CA1148250B - Television gaming apparatus and method - Google Patents
Television gaming apparatus and methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA1148250B CA1148250B CA000286872A CA286872A CA1148250B CA 1148250 B CA1148250 B CA 1148250B CA 000286872 A CA000286872 A CA 000286872A CA 286872 A CA286872 A CA 286872A CA 1148250 B CA1148250 B CA 1148250B
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- dots
- screen
- coincidence
- dot
- television
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
TELEVISION GAMING APPARATUS AND METHOD The present invention pertains to an apparatus in conjunction with standard monochrome and color television receivers, for the generation, display, manipulation, and use of symbols or geometric figures upon the screen of the standard television receivers for the purpose of playing games by one or more participants. The invention comprises in one embodiment a control unit, connecting means and in some applications a television screen overlay mask utilized in conjunction with a standard television receiver. The control unit includes the control means, switches and electronic circuitry for the generation, manipulation and control of video signals which are to be displayed on the television screen. The connecting means couples the video signals to the receiver antenna terminals thereby using existing electronic circuits within the receiver to process and display the signals. An overlay mask which may be removably attached to the television screen may determine the nature of the game to be played. Control units are provided for each of the participants. Alternatively, games, may be carried out in conjunction with background and other pictorial information originated in the television receiver by commercial TV, closed-circuit TV or a CATV station.
Description
sackground of the Invention The invention relates to an apparatus and method by means of which standard television receivers can be utiïized as active rather than pa~sive instruments. This is accompiished by certain embodiments having participants manipulate controls of a control unit connected to the s~andard televi~ion receiver to cause a symbol, such a~ a rectangie, bar, dot or a pair of dots to be displaye~ upo~ the tele~i ion screen by means of - 1 - f~
... ... ................ . . .. . . .
3Z5~
which the participants can play a variety of gam~s. ~y way o example, modified versions of the well-known game of checkers may be played by two participants by placing an appropriate mask representing the checkPr board upon the screen of the standard television receiver.
By standard television receivers are meant those of the type which are used in the home to receive either radiated or cable transmitted programs.
Heretofore, standard color and monochome television receivers have been used by the home and other viewers only as passive devices; i.e., the television receiver is used only as a display means for programming originating at a studio. The viewer i.s limited to selecting the presentations available for viewing and is not a participant to the extent that he can con-trol or influence the nature of, or add to the presentation displayed on the receiver screen. A standard receiver is em-ployed with auxiliary equipment to provide an active form of home entertainment. Since most homes are equipped with televi-sion receivers, the only expense required to provide added family enjoyment is the expense of a control unit of one type or another. -- -It i9, therefore the primary object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus and methods for displaying video signals upon the screen of a standard television receiver, where some or all of the video signals are both generated and controlled by the viewer.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-vide an apparatus and method wherein a standard color or mono- --chrome television receiver is utilized as an active instrument to play various types of games involving one or more partici-pants.
It is a further object of the present invention to
... ... ................ . . .. . . .
3Z5~
which the participants can play a variety of gam~s. ~y way o example, modified versions of the well-known game of checkers may be played by two participants by placing an appropriate mask representing the checkPr board upon the screen of the standard television receiver.
By standard television receivers are meant those of the type which are used in the home to receive either radiated or cable transmitted programs.
Heretofore, standard color and monochome television receivers have been used by the home and other viewers only as passive devices; i.e., the television receiver is used only as a display means for programming originating at a studio. The viewer i.s limited to selecting the presentations available for viewing and is not a participant to the extent that he can con-trol or influence the nature of, or add to the presentation displayed on the receiver screen. A standard receiver is em-ployed with auxiliary equipment to provide an active form of home entertainment. Since most homes are equipped with televi-sion receivers, the only expense required to provide added family enjoyment is the expense of a control unit of one type or another. -- -It i9, therefore the primary object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus and methods for displaying video signals upon the screen of a standard television receiver, where some or all of the video signals are both generated and controlled by the viewer.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-vide an apparatus and method wherein a standard color or mono- --chrome television receiver is utilized as an active instrument to play various types of games involving one or more partici-pants.
It is a further object of the present invention to
2 -325~ j provide a device whereby an individual may plt hi3 alertness, skill, manual dexterity and visual acui$y on automatically contro~led-standard television receivers.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will also provide visual indica-tion of the results of the games played.
It is yet a f~rther obje~t of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will generate dots or other geometric figures such as squares, rectangles, bars, stripes, etc. which may be controlled by one or more participants for playing various types of games by the display and utilization of the "dots".
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which may allow one or more participants to use a standard television set while receiving background and other pertinent pictorial information from a cooperative com-mercial TV, clo~ed-circuit TV, or CATV station, thus combining or alterna~ing studio and home-generated information on the TV
screen.
It is still another object of ~he present in~ention to allow the use of a standard TV set for gaming wi~hout the need for any kind of internal electrical connection to the TV set for t~e introduction of video and/or chroma signals, connections being reguired to be made only to the externally-accessible antenna terminals.
It iB 8till another object of the pre~ent invention to provide for interrogating a ~tandard TV recQiver through an - optical photosensor in a manner allowing the identificat~on of a ~u~tably time-or frequency-coded message, not interpretable by the unaided eye, such message having been originated in the TV
viewer6 equipment by a cooperative commercial TV, clo~ad-circuit TV or CATV ~ta~ion.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will also provide visual indica-tion of the results of the games played.
It is yet a f~rther obje~t of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will generate dots or other geometric figures such as squares, rectangles, bars, stripes, etc. which may be controlled by one or more participants for playing various types of games by the display and utilization of the "dots".
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which may allow one or more participants to use a standard television set while receiving background and other pertinent pictorial information from a cooperative com-mercial TV, clo~ed-circuit TV, or CATV station, thus combining or alterna~ing studio and home-generated information on the TV
screen.
It is still another object of ~he present in~ention to allow the use of a standard TV set for gaming wi~hout the need for any kind of internal electrical connection to the TV set for t~e introduction of video and/or chroma signals, connections being reguired to be made only to the externally-accessible antenna terminals.
It iB 8till another object of the pre~ent invention to provide for interrogating a ~tandard TV recQiver through an - optical photosensor in a manner allowing the identificat~on of a ~u~tably time-or frequency-coded message, not interpretable by the unaided eye, such message having been originated in the TV
viewer6 equipment by a cooperative commercial TV, clo~ad-circuit TV or CATV ~ta~ion.
- 3 _ It is still a further ob~ect of the present invention to provide apparatus for decoding messages on a TV screen.
Summary of the Invention In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a television gaming apparatus is provided for generating video signals in accordance with the standardized television format, which signals may be controlled by an in-dividual operator by means of a joystick or other manually operative means. The television gaming apparatus comprises a control box having enclosed thereir. all tha necessary electronic circuits to produce video signals which are compatible with standard television receivers, both monochro~eand color.
The control box has video signal control means mounted thereon for easy access and connecting means are provided for coupling the video signals generated within the control box to the standard television receiver. There is also provided suit-able overlay masks which are adapted to be removably secured upon the television screen. These masks permit playing of games which are adaptable to display upon a television screen.
By way of illustration, the television gaming appara-tus can be used for electronic target shooting by providing a gun having a photoelectric c~ which is activated when a trig-ger is depressed. Thus, when the gun is aimed at a "dot" dis-played on the standard television screen, which "dot" serves as the target, and the trigger is depressed, a hit will be indi-cated on the television screen by a visual display when the photoelectric cell is in alignment with the "dotn. The "dot"
which serves as the target may be either fixed or moveable and can be swept across the screen in a predetermined or random fashion, at either a fixed or variable rate, either manually or automatically.
By way of further illustration, games may be played
Summary of the Invention In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a television gaming apparatus is provided for generating video signals in accordance with the standardized television format, which signals may be controlled by an in-dividual operator by means of a joystick or other manually operative means. The television gaming apparatus comprises a control box having enclosed thereir. all tha necessary electronic circuits to produce video signals which are compatible with standard television receivers, both monochro~eand color.
The control box has video signal control means mounted thereon for easy access and connecting means are provided for coupling the video signals generated within the control box to the standard television receiver. There is also provided suit-able overlay masks which are adapted to be removably secured upon the television screen. These masks permit playing of games which are adaptable to display upon a television screen.
By way of illustration, the television gaming appara-tus can be used for electronic target shooting by providing a gun having a photoelectric c~ which is activated when a trig-ger is depressed. Thus, when the gun is aimed at a "dot" dis-played on the standard television screen, which "dot" serves as the target, and the trigger is depressed, a hit will be indi-cated on the television screen by a visual display when the photoelectric cell is in alignment with the "dotn. The "dot"
which serves as the target may be either fixed or moveable and can be swept across the screen in a predetermined or random fashion, at either a fixed or variable rate, either manually or automatically.
By way of further illustration, games may be played
- 4 -~4!3250 in which a cooperative TV station (commercial, closed-circuit or CATV) provides background data such as scenery for a simu-lated turkey-shoot game, or such as checkerboard game back-grounds, time-left-to-play-clocks and innumerable others designed to enhance the appeal of the activity. A cooperative TV station can also provide targets for a target shooting game as well as messages to be decoded. For example, tests questions could be displayed on the TV screen with a multiple set of answers whereby the correct answer is coded in such a manner that a photocell circuit would detect the coding signifying selection of the correct answer.
