Abstract: A self-contained operator responsive video game system is disclosed. The system is capable of generating a virtually unlimited number of games where a player responds to and controls high resolution objects drawn on a display device such as a cathode ray tube. The system includes two interdependent sections, a computational section and a display section. The computational section includes means for entering operator commands, a program memory for storing the game rules and a digital processor for determining trajectories of moving objects and generating the line segment specification parameters required by the display section.

Abstract: A vector generator having a digital input and a cathode ray tube (CRT) display output is disclosed. Digital values specifying the initial point of the line segment in Cartesian coordinates are converted to proportional voltages applied across the capacitors of two identical resistance-capacitance networks which control the positioning of the CRT beam. A second pair of digital values defining the length and direction of the line segment with respect to the initial point are normalized digitally by left shifts until the larger of the pair equals or exceeds a normalization constant. The normalized values are added to the initial point coordinates, and the sums are then converted to proportional voltages applied to the resistors of the two networks. Simultaneously, a timer preset during the normalization operation is started and the CRT beam is turned on to start the drawing of the line segment. As a result of the normalization, the voltages applied to the RC networks are larger than needed to draw the segment.