USRE28507E - Television gaming apparatus - Google Patents

Television gaming apparatus Download PDF

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USRE28507E
USRE28507E US46425674A USRE28507E US RE28507 E USRE28507 E US RE28507E US 46425674 A US46425674 A US 46425674A US RE28507 E USRE28507 E US RE28507E
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generating
symbol
coupled
hitting
hit
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/40—Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
    • A63F13/42—Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/20—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterised by details of the game platform
    • A63F2300/203—Image generating hardware

Definitions

  • the invention comprises in one em- A I 8281;; bodiment a control unit, connecting means and in r 5 1969 some applications a television screen overlay mask utilized in conjunction with a standard television re- [m] U 9 C] 340/3", fif 773/8; ceiver.
  • the control unit includes the control means. i Q i I switches and electronic circuitry for the generation. H1] [m C! 2 G08B 5/36 manipulation and control of video signals which are to 5 Fieid 315/377 be displayed on the television screen.
  • the symbols are i i 4 i i i a generated by developing current pulses proportional [56 ⁇ References Cited to predetermined portions [slices] of horizontal and vertical sawtooth waves,
  • the connecting means cou- 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS pies the video signals to the receiver antenna terminals 11155993 -i- Goldsmllh at 315 32 thereby using existing electronic circuits within the re 39 g g- D0211 325?
  • Control units may be provided for each of 1158358 HHQM RagmI at L VVVV 340/334 AD the participants.
  • games may he carried 3349796 5/1966 M m H 3 5 33 out in conjunction with background and other picto- 3.497 760 2/1970 Kiesling H S/6.8 X rial information originated in the television receiver by FORFIGN, PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS commercial TV closed-circuit TV or a CATV station.
  • OAL HORTZONTAL SYNC SYNC.
  • This invention relates to an apparatus and method by means of which standard television receivers can be utilized as active rather than passive instruments. This is accomplished in certain embodiments by having participants manipulate controls of a control unit connected to the television receiver to cause a symbol, such as a rectangle, circle, ring, star, cross, spot or a plurality of spots, to be displayed upon the television screen by means of which the participants can play a variety of games, participate in simulated training programs, as well as carry out other activities.
  • modified versions of the well-known game of ping-pong may be played by two participants by physically or electronically placing an appropriate mask rep resenting the net upon the screen of the television receiver. Three displayed spots represent two paddles and a ball wherein the ball is moved in a particular di rection when hit by a paddle.
  • color and monochrome television receivers have been used generally by the home and other viewers as passive devices; i.e., the television receiver is used only as a display means for programming originating at a studio.
  • the viewer is limited to selecting the presentations available for viewing and is not a partici pant to the extent that he can control or influence the nature of, or add to the presentation displayed on the receiver screen.
  • a standard receiver employed with auxiliary equipment to provide an active form of home entertainment is described in a patent application for Television Gaming and Training Apparatus," Ser. No. 126,966 filed Mar. 22, 1971 a continuation ofSer. No. 697,798, filed Jan. 15, 1968, and assigned to the assignee of this application. Since most homes are equipped with television receivers, the only cxpense required to provide added family enjoyment is the expense ofa control unit of one type or another.
  • a television gaming apparatus for generating video signals in accordance with the standardized television format, which signals may be controlled by an individual operator by means of a joystick or other manually operative meansv
  • the television gaming apparatus comprises control apparatus having included therein the necessary electronic circuits to produce video signals which are compatible with standard television receivers.
  • the control ipparatus has video signal control means mounted thereon for each access and connecting means are provided for coupling the video signals generated within the control box to the television receiver.
  • the television gaming apparatus can be used for playing a game of ping-pong by providing on a TV screen two spots which represent paddles. Means are provided for enabling the players to control the vertical movement of the spots. Mears are also provided for generating on the screen of the elevision receiver a third spot which represents the ping pong ball, which spot automatically moves from an offscreen left position on an off-screen right position and vice versa unless hit by a paddle spot whereupon the ball spot will change direction. The players have further controls for changing the vertical position of the ball spot.
  • Suitable overlays or presentations from a cooperative TV station may be used in conjunction with said games to enhance the asthetic appeal thereof.
  • FIG. I is a pictorial view illustrating the principle components of an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. IA is a pictorial view illustrating an alternate embodiment for the control unit of FIG. I;
  • FIG 2 is a sketch illustrating a typical TV screen and overlay mask as employed in an embodiment of this in ⁇ ention
  • FIG. 3 is a sketch illustrating the manner in which spots are formed on a TV screen
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the spot generation:
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the preferred mode of generating spots on a TV screen
  • FIG. 6 is a plurality of sketches illustrating shapes of representative spots
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic of a sync/sawtooth generator employed in the embodiment of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 8 are schematics ot'circuits employed in the emhodiment of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 9A is a schematic of potentiometer controls used to generate slicer control voltages
  • FIG. 9B is a schematic ofjoystick controlled potenti' ometcrs used to generate slicer control voltages
  • FIG. 9C is a schematic of joystick controlled potentiometer-integrator control used to generate slicer control voltages
  • FIG. IUA is a schematic of a position flip-flop circuit used to control spots in certain applications of this invention.
  • FIG. 10B are sketches of representative waveforms of the circuit of FIG. 10A:
  • FIG. I IA is a block diagram of apparatus of control ling a "hit" spot
  • FIG. I I8 is a sketch illustrating the manner in which the apparatus of FIG. IIA controls a hit spot; supplies] FIG. IIC is a schematic of the horizontal gated differentiator of FIG. IlA;
  • FIG. I ID is a schematic of the bilateral switch, integrator and wall bounce control of FIG. IIA;
  • FIG. 12A is a diagram of apparatus for a simulated ping-pong game
  • FIG. 12B is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of the pingpong game of FIG. 12A;
  • FIG. IZC is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a simulated hockey game using the apparatus of FIG. 12A;
  • FIG. 12D is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a simulated baseball game
  • FIG. I3 is a sketch illustrating a class of games (chase" games) which can be played using the apparatus of this invention
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram of apparatus for a siimulated hockey game
  • FIG. ISA is a diagram of apparatus for the simulated handball game
  • FIG. 15B is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a simulated handball game using the apparatus of FIG. 15A;
  • FIG. 16A is a diagi am of apparatus for a simulated pinball game
  • FIG. 16B is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a pinball game using the apparatus of FIG. I6A;
  • FIG. 17A is a diagram of apparatus for a simulated bowling game
  • FIG. I78 is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a bowling game using the apparatus of FIG. 17A.
  • FIGS. IBA ISC are block diagrams ofbuilt-in" em bodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. I is a simplified block diagram of another embodiment of-TV gaming apparatus.
  • FIG. 20 is an alternate embodiment of circuits em ployed in the embodiment of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. I is a pictorial view showing a television receiver 10 a control unit 14 and means I2 for connecting control unit 14 to receiver Ill.
  • the television receiver I0 employed can be any of the standard commercially available models that are generally used for home entertainment. Either a monochrome or color television set may be used with the present invention since the basic principles of the invention apply to both types.
  • the connection means 12 is in this embodiment a shielded cable, for example. shielded twin lead, and is attached to the antenna terminals of receiver 10 in conventional fashion.
  • Control unit 14 generates video signals shown as spots 20,. 20 and 21.
  • the spots 20, and 20 are positioned on the receiver screen 18 by knobs 16,, I7 and 16 17 respectively.
  • the spot 21 is illustrated as a circle and the spots 20 are illustrated as diamonds. however, many shapes can be generated. In the devices to be described hereinafter, circles are generally employed.
