Display information conversion apparatus

• US 5,552,799 A
• Filed: 07/25/1994
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Hashiguchi, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US08/280,207
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 345/132, 345/153-155, 345/3, 273/433-438, 273/148 B, 273/DIG 28, 395/128
• US Class Current: 345/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units

Abstract

A display information conversion apparatus includes a game process circuit (104) by which a game program stored in a memory (32) of a memory cartridge (30) for a first game machine is executed, the game process circuit (104) is approximately the same as that of the first game machine. Bit-serial dot data is outputted from the game process circuit (104), and converted into bit-parallel character data by a digital video data interface (114), and the character data is written in a buffer RAM (116). The character data is transferred to a second game machine coupled to a raster-scan display through a connector (113), so that a game image according to the game program stored in the memory is displayed on the raster-scan display.

Claims

1. A display information conversion apparatus for making a storage medium which stores a first program executed by a first information processing apparatus which is constituted to display a video image on a dot-matrix display to be applied to a second information processing apparatus which is constituted to display a video image on a raster-scan display, comprising:

a first connection portion to which said storage medium is detachably attached;

a second connection portion for detachably attaching said display information conversion apparatus to said second information processing apparatus;

an information processor for executing said first program of said storage medium being attached to said first connection portion to generate first video image information for the dot-matrix display;

a video image converter for converting said first video image information into second video image information for the raster-scan display; and

transfer circuitry for transferring said second video image information converted by said video image converter to said second information processing apparatus via said second connection portion.

2. An image information conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first video image information includes bit-serial data, and said video image converter includes a serial/parallel converter for converting said bit-serial data into bit-parallel data.

3. A video information conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said video image converter includes a buffer memory and write circuitry for writing said bit-parallel data into said buffer memory, and said transfer circuitry includes read circuitry for reading said bit-parallel data from said buffer memory, and said second information processing apparatus converts said bit-parallel data into a video signal for said raster-scan display.

4. A display information conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first information processing apparatus includes information processing means for executing said first program, and said information processor in said display information conversion apparatus is the same as information processing means provided in said first information processing apparatus.

5. A display information conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising operation means provided in association with said second information processing apparatus, and operation information converting means for converting operation information from said operation means into operation information adapted to said information processor.

6. A display processing system, comprising:

a storage medium for storing a program executed by first information processing apparatus which is constituted to display a video image on a dot-matrix display;

a second information processing apparatus constituted to display a video image on a raster-scan display;

an information processor for executing said first program of said storage medium to generate first video image information for said dot-matrix display;

a video converter for converting said first video image information into second video image information for said raster-scan display; and

transfer circuitry for transferring said second video information converted by said video converter to said second information processing apparatus.

7. A video information conversion apparatus for making a memory including a game program for a first game machine which displays a game video image on a dot-matrix display to be applied to a second game machine which displays a game video image on a raster-scan display, comprising:

a first connection portion to which said memory is detachably attached;

a second connection portion for detachably attaching said display information conversion apparatus to said second game machine;

a game processor for executing said game program of said memory attached to said first connection portion to generate dot data for said dot-matrix display; and

a data converter for converting said dot data into character data for said raster-scan display; and

transfer circuitry for transferring said character data converted by said data converter to said second game machine through said second connection portion.

8. A display information conversion apparatus for making a storage medium which stores in a non-volatile fashion a first program executed by a first information processing apparatus which is constituted to display a video image on the basis of a first specification to be applied to a second information processing apparatus which is constituted to display a video image on the basis of a second specification, comprising:

a first connection portion to which said storage medium is detachably attached;

a second connection portion for detachably attaching said display information conversion apparatus to said second information processing apparatus;

an information processor for executing said first program of said storage medium being attached to said first connection portion to generate first video image information for said first specification;

a video image converter for converting said first video image information into second video image information for said second specification; and

transfer circuitry for transferring said second video image information converted by said video image converter to said second information processing apparatus via said second connection portion.

9. A display information conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said video image converter includes a buffer memory for storing bit-parallel data in a digital manner, and write circuitry for converting video image information for said first specification into a form capable of being stored in said buffer memory, and for writing the same into said buffer memory,

said transfer circuitry includes read circuitry for reading said bit-parallel data from said buffer memory, and

said second information processing apparatus converts said bit-parallel data into a video image signal for displaying a video image on said raster-scan display.