KR100430463B1 - An interface device for game according to ability using vedio console game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An interface system is provided to enable a user to play an arcade game machine via a console type video game so that it makes it possible performing a game business by using a home video game machine. CONSTITUTION: The system comprises an AV(Audio Video) signal detector(112), key input mapping modules(115, 116) and a controller(111). The AV signal detector(112) pickups AV signals output by an AV signal output module of a console type video game machine(300). The key input mapping modules(115, 116) relay signals of key buttons(215, 216) of an arcade game machine(200) to ports(315, 316) of the console type video game machine(300). The controller(111) checks mute data of audio signals and a white or black level of video signals in the detected AV signals, and controls the key input mapping modules(115, 116) by using an auto run preset program of a corresponding game program and key input mapping data.

Description

{An interface device for game according to ability using vedio console game apparatus}

The present invention relates to an interface device that enables a game business using a personal video game machine by applying a console-type video game machine for personal use in a general home to a body game machine main body of the power system.

In the past, many attempts have been made to convert home video game machines to commercial use. The representative method was to install an interface control device for relaying data and signals between the video game machine and the game device in order to connect the console type video game machine to the commercial game device so that the business can be paid for.

The interface controller basically controls ON the switch circuit so that the input information of the select button and the direction key on the main body of the game machine equipped with the monitor is applied to the operation pad input side of the video game machine when the coin is inserted and the valid condition is used. It delivers video and audio signals to monitors and speakers in the game console. After that, when no coin is inserted or all coins are used, the signal transmission line between the video game device and the game device is switched off to prohibit free use.

The interface control device introduces a part-time system and a capability system for the fee of a game device for a business. Here, the time system refers to a method of designing the game machine to operate only for a predetermined time when a coin is input. The power system refers to a system designed to play a game while extending the game time according to the gamers' ability.

It is a very simple and common technique to design an interface control in a part-time manner so that a console video game machine can be used for business purposes. In contrast, designing interface controls based on capabilities is not straightforward.

It has been confirmed from the prior art that many attempts have been made to convert home video game consoles using interface devices for commercial use.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-343889, Utility Model Registration No. 20-191318, and Patent Registration No. 1993-3625 propose various methodologies for operating the interface device as a capability agent. The focus is on finding the point at which the gamers lose during the execution of the corresponding game program of the commercial game machine, that is, the game over (game end).

That is, the above-mentioned prior arts define the game end in one game unit, and when the game end is reached in the corresponding game program, the game of the round is terminated.

Commercial use of the console type video game machine using such a power system-based interface device defines a specific game end screen or audio signal as a reference value, and when the corresponding audio signal or video image appears, it is determined that the game is finished (competence level end). do. However, since the specific factors for judging from the game end point are different for countless game programs, it cannot be normalized to any one value, and thus, the operation of the capability system of the video game based on this was not practical.

In particular, when the screen is captured by reference to the reference value for continuous recognition of game over or game termination, and continuously monitored by continuously capturing the game progress screen, the same screen as the reference capture screen value appears. This image image comparison is caused by excessive computational load on the control processor of the interface device, which causes various disadvantages such as heat generation, capture error, and increase of the value of the control processor. There have been many problems in constructing the game device for the game period and the reliability of its operation performance.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional interface device as described above, an object of the present invention is to apply a console-type video game machine for personal use in the general home to the business game device of the power system type to be able to operate The present invention provides an interface device for converting a console video game machine into a commercial capability game machine.

Another object of the present invention is to commercialize a console type video game machine based on a simple and novel algorithm that is easy to commercialize all game programs of the console type video game machine and can reduce the development period and the development cost of the product. The present invention provides an interface device for converting to a game machine.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a connection between an interface device of the present invention and a peripheral device.

Figure 2a is a perspective view of the front portion of the interface device of the present invention.

Figure 2b is a perspective view of the rear portion of the interface device of the present invention.

