Patents Examined by Vance Y. Hum
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Patent number: 4403216Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus comprises a first and second housing portions. The first and second housing portions are coupled so that the angle of the opposing surfaces may be adjustable. A light transmitting portion is formed on the upper surface of the first housing portion. The light beam received by the light transmitting portion is further transmitted through a liquid crystal plate and a colored filter housed in the first housing portion and then is led to impinge upon the mirror provided on the second housing portion. An image formed on the liquid crystal plate can be observed as a multicolored image through a light beam reflected from the mirror.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1981Date of Patent: September 6, 1983Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Gunpei Yokoi
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Patent number: 4401097Abstract: A compound bow includes improved cam members eccentrically mounted upon the bow limb tips and each provided with a main body section having a curved lever section extending outwardly therefrom. A groove or track in the periphery of the main body section extends about the outer periphery of the lever section to provide a continuous over-lapping track disposed in a single vertical plane. A bowstring end is disposed within each lever section track while each main body section track receives the cam end of a tension cable. Adjustable or replaceable elements allow for the ready synchronization of the two cam members as well as variation of the bow draw weight.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1981Date of Patent: August 30, 1983Assignee: Victor United, Inc.Inventors: Gary Simonds, Arnold D. McKee
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Patent number: 4401304Abstract: An electronic tennis game having a display panel with ball segments which are illuminated in different sequences to simulate a tennis ball which can move from one side of the tennis court to the other along different trajectories. Player elements are provided on each side of the display panel at positions which intercept the trajectories, each player element including a body portion and racket segments which can be sequentially illuminated to simulate a tennis player swinging his racket. Corresponding to each player element is a return button. A game operator attempts to ascertain the trajectory of an approaching ball and depress the return button corresponding to a player element positioned to intercept it. If the return button is depressed at the right time, the sequentially illuminated racket segments of the selected player element appear to hit the ball back to the other side of the tennis court.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1981Date of Patent: August 30, 1983Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.Inventor: Nobuo Hamano
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Patent number: 4399995Abstract: A data processing unit for chess with a central unit, with input keys for the central unit and with a start key for the initiation of the program for the calculation of a subsequent move of the game, and with a printing unit, comprising a control unit, a storage device, a power stage and a printer, the central unit being connected via a data collecting cable to the printing unit. The problem of the invention is the automatic continuation of the course of the game with any desired default time. For this purpose, a switching stage which responds to the print command transmitted in the data collecting cable is provided for. A relay is up-circuit from this switching stage, the normally-open contact of this relay being connected to the central unit, in parallel with the start key.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1981Date of Patent: August 23, 1983Inventor: Dieter Tunnerhoff
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Patent number: 4398717Abstract: An electronic boxing game provides a display panel of LEDs arranged in two rows of body symbols and three rows of arm symbols. A body-symbol LED can be actuated to represent the position of a simulated boxer, and arm-symbol LEDs can be activated individually to represent blocks or in sequence to represent punches. A punch stopped by a block is prevented from having its full effect, and a successful punch results in simulated staggering, knockdowns, and knockouts.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1981Date of Patent: August 16, 1983Inventors: Jon P. Rosenfeld, Alfred C. Mecklenburg
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Patent number: 4398889Abstract: A flight simulating system is provided with a manually operated control member connected to a servomechanism which responds to manual input by the control member and reacts to provide realistic feedback to the control member in accord with simulated flight conditions. For this purpose, a combining circuit, a dividing circuit and two integrator circuits are provided in series. The combining circuit has an input which represents manual input force to the control member and another input from the flight-simulating computer which represents simulated internal forces acting on the controlled member and the dividing circuit divides the output of the combining circuit by a value representing the mass of the control member to produce a control member acceleration-related signal. This acceleration-related signal is integrated twice to produce, respectively, a control member velocity-related signal and a control member position-related signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1981Date of Patent: August 16, 1983Assignee: Fokker B.V.Inventors: Wilhelmus J. Lam, Luitzen de Vries
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Patent number: 4398723Abstract: A game apparatus includes a viewing device which incorporates a viewing console that receives replaceable visual cartridges and a microcomputer for generating game functions. The visual cartridges are automatically opened upon insertion into the viewing console to reveal a three-dimensional scene. When the visual cartridge is opened, its cover swings into alignment with a plurality of light emitting elements. These elements are operative to selectively illuminate various regions of the cover and to project indicia located on the illuminated region onto the scene provided by the viewing cartridge. Each viewing device can be provided with a plurality of different cartridges with covers bearing different symbols to produce a variety of visual effects useful in implementing game devices, particularly microcomputer controlled game devices, and visual displays such as advertising displays and the like.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1981Date of Patent: August 16, 1983Assignee: Marvin Glass & AssociatesInventors: Erick E. Erickson, Christian H. Oberth, Jeffrey D. Breslow, Douglas P. Montague
