USRE28598E - Television gaming apparatus and method - Google Patents

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 upon the screen of the television receivers for the purpose of playing games, training simulation and for engaging in other activities by one or more participants. 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 representing symbols which are to be displayed on the television screen. The symbols are generated by voltage controlled delay of pulses and coincidence gating. 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, closedcircuit TV or a CATV station.

Description

United States Patent Baer et al.

l l TELEVlSlON GAMING APPARATUS AND METHOD Primary ExaminerDavid L. Trafton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Louis Etlinger; Richard I,

[75] Inventors: Ralph H. Baer. Manchester; William s I T. Rusch; William L. Harrison, both 6 of Hollis, all of NH.

[73] Assignee: Sanders Associates, Inc., Nashua. [57] ABSTRACT N.H. Apparatus and methods are herein disclosed for use in [22] Flled' conjunction with standard monochrome and color tel- [2l] Appl. No: 464,023 evision receivers, for the generation. display and manipulation of symbols upon the screen of the television Related Patent Documents receivers for the purpose of playing games. training Reissue of: simulation and for engaging in other activities by one [64] Patent No.: 3,659,285 or more participants The invention comprises in one Issued: Apr. 25, 1972 embodiment a control unit. connecting means and in Appl. No.: 851,865 some applications a television screen overlay mask uti Filed: Aug. 21, 1969 lized in conjunction with a standard television receiver. The control unit includes the control means. US. 340/324 AD; 178/68; 250/549; switches and electronic circuitry for the generation, 273/85 R; 315/377 manipulation and control of video signals representing [51] Int. Cl? .1G08B 5/36 ymbo s which are to be di played on the tele ision [58] Field of Search 340/324 AD; 315/377 screen. The symbols are generated by voltage con trolled delay of pulses and coincidence gating. The [56] References Cited connecting means couples the video signals to the re UNITED STATES PATENTS ceiver antenna terminals thereby using existing elec- 2.45s,992 l2/l948 Goldsmith et al. t. 315/22 f "f f"i: h en km gr hccs anglxdis- 2595,6461 5/1952 Doba et .340/324 AD PAY e mgr") "/i w L 284766! 8/1958 Amwuse r V V p g V V 315/22 X movably attached to the television screen may deter- 3011625 H1962 Evans eta] y 340/334 AD mine the nature of the game to be played. Control 3,046,676 7/1962 Hermann et all. 35/25 units may be provided for each of the participants. Al- 3.l5l.248 9/1964 Glaser et al 250/227 ternatively. games may be carried out in conjunction 1 3 H964 g el 340/334 AD with background and other pictorial information origi- 3'l891889 6/1965 s? -340/324 AD nated in the television receiver by commercial TV. 3,249 796 5/1966 MOffIIL... .1 315/222 ciosed circuit TV or a CATV Station. 3,334,236 8/1967 Bacon 11 250/217 CR 3,497,760 2/1970 Kiesllng 1. FIB/6.8X 17 Claims, 37 a g gures FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l l80,47O 6/l959 France l-- 6315 #s -l 33 4 SEC HOR. SYNC PULSES l l I P DOTI HI DOT DOTl VIDEO OR- T. COINCIDENCE VDEO z MOD DELAYED 1 T 1 GATE SIGNAL AND H RF PULSES l A. osc.

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INVENTORS g RALPH H. BAER WELLJAM T. RUSCH WILLIAM LHARRISON Rei ssued 0a. 28, 1975 63. 5 SEC.

