Memory device, controller and electronic device

• US 6,478,679 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Koji, Himoto, Atsunori, Tosaki, Kenji, Nakayama, Madoka, Yasuoka, Miyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, KATHLEEN MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US09/269,973
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/38, 463/7, 463/43, 463/44, 463/47, 463/37, 463/46, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/88 Mini-games executed independently while main games are being loaded
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 : Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 : using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6036 : for offering a minigame in combination with a main game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 : involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 : for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 : Fighting without shooting

Abstract

A memory device has a small-sized LCD disposed on an upper part of the front side of a case, and operation buttons disposed below the LCD. An external connection terminal for connecting a game apparatus or others to an outside apparatus is disposed in the lower side of the case nearer the front side thereof. A controller has a card slot for the memory device to be loaded in, which is provided in an upper part of an operation side thereof. The card slot has a window opened so as to expose a required part of the memory device when the memory device is loaded in the controller. With the memory device loaded in the controller a game player operates the operation buttons while watching the LCD of the memory device.

Claims

1. A controller including an operation key and transmitting a command signal, comprising:

a control unit; and

a loading portion, coupled to the control unit, for loading a memory device;

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying information;

at least one operation button, for selecting or saving information, to be operated by an operator;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information; and

at least two connection terminals including a first male connection terminal and a first female connection terminal each disposed on one end of the case for transferring information.

2. An electronic device connected to a controller which transmits a command signal, comprising:

a control unit; and

a memory device loading portion, coupled to the control unit, for loading a memory device;

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case,

a display disposed on one side of the case and displaying information;

at least one operation button, for selecting or saving information, to be operated by an operator;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information, and

at least two connection terminals including a first male connection terminal and a first female connection terminal each disposed on one end of the case for transferring information.

3. A game system comprising:

a game apparatus body;

a display device connected to the game apparatus body; and

a controller connected to the game apparatus body;

a memory device loaded in a loading portion of the controller, said memory device further comprising,

a case;

a memory device display disposed on one side of the case and displaying different information than said display device;

at least one operation button, for selecting or saving information, to be operated by an operator;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information; and

at least two connection terminals including a first male connection terminal and a first female connection terminal each disposed on one end of the case, for transferring information.

4. A game system comprising,

a game apparatus body;

display means connected to the game apparatus body;

a controller connected to the game apparatus body; and

a memory device loaded in a loading portion of the controller for transferring information between the game apparatus body and the memory device;

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a display disposed on one side of the case and displaying information;

at least one operation button for selecting or saving information;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information;

and a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information.

5. A game system comprising:

a game apparatus body;

display means connected to the game apparatus body;

a controller connected to the game apparatus body; and

a loading portion for a memory device, wherein information may be transferred between the memory device and the game apparatus body;

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case,

at least one operation button, for selecting or saving information, to be operated by an operator;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information, and

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case and transferring information.

6. A controller including a prescribed operation key, and outputting a prescribed command signal to an electronic device, comprising:

a control unit; and

a loading portion for a memory device to be loaded in, coupled to the control unit,

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a memory circuit disposed in the case and storing information;

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information;

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying transferred information;

a save key inputting information through the connection terminal to save the information in the memory and

a selection key arbitrarily selecting one of a plurality of information.

7. A controller comprising:

a loading portion for a memory device to be loaded in; and

a selection key arbitrarily selecting one of a plurality of information,

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a memory circuit disposed in the case and storing information;

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information between the memory circuit and the controller;

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying transferred information;

a save key inputting information through the connection terminal to save the information in the memory circuit; and

a selection key selecting arbitrary one of a plurality of information.

8. A controller comprising:

a loading portion for a memory device, wherein said memory device further comprises,

a case;

a memory circuit disposed in the case and storing information;

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information;

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying information;

a selection key selecting arbitrary one of a plurality of information; and

a save key inputting information through the connection terminal and saving the information in the memory circuit.

9. An electronic device connected to a controller outputting a required command signal, comprising:

a control unit; and

a loading portion for loading a memory device, coupled to the control unit;

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information;

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information;

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying transferred information;

a save key inputting information through the connection terminal to save the information in the memory circuit; and

a selection key arbitrarily selecting arbitrary one of a plurality of information.

10. An electronic device connected to a controller outputting a required command signal, comprising:

a control unit;

a loading portion for loading a memory device, coupled to the control unit;

a selection key for arbitrarily selecting information;

a save key for inputting information through the connection terminal and saving the information in the memory

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information;

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information;

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying transferred information;

a save key inputting information through the connection terminal to save the information in the memory circuit and/or;

a selection key selecting arbitrary one of a plurality of information.

