Patents Assigned to Midway Games, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6405432
    Abstract: A mounting clip for a rotary potentiometer. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting clip comprises front and back generally vertical opposing side segments elastically deformable relative to each other between a naturally biased position and an outward flexed position. The back side segment defines a pair of legs sized to accommodate a shaft of the potentiometer. The mounting clip is useful for mounting the rotary potentiometer relative to a support wall of a joystick assembly in a position wherein a body portion of the potentiometer is adjacent to the support wall and the shaft of the potentiometer projects through an opening in the support wall. When the potentiometer is so positioned, the mounting clip may be slid downward over the potentiometer and support wall such that the front side segment overlies an outer flat surface of the potentiometer and the legs straddle the shaft of the potentiometer on the other side of the support wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Midway Games Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sedor, Theodore Valavanis
  • Patent number: 6406372
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring user-defined instructions between a home video game and a corresponding arcade video game comprises the home video game, the arcade video game, and a memory device. The home and arcade video games each include a control unit, a user controller, and a display. The user controller and the display are connected to the control unit. The control unit executes a game program to create a visual representation on the display. The user controller is operated by a user to cause the control unit to vary the visual representation on the display. The memory device is capable of being connected to the control unit of each of the home and arcade video games. To transfer the user-defined instructions between the home and arcade video games, the memory device is first connected to the control unit of one of the home and arcade video games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Midway Games Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Turmell, John Kozmo Root
  • Patent number: 6315668
    Abstract: A system for a networking electronic game units, includes an arcade router coupled with one or more game units at each of a plurality of locations and coupled to a communications resource for supporting bi-directional exchange of information with the one or more game units. A first router is coupled with a first group of the communications resources for supporting bi-directional exchange of information with a first group of game units. A first server is coupled with the first router for controlling the bi-directional exchange of information so as to support interactive play by game units at different locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Midway Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony R. Metke, Jeffrey L. Allen
  • Patent number: 6287197
    Abstract: A system for generating video pictures including various images. The system defines a target number of video images eligible for display, identifies target display positions for the images and selects various basic images from game memory. A number of change candidates is selected from among the basic images eligible for display and a change option is selected for each change candidate. The selected change options are executed to define a number of changed images, which may then be displayed with a number of the basic images to define the video pictures. The display system may be advantageously employed to generate pictures in a video game in which points are awarded for identifying the changed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Midway Games Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Dickinson, Lauren Goldberg
  • Patent number: 6264555
    Abstract: A video display system for an amusement game includes a controller, a first source of information coupled to the controller, the first source of information containing video information related to the game. A second, alterable source of information is coupled to the controller, the second source of information containing video information not related to the game. A video display is coupled to the game controller, and is responsive to the controller for selectively displaying video information related to the game and video information not related to the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Midway Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin A. Glazman, Edward J. Suchocki
  • Patent number: 6040758
    Abstract: A mounting clip for a rotary potentiometer. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting clip comprises front and back generally vertical opposing side segments elastically deformable relative to each other between a naturally biased position and an outward flexed position. The back side segment defines a pair of legs sized to accommodate a shaft of the potentiometer. The mounting clip is useful for mounting the rotary potentiometer relative to a support wall of a joystick assembly in a position wherein a body portion of the potentiometer is adjacent to the support wall and the shaft of the potentiometer projects through an opening in the support wall. When the potentiometer is so positioned, the mounting clip may be slid downward over the potentiometer and support wall such that the front side segment overlies an outer flat surface of the potentiometer and the legs straddle the shaft of the potentiometer on the other side of the support wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Midway Games Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sedor, Theodore Valavanis
  • Patent number: 5837934
    Abstract: A shock insulated container for a disk drive features a plastic enclosure having a top hingedely secured to a bottom. The enclosure is formed of anti-static materials. A foam liner is provided to surround the hard drive. The drive and liner are encapsulated in the container, which is secured, using press fit projections. The package may then be mounted to a commercial type video game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Midway Games Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore N. Valavanis, Keith A. Novak