Abstract: A game table for combination use in a booth as a video game and for service of food or drink and the like. The game includes a frame above which a table top is pivotally mounted for movement between open and closed positions. A video monitor and components of the game control circuit are mounted within the frame for ready access when the table top is open. Control panels which carry manually-operated control elements are hingeably mounted on opposite sides of the frame to permit the panels to be opened for servicing. The table top includes a transparent panel which, when the top is closed, overlies the monitor and the control panels so that individuals seated at the booth can manipulate the control elements and at the same time view the controls as well as the monitor. A coin box projects from the frame above the plane of the table for convenient access.

Abstract: A homogeneous screen exposure method for a video display tube used in a video game which may be exposed for prolonged periods to a fixed pattern is provided by utilizing the motion counters of the game which normally provide for a moving ball, for example, to generate a moving checkerboard pattern with which the fixed playfield pattern is exclusively ORed.

Abstract: In a video game where an object, such as a ship, moves across the screen and where wraparound exists when the object is displayed near the edge of the screen, binary logic architecture provides for use of only a single bit of data to determine which portion of the object is to be displayed. This allows a standard bit capacity random access memory and horizontal address counter to be utilized in the circuit.

Abstract: A joystick controller assembly for generating switch closures in response to X-Y manual movements includes an elongate lever arm or handle disposed to be tipped through an operating arc in any direction from the axis of the handle for closing switches. Individual springs coupled between the lower end portion of the handle move operating arms which press against and activate related switches carried on a printed circuit board for indicating the direction of movement of the handle.

Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of moving objects on a video display screen in, for example, a video amusement game which utilizes a system of time shared hardware to provide for a change in position of the moving objects on the video screen. The method includes an object storage memory which may be updated during each vertical retrace interval and is scanned during each horizontal retrace interval to provide information for a horizontal memory which generates the next horizontal video display line. The horizontal memory contains an object identification code in the proper horizontal location and the actual video image is generated by an associated graphics generator and picture memory which respond to the object code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating moving objects for a video game display. Common apparatus including a microprocessor with RAM provides vertical motion for all objects and separate horizontal position counting hardware horizontal motion for each object. The microprocessor operating on a horizontal line pair basis drives a parallel to serial converter which stores one eight bit line portion of the object to be displayed which in turn is connected to a shift register. When the converted data is read out to the video display by action of the appropriate horizontal position hardware, it is recirculated to provide a repeat on the next horizontal line of the identical data. An effective one line moving resolution is obtained by utilizing another shift register for a one line delay by means of a switch which is set by a latch driven by the microprocessor.

Abstract: A joystick comprising a control handle within which is located an inclination sensitive potentiometer. The potentiometer includes an elongate resistance element and an electrically conductive liquid wiper. Movement of the potentiometer causes the wiper to flow along the resistance element and to vary the output resistance of the potentiometer.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous variation of object size on a raster type video screen in a television game. The input of a voltage controlled oscillator is varied by a game controller. The output of the oscillator drives horizontal and vertical counters at rates corresponding to the object size. These counters provide respectively horizontal and vertical addresses to a picture generator read only memory. The faster the counters are incremented the smaller the object; and with regard to the vertical address, horizontal lines of the picture are actually skipped in order to reduce the size of the object.

Abstract: An image animation apparatus includes a rotating disk having film negatives mounted around its periphery each film negative having a different facial expression on it. By use of an associated microprocessor which responds to certain control inputs the sequence of facial expressions can be selected by activating a flash tube at the proper time to project the image on the face of a featureless mannequin to cause the sequence of facial expressions to correspond to spoken phonemes which are synchronized with the facial expressions. Alternatively, instead of a rotating disk a matrix of optical cells can be selectively flashed. In addition, the image forming film negative associated with each optical cell can either contain a complete facial expression or a portion such as the eyes, mouth or eyebrows with the simultaneous activation of, for example, three cells producing a complete facial expression.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for sensing the position of an object with respect to its receptacle. Within the receptacle is mounted a light emitting diode (LED) that generates coded pulses of light. The pulses are sensed by a photodetector mounted on the object. The circuit further includes a clock, gates and a D-flip-flop that together determine whether the photodetector is sensing the coded pulses from the light emitting diode. The light emitting diode and the photodetector are positioned such that the photodetector only senses the coded pulses when the object is located within the receptacle.

Abstract: A system and method for operator alignment of a pointing device with a video target display wherein the gun is mounted to be deflected horizontally and vertically for aiming at all portions of the video display includes a first variable device coupled to the gun to provide a varying electric output therefrom in response to horizontal deflection of the gun and a second variable device coupled to the gun to provide a varying electric output in response to vertical deflection of the gun. These outputs control the positioning of an image of a shot on the video display. Each end of the operative range of electric outputs for each variable device is determined by comparing each output successively with each of a series of steps with the gun first pointed to one position of the display and then pointed to another position of the display. This operative range can then be divided equally into a predetermined number of shot positions on the display.

Abstract: System and method in which correction signals are computed and applied individually and automatically to eliminate aberrations produced by non-linearities in the deflection amplifiers, yoke and cathode ray tube of a television display. During a programming period, alignment signals are applied to the deflection circuits in place of the normal scan signal, and the position of the beam on the screen is monitored. When the beam is at predetermined points, the correction signals are computed, and these signals are stored. During normal operation of the television system, the correction signals are addressed in accordance with the beam scan signals, and the correction signals are combined with the scan signals to maintain the beam on the desired path.