Video game system using memory module

• US 6,022,274 A
• Filed: 11/22/1995
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Shuhei, Takeda, Genyo, Nishiumi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Application Number:
  US08/562,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 463/43, 463/47, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38
• US Class Current: 463/44
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 : Geometric effects

Abstract

A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc. A peripheral interface macro may be executed to start a read or write transaction with each peripheral device and thereafter transfer the transaction results stored in the random access memory to the game microprocessor main memory.

Claims

1. A home video game system for displaying three-dimensional video game play graphics on a television, comprising:

at least one player controller operable by a player to generate video game control signals;

a video game system console having a game program executing processing system including a game microprocessor, a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute video game programs for displaying three-dimensional video game play graphics on a television in accordance with the video game control signals, a peripheral processing subsystem coupled to said at least one player controller and to said game program executing processing system for executing commands related to coupling said video game control signals to said game program executing processing system, and a main memory accessible to said game program executing processing system and having a first port which is accessible from said video game console; and

a replaceable memory cartridge, coupled to said coprocessor, for expanding said main memory, said replaceable memory cartridge adapted to be received in said first port which is accessible from said video game console.

2. A video game system according to claim 1, wherein said video game system console further comprises a second port for receiving a replaceable memory cartridge for storing a video game program.

3. A video game system according to claim 1, wherein said player controller includes a port for receiving a removable memory module.

4. A video game system according to claim 1, further including a bus connected to said coprocessor, wherein said replaceable memory cartridge is coupled to said bus.

5. A video game system according to claim 4, wherein said replaceable memory cartridge includes at least one bus access control pin coupled to said coprocessor.

6. A video game system according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable memory cartridge includes an initializing signal receiving pin for receiving a signal for initializing said replaceable memory cartridge.

7. A video game system according to claim 5, wherein said replaceable memory cartridge includes an initializing signal receiving pin for receiving a signal for initializing said replaceable memory cartridge.

8. A video game system according to claim 6, wherein said main memory includes a plurality of memory modules in addition to said replaceable memory cartridge and wherein said initializing signal is received from one of said plurality of memory modules.

9. A video game system according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable memory cartridge includes a first clock signal pin for receiving a clock signal when data is to be read out of said replaceable memory cartridge and a second clock signal pin for receiving a clock signal when data is to be written to said replaceable memory cartridge.

10. A video game system according to claim 7, wherein said replaceable memory cartridge includes a first clock signal pin for receiving a clock signal when data is to be read out of said replaceable memory cartridge and a second clock signal pin for receiving a clock signal when data is to be written to said replaceable memory cartridge.

11. A home video game system for displaying three-dimensional video game play graphics on a television, comprising:

a game microprocessor for executing a video game program;

a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program for displaying three-dimensional video game graphics on a television;

a peripheral device; and

a peripheral processing subsystem coupled to said peripheral device for processing output to be supplied to said peripheral device and processing input supplied from said peripheral device, said peripheral processing subsystem being operable to obtain data indicative of the type of peripheral device to which it is connected,

wherein said peripheral device comprises a memory card module.

12. A home video game system for displaying three-dimensional video game play graphics on a television, comprising;

a game microprocessor for executing a video game program;

a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute said video game program for displaying three-dimensional video game graphics on a television;

a peripheral device; and

a peripheral processing subsystem coupled to said peripheral device for processing output to be supplied to said peripheral device and processing input supplied from said peripheral device, said peripheral processing subsystem being operable to obtain data indicative of the type of peripheral device to which it is connected,

wherein said peripheral device comprises a player controller adapted to receive a replaceable memory card module.