Programmable video game controller

• US 5,259,626 A
• Filed: 08/07/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STD Electronic International, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: STD Electronic International, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ho, Patrick T.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/925,738
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 273/DIG. 28, 273/433, 273/434, 273/438, 273/85 G, 340/706, 340/709
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner

Abstract

A controller for video games includes a mechanism for recording, storing and retrieving a sequence of instructions. When playing a relatively complex game involving a relatively complex sequence of instructions which are used repetitively, these instructions need be entered only once and can be retrieved as required.

Claims

1. A video game controller including recording means selectively operable by a player for making a record of a sequence of commands entered by the player, storage means for storing a plurality of such records, and retrieval means selectively operable by the player for instantaneously retrieving a selected one of the plurality of records from the storage means and for using the sequence of commands in the selected record during the course of playing a game.

2. A controller according to claim 1 further comprising directional switches, firing switches, detection means for detecting the closure and the duration of closure of the directional and firing switches, and conversion means for converting the results of the detection into digital format data, and wherein said storage means stores the digital data as one of said records, and said retrieval means retrieves the digital data, whereby a complex sequence of instructions may be detected, converted into digital format, stored in digital format, and retrieved when said retrieval means is operated by the player.