GB2111808A - Three dimensional video game - Google Patents

Abstract

A video game device includes mechanical apparatus for augmenting the video game image provided by a video display tube (20) within a housing (12). Provided between the display tube and the viewer there is a half silvered mirror (22) which is inclined downwards from the users horizontal line of sight indicated by a schematic eye (24). A movable three dimensional model (26) is mounted such that the image thereof is superimposed on the image produced by the tube and silvered mirror. The housing includes user operable controls (50) to manipulate the image in accordance with playing the device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Three dimensional video game This invention relates generally to video games and particularly to video arcade games including apparatus for augmenting the video game image. An apparatus for augmenting a video game image in accordance with the present invention includes a housing with a viewing port. Means for producing a video display includes a video display tube mounted within the housing. A plurality of three dimensional objects are movable mounted within the housing and spaced from one another. A curved half silvered mirror, located within the housing, generally between the three dimensional objects and the display tube is arranged to reflect the superimposed images of the objects and the display tube through the viewing port. A means for moving one or more of the three dimensional objects allows the reflected images to be varied on the mirror.A means for illuminating the three dimensional objects is also included with the housing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game housing in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partial front elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a view showing the image produced by the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a circuit schematic for implementing the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters are used for like parts through-out the several views, there is shown in Figure 1 a video arcade game device 10 including a housing 12, a viewing port 14, a transparent screen 16 and a control panel 18. In a conventional manner, a user standing in front of the device 10 is able to manipulate the controls of the control panel 18 to proceed with the plan of a game visible on the screen 16 and accompanied with sounds produced by a loudspeaker 19.

As shown in the vertical section of Figure 3, a video display tube, or CRT 20, which is connected to conventional video image producing circuitry described hereinafter, is secured within the housing 12 and mounted at an angle with respect to the vertical plane which includes the viewing port 14. Conve nientlythe angle between the viewing surface 12 of the video display tube 20 and the vertical plane including the viewing port 14 is about 45 to 85. The tube 20 is conveniently positioned beneath the transparent screen 16 to protect the tube 20 and related components from dust or damage. Between the display screen 15 and the video display tube 20 a concave half silvered mirror 22 is maintained in alignment with the viewing port 14 but inclined slightly downward from the user's horizontal line of sight indicated by the schematic eye 24 in Figure 3.

The mirror 22 is arranged with its concave surface facing the viewing port 14. Located below and in front of the half silvered mirror 22 a movable three dimensional model 26 is mounted by a pedestal 28.

The image of the model 26 is superimposed with the image produced by the video display 20 by the half silvered mirror 22. Moreover, depending upon the curvature of the mirror 22 distortion and manipulation of the image of the display tube 20 and the three dimensional model 26 produces an illusion or eerie effect of wide open depth in space. The pedestal 28, conveniently painted black, does not appear in the resulting image seen by the user.

A pair of translucent sheets 30 are mounted on the inside surface of the housing 12 between the mirror 22 and the video display tube 20. The sheets 22 conveniently bear appropriate indicia 33 such as the wavy line pattern shown in Figure 2 and are made of acetate or other translucent material so that when the sheets are illuminated by an incandescent lamp 32, located in the top of the housing and directed at the sheets 30, the indicia 33 on the sheets 30 is superimposed on the image produced by the video display tube 20. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the image on each sheet 30 combines with the image on the other sheet 30 to produce a composite superimposed image.

A stationary three dimensional model 34 is fixed on the viewing surface 21 along its forward edge 35.

Conveniently, the model 34 is a representation of the front of a spaceship or the like and further adds to the composite image produced by the device 10.

In the illustrated embodiment and movable three dimensional model 26 is a space station model, but any desired three dimensional model can be used.

The image produced by the model 26 due to its illumination by the incandescent lamp 42, is enhanced by a plurality of light emitting diodes 36 positioned along the sides of the model 26. In addition other three dimensional objects such as a planet 38 or other floating astronomical bodies are mounted as by a pedestal 40 which like the pedestal 28 may be colored black so as not to be visible in the resulting image. The image of the planet 38, illuminated by the incandescent lamp 42, is also reflected on the mirror 22. Additional background objects are provided by the translucent sheet 44, conviently have a plurality of printed indicia (not shown) such as background stars or the like, and covering a flourescent lamp 48 which reflects the indicia contained on the sheets 44 onto the composite image seen on the mirror 22.Similarly the graphic sheet 46 provides foreground objects through indicia 49 that simulate a spacecraft control panel or the like, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The sheet 46, arranged in the user's line of sight of the mirror 22, shields the three dimensional model 26 from direct user viewing.

