Pong, the Atari creation that launched the computer game craze, came with these instructions: "Avoid missing ball for high score."
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5649862 | Video game apparatus, method and device for controlling same, and memory cartridge for video games Disclosed in a video game of enhanced realism in which actual combat is closely simulated. The game is so adapted that an enemy character on a display screen may launch an attack against a player character on the same screen, even while the player charact... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5643086 | Electronic casino gaming apparatus with improved play capacity, authentication and security An electronic casino gaming system includes an unalterable ROM for storing a casino game authentication program, including a message digest algorithm program, a decryption program and a decryption key. A casino game data set containing casino game rules a... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5632681 | Universal electronic video game renting/distributing system A video game cartridge that can be plugged into a video game machine to enable a user to request and play a video game for a predetermined number of video frames. The cartridge has a receiver for receiving the video game program and the predetermined fram... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5601489 | Compact electronic apparatus with removable processing units A compact electronic apparatus comprises a main unit having at least a power supplying section and a display, at least one of several processing units having a key input section and a memory adapted to be removably attached to the main unit and a connecti... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5599232 | Memory cartridge with interface having graphics co-processor A memory cartridge for use in a video game console includes an interface and a compact game catridge removably attachable to the interface. The compact game cartridge has a Read Only Memory in it storing at least one game program to be executed by the gam... | 02/04/1997 |
| 5528223 | Video game cartridge including a security device and method of deterring theft of same A video game cartridge includes a memory and a security device, which comprises a magnetically operated switch and a magnetic element positioned adjacent to the switch. The switch has first and second states with the first state for inhibiting the functio... | 06/18/1996 |
| 5460374 | Game device A game device for loading a game cartridge 18 in a game machine body 10 to play a game based on game program information stored in the game cartridge 18 comprises a image recognition sensor 21 for, when the game cartridge 18 is loaded, reading a predeterm... | 10/24/1995 |
| 5429363 | Radio transmission system for TV game machine A radio transmission apparatus for TV game machine, a radio transmission adaptor connectable to a main body of existing TV game machine, and a TV game cassette provided with a radio transmitting antennae are disclosed as radio transmission system for TV g... | 07/04/1995 |
| 5428528 | Portable interactive game system between master/slave units containing detachable memories wherein a master unit downloads a master program to slave units respective detachable memories A communication processing system provided with one parent communication unit, at least one child communication unit, and at least one first detachable unit detachable from the at least one child unit, the system being operated in accordance with an opera... | 06/27/1995 |
| 5426763 | Memory cartridge including a key detector for inhibiting memory access and preventing undesirable write operations A memory cartridge which may be loaded in an attachable/detachable manner to a data processing apparatus, such as a hand-held electronic game machine having a central processing unit (CPU), includes logic control circuitry, a program read only memory (ROM... | 06/20/1995 |
| 5408408 | Apparatus and method for electronically tracking and duplicating user input to an interactive electronic device An apparatus and method to allow testers or developers of computer programs to electronically track and duplicate the occurrence of programming defects in interactive electronic devices accurately and quickly by recording and playing back user input data.... | 04/18/1995 |
| 5395112 | Memory cartridge A memory cartridge for use in a video game console includes an interface and a compact game cartridge removably attachable to the interface. The compact game cartridge has a Read Only Memory in it storing at least one game program to be executed by the ga... | 03/07/1995 |
| 5393073 | Talking video games Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a TV screen. Two or more players can take turns responding to animated characters and two or more animated characters can respond to each player and to... | 02/28/1995 |
| 5388841 | External memory system having programmable graphics processor for use in a video game system or the like A fully programmable, graphics microprocessor is embodied in a removable external memory unit for connection with a host information processing system. In an exemplary embodiment, a video game system is described including a host video game system and a p... | 02/14/1995 |
| 5362068 | Game cartridge for a television game console A game cartridge includes a main cartridge which has a primary graphics memory unit, a first edge-board contact that is connected removably to a television game console and that enables the television game console to address and receive data from differen... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5357604 | Graphics processor with enhanced memory control circuitry for use in a video game system or the like A fully programmable, graphics microprocessor is embodied in a removable external memory unit for connection with a host information processing system. In an exemplary embodiment, a video game system is described including a host video game system and a p... | 10/18/1994 |
| 5349689 | Apparatus for maintaining reset on microprocessor until after electrical chattering from connection of removable memory cartridge has ceased An electric circuit device includes a connector for permitting removal and mounting of a cartridge with a circuit built therein, and a processor for performing operations and processing using the circuit built in the cartridge. A first reset circuit is pr... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5317714 | Digital sound source apparatus and external memory cartridge used therefor A digital sound source apparatus includes a semiconductor memory connected to a central processing unit. The memory has a quantized data storage area and a program data storage area. A quantized data train and a stop code are stored in a series of address... | 05/31/1994 |
| 5267734 | Video game having calendar dependent functionality A video game method and apparatus of the type which includes a calendar function which in part controls the play of the game. The apparatus includes game cartridges which have a power source, memory means, clock/calendar circuitry which interacts with the... | 12/07/1993 |
