Abstract: A digital joystick is interfaced to a video game by utilizing diodes for isolation and providing means for strobing the digital joystick. In this manner, the number of conductors required in the cable coupling the digital joystick to the video game circuitry is significantly reduced. In one embodiment, a matrix-type keyboard is included in the remote control unit without adding a significant number of additional conductors. Furthermore, the multiplexer ordinarily required to couple the conductors from the digital joystick and the matrix keyboard is eliminated by this technique.

Abstract: A system for displaying character and graphic information on a color video display utilizes a unique memory architecture. A display memory having a plurality of addressable words corresponding to character positions on the display is utilized to store the digitally coded image signals generated by the processor. A digital processor generates digitally-coded signals indicative of a plurality of character or other graphic color images which are to be displayed on the color video display. Contiguous addresses of the display memory are developed by counters which are also used to generate horizontal and vertical sync signals for the display. A plurality of sets of characters with a plurality of characters per set are stored in a character generator memory. Each word of the display memory is formatted as two bytes. A character memory is provided separately from the display memory, and is addressed by the first byte of the display memory word.

Abstract: A digital joystick control includes an elongated shaft member having a spherical ball at one end thereof. First and second socket members are coupled to the joystick to provide a swivel joint between the ball and the socket members enabling movement of the shaft about the ball in any direction; movement of the joystick effects corresponding movement of the socket members. Each of the socket members is connected to a plate member which moves therewith. The plate members have a patterned surface presenting conductive and non-conductive regions in opposing relation to wiper arms which engage the patterned surfaces. The patterned surfaces are coded in such a manner that the locations of the conductive and non-conductive regions of the patterned surfaces with respect to the wiper arms are changeable in response to movement of the shaft of the joystick whereby a unique digital-coded positional signal is generated for preselected incremental positions of the shaft.

Abstract: A joystick control, which is moveable in the X and Y directions, generates X- and Y-coded signals indicative of the co-ordinate position of the joystick. The joystick has a normally central position; movement of the joystick to a non-central position indicates the directional vector along which movement of the display cursor, such as a cursor of a video cathode-ray tube display, is to proceed. The farther the joystick is from the central position, the faster the cursor moves along the indicated directional vector.

Abstract: A digital joystock is interfaced to a video game by utilizing diodes for isolation and providing means for strobing the digital joystick. In this manner, the number of conductors required in the cable coupling the digital joystick to the video game circuitry is significantly reduced. In one embodiment, a matrix-type keyboard is included in the remote control unit without adding a significant number of additional conductors. Furthermore, the multiplexer ordinarily required to couple the conductors from the digital joystick and the matrix keyboard is eliminated by this technique.