Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
sackground of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and method by
means of which standard television receivers can be utiïized as
active rather than pa~sive instruments. This is accompiished
by certain embodiments having participants manipulate controls
of a control unit connected to the s~andard televi~ion receiver
to cause a symbol, such a~ a rectangie, bar, dot or a pair of
dots to be displaye~ upo~ the tele~i ion screen by means of
- 1 - f~
... ... ................ . . .. . . .
3Z5~
which the participants can play a variety of gam~s. ~y way o
example, modified versions of the well-known game of checkers
may be played by two participants by placing an appropriate
mask representing the checkPr board upon the screen of the
standard television receiver.
By standard television receivers are meant those of
the type which are used in the home to receive either radiated
or cable transmitted programs.
Heretofore, standard color and monochome television
receivers have been used by the home and other viewers only as
passive devices; i.e., the television receiver is used only as
a display means for programming originating at a studio. The
viewer i.s limited to selecting the presentations available for
viewing and is not a participant to the extent that he can con-
trol or influence the nature of, or add to the presentation
displayed on the receiver screen. A standard receiver is em-
ployed with auxiliary equipment to provide an active form of
home entertainment. Since most homes are equipped with televi-
sion receivers, the only expense required to provide added
family enjoyment is the expense of a control unit of one type
or another. -- -
It i9, therefore the primary object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus and methods for displaying
video signals upon the screen of a standard television receiver,
where some or all of the video signals are both generated and
controlled by the viewer.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-
vide an apparatus and method wherein a standard color or mono- --
chrome television receiver is utilized as an active instrument
to play various types of games involving one or more partici-
pants.
It is a further object of the present invention to
2 -
325~ j
provide a device whereby an individual may plt hi3 alertness,
skill, manual dexterity and visual acui$y on automatically
contro~led-standard television receivers.
It is still another object of the present invention
to provide an apparatus which will also provide visual indica-
tion of the results of the games played.
It is yet a f~rther obje~t of the present invention
to provide an apparatus which will generate dots or other
geometric figures such as squares, rectangles, bars, stripes,
etc. which may be controlled by one or more participants for
playing various types of games by the display and utilization
of the "dots".
It is yet another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus which may allow one or more participants
to use a standard television set while receiving background and
other pertinent pictorial information from a cooperative com-
mercial TV, clo~ed-circuit TV, or CATV station, thus combining
or alterna~ing studio and home-generated information on the TV
screen.
It is still another object of ~he present in~ention to
allow the use of a standard TV set for gaming wi~hout the need
for any kind of internal electrical connection to the TV set
for t~e introduction of video and/or chroma signals, connections
being reguired to be made only to the externally-accessible
antenna terminals.
It iB 8till another object of the pre~ent invention
to provide for interrogating a ~tandard TV recQiver through an
- optical photosensor in a manner allowing the identificat~on of
a ~u~tably time-or frequency-coded message, not interpretable by
the unaided eye, such message having been originated in the TV
viewer6 equipment by a cooperative commercial TV, clo~ad-circuit
TV or CATV ~ta~ion.
- 3 _
8Z50
It is still a further ob~ect of the present invention
to provide apparatus for decoding messages on a TV screen.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention a television gaming apparatus is provided for
generating video signals in accordance with the standardized
television format, which signals may be controlled by an in-
dividual operator by means of a joystick or other manually
operative means. The television gaming apparatus comprises a
control box having enclosed thereir. all tha necessary electronic
circuits to produce video signals which are compatible with
standard television receivers, both monochro~eand color.
The control box has video signal control means mounted
thereon for easy access and connecting means are provided for
coupling the video signals generated within the control box to
the standard television receiver. There is also provided suit-
able overlay masks which are adapted to be removably secured
upon the television screen. These masks permit playing of
games which are adaptable to display upon a television screen.
By way of illustration, the television gaming appara-
tus can be used for electronic target shooting by providing a
gun having a photoelectric c~ which is activated when a trig-
ger is depressed. Thus, when the gun is aimed at a "dot" dis-
played on the standard television screen, which "dot" serves as
the target, and the trigger is depressed, a hit will be indi-
cated on the television screen by a visual display when the
photoelectric cell is in alignment with the "dotn. The "dot"
which serves as the target may be either fixed or moveable and
can be swept across the screen in a predetermined or random
fashion, at either a fixed or variable rate, either manually or
automatically.
