Patents

Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo Apply For Poké Ball Plus Patents

Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for five new “Game Controller” patents (特開2019-202117, 202091, 202092, 202093, and 202094) in Japan all related to the Poké Ball Plus. The patents aim to properly arrange components in a spherical controller, to enable various operations using a game controller, to properly arrange components in a spherical controller, to improve the degree of freedom for a structure for light emission in a game controller, and to provide a game controller in which components are properly arranged in a substantially spherical game controller. Please note this is just a brief summary of 92, 79, 83, 76, and 77 page PDFs. Select images from the applications added below thanks to J-PlatPat.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo Apply For Nintendo Switch And Joy-Con Plurality Patent

Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for a new “Information processing” patent (特開2019-197585) in Japan. The patent aims to allow an information processing device (a Nintendo Switch is depicted throughout the application) to be used in a plurality of modes by using a main body device including a display, and attachable / detachable operation devices (Joy-Con) with the Switch operational with Joy-Con either attached or detached.

Whilst similar to another recent patent, this application makes reference to a 2011 patent (特開2011-108256) which aimed to reduce discomfort to users and depicted a Nintendo 3DS in switching between viewing the LCD screen in regular planar and in stereoscopic 3D displays. Please note this is just a brief summary of a 92 page PDF. Select images from both the new Nintendo Switch and prior Nintendo 3DS applications added below. Thanks to J-PlatPat.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo Apply For Mario Kart Tour Patents

Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for two new “Information processing” patents (特開2019-193741 and 特開2019-193742) in Japan, both related to Mario Kart Tour. 193741 aims to improve interest in handling a game item owned by a user (this patent is also an appendage to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which is referenced at this external link) with the former game adopting up to three items at once, the ‘Fever’ mode, and so-forth.

193742 aims to enhance motivation for acquiring a price and a charging item available in a game (this patent aims to improve the Mario Kart 7 system which is referenced at this external link – please note that this link now redirects to the Mario Kart 7 website and not the ‘Karts’ page as intended), by the correlation between obtaining machine parts (karts and gliders) and from the in-game items (such as in the ‘Special Skills’ of the machine parts etc).

Please note these are just brief summaries of 54 page and 51 page PDFs, intended as a brief insight into the applications and thereby not necessarily indicative of the patents as a whole. Select images that are used in both applications added below. Thanks to J-PlatPat.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo Apply For Reducing Power Consumption Patent

Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for a new “Information processing” patent (特開2019-186642) in Japan. The patent aims to provide a method for reducing power consumption when repeatedly receiving packets (collection of data) from other devices (Nintendo Switch is used as an example in the images) by wireless communication. The information processing unit includes a receiving unit, a storage unit, and a predetermined processing unit, which utilises the mode transition in the information processing unit, thus power consumption can be reduced. Please note this is just a brief summary of a 30 page PDF. Select images added below including a translation of the representative drawing. Thanks to J-PlatPat.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo Apply For Information Processing Patent

Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for a new “Information processing” patent (特開2019-185383) in Japan. The patent aims to improve the operability of a drag operation (drag-and-drop) by solving the problem when a user moves a virtual object (such as a block) on a display device (the images indicate a Nintendo Switch), the virtual object is obscured by the finger or stylus and the operation becomes difficult. The process relatively separates the input coordinate from the virtual object by calculating the coordinate changes, thus improving the operability of a drag operation. Please note this is just a brief summary of a 30 page PDF. The “Make” section of the Super Mario Maker 2 website is referenced in the application. Select images added below including a translation of the representative drawing. Thanks to J-PlatPat.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo Apply For Communication Technology Patent

Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for a new “Communication technology” patent (特開2019-193313) in Japan. The patent aims to provide a communication technology capable of providing variations in a connection route to a network. Nintendo aim to solve a problem where a master terminal is connected to a wireless LAN access point, but a client terminal cannot directly connect to it. The client terminal can then connect to this wireless LAN access point by connecting with the master terminal within a set distance. Please note this is just a brief summary of a 26 page PDF. Select images added below including a translation of the representative drawing. Thanks to J-PlatPat.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo & Intelligent Systems Apply For Multiplayer Patent

Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd. have applied for a new “Information processing” patent (特開2019-180720) in Japan. The patent aims to improve interest in a multiplayer game taking into account virtual points performed by a plurality of users belonging to a plurality of teams. No specific title is alluded to in the 37 page document other than just a “battle game”, with this patent based on the result of said battle game, adding the scores of the virtual area for each team. A determination is then performed on the basis of this score, which is stored in the storage device. After this has been performed a plurality of times, the result of the multiplayer game is then satisfied. The patent also states that its description is merely illustrative, and various modifications and variations may be made.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Lottery Patent

Nintendo Co., Ltd. and DeNA Co., Ltd. have applied for a new “Information processing” patent (特開2019-180784) in Japan. The patent aims to enhance interest in a user obtaining “in-game content” for games like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp by displaying cookie contents and appearance rates, being able to re-sell items, being able to use Bells, the use of Stamp Cards, in unlocking Memories, and many more.

The patent makes sure that this is not just limited to cookies but to any “presentation element”. Interestingly, the patent makes mention of transferring purchased cookies to another user, which is not currently available in-game. Select images used in the application (including a couple translated) added below. Thanks to J-PlatPat and BlackKite.

Continue reading →
Image | | Bri Bri

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Grip Patent

Nintendo Co., Ltd. have applied for a new “Game controller” patent (特開2019-181224) in Japan. The patent aims to enhance operability of a game controller. The patent uses a controller (the images used show a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller) with connected front and rear housing body parts plus gripping parts on the left and right side. The housing body is covered with grip portions which cover the entire grip part, so it is easy for the user to feel when they grip the grip portion, and thus operability is improved. Select images used in the application added below. Thanks to J-PlatPat.

Continue reading →