adjust the brightness
of the character image (object). It is noted that the first renewal means does
not convert the color data corresponding to a specified color such as white or black.
Furthermore, the color palette includes a background color palette including
a plurality of second color data to display various backgrounds, and the second
renewal means converts the second color data included in the background color palette
with the second adjustment value corresponding to the determined brightness so
as to renew the background color palette. That is, it is possible to adjust the
brightness of the background image. It is noted that the second renewal means does
not convert the color data corresponding to the specified color such as white or black.
Thus, since the character color palette and the background color palette are
individually prepared, it is possible to determine a displayed color and brightness
adjustment of the character and the background, respectively. Furthermore, if the
first adjustment value and the second adjustment value are different from each
other in values even with the same brightness, the character is never hidden under
the background.
Another exemplary non-limiting embodiment is directed to a program for a
game machine (a reference numeral of a component corresponding thereto in this
embodiment: 10) provided with a game program (game program stored in the
ROM 60 in the embodiment) executed by a processor so as to allow a character
and a background to be displayed on a reflective type liquid crystal display device
(a reference numeral of a component corresponding thereto in this embodiment: 14)
by utilizing a character color palette storing a plurality of first color data
and a background color palette for storing a plurality of second color data (OBJ
palette and BG palette in the embodiment). Then, the program makes the processor
execute following steps: a display step (a brightness adjusting screen display
program stored in the ROM 60 in the embodiment) for displaying a brightness
adjusting screen (70); and a renewal step (a brightness adjustment program
in the embodiment and equal to steps S31, S41, S63, and S73)
for renewing at least one of the character color palette and the background color
palette on the basis of an adjustment value (OBJ brightness adjusting parameter
and BG brightens adjustment parameter in the embodiment) corresponding to the brightness
of at least one of the character and the background determined on the brightness
adjusting screen.
This program is, for example, provided with the character color palette storing
the plurality of first color data to display the character on the reflective type
liquid crystal display device and the background color palette storing the plurality
of second color data to display the background on the reflective type liquid crystal
display device. Also, the program for the game machine is provided with the display
program to display the brightness adjusting screen and displays the brightness
adjusting screen according to an instruction of the user such as a game player.
Then, the renewal program renews at least one of the character color palette and
the background color palette on the basis of the adjustment value corresponding
to the brightness of at least one of the character and the background determined
on the brightness adjusting screen. Accordingly, it is possible to display a game
screen with the displayed color according to the brightness designated by the user.
Similarly, a further program is provided with a program for a game machine
(a reference numeral of a component corresponding thereto in this embodiment: 10)
including a game program (game program stored in the ROM 60 in the embodiment)
for determining a displayed color of a reflective type liquid crystal display device
(a reference numeral of a component corresponding thereto in this embodiment: 14)
so as to execute a game utilizing a color palette storing a plurality of color
data by a processor, a game program makes the processor execute following steps:
a display step (a brightness adjusting screen display program stored in the ROM
60 in the embodiment) for displaying a brightness adjusting screen (70);
a detecting step (a brightness adjustment program stored in the ROM 60 in
the embodiment and equal to steps S29, S39, S61, and S71)
for detecting the color data corresponding to a specified color; and a renewal
step (a brightness adjustment program in the embodiment and equal to steps S31,
S41, S63, and S73) for renewing the color palette by converting
the color data except for the color data corresponding to the specified color with
an adjustment value (an OBJ brightness adjusting parameter and a BG brightness
adjusting parameter in the embodiment) corresponding to the brightness determined
by the brightness adjusting screen.
Such the program is provided with the color palette storing a plurality of color
data to determine the displayed color of the reflective type liquid crystal display
device. The display program displays the brightness adjusting screen according
to the instruction of the user such as a player of the game. Accordingly, the user
can adjust (determine) the brightness of the screen on the brightness adjusting
screen. Then, the renewal program converts the color data on the basis of the adjustment
value corresponding to the brightness determined by the brightness adjusting screen
so as to renew the color palette. It is noted that when the detecting program detects
the color data corresponding to a specified color such as white or black, the renewal
program does not convert the color data corresponding to white or black. That is,
the renewal program renews the color palette by converting the color data except
for the color data corresponding to white or black. Accordingly, it is possible
to display the screen of the game according to the brightness designated by the
user, and furthermore, as described above, it is possible to avoid a disadvantage
occurring in a case of adjusting the brightness of the specified color.
