Memory cartridge having a multi-memory controller with memory bank switching capabilities and data processing apparatus

• US 5,276,831 A
• Filed: 05/24/1990
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Yoshiaki, Nakagawa, Katsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrity, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/527,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 395/425, 395/800, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 345/531
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/06 Addressing a physical block of locations, e.g. base addressing, module addressing, memory dedication G06F12/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0623 for memory modules
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/025 Geometric lay-out considerations of storage- and peripheral-blocks in a semiconductor storage device geometrical lay-out of the components in integrated circuits, H01L27/0207
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1078 Data input circuits, e.g. write amplifiers, data input buffers, data input registers, data input level conversion circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1087 Data input latches
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1093 Input synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/12 Group selection circuits, e.g. for memory block selection, chip selection, array selection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0256 of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/026 having standardized interfaces flash memory cards G06K19/077

Abstract

A memory cartridge having a case and a printed circuit board housed in the case connected, in use to a data processing unit including a microprocessor and a picture processing unit. A memory cooperating with the data processing unit is installed on the printed circuit board, and an area of the memory is divided into a plurality of banks. A multi-memory controller installed on the printed circuit board includes a plurality of registers into which microprocessing generated data, representing bank switching conditions, are loaded. An address for switching the memory banks is output in response to the content of at least one of a plurality of registers. Thus, by changing the above-described data, the microprocessor can specify a specific bank at a specific time and utilize that bank.

Claims

1. A memory cartridge which can be connected to a data processing unit that includes a microprocessor and a picture processing unit coupled to said microprocessor, said memory cartridge being coupled to said data processing unit when in use, said memory cartridge comprising:

a program memory for storing a plurality of instructions including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said program memory being coupled to said microprocessor when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit,

a character memory for storing pattern data and including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said character memory being coupled to said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, and

a memory control circuit, coupled to said microprocessor and said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, including a first storage device for storing at least one bit of program memory bank specifying data, and a second storage device for storing at least one bit of character memory bank specifying data,

said memory control circuit including at least one output pin which is coupled to said program memory for coupling a program memory bank specifying code from said first storage device to said program memory, and at least one output pin which is coupled to said character memory for coupling a character memory bank specifying code from said second storage device to said character memory, wherein said data processing unit is coupled in use to a display and wherein said memory control circuit is responsive to at least a predetermined signal received from said data processing unit for initiating a predetermined display operation.

2. A memory cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined display operation is scrolling.

3. A memory cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said data processing unit includes a video random access memory having a memory area accessible by said picture processing unit and wherein said memory area is arranged in the memory space of the picture processing unit in a manner which is dependent upon said at least a predetermined signal, whereby one of a vertical scrolling operation and a horizontal scrolling operation occurs on said display.

4. A memory cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined signal is an address related signal.

5. A memory cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said data processing unit includes a video random access memory (VRAM) and wherein said address related signal defines a VRAM memory arrangement permitting one of a horizontal scrolling operation and a vertical scrolling operation to occur on said display.

6. A memory cartridge which can be connected to a data processing unit that includes a microprocessor and a picture processing unit coupled to said microprocessor, said memory cartridge being coupled to said data processing unit when in use, said memory cartridge comprising:

a program memory for storing a plurality of instructions including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said program memory being coupled to said microprocessor when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit,

a character memory for storing pattern data and including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said character memory being coupled to said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, and

a memory control circuit, coupled to said microprocessor and said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, including a first storage device for storing at least one bit of program memory bank specifying data, and a second storage device for storing at least one bit of character memory bank specifying data,

said memory control circuit including at least one output pin which is coupled to said program memory for coupling a program memory bank specifying code from said first storage device to said program memory, and at least one output pin which is coupled to said character memory for coupling a character memory bank specifying code from said second storage device to said character memory, wherein said memory control circuit is loaded with bank specifying data in response to at least one microprocessor generated control signal which controls at least in part selection and accessing of a predetermined memory chip within said memory cartridge, wherein said at least one microprocessor generated control signal is a read/write signal.

7. A memory cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said at least one microprocessor generated control signal includes a read-only memory selection signal.

