Abstract: A simulated perspective view of a landscape is provided on a video display screen used, for example in a video game where a player by means of manual control seeks out various moving targets on the landscape. Specifically, the perspective is achieved by converging the landscape toward the top of the display screen. This is done from a vertical standpoint by distorting in a concave manner the vertical drive voltage. From a horizontal line standpoint a change of horizontal line length is accomplished by a voltage controlled oscillator which has an output frequency which controls readout of video display data. In addition, each line of the specific image is formed by segments and defined by binary bytes to specify either color or level of gray in one portion and the length of the segment in the other.

Abstract: A video image generator for producing a background image giving the visual appearance of an ocean on a raster type video screen. The image generating circuitry includes means for producing background patterns in successive scan frames of the raster to provide a visual appearance of forward movement. Apparent lateral movement is also provided by shifting the image horizontally. Such visual movement is provided in response to motion control signals associated with video games or the like.

Abstract: A method of operating a video game where a full screen memory map is utilized in conjunction with a microprocessor unit which operates on a clock cycle basis where during one portion of a clock cycle video data is latched into a shift register and during the other part of the clock cycle other necessary game functions are performed by the MPU, and during the entire clock cycle video data is shifted at the horizontal scan rate from the shift register to the display screen.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator having a substantially linear output over a wide range is used in video games to address picture memory means to thereby determine the size of the objects displayed on a raster type video screen. The oscillator produces an output signal having a frequency determined by an analog input voltage which is proportional to the desired size of the objects. The oscillator includes a variable current source controlled by the analog input voltage which stores charge in a capacitor. A pair of AND gates sink charge from the capacitor as determined by threshold means which senses the stored voltage. The periodic change in the output of the threshold means constitutes the output signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency oscillator-modulator for use in a video game includes a folded metal shield box having a slot on one of its ends in which a similarly slotted printed circuit board containing the oscillator and modulator is mated with. Circuitry of the oscillator and modulator provides for great linearity and low R.F. radiation. The slot arrangement provides for effective grounding of the ground metallization of the external portion of the printed circuit board which contains the radio frequency output terminal along with the various input terminals. This portion contains ground metallization which makes very effective electrical contact with the slot of the shield box thus again containing R.F. radiation.

Abstract: A cartridge for shielding a portable electronic micro-circuit and for connecting the circuit into a TV game. The apparatus includes a circuit board that is protected within a housing from static electricity and is adapted for connection with an electrical connector on a TV game. The housing includes two parallel members for moving aside a protective shield on the electrical connector and thereby permitting engagement of the circuit board with the connector in the game.

Abstract: In a race car type video game one or more manually controlled player cars race against automatic computer controlled "drone" cars whose courses are controlled by direction vectors associated with cells into which the entire track is divided. The relationship of the cars direction and angular orientation or rotation with respect to the vector is controlled in a manner to provide cumulative minor response variations so that the drone car path may change for each circuit of the track. In an alternate game the drone cars by themselves may be controlled in speed only by competing players (with the computer by the use of the direction vectors controlling steering) to simulate a mechanical slotted track racing game where the car can be skidded from one "slot" to another.

Abstract: A shooting game includes opposed stations which include a pair, target and gun which are movable as a unit by the player sitting on the chair. A simulated landscape interposed between the players includes a score display. When either player actuates his gun this produces a light flash which is sensed by the photodector type target on the other player's station. A highly animated seat makes a difficult target to hit.

Abstract: Puppet-like apparatus includes a manikin head having a face with a hinged jaw. A drive motor is connected to the jaw to reciprocate it. Within the head are a radio receiver having a level detector which responds to the audio peaks to actuate the drive motor in forward and reverse directions to open and close the jaw thereby simulating speech. In addition, an exterior microphone is provided for speech input.

Abstract: A chroma generation system provides the six major discrete colors in a NTSC color television system. This is achieved simply and inexpensively by a pair of resonant circuits which shift a fundamental color subcarrier signal by lead and lag relationships to provide yellow and magenta colors, respectively, and also provides the proper magnitudes so that when the vectors are combined, a red signal results. The fundamental color signal when inverted provides the complements of the foregoing colors to thus provide the six different discrete saturated colors.