According to exemplary non-limiting embodiments, it is possible to display
the screen with the brightness designated by the user, and therefore, it is possible
to make the user easy to view the screen irrespective of brightness of natural
light. That is, it is possible to adjust brightness according to a usage environment.
The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages
of exemplary non-limiting embodiments will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of exemplary non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing one exemplary non-limiting embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing structure of a game machine and a memory cartridge
shown in FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a memory map of a ROM included in the
memory cartridge shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing a memory map of a RAM included in the
game machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing a BG palette and an OBJ palette on the
memory map shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a graph showing a gradation characteristic of a color gradation with
respect to an RGB reflection ratio in a reflective type crystal liquid display device;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of a CPU included in the game machine
shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of a brightness adjusting process of the
CPU included in the game machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another part of the brightness adjusting process
of the CPU shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing one example of a brightness adjusting screen;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of a brightness adjusting process of a
CPU included in a game machine in another exemplary non-limiting embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another part of the brightness adjusting process
of the CPU included in the game machine in another exemplary non-limiting embodiment; and
FIG. 13 is an illustrative view showing another example of the brightness adjusting screen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS.
Referring to FIG. 1, a brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective type
liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is a portable type color liquid
crystal game machine (hereinafter, may be referred to as "game machine")
10,
and the game machine
10 includes a housing (case)
12. A reflective
type color liquid crystal display device (hereinafter, may simply be referred to
as "LCD")
14 is provided at the approximately center of the case
12.
At the left of the LCD
14, a cross button
16 is provided, and a start
button
18 and a selection button
20 are provided below the cross
button
16.
The LCD
14 is a dot-matrix display device and utilized for color-displaying
a game character image (object image) and a background image. Furthermore, the
cross button
16 is utilized for instructing the game character displayed
on the LCD
14 to move in right to left or up and down, upper right, upper
left, lower right and lower left directions. The start button
18 is utilized
for instructing a start, pause, and restart of a game. The selection button
20
is utilized for selecting a game mode and etc.
An LED (power source lamp)
22 is provided at the upper right of the LCD
14. Two push buttons (an A button
24 and a B button
26 in
this embodiment) are provided below the LED
22, and a speaker
28
is provided thereunder.
The LED
22 indicates a power-on or power-off state by blink of it and
a remaining amount of a battery by a color of an emitted light. The A button
24
and the B button
26 are utilized for instructing the movement (action) of
the game character. For example, the buttons allow the character to use an arm,
to run, or to jump. The speaker
28 is utilized for outputting a BGM, and
sound of the game character, sound effects and etc. during the game.
The case
12 is provided with a left push button (L button)
30 and
a right push button (R button)
32 on its upper (top) surface. The L button
30 and the R button
32 are utilized for instructing action of the
game character similar to the A button
24 and the B button
26.
An insertion slot
34 is provided between the L button
30 and the
R button
32 on the top surface of the case
12 and on the back of
the above-described LCD
14. A memory cartridge
40 is inserted from
the insertion slot
34 to be loaded onto the game machine main body
10.
It is noted that although an illustration is omitted, the case
12 is provided
with an external expansion connector on its upper surface and a battery housing
box on its back surface, and a power switch, sound volume, earphone jack and etc.
on its bottom surface.
A detailed configuration of such the game machine
10 and the memory cartridge
40 is shown in FIG. 2. The game machine
10 includes a CPU
50
connected with a RAM
52 and a key matrix
54 through an internal bus.
The RAM
52 is utilized as a working memory of the CPU
50 or a buffer
memory. Although an illustration is omitted, the key matrix
54 is connected
with the cross button
16, the start button
18, the selection button
20, the A button
24, the B button
26, the L button
30,
the R button
32 and etc. shown in FIG. 1. When these buttons (
16
to
20,
24,
26,
30 and
32) are operated, the
key matrix
54 generates an operation signal corresponding to an operated
button so as to input to the CPU
50.
Furthermore, the CPU
50 is connected with the LCD
14 via
an internal bus and a display control device (driver)
56 and connected with
a connector
58 via an internal bus. It is noted that the connector
58
is omitted in FIG. 1.
On the other hand, the memory cartridge
40 includes a ROM
60 and
a RAM
62 which are connected with each other via an internal bus and are
connected to a connector
64. It is noted that the connector
64 is
omitted in FIG. 1.