By way of further illustration, games may be played
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~4!3250
in which a cooperative TV station (commercial, closed-circuit
or CATV) provides background data such as scenery for a simu-
lated turkey-shoot game, or such as checkerboard game back-
grounds, time-left-to-play-clocks and innumerable others
designed to enhance the appeal of the activity. A cooperative
TV station can also provide targets for a target shooting game
as well as messages to be decoded. For example, tests
questions could be displayed on the TV screen with a multiple
set of answers whereby the correct answer is coded in such a
manner that a photocell circuit would detect the coding
signifying selection of the correct answer.
From the above illustrations it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art, that the present invention exhibits
a great latitute of versatility.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The aforementioned and other objects, features and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description thereof when considered
in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view illustrating the~principal
components of one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. lA is a sketch illustrating the manner in which
the components of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are connected;
FIG. lB is a pictorial view illustrating an alternate
embodiment for the control unit of FIG. l;
FIG. lC is a sketch showing a "light-gun" containing
a photocell and electronic circuits.
FIGS. lD and lE are sketches illustrating the manner
in which the components of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be con-
nected when used with a cooperative TV station.
FIG. 2 is a sketch illustrating a TV screen and over-
lay mask as employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
- 5 -
~48ZS~
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit of
FIG. l;
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating the electronics
for a target shooting game;
FIGS. 5A-5G are schematics of the blocks of FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6A-6F are waveforms (not drawn to scale)
illustrating operation of the schematics of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic illustrating the method of
extracting horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses from
a TV receiver without making internal connections, when using
a signal broadcast by a cooperative TV station;
FIG. 8 is a sketch illustrating apparatus for
mod~lating a received TV signal by a video and/or chroma signal
generated by the control unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a sketch illustrating the TV screen of a
; receiver employed in a coded information mode; and
; FIG. 10 iS a schematic of a decoder used to decode
the information present on the TV screen of FIG. 9.
Description of Preferred Embodiments
The principal components of one emhodiment of a tele-
vision gaming system configured according to the invention are
illustrated in FIG. 1 which is a pictorial view showing a
standard television receivar 10, a control unit 14 and means 12
~or connecting control unit 14 to receiver 10. The standard
television receiver 10 employed can be any of tha standard
comm~rcially available models that are generally used for home
entertainment. Either a monochrome or color television-set may
be used with the present invention since the basic pEinciples
o~ the invention apply to both types. The connection means 12
is in thig embodiment a shielded cable, for example, shielded
twin lead and is attached to the antenna terminals of
receiver 10 in conventional fashion (see FIG. lA).
6 -
~8Z5~
Control unit 14 generates ~ideo signals sho~m as
"dots" 201 and 202 which are positioned on the receiv~r
screen 18 by knobs 16, 17, and 161, 171, respectively. In
this embodiment the "dots" 20 are squares or rectangles.
However, any geometric shape is applicable. Knob 16 controls
the vertical position of dot 201 while knob 17 controls the
horizontal position thereof. Thus, it can be seen that the
dot 201, may be positioned at any point on the screen by ~he
proper manipulation of knobs 16 and 17. Dot 202 is positioned
in like manner by knob 161, 171. A rese~ switch 26 is shown
on the control unit 14 and is used to reset the picture on the
television screen. For example, a gamP may be played in which
one dot is to be positioned over the other and when this is
accomplished one dot will disappear when a standard monochrome
set is used, while in a standard color set, the dot will
disappear and the background will change color. When games of
this nature are played, a reset means is required before play
can be resumed. Reset switch 26 performs this function.
A knob 15 controls backgrou~d color for color TV
receiver applications. Alternatively, control unit 14 may be
broken up into a master control unit cQntaining the electronic
circuits and individual control units containing control
knobs 16, 17 and 161, 171, whereby each participant may operate
from a position not proximate the other and so not to interfere
with other players. ~his is illustrated in FIG. lB wherein
contrGl unit 14 is broken up into a master control unit 21 and
individual control units 22 and 23. The master control unit 21
contains the electronic circuitry found in control unit 14 and
cGntrols 26 and 15. Knobs 16, 17 and 161, 17~ which position
the dots 201 and 202 are situated on individual control
units 22 and 23 respectively.
