Television game apparatus

- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

A television game set comprises an operation button used to operate a game, a game control section for controlling the game, a display section for displaying the progress of the game, and a connector to which either a game cartridge storing a game program therein or a tuner cartridge for receiving television broadcasting is coupled. At least one terminal of the connector is used to handle a cartridge changeover signal. The other terminals of the connector are changed in function on the basis of the cartridge changeover signal received on the one terminal as to handle either game signals or tuner signals.

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Claims

1. In a video game system having a housing, a display screen, means for driving the display screen, operator controls, a game cartridge, and a connector port for receiving the game cartridge, the improvement comprising:

a tuner cartridge for inputting television broadcasting signals to the means for driving the display screen, the connector port electronically connecting either the tuner cartridge for providing a function of having the display screen of the video system provide a television broadcast image or the game cartridge for playing a stored game on the display screen.

2. The invention or claim 1 wherein the tuner cartridge includes an antenna for receiving broadcast television signals.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the tuner cartridge includes a broadcast channel display for permitting the operator to select a frequency channel.

4. A combination video game system and television receiver system having a housing with a display screen capable of providing game play images from game cartridges, means for driving the display screen to provide images, and operator controls on the housing for controlling images on the display screen, comprising:

a connector port for providing electrical connections to game cartridges on the housing, and
a television tuner cartridge for inputting television broadcasting signals to the means for driving the display screen, the connector port electrically connecting one of the television tuner cartridges for providing a function of having the display screen provide a television broadcast image and a game cartridge for playing a stored game on the display screen.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the television tuner cartridge includes an antenna for receiving broadcast television signals.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the television tuner cartridge includes operator tuning controls for controlling the broadcast of television signals.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the television tuner cartridge includes broadcast channel display for permitting the operator to select a frequency channel.

8. The invention of claim 4 wherein the television tuner cartridge includes broadcast channel display for permitting the operator to select a frequency channel.

9. The invention of claim 4 wherein the means for driving the display screen includes a computer circuit.

10. The invention of claim 4 wherein the connector port includes a plurality of terminal pins and means for changing the function of the terminal pins depending on whether a game cartridge or a television tuner cartridge are inserted.

11. A combination video game system and television receiver system, comprising:

a housing member;
a display screen on the housing member;
at least one game cartridge storing a game;
means for driving the display screen in accordance with the stored game including operator controls;
a television tuner cartridge for inputting television broadcasting signals to the display screen, and
a connector port on the housing member for removably making an electrical connection with one of the game cartridge and television tuner cartridge.

12. A hand-held video system capable of providing game play and display of television broadcasting signals, comprising:

a housing member dimensionally sized to beheld in an operator's hands for game play;
a display screen on the housing member;
at least one game cartridge storing a game;
a television tuner cartridge for inputting television broadcasting signals to the display screen, the game cartridge and television tuner cartridge being removably mounted on the housing member, and
a connector port on the housing member for removably making an electrical connection with one of the game cartridge and television tuner cartridge.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the connector port has a plurality of terminal pins for mutually engaging with respectively the game cartridge and television tuner cartridge when inserted in the port and means for changing the function of the terminal pins depending on whether a game cartridge or a television tuner cartridge are inserted.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the television tuner cartridge includes an antenna for receiving broadcast television signals.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the television tuner cartridge includes operator tuning controls for controlling the broadcast of television signals.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein the television tuner cartridge includes a broadcast channel display for permitting the operator to select a frequency channel..Iadd.

17. A hand-held video system capable of providing game play and display of television broadcasting signals, comprising:

a housing member dimensionally sized to be held in an operator's hands for game play;
a display screen on said housing member;
a connector port on said housing member for removably making an electrical connection with one of a game cartridge and a television tuner cartridge, said connector port comprising terminals for receiving game programs from the game cartridge and terminals for receiving television display and sound signals from the television tuner cartridge;
game controlling means for controlling the progress of the game when the game cartridge is connected to said connector port;
display controlling means for displaying the progress of the game on said display screen when the game cartridge is connected and for displaying television signals on said display screen when the television tuner cartridge is connected to said connector port;
means for determining whether a game cartridge or a television tuner cartridge is connected to the connector port; and
means for driving the display controlling means in response to the means for determining..Iaddend..Iadd.

18. A television tuner cartridge for use in a hand-held video system capable of providing game play and display of television broadcasting signals, said hand-held video system comprising a housing member, a display screen on said housing member, a game control on said housing member for operating a game, a connector port on said housing member for removably making an electrical connection with a game cartridge and for receiving game programs from said game cartridge, game controlling means for controlling the progress of the game, and display controlling means for displaying the progress of the game on said display screen, comprising:

a connector on the tuner cartridge removably and electrically fittable to said connector port;
means for supplying television display and sound signals through said connector; and
means for supplying a changeover signal to said video system when said connector is inserted in said connector port so as to change the function of said video system to a mode in which television display and sound signals are supplied from said tuner cartridge and said display controlling means is enabled to display television signals on said display screen..Iaddend.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4352492 October 5, 1982 Smith
4763300 August 9, 1988 Yukawa
Foreign Patent Documents
0378385 January 1990 EPX
3032337 August 1980 DEX
60-052179 March 1985 JPX
2273388 November 1990 JPX
388 587 September 1991 JPX
3126187 December 1991 JPX
3122894 December 1991 JPX
418577 February 1992 JPX
565387 August 1993 JPX
2033763 May 1980 GBX
8302566 March 1982 WOX
Patent History
Patent number: RE35786
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 9, 1994
Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. (Tokyo)
Inventor: Makoto Ohara (Botan Koto-ku)
Primary Examiner: Jessica Harrison
Assistant Examiner: Michael O'Neill
Law Firm: Price, Gess & Ubell
Application Number: 8/336,829
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Cartridge (463/44); Combined With Or Convertible To External Art Device Or Function (463/48)
International Classification: D63F 522;