Specifically, when the memory cartridge
40 is loaded into the
game machine
10, the CPU
50 is connected to the ROM
60 and
the RAM
62 within the memory cartridge
40. The ROM
60 is stored
with a program such as a game program and etc. required for the game, image data,
sound data and etc. as described later in detail. The RAM
62 is, for example,
an SRAM for storing backup data of the game.
Referring to FIG. 3, the ROM
60 is stored with program data
60a,
image data
60b and sound data
60c in advance. The program
data
60a is constructed, for example, by a game program, a brightness
adjusting screen display program and a brightness adjusting program. Furthermore,
the image data
60b is constructed by game image data (including character
image data) and brightness adjusting screen data. In addition, the sound data
60c
is constructed by character sound data and BGM data.
The RAM
52 is provided with a plurality of data areas (hereinafter, may
simply be referred to as "area")
52a to
52j, and a
memory map thereof is as shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, background (BG) map data
is mapped in the area
52a, character dot data is mapped in the area
52b, and key data is mapped in the area
52c.
It is noted that the BG map data and the character dot data are data included
in the game image data of the image data
60b stored in the above-described
ROM
60.
The sound data
60c stored in the above-described ROM
60,
i.e., the character sound data and the BGM data are mapped in the area
52d,
and a color palette (OBJ palette) for object (OBJ) character is mapped in the area
52e, and a color palette (BG palette) for BG is mapped in the area
52f.
Furthermore, BG brightness adjusting parameter data is mapped in the
area
52g, OBJ brightness adjusting parameter data is mapped in the
area
52h, and a brightness adjusting program is mapped in the area
52i. In addition, the RAM
52 is provided with another area
52j.
The BG map data is data of a character code (code corresponding to character
data described later) for BG image display. The character data is bit map data
of 8×8 dots and stored in plural (e.g., tens of thousands). Accordingly, by
combining these bit map data, all BG image and OBJ image to be displayed on the
game can be represented.
The key data is data (table data) indicative of instruction contents corresponding
to an operation signal input from the key matrix
54. The sound data is data
corresponding to the BGM, or the sound, or the sound effects of the game character
all being outputted during the game.
The BG palette is stored with data of three primary colors (R (red), G (green),
B (blue)) (hereinafter, may be referred to as "BG color data") corresponding to
a plurality of colors to be used for the BG image. Similarly, the OBJ palette is
stored with R, G and B data (hereinafter, may be referred to as "OBJ color data")
corresponding to a plurality of colors to be used for the OBJ image.
As shown in FIG. 5(A), the BG palette is stored in the area
52f,
i.e., an address space "0500 0000 h"˜"0500 01ff h" of the CPU
50,
and each of R, G and B is data of 5 bits. As shown in FIG. 5(B), the OBJ palette
is stored in the area
52g, i.e., an address space "0500 0200 h"˜"0500
03ff h" of the CPU
50, and each of the R, G and B is data of 5 bits.
As the BG brightness adjusting parameter data, brightness adjusting values (parameters)
of a plurality of BG color data stored in the above-described BG palette are stored.
Specifically, the parameter data corresponding to brightness (luminance) of the
BG image are written in a table. Similarly, as the OBJ brightness adjusting parameter
data, parameter data corresponding to brightness of the OBJ image are written in
a table.
As shown in FIG. 6, such the LCD
14 has a characteristic of a color gradation
(gradation characteristic) with respect to a reflectivity of each of the R, G and
B (RGB reflectivity). The gradation characteristic is empirically acquired through
an examination or the like and indicates how the reflection ratio of RGB is changed
by the color gradation. A following characteristic is indicated, for example, that
for the color gradation of 1, R, G and B have approximately similar brightness
while for the color gradation of 31, R is two times brighter than B. It is noted
in this embodiment shown that the reflection ratio (changing rate) of R, G, and
B in a case of making B as a reference (1) is shown in a following relation.
R:G:B=1.2:1.1:1
In view of the relation, a BG parameter and an OBJ parameter against each of
color
gradations (brightness) are determined. That is, the parameter is determined such
that for brightening, the color gradation of R is lesser increased while the color
gradation of B is more increased. On the contrary, the parameter is determined
such that for darkening, the color gradation of R is more decreased while the color
gradation of B is lesser decreased. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the BG parameter
and the OBJ parameter, even if have the same brightness, are determined to be different
values so as not to cause a disadvantage that the character is hidden under the background.