  • Knob 16 controls the vertical position of spot 20 while knob 17 controls the horizontal position thereof.
  • the spot 20 may be positioned at any point on the screen by the proper manipulation of knobs I6 and I7.
  • Spot 20-; is positioned in like manner by knob 16 I7
  • spot 2] is automatically positioned on screen I8 without manual control. This will be described more fully hereinafter.
  • a reset switch 26 is shown on the control unit 14 and is used to reset the picture on the television screen. For example, a game may be played in which one spot is to be positioned over the other and when this is accomplished one spot will disappear and the background will change color. When games of this nature are played, a reset means is required before play can be resumed. Reset switch 26 performs this function.
  • a knob I5 controls background color for color TV receiver applications wherein a chroma generator is employed in the manner set forth in said application Ser. No. b16966.
  • control unit 14 maybe broken up into a master control unit containing the electronic circuits and individual control units containing control knobs 16,, 17 and 16 17 whereby each participant may operate from a position away from the other and so not to interfere with other players.
  • FIG. IA wherein control unit 14 is broken up into a master control unit 27 and individual control units 22 and 23.
  • the master control unit 27 contains the electronic circuitry found in control unit I4 and controls 26 and IS.
  • Knobs l6, l7 and 16,, I7 which position the spots 20 and 20 are situated on individual control units 22 and 23 respectively.
  • the knobs I6, 17 may be combined into a singlejoy stick permitting control of the horizontal and vertical spot positioning by a single control means.
  • spot position and control means can be incorporated into the control unit(s) and these will be described hereinafter.
  • control unit Rather than provide a separate control unit.
  • the electronic circuitry of the control unit could be built into the television receiver as a constituent part thereof and the receiver sold as both an active and passive home cnterfainment system.
  • Control units containing the actual manipulating controls can be provided as above,
  • a typical sequence of steps to play a game using the present invention would he as follows: 1. Attach connection means 12 to TV set ll) at the antenna terminals thereof. if not already attached; 2. turn the TV set on: 3. select the proper channel on the set for the control unit being used; 4. apply power to the control unit; 5. attach a mask on the face ofthe TV screen; if required for the game to be played; (1. begin the game.
  • a television screen 18 is itlustrated having three spots 24 24 and 25 displayed thereon.
  • Spots 24 are "hitting" spots and spot 25 is a hit" spot.
  • Spots 24, and 24 represent, for example. hockey players while spot 25 represents a hockey puck.
  • One type of overlay mask represents a hockey field to be used for playing a modified game of hockey. Still another pattern could represent a ping-pong table. baseball diamond, etc. These are but a few of the many type games that can be adapted for use with the present invcntion.
  • the pattern to be provided could be displayed directly on the screen 18.
  • the pattern could be broadcast by TV stations or alternatively could be sent to a non-used channel over closcdcircu t or CATV lines. It could also be generated electronically in the video control system.
  • the TV electron beam is at the upper left of screen 18. It starts moving quickly to the right and slowly downwards. Sixty-three and one-half (63.5) microseconds later a 5 microsecond horizontal sync pulse is fed into the TV set, causing the beam to fly back rapidly to the left of the screen. The beam then moves to the right for 63.5 microseconds until the next horizontal sync pulse causes the next flyhack to the left. After about 250 such horizontal scans (lines) the beam has progressed to the bottom of the screen. A vertical sync pulse fed into the TV set causes rapid (l millisecond) vertical flyback to the top of the screen and another cycle begins.
  • the major portion ofthe screen is dark (beam blanked) except for the areas shown as SPOT 1 and SPOT 2.
  • the spots are made by passing a (positive) unblanking video signal to the TV set when, and only when, the beam" is passing over the areas of the spots. [Quotes are used around beam because although there is no real beam when blanking is in effect. the scanning signals OCCTST and can he thought of as still moving the non-existent beam in the scanning pattern).
  • SPOT 1 vertical video pulses P are made to be of width W, and to occur T milliseconds after the start of the vertical sweep.
  • W is on the order ololi microseconds. permitting some l0 horizontal scans to take place with P is on. If P were used alone as the unhlanking (video) signal to the TV set. ten lines the width ofthe set would be brightened while P was on and a bright horizontal bar of width W (shown shaded in FEG. 3) would be viewed.
  • SPOT 1 horizontal video pulses W and vertical video pulses are passed through a coincidence gate.
  • the gate has an output only when both P and P are on.
  • the gate output becomes SPOT 1 video (unblank) signal.
  • FIG. 3 it is obvious that the beam is now unblanked only where the P vertical shaded column and the P horizontal shaded bar overlap-Thus.
  • SPOT 1 comprised of about l0 small line segments. each W wide. is developed.
  • SPOT 2 is developed in the like manner.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams illustrating the manner in which the signals discussed with respect to FIG. 3 are generated.
  • the timing for the television gaming system is establishcd by a horizontal sync/sawtooth generator 31 and a vertical sync/sawtooth generator 32.
  • the horizontal sync/sawtooth generator 31 generates a series of negative l Jrizontal sync pulses 33 having a repetition rate equivalent to the standard horizontal scanning fre quency used in United States commercial television receivers and the vertical sync/sawtooth generator generates a series of negative vertical sync pulses 34.
  • the vertical snyc/sawtooth generator 31 also generates a 15.75 KHz sawtooth wave 35 (refer now to FIG. 5).
  • Sawtooth wave 35 has end limits of +E and 0. It is directly coupled to a SPOT 1 horizontal slicer 36. A slicc of the sawtooth ramp of length W is passed through the slicer.
  • voltage e delay T can be varied for spot positioning from left to right of the TV screen.
  • a 60Hz sawtooth 37 is generated by vertical synclsawtooth generator 32 and is similarly sliced in a SPOT 1 vertical slicer 2). to give ramp width W, and voltage controlled delay T
  • the two sliced waves are differentiated by capacitors 38 and 39 which connect to the low input impedance of a SPOT 1 coincidence gate 40. Since the current through a capacitor is C de/dt. current pulses appear only during the ramp portions of the sliced waveforms. Although the slope of the vertical ramp is only about one two hundred and sixtieth times that of the horizontal ramp (60 Hz/l5,750 HZ), by making capacitor 39 approximately 260 times the value of capacitor 38.
  • current plllsCS lll and i, are made equal in magnitude. Both in, and i must be present to exceed in magnitude the (negative) thrcshold ofthe gate thus producing the SPOT] video signal.

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are herein disclosed for use in conjunction with standard monochrome and color television receivers, for the generation, display and manipulation of symbols or geometric figures upon the screen of the television receivers for the purpose of playing games. The invention comprises in one embodiment a control unit, connecting means and in some applications a television screen overlay mask utilized in conjunction with a standard television receiver. The control unit includes the control means, switches and electronic circuitry for the generation, manipulation and control of video signals which are to be displayed on the television screen. The symbols are generated by developing current pulses proportional to predetermined portions (slices) of horizontal and vertical sawtooth waves. The connecting means couples the video signals to the receiver antenna terminals thereby using existing electronic circuits within the receiver to process and display the signals. An overlay mask which may be removably attached to the television screen may determine the nature of the game to be played. Control units may be provided for each of the participants. Alternatively, games may be carried out in conjunction with background and other pictorial information originated in the television receiver by commercial TV, closed-circuit TV or a CATV station.

Description

[ William T. Rusch, Hollis, NH,
1 inventor:
} Assignce:
i 340-109 SR g y XFZ RE ZBsSQ? i i i W United 5 E Re. 28,507 Rusch Reissued Aug. 5, 1975 TELEV LSION GANHNG APPARATUS Primary Examiner-David L. Tralton Attorney. .igcnt or FirmLouis Etlingcr; Richard I. Seligman Nashua. NH.
