Abstract: A keyboard and display terminal displays alphanumeric characters with a split screen format and with selective scrolling to display both host message information and user message information in a highly comprehensible manner. The terminal provides further message information to a user with kinetic punctuation of the message display and with audible cues. The terminal also provides automatic repertory dialing directly to a telephone line, and monitors the line for the user.The terminal can employ a display element of limited capacity, and yet provides high comprehension to an unskilled user. The terminal provides the user with both message information and operating reports for enhanced intelligibility.The terminal further sends a host a terminal-identifying code which can uniquely identify that terminal.

Abstract: In the game disclosed herein, participants move their tokens, each representing a detective, over an indicia-carrying game board in pursuit of an imaginary thief whose location is not apparent on the board. The indicia on the board defines a multiplicity of locations of several types and possible paths of movement between locations in accordance with certain rules of the game. A value representing the location of the imaginary thief is held in a memory or storage register within a digital computing apparatus. The digital computing apparatus also includes a fixed table of information representing the various playing field locations, together with data representing the character of each location. The value representing the location of the thief is periodically changed, upon player initiation, in a manner determined by a random number generator but in a conformance with predetermined rules of movement.

Abstract: In the hand-held pinball game disclosed herein, the movement of the ball is simulated by sequentially energizing light emitting diodes disposed along a multiplicity of predetermined ball paths connecting various features on the playing field. Other light emitting diodes are selectively energized under manual control to simulate flippers which constitute features on the playing field. A digital processor operating under fixed instructions controls the simulated ball movement and implements a timing function during certain segments of the program for determining the time of flipper operation in relation to simulated ball movement. The direction of departure of the simulated ball from the flipper feature is then varied as a function of the time value so determined. The processor also drives a loudspeaker to generate sounds appropriately characterizing the arrival of the simulated ball at various features.

Abstract: Two playing boards with a matrix array of apertures are positioned so that one board only is displayed to each player. Electric circuitry including contacts are printed on one side of a flexible sheet which is folded so that contacts face each other adjacent each of the apertures. The circuitry is arranged so that the insertion of plugs into corresponding apertures of the two boards moves the contacts carried on the sheet towards each other to close a circuit energizing an audible signal generator.

Abstract: Game apparatus comprises a control and display console, and a board marked to represent a plurality of ship and submarine positions. The console provides game initiate elements providing a game initiate signal, display light, and player data input switches for input of signals by the player including challenge signals. The apparatus has a randomness source, data storage registers, and submarine data write circuitry responsive to the game initiate signal and to the randomness source for writing initial covert data into the data storage registers. The apparatus further has a range clue comparator responsive to the stored covert data and to the input data signals for outputting clue signals partially representative of the stored covert data for display on the display light, and a challenge comparator responsive to the stored covert data and to the player input signals including the challenge signals for outputting a challenge outcome indicating signal for display.