Abstract: An electronic game having a field of play arranged in an array as a key board of individually operable key pad switches defining array positions on which one or more players attempt to discover a hidden maze path from a designated starting point. A player wins or completes the game when the maze path is traversed from start to finish. The device utilizes a microprocessor to control the progress of the game, generate different maze paths for each play of the game, monitor the entry of key board information, and control the output of indications to the players as to the progress of the game. The microprocessor also controls the generation of distinct aural tones and/or tone sequences representing each players' turn, incorrect moves, not responding within the time period for a move, the duration of each player's turn, and a game completion message. In an alternative scheme of play, two players start at opposite ends of a common maze path and attempt to reach other others' starting point.

Abstract: A sequence association game in which a participant may play one or more games against the machine and/or other participants utilizes a microprocessor for controlling the play of the games and also for generating a random sequence for each play of the game. The machine generates a random sequence correspondence between a plurality of participant actuated controls and a plurality of machine actuated indicators. The participant attempts to actuate the indicators by correctly establishing the random-generated correspondence between the controls and the indicators in an attempt to actuate all the indicators in sequence such as from left to right. The participant attempts to actuate the indicators with the least number of attempts by attempting to remember the association between respective controls and indicators from previous attempts.

Abstract: A game utilizes a microprocessor for controlling the play of one or more games in which a participant may play against the machine or against another participant. When played against the machine, the machine generates a random sequence of tones which must be accurately repeated by the participant. The machine then repeats the latest sequence and adds another tone to the sequence. The process is repeated until the participant makes an error, or until the sequence reaches a predetermined length. When played between two or more participants, each participant increases the length of the sequence until one of the participants makes an error whereupon the machine "eliminates" the player. The machine keeps track of the longest correct sequence and indicates which participant is in error.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to permit the control of circuitry within a video game generator including an audio playback device employing an audio tape or phonograph disc having recorded thereon digital data which is decoded and interfaced with the video game generator.

Abstract: A programmable phonograph record changer which provides automatic sound track selection for each of a plurality of records played sequentially by the record changer. The record changer includes an electro-optic scanner mounted on the pickup arm for sensing the land areas located between the various sound tracks of a disc-type record. An auxiliary tone arm lift and sweep mechanism is controlled by a digital logic system connected to the electro-optic scanner to drive the tone arm across various bands which the user does not want to be reproduced. The logic system includes a programmable memory which stores the preselected sound tracks of a sequence of records which the user intends to be reproduced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improvement in optical scanners particularly for use on programmable phonograph record players which provide certain automatic features, principally selection of predetermined sound track portions on a record. The invention includes the provision of a mask to improve the performance of an optical scanner having a light emitter and a photodetector mounted on the stylus end of the phonograph tone arm. The mask, such as an opaque coating or thin film sheet, is secured to the face of the optical scanner. The mask includes a pair of apertures which permit a predetermined amount of directed light energy from the light emitter to emanate toward the record surface and be reflected onto a portion of the photodetector to increase the accuracy and performance of the sensor in the recognition of very narrow intraband land areas and precise recognition of very short, or narrow, recorded sound track portions.

Abstract: A phonograph cartridge is provided for use on a programmable phonograph turntable or changer. The cartridge includes a housing for mounting an electro-mechanical transducer on the end of a phonograph tone arm and a stylus connected to the electro-mechanical transducer for the reproduction of audio information contained in the groove of a record carrier. A sensor including a light source and a photodetector is mounted on the housing in a position in close proximity to the stylus to provide a unitary cartridge and sensor assembly. The stylus and sensor elements are mounted on a subframe portion which is removable from the housing to facilitate replacement of the stylus or sensor without requiring replacement of the entire phonograph cartridge.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating horizontal and vertical synchronization signals in synchronism with synchronization signals generated by an ongoing television program received by a user without internal connections to the user's television receiver, is provided by optically extracting pulses from a displayed raster of the ongoing television program and generating therefrom the synchronization signals in synchronization with the ongoing program.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improvement in programmable phonograph record players which provide automatic sound track selection of the recorded portions of a record. The improvements comprise the provision of an optical scanner mounted on the tone arm including an incandescent light source for directing visible light onto the record surface and a photodetector for receiving light reflected by the record surface. In an alternate embodiment, a differential sensor system includes a light emitting diode and a pair of photodetectors for detecting the presence of a highly reflective, unrecorded land area between two successive recorded sound track portions of the record. In another embodiment, the scanner includes a pair of alternately illuminated light emitting diodes and a single photodetector for receiving the light energy, directed by the light emitting diodes onto the record surface, reflected toward the photodetector.

