JP2003069919A - Tv tuner cartridge for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a TV tuner cartridge for a game machine where a cartridge side needs not to generate a switching signal and eliminates the need for provision of a tuning operation section. SOLUTION: The TV tuner cartridge 10 is provided with a signal processing means 30 that processes a TV tuner output signal to generate a prescribed video signal and a prescribed audio signal and supplies them to the game machine 60 as a signal with the same format as that of a video/audio digital signal generated by a game cartridge and also with a means that receives a channel control signal supplies from the game machine to supply the signal to the TV tuner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game device TV.
The present invention relates to a tuner cartridge, and particularly to a tuner cartridge that can be attached to and detached from a game device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of game devices,
There is a type of hardware called a game device in which a game program is stored in a cartridge so that it can be enjoyed by exchanging various software called a game program, and the game program is detachably loaded into a game device (also called a game machine). . It is known that such a conventional cartridge mounting / demounting type game device is devised so that not only a game but also a television (TV) broadcast can be received and a TV program can be enjoyed. As an example thereof, a television cartridge for a game device described in the patent publication of Japanese Patent No. 2627208 is known.

In the television cartridge for a game device disclosed in this publication, a television tuner or the like is built in the cartridge loaded in the game device, and the received image signal and audio signal are processed and supplied to the game device. Has become. It should be noted that a switching signal is sent from the cartridge side so that the cartridge loaded in the game device side can judge whether the cartridge is a normal game program cartridge (also called a game cartridge) or a television cartridge to change the operation mode. I have to. That is, in the example described in the publication, when the game cartridge is loaded, the 5V switching signal is supplied to the game device, while when the television cartridge is supplied, the 0V switching signal is supplied to the game device. Is configured. In the configuration described in the publication, tuning (channel selection) on the television tuner is
The configuration is made by operating a tuning volume (as described in the publication: this is considered to be an error in the tuning variable resistor) provided in the television cartridge.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, a switching signal is generated on the cartridge side for identifying the type of cartridge on the game device side, that is, whether it is a game cartridge or a television cartridge. This is a configuration, and there is a problem that a configuration for generating such a switching signal is required, and the game device side also needs to change the operation mode in response to the switching signal. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, tuning in the television tuner is performed by operating a tuning operation section (a knob of a variable resistor or the like) provided in the television cartridge, so that the television cartridge itself is tuned. There is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated.

Therefore, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a TV tuner cartridge for a game machine which does not need to generate a switching signal on the cartridge side. A second object of the present invention is to provide a game device TV tuner cartridge that does not require a tuning operation section on the cartridge side.

[0006]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention processes a TV tuner output signal to generate a predetermined video signal and a predetermined audio signal, and these are processed by a game cartridge. There is provided a signal processing means for supplying the game device with a signal having the same format as the video / audio digital signal to be generated. Further, in order to achieve the second object, the present invention is configured to further include means for receiving a channel control signal supplied from the game device and supplying it to the TV tuner.

That is, according to the present invention, it is detachably engageable with the game cartridge loading portion of the game device,
In a TV tuner cartridge for a game device capable of supplying a video signal and an audio signal of a TV broadcast by incorporating a TV tuner, the TV tuner output signal is processed to generate a predetermined video signal and a predetermined audio signal, and ,
Provided is a TV tuner cartridge for a game device, which has a signal processing means for supplying these to the game device as a signal having the same format as a video / audio digital signal generated by the game cartridge.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided the TV tuner cartridge for a game device, further comprising means for receiving a channel control signal supplied from the game device and supplying it to the TV tuner.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a TV tuner cartridge for a game device according to the present invention. Tuner cartridge 1
0 is detachably engaged with the game machine main body 60. That is, the tuner cartridge 10 and the game console main body 60 are provided with connectors (not shown) that electrically connect them to each other for electrical connection. The connector on the game machine main body 60 side is originally for receiving a game cartridge (not shown).

The tuner cartridge 10 includes a tuner 12 and an AFT (automatic
Fine tuning) control circuit 14, audio A
/ D converter 16, oscillator 24, video decoder 2
6, a flash ROM 28, and a signal processing block 30. Further, the tuner cartridge 10 has a rod antenna 46, an external antenna input terminal 48, an external video input terminal 50, and an external audio input terminal 52 so as to be exposed from the casing. The rod antenna 46 and the external antenna input terminal 48 are connected to each other and to the antenna input terminal of the tuner 12. The video signal output terminal of the tuner 12 is connected to the input terminal of the video decoder 26, and the analog video signal is supplied to the video decoder 26. The external video input terminal 50 is connected to the other input terminal of the video decoder 26. The external audio input terminal 52 is an audio A / D
It is connected to the input terminal of the converter 16.