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I-I in. I DOT suMIAER GENERATOR R F oscILLAToR MODULATOR F l 2 v E To Tv ANTENNA I63] TERMINALS GUN ELECTRONICS oNE SHOT PRIMARYMULTIVIBRATOR FLIP FLOP 52 HOR. SYNC PULSES 7 VIDEOSIGNAL CONTROL SIGNAL 53 VERT. I SYNC PULSES T INVENTORS T RALPH H. BAERWILLIAM T RUSCH 6 WILLIAM L HARRISON "MW SIGNAL TELEVISION GAMING APPARATUS AND METHOD Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I II appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This invention relates to the subject matter of Application Ser. No. 126,966 filed Mar.22, I97] a continuation of Application Ser. No. 697,798 filed Jan. 15, i968, now abandoned; and application Ser. No. 828,154 filed May 27, I969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus and methods by means of which standard television receivers can be utilized as active rather than passive instruments or, alternatively, to special television receivers constructed for active operation by participants. 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 square, or a plurality of symbols, 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 representing the net upon the screen of the television receiver. Three displayed dots represent two paddles and a ball wherein the ball is moved in a particular direction 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 participant 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 patent applications for Television Gaming and Training Apparatus" Ser. No. l26,966 filed Mar. 22, 1971, a continuation of Ser. No. 697,798, filed Jan. 15, 1968 and Television Gaming Apparatus and Method" Ser. No. 2 ,1 filed May 27, 1969, both assigned to the assignee of this application. Since most homes are equipped with television receivers, the only expense required to provide added family enjoyment as well as training means is the expense of a 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 invention 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 in volving 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 dots such as squares 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, closed circuit 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 a 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 an tenna terminals.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a television gaming apparatus is provided for generating video signals in accordance with the stan dardized television format, which signals may be controlled by an individual operator by means of a joystick or other manually operative means. 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 apparatus has video signal control means mounted thereon for easy 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 dots which represent paddles. Means are provided for enabling the players to control the vertical movement of the paddle dots. Means are also provided for generating on the screen of the television receiver a third dot which represents the ping-pong ball. This dot can be made to move from an off-screen left position to an off-screen right position and vice versa unless "hit by a paddle dot whereupon the ball dot will change direction. The players have further controls for changing the vertical position of the ball dot.

Suitable overlays or presentations from a cooperative TV station may be used in conjunction with said games to enhance the asthetic appeal thereof. Alternatively, presentations such as a ping-pong net may be generated by controls in the hands of the participants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features 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 includ ing a television receiver and a control unit;

FIG. IA is a pictorial view illustrating an alternate embodiment for the control unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a sketch illustrating a typical TV screen and overlay mask as employed in an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sketch illustrating the manner in which dots are formed on a TV screen;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the general the ory of dot generation;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the preferred mode of generating dots on a TV screen;

FIG. 6 is a schematic of a sync generator employed in the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A is a schematic of a dot generator employed in the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7B are waveforms illustrating operation of the circuit of FIG. 7A;

FIGS. 8A-8C are schematics of controls used to generate control signals for the dot generator of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a primary flip-flop arrangement used in many of the gaming applications;

FIG. 10 is a schematic of a secondary flip-flop arrangement used in certain ones of the gaming applications;

FIG. IIA is a diagram of apparatus for a simulated ping pong type game;

FIG. IIB is a sketch of a television screen illustrating the manner of play of the ping-pong game of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a diagram of apparatus for a simulated handball type game;

FIG. IZB is a sketch of a television screen illustrating the manner of play of the handball game of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a diagram of apparatus for a simulated volleyball type game;

FIG. 13B is a sketch ofa television screen illustrating the manner of play of the volleyball game of FIG. 13A;

FIG. [4A is a diagram of electronic apparatus for a simulated golf putting game;

FIG. 14B is a sketch of the input control for the apparatus of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 14C is a sketch ofa television screen illustrating the manner of play of the golf putting game of FIG. 14A;

FIG. ISA is a diagram of apparatus for a pumping game;

FIG. 15B is a sketch ofa television screen illustrating the manner of play of the pumping" game of FIG. ISA;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of apparatus for a target shooting game;

FIG. 17 is a schematic of a chroma signal generator;

FIG. 18A is a schematic of another embodiment of a dot generator;

FIG. 18B is a sketch of illustrative video signals of the dot generator of FIG. I8A;

FIG. 19A is a block diagram of apparatus for controlling a "hit" dot;

FIG. 19B is a sketch illustrating the manner in which the apparatus of FIG. 19A controls a "hit" dot;

FIG. 19C is a schematic of the horizontal gated differentiator of FIG. 19A;

FIG. 19D is a schematic of the bilateral switch, integrator and wall bounce of FIGv 19A;

FIG. 20A is a diagram of electronic apparatus for a simulated race game;

FIG. 20B is a schematic ofa dot generator having position controlled clot size;

FIG. 20C is a sketch of a television screen illustrating the manner of play of the race game of FIG. 20A; and

FIG. 21 is a diagram of electronic apparatus for a left-right shooting game.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The principal components of one embodiment of a television gaming system configured according to the invention are illustrated in FIG. 1 which is a pictorial view showing atelevision receiver 10, a control unit I4 and means 12 for connecting control unit I4 toreceiver 10. Thetelevision receiver 10 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 I2 is in this embodiment a cable, for example, shielded or unshielded twin-lead, and is attached to the antenna terminals ofreceiver 10 in conventional fashion.