3 is an internal circuit block diagram of an interface device according to the present invention. FIG.

4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

※ Explanation of symbols about main part of drawing ※

100: interface device 110: A / V and data connectors

111: control unit 112: A / V detection unit

113: OSD driver 114: 7 segment driver

115: 1P key input mapping unit 116: 2P key input mapping unit

130: A / V connector 140: reset signal connector

150: program pack socket 160: pad connector

200: business game machine body 210: A / V signal processing unit

211: monitor 212: speaker

213: coin box 214: 7 segment

215: 1P key button 216: 2P key button

300: video game machine 310: control unit

311: A / V signal output section 312: mechanism section

313: reset button 315: 1P port

316: 2P Port 400: Program Pack

410-430: Connection cable

The interface device of the present invention for achieving the above objects is installed in the console device of the home console video game machine and the game console main body in the interface device for supporting the game running on the video game machine in a power system, the interface device The A / V detection unit which picks up the A / V signal output from the A / V signal output unit of the video game machine to the A / V signal processing unit of the commercial game machine, and the autorun preset program and key input mapping information for each game program. It includes a 1P, 2P key input mapping unit and a control unit for relaying the program pack and 1P, 2P key button signal of the main game machine body to the 1P, 2P port of the video game machine, the control unit is picked up by the A / V detection unit The audio mute information of the A / V signal, the video white level or the video black level can be checked in real time to Determine the start time of the corresponding game program and control the 1P and 2P key input mappings with the autorun preset program of the corresponding game program and key input mapping information for each game program included in the program pack. do.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a connection of a console type video game machine and a commercial game machine main body using an interface device of the present invention, and typically includes 1P and 2P key buttons 215 and 216 including a monitor 211 and a selection button and a direction key. One business game machine main body 200 is connected to the home console type video game machine 300 through the interface device 100 is shown.

Figure 2a is a perspective view of the front portion of the interface device 100 of the present invention, through the opening formed along one side of the box-shaped interface device to provide an A / V and data connector 110 formed integrally on the PCB therein. It is showing. The A / V and data connectors 110 are connected to the connecting cable 220 drawn from the game machine main body 200.

Figure 2b is a perspective view of the rear portion of the interface device 100 of the present invention, the program pack socket 150 for receiving the program pack 400 on the center and outputs a signal for operating the reset button of the video game machine The reset signal connector 140, the A / V connector 130 for inputting the video and audio signals of the video game machine, and the selection operation button and the direction input signal of the main game machine body are read and mapped to match the set program. The pad connector 160 is provided to transmit the mapping data to the video game machine.

The pad connector 160 is connected to the buttons and key input 1P and 2P ports 315 and 316 of the console type video game machine 300 through the pad cable socket 430, and the A / V connector 130 is connected to the connection cable. 410 is connected to the A / V signal output terminal of the video game machine (300).

3 is an internal circuit block diagram of an interface device of the present invention, showing a connection state between each component in the interface device and a main body of a video game machine and a commercial game machine.

Here, the interface device 100 is provided with a control unit 111, which is an individual game through the A / V detection unit 112, 1P, 2P input mapping unit 115, 116 and the program pack socket 150. The unit program pack 400 is connected to configure the control unit 111 to perform key input mapping and A / V detection according to the program set in the program pack.

In addition, the control unit 111 displays the number of coin inputs, the remaining time in the time-selection mode, the display of the user guide or warning message, etc. on the 7 segment 214 or the monitor 211 in the game machine main body 200. The OSD driving unit 113 and the 7 segment driving unit 114 may be installed selectively or in combination.

The 1P key input mapping unit 115 and the 2P key input mapping unit 116 connected to the control unit 111 input 1P and 2P key buttons 215 and 216 in the main body of the game machine 200 according to the control program of the control unit. The information is mapped and transmitted to the 1P and 2P ports 315 and 316 of the video game machine 300.