The knobs 16, 17 may be combined into a single joy-
stick per~ittlng control of the horizontal and vertical dot
",
~ 7 -
1~48ZS~
positioning by a single control means.
Rather than provide a separate control unit, the
control unit could be built into the television receiver as a
constituent part thereof and the receiver sold as both an
active and passive home entertainment system.
A typical sequence of steps to play a game using the
present invention would be as follows: 1. Attach connection
means 12 to TV set 10 at antenna terminals 19 if not already
attached; 2. turn TV set on; 3. select the proper channel on
the set for the control unit being used; 4. apply power to
the control unit; 5. attach a mask on the face of the TV
screen, if required for the game to be played; 6. begin the
game.
Referring now to Figure 2, a standard television
screen 18 is illustrated having two "dots~' 201 and 202 displayed.
An overlay mask 30 of some type of transparent material such as
plastic or the like, having some type of pattern, picture or
other illustration pertaining to the particular game to be
played is shown in a lifted position. Prior to engaging in a
game, the overlay mask 30 would be temporarily attached to tele-
visicn screen 18 and in such close proximity to it as not to
create any distortion when viewed with reference to the dots 20.
One type of overlay mask could be a checkerboard pattern to be
used for playing a modified game of checkers. Still another
pattern could be maze type, with the object of the game being
to escape within a specified time. These are but a few of the
many games that can be adapted for use with the present inven-
tion.
Alternatively, rather than employ overlay mask 30,
the pattern to be provided could be displayed directea on the
screen 18. The pattern could be broadcast by TV stations or
alternatively could be sent to a non-used channel over closed-
- 8 -
!,,:~"
5~
circuit ox CATV lines. This embodim2nt i8 described in
greater detail hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8.
The control unit 14 will now be described in detail
by referring to the block diagram shown in Figure 3. The
timing for the television gaming system is established within
the control unit by a horizontal sync generator 31 and a ver-
tical sync generator 32.
The horizontal sync generator 31 employed in this
embodiment is a multivibrator whose output is a series of
pulses rather than a square wave. The repetition rate of these
pulses is the standard hori ontal scanning frequency used in
commercial television receivers. The positive sync pulse out-
put 81 of the hori~ontal sync generator 31 is simultaneously
applied to a first "dot" generator 34, a second "dot" genera-
tor 35 and a chroma generator 33 (in color TV applications).
The negative sync pulse output 82 of the horizontal sync
generator 31 is applied directly to a summing ampliier-
modulator 37. The "dot" generators 34 and 35 when triggered
by horizontal sync generator 31 generate a pulse which is the
~ horizontal video information portion of the-television compo-
site signal that forms the "dots" 20 on the television receiver
screen lB. Th~ manual control knobs 16, 17 and 161, 171 on
the control unit are attached to the shafts of potentiometers 86,
92 and 96, 97 in the dot generator circuits of the "dot"
generators 34 and 35 respectively (see FIGS. 5C and 5D). Al-
ternatively, a single control such as a joystick could be
coupled to knobs 16, 1~ and a second--~oystick coupled to
knobs 161~ 171 Adjustment of these potentiometers establishes
the position of the "dots n on the television screen.
The vertical sync generator 32 is coupled to the
firzt and second 9ymbol or "dot" generators 34 and 35 and
triggers the "dot" generators to generate a pulse which is the
g _
~1~8~5~
vertical video information portion of the composite television
signal. The combination of the horizontal and vertical sig-
nals form a "dot" on the television receiver screen. There are
two manual control knobs for each "dot". One of the knobs
controls the horizontal pulse position while the other controls
the vertical pulse position. The output of the "dot" generator
which is the delayed horizontal pulses that are gated by the
delayed vertical pulse, describes the location of the "dots"
on the television screen. The horizontal and vertical video
information from the first and second "dot" generators 34 and 35
is summed together in the summing network of summing amplifier-
modulator 37. The summung network is a resistor matrix which
sums all the signals presented to one point. Thus the compo-
site video informakion is formed. The composite.video infor-
mation is then coupled to the modulator portion of summing
amplifier-modulator 37 and to r-f oscillator 38 which modulates
the video information with the carrier to generate the modulated
RF signal. The RF signal is then coupled to the standard tele-
vision antenna terminals 19. The RF signal that is present at
the antenna terminals is detected and processed by the standard
television receiver in the standard manner and is displayed upon
the screen. The two controllable "dots" are the means by-which
games may be played.