Abstract: A programmable phonograph record changer which provides automatic sound track selection for each of a plurality of records played sequentially by the record changer. The record changer includes an electro-optic scanner mounted on the pickup arm for sensing the land areas located between the various sound tracks of a disc-type record. An auxiliary tone arm lift and sweep mechanism is controlled by a digital logic system connected to the electro-optic scanner to drive the tone arm across various bands which the user does not want to be reproduced. The logic system includes a programmable memory which stores the preselected sound tracks of a sequence of records which the user intends to be reproduced. A land sensing circuit includes a means for developing a threshold signal which varies with the record surface reflectivity characteristics.

Abstract: A tone arm lift mechanism for a programmable phonograph device includes a selectively actuatable solenoid mounted on the free end of the tone arm. The coil of the solenoid includes a movable armature and is mounted on the tone arm in a position so that the armature moves in a generally vertical direction, perpendicular to the surface of a record on the phonograph device. A resilient pad is provided on the lower end of the solenoid armature for engagement with the top surface of the record. A selectively actuatable control energizes the solenoid coil and moves the armature downwardly with respect to the coil, so that, as the resilient pad engages the record surface, the tone arm is moved upwardly so that the stylus moves out of engagement with the record grooves for transverse movement of the tone arm and stylus with respect to the record.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating horizontal and vertical synchronization signals in synchronism with synchronization signals generated from an on-going television program received by a user is provided by employing a capacitive or inductive coupling to extract the electric or magnetic field surrounding the horizontal output transformer and deflection yoke of a television receiver and shaping the output of the coupler to provide pulses at the horizontal synchronization rate of the received program. These pulses are further multiplied, divided and shaped to provide vertical synchronization pulses. The dividing circuits include means for temporarily changing the divisor to accomplish proper framing. Auxiliary presentations can be displayed in conjunction with programs normally received by synchronizing the auxiliary presentations with the received programs by employing the generated synchronization signals.

Abstract: Apparatus for playing games on the cathode ray tube screen of a television receiver or monitor is disclosed comprising a viewer/participant game control box of conventional design and having components for providing location controllable symbols on the screen and a prerecorded source providing additional symbols on the screen. The output from the prerecorded source is decoded and applied to the game control box such that the game control box can operate on the symbols generated by the prerecorded source in a manner which it normally performs on internally generated symbols whereby the internally generated symbols and the prerecorded symbols interact to provide a game playing capability.

Abstract: In a television system, a digital video system permits the transmission of data along with the usual television picture. The television picture field includes one or more selectively addressable areas and the data is imprissed on these areas as digital, binary-coded brightness modulations at rates greater than the vertical field rate. At the receiving end of the system, the viewer positions one or more light sensors opposite these screen areas. The light sensors respond to the binary-coded brightness modulations by developing corresponding binary-coded digital electrical signals. The data stream from a light sensor can then be decoded by a demodulator/decoder operated by the viewer.

Abstract: In a television system, a multiplexing system permits the simultaneous transmission of two or more images with apparent full resolution, but without a corresponding increase in required transmission bandwidth. The television transmission uses the method of interleaving successive scan lines from different picture sources, such as two TV cameras, these sources being synchronized by common horizontal and vertical synchronization signals.