Abstract: Apparatus for producing an analog signal--having a relative amplitude that is indicative of the direction and rate of rotation of a shaft--from a pair of pulse streams provided by a shaft encoder coupled to the shaft. The invention includes circuitry for comparing the phase relationship between the signals to determine direction, for generating a digital pulse of a fixed pulse-width for each pulse contained in one of the pulse streams, and integrating the time or inverted form of the digital pulse, depending upon the determined direction, to produce the analog signal.

Abstract: A microprocessor based data processing system including a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a display unit is provided with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in the memory unit. The graphics generator includes a first addressing unit for sequentially accessing the display instructions from the memory unit; a control unit for receiving, storing and decoding such instruction and for issuing supervisory and control signals in response to the binary state of each instruction; a second addressing unit for accessing graphics information from the memory unit in response to the supervisory signals from the control unit; and a third addressing unit for accessing movable object graphics stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: A microprocessor based data processing system including a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a display unit is provided with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in the memory unit. The graphics generator includes a first addressing unit for sequentially accessing the display instructions from the memory unit; a control unit for receiving, storing and decoding such instruction and for issuing supervisory and control signals in response to the binary state of each instruction; a second addressing unit for accessing graphics information from the memory unit in response to the supervisory signals from the control unit; and a third addressing unit for accessing movable object graphics stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: A microprocessor based data processing system including a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a display unit is provided with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in the memory unit. The graphics generator includes a first addressing unit for sequentially accessing the display instructions from the memory unit; a control unit for receiving, storing and decoding such instruction and for issuing supervisory and control signals in response to the binary state of each instruction; a second addressing unit for accessing graphics information from the memory unit in response to the supervisory signals from the control unit; and a third addressing unit for accessing movable object graphics stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: A combination keyboard/joystick controller is provided in which a joystick shaft is pivotally mounted on one end. The shaft passes through elongated apertures in two parallel plates. Each plate is capable of moving along an axis in response to joystick movement along that axis, and each plate is coupled to a potentiometer which therefore provides an analog output indicative of joystick movement along the two axes.Also provided is a keyboard mounted on a flex circuit. An array of keys including a conductive material cooperate to cause electrical contact between traces on the flex circuit.

Abstract: A graphical display of a video game is provided with "first person views" of game play, by generation of simulated three-dimensional perspectives. A slave computational unit relieves a master microprocessor of arithmetic and logical operations necessary for coordinate transformations required to generate the desired video image vectors. Within the slave unit, decoded addresses from the master unit initiate access of microinstructions, from a ROM, which control a dedicated ALU which performs the transformation calculations. When the tasks are finished, the slave processor's clock is turned off by microcode from the slave's own ROM. The results of the slave's computations are retrieved by the master processor and inserted into vector instructions to drive a CRT.

Abstract: Hall effect elements are placed in proximity to magnets in such a way that the position of the magnets relative to the Hall elements is a function of the position of a joystick controller. In this way, the position of the joystick can be "read" by a machine by reference to the Hall effect voltage.

Abstract: In a word processing system that includes a printer for printing text material and a display screen for viewing portions of the display material, a graphical representation of a page of text is displayed for editing purposes, the graphical representation including a plurality of identically formed display elements each corresponding to one of the characters of the text.

Abstract: A video game includes apparatus for scrolling playfield objects appearing on the display unit of the game. The apparatus selectively offsets the address used to access an addressable random access memory containing data indicative of the TV picture displayed. The random access data, when accessed, is used to address a video data memory which provides the building block components of the video display. Further scrolling effect is obtained by selectively delaying the video data communicated to the video display unit.

Abstract: A microprocessor based data processing system including a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a display unit is provided with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in the memory unit. The graphics generator includes a first addressing unit for sequentially accessing the display instructions from the memory unit; a control unit for receiving, storing and decoding such instruction and for issuing supervisory and control signals in response to the binary state of each instruction; a second addressing unit for accessing graphics information from the memory unit in response to the supervisory signals from the control unit; and a third addressing unit for accessing movable object graphics stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: The DC secondary output voltage of a high voltage switched-type power supply is regulated by automatically increasing or decreasing the amplitude of the primary circuit retrace pulse to compensate for variations in loading imposed on the secondary or output circuit. The automatic regulation is accomplished by the use of a passive saturable reactor coupled in a series with the primary winding of the step-up transformer. The saturable reactor has a saturation characteristic with a relatively low saturation level. Within the saturation limits, the saturable reactor provides a reservoir of energy which can be used to buck the peak voltage pulse applied across the primary, thus controlling the output voltage. The apparatus provides good regulation with minimum number of additional components.

Abstract: A decoding circuit is coupled to the signal lines that communicate address signals to a memory unit. When a predetermined address is communicated, the decoding circuit produces a supplemental signal that is coupled to the memory unit and used to select one of a plurality of groups of memory locations. The communicated address signals specify the memory location of the selected group to be accessed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizes information describing linear line segments in terms (1) the horizontal scan line scan at which the line segment originates, (2) the horizontal position within the line of the point of origin, (3) the direction of the line segment, and (4) the horizontal scan line at which the line segment terminates to generate line segment information on a raster-scan type video display. The line segments can be combined to form polygonal areas that are capable of movement and changes in size or shape on the display.

Abstract: A video game includes a pre-recorded video signal depicting selected objects upon a background; e.g., a race track where the selected objects are colored racing cars, the color being used to distinguish the cars from their background. An associated video game unit with manual player controls generates a manually actuated object and collisions are indicated by sensing the time coincident signals of the selected object and the manually actuated object.

Abstract: An electronic game includes a base having an opening; at least one three-dimensional image stored on a plate, typically a hologram; a light source for each image; a microcomputer; and player controls. Illumination of the plate by the light source projects a three-dimensional image seen during play of the game. In some versions light emitting diodes are provided to supplement the three-dimensional image being displayed.