Control unit 14 generates video signals shown asdots 20,, 20 and 21. The dots 20, and 20 are positioned on thereceiver screen 18 byknobs 16,, 17,, and 16 17,, respectively.

Knob 16, controls the vertical position of dot 20,, whileknob 17, controls the horizontal position thereof. Thus, it can be seen that the dot 20, many be positioned at any point on the screen by the proper manipulation of knobs l6, and 17,. Dot 20, is positioned in like manner byknob 16,, 17 In this embodiment dot 21 can be automatically positioned onscreen 18 without manual control. This will be described more fully hereinafter. A pair of serve/reset switches 11, 13 are shown on thecontrol unit 14 and are used to reset the picture on the television screen or serve" a simulated ball. For example, a game may be played in which one dot is to be positioned over the other and when this is accomplished one dot will disappear and/or the background will change color. When games of this nature are played, a reset means is required before play can be resumed. Serve reset switches II, 13 can perform this function as well as other functions to be described hereafter.

Aknob 15 controls background color for color TV receiver applications wherein a chroma generator is employed in the manner set forth in said application Ser. No. l26,966.

Alternatively, control unit I4 may be broken up into a master control unit containing the electronic circuits and individual control units containingcontrol knobs 16,, 17, and 16 I7 and switches 11 and I3, 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 whereincontrol unit 14 is broken up into amaster control unit 27 andindividual control units 22 and 23. Themaster control unit 27 contains the electronic circuitry found incontrol unit 14 andcontrol knob 15.Knobs 16,, 17, and 16,, and 17, which position the dots 20, and 20 and switches 11 and 13 are situated onindividual control units 22 and 23, respectively. More than two control units may be provided when additional participants are to take part.

Claims (17)

1. 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 horizontal and vertical sync signals; means for generating a vertical train of square pulses; means for generating a horizontal train of square pulses; a first ''''hitting'''' symbol generator; a second ''''hitting'''' symbol generator; a ''''hit'''' symbol generator; means for applying said vertical and horizontal trains of square pulses 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 signal 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.

2. 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; means for generating a movable ''''hit'''' symbol; means for generating a fixed ''''hit'''' symbol; means for denoting coincidence between said movable ''''hit'''' symbol and said ''''hit'''' fixed symbol; means for causing said movable ''''hit'''' symbol to move away from said fixed ''''hit'''' symbol when coincident therewith; and means for displaying said symbols.

3. Apparatus for playing volleyball type games by displaying and manipulating symbols on the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for generating a first ''''hitting'''' dot; means for generating a second ''''hitting'''' dot; means for generating a ''''hit'''' dot; means for generating a ''''net'''' symbol; means for changing the vertical position of said first ''''hitting'''' dot; means for changing the vertical position of said second ''''hitting'''' dot; means for changing the vertical position of said ''''hit'''' dot; means for causing said ''''hit'''' dot to move from an off-screen left position of 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 either of said ''''hitting'''' dots and said ''''hit'''' dot; means for causing said ''''hit'''' dot to change horizontal direction upon coincidence between said ''''hit'''' dot and either of said ''''hitting'''' dot; means for denoting coincidence between said ''''hit'''' dot and said ''''net'''' symbol; and means for displaying said dots upon the screen of said cathode ray tube.

4. Apparatus for playing volleyball type games as defined in claim 3, further including means for causing said ''''hit'''' dot to disappear upon coincidence between said ''''hit'''' dot and said ''''net'''' symbol.

5. 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 horizontal and vertical sync signals; meAns for generating a vertical train of square pulses; means for generating a horizontal train of square pulses; a first ''''hitting'''' symbol generator; a second ''''hitting'''' symbol generator; a ''''hit'''' symbol generator; means for applying said vertical and horizontal trains of square pulses 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 a television receiver.