Alternatively the video signal could be applied in-
ternally to the receiver with rf carrier modulation.
The "dot" coincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40
receives an input from both the first and second "dot" genera-
tors 34 and 35 tak~n at outputs 94 and 98 thereof respectively
(see FIG. 5)~ When the "dots" 201 and 202 are coincident, the
first "dot" generator 34 is turned off by the "dot" ooincidence
detector and crowbar circuit 40. Thus, when one "dot" is super-
imposed upon the other, one of the "dots" will disappear.
10 -
Z50
A variety of games may be adapted to use this par-
ticular aspect of the television gaming system. For exa~plP,
a game of fox and hounds may be played with one n dot" represent-
ing the fox and other the hounds. When the hounds catch the
fox, the fox's "dot" disappears indicating a catch. Any game
requiring an indication of when contact is made between two
objects may be adapted to this concept.
The chroma generator 33 is used when the control
unit 14 is coupled to a standard color television receiver.
Chroma generator 33 may be omitted for monochrome applications.
The gaming system for color operation is the same as that for
standard monochrome sets with the exception that the back-
ground color in the standard color receivers may be controlled.
A color control knob 15 (see FIG. 1) is provided on control
unit 14 and is coupled to a potentiometer within the chroma
generator 33 by which means the background color may be varied
throughout its entire color spectrum. The horizontal sync
generator 31 provides the trigger signal to the chroma genera-
tor 33 whose output is then summed in the summing network of
the summing amplifier-modulator 37 with the other portions of
video information. The resultant composite video information
is then modulated with the carrier in the modulator-and--r-f
oscillator 38~ The RF signal is then coupled as before to the
television receiver antenna terminals 19 and is detected, pro-
cessed and displayed in the ~tandard manner.
One game which may be played employing the concepts
of this invention is target shooting. A "toy n gun containing
a photocell is electrically coupled to the control unit.
When a game is played using the target gun also
called a "light-gun", hits are shown on the scree~l by having
one sf the "dots" disappear. Signal~ detected by a target
gun circuit 36 are used to trigger the crowbar cir~uit portion
~ '
,,~;,,, ~
z~
of "dot" coincidence detector and crowbar circuik 40, which
turns off the first dot generator 34. Thus, one of the dots
will disappear indicating a hit. The operation of the target
gun circuits will be described in greater detail with refer-
ence to Figure 4.
The power souxce 41 is preferably a battery and
provides the necessary power to operate the various circuits.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated
thereby schematics of the blocks of FIG. 3. The schematics
are described in conjunction with the waveforms of FIG. 6.
Note that the circled capital letters A, B..... designate
connection points, that is A is coupled to A, B to B~ etc.
The horizontal oscillator 31 of FI&. 5A is an astable multi-
vibrator that operates at approximately 15.75 KHz and generates
the horizontal sync and timing pulses that are used within the
control unit and the television receiver. One output signal
taken at point 81 is a positive sync pulse which in one embodi-
ment is approximately 8 volts in amplitude and has a pulse
width of 4 microseconds. A second output signal taken at
point 82 is a negative sync pulse which also is approximately
8 volts in amplitude and has a pulse width of 4 microseconds.
The vertical oscillator 32 of FIG. 5B is an astable
multivibrator that operates at 60 Hz and provides positive 89
and negative 90 vertical sync pulses of approximately 8 volts
amplitude and 1 millisecond duration.
