IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,551,793
Granted Patent B2
US 12,551,793 · App. 18/117,950 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Storage medium storing information processing program for generating an image depth of field mask based on virtual camera shooting direction, and corresponding information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method

Inventor: Yutaka Hiramuki (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
A63F13/5258A63F13/40A63F13/525G06F3/013G06T5/70
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,551,793
App. No.
18/117,950
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A blurred image is generated by blurring an image of a virtual space in a range of view from a virtual camera with a degree of blurring depending on a distance from the virtual camera. The blurred image is output on a display screen. The degree of blurring is determined, additionally depending on a location in the blurred image, and for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image, is changed, depending on at least one of an imaging direction of the virtual camera and a distance between a location of interest in the virtual space and the virtual camera.

Claims (54)

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an information processing program that when executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus, causes the computer to perform operations comprising:

generating a blurred image by blurring an image of a virtual space in a range of view from a virtual camera with a degree of blurring depending on a distance from the virtual camera; and

performing a process of outputting the blurred image on a display screen, wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is determined, additionally depending on a location in the blurred image, and for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image, is changed, depending on at least one of an imaging direction of the virtual camera and a distance between a location of interest in the virtual space and the virtual camera.

2 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, in a range in which the distance from the virtual camera is shorter than a first distance, the degree of blurring is increased with a decrease in the distance from the virtual camera.

3 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 2 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is decreased with a decrease in the distance between the location of interest and the virtual camera or an increase in closeness of the imaging direction of the virtual camera to a horizontal direction, for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image.

4 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, in a range in which the distance from the virtual camera is longer than a second distance, the degree of blurring is increased with an increase in the distance from the virtual camera.

5 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 4 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is decreased with an increase in the distance between the location of interest and the virtual camera or a decrease in closeness of the imaging direction of the virtual camera to a horizontal direction, for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image.

6 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 2 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, a range of the blurring in the blurred image is changed, depending on at least one of the imaging direction of the virtual camera and the distance between the location of interest and the virtual camera.

7 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the generating the blurred image includes generating mask data indicating a degree of a masking process depending on a location in the blurred image, and changing the mask data, depending on at least one of the imaging direction of the virtual camera and the distance between the location of interest and the virtual camera, and

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is changed and decreased with an increase in the degree of the masking process indicated by the changed mask data.

8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 7 , wherein

in the generating the mask data,

first mask data is generated as the mask data such that the degree of the masking process is increased with a decrease in the distance between the location of interest and the virtual camera or an increase in closeness of the imaging direction of the virtual camera to a horizontal direction, and

second mask data is generated as the mask data such that the degree of the masking process is increased with an increase in the distance between the location of interest and the virtual camera or a decrease in closeness of the imaging direction of the virtual camera to a horizontal direction, and

in the generating the blurred image,

in a range in which the distance from the virtual camera is shorter than a first distance, the degree of blurring is changed and increased with a decrease in the distance from the virtual camera, and is changed and decreased with an increase in the degree of the masking process indicated by the first mask data, and

in a range in which the distance from the virtual camera is longer than a second distance, the degree of blurring is changed and increased with an increase in the distance from the virtual camera, and is changed and decreased with an increase in the degree of the masking process indicated by the second mask data.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the location of interest is a gaze point that is a center of rotation around which an orientation of the virtual camera is rotated.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9 , wherein

the information processing program further causes the computer to perform operations comprising:

when the imaging direction of the virtual camera is changed based on a user's first input, changing a distance between the gaze point of the virtual camera and the virtual camera, depending on the imaging direction.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

the location of interest is a location of a player character disposed in the virtual space.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 11 , wherein

the information processing program further causes the computer to perform operations comprising:

moving the player character, based on the user's second input.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is changed and decreased with an increase in proximity to a center of the blurred image.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is changed and decreased with an increase in proximity to a reference point lower than a center portion of the blurred image.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the blurred image is generated with a degree of blurring depending on the distance from the virtual camera and the imaging direction, and the degree of blurring is changed, depending on the distance between the location of interest in the virtual space and the virtual camera, for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the blurred image is generated by blurring the image of the virtual space in the range of view from the virtual camera, depending on a distance between a location in the virtual space of each pixel of the image and the virtual camera.

17 . An information processing apparatus comprising a processor, the processor being configured to at least:

generate a blurred image by blurring an image of a virtual space in a range of view from a virtual camera with a degree of blurring depending on a distance from the virtual camera; and

perform a process of outputting the blurred image on a display screen, wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is determined, additionally depending on a location in the blurred image, and for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image, is changed, depending on at least one of an imaging direction of the virtual camera and a distance between a location of interest in the virtual space and the virtual camera.

18 . An information processing system comprising a processor, the processor being configured to at least:

generate a blurred image by blurring an image of a virtual space in a range of view from a virtual camera with a degree of blurring depending on a distance from the virtual camera; and

perform a process of outputting the blurred image on a display screen, wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is determined, additionally depending on a location in the blurred image, and for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image, is changed, depending on at least one of an imaging direction of the virtual camera and a distance between a location of interest in the virtual space and the virtual camera.

19 . An information processing method comprising:

generating a blurred image by blurring an image of a virtual space in a range of view from a virtual camera with a degree of blurring depending on a distance from the virtual camera; and

performing a process of outputting the blurred image on a display screen, wherein

in the generating the blurred image, the degree of blurring is determined, additionally depending on a location in the blurred image, and for at least a portion of locations in the blurred image, is changed, depending on at least one of an imaging direction of the virtual camera and a distance between a location of interest in the virtual space and the virtual camera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2023
From: HIRAMUKI, YUTAKA
To: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062896/0124 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2022-050293 · Mar 25, 2022 · national
JP 2022-050294 · Mar 25, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230306560A1 · Sep 28, 2023
References Cited (25)
US 6480192B1 · Sakamoto et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 11922602B2 · Taylor · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20020003537A1 · Higashiyama et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020158888A1 · Kitsutaka · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20040155887A1 · Kitsutaka · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040166933A1 · Sakagami · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20070082742A1 · Takizawa · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20080107350A1 · Guichard et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080158377A1 · Chanas et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20110019065A1 · Chanas et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110109749A1 · Chanas et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20140354631A1 · Yamaoka · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20190220089A1 · Kakizawa et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210362056A1 · Zhou et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20230302358A1 · Hiramuki · 2023 [cited by examiner]
CN 101204083 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 09204542 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001175884 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002269582 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014195715 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014235657 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018010488 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 0025269 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
“Unreal Engine 4 Documentation”, [online], Epic Games, Inc., [searched on Feb. 14, 2022], internet (URL : https://docs.unrealengine.com/4.27/en-US/RenderingAndGraphics/PostProcessEffects/DepthOfField/MobileDOFMethods/),… [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/117,914, filed Mar. 6, 2022, Yutaka Hiramuki. [cited by applicant]