In addition, the reset signal generated by the control unit 111 is configured to operate the reset actuator 450 via the reset signal connector 140. The reset actuator causes the reset button 313 of the video game machine to operate. Configure it to work.

Meanwhile, the game video and audio signals output from the A / V signal output unit 311 of the video game machine 300 are passed through the A / V connector 130 and the A / V detector 112 and A of the interface device 100. The A / V detection unit 112 is configured to detect the white (or black) level of the video and / or the mute signal of the audio, and the A / V signal processing unit 210 By processing the real-time audio and video signals of the console-type video game machine 300 is configured to be output to the speaker 212 and the monitor 211, respectively.

Referring to the operation of the present invention configured as described above is as follows.

First, when the business game machine main body 200 and the video game machine 300 are connected using the interface device 100 and the operation power is turned on, the control algorithm of the program pack 400 inserted into the program pack socket 150 is inserted into the control algorithm. Accordingly, the control unit 111 maintains the business game console body and the console-type video game machine 300 in an operation standby state.

In this state, when the user of the business game device inserts a coin into the coin box 213, the coin box counts the amount of coin input by the normal mechanism operation and sends the count information to the control unit 111 of the interface device. .

In this state, the control unit 111 monitors the start key input of the 1P key button 215 or the 2P key button 216 of the business game machine main body, and when the start button input is detected, the program stored in the program pack 400 is stored. It runs automatically and performs presetting up to the state just before the game. Here, the presetting is performed in a state in which the key input line on the main body of the game machine 200 is blocked so that the general user cannot directly control difficulty, game method, and life.

Basically, the start selection key signal by the key button of the main body of the game machine is designed to be placed under the control of the control unit 111 entirely without the mapping operation in the 1P and 2P key input mapping units 115 and 116, unlike other buttons.

This allows the player to press the start button of the game console main body any number of times, but the control unit 111 completely blocks the path through which the start button signal (which may be switched to the pause mode during the game) to the video game machine and is only selected when necessary. The start key button signal is generated and transmitted to the video game machine. That is, the start key input signal of the game is operated by the interface device 100 in a completely separated state during the business game period and the video game period.

On the other hand, when the game is started, the control unit 310 of the console-type video game machine 300 drives the mechanical mechanism unit 312 for running the game through the A / V signal output unit 311 game video signal and game audio signal Outputs The A / V signal is provided to the A / V detector 112 of the interface device 100 and the A / V signal processor 210 of the business game machine body 200 through the A / V connector 130.

Accordingly, the A / V signal processor 210 processes the corresponding game screen and sound output from the video game machine, that is, the video signal and the audio signal, and outputs them to the monitor 211 and the speaker 212, respectively.

Looking at the screen of the monitor 211, gamers manipulate the 1P and 2P key buttons 215 and 216 on the side of the game machine main body 200, and the (direction) key signal and the selection button signal generated at this time are the interface device 100. The 1P and 2P key input mapping units 115 and 116 are respectively transmitted and input to the 1P and 2P ports 315 and 316 of the video game machine 300 to proceed with the game.

During the game execution, the A / V detection unit 112 of the interface device 100 detects the white level or black level of the screen and inputs it to the control unit 111. At this time, the audio mute signal can be used as the recognition information for game play / end and used as a data source similar to video white level or black level detection. The video or audio detection reference value used at this time is stored in the program pack 400 that is designed for each game.

On the other hand, the control unit 111 of the interface device 100 generates a control signal for the reset of the video game machine 300, the actuator 450 is operated by the control signal to operate the reset button of the video game machine 300 By arranging to press, the video game machine can be reset at any time by the interface device to initialize the game.

4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the interface device of the present invention.

As referred to herein, when the video game machine and the game machine main body are combined with the interface device and the operation power is turned on, system initialization such as mutual device recognition proceeds.

