Game machine having plural display panel units and plural memory cartridges

• US 5,114,157 A
• Filed: 06/11/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SNK Corp. (Universal Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SNK Corp. (Universal Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: Kita, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/535,568
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 364/410, 273/148 B, 273/1 E, 273/433, 273/434, 273/435, 273/DIG. 28, 273/85 G, 40/544
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A TV game machine includes connectors for detachably connecting a plurality of memory cartridges each having at least non-volatile memories containing a game program, picture data and sound data, a cartridge selecting circuit for selectively accessing one of the memory cartridges in cooperation with an externally controllable switch and the connectors, and a processor for executing the game program of the selected game cartridge while processing the picture data and sound data contained therein. A display panel is provided which is divided into a plurality of panel units each corresponding to the respective game cartridges for illuminating one segment at a time in response to a switch command.

Claims

1. A game machine comprising:

a display panel comprising N discrete panel units, N being a positive integer greater than one;

N discrete memory cartridges each including memory means for storing respective game data;

wherein said N discrete panel units are provided in one-to-one correspondence with said N discrete memory cartridges and wherein each of the N discrete panel units includes means for displaying a game screen of the game data stored in a corresponding one of said N discrete memory cartridges;

a select switch;

memory cartridge select means, operatively coupled to said select switch and to said N discrete memory cartridges and to said display panel, for selectively accessing one of said N discrete memory cartridges and for selectively illuminating one of said N discrete panel units in response to said select switch; and

processor means for executing the game data of one of said N discrete memory cartridges accessed by said memory cartridge select means;

wherein said display panel includes a front plate and a back plate defining a plurality of grooves therebetween, and wherein each of said N discrete panel units includes an electroluminescence element and a panel insertable in one of said plurality of grooves, said panel including indicia indicative of the game data stored in a corresponding one of said N discrete memory cartridges.

2. A game machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory cartridge select means includes means for successively illuminating said N discrete panel units in response to said select switch.

3. A game machine as recited in claim 2, wherein the front panel is transparent.

4. A game machine as recited in claim 3, wherein said N discrete memory cartridges are each detachably coupled to said memory cartridge select means.

5. A game machine as recited in claim 2, wherein said N discrete memory cartridges are each detachably coupled to said memory cartridge select means.

6. A game machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the front panel is transparent.

7. A game machine as recited in claim 6, wherein said N discrete memory cartridges are each detachably coupled to said memory cartridge select means.

8. A game machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said N discrete memory cartridges are each detachably coupled to said memory cartridge select means.