:21 Filed: Apr. 25, 1974 [571 ABSTRICT 1 A I NO 464 256 Apparatus and methods are herein disclosed for use in Related US. Patent Documents Reissue oi":
[64] Patent No.: 3,659,284
kgued Apr 1972 playing games. The invention comprises in one em- A I 8281;; bodiment a control unit, connecting means and in r 5 1969 some applications a television screen overlay mask utilized in conjunction with a standard television re- [m] U 9 C] 340/3", fif 773/8; ceiver. The control unit includes the control means. i Q i I switches and electronic circuitry for the generation. H1] [m C! 2 G08B 5/36 manipulation and control of video signals which are to 5 Fieid 315/377 be displayed on the television screen. The symbols are i i 4 i i i a generated by developing current pulses proportional [56} References Cited to predetermined portions [slices] of horizontal and vertical sawtooth waves, The connecting means cou- 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS pies the video signals to the receiver antenna terminals 11155993 -i- Goldsmllh at 315 32 thereby using existing electronic circuits within the re 39 g g- D0211 325? ceiver to process and display the signals. An overlay 1: 2: mask which mil) be removably attached to the televi- 'a 71x96: Hgmhrm "H sion screen may determine the nature of the game to 9/196; 6135 at ulum'm be played. Control units may be provided for each of 1158358 HHQM RagmI at L VVVV 340/334 AD the participants. Alternatively, games may he carried 3349796 5/1966 M m H 3 5 33 out in conjunction with background and other picto- 3.497 760 2/1970 Kiesling H S/6.8 X rial information originated in the television receiver by FORFIGN, PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS commercial TV closed-circuit TV or a CATV station. some 6/1959 France 64 Claim$- 35 Drawing Figures W 63.5 vs l srnc i E as E33 Ll E a +Er\ fl l 'H FHZG m i ls mc/ L D \l F l i SAWTQQTH l 4TH i I, 38 l i l eentnaron m SUCER 36 hc l 1 SPOT l st; MS i an.
'TT i l W l r L :Ms J34 V l c" 1 [JR g l SPOT l l l GATE sniff COlNCiDENCE a SYF'C GATE 3. 23:25.. ---*a-* 630115 l 'T/\\' 4s rv 'r l I l l "T 3' HOR. smc/ l SAWTOOTH l GEN 31 l or COlNCIDENCE ATE VERT smc/ SAWTOOTH F. GEN 32 I B, 1: V I v 0* b d conjunction with standard monochrome and color television receivers. for the generation. display and manipulation of symbols or geometric figures upon the screen of the television receivers for the purpose of 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! mvsmw 3O WILLIAM T. RUSCH A BY A TTORNE) Reiasueri Aug. 5, 1975 I Re. 5%?
16 sheets-si n 4 W (BI m g (D) (E) (F) FIG. 6
I\[\ HOR 38 IHI SYNC/ M H SAWTOOTH w 6V SPOT! VIDEO GEN. 47/
0-. VIDEO TH; VOLTAGE GN L I\1\ 10D RF N osc.
VERT SYNC/ M SAWTOOTH GEN. 49
0- 6V :52 46 TV VOLTAGE I ISPOTI I I SPOT I ICOINCIDENCE| IGATING PULSE I VARIABLE SEVERALI I I I THRESHOLD? I SPOTS I I FIGS { FIG? 511s WILLIAM T. RUSCH L g 6M ATTORNEY Reissued Aug. 5, 1975 16 Sheets-Shet 1o FIGIZD SPOT 2 GEN V SPOT H GEN INTEGRATO R INVENTOR.
WlLLIAM T. RUSCH EFMD 1% Reiasued Aug. 5, 1975 16 Sheets-Effect 12 TO SPOT 3 GENERATOR POSTTION FUP- FLOP T'S'T'T TO SPOT GEN.
TO SPOT 3 GENERATOR HTT" SPOT WITH T55 WALL BOUNCE SYSTEM V TO SPOTZ T 8 e T STRAIGHT STRAIGHT CONTROL CONTROL JOYSTICK JOYSTICK PLAYER A PLAYER B I IO [5 B INVENTOR.
WILLIAM T. RUSCH A T TORNF Y Reiasued Aug. 5, 1975 Re. 23,507
16 Sheets-Sheet 13 I58 ---4 N FEGRATOR T |e4 162 p HORIZONTAL CIOMPAQATOR F GENERAL W60 FLIP-FLOP I63 0 SYSTEM VERTICAL I65 FLWFLOP COMPARATOR O H 5 4 INTEGRATOR COINCIDENCE GENERAL SYSTEM DETECTOR AND CROWBAR [i3 FJGITB JM'ENTOR. WILLIAM T. RUSCH ATTORNEY Reissued Aug. 5, 1.9?5 Re. 28,507
16 sheets-51198155 CONVENTIONAL TELEVISlON 1551 RECEIVER VERTICAL E EEN N "205 O IO GTRGOTTRY i SQ Q 195 I ZONTAL 202 VIDEO DEFLECTION 204 m f AMPUFIER CIRCUITRY 2034? use i BOEFEQ [BUFFER 20? 1 8V! 206 F V HT SPOT 1 491 OR GATE ANO PULSE SHAPER GEN.
VERT|OAL HORTZONTAL SYNC. SYNC. SAWTOOTH SAWTOOTH GENERATOR GENERATOR N5 J lgs 1 SPOT l v GEN. HI
1 OR GATE i- AND PULSE Y AMPLIFIERS |92 T SHAPER 209 SPOT n I93 208 GEN 8Hn 225 VERT|cAL VERTICAL DEFLECTION AMPUFIERS 224 OscTLLATOR ,22? HORTZONTA? HORlZONTAL OsciLLATOR AMPLIFIERS HIGH 22s- VOLTAGE RECTIFIER MENTOR WILLIAM T. RUSCH A TTORNE Y Reissued Aug. 5, 1975 Re. 23,507
16 Sheets-Shaat 16 FIG. 20
Q N g;
Hg N I I g o g) A u Q: I 5 ig '8 m s ow psm O %55 55 x 11079 $60 INVENTOR. F WILLIAM T. RUSCH wa Magg ATTORNEY TELEVISION GAMING APPARATUS Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: 1 appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics Indicates the additions made by reimue.
This invention relates to the subject matter disclosed in application Ser. No. 126,966 filed Mar. 22, 1971, a continuation of application Ser. No. 697,798 tiled Jan. 15, 1968, now abandoned; and application Ser. No. 713,862, filed Mar. 18, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,829.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus and method by means of which standard television receivers can be utilized as active rather than passive instruments. This is accomplished in certain embodiments by having participants manipulate controls of a control unit connected to the television receiver to cause a symbol, such as a rectangle, circle, ring, star, cross, spot or a plurality of spots, to be displayed upon the television screen by means of which the participants can play a variety of games, participate in simulated training programs, as well as carry out other activities. By way of example, modified versions of the well-known game of ping-pong may be played by two participants by physically or electronically placing an appropriate mask rep resenting the net upon the screen of the television receiver. Three displayed spots represent two paddles and a ball wherein the ball is moved in a particular di rection when hit by a paddle.
Heretofore, color and monochrome television receivers have been used generally by the home and other viewers as passive devices; i.e., the television receiver is used only as a display means for programming originating at a studio. The viewer is limited to selecting the presentations available for viewing and is not a partici pant to the extent that he can control or influence the nature of, or add to the presentation displayed on the receiver screen.