The first "dot" generator 34 is illustrated in
FIG. 5C and is comprised of an "and'1 gate, and hori-zontal and
vertical delay multivibrators. The delayed horizontal and
vertical pulse3 ~positive sync pulses) are AND-gated together
to form the video information which produces one "dot" on the
television screen. Both delay multivibrators utilize the
positive sync pulse transistor of their respective oscillators
- 12 -
5~
as its input transistor. The posltive sync pulse from point Bl
of the horizontal oscillator is used to trigger the horizontal
.delay multivibrator portion of the first dot generator. When
the positive sync pulse, taken at point 81, is applied at
point 84, the pulse that appears at the output of the delay
multivibrator point 85 is delayed by the time constant estab-
lished by the setting of potentiometer 86 and capacitor 87.
The delay multivibrator output passes through a pulse shaper
having an R-C time constant of very short duration relative to
the horizontal oscillator frequency. The output of the pulse
shaper is taken at a point 150. The time delay may be varied
from 9 microseconds to 57 microseconds which is substantially
the entire range of the horizontal sweep period. The pulses
which are generated by the horizontal oscillator, the hori-
zontal delay multivibrator and the pulse shaper, are shown in
Figure 6A as waveforms 60, 61, 62 and 63. Waveform 60 repre--
sents the negative horizontal sync pulses taken at point 82;
waveform 61 represents the positive horizontal sync pulses
taken at point 81; waveform 62 represents the output from the
delay multivibrator taken at point 85 and waveform 63 repre-
sents the output from the pulse shaper taken at point 150.
The positive sync pulse taken at point 89 o vertical
oscillator 32 is used to trigger the vertical delay multi-
vibrator portion of the first dot generator. The output signal
appears at point 91 after a time delay which is determined by
the setting of potentiometer 92 and capacitor 93. The delay
multiYibrator output passes through a pulse shaper having an
R-C time constant of very short duration relative to the ver-
tical oscillator frequency. The output of the pulse shaper is `
taken at point 151. The time delay may be varied
from 1.5 millisecond to 15.5 milliseconds which is sub-
stantially the entire range of the vertical sweep period.
The pulses which are generated by the
,, ~ ,.
- 13 -
5~
vertical oscillator, the vertical delay multivibrator, and the
pulse shaper are shown in Figure 6B as waveforms 64, 65, 66,
and 67. Waveform 64 represents the negative vertical sync
pulses taken at point 90; waveform 65 represents the positive
vertical sync pulses taken at point 89; waveform 66 represents
the output from the delay multivibrator taken at point 91; and
waveform 67 represents the output from the pulse shaper taken
at point 151.
The video information that will be displayed on the
standard television screen 18 as a "dot" 20 is the summation of
the outputs of the horizontal and vertical delay multivibrators.
When the delayed vartical pulse is at point 151, the delay~d
horizontal pulses at point 150 will be gated through to the
first "dot" generator output 94. The waveforms of Figure 6C
illustrate the signals 63 and 67 taken at points 150 and 151
respectively in expanded form and the output signal from the
first "dot" generator 68 taken at point 94. The signal 68
which is present at the first "dot" generator output 94 con-
tains the horizontal and vertical data that will be processed
by the standard television receiver and displayed as a "dot"
201 on the screen.
The settings of potentiometPrs 86 and 92 control the
horizontal and vertical position of the "dot" 201 on screen 18.
The second "dotn generator 35 ~see FIG.--5~) is con-
figured exactly as the first "dot" generator and operates in
the same manner to provide video information for the second
"dot" 202. The input *o the horizontal delay multivibrator
portion o~ the second "dot" generator is provided at a point 96.
The input to the vertical delay multivibrator portion of the
"dot" generator is provided at a point 97. The output of the
second ndot" generator is taken at a point 98.
The ~dot~ coinc~dence and crow~ar circuit 40
z~ ~ - 14 -
~1~82~;~
illustrated in FIG. 5E is connected to~the outputs of the
first and second "dot" generators. The cathode end of a
-_ diode 101 is connected to the output 94 of the first "dot"
genera~or while the cathode end of a diode 102 is connected to
the output 98 of the second "dot" generator. When the outputs
of both "dot" generators coincide, a positive signal will be
applied to the gate 103 of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)
104. The cathode of SCR 104 is tied to ground, while the
anode thereof is connected at a point 106 to point 105 in the
first "dot" generator. The SCR 104 will turn on and clamP
point 105 of the first "dot" generator to ground. Thus, the
output of the first "dot" generator will become zero as long as
SCR 104 is conducting, causing the first "dot" on the television
screen to disappear. After the "dots" are made non-coincident,
the SCR 104 may be reset by momentarily depressing reset
switch 26, which removes the ground from point 105 of the
first "dot" generator, allowing the first "dot" to reappear
on the standard television screen.