A brightness adjusting program is a program for executing a brightness adjusting
process described later in detail. That is, it is a program for adjusting brightness
(luminance) of the BG image and the OBJ image.
For example, in the game machine
10, the LCD
14 is illuminated
utilizing sunlight or indoor light (natural light) so as to display the OBJ image
and the BG image. At this time, by utilizing the above-described OBJ color data
and the BG color data, the color game image can be displayed. Specifically, a displayed
color of the OBJ image and the BG image is determined by the OBJ color data and
the BG color data.
In addition, in such the game machine
10, the brightness (luminance) of
the LCD
14 is determined depending on brightness of the natural light, and
therefore, the brightness adjusting function is not generally provided. Alternatively,
even if the brightness adjusting function is provided, the LCD
14 wholly
becomes light or dark, and therefore, there is a disadvantage that an outline of
the OBJ image is obscure. That is, the character is hidden under the background,
and therefore, it makes difficult for the user to view the game image.
For avoiding this, the brightness adjusting function is provided and brightness
of the OBJ image and the BG image can be adjusted individually in this embodiment.
It is noted that a default value of the brightness of the OBJ image and the BG
image is determined by a designer at a step of creating the game. That is, it is
determined at a programming step.
A detailed operation of the game machine
10 is shown in a flowchart shown
in FIG. 7. When a main power of the game machine
10 is turned on, the CPU
50 starts a process so as to display a start screen in a step S
1.
The start screen is displayed with letters of "NINTENDO" of a registered trademark
of the assignee of the present invention, for example, and a character for selecting
whether to start the game or to select an option.
In a following step S
3, it is determined whether an option selection or
not. For example, when a player selects a start of the game by operating a button
such as a cross button
16 and etc., i.e., when "NO" is determined in the
step S
3, the process directly proceeds to a step S
13.
On the other hand, when the player selects the option selection by operating a
button such as a cross button
16 and etc., i.e., when "YES" is determined
in the step S
3, an option selecting screen is displayed in a step S
5.
Although an illustration is omitted, each of items (option) such as brightness
adjustment, power source option and etc. is selectable on the option selecting screen.
Successively, it is determined whether or not an item of the brightness
adjustment is selected in a step S
7. Herein, if "NO" is determined, i.e.,
if the player selects an item different from the item of the brightness adjustment
by operating a button such as the cross button
16 and etc., a process of
an item such as the power source option and etc. selected (another process) is
processed and then, the process proceeds to a step S
13.
On the other hand, if "YES" in the step S
7, the player selects the item
of the brightness adjustment by operating a button such as the cross button
16
and etc., a brightness adjusting process is executed in a step S
9, and then,
the process proceeds to the step S
13.
The CPU
50 executes a game process according to the game program in the
step S
13. Then, when the power source is turned off or the game is over,
the process is ended. It is noted that in a case of game over, the process may
be returned to the start screen.
Referring to FIG. 8, when the brightness adjusting process is started in
the step S
9, the CPU
50 activates the brightness adjusting program
stored in the RAM
52 and displays a brightness adjusting screen
70
shown in FIG. 10 in a step S
21. More specifically, the CPU
50 reads
the brightness adjusting screen data from the ROM
60 and develops it utilizing
the RAM
52 and then, displays the brightness adjusting screen
70
on the LCD
14 by applying instructions to the driver
56.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the brightness adjusting screen
70, the brightness
is adjustable between two levels toward brighter direction (bright
1 (+1)),
(bright
2 (+2)) and two levels toward darker direction (dark
1 (-1)),
(dark
2 (-2)) making brightness determined to be optimal by a designer and
etc. of the game machine
10 in advance as a standard (0). The brightness
adjusting screen
70 is also provided with a luminance display portion
72
for visually recognizing the brightness by the player. The player can designate
brightness from -2 to +2, i.e., in 5 levels by moving an inverted triangle mark
74 displayed on the approximately center of the screen with an operation
of the cross button
16, for example.
In a following step S
23, it is determined whether or not the brightness
is designated. That is, it is determined whether or not the inverted triangle mark
74 on the brightness adjusting screen
70 shown in FIG. 10 is moved
from side to side by operating the cross button
16. If "NO" in the step
S
23, i.e., if the cross button
16 is not operated, it is determined
that the brightness is not designated and then, the process directly returns to
the step S
21.