From the above illustrations it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention exhibits a great latitute of versatility.
Brief Description of the Drawings The aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view illustrating the~principal components of one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. lA is a sketch illustrating the manner in which the components of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are connected;
FIG. lB is a pictorial view illustrating an alternate embodiment for the control unit of FIG. l;
FIG. lC is a sketch showing a "light-gun" containing a photocell and electronic circuits.
FIGS. lD and lE are sketches illustrating the manner in which the components of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be con-nected when used with a cooperative TV station.
FIG. 2 is a sketch illustrating a TV screen and over-lay mask as employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
From the above illustrations it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention exhibits a great latitute of versatility.
Brief Description of the Drawings The aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view illustrating the~principal components of one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. lA is a sketch illustrating the manner in which the components of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are connected;
FIG. lB is a pictorial view illustrating an alternate embodiment for the control unit of FIG. l;
FIG. lC is a sketch showing a "light-gun" containing a photocell and electronic circuits.
FIGS. lD and lE are sketches illustrating the manner in which the components of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be con-nected when used with a cooperative TV station.
FIG. 2 is a sketch illustrating a TV screen and over-lay mask as employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
- 5 -~48ZS~
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit of FIG. l;
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating the electronics for a target shooting game;
FIGS. 5A-5G are schematics of the blocks of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6A-6F are waveforms (not drawn to scale) illustrating operation of the schematics of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic illustrating the method of extracting horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses from a TV receiver without making internal connections, when using a signal broadcast by a cooperative TV station;
FIG. 8 is a sketch illustrating apparatus for mod~lating a received TV signal by a video and/or chroma signal generated by the control unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a sketch illustrating the TV screen of a ; receiver employed in a coded information mode; and ; FIG. 10 iS a schematic of a decoder used to decode the information present on the TV screen of FIG. 9.
Description of Preferred Embodiments The principal components of one emhodiment of a tele-vision gaming system configured according to the invention are illustrated in FIG. 1 which is a pictorial view showing a standard television receivar 10, a control unit 14 and means 12 ~or connecting control unit 14 to receiver 10. The standard television receiver 10 employed can be any of tha standard comm~rcially available models that are generally used for home entertainment. Either a monochrome or color television-set may be used with the present invention since the basic pEinciples o~ the invention apply to both types. The connection means 12 is in thig embodiment a shielded cable, for example, shielded twin lead and is attached to the antenna terminals of receiver 10 in conventional fashion (see FIG. lA).
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit of FIG. l;
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating the electronics for a target shooting game;
FIGS. 5A-5G are schematics of the blocks of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6A-6F are waveforms (not drawn to scale) illustrating operation of the schematics of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic illustrating the method of extracting horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses from a TV receiver without making internal connections, when using a signal broadcast by a cooperative TV station;
FIG. 8 is a sketch illustrating apparatus for mod~lating a received TV signal by a video and/or chroma signal generated by the control unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a sketch illustrating the TV screen of a ; receiver employed in a coded information mode; and ; FIG. 10 iS a schematic of a decoder used to decode the information present on the TV screen of FIG. 9.
Description of Preferred Embodiments The principal components of one emhodiment of a tele-vision gaming system configured according to the invention are illustrated in FIG. 1 which is a pictorial view showing a standard television receivar 10, a control unit 14 and means 12 ~or connecting control unit 14 to receiver 10. The standard television receiver 10 employed can be any of tha standard comm~rcially available models that are generally used for home entertainment. Either a monochrome or color television-set may be used with the present invention since the basic pEinciples o~ the invention apply to both types. The connection means 12 is in thig embodiment a shielded cable, for example, shielded twin lead and is attached to the antenna terminals of receiver 10 in conventional fashion (see FIG. lA).
6 -~8Z5~
Control unit 14 generates ~ideo signals sho~m as "dots" 201 and 202 which are positioned on the receiv~r screen 18 by knobs 16, 17, and 161, 171, respectively. In this embodiment the "dots" 20 are squares or rectangles.
However, any geometric shape is applicable. Knob 16 controls the vertical position of dot 201 while knob 17 controls the horizontal position thereof. Thus, it can be seen that the dot 201, may be positioned at any point on the screen by ~he proper manipulation of knobs 16 and 17. Dot 202 is positioned in like manner by knob 161, 171. A rese~ switch 26 is shown on the control unit 14 and is used to reset the picture on the television screen. For example, a gamP may be played in which one dot is to be positioned over the other and when this is accomplished one dot will disappear when a standard monochrome set is used, while in a standard color set, the dot will disappear and the background will change color. When games of this nature are played, a reset means is required before play can be resumed. Reset switch 26 performs this function.
A knob 15 controls backgrou~d color for color TV
receiver applications. Alternatively, control unit 14 may be broken up into a master control unit cQntaining the electronic circuits and individual control units containing control knobs 16, 17 and 161, 171, whereby each participant may operate from a position not proximate the other and so not to interfere with other players. ~his is illustrated in FIG. lB wherein contrGl unit 14 is broken up into a master control unit 21 and individual control units 22 and 23. The master control unit 21 contains the electronic circuitry found in control unit 14 and cGntrols 26 and 15. Knobs 16, 17 and 161, 17~ which position the dots 201 and 202 are situated on individual control units 22 and 23 respectively.
The knobs 16, 17 may be combined into a single joy-stick per~ittlng control of the horizontal and vertical dot ", ~ 7 -1~48ZS~
positioning by a single control means.
Rather than provide a separate control unit, the control unit could be built into the television receiver as a constituent part thereof and the receiver sold as both an active and passive home entertainment system.
A typical sequence of steps to play a game using the present invention would be as follows: 1. Attach connection means 12 to TV set 10 at antenna terminals 19 if not already attached; 2. turn TV set on; 3. select the proper channel on the set for the control unit being used; 4. apply power to the control unit; 5. attach a mask on the face of the TV
screen, if required for the game to be played; 6. begin the game.
Referring now to Figure 2, a standard television screen 18 is illustrated having two "dots~' 201 and 202 displayed.
An overlay mask 30 of some type of transparent material such as plastic or the like, having some type of pattern, picture or other illustration pertaining to the particular game to be played is shown in a lifted position. Prior to engaging in a game, the overlay mask 30 would be temporarily attached to tele-visicn screen 18 and in such close proximity to it as not to create any distortion when viewed with reference to the dots 20.
One type of overlay mask could be a checkerboard pattern to be used for playing a modified game of checkers. Still another pattern could be maze type, with the object of the game being to escape within a specified time. These are but a few of the many games that can be adapted for use with the present inven-tion.
Alternatively, rather than employ overlay mask 30, the pattern to be provided could be displayed directea on the screen 18. The pattern could be broadcast by TV stations or alternatively could be sent to a non-used channel over closed-!,,:~"
5~
circuit ox CATV lines. This embodim2nt i8 described in greater detail hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8.
The control unit 14 will now be described in detail by referring to the block diagram shown in Figure 3. The timing for the television gaming system is established within the control unit by a horizontal sync generator 31 and a ver-tical sync generator 32.
The horizontal sync generator 31 employed in this embodiment is a multivibrator whose output is a series of pulses rather than a square wave. The repetition rate of these pulses is the standard hori ontal scanning frequency used in commercial television receivers. The positive sync pulse out-put 81 of the hori~ontal sync generator 31 is simultaneously applied to a first "dot" generator 34, a second "dot" genera-tor 35 and a chroma generator 33 (in color TV applications).
The negative sync pulse output 82 of the horizontal sync generator 31 is applied directly to a summing ampliier-modulator 37. The "dot" generators 34 and 35 when triggered by horizontal sync generator 31 generate a pulse which is the ~ horizontal video information portion of the-television compo-site signal that forms the "dots" 20 on the television receiver screen lB. Th~ manual control knobs 16, 17 and 161, 171 on the control unit are attached to the shafts of potentiometers 86, 92 and 96, 97 in the dot generator circuits of the "dot"
generators 34 and 35 respectively (see FIGS. 5C and 5D). Al-ternatively, a single control such as a joystick could be coupled to knobs 16, 1~ and a second--~oystick coupled to knobs 161~ 171 Adjustment of these potentiometers establishes the position of the "dots n on the television screen.
The vertical sync generator 32 is coupled to the firzt and second 9ymbol or "dot" generators 34 and 35 and triggers the "dot" generators to generate a pulse which is the g _ ~1~8~5~
vertical video information portion of the composite television signal. The combination of the horizontal and vertical sig-nals form a "dot" on the television receiver screen. There are two manual control knobs for each "dot". One of the knobs controls the horizontal pulse position while the other controls the vertical pulse position. The output of the "dot" generator which is the delayed horizontal pulses that are gated by the delayed vertical pulse, describes the location of the "dots"
on the television screen. The horizontal and vertical video information from the first and second "dot" generators 34 and 35 is summed together in the summing network of summing amplifier-modulator 37. The summung network is a resistor matrix which sums all the signals presented to one point. Thus the compo-site video informakion is formed. The composite.video infor-mation is then coupled to the modulator portion of summing amplifier-modulator 37 and to r-f oscillator 38 which modulates the video information with the carrier to generate the modulated RF signal. The RF signal is then coupled to the standard tele-vision antenna terminals 19. The RF signal that is present at the antenna terminals is detected and processed by the standard television receiver in the standard manner and is displayed upon the screen. The two controllable "dots" are the means by-which games may be played.