The audio output terminal of the tuner 12 is connected to another input terminal of the audio A / D converter 16 so that an analog audio signal can be transferred to the audio A / D.
It is supplied to the converter 16. The AFT output terminal of the tuner 12 is connected to the input terminal of the AFT control circuit 14. The output terminal of the AFT control circuit 14 is connected to the signal processing block 30. The video output terminal of the tuner 12 is connected to another input terminal of the video decoder 26. The output terminal of the video decoder 26 is connected to the signal processing block 30. The output terminal of the audio A / D converter 16 is connected to the signal processing block 30. The output terminal of the oscillator 24 is connected to the video decoder 26. The flash ROM 28 is connected to the signal processing block 30. The tuner 12, the video decoder 26, and the signal processing block 30 are connected to the bus line 25.
Are connected to each other by.

The signal processing block 30 includes a pixel number converter 32 and a serial / parallel (S / P) converter 3.
4, a FIFO 36, 38, a ROM 40, an interface (I / F) 42, and a bus line interface 44. The pixel number converter 32 responds to the 24-bit RGB signal supplied from the video decoder 26,
In order to match the number of horizontal and vertical pixels forming the raster with the number of pixels given from a normal game cartridge, it is converted from 720 × 240 to 160 × 128, and its output signal is a 15-bit RGB signal. It is supplied to the interface 42 via the FIFO 36. The pixel number converter 32 converts (decreases) the number of pixels by appropriately thinning out horizontal and vertical pixels. Data for one field is written in the FIFO 36, and the accumulated data is VRAM 66 via the interfaces 42 and 62 by using the V blanking signal provided from the VRAM 66 on the game machine body 60 side as a trigger.
Supply to. The serial / parallel (S / P) converter 34 converts the serial audio signal given from the audio A / D converter 16 into a parallel signal, and the output signal thereof is a FIFO as a 16-bit L + R signal.
Via interface 38 to interface 42. RO
The M40 and the bus line interface 44 are connected to the interface 42, respectively.

The game machine main body 60 has an interface 62, a CPU 64, a VRAM 66, a display device 68, a speaker 70, and an audio signal interface 7 inside.
8 has a bus line 80. FIG. 2 is a top view of the game machine main body 60, and shows that the cartridge insertion portion 76 is provided on the upper portion of the casing of the game machine main body 60. FIG. 3 is a front view of the game machine main body 60, which includes a display device 68, a speaker 70, various operation buttons, and L.
It is shown that a button 72 and an R button 74 are provided. The game machine body 60 itself has already been put on the market and is well known, so the details of its contents will be omitted. The interface 62 is not shown in the figure, when the connector portion of the tuner cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge insertion portion 76 as described above.
It will be connected to the interface 42 via the 0-side connector.

The tuner cartridge 10 and the game machine main body 60 of FIG. 1 operate as follows. First, when the tuner cartridge 10 is inserted into the cartridge insertion portion 76, the predetermined data read from the ROM 40 is stored in the CPU 6
4 is supplied. The predetermined data is used to recognize that the loaded cartridge is a game cartridge. When the game cartridge is recognized, the transfer program stored in the ROM 40 is then supplied to the CPU 64. The CPU 64 reads a tuner cartridge control program stored in advance in the flash ROM 28 according to the transfer program, and operates according to this tuner cartridge control program.

The tuner cartridge control program will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, but before that, the operation inside the tuner cartridge 10 will be described. Broadcast radio waves received by the rod antenna 46 or the external antenna input terminal 48 are given to the tuner 12 as received waves. The tuner 12 performs a tuning operation by an operation from the side of the game machine main body 60 described later, and only the received wave of a desired broadcasting station is selected, and its video signal and audio signal (audio signal) are the video decoder 26 and the audio A /. Each is supplied to the D converter 16. The video decoder 26
The video signal of a predetermined format such as NTSC supplied from the tuner 12 or the external video input terminal 50 is decoded to 2
A 4-bit digital RGB signal is generated and supplied to the signal processing block 30. On the other hand, the audio A / D converter 16 converts the audio signal supplied from the tuner 12 or the external audio input terminal 52 into a digital signal, and supplies it as a serial signal to the signal processing block 30. The operation inside the signal processing block 30 is as described above.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the tuner cartridge control program. When this program starts, in step S1 the VRA of the game console 60 side
Initialization is performed to clear the registers in M66 and the CPU 64, and then in step S2, the video decoder 26
A signal for initializing the
6 is supplied. When the video decoder 26 is initialized and starts a predetermined decoding operation, the image signal and the audio signal are supplied from the tuner cartridge 10 side to the game machine main body 60 as described above. In step S3, the video signal is read from the tuner cartridge 10, and in step S4 this is transferred to the display device 68 including an LCD (liquid crystal display device). As a result, the image of the TV broadcast is displayed on the display device 68.

Next, in step S5, an audio signal is read from the tuner cartridge 10 and transferred in step S6 to the speaker 70 via the audio signal interface 78 functioning as a sound device. As a result TV
Broadcast audio is reproduced from the speaker 70. Next, in step S7, input (operation) of various keys of the game console 60
The state is acquired, and the process according to the type of the key is performed in step S8. Here, for example, the L button 72 and the R button 7
When 4 is operated, a signal for changing the channel is generated. That is, when the L button 72 is operated, a signal for moving to a lower channel is generated, and when the R button 74 is operated, a signal for moving to an upper channel is generated and given to the tuner 12.