On the other hand, if "YES" in the step S
23, i.e., if the cross button
16 is operated, it is determined that the brightness is designated and then,
the brightness of the BG image is determined to be the brightness indicated by
the inverted triangle
74 in a step S
25. Successively, each of BG
color palette data is read from the BG palette in a step S
27, and it is
determined whether or not a color corresponding to the read BG color palette data
indicates a specified color (in this embodiment, white or black) in a step S
29.
More specifically, the BG color palette data, i.e., each of the R, G and B data
is 5 bits, and by calculating an OR (logical sum) of each of the R, G and B data,
it is determined to be black for a minimum value ("00000") of the logical sum while
it is determined to be white for a maximum value ("11111") of the logical sum.
It is noted that the BG color palette data is read in a predetermined order one
by one in the step S
27.
If "YES" in a step S
29, a color corresponding to the read BG color palette
data is black or white, it is determined that the brightness of the BG color palette
data is not adjusted, and then, the process directly proceeds to a step S
33.
On the other hand, if "NO" in the step S
29, i.e., if the color corresponding
to the read BG color palette data is not white or black, the brightness is adjusted
in a step S
31. That is, adjusted BG color palette data is created on the
basis of data of brightness designated by the player (designating data), gradation
characteristic data and the BG color palette data. More specifically, gradation
characteristic data, i.e., a BG parameter is determined in correspondence to the
brightness indicated by the designating data, and by the BG parameter, BG color
palette data prior adjustment is adjusted whereby, the BG color palette data is converted.
In a following step S
33, it is determined whether or not conversion (adjustment)
of all BG color palette data is completed. Specifically, it is determined whether
or not brightness adjustment is completed as to all the colors of the BG image
and renewal of the BG palette is completed. If "NO" in the step S
33, i.e.,
if the brightness adjustment of all the colors is not completed, the process is
returned to the step S
27 so as to read BG color palette data corresponding
to a next color.
On the other hand, if "YES" in the step S
33, i.e., if the brightness adjustment
of all the colors is completed, it is determined that the renewal of the BG palette
is completed, and then, the process proceeds to a step S
35 shown in FIG.
9 so as to determine the brightness of the OBJ. That is, the brightness is determined
to be the brightness designated by the brightness adjusting screen
70. In
a following step S
37, each of OBJ color palette data is read from the OBJ
palette, and it is determined whether or not the read OBJ color pallet data is
white or black in a step S
39.
It is noted that the OBJ color palette data is read in a predetermined order
one
by one in the step S
37.
If "YES" in a step S
39, i.e., if a color corresponding to the read OBJ
color palette data is white or black, it is determined that the OBJ color palette
data is not adjusted and the process directly proceeds to a step S
43. On
the other hand, if "NO" in the step S
39, i.e., if a color corresponding
to the read OBJ color palette data is different from white or black, the OBJ color
palette data is adjusted on the basis of the designating data, the gradation characteristic
data and the color palette data in a step S
41.
It is noted that adjustment of the OBJ color palette data is the same as the
case
of the above-described BG color palette data except for utilizing the OBJ parameter
and therefore, duplicate descriptions will be omitted.
It is determined whether or not adjustment (conversion) of all the OBJ color
palette
data is completed in a step S
43. If "NO" in the step S
43, i.e., if
the adjustment of all the OBJ color palette data is not completed, the process
is returned to the step S
37 so as to read next OBJ color palette data. On
the other hand, if "YES" in the step S
43, i.e., if the adjustment of all
the OBJ color palette data is completed, it is determined that renewal of the OBJ
palette is completed, and the process is returned from the brightness adjusting process.
According to this embodiment, each of the GB color palette and the OBJ
color palette is prepared, and color palette data included in each of the color
palette is adjusted according to the brightness designated by the player, and therefore,
brightness can be adjusted according to a usage environment and individual visible
recognizability. Also, the brightness adjusting ratios of the GB color palette
data and the OBJ color palette data are set to values different from each other,
and therefore, there never occurs a disadvantage that characters are hidden under
the background. Furthermore, the color palette data corresponding to the specified
color (white or black) is not subject to brightness adjustment, and therefore,
it is possible to prevent whitish or blackish display of the whole screen. In addition,
a parameter is determined in view of the gradation characteristic, i.e., a changing
rate of R, G and B, and therefore, there never occurs a change of color tone depending
on the brightness.