The modulator and r-f oscillator illustrated
schematically in ~IG. 5F is coupled by a resistive network
comprising resistive elements 108-111 (see FIGS. 5A-5D) to the
negative sync pulses of the horizontal and vertical oscillators
and the output signals of the first and second "dot" generators.
The r-f oscillator which operates at the selected television
channel carrier frequency is collector-modulated by the output
of the summing amplifier taken at point 112. The composite
video signal which is inductively coupled to pickup coil 113
is coupled to the standard television receiver antenna ter-
minals 19. The composite video signal is shown in Figure 6D.
The chroma generator 33 illustrated in FIG. 5G is
used only when the control unit 14 is coupled to a standard
color television receiver and is comprised of a crystal-con-
trolled oscillator, a variable phase shifter and an OR gate.
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8;~:5~
The ou~put of the crystal-controlled oscillator which operates
at 3.579545 MHz is taken at point 115. The phase shifter is
variable over the approximate range of 0-180 by a potentio-
meter 116. The reference pha$e signal (0) 70 is coupled to
point 117. The variable phase signal 71 is coupled ~o
point 118. These signals are shown in Figure 6E and are dis-
placed with respect to one another by the amount set in the
phase shifter by potentiometer 116. The output signal of the
chroma generator developed at point 119 is comprised of a
chroma sync burst and the chroma signal. The composite chroma
signal 72 which is the output of the chroma generator is sho~n
in Figure 6F. The chroma sync burst is the 0 phase reference
signal. The chroma signal is the variable phase signal whose
phase is compared by the television receiver against the chroma
sync burst. The phase difference between the two signals de-
termines the color to be displayed on the screen~ The positive
sync pulse from point 81 o the horizontal oscillator is used
to gate 0 phase reference signal to point 119. The trailing
edge of the positive going pulse at point 120 gates approxi-
mately 3-5 microseconds of the 0 phase referenced to point 119
to become the chroma sync burst. The composite color infor-
mation is summed to the modulator in~ut 114 by capacitor 121.
The total composite video signal including the color informa-
tion is then modulated, as explained before for the monochrome
sisnal, with the carrier and coupled to the standar~ television
antenna terminals 19.
Alternately the video and/or chroma signals may be
applied to the crowbar modulator 126 of FIG. 8. (This will be
described hereinafter).
When the gaming sy~tem i8 being used in either the
target gun or "dot" coincident mode with a ~tandard color TV
receiver, the background color will change when the "dot"
- - 16 -
,,": . ,
~825C~
disappears from the television screen. The anode of SCR 104
the coincidence detector and crowbar circuit 40 which is
connected to point 105 of the first "dot" generator to make
the "dot" disaopear is also connected to point 122 of the chroma
generator. ~hen the chroma generator is adjusted for a red
background, the background will change to blue when point 122
i3 clamped to ground`by SCR 104. The SCR 104 will be fired
either by coincidence of the "dots" or by alignment of the
photo cell in the target gun with the target "dot".
Turning now to Figure 4, the target gun circuits 36
are shown schematically. When the target gun is pointed at
the target "dot" on the standard television screen, a pho,to-
cell 50 mounted at the end of the target gun barrel will detect
the intensity modulated "dot". The detected signal is amplified
by transistors 51 and 52. When the gun trigger switch 53 is
closed, the amplified detected signal is applied to the gate
electrode of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 104, which
will file SCR 104. The SCR 104 now clamps the output of the
"dot" generator 34 to ground and the "dot" 201 ~ill disappear.
Whether the first or the second "dot" is used as a target does
not matter, since a hit will be indicated by the disappearance
of the first "dot". If only one "dot" is to-be displayed on
the screen as a target, the first "dot" would be used. A reset
button 26 is provided to make the target reappear after a hit
has been scored. The portion of the circuit appearing within
the dashed lines 56 is part of the "dot" coincidence and crow-
bar circuit 40.