Alternatively the video signal could be applied in-ternally to the receiver with rf carrier modulation.
The "dot" coincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40 receives an input from both the first and second "dot" genera-tors 34 and 35 tak~n at outputs 94 and 98 thereof respectively (see FIG. 5)~ When the "dots" 201 and 202 are coincident, the first "dot" generator 34 is turned off by the "dot" ooincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40. Thus, when one "dot" is super-imposed upon the other, one of the "dots" will disappear.
A variety of games may be adapted to use this par-ticular aspect of the television gaming system. For exa~plP, a game of fox and hounds may be played with one n dot" represent-ing the fox and other the hounds. When the hounds catch the fox, the fox's "dot" disappears indicating a catch. Any game requiring an indication of when contact is made between two objects may be adapted to this concept.
The chroma generator 33 is used when the control unit 14 is coupled to a standard color television receiver.
Chroma generator 33 may be omitted for monochrome applications.
The gaming system for color operation is the same as that for standard monochrome sets with the exception that the back-ground color in the standard color receivers may be controlled.
A color control knob 15 (see FIG. 1) is provided on control unit 14 and is coupled to a potentiometer within the chroma generator 33 by which means the background color may be varied throughout its entire color spectrum. The horizontal sync generator 31 provides the trigger signal to the chroma genera-tor 33 whose output is then summed in the summing network of the summing amplifier-modulator 37 with the other portions of video information. The resultant composite video information is then modulated with the carrier in the modulator-and--r-f oscillator 38~ The RF signal is then coupled as before to the television receiver antenna terminals 19 and is detected, pro-cessed and displayed in the ~tandard manner.
One game which may be played employing the concepts of this invention is target shooting. A "toy n gun containing a photocell is electrically coupled to the control unit.
When a game is played using the target gun also called a "light-gun", hits are shown on the scree~l by having one sf the "dots" disappear. Signal~ detected by a target gun circuit 36 are used to trigger the crowbar cir~uit portion ~ ' ,,~;,,, ~
z~
of "dot" coincidence detector and crowbar circuik 40, which turns off the first dot generator 34. Thus, one of the dots will disappear indicating a hit. The operation of the target gun circuits will be described in greater detail with refer-ence to Figure 4.
The power souxce 41 is preferably a battery and provides the necessary power to operate the various circuits.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated thereby schematics of the blocks of FIG. 3. The schematics are described in conjunction with the waveforms of FIG. 6.
Note that the circled capital letters A, B..... designate connection points, that is A is coupled to A, B to B~ etc.
The horizontal oscillator 31 of FI&. 5A is an astable multi-vibrator that operates at approximately 15.75 KHz and generates the horizontal sync and timing pulses that are used within the control unit and the television receiver. One output signal taken at point 81 is a positive sync pulse which in one embodi-ment is approximately 8 volts in amplitude and has a pulse width of 4 microseconds. A second output signal taken at point 82 is a negative sync pulse which also is approximately 8 volts in amplitude and has a pulse width of 4 microseconds.
The vertical oscillator 32 of FIG. 5B is an astable multivibrator that operates at 60 Hz and provides positive 89 and negative 90 vertical sync pulses of approximately 8 volts amplitude and 1 millisecond duration.
The first "dot" generator 34 is illustrated in FIG. 5C and is comprised of an "and'1 gate, and hori-zontal and vertical delay multivibrators. The delayed horizontal and vertical pulse3 ~positive sync pulses) are AND-gated together to form the video information which produces one "dot" on the television screen. Both delay multivibrators utilize the positive sync pulse transistor of their respective oscillators 5~
as its input transistor. The posltive sync pulse from point Bl of the horizontal oscillator is used to trigger the horizontal .delay multivibrator portion of the first dot generator. When the positive sync pulse, taken at point 81, is applied at point 84, the pulse that appears at the output of the delay multivibrator point 85 is delayed by the time constant estab-lished by the setting of potentiometer 86 and capacitor 87.
The delay multivibrator output passes through a pulse shaper having an R-C time constant of very short duration relative to the horizontal oscillator frequency. The output of the pulse shaper is taken at a point 150. The time delay may be varied from 9 microseconds to 57 microseconds which is substantially the entire range of the horizontal sweep period. The pulses which are generated by the horizontal oscillator, the hori-zontal delay multivibrator and the pulse shaper, are shown in Figure 6A as waveforms 60, 61, 62 and 63. Waveform 60 repre--sents the negative horizontal sync pulses taken at point 82;
waveform 61 represents the positive horizontal sync pulses taken at point 81; waveform 62 represents the output from the delay multivibrator taken at point 85 and waveform 63 repre-sents the output from the pulse shaper taken at point 150.
The positive sync pulse taken at point 89 o vertical oscillator 32 is used to trigger the vertical delay multi-vibrator portion of the first dot generator. The output signal appears at point 91 after a time delay which is determined by the setting of potentiometer 92 and capacitor 93. The delay multiYibrator output passes through a pulse shaper having an R-C time constant of very short duration relative to the ver-tical oscillator frequency. The output of the pulse shaper is `
taken at point 151. The time delay may be varied from 1.5 millisecond to 15.5 milliseconds which is sub-stantially the entire range of the vertical sweep period.
The pulses which are generated by the ,, ~ ,.
5~
vertical oscillator, the vertical delay multivibrator, and the pulse shaper are shown in Figure 6B as waveforms 64, 65, 66, and 67. Waveform 64 represents the negative vertical sync pulses taken at point 90; waveform 65 represents the positive vertical sync pulses taken at point 89; waveform 66 represents the output from the delay multivibrator taken at point 91; and waveform 67 represents the output from the pulse shaper taken at point 151.
The video information that will be displayed on the standard television screen 18 as a "dot" 20 is the summation of the outputs of the horizontal and vertical delay multivibrators.
When the delayed vartical pulse is at point 151, the delay~d horizontal pulses at point 150 will be gated through to the first "dot" generator output 94. The waveforms of Figure 6C
illustrate the signals 63 and 67 taken at points 150 and 151 respectively in expanded form and the output signal from the first "dot" generator 68 taken at point 94. The signal 68 which is present at the first "dot" generator output 94 con-tains the horizontal and vertical data that will be processed by the standard television receiver and displayed as a "dot"
201 on the screen.
The settings of potentiometPrs 86 and 92 control the horizontal and vertical position of the "dot" 201 on screen 18.
The second "dotn generator 35 ~see FIG.--5~) is con-figured exactly as the first "dot" generator and operates in the same manner to provide video information for the second "dot" 202. The input *o the horizontal delay multivibrator portion o~ the second "dot" generator is provided at a point 96.
The input to the vertical delay multivibrator portion of the "dot" generator is provided at a point 97. The output of the second ndot" generator is taken at a point 98.
The ~dot~ coinc~dence and crow~ar circuit 40 z~ ~ - 14 -~1~82~;~
illustrated in FIG. 5E is connected to~the outputs of the first and second "dot" generators. The cathode end of a -_ diode 101 is connected to the output 94 of the first "dot"
genera~or while the cathode end of a diode 102 is connected to the output 98 of the second "dot" generator. When the outputs of both "dot" generators coincide, a positive signal will be applied to the gate 103 of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 104. The cathode of SCR 104 is tied to ground, while the anode thereof is connected at a point 106 to point 105 in the first "dot" generator. The SCR 104 will turn on and clamP
point 105 of the first "dot" generator to ground. Thus, the output of the first "dot" generator will become zero as long as SCR 104 is conducting, causing the first "dot" on the television screen to disappear. After the "dots" are made non-coincident, the SCR 104 may be reset by momentarily depressing reset switch 26, which removes the ground from point 105 of the first "dot" generator, allowing the first "dot" to reappear on the standard television screen.
The modulator and r-f oscillator illustrated schematically in ~IG. 5F is coupled by a resistive network comprising resistive elements 108-111 (see FIGS. 5A-5D) to the negative sync pulses of the horizontal and vertical oscillators and the output signals of the first and second "dot" generators.
The r-f oscillator which operates at the selected television channel carrier frequency is collector-modulated by the output of the summing amplifier taken at point 112. The composite video signal which is inductively coupled to pickup coil 113 is coupled to the standard television receiver antenna ter-minals 19. The composite video signal is shown in Figure 6D.
The chroma generator 33 illustrated in FIG. 5G is used only when the control unit 14 is coupled to a standard color television receiver and is comprised of a crystal-con-trolled oscillator, a variable phase shifter and an OR gate.
:, 8;~:5~
The ou~put of the crystal-controlled oscillator which operates at 3.579545 MHz is taken at point 115. The phase shifter is variable over the approximate range of 0-180 by a potentio-meter 116. The reference pha$e signal (0) 70 is coupled to point 117. The variable phase signal 71 is coupled ~o point 118. These signals are shown in Figure 6E and are dis-placed with respect to one another by the amount set in the phase shifter by potentiometer 116. The output signal of the chroma generator developed at point 119 is comprised of a chroma sync burst and the chroma signal. The composite chroma signal 72 which is the output of the chroma generator is sho~n in Figure 6F. The chroma sync burst is the 0 phase reference signal. The chroma signal is the variable phase signal whose phase is compared by the television receiver against the chroma sync burst. The phase difference between the two signals de-termines the color to be displayed on the screen~ The positive sync pulse from point 81 o the horizontal oscillator is used to gate 0 phase reference signal to point 119. The trailing edge of the positive going pulse at point 120 gates approxi-mately 3-5 microseconds of the 0 phase referenced to point 119 to become the chroma sync burst. The composite color infor-mation is summed to the modulator in~ut 114 by capacitor 121.
