The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1999
Nintendo Co., Ltd., Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
An improved portable game machine having a removably attachable external cartridge that includes an integrally formed image capturing apparatus is provided. The portable game machine preferably includes a user interface which may be manipulated by a user to capture images via the image capturing device of the external cartridge. The thus captured images may then be used in game play, or may be manipulated by the user to extend the range of enjoyment of the game. For example, according to the present invention, the user has the ability to associate hot spots with captured images which, when uncovered, cause the portable game machine to exhibit an effect associated with the hot spot. Additionally, the user is provided with the ability to incorporate line drawings or predefined stamp images into a captured image. The captured images may also be arranged to form an animation or loop of images that are displayed according to a sequence defined by the user. Another feature provided by the improved portable game machine of the present invention is the ability to print out composite images made up of a plurality of captured images. The composite image is typically larger than a single image, and therefore, is not easily displayed on a display of the portable game machine, but may be printed as a composite on an associated printer.