6. Apparatus for generating symbols on the screen of a television receiver to be manipulated by at least one participant, comprising: means for generating a ''''hitting'''' symbol; means for generating a movable ''''hit'''' symbol; means for generating a fixed ''''hit'''' symbol; means for denoting coincidence between said movable ''''hit'''' symbol and said fixed ''''hit'''' symbol; means for causing said movable ''''hit'''' symbol to move away from said fixed ''''hit'''' symbol when coincident therewith; and means for coupling said (generated) means for generating symbols to the video circuits of a television receiver.

7. Apparatus for playing handball type games by displaying and manipulating symbols on the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for generating a first ''''hitting'''' dot; means for generating a ''''second'''' hitting dot; means for generating a ''''hit'''' dot; means for generating a wall symbol; means for changing the vertical position of said first ''''hitting'''' dot; means for changing the vertical position of said second ''''hitting'''' dot; means for causing said hit dot to move off-screen away from said wall dot when coincidence is not made between either of said ''''hitting'''' dots and said ''''hit'''' dot; means for changing said off-screen position; means for denoting coincidence between said first ''''hitting'''' dot and said ''''hit'''' dot; means for denoting coincidence between said second ''''hitting'''' dot and said ''''hit'''' dot; means for causing said ''''hit'''' dot to change horizontal direction upon coincidence between said ''''hit'''' dot and either of said ''''hitting'''' dots; means for denoting coincidence between said ''''hit'''' dot and said wall symbol; means for causing said ''''hit'''' dot to change horizontal direction upon coincidence between said ''''hit'''' dot and said wall symbol; and means for displaying said dots upon the screen of said cathode ray tube.

8. Apparatus for playing a target shooting game on the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for generating a target on the screen of said cathode ray tube; means responsive to said target displayed on said cathode ray tube for ''''shooting'''' at said target; means for causing said target to move in a predetermined direction; means for causing said target to reverse direction upon hitting of said target by said means responsive; means for causing said target to go off-screen when not hit by said means responsive during a traverse across the screen.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said means responsive includes a photosensitive element and means for biasing said photosensitive element.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said biasing means includes a lamp.

11. Apparatus for playing a target shooting game on the screen of a cathode ray tube, comprising: means for generating a target on the screen of said cathode ray tube; means responsive to said target displayed on said cathode ray tube for ''''shooting'''' at said target from a distance, including a biased photosensitive element; and means for causing said target to disappear when a hit is made.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said photosensitive element is biased by a lamp.

13. 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 which is movable; means coupled to said synchronization signal generating means and said cathode ray tube for generating a second symbol on said screen at a predetermined fixed position depending on the game to be played; 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 first coincidence determining means and said first symbol generating means for altering the motion of said first symbol in response to said coincidence.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, 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 directly controlled by a player; means coupled to said third symbol generating means and said first symbol generating means for determining a second coincidence between said third symbol and said first symbol; and means coupled to said second coincidence determining means and said first symbol generating means for imparting a distinct motion to said first symbol in response to said second coincidence.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further including: means coupled to said synchronization signal generating means and said cathode ray tube for generating a fourth symbol on said screen at a position which is directly controlled by a player; means coupled to said fourth symbol generating means and said first symbol generating means for determining a third coincidence between said fourth symbol and said first symbol; and means coupled to said third coincidence determining means and said first symbol generating means for imparting a distinct motion to said first symbol in response to said third coincidence.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for causing said first 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 first symbol and said third and fourth symbol after coincidence of said first symbol with said fourth or third symbol.

17. 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; means coupled to said first coincidence determining means and said second symbol generating means for imparting a distinct motion to said second symbol in response to said first coincidence; means coupled to said synchronization signal generating means and said cathode ray tube for generating a third symbol on said screen at a predetermined fixed position depending on the game to be played; means coupled to said second symbol generating means and said third symbol generating means for determining a second coincidence between said second symbol and said third symbol; and means coupled to said second coincidence determining means and said second symbol generating means for causing said second symbol to disappear from said screen in response to said second coincidence.

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