Abstract: A talking crystal ball toy which is activated by a double pass of the operator's hands over a photosensor to give a randomly selected verbal response to a question asked by the operator.

Abstract: An automatic target shooting system for determining projectile location relative to a target, calculating a score based upon the location, and displaying a replica of the target with an indication of the location of the projectile relative to the target and the score. A target support structure defines a target area with criss-crossing X-Y-type coordinate light beams extending thereacross between light emitter devices and light receiving devices which generate output signals indicative of the location of a projectile during passage through the target area. The output signals are utilized by a computer device to identify the location of the projectile relative to the target, and to score the shot in accordance with the location. A replica of the target is displayed on a CRT screen with an indication of the location of the shot thereon and the score for the shot.

Abstract: An apparatus and game process having three ways of winning. The player preselects up to "Y" numbers, "Y" is equal to the number of indicators on the apparatus. The first way of winning is by selecting any winning number which will be displayed on any one indicator. The second way of winning is by preselecting a number that occurs more than once in at least two indicators. The third way of winning is by preselecting sequence of occurence of any number in any indicator.

Abstract: A video system incorporated into the back of a typical passenger seat, as on an airplane, bus, etc. The system includes a TV screen disposed normally in an upright position and recessed at least in part in the usual recess in a seat back. The arm rest of the seat next rearwardly carries various controls by means of which several modes of TV operation are available, along with the playing of music, commentaries and the like via cassettes in the arm rest, a master array of cassettes located centrally in the aircraft, disk drives, and improved power supply.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a plurality of moving or fixed objects on a video screen, more specifically for a video game. The circuit uses a topological memory 20 which represents the picture element by element, and an object memory 31 in which objects are defined by consecutive line segments. The addresses of the line segments are sequentially loaded into the topological memory. A picture generator 26 scans the contents of the object memory 31, under control of the topological memory 20, to define at each instant the colors to be displayed on the screen. Updating the topological memory every field with new line segment addresses changes the display positions of the objects every field thus giving motion to the objects.

Abstract: A supplemental device for use with an automatic pin setting machine permits a player to practice on any desired spare combinations of fewer than ten pins. A control panel is mounted at the player's end of the alley, and this panel has ten keys arranged in the pattern in which the pins are set on the bowling lane. The player selects his spare combination by pushing the appropriate buttons. A control apparatus operates responsive to the player's selection to block delivery of the pins not selected to the pin-receiving magazine, and to simulate delivery of these non-selected pins to the magazine. The pin setting combination selected by the player is immediately stored in a first memory, and is transferred to a second memory for control of the pin-setting apparatus only after the pin-setting apparatus has completed its current operating cycle.

Abstract: A psychograph, of a type employing a movable indicator to designate indicia on a principal part of the device such as a board, can be constructed so that the indicator will cause a switch to close each time it points to or otherwise designates an indicia. A circuit is used to provide an output in the form of a signal capable of being stored or used by a computer, an electronic typewriter or the like when a switch is closed for a pedetermined time interval. Normally the board or similar part of the device will carry a plurality of indicia and a separate switch will be associated with each so that signals corresponding to all of the indicia can be obtained.

Abstract: A video game apparatus has a display device for displaying visual images showing the progress of the game. An operating member is manipulated by the player in accordance with instructions displayed on a video screen within a period of time and preferably also in a preset direction, which must fall within that preset time and be in that preset direction if the player is to avoid loss of the game. The permissible time and preferably also the preset direction are indicated to the player by a visible mark on the video screen, such as an arrow which first appears only at the beginning of the period of time when the player can successfully manipulate the operating member, and which points in the direction in which the player must operate the operating member if the game is to continue. Alternatively, the indication is audible. If the player succeeds, then success images appear on the screen; but if the player fails, then game loss images appear on the screen.

Abstract: A ultrasonic bloodstream diagnostic apparatus wherein the frequencies of Doppler shift ultrasound information are analyzed by a frequency analyzer to derive a power spectrum represented by N-bit data. The N-bit data comprises (K+M+L) bits, where K represents the number of binary 0's in the highest order bit positions and varies in the range between zero and N-M, M represents a fixed number of significant bits immediately following the binary 0's and L represents the number of insignificant bits in the lowest order bit positions immediately following the M significant bits, where K+L equals N-M. A data compression technique is employed to conver the N-bit data to (m+l)-bit data by a data conversion circuit, with the m bits respectively identical to the M bits and l bits being a binary representation of the number of the L bits. A microprocessor derives a signal representing the average frequency of the power spectrum from the (m+l)-bit output data signal.