After the system initialization is completed, the controller in the interface device 100 checks the coin input and balance based on the information input from the coin box. If there is a balance or a coin is inserted, it monitors whether the user, ie, the player presses the start key (button).

At this time, when the player presses the start key, the control unit 111 executes the auto preset program stored in the program pack and autoruns until the game is executed by the gamer.

When the automatic execution of the auto preset program is completed, the number of coins of a predetermined number is subtracted, and subsequent operations are dependent on the gamer's operation.

At this time, in order to improve the accuracy and reliability of the game execution, the characteristic audio mute signal or the video white level (or black level) extracted at the time of execution of the game program is extracted to confirm the true game execution, and then a predetermined number of coins Can be subtracted.

On the other hand, the game machine main body connected to the video game machine stops the game and enters the standby state due to a situation such as losing a life or losing the game while the game player executes the game.

In such a standby state, if the player wants to continuously play or replay the game, he / she presses the start key (button) to replay through the balance difference or to replay after inserting coins.

Since the start recognition of the start button at this time must be identified and pressed at the start button of another time, the start key input at the time of re-execution or continuous execution of the game program gives special conditions.

For example, by pressing the start key for a specific time (for example, 2 seconds), providing a separate start dedicated key, or requesting continuous keying for a specific number of times (3 times, 5 times, etc.) It is possible to recognize the intention to rerun the game and to execute the auto preset program for executing the game based on this.

As described above, the interface device of the present invention can convert a console-type video game machine used for personal use in a general home into a business game device of a power system type, and thus can obtain an expensive commercial game machine function at a low cost. Brings effect.

In addition, the present invention is easy to empower all game programs of the console type video game machine, and is based on a very simple and original algorithm, so that the home console game machine can be converted into a commercial type power system and all consoles of the commercial game machine can be used. Dramatically reduce the time and cost it takes to develop products that allow game-type game programs to run in a competent way.

In addition, when the user of the interface device changes the game program of the console-type video game machine, the present invention does not need to purchase another interface device designed for the game program. By purchasing and using a program pack containing a program that motivates the user, the operating cost of a commercial game device can be reduced.

Claims (6)

delete. An interface device (100) installed between a home console type video game machine (300) and a commercial game machine main body (200) to support a game running on a video game machine in a power system manner, wherein the interface device (100) A / V detection unit 112 for picking up the A / V signal from the A / V signal output unit 311 of the video game machine 300 to the A / V signal processing unit 210 of the business game machine 200 in the middle 1P and 2P key buttons 215 and 216 signals of the program pack 400 having the autorun preset program and key input mapping information for each game program and the main game machine body 200 of the business program, and the 1P and 2P ports of the video game machine 300 ( 1P and 2P key input mapping units 115 and 116 and a control unit 111 which relay outputs to 315 and 316, and the control unit 111 is audio mute information of the A / V signal picked up by the A / V detection unit 112. Or check video white level or video black level in real time The start time of the execution game program is determined by whether or not the preset value is reached, and the 1P and 2P keys are input as the autorun preset program of the corresponding game program and the key input mapping information for each game program included in the program pack 400. Interface device for converting the console-type video game machine to a commercial power game machine, characterized in that configured to control the mapping unit (115, 116). delete According to claim 2, The program pack 400 is a commercial-use game machine for the console type video game machine, characterized in that configured to be replaced and removable from the outside through the program pack socket 150 coupled to the control unit 111 Interface device for switching to. The console video game machine according to claim 2, wherein the control unit (111) has an OSD driving unit (113) for guiding information such as input information of coins, game execution guide menu, game result information, and standby state. Interface device for converting the game into a commercial game machine. 3. The controller 111 according to claim 2, wherein the control unit 111 generates a reset signal at every initialization and restart condition of the video game machine 300, and the reset signal is applied to an actuator 450 installed in the video game machine 300. Interface device for converting the console-type video game machine into a commercial game machine, characterized in that the reset button (313) is operated to operate.