| 5226136 | Memory cartridge bank selecting apparatus A memory cartridge is loaded in a main unit of a personal computer when used. The memory cartridge comprises a case, and a printed circuit board which is installed therein and on which a large-capacity, one-chip ROM is mounted. Storage area of the one-chi... | 07/06/1993 |
| 5192082 | TV game machine A locking groove extending in the horizontal direction is formed approximately at the center of a front surface of a cartridge. A power switch is turned on/off in response to an operation of a slide switch. When the power switch is turned on by the slide ... | 03/09/1993 |
| 5184830 | Compact hand-held video game system A hand-held electronic game machine for use with attachable/detachable memory game packs wherein the game machine includes a case of a size which may be held by a hand and capable of being sandwiched by both hands with a first switch disposed at a positio... | 02/09/1993 |
| 5161803 | Television game apparatus A television game set comprises an operation button used to operate a game, a game control section for controlling the game, a display section for displaying the progress of the game, and a connector to which either a game cartridge storing a game program... | 11/10/1992 |
| 5128863 | Clamping circuit for CMOS-input-type IC and power switching circuit An integrated circuit using, at least in its input end, a CMOS IC. This CMOS-input-type IC comprises an input terminal to which a signal is to be inputted, a switching signal terminal to which a switching signal for shifting from a main power source to a ... | 07/07/1992 |
| 5114157 | Game machine having plural display panel units and plural memory cartridges A TV game machine includes connectors for detachably connecting a plurality of memory cartridges each having at least non-volatile memories containing a game program, picture data and sound data, a cartridge selecting circuit for selectively accessing one... | 05/19/1992 |
| 5095798 | Electronic gaming device with pseudo-stereophonic sound generating capabilities An electronic gaming (e.g., video game) device includes a pseudo-stereo sound generator. Plural independent sound generating circuits produce audio signals under microcomputer control. The microcomputer may route the outputs of the plural sound generating... | 03/17/1992 |
| 5026051 | Sound imaging apparatus for a video game system A game software for a video game system includes sound positioning information that utilizes two spaced-apart speakers to give the player the impression that the sound is emanating from a location other than the actual speaker locations, for example, to t... | 06/25/1991 |
| 5014982 | Memory cartridge and game apparatus using the same A memory cartridge (10) is attachably/detachably loaded to a game machine (22) which includes a microprocessor (24) and a working RAM (26) provided in association with the microprocessor. When the memory cartridge is loaded to the game machine, a program ... | 05/14/1991 |
| 5004232 | Computer game cartridge security circuit A plug-in game cartridge, having a read-only-memory (ROM) that stores software of the game, also includes a security circuit that generates a signal which causes a host videographics console unit to accept it as authorized. The security circuit produces a... | 04/02/1991 |
| 4968030 | Electronic cribbage board and game scoring device An electronic card game scoring device which is used to eliminate tedious and error-prone mental calculations in scoring and recording games which provides graphic representations of symbols and characters pertinent to the type, status, and score of the g... | 11/06/1990 |
| 4905280 | High security videotext and videogame system A pay per use system allows the broadcast of television, videotext, and videogame programming all in the same system. The programming is broadcast in scrambled form with a broadcast signal imbedded in the program broadcast. The receiving station decoder h... | 02/27/1990 |
| 4890832 | Compact electronic apparatus with removable processing units A compact electronic apparatus comprises a main unit having at least a power supplying section and a display, at least one of several processing units having a key input section and a memory adapted to be removably attached to the main unit and a connecti... | 01/02/1990 |
| 4871176 | Gaming method and apparatus A gaming apparatus for use with prerecorded media or material, such as audio or video tape, to be selectively played through a conventional player/recorder, such as an audio or video tape player, is disclosed. The play of the prerecorded material in the c... | 10/03/1989 |
| 4868780 | Emulation circuit for interfacing joystick to ROM cartridge slot of computer A circuit providing a joystick interface to a computer. The circuit plugs into the cartridge slot of the computer and receives power from the computer. The circuit includes an analog interface circuit, a read only memory (ROM) containing both a machine la... | 09/19/1989 |
| 4865321 | Memory cartridge and information processor unit using such cartridge A cartridge for a gaming machine includes a case having tapered surface formed along a side edge of the rear face thereof which cooperates with a protrusion in the cartridge receiving tray in the gaming machine main unit to prevent an inverted insertion o... | 09/12/1989 |
| 4858930 | Game system A game system comprises a home video game machine in which a game is played and the ability of a character which appears in the game is calculated and set with the progress of the game in accordance with a predetermined home game program and a commercial ... | 08/22/1989 |
| 4768151 | Electronic bingo card manager An electronic device for managing at least two bingo cards. The device has stored standard card configurations which correspond to physical cards which have been selected by a player. Also stored are standard winning patterns. The processor compares "call... | 08/30/1988 |
| 4763300 | Front loading apparatus for a memory cartridge utilized for a data processing machine A front loading apparatus typically installed in a data processing machine for receiving a memory cartridge. The apparatus includes a frame disposed within the machine, and a tray pivotally mounted to the frame for rotation between a loading and an operat... | 08/09/1988 |
| 4662635 | Video game with playback of live events A video game in which a television screen or cathode ray tube is used to display a variety of plays previously preformed by living beings and recorded at the time on a video recording medium, such as video tape or video disks, the particular previously pe... | 05/05/1987 |
| 4628304 | System for generating tricolor video signals, such as a game, and a removable cartridge intended for such a system A system for generating color video signals, such as a game and a removable cartridge intended for such a system. Signal generating system comprising a storage cartridge (1), manual control (2), a data handling microprocessor (3), a main generator (4) for... | 12/09/1986 |