The housing 12 is provided with user operable controls 50 including a joy stick 50a and a pushbutton 50b. These controls may be used in manipulating the image viewed in the viewing port 14 by controlling the output of the video display tube 20 and by controlling the motion ofthethree dimensional model 26. Particularly, the three dimensional model 26 is driven by a motor 52 connected to the pedestal 28 which rotates the model 26 around a vertical axis.

The model 26 may be oscillated back and forth through an ever increasing arc as the play of the game continues.

Referring to Figure 5, the composite image seen by the user looking through the viewing port 14 includes the image of the three dimensional model 26' generally centered in the viewing screen 16 and the image of the planet 38' located adjacent thereto.

(The virtual image of the real object is indicated by the number of the real object accompanied by a prime.) Since the mirror 22 is concave and thus somewhat spherical, instead of simply being cylindrical, movement of the player from side to side or up and down changes the image perceived in the realistic manner. In the bottom portion of the screen the image of the stationary three dimensional model 34, positioned directly on the video display tube 20 is visible. Across the screen the image of the plurality of stars or other floating objects 54 are distributed as a result of th indicia printed on the sheet 44. Around the periphery of the screen 16 a plurality of outward lyjutting shapes 56 indicating various objects on a spaceship visible through one of its ports, result from the shape of the display screen 16, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4.Thus, the user looking through the viewing port 14 gets the visual impression that he or she is looking through a viewing port of a spaceship outwardly into space.

During the play of the device 10 still more visual effects may be added. The image of the three dimensional model 26' can be oscillated back and forth as indicated by the arrows 58 in Figures 5. In addition, a plurality of video images can be created during the play of the game, such as the explosion image 60, by producing the appropriate depiction on the video display 20. Through an appropriate set of apertures 62 in the three dimensional object 34 a game score may be displayed by displaying the appropriate digital indications on the video display tube 20 in a position aligned with the apertures 62.

The indicia 33 contained on the translucent sheets 30 is visible only when the incandescent light 32 is illuminated. Thus the incandescent lamp 32 can be strobed during the play of the game to flicker the indicia 33 onto the composite image. The lamp 42 can also be strobed to flicker the image of the model 26.

While a wide variety of enjoyable games may be implemented using the device 10, not by way of limitation but only as an aid in understanding the present invention, one exemplary game is described herein; those skilled in the art can devise a great number of additional games using the present invention.

With the display screen 16 initially bearing the image shown in Figure 5, the image of a plurality of fighters (not shown) move about the viewing surface 21 initially appearing in a manner that gives the impression that they have been launched from the model 26. If desired the image of an opening door (not shown) can be produced by the tube 20 adjacent the image of the model 26' and moved along with the model image 26'. The image of the fighter can then be made to appear to exit through the door.

As the fighters appear, a video cursor (not shown) is produced by the video display tube 20 and appears on the screen. The cursor indicates the aim of the guns 66 shown in Figure 5, produced by the tube 20 adjacent the model 34 so that the guns appear to be part of the player's ship. The player adjusts the position of the cursor by operating the joy stick 50a. When the cursor is in the desired position, hopefully intercepting the path of movement of the image of a fighter, the player presses the fire button 50b causing an image of a laser to exit from the guns 66 and to proceed to the location of the cursor image. If the beam is properly aimed to coincide with the location of the fighter, the fighter is destroyed.Alternatively the player can control the direction of fire of the guns 66 directly without use of the cursor by rotating the joy stick 50a around its vertical axis. If the player is unsuccessful in repelling the fighter the player may at the last minute activate a force shield which prevents the fighter from destroying the player's ship. However, the number of times which the player any activate the shield is limited. Each time an enemy fighter hits the player's ship one of the guns 66 is destroyed.

While the player is battling the enemy fighter, the images of small space creatures (not shown) may appear out of a port on the three dimensional model 26. When these creatures accumulate to full attack force, they attack the player in full formation. The attack formation may change from a straightforward to a very devious arrangement depending on the previous skill exhibited by the player. These creatures, produced by the video display tube, and dealt with by space mines which are placed by the player using the cursor image in the same way as the player aims the guns 66; however, during the attack by the space creatures, the positioning of the cursor corresponds to the location of a mine.If the player is unable to destroy these creatures they appear to cling to the player's ship, represented by the model 34, like leeches and if five of them manage to cover one of the guns 66, the gun is destroyed.

