Abstract: Disclosed is a remote control device for causing operation of a function on at least one of a plurality of different remotely controlled devices. The device includes a randomizer that determines a random local address for the remote control device. The device also includes a modulated optical transmitter that emits a signal containing the random local address. Reception of the random local address by one of the remotely controlled devices establishes a communication link between the remote control device and that particular remotely controlled device. After communication has been established the modulated device, through any of a plurality of optical transmitters, dictates the actions of the remotely controlled device.

Abstract: A flexible flag has a plurality of spiral shaped wire elements carried by the flexible flag body. The wire elements are mounted for rotation about generally parallel axes along a vertical support. Gearing between a motor and the elements rotates the elements. The elements have portions spaced from their end portions offset from the axes of rotation. Those elements are in phase or out of phase relative to one another. Rotation of the elements causes a rippling or waving effect in the flag simulative of a flag waving in the breeze.

Abstract: A broadcast and reception system provides a segmented broadcast signal for providing regional traffic information and a receiver adapted to receive selected segments of that broadcast. The segmented broadcast signal includes a number of segments which each include a tone sequence, a digital regional code, a digital duration code, and an audio segment. The receiver monitors selected regional traffic segments and converts the selected audio segment to a form compatible with a standard automotive radio. Thus, a user can selectively monitor regional traffic information without having to listen to reports from regions of no interest to him. Alternatively, the selected traffic information can automatically override normal radio listening.

Abstract: A construction set is made up of a plurality of detachably chainable links capable of being pivotally attached to one another to form stable geometric structures. Detents are provided at a plurality of pivot positions so as to preferentially hold the engaged links in stable and precise positions relative one to another.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument shaped like an electric guitar sounds individual notes that are synthesized to sound like an electric guitar. These notes may either be selected randomly selected by a player or from segments of prearranged musical tracks. The instrument provides for maintaining the tempo of manually played or preprogrammed notes, synchronizing the transitions between sequentially selected musical tracks, overlaying manual notes on the tracks, and a number of electric guitar-like sound effects including vibrato, chorus, overdrive, slurs and soft picks.

Abstract: A speedometer is provided for determining speed by providing a sound signal at a first frequency, receiving a second signal which is the reflection of the first signal, and determining difference in frequency between the first and second signals created by the Doppler Effect. A speech synthesis chip within the speedometer provides a verbal indication of velocity. In this way, a person using the provided speedometer does not have to look at a dial or other visual indicator.Provided within the speedometer is a heat-sensitive transducer for measuring the air temperature. In this way, the speedometer can take into account the change in the speed of sound with respect to temperature when calculating velocity.

Abstract: A three-dimensional ultrasonic position control device suitable for controlling computer displays or robot movements is disclosed.More specifically, signals from an ultrasonic transmitter are received by multiple receivers. The received signals are processed by a processing circuit which provides signals to a computer system for use in controlling a computer display or a robot. This system is particularly adapted to use inexpensive components to provide for a low cost mass producible control device.

Abstract: A puzzle of the type having an array of movable tiles enclosed and supported by a frame structure includes circuitry for producing sound to identify each of the tiles. Each tile is formed with contact terminals formed on a surface that confronts a support surface of the frame. The support surface defines a number of predetermined locations at which the tiles can be positioned, each location being provided with contact terminals connected to the sound-producing circuitry. Each of the tiles is equipped with spring biasing so that when a tile is properly positioned at one of the predetermined locations and depressed, the contact terminals of the tile and the location are brought together. Each tile is provided with some electrical characteristic that causes a tone to be produced, identifying the tile.

Abstract: A hand-held puppet of the type configured to represent a living being, and having hand-controllable moving parts to simulate some form of animation, is provided with sound-generating apparatus operable in response to the hand-controlled animation simulation. The sound-generating apparatus includes a sensor that produces a signal in response to animation-producing movement of the hand-controllable parts, a circuit for producing a tone having a pseudo-randomly varying audio frequency, and a modulator that modulates the sensor-produced signal with the varying frequency tone to produce a sound signal that, when applied to a speaker mechanism, provides sound coordinated to hand-controlled animation of the puppet.