An adjustment is provided by means of potentiometer 57
whereby the threshold level of photo cell 50 may be adjusted
such that only when the gun is properly aligned with the target
will the "dot" disappear. ~his procedure a~sures that false
hits due to stray or scattered light from the room will not be
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scored. The setting should be made so that SCR 104 will no~ be
triggered by the brightness of the room but only the intensity
of the displayed "dotn.
As previously mentioned, this invention may be
employed in conjunction with information originating from a
cooperative station such as a commercial TV, a closed-circuit
TV or a CATV station. In these embodiments means are neces-
sary for extracting the horizontal and vertical synchroniza-
tion pulses from the standard TV receiver which is receiving
a signal from a cooperative stationO The horizontal and Yer-
tical synchronization pulses could be obtained from within the
s$andard TV receiver directly. However, this necessitates
making electrical connections to the internal circuitry of the
TV receiver. Preferably, the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7
is used to derive the synchronization pulses.
A de~ice 129 is positioned in front of the standard
receiver and attached to it by, for example, a suction cup at
approximately the center bottom edge of the CR~ glass face
(see FIG. lD). Device 129 contains both a photocell 128 and
a pickup coil 123 responding broadly to 15,570 ~z. These
devices pick up a 60 cycle signal component provided by a white
stripe at the bottom of the CR~, (generated by the cooperative
station) and a radiated 15,570 horizontal scan signal, res-
pectively. These signals are applied via a cable 130 to a pair
of amplifiers 127 (vertical) and 124 (horizontal3 and fed to a
pair of pulse shapers 125 (vertical) and 1251 (horizontal~.
This yields synchronization pulses which duplicate in rate and
phase those transmitted. Applying these pulses to points 82
and 90 in FIGS. 5A and 5B allows locking the horizontal and
vertical oscillators into sync with the transmitted signals.
Consequently, all the functions previously described, such as
the generation of ~dots" for checker type games, target shoot-
~, ing, chase games and all other functions available to control
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by the nviewer", may now be overlaid the transmitted TV picture.
Modulation in this mode of operation is accomplished by the
"~rowbar" modulation circuit 126 of FIG. 8.
In this Figure, use is made of an attenuator con-
sisting of two series resistors 132 and 133 and a transis-
tor 134 acting as a variable shunt resistor. Biasing this
transistor sufficiently into conduction by applying modulation
to its base, saturates the transistor momentarily reducing the
RF signal going from the antenna to the standard TV receiver
antenna terminals 19. This corresponds to carrier reduction,
which is negative modulation and is equivalent to generating
a video signal going from black to white and back to the black
level. Chroma signals can also be applied to the crowbar
transistor modulator in the same fashion.
Note that the combination of apparatus described in
FIGS. 7 and 8 describe a mode of interacting with a transmitted
TV signal without requiring the attachment of connections to
the internal circuitry of the standard TV receiver.
As mentioned above, the invention may be employed in
conjunction with a coopexative TV station such as commercial
~V, closed-circuit TV and CATV (community antenna television).
In this mode the invention may be employ~d for target shooting
or for,decoding messages on a TV screen, such messages being
the result of transmission from ~he cooperative-station-,--as
for example testing with coded answer supplied. Other trans-
missions can be transmissions from organizations offering ser-
vices to the viewer equipped in accordance with this invention.
In FIG. 10 there is illustrated a combination target
shooting and decoding apparatus. The decoding portion thereof
, 30 i5 described in connection with the sketch of FIG. 9.
Although the circuit shown is used for both decoding and target
~hooting it will be obvious that certain of the components can
1 9
' ;7',,,t ~,, ;
250
be eliminated to provide either of the functions alone.
The information is presented on the standard TV
een in such a manner that a portion thereof is coded. ~or
example, FIG. 9 illustrates using the presentation for testing.
The question and a group of possible answers is presented on
TV screen 18 as illustrated with symbols 152-155 shown next to
each answer. One of the symbols (in the example shown 153)
is coded in such a manner that it will trigger the decoder of
FIG. 10. For example, symbols 152, 154 and 155 may flash 60
times whereas the correct answer symbol 153, will flash 61
times. The decoder of FIG. 10 is arranged to respond to the
odd number of flashes.
