Memory cartridge for video game system

• US 4,432,067 A
• Filed: 08/09/1982
• Issued: 02/14/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atari Incorporated (Infogrames Entertainment SA)
• Original Assignee: Atari Incorporated (Infogrames Entertainment SA)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US06/406,650
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/410, 364/411, 273/85 G, 273/DIG. 28, 340/724, 340/709
• US Class Current: 463/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0615 Address space extension
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/12 Group selection circuits, e.g. for memory block selection, chip selection, array selection

Abstract

A decoding circuit is coupled to the signal lines that communicate address signals to a memory unit. When a predetermined address is communicated, the decoding circuit produces a supplemental signal that is coupled to the memory unit and used to select one of a plurality of groups of memory locations. The communicated address signals specify the memory location of the selected group to be accessed.

Claims

1. A cartridge adapted to be removably attached to a video game system of the type having an address bus and a data bus for providing address signals on the address bus and for receiving data signals on the data bus, the cartridge comprising:

a connector having primary address lines and data lines, the connector being adapted to conductively couple the primary address lines to the address bus and to conductively couple the data lines to the data bus when the cartridge is attached to the video game system;

a supplemental address line;

first memory means coupled to the primary address lines and to the supplemental address line and having a plurality of memory locations for providing digital signals corresponding to data stored in selected memory locations in response to the address signals on the primary address lines and the presence of a supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line;

second memory means coupled to the primary address lines and to the supplemental address line having a plurality of memory locations for providing digital signals corresponding to data stored in selected memory locations in response to the address signals on the primary address and the absence of a supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line;

means for coupling the digital signals provided by the first and second memory means to the data lines; and

decoder means coupled to the primary address lines and to the supplemental address line for providing the supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line in response to detecting a combination of address signals corresponding to a first address on the primary address lines.

2. A cartridge as in claim 1 wherein the decoder means terminates the supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line in response to detecting a combination of address signals corresponding to a second address on the primary address lines.

3. A cartridge as in claim 2 wherein:

each of the first and second memory means has a selection input for receiving a memory select signal; and

the supplemental address line comprises a pair of supplemental address lines, each one interconnected with the selection input of one of the memory means, the supplemental address signal thereby serving as the memory select signal wherein the first memory means is selected in response to the first address and the second memory means is selected in response to the second address.

4. A cartridge as in claim 3 further including latch means interconnected with the decoder means and the selection inputs of the first and second memory means, for providing the memory select signals, said latch means holding the memory select signals until another one of the first or second addresses is detected.

5. A cartridge adapted to be removably attached to a video game system of the type having an address bus and a data bus for providing address signals on the address bus and for receiving data signals on the data bus, the cartridge comprising:

a connector having primary address lines and data lines, the connector being adapted to conductively couple the address lines to the address bus and to conductively couple the data lines to the data bus when the cartridge is attached to the video game system;

a supplemental address line;

memory means coupled to the primary address lines and to the supplemental address line, for providing digital signals corresponding to data stored in selected locations from a first plurality of memory locations in response to the address signals on the primary address lines and the presence of a supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line, and for providing digital signals correspond to data stored in selected locations from a second plurality of memory locations in response to the address signals on the primary address lines and the absence of a supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line;

means for coupling the digital signals provided by the memory means to the data lines; and

decoder means coupled to the primary address lines and to the supplemental address line for providing the supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line in response to detecting a combination of address signals corresponding to a first address on the primary lines.

6. A cartridge as in claim 5 wherein the decoder means terminates the supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line in response to detecting a combination of address signals corresponding to a second address on the primary address lines.

7. A cartridge as in claim 5 further comprising M supplemental address lines, and wherein:

the address bus has N signal lines;

the connector has N primary address lines;

the memory means has 2^N+M locations for storing data, and includes a memory address circuit having N+M signal inputs, of which N inputs are coupled to the N primary address lines, and M inputs are coupled to the M supplemental address lines; and

the decoder means provides M supplemental address signals on the M supplemental address lines, each signal being provided in response to detecting one of M combinations of address signals on the primary address lines.

8. A cartridge adapted to be removably attached to a video game system of the type having an address bus and a data bus for providing address signals on the address bus and for receiving data signals on the data bus, the cartridge comprising:

a connector having primary address lines and data lines, the connector being adapted to conductively couple the address lines to the address bus and to conductively couple the data lines to the data bus when the cartridge is attached to the video game system;

a supplemental address line;

memory means coupled to the primary address lines and to the supplemental address line and having a plurality of memory locations for providing digital signals coresponding to data stored in selected memory locations, a distinct memory location being accessed in response to each unique combination of address signals on the primary address lines and the supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line;

means coupling the memory means to the data lines for communicating the digital signals to the connector; and

decoder means coupled to the primary address lines and to the supplemental address line for providing a supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line in response to a combination of address signals corresponding to a first address on the primary address lines.

9. A cartridge as in claim 8 wherein:

the cartridge includes a plurality of supplemental address lines;

the locations in the memory means are accessed in response to unique combinations of address signals on the primary addres lines and the plurality of supplemental address lines; and

the decoder means provides a plurality of supplemental address signals on the supplemental address lines in response to combinations of address signals corresponding to switching addresses on the primary address lines.

10. A cartridge as in claim 9 wherein the decoder means terminates the supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line in response to detecting a combination of address signals corresponding to a second address on the primary address lines.

11. A cartridge adapted to be removably attached to a video game system of the type having an address bus and a data bus for providing address signals on the address bus, the cartridge comprising:

a connector having primary address lines and data lines, the connector being adapted to conductively couple the address lines to the address bus and to conductively couple the data lines to the data bus when the cartridge is attached to the video game system;

a supplemental address line;

memory means having a plurality of row and column lines and having a plurality of memory locations corresponding to different row and column lines for providing digital signals corresponding to data stored in selected memory locations, a distinct memory location being selected in response to signals on each unique row and column line pair, the memory means having data output means coupled to the data lines for communicating data signals thereto;

an address circuit coupled to the primary address lines, the supplemental address line and to the row and column lines for providing signals on row and column line pairs selected in response to address signals on the primary address lines and a supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line, a distinct row and column line pair being selected in response to each unique combination of address signals on the primary address lines and supplemental address line;

decoder means coupled to the row and column lines for providing a supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line in response to signals appearing on a first row and column line pair.

12. A cartridge as in claim 11 further including:

latch means coupled to the decoder means and to the supplemental address line for sustaining the supplemental address signal on the supplemental address line.

13. A cartridge as in claim 11 wherein the decoder means further includes means for terminating the supplemental address signal providing in response to signals appearing on a second row and column line pair.

14. A cartridge as in claim 13 further including:

latch means coupled to the decoder means and to the supplemental address line for sustaining either the supplemental address signal or the terminated supplemental address signal on the supplemental address bus.

15. A cartridge adapted to be removably attached to a video game system of the type having an address bus and a data bus for providing address signals on the address bus and for receiving data signals on the data bus, the cartridge comprising:

a connector having primary address lines and data lines, the connector being adapted to conductively couple the primary address lines to the address bus and to conductively couple the data lines to the data bus when the cartridge is attached to the video game system;

memory means coupled to the primary address lines and to the data lines for providing digital signals representing data stored in locations corresponding to address signals on the primary address bus; and

controller means coupled to said primary address lines and to said memory means for changing the correspondence between locations and address signals subsequent to predetermined ones of the address signals on the primary address lines.