Abstract: A voice emulation device, operation of which is initiated by a person's voice, is disclosed. The device includes detector circuitry that responds to a voice to produce a binary indication of the voice that is delayed by a serial shift register. The delayed binary indication is coupled to a digital-to-analog converter where the rising and falling edges of the binary indication are "shaved" to provide the delayed binary indication with attack and decay characteristics to form an amplitude envelope. The amplitude envelope is modulated by a modulation signal of a pseudo-randomly varying (audio) frequency to generate an output signal which, when converted to aural form, produces a pseudo-articulate sound (i.e., voice emulation).

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a plurality of audio sound effects such as shots, explosions, and airplane and car sounds, used in electronic games utilizes a variable clock driving a variable digital noise generator whose audio output amplitude is shaped by either of two types of control units. In one type the density or duty cycle is varied by selectively ANDing together outputs from a polynomial counter. In a second embodiment a digital to analog converter utilizing gated resistive summing provides the amplitude control the gates being driven by a four bit data register which in turn is driven by the game control means.

Abstract: A pinball machine having a main body with a circular upper margin and a conical playing surface extending downwardly from said upper margin and inwardly toward the center of the body. The body has a ball-actuating plunger and curved track near said upper margin so that a ball can be propelled in a circular path along said upper margin and away from the track so that the ball can follow a spiral path and strike one or more targets as it moves over the surface toward the lower extremity thereof. A bumper is mounted on the body near the lower extremity of the conical surface, and the bumper has a shiftable element which is manually actuated by a push-button switch to cause an outward force to be exerted on a ball as the ball approaches the bumper near the lower extremity of the conical surface. The element applies a force to the ball in a certain direction to cause the ball to move upwardly on the conical surface and to strike one or more targets on the conical surface.

Abstract: Puppet-like apparatus includes a manikin head having a face with a hinged jaw. A drive motor is connected to the jaw to reciprocate it. Within the head are a radio receiver having a level detector which responds to the audio peaks to actuate the drive motor in forward and reverse directions to open and close the jaw thereby simulating speech. In addition, an exterior microphone is provided for speech input.

Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of moving objects on a video display screen in, for example, a video amusement game which utilizes a system of time shared hardware to provide for a change in position of the moving objects on the video screen. The method includes an object storage memory which may be updated during each vertical retrace interval and is scanned during each horizontal retrace interval to provide information for a horizontal memory which generates the next horizontal video display line. The horizontal memory contains an object identification code in the proper horizontal location and the actual video image is generated by an associated graphics generator and picture memory which respond to the object code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating moving objects for a video game display. Common apparatus including a microprocessor with RAM provides vertical motion for all objects and separate horizontal position counting hardware horizontal motion for each object. The microprocessor operating on a horizontal line pair basis drives a parallel to serial converter which stores one eight bit line portion of the object to be displayed which in turn is connected to a shift register. When the converted data is read out to the video display by action of the appropriate horizontal position hardware, it is recirculated to provide a repeat on the next horizontal line of the identical data. An effective one line moving resolution is obtained by utilizing another shift register for a one line delay by means of a switch which is set by a latch driven by the microprocessor.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous variation of object size on a raster type video screen in a television game. The input of a voltage controlled oscillator is varied by a game controller. The output of the oscillator drives horizontal and vertical counters at rates corresponding to the object size. These counters provide respectively horizontal and vertical addresses to a picture generator read only memory. The faster the counters are incremented the smaller the object; and with regard to the vertical address, horizontal lines of the picture are actually skipped in order to reduce the size of the object.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for sensing the position of an object with respect to its receptacle. Within the receptacle is mounted a light emitting diode (LED) that generates coded pulses of light. The pulses are sensed by a photodetector mounted on the object. The circuit further includes a clock, gates and a D-flip-flop that together determine whether the photodetector is sensing the coded pulses from the light emitting diode. The light emitting diode and the photodetector are positioned such that the photodetector only senses the coded pulses when the object is located within the receptacle.