A standard receiver employed with auxiliary equipment to provide an active form of home entertainment is described in a patent application for Television Gaming and Training Apparatus," Ser. No. 126,966 filed Mar. 22, 1971 a continuation ofSer. No. 697,798, filed Jan. 15, 1968, and assigned to the assignee of this application. Since most homes are equipped with television receivers, the only cxpense required to provide added family enjoyment is the expense ofa control unit of one type or another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods for displaying video signals on the screen of a television receiver, where some or all of the video signals are both generated and controlled by apparatus external to the television receiver.
It is another object of the present inven .t i on to provide an apparatus and method wherein a standard color or monochrome television receiver is utilized as an active instrument for playing various types of games involving one or more participants.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device whereby an individual may pit his alertness, skill, manual dexterity and visual acuity against automatically controlled video displays.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will generate spots such as squares, rectangles, circles, rings, stars, etc. which may be controlled by one or more participants for playing various types of games.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cathode ray tube apparatus for displaying symbols to be manipulated by participants.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will allow one or more participants to actively use a standard television set while receiving background and other pertinent pictorial information from a cooperative commercial TV, closedcircuit TV, or CATV station, thus combining or alternating studio and home-generated information on the TV screen.
It is still another object of the present invention to allow the use of standard TV set for gaming or other activities without the need for any kind of internal electrical connection to the TV set for the introduction of video and/or chroma signals, connections being required to be made only to the externally-accessible antenna terminals.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a television gaming apparatus is provided for generating video signals in accordance with the standardized television format, which signals may be controlled by an individual operator by means of a joystick or other manually operative meansv The television gaming apparatus comprises control apparatus having included therein the necessary electronic circuits to produce video signals which are compatible with standard television receivers.
The control ipparatus has video signal control means mounted thereon for each access and connecting means are provided for coupling the video signals generated within the control box to the television receiver.
By way of illustration, the television gaming apparatus can be used for playing a game of ping-pong by providing on a TV screen two spots which represent paddles. Means are provided for enabling the players to control the vertical movement of the spots. Mears are also provided for generating on the screen of the elevision receiver a third spot which represents the ping pong ball, which spot automatically moves from an offscreen left position on an off-screen right position and vice versa unless hit by a paddle spot whereupon the ball spot will change direction. The players have further controls for changing the vertical position of the ball spot.
Suitable overlays or presentations from a cooperative TV station may be used in conjunction with said games to enhance the asthetic appeal thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other fcature and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. I is a pictorial view illustrating the principle components of an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. IA is a pictorial view illustrating an alternate embodiment for the control unit of FIG. I;
FIG 2 is a sketch illustrating a typical TV screen and overlay mask as employed in an embodiment of this in \ention;
FIG. 3 is a sketch illustrating the manner in which spots are formed on a TV screen;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the spot generation:
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the preferred mode of generating spots on a TV screen;
FIG. 6 is a plurality of sketches illustrating shapes of representative spots;
FIG. 7 is a schematic of a sync/sawtooth generator employed in the embodiment of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 are schematics ot'circuits employed in the emhodiment of FIG. 5;
FIG. 9A is a schematic of potentiometer controls used to generate slicer control voltages;
FIG. 9B is a schematic ofjoystick controlled potenti' ometcrs used to generate slicer control voltages;
FIG. 9C is a schematic of joystick controlled potentiometer-integrator control used to generate slicer control voltages;
FIG. IUA is a schematic of a position flip-flop circuit used to control spots in certain applications of this invention;
FIG. 10B are sketches of representative waveforms of the circuit of FIG. 10A:
FIG. I IA is a block diagram of apparatus of control ling a "hit" spot;
FIG. I I8 is a sketch illustrating the manner in which the apparatus of FIG. IIA controls a hit spot; supplies] FIG. IIC is a schematic of the horizontal gated differentiator of FIG. IlA;
FIG. I ID is a schematic of the bilateral switch, integrator and wall bounce control of FIG. IIA;
FIG. 12A is a diagram of apparatus for a simulated ping-pong game;
FIG. 12B is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of the pingpong game of FIG. 12A;
FIG. IZC is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a simulated hockey game using the apparatus of FIG. 12A;
FIG. 12D is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a simulated baseball game;
FIG. I3 is a sketch illustrating a class of games (chase" games) which can be played using the apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 14 is a diagram of apparatus for a siimulated hockey game;
FIG. ISA is a diagram of apparatus for the simulated handball game;
FIG. 15B is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a simulated handball game using the apparatus of FIG. 15A;
FIG. 16A is a diagi am of apparatus for a simulated pinball game;
FIG. 16B is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a pinball game using the apparatus of FIG. I6A;
FIG. 17A is a diagram of apparatus for a simulated bowling game;
FIG. I78 is a sketch of a TV screen illustrating the manner of play of a bowling game using the apparatus of FIG. 17A.
FIGS. IBA ISC are block diagrams ofbuilt-in" em bodiments of the invention;
FIG. I) is a simplified block diagram of another embodiment of-TV gaming apparatus; and
FIG. 20 is an alternate embodiment of circuits em ployed in the embodiment of FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The principal components of one embodiment of a television gaming system configured according to the invention are illustrated in FIG. I which is a pictorial view showing a television receiver 10 a control unit 14 and means I2 for connecting control unit 14 to receiver Ill. The television receiver I0 employed can be any of the standard commercially available models that are generally used for home entertainment. Either a monochrome or color television set may be used with the present invention since the basic principles of the invention apply to both types. The connection means 12 is in this embodiment a shielded cable, for example. shielded twin lead, and is attached to the antenna terminals of receiver 10 in conventional fashion.
Control unit 14 generates video signals shown as spots 20,. 20 and 21. The spots 20, and 20 are positioned on the receiver screen 18 by knobs 16,, I7 and 16 17 respectively. For clarity. the spot 21 is illustrated as a circle and the spots 20 are illustrated as diamonds. however, many shapes can be generated. In the devices to be described hereinafter, circles are generally employed.
Knob 16 controls the vertical position of spot 20 while knob 17 controls the horizontal position thereof. Thus, it can be seen that the spot 20, may be positioned at any point on the screen by the proper manipulation of knobs I6 and I7. Spot 20-; is positioned in like manner by knob 16 I7 In this embodiment spot 2] is automatically positioned on screen I8 without manual control. This will be described more fully hereinafter. A reset switch 26 is shown on the control unit 14 and is used to reset the picture on the television screen. For example, a game may be played in which one spot is to be positioned over the other and when this is accomplished one spot will disappear and the background will change color. When games of this nature are played, a reset means is required before play can be resumed. Reset switch 26 performs this function.
A knob I5 controls background color for color TV receiver applications wherein a chroma generator is employed in the manner set forth in said application Ser. No. b16966. Alternatively, control unit 14 maybe broken up into a master control unit containing the electronic circuits and individual control units containing control knobs 16,, 17 and 16 17 whereby each participant may operate from a position away from the other and so not to interfere with other players. This is illustrated in FIG. IA wherein control unit 14 is broken up into a master control unit 27 and individual control units 22 and 23. The master control unit 27 contains the electronic circuitry found in control unit I4 and controls 26 and IS. Knobs l6, l7 and 16,, I7 which position the spots 20 and 20 are situated on individual control units 22 and 23 respectively.
The knobs I6, 17 may be combined into a singlejoy stick permitting control of the horizontal and vertical spot positioning by a single control means.
Other spot position and control means (not shown) can be incorporated into the control unit(s) and these will be described hereinafter.