The total composite video signal including the color informa-tion is then modulated, as explained before for the monochrome sisnal, with the carrier and coupled to the standar~ television antenna terminals 19.
Alternately the video and/or chroma signals may be applied to the crowbar modulator 126 of FIG. 8. (This will be described hereinafter).
When the gaming sy~tem i8 being used in either the target gun or "dot" coincident mode with a ~tandard color TV
receiver, the background color will change when the "dot"
,,": . , ~825C~
disappears from the television screen. The anode of SCR 104 the coincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40 which is connected to point 105 of the first "dot" generator to make the "dot" disaopear is also connected to point 122 of the chroma generator. ~hen the chroma generator is adjusted for a red background, the background will change to blue when point 122 i3 clamped to ground`by SCR 104. The SCR 104 will be fired either by coincidence of the "dots" or by alignment of the photo cell in the target gun with the target "dot".
Turning now to Figure 4, the target gun circuits 36 are shown schematically. When the target gun is pointed at the target "dot" on the standard television screen, a pho,to-cell 50 mounted at the end of the target gun barrel will detect the intensity modulated "dot". The detected signal is amplified by transistors 51 and 52. When the gun trigger switch 53 is closed, the amplified detected signal is applied to the gate electrode of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 104, which will file SCR 104. The SCR 104 now clamps the output of the "dot" generator 34 to ground and the "dot" 201 ~ill disappear.
Whether the first or the second "dot" is used as a target does not matter, since a hit will be indicated by the disappearance of the first "dot". If only one "dot" is to-be displayed on the screen as a target, the first "dot" would be used. A reset button 26 is provided to make the target reappear after a hit has been scored. The portion of the circuit appearing within the dashed lines 56 is part of the "dot" coincidence and crow-bar circuit 40.
An adjustment is provided by means of potentiometer 57 whereby the threshold level of photo cell 50 may be adjusted such that only when the gun is properly aligned with the target will the "dot" disappear. ~his procedure a~sures that false hits due to stray or scattered light from the room will not be ~825~
scored. The setting should be made so that SCR 104 will no~ be triggered by the brightness of the room but only the intensity of the displayed "dotn.
As previously mentioned, this invention may be employed in conjunction with information originating from a cooperative station such as a commercial TV, a closed-circuit TV or a CATV station. In these embodiments means are neces-sary for extracting the horizontal and vertical synchroniza-tion pulses from the standard TV receiver which is receiving a signal from a cooperative stationO The horizontal and Yer-tical synchronization pulses could be obtained from within the s$andard TV receiver directly. However, this necessitates making electrical connections to the internal circuitry of the TV receiver. Preferably, the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7 is used to derive the synchronization pulses.
A de~ice 129 is positioned in front of the standard receiver and attached to it by, for example, a suction cup at approximately the center bottom edge of the CR~ glass face (see FIG. lD). Device 129 contains both a photocell 128 and a pickup coil 123 responding broadly to 15,570 ~z. These devices pick up a 60 cycle signal component provided by a white stripe at the bottom of the CR~, (generated by the cooperative station) and a radiated 15,570 horizontal scan signal, res-pectively. These signals are applied via a cable 130 to a pair of amplifiers 127 (vertical) and 124 (horizontal3 and fed to a pair of pulse shapers 125 (vertical) and 1251 (horizontal~.
This yields synchronization pulses which duplicate in rate and phase those transmitted. Applying these pulses to points 82 and 90 in FIGS. 5A and 5B allows locking the horizontal and vertical oscillators into sync with the transmitted signals.
Consequently, all the functions previously described, such as the generation of ~dots" for checker type games, target shoot-~, ing, chase games and all other functions available to control 2~i~
by the nviewer", may now be overlaid the transmitted TV picture.
Modulation in this mode of operation is accomplished by the "~rowbar" modulation circuit 126 of FIG. 8.
In this Figure, use is made of an attenuator con-sisting of two series resistors 132 and 133 and a transis-tor 134 acting as a variable shunt resistor. Biasing this transistor sufficiently into conduction by applying modulation to its base, saturates the transistor momentarily reducing the RF signal going from the antenna to the standard TV receiver antenna terminals 19. This corresponds to carrier reduction, which is negative modulation and is equivalent to generating a video signal going from black to white and back to the black level. Chroma signals can also be applied to the crowbar transistor modulator in the same fashion.
Note that the combination of apparatus described in FIGS. 7 and 8 describe a mode of interacting with a transmitted TV signal without requiring the attachment of connections to the internal circuitry of the standard TV receiver.
As mentioned above, the invention may be employed in conjunction with a coopexative TV station such as commercial ~V, closed-circuit TV and CATV (community antenna television).
In this mode the invention may be employ~d for target shooting or for,decoding messages on a TV screen, such messages being the result of transmission from ~he cooperative-station-,--as for example testing with coded answer supplied. Other trans-missions can be transmissions from organizations offering ser-vices to the viewer equipped in accordance with this invention.
In FIG. 10 there is illustrated a combination target shooting and decoding apparatus. The decoding portion thereof , 30 i5 described in connection with the sketch of FIG. 9.
Although the circuit shown is used for both decoding and target ~hooting it will be obvious that certain of the components can ' ;7',,,t ~,, ;
be eliminated to provide either of the functions alone.
The information is presented on the standard TV
een in such a manner that a portion thereof is coded. ~or example, FIG. 9 illustrates using the presentation for testing.
The question and a group of possible answers is presented on TV screen 18 as illustrated with symbols 152-155 shown next to each answer. One of the symbols (in the example shown 153) is coded in such a manner that it will trigger the decoder of FIG. 10. For example, symbols 152, 154 and 155 may flash 60 times whereas the correct answer symbol 153, will flash 61 times. The decoder of FIG. 10 is arranged to respond to the odd number of flashes.
The electronics of FIG. 10 can be inserted into a "gun" or other suitable configuration and therefore be easily handled.
Referring now to FIG. 10, initially pressing a reset switch 142 sets the equipment. Reset switch 142 is a double pole single thrcw switch. The modulation from the coded symbol incident at a photocell 136 is supplied via a buffer ampli-fier 137, and an amplifier and pulse shaper 138 to a flip-flop 139 which is triggered. The output from flip 139 is applied via a bufer amplifier 141 to a lamp 140 which will light with a steady glow until reset indicating the correct answer was chosen.
If an incorrect answer was chosen, the lamp will flicker for a time equal to the time the symbol (152, 154, 155) is being modslated and then will go out.
To go to the next question, the decoder is-returned to its starting position by operating reset switch 142. Note:
initially reset switch had to be ~epressed so that the flip-~lop wollld be in the proper state to provide a steady output to the lamp when photocell 139 receives an odd number of cycles.
, ", ~ i ~8'~5~
To operate the circuit of FIG. 10 in its targ~t shooting mode, a switch 145 is switched to the alternate contacts 146, 147.
In this mode, (see FIG. lC) a "target" dot 148 is supplied by the cooperative station which also could supply background scenery for aesthetic purposes. When the "gun" 27 (FIG. lC) is aimed at the target 148 and the trigger (switch 144 FIG. 10) is depressed, photocell 136 will supply an output via buffer amplifier 137 and buffer amplifier and pulse shaper 138 to the gate electrode of a silicon controlled rectifier 149 which causes SCR 149 to fire and light lamp 140.
Switch 142 also resets SCR 149 turning off lamp 140.
FIG. lE illustrates an alternate embodiment to that described above. The output from the target shooter is applied to a crowbar circuit 24 the output of which is applied to an-tenna terminals 19 such that the screen 18 will also flash white when a "hit" is made.
The principles hereinabove set forth apply with equal strength to both monochrome and color applications~ While the system that has been de cribed has been basically for standara monochrome television sets, the provisions for--color operation have been described and may be applied to games---u~ilizing the-aspects of the ability to adjust or change the background color.
Thus, it can be seen that a game such as-rol71ette may be played ha~ing for its object the guessing of the color that will appear when the wheel 8~0pS spinning. Ve~y readily the system can be used to indicate a hit in the tar-get gam-e-both by-the disappearance of the square and by the change in background color. These are but a few of the countless variations-that may be applied to this concept.
The number and variations of games which may be played are limiked only by the imagination of the players.
~,, ~8~
Some of the games which may be played are overlay games, targ~t shooting games, chase games and color games.
FIG. 2 illustrates one type of overlay games, namely a modified checkerboard game. One player tries to move his "dot" 20~ from A to B while the other player tries to move his "dot" 202 from B to A. The "dots" may be moved orthogonally only and only one square at a time. It is one object of this game to avoid checkmate. Other overlay games will be readily apparent.
Another type game is a chase game. For example, a fox hunt can be simulated. This requires 3 players, a hunter, a fox and a score keeper. The hunter tries to catch ~he fox tindicated by the fox's "dot" disappearing) within a specified time. Numerous variations on this game are also possible with and without overlay patterns.