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Patent number: 4398720Abstract: The computer robot arm chess game assembly is provided with a chess board, magnetized chess pieces, auxiliary parking locations for the chess pieces, and an articulated radially moving robot arm. The robot arm can perform all the functions of an opponent including setting up the chess board, captures, promotions, castling, etc. The chess board and parking locations include magnetic members to not only activate resilient switches but further to spatially position the chess pieces for accurate location to assist the robot arm. Among the other interesting features, the robot arm can show emotional characteristics which can be accompanied by appropriate sounds and lights contemporaneous with a significant occurrence during the progress of the chess game.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1981Date of Patent: August 16, 1983Assignee: California R & D CenterInventors: Lawrence T. Jones, Ashley Howden, Mark S. Knighton, Anson Sims, David L. Kittinger, Richard E. Hollander
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Patent number: 4396193Abstract: A roulette game is modified by electronic circuitry, including a microprocessor, to determine which one of a set of numbered, red or black compartments receives a ball and displays the play results via a lighted, marked roulette table upon which stakes are placed. The invention includes light emitting sensors that are placed beneath the roulette wheel, each compartment of which has an aperture formed therein, to monitor the compartment by detecting light passing through the apertures. Timing marks placed on the wheel are monitored by detector circuitry to determine the direction of rotation and angular rotation of the wheel, relative to a predetermined position. A microprocessor receives the information provided by the sensors and detector circuitry to determine which compartment received the ball, calculates winning wagers, and illuminates the corresponding spaces of the roulette table to inform players of the results.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1981Date of Patent: August 2, 1983Assignee: Imagineering, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Reinhardt, Billie R. Williams, Michael J. Woodring
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Patent number: 4395234Abstract: A multiple output optical scanning probe consisting of a one power focussing telescope and a field splitting system with a plurality of imaging systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1977Date of Patent: July 26, 1983Assignee: Farrand Optical Co., Inc.Inventor: Martin Shenker
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Patent number: 4395045Abstract: Simulated shooting at displayed images on the screen of a television receiver using an untethered, simulated gun provides indication on the screen of where the gun was pointed at the time of trigger pull. This is achieved by flashing the screen white subsequent a trigger pull in order that a photosensor within the gun will be responsive to short segments of horizontal raster lines such that by counting vertical lines and time intervals with respect to vertical and horizontal synchronization pulses, respectively, identification of where on the screen the gun was pointing is achieved, permitting a symbol to be displayed upon the screen at that location.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1980Date of Patent: July 26, 1983Assignee: Sanders Associates, Inc.Inventor: Ralph H. Baer
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Patent number: 4392651Abstract: An electronic logic game comprising a device for simulating a balance scale in its balanced state or either of its unbalanced states, a plurality of simulated playing pieces one of which is simulated to be heavier or lighter than the others and selected ones of which may be symbolically placed on said simulated balance scale, and a device coupled to said simulated balance scale for detecting the presence or absence of the simulated heavier or lighter playing piece and simulating the scale to be balanced or unbalanced in a predetermined direction according to the presence or absence of the piece whereby the heavier or lighter piece may be logically discovered in a predetermined number of electronic scale balance or unbalance representations.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1982Date of Patent: July 12, 1983Assignee: Sigalos & Levine, P.C.Inventor: Alfred E. Hall
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Patent number: 4392830Abstract: A body coordination training aid is presented for providing audio signals to a user in response to the user's head and shoulders assuming a predetermined relative orientation. This is accomplished via an electronic circuit responsive to a first electrode contacting a second electrode to complete an electrical circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1981Date of Patent: July 12, 1983Inventors: Norman Salzman, Edward Wellner
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Patent number: 4391447Abstract: An electronic game for positional games such as chess comprises a playing board and a plurality of playing pieces, each piece being movable between playing positions on the playing board in accordance with a predetermined pattern which is influenced by the locations of other playing pieces. Each playing piece is encoded in accordance with its identity, and each playing position automatically responds to the encoding when it is occupied by a playing piece. An electrical circuit associated with the playing position causes other positions to which the playing piece is capable of moving to be illuminated with an appropriate color. Each playing piece includes light sources which are illuminated when the playing piece is in jeopardy of being captured by an opposing playing piece or is covered by a friendly playing piece. The intensity of attack and the depth of cover may also be indicated.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1980Date of Patent: July 5, 1983Inventor: Raymond Dudley