Rather than provide a separate control unit. the electronic circuitry of the control unit could be built into the television receiver as a constituent part thereof and the receiver sold as both an active and passive home cnterfainment system. Control units containing the actual manipulating controls can be provided as above,
A typical sequence of steps to play a game using the present invention would he as follows: 1. Attach connection means 12 to TV set ll) at the antenna terminals thereof. if not already attached; 2. turn the TV set on: 3. select the proper channel on the set for the control unit being used; 4. apply power to the control unit; 5. attach a mask on the face ofthe TV screen; if required for the game to be played; (1. begin the game.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a television screen 18 is itlustrated having three spots 24 24 and 25 displayed thereon. Spots 24 are "hitting" spots and spot 25 is a hit" spot. Spots 24, and 24 represent, for example. hockey players while spot 25 represents a hockey puck. An overlay mask 3!) of some type of transparent matcrial such as plastic or the like. hmg some type of pattern. picture or other illustration pertaining to the particular game to he played is shown in a lifted position. Prior to engaging in a game, the overlay mask is temporarily attached to television screen 18 and in such close proximity to it as not to create any distortion when viewed with reference to spots 24 and 25. One type of overlay mask represents a hockey field to be used for playing a modified game of hockey. Still another pattern could represent a ping-pong table. baseball diamond, etc. These are but a few of the many type games that can be adapted for use with the present invcntion.
Alternatively. rather than employ overlay mask 30., the pattern to be provided could be displayed directly on the screen 18. The pattern could be broadcast by TV stations or alternatively could be sent to a non-used channel over closcdcircu t or CATV lines. It could also be generated electronically in the video control system.
The basic theory of TV gaming devices as described herein is now set forth.
Referring to FIG. 3, at time zero the TV electron beam is at the upper left of screen 18. It starts moving quickly to the right and slowly downwards. Sixty-three and one-half (63.5) microseconds later a 5 microsecond horizontal sync pulse is fed into the TV set, causing the beam to fly back rapidly to the left of the screen. The beam then moves to the right for 63.5 microseconds until the next horizontal sync pulse causes the next flyhack to the left. After about 250 such horizontal scans (lines) the beam has progressed to the bottom of the screen. A vertical sync pulse fed into the TV set causes rapid (l millisecond) vertical flyback to the top of the screen and another cycle begins.
Now. still referring to FIG. 3. assume that the major portion ofthe screen is dark (beam blanked) except for the areas shown as SPOT 1 and SPOT 2. The spots are made by passing a (positive) unblanking video signal to the TV set when, and only when, the beam" is passing over the areas of the spots. [Quotes are used around beam because although there is no real beam when blanking is in effect. the scanning signals OCCTST and can he thought of as still moving the non-existent beam in the scanning pattern).
The video (unhlankingl signals required for spot generation as described with the aid of FIG. 3. To derive SPOT 1. assume that a pluse ofwidlh W is generated Tm microseconds after the occurrence ofeach horizontal sync pulse. Define these new pulses as P hori zontal video pulse forSPOT l. lfthese P pulses were used as unblanking (video) in the TV set. the beam would brighten whenever it had moved a distance equivalent to T from the left side of the screen. If would stay bright for a length equivalent to W and then darken. This would happen all during the vertical scan and bright little line segments of width W would appear to the eye as a vertical column l shown shaded in FIG. 3).
Now. SPOT 1 vertical video pulses P are made to be of width W, and to occur T milliseconds after the start of the vertical sweep. W, is on the order ololi microseconds. permitting some l0 horizontal scans to take place with P is on. If P were used alone as the unhlanking (video) signal to the TV set. ten lines the width ofthe set would be brightened while P was on and a bright horizontal bar of width W (shown shaded in FEG. 3) would be viewed.
As the last step in spot generation, SPOT 1 horizontal video pulses W and vertical video pulses (P are passed through a coincidence gate. The gate has an output only when both P and P are on. The gate output becomes SPOT 1 video (unblank) signal. From FIG. 3 it is obvious that the beam is now unblanked only where the P vertical shaded column and the P horizontal shaded bar overlap-Thus. a bright spot SPOT 1. comprised of about l0 small line segments. each W wide. is developed. SPOT 2 is developed in the like manner.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams illustrating the manner in which the signals discussed with respect to FIG. 3 are generated.
The timing for the television gaming system is establishcd by a horizontal sync/sawtooth generator 31 and a vertical sync/sawtooth generator 32. The horizontal sync/sawtooth generator 31 generates a series of negative l Jrizontal sync pulses 33 having a repetition rate equivalent to the standard horizontal scanning fre quency used in United States commercial television receivers and the vertical sync/sawtooth generator generates a series of negative vertical sync pulses 34.
The vertical snyc/sawtooth generator 31 also generates a 15.75 KHz sawtooth wave 35 (refer now to FIG. 5). Sawtooth wave 35 has end limits of +E and 0. It is directly coupled to a SPOT 1 horizontal slicer 36. A slicc of the sawtooth ramp of length W is passed through the slicer. By varying voltage e delay T can be varied for spot positioning from left to right of the TV screen.
A 60Hz sawtooth 37 is generated by vertical synclsawtooth generator 32 and is similarly sliced in a SPOT 1 vertical slicer 2). to give ramp width W, and voltage controlled delay T The two sliced waves are differentiated by capacitors 38 and 39 which connect to the low input impedance of a SPOT 1 coincidence gate 40. Since the current through a capacitor is C de/dt. current pulses appear only during the ramp portions of the sliced waveforms. Although the slope of the vertical ramp is only about one two hundred and sixtieth times that of the horizontal ramp (60 Hz/l5,750 HZ), by making capacitor 39 approximately 260 times the value of capacitor 38. current plllsCS lll and i,, are made equal in magnitude. Both in, and i must be present to exceed in magnitude the (negative) thrcshold ofthe gate thus producing the SPOT] video signal.

Claims (63)

1. In combination with a standard television receiver, apparatus for generating signals representing a symbol to be displayed on the screen of said television receiver, comprising: means for generating sync signals; means for generating a first sawtooth wave; means for generating a second sawtooth wave; means coupled to said first sawtooth wave generating means for generating first current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said first sawtooth wave; including a first slicer having first and second diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said first sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal at said other junction, and first means for differentiating the output from said first slicer; means coupled to said second sawtooth wave generating means for generating second current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said second sawtooth wave; including a second slicer having third and fourth diodes connected back-toback with one junction thereof coupled to said second sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal at said other junction, and second means for differentiating the output from said second slicer; a coincidence gate coupled to said first and second current pulse generating means; means for summing the output from said coincidence gate and said sync signals; an RF oscillator; means for modulating the output of said RF oscillator with said summed signal; and means for applying said modulated signal to said receiver.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second differentiating means includes: a first capacitor coupled from said first slicer to said coincidence gate; and a second capacitor coupled from said second slicer to said coincidence gate.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said coincidence gate includes: a transistor having first, second and third electrodes, said third electrode being coupled to ground, with the output of said coincidence gate obtained at said third electrode; a voltage source; a first resistor coupled from said second electrode to said voltage source; a second resistor coupled from said second electrode to ground; and a third resistor coupled from said third electrode to said voltage source.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second resistor is a variable resistor which adjusts the threshold of said coincidence gate and thereby symbol size and shape.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including means for generating first and second control signals which determine said predetermined slices, said control signals being coupled to said first and second slicers.
6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second control signal generating means includes: first and second voltage source; a first potentiometer coupled across said first voltage source, the arm of said potentiometer being electrically coupled to said first slicer; a second potentiometer coupled across said second voltage source, the arm of said potentIometer being electrically coupled to said second slicer; and means for adjusting the position of said arms to thereby vary said control signals.
