GB2115989A

GB2115989A - Programmed cartridge/video machine adaptor

Info

Publication number: GB2115989A
Application number: GB08230833A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Ernest Smith; Anthony Ian Pearmain; Kenneth John Albert Rowell
Original assignee: VOLTMACE Ltd
Current assignee: VOLTMACE Ltd
Priority date: 1982-02-12
Filing date: 1982-10-28
Publication date: 1983-09-14
Also published as: GB2115989B

Abstract

An adaptor permits a programmed cartridge 4 of a first type to be used with a mechanically and/or electrically incompatible video machine 1 of a second type. Alternatively the adaptor may fit between a programmed cartridge and a video machine to which the cartridge is directly connectible in order to modify the form or operation of the programme of the cartridge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adaptors for programmed cartridges The invention relates to adaptors for cartridges for use in video machines.

As currently manufactured, cartridges for use on video machines, such as video games cartridges, are designed for compatabilitywith specific machines where compatibility requires matching both of sets of electrical connections as well as of shape respectively of the cartridge and the machine. Typically, the cartridge has the programme which defines the game, whilst the machine has manually moveable means for the manipulation of the items of the display. A single machine will usually bee capable of receiving any of a plurality of cartridges for the playing of any of a plurality of games. However, cartridges of one type are not usually useable with machines or another type although the electrical capability of the various types of machines is the same.

A cartridge stockist may therefore find himself with a large number of expensive cartridges which, although not capable of being used with other types of machines, are directly so useable because they simply cannot be fitted to such machines due to electrical and/or geometrical incompatibility.

We have conceived a way of avoiding the abovementioned problem and in this invention there is provided an adaptor to adapt a cartridge to a video machine with which the cartridge is not compatible in terms of shape and the electrical connections and/or comprising a housing which is electrically and mechanically couplable in a first region to a video cartridge of a first type, said cartridge being directly coupiable to a video machine of the first type, and which is electrically and mechanically couplable in a second region to a video machine of a second type with which the cartridge of the first type is not directly compatible, the adaptor having means electrically adapting the cartridge to the machine to enable the cartridge of the first type to be used with the machine of the second type.

The electrical connection means inside the adaptor may comprise a printed circuit board and in some cases additional electronic components.

It is envisaged that whilst a cartridge may be compatible with a machine of the same type, it may be that it is desireable that the programme of the cartridge be changed, and in such situation the invention has applicability, in that the adaptor may have the same mechanical couplings as the cartridge and machine, but would contain suitable electrical connecting means appropriately adapting the cartridge.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which the single Figure shows schematically a cartridge adaptor and a video game machine.

In the Figure, block 1 represents a video game machine of a first type which incorporates a slot or recess 2 for the reception of a cartridge body and presenting a series of electrical contacts 3 for making electrical connection with corresponding contacts in the said cartridge, so that when a cartridge of the first type is inserted in the slot 2 and electrical connection is made between the contacts respectively of the cartridge and the machine, the machine and cartridge will operate according to the programme contained in the cartridge.

Block 4 in the Figure represents a cartridge of a second type which is not directly suitable for use with the machine 1. The cartridge has a projection 5 extending therefrom and the projection carries a series of electrical contacts 6 and is programmed so that when the contacts 6 are electrically connected with a machine of the second type, a video game can be played on the machine. However, the cartridge 4 is not compatible with the machine 1 firstly in that the projection 5 is too wide to fit into the slot 2 of the machine. Secondly the electrical cartridge contacts 6 are different in spacial lay-out though equal in number (but this is not necessary) to the contacts 3 of the machine.The problem is to match the cartridge to the machine and the invention provides an adaptor 7 having a pair of opposed faces 8,9 in the first of which is provided a slot 10 dimensioned so as to receive the projection 5 of the cartridge 4 whilst from face 9 a projection 11 extends which is dimensioned to fit into the slot 2 of the machine 1.

In the Figures the dimensioned suitability of the cartridge to fit the machine is represented by the length of projection and slot, but in other embodiments criteria for fitting may include width, depth or shape of projection and corresponding recess or presence and position of obstacles, and the invention also contemplates a situation in which a projection in a machine fits into a slot in a cartridge.

The adaptor 7 has a series of electrical contacts 12 which are similar in spacial lay-out to the contacts 6 of the cartridge 4 so that when the projection 5 is fitted into the slot 10, each of the contacts 6 makes electrical connection with one or other of the contacts 12.

The adaptor 7 is also provided with a further series of electrical contacts 13 which are so positioned that, when the projection 11 is fitted into the slot 2, each ofthe contacts 13 makes electrical connection with one or other of the contacts 3 of the machine 1.

In the Figure, the electrical contacts 6 and 12 are represented respectively as pins and sockets whilst the contacts 13 are represented as strips of metal supported on a carrier 14 of insulating material and the contacts 3 are of a type suitable for making electrical connection with such strips. In other embodiments, of course, such means of electrical connection may be provided in other arrangements or entirely different means of electrical connection may be used.

The adaptor 7 comprises a housing 15 which holds a printed circuit board 16 upon which are mounted electrical connecting strips 17 each of which provides an electrical connection between one of the contacts 12 and one of the contacts 13. The printed circuit board 16 is integral with the insulating carrier 14 and in some embodiments may indeed provide the whole of the projection 11. In the Figure, some of the lines 17 of electrical connection are shown to cross other such lines and this feature can of course be accomplished by mounting some strips of contact material on the opposed face of the board 16.It will therefore be understood that even in a situation where a cartridge will physically fit into a video machine and the electrical contacts of one make electrical connection with the contacts of the other, an adaptor as described may be useful in such situations where for modified operation of the assembled cartridge and machine the electrical connection between one electrical contact of the cartridge and an electrical contact of the machine other than that with which electrical connection would be made were the cartridge to be fitted directly to the machine, or another electrical component has to be included in the circuit.

It is further envisaged that the invention may have application in circumstances in which, whether or not the cartridge is physically and electrically compatible with the machine, the signal in the cartridge requires some further processing before it can be used by the machine, and in these circumstances the circuit board 16 may further comprise electronic circuit elements such as resistors or capacitors or even more complex components such as memory units.

Claims

1. An adaptor for a programmed cartridge for a video machine, comprising a housing which is electrically and mechanically couplable in a first region to a programmed cartridge of a first type, said cartridge being directly couplable to a video machine of the first type, and which is electrically and mechanically couplable in a second region to a video machine of a second type with which the cartridge of the first type is not directly compatible, the adaptor having means electrically adapting the cartridge to the machine to enable the cartridge of the first type to be used with the machine of the second type.

2. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection means inside the adaptor comprises a printed circuit board and additional components as required.

3. An adaptor for a programmed cartridge for a video machine, comprising a housing which is electrically and mechanically couplable in a first region to a programmed cartridge of a first type, and which is electrically and mechanically couplable in a second region to a video machine of said first type, the adaptor having means electrically adapting the cartridge modifying the operation of the cartridge when in the machine.

4. An adaptor for a programmed cartridge and machine combination, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.