Abstract: A spelling learning aid in which an operator orally establishes the words and tactily establishes the correct spelling for later testing by the learning aid. In the preferred embodiment, the operator states words which are analyzed and synthesis control data is derived therefrom. This synthesis control data is combined with the operator inputted correct spelling, typically entered through a keyboard arrangement, and stored within the electronic apparatus. A plurality of words is preferably stored; the apparatus selectively withdraws one of the sets of synthesis control data with spelling and enunciates the word, using the synthesis control data via a synthesizer. The operator is able to attempt a spelling and have the attempt checked with the correct spelling previously stored within the apparatus. In this fashion the apparatus is able to be updated and varied according to operator desires so as to match the spelling requirements of the particular operator.

Abstract: A scorer's table for sporting events including a table top supported by legs, and three panels mounted at the front of the table and extending downwardly to the floor. The center panel has a front surface with a message which is painted or otherwise permanently displayed, such as the logo of a sports team or the name of an arena. The two end panels, one on each side of the center panel, each have display screens operable to display virtually any type of graphic or word message. The display screens are independently controlled by an electronic controller which is programmable to produce a message on each of the display screens and then change such messages as desired during the course of the sports event.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises a probe for transmitting an ultrasonic beam toward a body having a blood vessel therein and a plurality of receiver circuits corresponding to sampling points of the body in a direction approximately perpendicular to the beam to produce respective intensities of reflected waves from the sampling points. A distribution of the reflected-wave intensities from the receiver circuits is measured at a predetermined interval of time. A shift between two successive intensity distributions thus measured is detected by a correlator, thereby determining a blood flow speed, in the blood vessel of the body, in the direction approximately perpendicular to the beam.

Abstract: An improved method of playing a casino-type poker game which can be played as either a table game or computer video game is disclosed wherein a player, by making an additional wager, can draw a sixth card so as to make the best poker hand from the six cards, provided the sixth card could possibly result in the player's obtaining a straight or better; and further, wherein the amount of the payback on the second wager varies depending upon the first five cards.

Abstract: A multi-player, multi-character video game where the game rules force the players to cooperate in negotiating the maze at least until the characters reach a portion of the maze where a specific objective is located. Certain limited resources to change the attributes of the characters or to increase their longevity are displayed in a maze. The players may compete to obtain possession of these limited resources when the characters have cooperated in their movements sufficiently to move to the location of the limited resources. Cooperation among the characters is forced by forcing all characters active in the game to remain visible in the displayed window. Players may enter the game at any time, and they may leave the game at any time without affecting the status of the game or the status of the other characters in the game. All active players may simultaneously, independently control their characters so long as they do not attempt to move their characters outside the currently displayed window.

Abstract: A roulette apparatus has a table, a roulette wheel mounted to spin about a vertical axis with respect to the table, the wheel having a plurality of ball receptor cups at the periphery thereof and having a hub portion and a rim portion. The hub and rim portions are displaceable axially with respect to each other between a "play" position and a "return" position, for forming a gap between the hub portion and the rim portion when the hub and rim portions are in the "return" position. A return channel is provided beneath the wheel, whereby when a ball has been projected onto the spinning wheel and has fallen into one of the cups, and the hub and rim portions have been displaced to the "return" position, the ball rolls from the cup into which it has fallen, rolls through the gap, and then falls to the return channel.

Abstract: A slot machine has a plurality of rotatable reels with an annular series of symbols on the peripheral surfaces thereof. The reels rotate at high speed in an original game and at low speed in an immediately subsequent bonus game and can be brought to a stop, individually, by means of stop switches associated one with each of the reels. Therefore, in the bonus game, the player has an increased chance of causing a prize winning symbol or combination of symbols to appear in the windows in the selectively stopped positions of the reels.

Abstract: Apparatus for discriminating at a distance between one or more colored symbols displayed on the screen of a television receiver from a plurality of other symbols of different colors includes a colored filter which corresponds to the color of the symbol which is to be discriminated.