Abstract: An apparatus and method for scanning a triangular or trapezoidal key matrix for data input by depressing keys of a keypad. The key matrix allows an increased number of keyswitches to be provided on the key matrix while reducing the number of I/O ports on the I/O interface. The apparatus includes an I/O interface connecting the keypad to the CPU. The keypad I/O interface is provided with m I/O ports, where m is plural integer. Through detecting the voltage levels of these I/O ports, the CPU is able to determine which key on the keypad is being depressed. A triangular key matrix is constructed with a set of m code lines and at least one auxiliary code line arranged in such a way as to form a triangular array of m.times.(m+1)/2 cross-points. Each cross-point is provided with a keyswitch associated with a key on the keypad. The m code lines are connected correspondingly to the m I/O ports on the keypad I/O interface.

Abstract: A software cartridge which is extensible with additional programs and/or data and the method of fabricating the same are provided. The software cartridge may connect with an add-on cartridge including additional data and/or programs of at least one game. A game console connected with the software cartridge and the add-on cartridge determines whether the additional game data stored in the add-on cartridge support the game of the software cartridge under control of the control programs stored in the software cartridge, and then use the additional program and/or data which support the game to enhance the content of the game.

Abstract: This invention relates to a video game system having a displaying software for displaying a key programming process. The video game system comprises a video display, a game cartridge, a game control unit having a program key and a plurality of control keys, and a game box. The game box comprises a game cartridge slot, a memory unit, a central processing unit, and a storage unit having a system software comprises a displaying software for displaying the key programming process over the video display so that a LCD screen is not needed in the game control unit for such displaying purpose. The input signals generated during the key programming process are saved in the memory unit of the game box so that a memory buffer is not needed in the game control unit for such storage purpose so that the game control unit can further be simplified.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for software protection utilizing a read-write memory device having output data that is inconsistent with the corresponding input data. An emulator detector monitors address inputs to the memory device and detects suspect addressing that indicates an unauthorized memory access is taking place. Upon detection of suspect addressing, the emulator detector switches the memory into a mode in which the memory generates erroneous data, either continuously or intermittently. In addition, the emulator detector can drive a system bus, such as an address bus, a data bus, or a control bus, to a high or low state, either continuously or intermittently, causing an erroneous data read or failure of the emulator system.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a computer software protection system includes a protection device and a key externally connected thereto. The key includes a resistor and capacitor connected in series. The protection device includes an I/O port connected to the key such that a charge on the capacitor corresponds to a voltage on the I/O port. The I/O port is connected, selectively to ground by an NMOS switch, which is controlled by a control signal from a control program executing on a main game machine. The protection device further includes a voltage comparator having an input connected to the I/O port, and an output connected to an I/O interface that interfaces the protection device to the game console. In operation, the control program determines whether the key has a valid charging characteristic, as determined by the selection of the resistor and capacitor. While the control signal is unasserted, the NMOS switch is off, and the capacitors fully charged through the resistor.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating graphic coordinates for scan type graphic display comprises a horizontal and a vertical start position generators, a horizontal and a vertical step value generators, a horizontal and a vertical position registers, and a first and a second adders. The horizontal and vertical start position generators generate respectively graphics horizontal and vertical start positions corresponding to a screen scanning line, The horizontal and vertical step value generators respectively produce graphics horizontal and vertical step values corresponding to the screen scanning line. The horizontal and vertical position registers input and store the respective horizontal and vertical start positions and temporarily store the result from the first and the second adders correspondingly. The first adder adds the horizontal step value and the contents of the horizontal position register and then outputs the results to the horizontal position register.

Abstract: A dynamic protecting method and its apparatus protect the data transferred on bus. The dynamic protecting apparatus consists of a number generating device to generate a sequence of number signals and a decoder on the bus. The decoder will receive and decode data from the bus with the number signals generated by number generating device to generate a decoded program data and output it to the bus. The dynamic protecting method comprises of the following steps: A number generating device is set to generate an initial value of number signals by accessing program data through the bus. The number generating device will generate a sequence of number signals in accessing the program data according to the initial value. Inputting the data and the above mentioned number signals in sequence into a decoder, a decoded data is generated and sent to the bus.