Abstract: A card game apparatus 12 includes an image sensor 54. The image sensor photographs a design (31: FIG. 2) printed on a card 30. A photographic signal from the image sensor is sampled by a game processor 64, and is further re-sampled to form a photographic pixel data array. A ROM 66 is provided with a database (67A: FIG. 7) which is assigned a comparison data array and a card ID for each entry. By searching the database based on the photographic pixel data array, the processor 64 obtains one card ID and displays card data of the card identified by the card ID on a television monitor.

Abstract: A musical scale recognition apparatus includes an analog/digital converter and a processor, and can determine by the processor how close an input analog audio signal is to a musical scale of a musical tone to be recognized by repeatedly performing a calculation of a cumulative value As to find a coefficient of a Fourier sine series of the audio signal on the basis of a frequency f and digital data D, a cumulative value Ac to find a coefficient of a Fourier cosine series of the audio signal on the basis of the frequency f and the digital data D, and a frequency power spectrum effective value A of the audio signal on the basis of the cumulative value As and the cumulative value Ac, wherein the digital data into which the input analog audio signal is converted by the analog/digital converter is D, the frequency (musical scale) of the musical tone to be recognized is f, and a current time is t.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system is disclosed that can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation) on the screen of a color television set. The richly featured high performance low cost system is intended to give consumers the change to interact in real time right inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system is disclosed that can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation) on the screen of a color television set.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system is disclosed that can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation) on the screen of a color television set. The richly featured high performance low cost system is intended to give consumers the chance to interact in real time right inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications.

Abstract: A musical scale recognition apparatus includes an analog/digital converter and a processor, and can determine by the processor how close an input analog audio signal is to a musical scale of a musical tone to be recognized by repeatedly performing a calculation of a cumulative value As to find a coefficient of a Fourier sine series of the audio signal on the basis of a frequency f and digital data D, a cumulative value Ac to find a coefficient of a Fourier cosine series of the audio signal on the basis of the frequency f and the digital data D, and a frequency power spectrum effective value A of the audio signal on the basis of the cumulative value As and the cumulative value Ac, wherein the digital data into which the input analog audio signal is converted by the analog/digital converter is D, the frequency (musical scale) of the musical tone to be recognized is f, and a current time is t.

Abstract: A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc.

Abstract: A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a high-speed processor, and the high-speed processor processes a game program restored in a memory cartridge. A power control routine is then executed, and capacitors (C4, C5) included in a charge pump circuit is repeatedly charged and discharged. If an error occurs in the high-speed processor and then the power control routine is not properly executed, a difference in electric potential (VC) between one end of a resistor (R10) and a reference electric potential surface or point increases. When the difference in electric potential exceeds a threshold value, a supply of stabilized voltage is stopped by a power on/off control circuit, and an entire system including the high-speed processor is then turned off.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation for example) on the screen of a color television set. The richly featured high performance low cost system gives consumers the chance to interact in real time inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation for example) on the screen of a color television set. The richly featured high performance low cost system gives consumers the chance to interact in real time inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation) on the screen of a color television set. The richly featured high performance low cost system gives consumers the chance to interact in real time right inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications.

Abstract: A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc.

Abstract: A low cost high performance three dimensional (3D) graphics system is disclosed that can model a world in three dimensions and project the model onto a two dimensional viewing plane selected based on a changeable viewpoint. The viewpoint can be changed on an interactive, real time basis by operating user input controls such as game controllers. The system rapidly produces a corresponding changing image (which can include animated cartoon characters or other animation) on the screen of a color television set.The richly featured high performance low cost system is intended to give consumers the chance to interact in real time right inside magnificent virtual 3D worlds to provide a high degree of image realism, excitement and flexibility. An optimum feature set/architecture (including a custom designed graphics/audio coprocessor) provides high quality fast moving 3D images and digital stereo sound for video game play and other graphics applications.

Abstract: A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. A peripheral interface macro may be executed to start a read or write transaction with each peripheral device and thereafter transfer the transaction results stored in the random access memory to the game microprocessor main memory. The peripheral interface performs security in addition to input/output functions.

Abstract: A high-speed processor system having a bus arbitration mechanism constructed on a single semiconductor chip. The processor system comprises at least one bus master, a plurality of buses and a plurality of bus slaves. Each bus comprises an independent address bus, an independent data bus and individual data transfer capability. Every bus master comprises a plurality of independent bus interfaces each connected to one of the buses. Each bus slave is connected to a bus that has corresponding data transfer capability. For a system having more than two bus masters, the system further comprises a plurality of bus arbitrators for arbitrating the access of each bus independently. The bus arbitrator receives a bus request signal from each bus master that requests the bus access and issues a bus grant signal to the bus master allowed to access the bus.

Abstract: A color graphic processor generating a picture screen formed by a two-dimensional pixel array for a raster-scan display. The color graphic processor comprises a scan image generator and a color video encoder. A circular pixel buffer having a plurality of pixel buffer units is used to buffer pixel data for drawing and displaying. The pixel buffer unit storing the pixel information of a current scanning position is circularly reused after the scanning position moves to the next one. The number of pixel buffer unit is flexible and does not have to be the same as the number of pixels in a horizontal scan line. A transparent information storage means and a transparent controller are included to reduce the size of the pixel buffer and control transparent pixels. The color video encoder processes digital luminosity, saturation and hue signals according to a video sync signal and a color burst flag signal to generate a digital luminosity signal and a digital chromaticity signal.

Abstract: A color graphic processor generating a picture screen formed by a two-dimensional pixel array for a raster-scan display. The color graphic processor comprises a scan image generator and a color video encoder. A circular pixel buffer having a plurality of pixel buffer units is used to buffer pixel data for drawing and displaying. The pixel buffer unit storing the pixel information of a current scanning position is circularly reused after the scanning position moves to the next one. The number of pixel buffer unit is flexible and does not have to be the same as the number of pixels in a horizontal scan line. A transparent information storage means and a transparent controller are included to reduce the size of the pixel buffer and control transparent pixels. The color video encoder processes digital luminosity, saturation and hue signals according to a video sync signal and a color burst flag signal to generate a digital luminosity signal and a digital chromaticity signal.

Abstract: A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc.

Abstract: A controller includes a housing in which a containing portion (102) which is provided with recess supporting portions (151) on its both inner side surfaces. A shaft (152) of a rotator (153) is off-centered and supported by the supporting portions (151) in a point-contact manner. A plurality of slits (155) are formed on the rotator (153) so as to form a concentric circle with the shaft (152) as a center. Two optical sensors (156, 157; 158, 159) detect the slits at positions different from each other. On the basis of outputs of the optical sensors (157, 159), a lean angle and a leaned direction of the housing which is leaned by an operator are detected. Therefore, an image generating apparatus changes image data so as to cause an image to change according to the lean angle and the leaned direction.