If the receiver employed is a standard color receiver then color games may be played. For example, an inertia wheel may be put on the shaft of potentiometer 116 in the chroma generator. The object of the game is for a player to guess the color which will appear when the wheel is spun.
The taryet shooting game is yet another game which is applicable to this invention. One player may manually move a "dot" while another tries to "hi~" the "dot" with a photocell gun. Alternatively, the targ~t may be automatically moved by, for example, driving the biasing voltage for the delay multi-vibrator in a "dot~ generator with a variable voltage source.
It i6 to be understood that the embodiments shown are to ~e regarded as illustrative only, and that many variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention herein disclosed and defined by the appended claims.
" ~ ;. ,,
Control unit 14 generates ~ideo signals sho~m as "dots" 201 and 202 which are positioned on the receiv~r screen 18 by knobs 16, 17, and 161, 171, respectively. In this embodiment the "dots" 20 are squares or rectangles.
However, any geometric shape is applicable. Knob 16 controls the vertical position of dot 201 while knob 17 controls the horizontal position thereof. Thus, it can be seen that the dot 201, may be positioned at any point on the screen by ~he proper manipulation of knobs 16 and 17. Dot 202 is positioned in like manner by knob 161, 171. A rese~ switch 26 is shown on the control unit 14 and is used to reset the picture on the television screen. For example, a gamP may be played in which one dot is to be positioned over the other and when this is accomplished one dot will disappear when a standard monochrome set is used, while in a standard color set, the dot will disappear and the background will change color. When games of this nature are played, a reset means is required before play can be resumed. Reset switch 26 performs this function.
A knob 15 controls backgrou~d color for color TV
receiver applications. Alternatively, control unit 14 may be broken up into a master control unit cQntaining the electronic circuits and individual control units containing control knobs 16, 17 and 161, 171, whereby each participant may operate from a position not proximate the other and so not to interfere with other players. ~his is illustrated in FIG. lB wherein contrGl unit 14 is broken up into a master control unit 21 and individual control units 22 and 23. The master control unit 21 contains the electronic circuitry found in control unit 14 and cGntrols 26 and 15. Knobs 16, 17 and 161, 17~ which position the dots 201 and 202 are situated on individual control units 22 and 23 respectively.
The knobs 16, 17 may be combined into a single joy-stick per~ittlng control of the horizontal and vertical dot ", ~ 7 -1~48ZS~
positioning by a single control means.
Rather than provide a separate control unit, the control unit could be built into the television receiver as a constituent part thereof and the receiver sold as both an active and passive home entertainment system.
A typical sequence of steps to play a game using the present invention would be as follows: 1. Attach connection means 12 to TV set 10 at antenna terminals 19 if not already attached; 2. turn TV set on; 3. select the proper channel on the set for the control unit being used; 4. apply power to the control unit; 5. attach a mask on the face of the TV
screen, if required for the game to be played; 6. begin the game.
Referring now to Figure 2, a standard television screen 18 is illustrated having two "dots~' 201 and 202 displayed.
An overlay mask 30 of some type of transparent material such as plastic or the like, having some type of pattern, picture or other illustration pertaining to the particular game to be played is shown in a lifted position. Prior to engaging in a game, the overlay mask 30 would be temporarily attached to tele-visicn screen 18 and in such close proximity to it as not to create any distortion when viewed with reference to the dots 20.
One type of overlay mask could be a checkerboard pattern to be used for playing a modified game of checkers. Still another pattern could be maze type, with the object of the game being to escape within a specified time. These are but a few of the many games that can be adapted for use with the present inven-tion.
Alternatively, rather than employ overlay mask 30, the pattern to be provided could be displayed directea on the screen 18. The pattern could be broadcast by TV stations or alternatively could be sent to a non-used channel over closed-!,,:~"
5~
circuit ox CATV lines. This embodim2nt i8 described in greater detail hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8.
The control unit 14 will now be described in detail by referring to the block diagram shown in Figure 3. The timing for the television gaming system is established within the control unit by a horizontal sync generator 31 and a ver-tical sync generator 32.
The horizontal sync generator 31 employed in this embodiment is a multivibrator whose output is a series of pulses rather than a square wave. The repetition rate of these pulses is the standard hori ontal scanning frequency used in commercial television receivers. The positive sync pulse out-put 81 of the hori~ontal sync generator 31 is simultaneously applied to a first "dot" generator 34, a second "dot" genera-tor 35 and a chroma generator 33 (in color TV applications).
The negative sync pulse output 82 of the horizontal sync generator 31 is applied directly to a summing ampliier-modulator 37. The "dot" generators 34 and 35 when triggered by horizontal sync generator 31 generate a pulse which is the ~ horizontal video information portion of the-television compo-site signal that forms the "dots" 20 on the television receiver screen lB. Th~ manual control knobs 16, 17 and 161, 171 on the control unit are attached to the shafts of potentiometers 86, 92 and 96, 97 in the dot generator circuits of the "dot"
generators 34 and 35 respectively (see FIGS. 5C and 5D). Al-ternatively, a single control such as a joystick could be coupled to knobs 16, 1~ and a second--~oystick coupled to knobs 161~ 171 Adjustment of these potentiometers establishes the position of the "dots n on the television screen.
The vertical sync generator 32 is coupled to the firzt and second 9ymbol or "dot" generators 34 and 35 and triggers the "dot" generators to generate a pulse which is the g _ ~1~8~5~
vertical video information portion of the composite television signal. The combination of the horizontal and vertical sig-nals form a "dot" on the television receiver screen. There are two manual control knobs for each "dot". One of the knobs controls the horizontal pulse position while the other controls the vertical pulse position. The output of the "dot" generator which is the delayed horizontal pulses that are gated by the delayed vertical pulse, describes the location of the "dots"
on the television screen. The horizontal and vertical video information from the first and second "dot" generators 34 and 35 is summed together in the summing network of summing amplifier-modulator 37. The summung network is a resistor matrix which sums all the signals presented to one point. Thus the compo-site video informakion is formed. The composite.video infor-mation is then coupled to the modulator portion of summing amplifier-modulator 37 and to r-f oscillator 38 which modulates the video information with the carrier to generate the modulated RF signal. The RF signal is then coupled to the standard tele-vision antenna terminals 19. The RF signal that is present at the antenna terminals is detected and processed by the standard television receiver in the standard manner and is displayed upon the screen. The two controllable "dots" are the means by-which games may be played.
Alternatively the video signal could be applied in-ternally to the receiver with rf carrier modulation.
The "dot" coincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40 receives an input from both the first and second "dot" genera-tors 34 and 35 tak~n at outputs 94 and 98 thereof respectively (see FIG. 5)~ When the "dots" 201 and 202 are coincident, the first "dot" generator 34 is turned off by the "dot" ooincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40. Thus, when one "dot" is super-imposed upon the other, one of the "dots" will disappear.
A variety of games may be adapted to use this par-ticular aspect of the television gaming system. For exa~plP, a game of fox and hounds may be played with one n dot" represent-ing the fox and other the hounds. When the hounds catch the fox, the fox's "dot" disappears indicating a catch. Any game requiring an indication of when contact is made between two objects may be adapted to this concept.
The chroma generator 33 is used when the control unit 14 is coupled to a standard color television receiver.
Chroma generator 33 may be omitted for monochrome applications.
The gaming system for color operation is the same as that for standard monochrome sets with the exception that the back-ground color in the standard color receivers may be controlled.
A color control knob 15 (see FIG. 1) is provided on control unit 14 and is coupled to a potentiometer within the chroma generator 33 by which means the background color may be varied throughout its entire color spectrum. The horizontal sync generator 31 provides the trigger signal to the chroma genera-tor 33 whose output is then summed in the summing network of the summing amplifier-modulator 37 with the other portions of video information. The resultant composite video information is then modulated with the carrier in the modulator-and--r-f oscillator 38~ The RF signal is then coupled as before to the television receiver antenna terminals 19 and is detected, pro-cessed and displayed in the ~tandard manner.
One game which may be played employing the concepts of this invention is target shooting. A "toy n gun containing a photocell is electrically coupled to the control unit.
When a game is played using the target gun also called a "light-gun", hits are shown on the scree~l by having one sf the "dots" disappear. Signal~ detected by a target gun circuit 36 are used to trigger the crowbar cir~uit portion ~ ' ,,~;,,, ~
z~
of "dot" coincidence detector and crowbar circuik 40, which turns off the first dot generator 34. Thus, one of the dots will disappear indicating a hit. The operation of the target gun circuits will be described in greater detail with refer-ence to Figure 4.
The power souxce 41 is preferably a battery and provides the necessary power to operate the various circuits.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated thereby schematics of the blocks of FIG. 3. The schematics are described in conjunction with the waveforms of FIG. 6.
Note that the circled capital letters A, B..... designate connection points, that is A is coupled to A, B to B~ etc.
The horizontal oscillator 31 of FI&. 5A is an astable multi-vibrator that operates at approximately 15.75 KHz and generates the horizontal sync and timing pulses that are used within the control unit and the television receiver. One output signal taken at point 81 is a positive sync pulse which in one embodi-ment is approximately 8 volts in amplitude and has a pulse width of 4 microseconds. A second output signal taken at point 82 is a negative sync pulse which also is approximately 8 volts in amplitude and has a pulse width of 4 microseconds.