Next, the channel selection operation by the above channel selection will be described. The user operates either the L button 72 or the R button 74 of the game console body 60 to increment or decrement the currently selected channel number. When the L button 72 is operated once while the channel 6 is currently selected, the channel number "7" is displayed on the display device 68, and a signal for incrementing the channel is displayed on the interface 62,
Interface 42, bus line interface 4
4, provided to the tuner 12 via the bus line 25.

At this point, the tuner 12 enters the channel 6 reception state, and then it is investigated by channel search whether the designated channel can be received. A control command is sent to the tuner 12 for this channel search. The frequency band of ± 50 KHz of the designated channel is investigated by monitoring the output signal level of the AFT control circuit 14, and the CPU 64 determines whether or not the channel can be received. That is, S obtained by detecting the voltage according to the deviation width of the local oscillation frequency of the tuner 12
If it is judged that it can be received by detecting the curve,
The image is displayed on the display device 68 of the game console body 60. On the other hand, when the S-curve is not detected and it is determined that the signal cannot be received, the command for designating the next channel value is sent to the tuner cartridge 10 side to proceed to the next channel.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, T
A signal processing means for processing the V tuner output signal to generate a predetermined video signal and a predetermined audio signal, and supplying these to the game device as a signal having the same format as the video / audio digital signal generated by the game cartridge. Since the above is provided, it is possible to provide a TV tuner cartridge for a game device that does not need to generate a switching signal on the cartridge side. Further, in the present invention, since a means for receiving the channel control signal supplied from the game apparatus and supplying it to the TV tuner is further provided, the TV tuner cartridge for the game apparatus which does not require a tuning operation section on the cartridge side. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a TV tuner cartridge for a game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a game machine main body 60 to which the TV tuner cartridge for a game device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a game machine main body 60 to which the TV tuner cartridge for a game device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a tuner cartridge control program in a preferred embodiment of the TV tuner cartridge for a game device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 tuner cartridge 12 tuners 14 AFT control circuit 16 Audio A / D converter 24 oscillator 25 bus lines 26 Video Decoder 28 Flash ROM 30 signal processing block (signal processing means) 32 pixel converter 34 Serial / Parallel (S / P) Converter 36, 38 FIFO 40 ROM 42, 62 Interface (I / F) 44 bus line interface 46 rod antenna 48 External antenna input terminal 50 External video input terminal 52 External audio input terminal 60 Game console body (game device) 64 CPU 66 VRAM 68 Display 70 speakers 72 L button 74 R button 76 Cartridge insertion part 78 Audio signal interface 80 bus lines

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/44 H04N 5/44 Z (72) Inventor Masaomi Kurokawa 2-6-3 Hondori, Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture No. F-Term in Kotobuki System Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C001 CA01 CB01 CB04 CB05 CC03 5C025 AA23 AA25 AA28 AA29 BA21 BA27 BA30 DA01 DA10 5K016 BA14 JA00

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A TV tuner cartridge for a game device, which is removably engageable with a game cartridge loading portion of a game device and is capable of supplying a video signal and an audio signal of a TV broadcast by incorporating a TV tuner. Signal processing for processing a TV tuner output signal to generate a predetermined video signal and a predetermined audio signal, and supplying these to the game device as a signal having the same format as the video / audio digital signal generated by the game cartridge. A TV tuner cartridge for a game device, comprising: 2. A TV tuner cartridge for a game device, further comprising means for receiving a channel control signal supplied from the game device and supplying the channel control signal to the TV tuner. 3. A TV tuner cartridge for a game device, which is removably engageable with a game cartridge loading portion of a game device and is capable of supplying a video signal and an audio signal of a TV broadcast by incorporating a TV tuner. Means for providing a signal for recognizing that the cartridge loaded in the game device is a game cartridge; processing the TV tuner output signal to generate a predetermined video signal and a predetermined audio signal; A signal processing unit that supplies the game device with a signal having the same format as the video / audio digital signal generated by the cartridge, and a memory in which a program for causing the CPU of the game device to control the signal processing unit is stored in advance. And a game device TV tuner. Cartridge. 4. The game device according to claim 1, wherein a program for the CPU to perform a tuning operation of the TV tuner in accordance with an input from an input device of the game device is stored in the storage means in advance. TV tuner cartridge. 5. The horizontal and vertical raster lines formed by the video signal generated by the game cartridge are converted by the signal processing means to convert the horizontal and vertical pixel numbers of the raster line formed by the predetermined video signal, respectively. 2. It has a function of matching the number of pixels of.
Alternatively, the TV tuner cartridge for the game device according to Item 3. 6. The TV tuner cartridge for a game device according to claim 5, wherein the signal processing means has a FIFO type memory for temporarily storing the video signal after the number of pixels is converted. . 7. The TV tuner cartridge for a game device according to claim 6, wherein the signal processing means has an interface for supplying an output signal of the FIFO memory to the game device. . 8. The TV tuner cartridge for a game device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores a program for controlling the processing unit. 9. An image signal and / or an audio signal is received from an external video device or an external game machine,
The TV tuner cartridge for a game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an external input terminal for supplying the signal processing means.