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Patent number: 4391444Abstract: An electronic football game has a housing on which are provided a central simulated playing field and a separate control panel on each of two sides of the simulated playing field. In each control panel are provided two vertically elongated levers, each of which is operable to selectively operate four switches that direct the movements of a set of play symbols associated with the lever. Operation of one of the levers moves a plurality of concurrently movable play symbols as a group, but if one of the concurrently movable play symbols is directed into a boundary or another offensive play symbol, the move of that player is prevented while the moves of the other concurrently movable symbols are carried out. Upon a subsequent directed move that is not beyond a boundary or to the position of another offensive play symbol, the moves of all of the concurrently movable plurality are effected, and the new formation resulting from the earlier prevented move is thereby maintained.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1981Date of Patent: July 5, 1983Assignee: Coleco Industries, Inc.Inventor: Eric Bromley
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Patent number: 4389048Abstract: Apparatus for playing a spectator-controlled game including a playfield and an object (e.g. a ball) which is movable over the playfield under the control of an audience of spectators. The playfield described includes selectively controllable means for impelling a ball and means for obstructing the ball, and various non-controllable forms of ball obstructing devices. The spectators have control devices having push-buttons for selecting one of a plurality of output `vote` signals, for obstructing the ball, or impelling it in any one of four specific directions. A programmable controller embodying a decision-making logic system provides control signals for activating the respective impelling and obstructing devices in response to predetermined majorities of vote signals provided by the spectators' control devices, so that the ball is impelled and obstructed in accordance with the majority wishes of the spectators.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1981Date of Patent: June 21, 1983Inventor: Donald M. Burgess
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Patent number: 4386773Abstract: The present invention relates to a memory expansion device for use in increasing the ROM and adding RAM to a program cartridge. The program cartridge is used in association with electronic video games. The present invention relates to various electronic circuitry, including certain logic elements and ROM and RAM, allowing expansion of the memory without increasing or changing the number of conductor contact ribbons formed in parallel for interfacing the cartridge directly to the bus connector of the electronic video game.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1981Date of Patent: June 7, 1983Inventor: John M. Bronstein
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Patent number: 4386776Abstract: An electronic game device has a main body and a central removable cartridge. The main body contains circuitry for simulating football, basketball, soccer, and hockey, and the removable cartridge has overlays that register with LEDs on the main body and contain markings peculiar to the game to be simulated. The cartridge also includes a printed-circuit board that is electrically connected to the circuitry to indicate which game is to be simulated. In the basketball, soccer, and hockey versions of the game, two player symbols on each side are provided as well as a game-object symbol, and the game-object symbol can be displayed in a mode in which it remains stationary during a continuing play independently of the movement of any other play symbol. In one version of the game, the game-object symbol, upon encountering the playing-field boundary during pass simulations, is diverted to travel along the boundary.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1981Date of Patent: June 7, 1983Assignee: Coleco Industries, Inc.Inventor: Eric Bromley
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Patent number: 4385762Abstract: The present invention relates to a game including a set of pieces having different outlines or otherwise differently configured whereby each is engageable into an individual location on a playing surface e.g. by insertion therein. A set of display elements each associated with one of the locations may be activated to indicate visibly when a piece is to be engaged with its associated location. A switch associated with each location is so arranged as to be operable when, and only when, the piece of the correct configuration is engaged in the location. An electrical operating circuit activates the display elements successively in an initial period and then activates only one display element. When the correct piece is engaged with the location corresponding to the activated display element the control circuit responds by deactivating the display element or by adjusting the sound from a sound source.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1980Date of Patent: May 31, 1983Assignee: Comano S.A.Inventor: Roland Schwartz
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Patent number: 4384716Abstract: An electronic control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of pinball machine flippers. Each flipper is operated in response to the energization of a single solenoid coil in which the same winding is energized to place the flipper in an actuated position and to hold the flipper in the actuated position. When a flipper switch is activated, a full wave rectified voltage is applied to the solenoid coil to place the flipper in an actuated position. When the flipper has been sensed to be in the actuated position, only a partial phase controlled voltage is applied to the solenoid coil to hold the flipper in the actuated position until the flipper switch is deactivated.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1981Date of Patent: May 24, 1983Assignee: Universal Research Laboratories, IncorporatedInventor: Emmett J. Powers