The vertical oscillator 32 of FIG. 5B is an astable multivibrator that operates at 60 Hz and provides positive 89 and negative 90 vertical sync pulses of approximately 8 volts amplitude and 1 millisecond duration.
The first "dot" generator 34 is illustrated in FIG. 5C and is comprised of an "and'1 gate, and hori-zontal and vertical delay multivibrators. The delayed horizontal and vertical pulse3 ~positive sync pulses) are AND-gated together to form the video information which produces one "dot" on the television screen. Both delay multivibrators utilize the positive sync pulse transistor of their respective oscillators 5~
as its input transistor. The posltive sync pulse from point Bl of the horizontal oscillator is used to trigger the horizontal .delay multivibrator portion of the first dot generator. When the positive sync pulse, taken at point 81, is applied at point 84, the pulse that appears at the output of the delay multivibrator point 85 is delayed by the time constant estab-lished by the setting of potentiometer 86 and capacitor 87.
The delay multivibrator output passes through a pulse shaper having an R-C time constant of very short duration relative to the horizontal oscillator frequency. The output of the pulse shaper is taken at a point 150. The time delay may be varied from 9 microseconds to 57 microseconds which is substantially the entire range of the horizontal sweep period. The pulses which are generated by the horizontal oscillator, the hori-zontal delay multivibrator and the pulse shaper, are shown in Figure 6A as waveforms 60, 61, 62 and 63. Waveform 60 repre--sents the negative horizontal sync pulses taken at point 82;
waveform 61 represents the positive horizontal sync pulses taken at point 81; waveform 62 represents the output from the delay multivibrator taken at point 85 and waveform 63 repre-sents the output from the pulse shaper taken at point 150.
The positive sync pulse taken at point 89 o vertical oscillator 32 is used to trigger the vertical delay multi-vibrator portion of the first dot generator. The output signal appears at point 91 after a time delay which is determined by the setting of potentiometer 92 and capacitor 93. The delay multiYibrator output passes through a pulse shaper having an R-C time constant of very short duration relative to the ver-tical oscillator frequency. The output of the pulse shaper is `
taken at point 151. The time delay may be varied from 1.5 millisecond to 15.5 milliseconds which is sub-stantially the entire range of the vertical sweep period.
The pulses which are generated by the ,, ~ ,.
5~
vertical oscillator, the vertical delay multivibrator, and the pulse shaper are shown in Figure 6B as waveforms 64, 65, 66, and 67. Waveform 64 represents the negative vertical sync pulses taken at point 90; waveform 65 represents the positive vertical sync pulses taken at point 89; waveform 66 represents the output from the delay multivibrator taken at point 91; and waveform 67 represents the output from the pulse shaper taken at point 151.
The video information that will be displayed on the standard television screen 18 as a "dot" 20 is the summation of the outputs of the horizontal and vertical delay multivibrators.
When the delayed vartical pulse is at point 151, the delay~d horizontal pulses at point 150 will be gated through to the first "dot" generator output 94. The waveforms of Figure 6C
illustrate the signals 63 and 67 taken at points 150 and 151 respectively in expanded form and the output signal from the first "dot" generator 68 taken at point 94. The signal 68 which is present at the first "dot" generator output 94 con-tains the horizontal and vertical data that will be processed by the standard television receiver and displayed as a "dot"
201 on the screen.
The settings of potentiometPrs 86 and 92 control the horizontal and vertical position of the "dot" 201 on screen 18.
The second "dotn generator 35 ~see FIG.--5~) is con-figured exactly as the first "dot" generator and operates in the same manner to provide video information for the second "dot" 202. The input *o the horizontal delay multivibrator portion o~ the second "dot" generator is provided at a point 96.
The input to the vertical delay multivibrator portion of the "dot" generator is provided at a point 97. The output of the second ndot" generator is taken at a point 98.
The ~dot~ coinc~dence and crow~ar circuit 40 z~ ~ - 14 -~1~82~;~
illustrated in FIG. 5E is connected to~the outputs of the first and second "dot" generators. The cathode end of a -_ diode 101 is connected to the output 94 of the first "dot"
genera~or while the cathode end of a diode 102 is connected to the output 98 of the second "dot" generator. When the outputs of both "dot" generators coincide, a positive signal will be applied to the gate 103 of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 104. The cathode of SCR 104 is tied to ground, while the anode thereof is connected at a point 106 to point 105 in the first "dot" generator. The SCR 104 will turn on and clamP
point 105 of the first "dot" generator to ground. Thus, the output of the first "dot" generator will become zero as long as SCR 104 is conducting, causing the first "dot" on the television screen to disappear. After the "dots" are made non-coincident, the SCR 104 may be reset by momentarily depressing reset switch 26, which removes the ground from point 105 of the first "dot" generator, allowing the first "dot" to reappear on the standard television screen.
The modulator and r-f oscillator illustrated schematically in ~IG. 5F is coupled by a resistive network comprising resistive elements 108-111 (see FIGS. 5A-5D) to the negative sync pulses of the horizontal and vertical oscillators and the output signals of the first and second "dot" generators.
The r-f oscillator which operates at the selected television channel carrier frequency is collector-modulated by the output of the summing amplifier taken at point 112. The composite video signal which is inductively coupled to pickup coil 113 is coupled to the standard television receiver antenna ter-minals 19. The composite video signal is shown in Figure 6D.
The chroma generator 33 illustrated in FIG. 5G is used only when the control unit 14 is coupled to a standard color television receiver and is comprised of a crystal-con-trolled oscillator, a variable phase shifter and an OR gate.
:, 8;~:5~
The ou~put of the crystal-controlled oscillator which operates at 3.579545 MHz is taken at point 115. The phase shifter is variable over the approximate range of 0-180 by a potentio-meter 116. The reference pha$e signal (0) 70 is coupled to point 117. The variable phase signal 71 is coupled ~o point 118. These signals are shown in Figure 6E and are dis-placed with respect to one another by the amount set in the phase shifter by potentiometer 116. The output signal of the chroma generator developed at point 119 is comprised of a chroma sync burst and the chroma signal. The composite chroma signal 72 which is the output of the chroma generator is sho~n in Figure 6F. The chroma sync burst is the 0 phase reference signal. The chroma signal is the variable phase signal whose phase is compared by the television receiver against the chroma sync burst. The phase difference between the two signals de-termines the color to be displayed on the screen~ The positive sync pulse from point 81 o the horizontal oscillator is used to gate 0 phase reference signal to point 119. The trailing edge of the positive going pulse at point 120 gates approxi-mately 3-5 microseconds of the 0 phase referenced to point 119 to become the chroma sync burst. The composite color infor-mation is summed to the modulator in~ut 114 by capacitor 121.
The total composite video signal including the color informa-tion is then modulated, as explained before for the monochrome sisnal, with the carrier and coupled to the standar~ television antenna terminals 19.
Alternately the video and/or chroma signals may be applied to the crowbar modulator 126 of FIG. 8. (This will be described hereinafter).
When the gaming sy~tem i8 being used in either the target gun or "dot" coincident mode with a ~tandard color TV
receiver, the background color will change when the "dot"
,,": . , ~825C~
disappears from the television screen. The anode of SCR 104 the coincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40 which is connected to point 105 of the first "dot" generator to make the "dot" disaopear is also connected to point 122 of the chroma generator. ~hen the chroma generator is adjusted for a red background, the background will change to blue when point 122 i3 clamped to ground`by SCR 104. The SCR 104 will be fired either by coincidence of the "dots" or by alignment of the photo cell in the target gun with the target "dot".
Turning now to Figure 4, the target gun circuits 36 are shown schematically. When the target gun is pointed at the target "dot" on the standard television screen, a pho,to-cell 50 mounted at the end of the target gun barrel will detect the intensity modulated "dot". The detected signal is amplified by transistors 51 and 52. When the gun trigger switch 53 is closed, the amplified detected signal is applied to the gate electrode of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 104, which will file SCR 104. The SCR 104 now clamps the output of the "dot" generator 34 to ground and the "dot" 201 ~ill disappear.
Whether the first or the second "dot" is used as a target does not matter, since a hit will be indicated by the disappearance of the first "dot". If only one "dot" is to-be displayed on the screen as a target, the first "dot" would be used. A reset button 26 is provided to make the target reappear after a hit has been scored. The portion of the circuit appearing within the dashed lines 56 is part of the "dot" coincidence and crow-bar circuit 40.
An adjustment is provided by means of potentiometer 57 whereby the threshold level of photo cell 50 may be adjusted such that only when the gun is properly aligned with the target will the "dot" disappear. ~his procedure a~sures that false hits due to stray or scattered light from the room will not be ~825~
scored. The setting should be made so that SCR 104 will no~ be triggered by the brightness of the room but only the intensity of the displayed "dotn.
As previously mentioned, this invention may be employed in conjunction with information originating from a cooperative station such as a commercial TV, a closed-circuit TV or a CATV station. In these embodiments means are neces-sary for extracting the horizontal and vertical synchroniza-tion pulses from the standard TV receiver which is receiving a signal from a cooperative stationO The horizontal and Yer-tical synchronization pulses could be obtained from within the s$andard TV receiver directly. However, this necessitates making electrical connections to the internal circuitry of the TV receiver. Preferably, the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7 is used to derive the synchronization pulses.