As the game progresses, the arc of oscillation of the model 26 increases and various additional weapons may be exposed. For example, a death cannon (not shown) may begin to shoot volleys of tricluster missiles after a certain amount of time.

When the tricluster is hit, one of the missiles is destroyed while the other two veer out of formation and attack separately.

As the game progresses further, energy rings (not shown) may begin to form between the two discs 69 of the image of the model 26'. They can be blasted away with the guns 66; however, when eight rings form, the energy becomes focused and a beam shoots out and destroys the player's ship, ending the game. Game duration is governed by the player's ability to destroy the attackers, preserve the guns 66, prevent the formation of the energy rings, and control the space creatures.

Referring to Figure 6, exemplary circuitry for implementing the present invention includes the player operable controls 70, 72,74 and 76 connected to the control panel 18. The fire control 70, conveniently connected to the pushbutton 50b, controls the fire from the player's guns 66. The rotation control 72 and X-Y controls 74,76 are connected to the joy stick 50a, the control 72 rotating the video image of the guns 66 only and the controls 74,76 controlling the location of the cursor and the movement of the guns 66 in synchronism with the cursor.

Inputs received from the control operators 70 through 76 are processed by a central processing unit 78, conveniently a microcomputer, in a conventional fashion in accordance with programmed instructions accessed from a disc drive 80 to control the image displayed on the video display tube 20. In addition, sounds may be produced by the central processing unit 78 in accordance with the programmed instructions by speakers 84 and 86, amplifiers 88 and 90, and sound boards 92 and 94. The control of the video images in this manner is well known in the art; exemplary apparatus for manipulating video images in conjunction with video games are described in U.S. patents 3,793,483 and 4,169,272 hereby incorporated by reference herein in full.

The central processing unit 78 also controls a strobe unit 96 and the motor 52. The motor 52 is responsible for controlling the oscillation of the three dimensional model 26 in accordance with preprogrammed instructions. A conventional angular position sensor/encoder 98 senses the arc of rotation of the model 26 and provides an instantaneous coded digital representation of the position of the model 26 to the central processing unit 78.

Thus, despite the fact that the model 26 is moving, positioned synchronism is maintained between the image of the model 26' and the video images produced by the display tube 20. In this way, for example, video images that appear to exit from the moving model image 26' and this way, for example, video images that appear to exit from the moving model image 26' and video doors that appearto be attached to the model image 26' may be produced on the tube 20, which maintain their synchronism with the model image 26'. Angular position feedback from the model 26 is also particularly necessary in games that permit the user to control the rotation of the model 26.

The strobe unit 96 controls the operation of the incandescent lamp 32 to selectively illuminate the translucent sheets 30 producing an exciting lightening-like visual effect. The lamp 42 may be simultaneously strobed to flicker the image of the model 26 in conjunction with the effect produced by the sheets 30.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom since many modifications are suggested by the above disclosure and the description therewith and additional modifications would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus for augmenting a video game image comprising, a housing including a viewing port, a means for producing a video display including a video display tube mounted within said housing, a three dimensional model movably mounted within said housing, a half silvered mirror, positioned within said housing generally between said model and said display tube, and arranged to superimpose the image of said three dimensional model and the image on said display tube for viewing through said viewing port, means for moving said three dimensional model to vary its reflected image on said mirror, and means for illuminating said model.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of translucent sheets including projectable indicia thereon, and means for illuminating said sheets, said sheets arranged to produce images which are superimposed on said mirror when said sheets are illuminated by said illuminating means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including strobe means for flickering the light from said sheet illuminating means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said moving means includes means for rotating said three dimensional model back and forth through a predetermined arc.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means for changing the extent of the arc of rotation of said model during the progress of said game.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including programmable means for changing the extent of rotation of said model during the progress of said game.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including an additional three dimensional model secured on a portion of the screen of said video display tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said model includes a window to allow a part of the image on an underlying portion of said display tube to be visable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mirror is concave.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 including lighting emitting elements located on said three dimensional model.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for authomatically synchronizing the image produced by said display tube with the image of said model.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said synchronizing means includes a computer and a position sensor means, arranged to sense to the position of the model, for communicating the position of said model to said computer, said computer operative to control the image produced on said video display tube.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-12 wherein said mirror is curved.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said curved mirror is spherical.

15. Video game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.