7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said adjusting means includes: a first knob coupled to said arm of said first potentiometer; and a second knob coupled to said arm of said second potentiometer.
8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said adjusting means includes a joystick coupled to both arms of said potentiometers.
9. In combination with a standard television receiver, apparatus for generating signals representing a symbol to be displayed on the screen of said television receiver, comprising: a control unit including means for generating horizontal and vertical signals representing the symbol to be displayed, means for synchronizing a television raster scan, and means for manipulating the position of the symbol on the screen, said manipulating means including means for generating first and second control signals coupled to said means for generating horizontal and vertical signals, said control signal generating means including means for automatically causing the displayed symbol to travel back and forth between two predetermined positions off-screen; and means for electrically coupling said control unit to said television receiver.
10. In combination with a standard television receiver, apparatus for generating signals representing a symbol to be displayed on the screen of said television receiver comprising: a control unit including means for generating horizontal and vertical signals representing the symbol to be displayed, means for synchronizing a television raster scan, and means for manipulating the position of the symbol on the screen, said manipulating means including means for generating first and second control signals coupled to said means for generating horizontal and vertical signals, said control signal generating means including means for causing the displayed symbol to travel back and forth between two predetermined positions; and means for electrically coupling said control unit to said television receiver; wherein said means for causing said displayed symbol to travel between two predetermined positions includes: a bistable multivibrator having at least a first input and first and second outputs; a first resistor; a first diode, the anode thereof being coupled to one side of said first resistor with the cathode thereof being coupled to the first output of said bistable multivibrator; a second diode, the cathode thereof being coupled to the other side of said first resistor with the anode thereof being coupled to said second output of said bistable multivibrator; a second resistor; a third diode, the cathode thereof being coupled to one side of said second resistor with the anode thereof being coupled to the first output of said bistable multivibrator; a fourth diode, the anode thereof being coupled to the other side of said second resistor with the cathode thereof being coupled to said second output of said bistable multivibrator; a third resistor; a fifth diode, the anode thereof being coupled to one side of said third resistor with the cathode thereof being coupled to the first output of said bistable multivibrator; a sixth diode, the cathode thereof being coupled to the other side of said third resistor with the anode thereof being coupled to said second output of said bistable multivibrator; a fourth resistor; a seventh diode, the cathode thereof being coupled to one side of said fourth resistor with the anode thereof being coupled to the first output of said bistable multivibrator; an eighth diode, the anode thereof being coupled to the other side of said fourth resistor with the cathode thereof being coupled to the second output of said bistable multivibrator; means for applying triggering pulses to said first input of said bistable multivibrator; means coupling said tHird and fourth resistors for providing a first control signal; and means coupling said first and second resistors for providing a second control signal.
11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said trigger applying means includes a slow free-running bistable multivibrator.
12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the output from said slow free-running bistable multivibrator is also applied to a second input of said bistable multivibrator.
13. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said resistors are variable.
14. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further including: a first RC network coupled to said means coupling said first and second resistors; and a second RC network coupled to said means coupling said third and fourth resistors.
15. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further including: a first integrator coupled to said means coupling said first and second resistors; and a second integrator coupled to said means coupling said third and fourth resistors.
16. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second control generating means includes means for generating a first sinusoid and a second sinusoid phase displaced from said first sinusoid whereby the symbol will traverse a path such as a circle, ellipse ''''figure eight'''' etc.
17. Apparatus for generating signals representing a '''' hitting'''' symbol and a ''''hit'''' symbol to be displayed on the screen of a television receiver, comprising: means for synchronizing a television raster scan; means for generating electrical signals representing a hitting symbol; means coupled to said means for generating signals representing a hitting symbol for generating first and second control signals to vary the horizontal and vertical positions of said hitting symbol; means for ascertaining coincidence between a hitting symbol and a hit symbol; first means for differentiating a portion of the signal output of said first control signal generating means upon coincidence between said hitting symbol and said hit symbol; second means for differentiating a portion of the signal output of said second control signal generating means upon coincidence between said hitting symbol and said hit symbol; first means for integrating said first differentiated signal for providing a first hit symbol control voltage; second means for integrating said second differentiated signal and for providing a second hit symbol control voltage; a hit symbol generator having as control inputs thereto said first and second hit symbol control voltages whereby said hit symbol moves with a velocity proportional to the velocity of a hitting when coincident therewith.
18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 further including first and second RC delay circuits coupled to said first and second differentiating means, respectively.
19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, further including means for reversing the polarity of said first and second hit symbol control voltages when the outputs of said first and second integrators reach at least a first predetermined voltage level.
20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said polarity reversing means, includes: a first and second comparators coupled to the outputs of said first and second integrators, respectively; means for applying reference signals to said first and second comparators; and means for reversing the polarity of the outputs of said differentiators responsive to outputs of said comparators.
21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, further including first and second bistable multivibrators coupled to said first and second comparators, respectively, the outputs of said bistable multivibrators signifying the desired relative polarity of said integrator outputs.
22. In combination with a standard television receiver, apparatus for generating signals representing a first and second hitting symbol and a hit symbol to be displayed on the screen of said television receiver, comprisinG: means for generating sync signals; means for generating a first sawtooth wave; means for generating a second sawtooth wave; a first hitting symbol generator; a second hitting symbol generator; a hit symbol generator; means for applying said first and second sawtooth waves to said symbol generators; means for generating first and second control signals for said first hitting symbol generator; means for coupling said first and second control signals to said first hitting symbol generator; means for generating third and fourth control signals for said second hitting symbol generator; means for coupling said third and fourth control signals to said second hitting symbol generator; means for generating fifth and sixth control signals for said hit symbol generator; means for coupling said fifth and sixth control signals to said hit symbol generator; means for coupling said first, second, third, and fourth control signals to said means for generating fifth and sixth control signals; and means for coupling the outputs of said symbol generators and said sync signals to the television receiver.
23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for generating fifth and sixth control signals includes: first means for detecting coincidence between said first hit symbol and said hitting symbol; second means for detecting coincidence between said second hit symbol and said hitting symbol; a first monostable multivibrator coupled to said first coincidence means; a second monostable multivibrator coupled to said second coincidence means; first, second, third, and fourth gates having as inputs thereto said first, third, second, and fourth control signals, respectively; means for coupling the output of said first monostable multivibrator to said first and third gates; means for coupling the output of said second multivibrator to said second and fourth gates; a first differentiator coupled to said first and second gates; a second differentiator coupled to said third and fourth gates; first sampling means coupled to said first differentiator; second sampling means coupled to said second differentiator; first and second OR gates, the outputs thereof being coupled to said first and second sampling means, respectively, the inputs thereof being coupled to both said monostable multivibrators; first and second peak detectors coupled to said first and second sampling means, respectively; and first and second integrators coupled to said first and second peak detectors, respectively, said fifth and sixth control signals being derived at the outputs of said first and second integrators, respectively.
24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, further including: third and fourth OR gates, each coupled to both said monostable multivibrators; a first and second bistable multivibrator, each having first and second inputs, said first inputs taken at the outputs of said third and fourth OR gates, respectively; a first and second comparator, the outputs thereof being coupled to second inputs of said first and second bistable multivibrators, respectively; said first and second comparators being coupled to said first and second integrators, respectively; means for generating reference voltages; means for applying said reference voltages to said comparators; and first and second means for reversing the polarity of the outputs of said peak detectors, said polarity reversing means coupled to the outputs of said first and second bistable multivibrators, respectively.