A de~ice 129 is positioned in front of the standard receiver and attached to it by, for example, a suction cup at approximately the center bottom edge of the CR~ glass face (see FIG. lD). Device 129 contains both a photocell 128 and a pickup coil 123 responding broadly to 15,570 ~z. These devices pick up a 60 cycle signal component provided by a white stripe at the bottom of the CR~, (generated by the cooperative station) and a radiated 15,570 horizontal scan signal, res-pectively. These signals are applied via a cable 130 to a pair of amplifiers 127 (vertical) and 124 (horizontal3 and fed to a pair of pulse shapers 125 (vertical) and 1251 (horizontal~.
This yields synchronization pulses which duplicate in rate and phase those transmitted. Applying these pulses to points 82 and 90 in FIGS. 5A and 5B allows locking the horizontal and vertical oscillators into sync with the transmitted signals.
Consequently, all the functions previously described, such as the generation of ~dots" for checker type games, target shoot-~, ing, chase games and all other functions available to control 2~i~
by the nviewer", may now be overlaid the transmitted TV picture.
Modulation in this mode of operation is accomplished by the "~rowbar" modulation circuit 126 of FIG. 8.
In this Figure, use is made of an attenuator con-sisting of two series resistors 132 and 133 and a transis-tor 134 acting as a variable shunt resistor. Biasing this transistor sufficiently into conduction by applying modulation to its base, saturates the transistor momentarily reducing the RF signal going from the antenna to the standard TV receiver antenna terminals 19. This corresponds to carrier reduction, which is negative modulation and is equivalent to generating a video signal going from black to white and back to the black level. Chroma signals can also be applied to the crowbar transistor modulator in the same fashion.
Note that the combination of apparatus described in FIGS. 7 and 8 describe a mode of interacting with a transmitted TV signal without requiring the attachment of connections to the internal circuitry of the standard TV receiver.
As mentioned above, the invention may be employed in conjunction with a coopexative TV station such as commercial ~V, closed-circuit TV and CATV (community antenna television).
In this mode the invention may be employ~d for target shooting or for,decoding messages on a TV screen, such messages being the result of transmission from ~he cooperative-station-,--as for example testing with coded answer supplied. Other trans-missions can be transmissions from organizations offering ser-vices to the viewer equipped in accordance with this invention.
In FIG. 10 there is illustrated a combination target shooting and decoding apparatus. The decoding portion thereof , 30 i5 described in connection with the sketch of FIG. 9.
Although the circuit shown is used for both decoding and target ~hooting it will be obvious that certain of the components can ' ;7',,,t ~,, ;
be eliminated to provide either of the functions alone.
The information is presented on the standard TV
een in such a manner that a portion thereof is coded. ~or example, FIG. 9 illustrates using the presentation for testing.
The question and a group of possible answers is presented on TV screen 18 as illustrated with symbols 152-155 shown next to each answer. One of the symbols (in the example shown 153) is coded in such a manner that it will trigger the decoder of FIG. 10. For example, symbols 152, 154 and 155 may flash 60 times whereas the correct answer symbol 153, will flash 61 times. The decoder of FIG. 10 is arranged to respond to the odd number of flashes.
The electronics of FIG. 10 can be inserted into a "gun" or other suitable configuration and therefore be easily handled.
Referring now to FIG. 10, initially pressing a reset switch 142 sets the equipment. Reset switch 142 is a double pole single thrcw switch. The modulation from the coded symbol incident at a photocell 136 is supplied via a buffer ampli-fier 137, and an amplifier and pulse shaper 138 to a flip-flop 139 which is triggered. The output from flip 139 is applied via a bufer amplifier 141 to a lamp 140 which will light with a steady glow until reset indicating the correct answer was chosen.
If an incorrect answer was chosen, the lamp will flicker for a time equal to the time the symbol (152, 154, 155) is being modslated and then will go out.
To go to the next question, the decoder is-returned to its starting position by operating reset switch 142. Note:
initially reset switch had to be ~epressed so that the flip-~lop wollld be in the proper state to provide a steady output to the lamp when photocell 139 receives an odd number of cycles.
, ", ~ i ~8'~5~
To operate the circuit of FIG. 10 in its targ~t shooting mode, a switch 145 is switched to the alternate contacts 146, 147.
In this mode, (see FIG. lC) a "target" dot 148 is supplied by the cooperative station which also could supply background scenery for aesthetic purposes. When the "gun" 27 (FIG. lC) is aimed at the target 148 and the trigger (switch 144 FIG. 10) is depressed, photocell 136 will supply an output via buffer amplifier 137 and buffer amplifier and pulse shaper 138 to the gate electrode of a silicon controlled rectifier 149 which causes SCR 149 to fire and light lamp 140.
Switch 142 also resets SCR 149 turning off lamp 140.
FIG. lE illustrates an alternate embodiment to that described above. The output from the target shooter is applied to a crowbar circuit 24 the output of which is applied to an-tenna terminals 19 such that the screen 18 will also flash white when a "hit" is made.
The principles hereinabove set forth apply with equal strength to both monochrome and color applications~ While the system that has been de cribed has been basically for standara monochrome television sets, the provisions for--color operation have been described and may be applied to games---u~ilizing the-aspects of the ability to adjust or change the background color.
Thus, it can be seen that a game such as-rol71ette may be played ha~ing for its object the guessing of the color that will appear when the wheel 8~0pS spinning. Ve~y readily the system can be used to indicate a hit in the tar-get gam-e-both by-the disappearance of the square and by the change in background color. These are but a few of the countless variations-that may be applied to this concept.
The number and variations of games which may be played are limiked only by the imagination of the players.
~,, ~8~
Some of the games which may be played are overlay games, targ~t shooting games, chase games and color games.
FIG. 2 illustrates one type of overlay games, namely a modified checkerboard game. One player tries to move his "dot" 20~ from A to B while the other player tries to move his "dot" 202 from B to A. The "dots" may be moved orthogonally only and only one square at a time. It is one object of this game to avoid checkmate. Other overlay games will be readily apparent.
Another type game is a chase game. For example, a fox hunt can be simulated. This requires 3 players, a hunter, a fox and a score keeper. The hunter tries to catch ~he fox tindicated by the fox's "dot" disappearing) within a specified time. Numerous variations on this game are also possible with and without overlay patterns.
If the receiver employed is a standard color receiver then color games may be played. For example, an inertia wheel may be put on the shaft of potentiometer 116 in the chroma generator. The object of the game is for a player to guess the color which will appear when the wheel is spun.
The taryet shooting game is yet another game which is applicable to this invention. One player may manually move a "dot" while another tries to "hi~" the "dot" with a photocell gun. Alternatively, the targ~t may be automatically moved by, for example, driving the biasing voltage for the delay multi-vibrator in a "dot~ generator with a variable voltage source.
It i6 to be understood that the embodiments shown are to ~e regarded as illustrative only, and that many variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention herein disclosed and defined by the appended claims.
" ~ ;. ,,
Claims (53)
1. Apparatus for adding active home entertainment capability to a home television receiver by generating "dots" upon the screen of the television receiver to be manipulated by at least one participant, said apparatus comprising:
a control unit for generating signals representing the "dots" to be displayed, said control unit further including means for generating horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals to synchronize a television raster scan of a receiver, means for generating first signals representing the horizontal position of said "dots", means for generating second signals representing the vertical position of said "dots", means for manipulating the position of the "dots" on the screen to play games, and means for detecting coincidence of two of said "dots" on said screen; and means for coupling the generated signals representing the "dots" to be displayed and the synchronizing signals only to a single television receiver whereby the said "dots" are displayed only upon the screen of the single receiver being viewed by the participant.
a control unit for generating signals representing the "dots" to be displayed, said control unit further including means for generating horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals to synchronize a television raster scan of a receiver, means for generating first signals representing the horizontal position of said "dots", means for generating second signals representing the vertical position of said "dots", means for manipulating the position of the "dots" on the screen to play games, and means for detecting coincidence of two of said "dots" on said screen; and means for coupling the generated signals representing the "dots" to be displayed and the synchronizing signals only to a single television receiver whereby the said "dots" are displayed only upon the screen of the single receiver being viewed by the participant.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control unit further includes circuit means responsive to said coincidence detecting means for causing a change in the background displayed on the screen of said television receiver.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said circuit means further causes a change in the background color displayed on the screen of said television receiver.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coincidence detecting means includes means for detecting time coincidence of at least selected ones of said first and second signals representing two of said "dots" on said screen each time said signals are time coincident.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coincidence detecting means includes AND gate circuitry for AND gating selected ones of said first and second signals representing two of said "dots" for detecting coincidence of said two "dots".
