Programmable television game and training system with adaptable operator control

• US 4,156,928 A
• Filed: 04/22/1977
• Issued: 05/29/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Komatsu, Akio, Inose, Fumiyuki, Endo, Hirohido
• Primary Examiner(s): Springborn, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US05/790,077
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 364/900 MS File, 340/324 AD, 273/85 G, 273/DIG. 28, 273/1 E, 273/138 A, 35/8 A
• US Class Current: 463/44
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/24 Loading of the microprogram
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A television-connected microprocessor system designed for use primarily as a television game or education system. The system is designed to accept source programming from cartridges that are interchangeable. The cartridges utilize either a ROM or a RAM to store the source programming. The source program is stored in the cartridge ROM or RAM in a higher level language, such as BASIC and interpreted for use by the microprocessor. Each ROM cartridge comes with a keyboard entry device as an integral part thereof which is uniquely adapted to the programming in the cartridge and the games or training sequence dictated thereby. By using a RAM cartridge, the user may enter his own source program by way of a general purpose keyboard or a tape recorder. Keyboard overlays are utilized to adapt the general purpose keyboard to the particular game or training sequence dictated by the source program entered into the cartridge RAM by the user.

Claims

1. In a programmable television game and training system including a microprocessor unit having a memory storage means connected thereto and a cartridge holding means and an operator-controlled keyboard data entry means connected to said microprocessor unit, the improvement therein comprising:

a cartridge insertable into said cartridge holding means, said cartridge including a solid state memory means for storing a source program coded in a higher level non-machine code, said solid state memory being connected to said memory means and said microprocessor when the cartridge is inserted into said cartridge holding means;

said memory storage means including an interpreter therein which is addressed by the source program in said solid state memory means, said interpreter translating the source code into machine code for execution by said microprocessor; and

,

a keyboard overlay for said keyboard data entry means for defining the keys on said data entry means according to the source program defined game or training sequence stored in said solid state memory means, whereby a new keyboard overlay on the keys of said data entry means redefines such keys each time that the source program in said solid state memory means is changed to define a different game or training sequence.

2. The game and training system of claim 1 wherein said solid state memory in said cartridge means is a RAM adapted to receive data from a source external to the system.

3. The improved system of claim 1 wherein said solid state memory contains a source program in Basic code and said memory storage means contains a Basic interpreter.