Since the game machine
10 of another embodiment is the same as the above-described
embodiment except that the brightness adjusting processes is different, duplicate
descriptions will be omitted. A brightness adjusting process of this embodiment
is shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
Referring to FIG. 11, when the brightness adjusting process is started,
the CPU
50 activates brightness adjusting program of the RAM
52 and
displays the brightens adjusting screen
70 shown in FIG. 13 in a step S
51.
It is noted that since the brightness adjusting screen
70 in this embodiment
is the same as the brightness adjusting screen
70 shown in FIG. 10 except
that characters for selecting the BG or the OBJ (BG button
76 and OBJ button
78) are further provided and therefore, duplicate descriptions will be omitted.
That is, the player selects (specifies) the brightness by operating the cross button
16 and selects (turns on) the BG button
76 or the OBJ button
78
by operating the A button
24 or the B button
26.
Specifically, it is determined whether or not the BG or the OBJ is
selected in a step S
53. If "NO" is determined in the step S
53, i.e.,
if neither the BG nor the OBJ is selected, the process is directly returned from
the brightness adjusting process.
It is noted that since it actually takes at least two or three seconds by the
time the A button
24 or the B button
26 is operated, in a case neither
button is operated after five seconds' wait, the process may be returned from the
brightness adjusting process.
On the other hand, if "YES" in the step S
53, i.e., if the BG or the OBJ
is selected, it is determined whether or not the "BG" is selected in a step S
55.
If "NO" is determined in the step S
55, i.e., if the OBJ is selected, the
process proceeds to a step S
67 shown in FIG. 12. On the other hand, if "YES"
in a step S
57, i.e., if the BG is selected, the brightness of the BG is
determined to brightness currently indicated by the inverted triangle mark
74
on the brightness adjusting screen
70 in the step S
57.
In a following step S
59, each of the BG color palette data is read from
the BG palette. It is determined whether a color corresponding to the read BG color
palette data is white or black in a step S
61. If "YES" is determined in
the step S
61, i.e., if the read BG color palette data is white or black,
it is determined that the brightness of the BG color palette data is not adjusted,
and the process directly proceeds to a step S
65.
On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in the step S
61, i.e., if the
read BG color palette data is a color other than white or black, the brightness
of the BG color palette data is adjusted in a step S
63, and then, the process
proceeds to the step S
65. It is determined whether or not adjustment of
all the BG color palette data is completed in the step S
65.
If "NO" is determined in the step S
65, i.e., if adjustment of all the
BG
color palette data is not completed, the process returns to the step S
59
so as to read next color palette data. On the other hand, if "YES" in the step
S
65, i.e., if adjustment of all the BG color palette data is completed,
it is determined that renewal of the BG palette is completed, and then, the process
is returned from the brightness adjusting process.
Referring to FIG. 12, the brightness of the OBJ image is determined to
be the brightness currently indicated by the inverted triangle
74 on the
brightness adjusting screen
70 in the step S
67. In a following step
S
69, each of the OBJ color palette data is read from the OBJ palette, and
it is determined that whether a color corresponding to the read OBJ color palette
data is white or black in a step S
71. If "YES" in the step S
71, i.e.,
if the read OBJ color palette data is white or black, it is determined the OBJ
color palette data is not adjusted, and then, the process directly proceeds to
a step S
73. On the other hand, if "NO" in the step S
71, i.e., if
the read OBJ color palette data is a color other than white or black, the brightness
of the OBJ color palette data is adjusted in the step S
73, and then, the
process proceeds to a step S
75.
It is determined whether or not adjustment (conversion) of all the OBJ color
palette
data is completed in the step S
75. If "NO" in the step S
75, i.e.,
if adjustment of all the OBJ color palette data is not completed, the process returns
to the step S
69 so as to read next OBJ color palette data. On the other
hand, if "YES" in the step S
75, i.e., if adjustment of all the BG color
palette data is completed, it is determined that renewal of the OBJ palette is
completed, and then, the brightness adjusting process is completed.
Thus, it is possible to individually adjust the brightness of the BG image
and OBJ image according to this embodiment.
It is noted that although the BG button or the OBJ button is provided on the
brightness
adjusting screen so as to adjust either of the