25. In combination with a standard television receiver, apparatus for generating symbols upon the screen of the receiver to be manipulated by at least one participant, comprising: means for generating a hitting symbol, and means for generating a hit symbol including means for ascertaining coincidence between said hitting symbol and said hit symbol and means for imParting a distinct motion to said hit symbol upon coincidence.
26. The combination of claim 25 wherein said means for generating a hitting symbol includes means for providing horizontal and vertical control signals for varying the horizontal and vertical positions of said hitting symbol.
27. The combination of claim 26 wherein said means for providing horizontal control signals includes a voltage source, a potentiometer coupled across said voltage source and an integrator coupled to the arm of said potentiometer, said control signal being derived at the output of said integrator.
28. The combination of claim 25 wherein said means for generating a hit symbol includes means for providing horizontal and vertical control signals for varying the horizontal and vertical positions of said hit symbol.
29. The combination of claim 28 wherein said means for providing horizontal control signals for said hit symbol includes means for causing said hit symbol to move back and forth across the screen when triggered.
30. The combination of claim 29 wherein said triggering means includes a slow free-running multivibrator.
31. The combination of claim 29 further including means for detecting coincidence between a hit symbol and a hitting symbol and means for causing said hit symbol to change direction upon coincidence.
32. The combination of claim 25 wherein said means for generating a hit symbol further includes means for causing said hit symbol to move away from a predetermined position of the screen with a reflection angle equal to the incident angle at which said hit symbol approached said predetermined position.
33. In combination with a standard television receiver, apparatus for generating signals representing a symbol to be displayed on the screen of said television receiver, comprising: means for generating sync signals; means for generating a first sawtooth wave; means for generating a second sawtooth wave; means coupled to said first sawtooth wave generating means for generating first current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said first sawtooth wave; including a first slicer having first and second diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said first sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal at said other junction, and first means for differentiating the output from said first slicer; means coupled to said second sawtooth wave generating means for generating second current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said second sawtooth wave; including a second slicer having third and fourth diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said second sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal at said other junction and second means for differentiating the output from said second slicer; a coincidence gate coupled to said first and second current pulse generating means; means for summing the output from said coincidence gate and sync signals; means for applying the output of said summing means to the video and sync circuits of said television receiver.
34. Apparatus as defined in claim 33, further including means for disconnecting the video detector of said television receiver from said video amplifier.
35. In combination with a standard television receiver, apparatus for generating signals representing a first and second hitting symbol and a hit symbol to be displayed on the screen of said television receiver, comprising: means for generating a first sawtooth wave; means for generating a second sawtooth wave; a first hitting symbol generator; a second hitting symbol generator; a hit symbol generator; means for applying said first and second sawtooth waves to said symbol generators; means for generating first and second control signals for said first hitting generatOr; means for coupling said first and second control signals to said first hitting symbol generator for changing the position thereof; means for generating third and fourth control signals for said second hitting symbol generator; means for coupling said third and fourth control signals to said second hitting symbol generator for changing the position thereof; (means for applying the output of said spot generator to the video amplifier of said television receiver.) means for generating fifth and sixth control signals for said ''''hit'''' symbol generator; means for coupling said fifth and sixth control signals to said ''''hit'''' symbol generator for changing the position thereof; means for coupling said first, second, third and fourth control signals to said means for generating fifth and sixth control signals such that the motion of said ''''hit'''' symbol is dependent on the position of a ''''hitting'''' symbol; and means for coupling the outputs of said symbol generators to the video amplifier of said television receiver.
36. In combination with a conventional television receiver, apparatus for generating signals representing a symbol to be displayed on the screen of said television receiver, comprising: means for generating vertical and horizontal sawtooth waveforms; means for synchronizing said vertical and horizontal sawtooth waveforms to the sync signals received in said television receiver from a broadcast signal; a spot generator including a first slicer having first and second diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said vertical sawtooth generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a first control signal at said other junction, and first means for differentiating the output from said first slicer, and a second slicer having third and fourth diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said horizontal sawtooth generating means, a capacitor coupled (form) from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a second control signal at said other junction, and second means for differentiating the output from said second slicer, and a coincidence gate coupled to said first and second differentials; and means for applying the output of said spot generator to the video amplifier of said television receiver.
37. The combination of claim 36, wherein said means for generating vertical and horizontal sawtooth waveforms includes means coupled to the horizontal and vertical deflection circuits of said television receiver.
38. Apparatus for generating symbols upon the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: a cathode ray tube; means for generating horizontal and vertical sync signals; means for generating first and second sawtooth waves; means for generating a video signal proportional to predetermined slices of said sawtooth waves including a first slicer having first and second diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said vertical sawtooth generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a first control signal at said other junction, and first means for differentiating the output from said first slicer, and a second slicer having third and fourth diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said horizontal sawtooth generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a second control signal at said other junction, and second means for differentiating the output from said second slicer, and a coincidence gate coupled to said first and second differentials; a horizontal deflection circuit coupled to said cathode ray tube; a vertical deflection coupled to said cathode ray tube circuit; means for coupling said video signal to the intensity input of said cathode ray tube; means for coupling said horizontal sync signals to said horizontal deflection circuits; and means for coupling said vertical sync signals to said vertical deflection circuit.
39. Apparatus as defined in claim 38, further including means for supplying high voltage to said cathode ray tube.
40. Apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein said video signal coupling means includes a video amplifier. (44.) 41. Apparatus for playing ping-pong type games by displaying and manipulating symbols on the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for generating a first hitting spot; means for generating a second hitting spot; means for generating a hit spot; means for changing the vertical position of said first hitting spot; means for changing the vertical position of said second hitting spot; means for causing said hit spot to move from an off-screen left position to an off-screen right position and vice versa; means for changing said off-screen right and off-screen left positions; means for denoting coincidence between said first hitting spot and said hit spot; means for denoting coincidence between said second hitting spot and said hit spot; means for causing said hit spot to change horizontal direction upon coincidence between said hit spot and either of said hitting spots; and means for displaying said spots upon the screen of said cathode ray tube.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 further including means for causing said hit spot to move on-screen subsequent to said hit spot moving off-screen occurring when said hit spot does not make coincidence with one of said hitting spots when in vertical alignment therewith.
43. Apparatus for playing a gun ping-pong type game on the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for generating a hit spot; a first light sensitive gun; a second light sensitive gun; means for causing said hit spot to move from an off-screen right to an off-screen left position and vice versa; means for causing said hit spot to change direction when one of said light guns receives a pulse of light energy from said hit spot; and means for serving said hit spot when said hit spot goes off-screen.
44. Apparatus for playing a baseball type game on the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for displaying a hit spot; means for displaying a hitting spot; means for adjusting the vertical position of said hitting spot; means for serving said hit spot; and means for varying the vertical position of said hit spot; and means for denoting coincidence between said hit and said hitting spot whereby said hit spot will reverse directions.
45. Apparatus for playing a hockey type game upon the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for displaying a first hitting spot; means for displaying a second hitting spot; means for displaying a hit spot; means for controlling the position of said first and second hitting spots; means for controlling the position of said hit spot including means for ascertaining coincidence between either of said hitting spots and said hit spot and means for imparting a distinct motion to said hit spot upon coincidence.
46. Apparatus as defined in claim 45 wherein said means for controlling said hit spot includes means for causing said hit spot to move in the direction hit by a hitting spot and means for causing said hit spot to bounce away from the sides of said cathode ray tube when coincidence therewith.
