Optical linked remote control video game apparatus

• US 4,111,421 A
• Filed: 12/09/1976
• Issued: 09/05/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magnavox (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Magnavox (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mierzwinski, Eugene P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/749,147
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1 E, 273/85, 273/85 R, 273/101.1, 273/101.2, 273/102.2 B, 273/DIG. 28, 340/168, 340/168 B, 340/171, 340/171 R, 340/225, 340/228, 340/324 R, 340/324 A, 340/324 AD, 340/258 B, 340/324, 340/258, 358/93, 358/113, 358/226, 358/142, 325/392, 35/25
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for playing a video game from a location remote from a television receiver or other CRT display apparatus. Other devices are provided for generating position indicating signals for game markers and transmitting said signals to remotely located video game circuitry by means of an optical link. The remotely located game circuitry cause markers to be displayed on the CRT display in accordance with said position indicating signals.

Claims

1. Remote control apparatus for playing a video game, said video game of the type having means for generating signals representing a plurality of game markers displayable on a CRT display means, said remote control apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of manually operable control means for selecting a plurality of desired game marker positions;

(b) means for generating a position indicating electrical signal in response to said plurality of manually operable control means, said signal indicating the selected positions for said game markers;

(c) a source of infrared light energy;

(d) means for modulating said source of infrared light energy with said position indicating electrical signal whereby a modulated light beam is produced;

(e) means for detecting said modulated light beam, said means providing a second electrical signal in response to the modulation of said light beam;

(f) means for demodulating said electrical signal to produce a plurality of actuating signals, said actuating signals being indicative of said selected marker positions; and

(g) means for applying said plurality of actuating signals to said means for generating signals representing game markers whereby said game marker positions are controlled in accordance with said plurality of manually operable control means.

2. Remote control apparatus for operating a video game, said video game having means for generating player positionable game playing markers for display on a CRT display, comprising:

(a) first manual control means for selecting a position for a first game marker;

(b) second manual control means for selecting a position for a second game marker;

(c) a first variable frequency oscillator operatively connected to said first manual control means, said first variable frequency oscillator having a frequency responsive to said manual control means;

(d) a second variable frequency oscillator operatively connected to said second manual control means, said second variable frequency oscillator having a frequency responsive to said second manual control means;

(e) means for summing said first and second variable frequency oscillator output signals to form a composite signal;

(f) a source of infrared light;

(g) means for modulating said source of infrared light with said composite signal;

(h) means for receiving modulated light produced by said infrared light source;

(i) means for converting received modulated infrared light into an electrical signal; and

(j) a plurality of discriminators for receiving said electrical signal and producing a plurality of actuating signals for controlling the position of said plurality of game markers.

3. A remote controlled video game for generating a plurality of player positionable game markers on a CRT comprising means for selecting the positions of a plurality of game markers, means for generating a signal representing the selected positions of said game markers, a source of infrared light, means for modulating said source of infrared light with said signal, means for demodulating said modulated infrared light into a plurality of d.c. voltages, and a plurality of game marker generators for causing game markers to be displayed on a CRT display, said game markers'"'"' position being controlled by said plurality of d.c. voltages.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for reserving an out of bounds game marker from a remote location.

5. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving position indicating commands to a remotely located video game apparatus comprising:

(a) a rotatable optically coded wheel,

(b) means for generating a direction signal for indicating the direction of rotation of said wheel;

(c) means for generating incrementing pulses in response to the angular displacement of said wheel;

(d) means for modulating a beam of infrared light with said direction signal and said incrementing pulses;

(e) means for detecting said beam of modulated light and providing an electrical current in response to said modulation;

(f) means for detecting the presence of said direction signal in said electrical signal;

(g) means for counting incrementing pulses contained in said electrical signal, the direction of count being controlled by said means for detecting the presence of said direction signal; and

(h) means for controlling the position of game marker produced by said video game in response to said means for counting whereby said game marker position is controlled by the angular displacement of said wheel.

6. Remote control apparatus for controlling the position of a game marker in a video game apparatus, said video game apparatus comprising means for generating game playing markers and means for displaying said game playing markers, comprising:

(a) means for generating a series of pulses in response to the movement of an operable control;

(b) means for generating a binary word for indicating the direction of movement of said control;

(c) means for generating a source of light energy;

(d) means for modulating said source of light energy with said series of pulses and said binary word;

(e) means for demodulating at a remote location light energy which is modulated with said series of pulses and said binary word;

(f) means for decoding said binary word produced by said means for demodulating;

(g) counter means having an up/down control input and a clock input;

said up/down control input being operatively connected to said means for decoding, said clock input being operatively connected to said means for demodulating for receiving said series of pulses; and

(h) means for decoding said counter means to produce a voltage proportional to the number in said counter, said voltage being operatively applied to said means for generating a game playing marker whereby a game playing marker is positioned according to said voltage.