11. An electronic device connected to a controller outputting a required command signal, comprising:

selection means for arbitrarily selecting one of a plurality of information;

save means for saving information to the memory device; and

a loading portion for a memory device, coupled to the selection means and the save means;

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information;

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information;

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying the information;

a save key inputting information through the connection terminal to save the information in the memory circuit; and

a selection key arbitrarily selecting one of a plurality of information.

12. An electronic device connected to a controller outputting a required command signal, comprising:

a loading portion for a memory device to be loaded in; and

a saving means;

wherein

the memory device further comprises,

a case,

a memory circuit disposed in the case and storing information,

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case for transferring information, and

a display disposed on one side of the case for displaying information; and

the saving means saves information in the memory circuit by transferring the information through the connection terminal.

13. An electronic device connected to a controller outputting a required command signal, the controller comprising,

a selecting means for arbitrarily selecting one of a plurality of information;

a saving means for saving information;

a loading portion for a memory device to be loaded in, coupled to the control unit; and

a control unit;

wherein the memory device further comprises,

a case;

a memory circuit disposed in the case for storing information;

a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case; and

a display for displaying information;

a selecting means arbitrarily selecting one of a plurality of information.

14. A controller including a required key and outputting required command signal to an electronic device comprising:

a control unit coupled to the loading portion; and

a loading portion for a memory device to be loaded in, said loading portion being coupled to the control unit, said loading portion further comprising a window; and

wherein a required region of the memory device is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading position.

15. A controller according to claim 14, further comprising:

an additional loading portion in which another memory device may be loaded.

16. A memory device to be loaded in a controller the memory device including a required key and which outputs a required command signal to an electronic device, the controller also having a loading portion with a window therein for the memory device to be loaded in such that a required region of the memory device is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion, the memory device comprising,

a display for displaying information wherein the display is disposed at a position so that the display is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion of the controller.

17. A memory device to be loaded in a controller, the memory device including a required key and which outputs a required command signal to an electronic device, the controller also having a loading portion with a window therein for the memory device to be loaded in such that a required region of the memory device is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion, the memory device comprising:

a memorandum portion on which a memorandum can be written down;

wherein the memorandum portion is disposed at a position where the memorandum portion is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion of the controller.

18. A memory device to be loaded in a controller, the memory device including a required key and outputting a required command signal to an electronic device, the controller also having a loading portion with a window therein for a memory device to be loaded in such that a required region of the memory device is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion, the memory device comprising,

an operation button operated by an operator,

wherein the operation button is disposed at a position where the operation button is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion of the controller.

19. A memory device to be loaded in a controller, the memory device including a required key and outputting required command signal to an electronic device, the controller also having a loading portion with a window therein for a memory device to be loaded in such that a required region of the memory device is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion, the memory device comprising,

a microphone inputting sounds,

wherein the microphone is provided at a position where the microphone is exposed in the window when the memory device is loaded in the loading portion of the controller.

20. A memory card comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to said processor;

a memory coupled to said processor and having an address range between a low address and a high address, for storing information, wherein the information comprises at least one of a program and a data;

a connection terminal coupled to said processor for connecting the memory card to an external device, the connection terminal being used to transfer information from the memory card to the external device and for receiving information from the external device;

a plurality of buttons, coupled to said processor;

wherein portions of the information which are programs are stored starting at a first address and portions of the information which are data are stored starting at a second address, said first and second address being different and chosen from a set consisting of the low address and the high address.

21. A game system comprising:

a console, said console further comprising,

a control unit;

a primary display coupled to the control unit for displaying a primary image; and

at least one controller, each of said controllers coupled to the control unit;

wherein each of said controllers is capable of accepting a memory card, each of said memory card further comprising,

a processor;

a secondary display coupled to the processor for displaying a secondary image;

a memory coupled to the processor and having an address range between a low address and a high address, for storing information, wherein the information comprises at least one of a program and a data;

a connection terminal coupled to the processor for interfacing with an external device chosen from the set consisting of the controller and another memory card;

a plurality of buttons, coupled to the processor;

wherein portions of the information which are programs are stored starting at a first address and portions of the information which are data are stored starting at a second address, said first and second address being different and chosen from a set consisting of the low address and the high address.