47. Apparatus for playing a simulated handball game upon the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for displaying a first symbol representing a first player; means for displaying a second symbol representing a second player; and means for displaying a third symbol representing a ball; means for controlling the position of said first symbol on said cathode ray tube; means for controlling the position of said seCond symbol on said cathode ray tube; means for controlling the position of said third symbol on said cathode ray tube; said means for controlling the position of said third symbol on said cathode ray tube including means for causing said third symbol to change direction upon coincidence between either of said first or second symbols and means for causing said third symbol to bounce off three of said four sides of said cathode ray tube upon coincidence therewith and to go off-screen when coincident with said fourth side of said cathode ray tube; and means for serving said third symbol when it goes off-screen at said fourth side of said cathode ray tube.
48. Apparatus for generating signals representing a symbol to be displayed on the screen of a television receiver, comprising: means for generating sync signals; means for generating a first sawtooth wave; means for generating a second sawtooth wave; means coupled to said first sawtooth wave generating means for generating first current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said first sawtooth wave including a first slicer having first and second diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said first sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal to said other junction, and first means for differentiating the output from said first slicer; means coupled to said second sawtooth wave generating means for generating second current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said second sawtooth wave including a second slicer having third and fourth diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said second sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal at said other junction, and second means for differentiating the output from said second slicer; a coincidence gate coupled to said first and second current pulse generating means; means for coupling the output from said coincidence gate and said sync signals to a television receiver.
49. Apparatus for generating signals representing a hitting symbol and a hit symbol to be displayed on the screen of a television receiver, comprising: means for generating synchronizing signals; means for generating electrical signals representing a hitting symbol; means coupled to said means for generating electrical signals representing a hitting symbol for generating first and second control signals to vary the horizontal and vertical positions of said hitting symbol; first means for differentiating a portion of the signal output of said first control signal generating means; second means for differentiating a portion of the signal output of said second control signal generating means; first means for integrating said first differentiated signal for providing a first hit symbol control voltage; second means for integrating said second differentiated signal and for providing a second hit symbol control voltage; and a symbol generator having as control inputs thereto said first and second hit symbol control voltages whereby said hit symbol moves with a velocity proportional to the velocity of said hitting symbol when coincident therewith.
50. Apparatus for generating signals representing a first and second hitting symbol and a hit symbol to be displayed on the screen of a television receiver, comprising: means for generating sync signals; means for generating a first sawtooth wave; means for generating a second sawtooth wave; a first hitting symbol generator; a second hitting symbol generator; a hit symbol generator; means for applying said first and second sawtooth waves to said symbol generators; means for generating first and second control signals for said first hitting symbol generator; means for coupling said first and second control signals to saId first hitting symbol generator; means for generating third and fourth control signals for said second hitting symbol generator; means for coupling said third and fourth control signals to said second hitting symbol generator; means for generating fifth an sixth controls signals for said hit symbol generator; means for coupling said fifth and sixth control signals to said hit symbol generator; means for coupling said first, second, third, and fourth control signals to said means for generating fifth and sixth control signals; and means for coupling the outputs of said symbol generators and said sync signals to a television receiver.
51. Apparatus for generating symbols upon the screen of a television receiver to be manipulated by at least one participant, comprising: means for generating a hitting symbol; and means for generating a hit symbol including means for ascertaining coincidence between said hitting symbol and said hit symbol and means for imparting a distinct motion to said hit symbol upon coincidence.
52. The combination of claim 51 wherein said means for generating a hitting symbol includes means for providing horizontal and vertical control signals for varying the horizontal and vertical positions of said hitting symbol.
53. The combination of claim 52 wherein said means for providing horizontal control signals includes a voltage source, a potentiometer coupled across said voltage source and an integrator coupled to the arm of said integrator, said control being derived at the output of said integrator.
54. The combination of claim 51 wherein said means for generating a hit symbol includes means for providing horizontal and vertical control signals for varying the horizontal and vertical positions of said hit symbol.
55. The combination of claim 54 wherein said means for providing horizontal control signals for said hit symbol includes means for causing said hit symbol to move back and forth across the screen.
56. The combination of claim 55 wherein said means for causing said hit symbol to move back and forth across the screen includes a slow free-running multivibrator.
57. The combination of claim 55 further including means for detecting coincidence between a hit symbol and a hitting symbol and means for causing said hit symbol to change direction upon coincidence.
58. Apparatus for generating signals representing a symbol to be displayed on the screen of a television receiver, comprising: means for generating sync signals; means for generating a horizontal sawtooth wave; means for generating a vertical sawtooth wave; means coupled to said horizontal sawtooth wave generating means for generating first current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said horizontal sawtooth wave including a first slicer having first and second diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said horizontal sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal at said other junction, and first means for differentiating the output from said first slicer; means coupled to said vertical sawtooth wave generating means for generating second current pulses proportional to a predetermined slice of said vertical sawtooth wave including a second slicer having third and fourth diodes connected back-to-back with one junction thereof coupled to said vertical sawtooth wave generating means, a capacitor coupled from the other junction to ground and means for receiving a control signal at said other junction and second means for differentiating the output from said second slicer; a coincidence gate coupled to said first and second current pulse generating means; means for summing the output from said coincidence gate and sync signals; means for applying the output of said summing means to the video amplifier of a television receiver.
59. Apparatus for generating signals representing a first and second hItting symbol and a hit symbol to be displayed on the screen of a television receiver, comprising; means for generating a first sawtooth wave; means for generating a second sawtooth wave; a first hitting symbol generator; a second hitting symbol generator; a hit symbol generator; means for applying said first and second sawtooth waves to said symbol generators; means for generating first and second control signals for said first hitting symbol generator; means for coupling said first and second control signals to said first hitting symbol generator; means for generating third and fourth control signals for said second hitting symbol generator; means for coupling said third and fourth control signals to said second hitting symbol generator; means for generating fifth and sixth control signals for said hit symbol generator; means for coupling said fifth and sixth control signals to said hit symbol generator; means for coupling said first, second, third, and fourth control signals to said means for generating fifth and sixth control signals; and means for coupling the outputs of said symbol generators to the video amplifier of a television receiver.
60. Apparatus for playing games by displaying and manipulating symbols on the screen of a cathode ray tube comprising: means for generating vertical and horizontal synchronization signals; means responsive to said synchronization signals for deflecting the beam of said cathode ray tube to generate a raster on said screen; means coupled to said synchronization signal generating means and said cathode ray tube for generating a first symbol on said screen at a position which is directly controlled by a player; means coupled to said synchronization signal generating means and said cathode ray tube for generating a second symbol on said screen which is movable; means coupled to said first symbol generating means and said second symbol generating means for determining a first coincidence between said first symbol and said second symbol; and means coupled to said coincidence determining means and said second symbol generating means for imparting a distinct motion to said second symbol in response to said coincidence.
61. The apparatus of claim 60, further including: means coupled to said synchronization signal generating means and said cathode ray tube for generating a third symbol on said screen at a position which is controlled by a player; means coupled to said third symbol generating means and said second symbol generating means for determining a second coincidence between said third symbol and said second symbol; and means coupled to said second and third symbol coincidence determining means and said second symbol generating means for imparting a distinct motion to said second symbol in response to said second coincidence.
62. The apparatus of claim 61 further including means for causing said second symbol to travel across said screen from one side of said raster to another side of said raster in the absence of an occurrence of coincidence between said second symbol and said first or third symbol after coincidence of said second symbol with said third or first symbol.
63. The apparatus of claim 61, further including: means for determining a third coincidence of a signal representing said second symbol and a signal bearing a specific time relationship with an edge of said raster; and means coupled to said third coincidence determining means and said second symbol generating means for altering the motion of said second symbol in response to said third coincidence.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said motion altering means imparts to said second symbol a motion which is a reflection of its motion immediately prior to its motion at said third coincidence.
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