The electronics of FIG. 10 can be inserted into a
"gun" or other suitable configuration and therefore be easily
handled.
Referring now to FIG. 10, initially pressing a reset
switch 142 sets the equipment. Reset switch 142 is a double
pole single thrcw switch. The modulation from the coded symbol
incident at a photocell 136 is supplied via a buffer ampli-
fier 137, and an amplifier and pulse shaper 138 to a flip-
flop 139 which is triggered. The output from flip 139 is
applied via a bufer amplifier 141 to a lamp 140 which will
light with a steady glow until reset indicating the correct
answer was chosen.
If an incorrect answer was chosen, the lamp will
flicker for a time equal to the time the symbol (152, 154,
155) is being modslated and then will go out.
To go to the next question, the decoder is-returned
to its starting position by operating reset switch 142. Note:
initially reset switch had to be ~epressed so that the flip-~lop
wollld be in the proper state to provide a steady output to the
lamp when photocell 139 receives an odd number of cycles.
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~8'~5~
To operate the circuit of FIG. 10 in its targ~t
shooting mode, a switch 145 is switched to the alternate
contacts 146, 147.
In this mode, (see FIG. lC) a "target" dot 148 is
supplied by the cooperative station which also could supply
background scenery for aesthetic purposes. When the "gun" 27
(FIG. lC) is aimed at the target 148 and the trigger (switch
144 FIG. 10) is depressed, photocell 136 will supply an output
via buffer amplifier 137 and buffer amplifier and pulse
shaper 138 to the gate electrode of a silicon controlled
rectifier 149 which causes SCR 149 to fire and light lamp 140.
Switch 142 also resets SCR 149 turning off lamp 140.
FIG. lE illustrates an alternate embodiment to that
described above. The output from the target shooter is applied
to a crowbar circuit 24 the output of which is applied to an-
tenna terminals 19 such that the screen 18 will also flash
white when a "hit" is made.
The principles hereinabove set forth apply with equal
strength to both monochrome and color applications~ While the
system that has been de cribed has been basically for standara
monochrome television sets, the provisions for--color operation
have been described and may be applied to games---u~ilizing the-
aspects of the ability to adjust or change the background color.
Thus, it can be seen that a game such as-rol71ette may be played
ha~ing for its object the guessing of the color that will
appear when the wheel 8~0pS spinning. Ve~y readily the system
can be used to indicate a hit in the tar-get gam-e-both by-the
disappearance of the square and by the change in background
color. These are but a few of the countless variations-that
may be applied to this concept.
The number and variations of games which may be
played are limiked only by the imagination of the players.
~,,
~8~
Some of the games which may be played are overlay games, targ~t
shooting games, chase games and color games.
FIG. 2 illustrates one type of overlay games, namely
a modified checkerboard game. One player tries to move his
"dot" 20~ from A to B while the other player tries to move his
"dot" 202 from B to A. The "dots" may be moved orthogonally
only and only one square at a time. It is one object of this
game to avoid checkmate. Other overlay games will be readily
apparent.
Another type game is a chase game. For example, a
fox hunt can be simulated. This requires 3 players, a hunter,
a fox and a score keeper. The hunter tries to catch ~he fox
tindicated by the fox's "dot" disappearing) within a specified
time. Numerous variations on this game are also possible with
and without overlay patterns.
If the receiver employed is a standard color receiver
then color games may be played. For example, an inertia wheel
may be put on the shaft of potentiometer 116 in the chroma
generator. The object of the game is for a player to guess the
color which will appear when the wheel is spun.
The taryet shooting game is yet another game which is
applicable to this invention. One player may manually move a
"dot" while another tries to "hi~" the "dot" with a photocell
gun. Alternatively, the targ~t may be automatically moved by,
for example, driving the biasing voltage for the delay multi-
vibrator in a "dot~ generator with a variable voltage source.
It i6 to be understood that the embodiments shown are
to ~e regarded as illustrative only, and that many variations
and modifications may be made without departing from the
principles of the invention herein disclosed and defined by the
appended claims.
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