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for causing at least one of said "dots" to disappear from said screen.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for causing at least one of said "dots" to disappear from said screen and means for causing said one of said "dots" to reappear to enable continued play of the game.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means responsive to said coincidence detecting means for causing one of said "dots" to disappear from said screen.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating a chroma signal for controlling the colors displayed on the screen, and means for altering said chroma signal.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for automatically altering the time relationship of said first or second signals representing one of said "dots"
to said horizontal or vertical synchronizing signals and causing said one "dot" to automatically move about said television screen.
to said horizontal or vertical synchronizing signals and causing said one "dot" to automatically move about said television screen.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting coincidence of two of said "dots" on said screen detects coincidence each time the "dots" share the same position on the screen.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control unit further includes circuit means responsive to said coincidence detecting means for causing a change in the background displayed on the screen of said television receiver.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said circuit means further causes a change in the background color displayed on the screen of said television receiver.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting coincidence includes means for detecting time coincidence of at least selected ones of said first and second signals representing two of said "dots" on said screen.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for altering said signal representing one of said "dots" in response to said coincidence.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least portions of said manipulating means are included in individual control units, one individual control unit being provided for each participant and each individual control unit containing the same portion of said manipulating means as is included in other individual control units and being connected by a cable to a master control unit including the remainder of said manipulating means.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for altering said signal representing one of said "dots" in response to said coincidence, means coupled to said coincidence detecting means for resetting the picture displayed on said television receiver following the detection of coincidence.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control unit includes means for combining said signals representing said "dots" and said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals into a composite signal having a format different from the proscribed signal format for broadcast signals.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coincidence detecting means includes means for detecting at a plurality of times during the playing of a game an overlap on the receiver screen of two "dots".
20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coincidence detecting means includes means for detecting coincidence of two of said "dots" on said screen at at least one time prior to the end of the playing of a game.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control unit includes:
a horizontal sync generator;
a vertical sync generator;
at least one dot generator coupled to said horizontal and vertical syn generators;
means for generating an rf carrier signal; and means for modulating said rf signal with an output signal from said dot generator, said modulated rf signal being coupled to said television receiver.
a horizontal sync generator;
a vertical sync generator;
at least one dot generator coupled to said horizontal and vertical syn generators;
means for generating an rf carrier signal; and means for modulating said rf signal with an output signal from said dot generator, said modulated rf signal being coupled to said television receiver.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said horizontal sync generator includes an astable multivibrator.
and said vertical sync generator includes as astable multivibrator.
and said vertical sync generator includes as astable multivibrator.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means for generating a modulated rf signal includes:
means for summing the signal outputs from said horizontal sync generator, said vertical sync generator and said dot generator to provide a video signal; and means for modulating the video signal onto said rf carrier signal the frequency of which is selected in accordance with which channel of the television receiver the "dots" are to be displayed.
means for summing the signal outputs from said horizontal sync generator, said vertical sync generator and said dot generator to provide a video signal; and means for modulating the video signal onto said rf carrier signal the frequency of which is selected in accordance with which channel of the television receiver the "dots" are to be displayed.
24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said manipulating means includes a control for varying the vertical position of each generated "dot" and a control for varying the horizontal position of each generated "dot".
25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said manipulating means includes one control for varying the horizontal and vertical position of each generated "dot".
26. The apparatus of claim 25, said control being a joystick.
27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coincidence detecting means includes a coincidence detector and crowbar circuit coupled to said means for generating signals representing "dots" such that coincidence of position of said "dots" will be indicated by having the signals generating one of said "dots" extinguished causing disappearance on the screen of the television receiver of its respective "dot".
28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said coincidence detector and crowbar circuit includes a semiconductor switch and means for turning on said switch when a signal is received indicating coincidence of two "dots".
29. The apparatus of claim 27, further including means for resetting said coincidence detecting means after the "dots" are made noncoincident.
30. The apparatus of claim 27, further including means operatively responsive to the presence of a displayed "dot" at a location upon said screen of the receiver.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said means responsive includes:
means for sensing light; and means for actuating said coincidence detecting means when said light sensing means detects a "dot" displayed on the television receiver screen.
means for sensing light; and means for actuating said coincidence detecting means when said light sensing means detects a "dot" displayed on the television receiver screen.
32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said actuating means includes a switch which couples the output from said light sensing means to said coincidence detecting means.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said light sensing means is a photosensitive element arranged within the barrel of a toy gun.
34. The apparatus of claim 27 for use with a color television receiver, said apparatus further including a chroma generator having inputs from said means for generating horizontal synchronizing signals and said coincidence detecting means such that coincidence will also be indicated by a changing of background color of the television receiver screen.
35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said chroma generator includes a control for varying the background color of the television receiver screen.
36. The apparatus of claim 35, further including a wheel coupled to said control for varying background color which when spun will cause the background color to be of non-predetermined selection.
37. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an overlay mask which may be attached to the television receiver screen, said overlay mask having a predetermined pattern thereon.
38. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for "shooting" at said "dots" at a distance remote from the receiver screen, said "shooting" means including light responsive means responsive to a displayed "dot".
39. The apparatus of claim 38, further including means for causing one of said "dots" to disappear when said "shooting" means receives light from a displayed "dot".
40. The apparatus of claim 27 in which the television receiver is a color receiver, further including means for causing the background color of the television screen to change color when a "hit" is made.
41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said light responsive means includes a photocell.
42. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for receiving background information from a cooperative television station.
43. The apparatus of claim 42, further including means for applying the received information to a television receiver to be displayed thereby.
44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said applying means includes means for modulating said received information by the signals generated by said control unit.
45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said modulating means includes means for momentarily causing a reduction of signal strength of said received information when signals generated by said control unit are being applied, whereby the generated "dots" are displayed at their particular position of the screen in place of the received information.
46. The apparatus of claim 45, further including means synchronizing the signals generated by the control unit with the received information.
47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said synchronizing means includes:
means for receiving a horizontal scan signal generated by the television station; and means for detecting a vertical synchronizing component provided on the screen of the television receiver.
means for receiving a horizontal scan signal generated by the television station; and means for detecting a vertical synchronizing component provided on the screen of the television receiver.
48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said means for receiving a horizontal scan signal includes a pickup coil and said means for detecting a vertical synchronizing component includes a photocell.
49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said synchronizing means is mechanically coupled to the television screen.
50. The apparatus of claim 1 for use within a television receiver, which receiver includes horizontal and vertical deflection circuitry which is synchronized with horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals.
51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are received from a television station.
52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said received synchronization signals are the standard synchronization signals generated by the television station.
53. Apparatus for adding active home entertainment capability to a home television receiver by generating "dots"
upon the screen of the television receiver to be manipulated by at least one participant comprising:
a control unit for generating signals representing the "dots" to be displayed, said control unit further including means for generating synchronizing signals to synchronize a television raster scan of a receiver and means for manipulating the position of the "dots" on the screen;
means for directly coupling the generated signals only to a single television receiver whereby said "dots" are displayed only upon the screen of the single receiver being viewed by the participant;
means for "shooting" at said "dots" at a distance remote from the screen, said means including light responsive means responsive to a displayed "dot";
and means for altering the presentation in the screen when said light responsive means has received light from said "dots".
upon the screen of the television receiver to be manipulated by at least one participant comprising:
a control unit for generating signals representing the "dots" to be displayed, said control unit further including means for generating synchronizing signals to synchronize a television raster scan of a receiver and means for manipulating the position of the "dots" on the screen;
means for directly coupling the generated signals only to a single television receiver whereby said "dots" are displayed only upon the screen of the single receiver being viewed by the participant;
means for "shooting" at said "dots" at a distance remote from the screen, said means including light responsive means responsive to a displayed "dot";
and means for altering the presentation in the screen when said light responsive means has received light from said "dots".
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000286872A CA1148250B (en) | 1969-03-17 | 1969-03-17 | Television gaming apparatus and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000286872A CA1148250B (en) | 1969-03-17 | 1969-03-17 | Television gaming apparatus and method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1148250B true CA1148250B (en) | 1973-09-18 |
Family
ID=4109553
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000286872A Expired CA1148250B (en) | 1969-03-17 | 1969-03-17 | Television gaming apparatus and method |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1148250B (en) |
-
1969
- 1969-03-17 CA CA000286872A patent/CA1148250B/en not_active Expired
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US3728480A (en) | Television gaming and training apparatus | |
| US3829095A (en) | Method of employing a television receiver for active participation | |
| US4034990A (en) | Interactive television gaming system | |
| AU657658B2 (en) | Subliminal image modulation projection and detection system and method | |
| US3921161A (en) | Preprogrammed television gaming system | |
| SE7415697L (en) | ||
| USRE32282E (en) | Television gaming apparatus | |
| DE3681866D1 (en) | VIDEO DISPLAY WITH TWO-CHANNEL AUDIO SIGNALS. | |
| USRE28507E (en) | Television gaming apparatus | |
| US5841251A (en) | Test signals and test signal generators for use with PAL plus televisions | |
| USRE32305E (en) | Method of employing a television receiver for active participation | |
| US3255305A (en) | System for modifying selected colors in additive color reproducing signal processingsystem | |
| CA1148250B (en) | Television gaming apparatus and method | |
| CA1070820A (en) | Color hue control circuit for color television receiver | |
| US4214258A (en) | Portable television camera and tape recorder combination | |
| US5214499A (en) | System for making raster location adjustments on a multi-color display screen | |
| IL31836A (en) | Television gaming and training apparatus and method | |
| US3977022A (en) | Cathode-ray tube image presentation system of the indexing type and timing system useful therewith | |
| CA1124831A (en) | Monochrome presentation of demodulated color signals | |
| GB1268821A (en) | Television gaming and training apparatus and method | |
| US4694324A (en) | Measurement of SC/H phase using a polar display | |
| SE415434B (en) | DEVICE FOR LOCAL ALSTRAD TV INFORMATION | |
| SE415433B (en) | KOINCIDENSDEFEKTOR | |
| JP2823568B2 (en) | Image signal processing system with test signal insertion | |
| JP2797293B2 (en) | Television display |