8. A memory cartridge which can be connected is removably connectable to a data processing unit that includes a microprocessor and a picture processing unit coupled to said microprocessor, said memory cartridge being coupled to said data processing unit when in use, said memory cartridge comprising:

a program memory for storing a plurality of instructions including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said program memory being coupled to said microprocessor when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit,

a character memory for storing pattern data and including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said character memory being coupled to said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, and

a memory control circuit, coupled to said microprocessor and said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, including a first storage device for storing at least one bit of program memory bank specifying data, and a second storage device for storing at least one bit of character memory bank specifying data,

said memory control circuit including at least one output pin which is coupled to said program memory for coupling a program memory bank specifying code from said first storage device to said program memory, and at least one output pin which is coupled to said character memory for coupling a character memory bank specifying code from said second storage device to said character memory, wherein said memory control circuit is loaded with bank specifying data in response to at least one microprocessor generated control signal which controls at least in part selection and accessing of a predetermined memory chip within said memory cartridge, wherein said at least one microprocessor generated control signal is a read-only memory selection signal.

9. A memory cartridge which can be connected is removably to a data processing unit that includes a microprocessor and a picture processing unit coupled to said microprocessor, said memory cartridge being coupled to said data processing unit when in use, said memory cartridge comprising:

a program memory for storing a plurality of instructions including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said program memory being coupled to said microprocessor when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit,

a character memory for storing pattern data and including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, said character memory being coupled to said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, and

a memory control circuit, coupled to said microprocessor and said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, including a first storage device for storing at least one bit of program memory bank specifying data, and a second storage device for storing at least one bit of character memory bank specifying data,

said memory control circuit including at least one output pin which is coupled to said program memory for coupling a program memory bank specifying code from said first storage device to said program memory, and at least one output pin which is coupled to said character memory for coupling a character memory bank specifying code from said second storage device to said character memory, wherein said first storage device is a first register for storing at least one bit of program memory bank specifying code, and said second storage device is a second register for storing at least one bit of character memory bank specifying code.

10. External memory apparatus which can be connected to a video game apparatus having a microprocessor, a picture processing unit coupled to said microprocessor, and a connector, said microprocessor being connected to at least one CPU bus and said picture processing unit being connected to at least one PPU bus, said at least one CPU bus and said at least one PPU bus being connected to said connector, said external memory apparatus comprising:

an array of connecting electrodes connected to said connector when said external memory apparatus is loaded into said video game apparatus, said array of connecting electrodes including a first plurality of electrodes disposed to receive in use signals from said at least one CPU bus, a second plurality of electrodes being disposed to receive in use signals from said at least one PPU bus, and a third plurality of electrodes disposed to receive in use memory accessing related signals generated by said microprocessor;

a program read-only memory, coupled to receive signals from said first plurality of electrodes;

a character memory, coupled to receive signals from said second plurality of electrodes each of said program read-only memory and said character memory having a plurality of memory banks,

a memory control circuit connected to said program read-only memory and said character memory, and at least to said third plurality of electrodes, said memory control circuit including at least one storage device and being responsive to a memory read/write signal and a memory selection signal received from said microprocessor for writing bank selecting data into said at least one storage device for selecting at least one of said plurality of memory banks of said program read-only memory and/or said character memory.

11. External memory apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said at least one storage device includes a first register for storing program read-only memory bank specifying data and a second register for storing character memory bank specifying data.

12. A memory cartridge which can be connected to a data processing unit that includes a microprocessor, a picture processing unit coupled to said microprocessor, a video memory having a memory area which is accessible by said picture processing unit, and a video monitor for displaying an image based on data from said picture processing unit, said memory cartridge being coupled to said data processing unit when in use, said memory cartridge comprising:

a program memory for storing a plurality of instructions, said program memory being coupled to said microprocessor when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit,

a character memory for storing pattern data, said character memory being coupled to said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, at least one of said program memory and said character memory including a memory area divided into a plurality of memory banks, and

a memory control circuit, coupled to said microprocessor and said picture processing unit when said memory cartridge is loaded in said data processing unit, including register means for storing memory bank specifying data,

said memory control circuit including at least one output pin which is coupled to at least one of said program memory and said character memory for coupling a memory bank specifying code to at least one of said program memory and said character memory;

said memory control circuit including a video memory control circuit, responsive to memory bank specifying signals received from said data processing unit for selecting the manner in which the memory area of the video memory is arranged in the address space of the picture processing unit, whereby one of a vertical scrolling operation and a horizontal scrolling operation may be performed on said video monitor;

wherein data stored in the memory area of the video memory corresponds to a plurality of display screens of said video monitor and may be aligned to facilitate one of vertical scrolling and horizontal scrolling, wherein said memory bank specifying signals are used by said video memory control circuit to select one of a vertical scrolling alignment and a horizontal scrolling alignment.