External memory system having programmable graphics processor for use in a video game system or the like
Patent 6895470 Issued on May 17, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date: 
February 22, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
February 22, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesMemory cartridge for video game system Color image display apparatus with color palette before frame memory External memory having an authenticating processor and method of operating same Secured high throughput data channel for public broadcast system Digital sound source apparatus and external memory cartridge used therefor Method for coloring a polygon on a video display Patent #: 5415549 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 09789574 filed on 02/22/2001US Classes:711/115, Detachable memory463/32, Three-dimensional characterization463/44, Cartridge345/419Three-dimensionExaminersPrimary: Kim, MatthewAssistant: Choi, Woo H. Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesG06F012/00A63F013/00 G06T015/00 AbstractA fully programmable, graphics microprocessor is disclosed which is designed to be 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 pluggable video game cartridge housing the graphics microprocessor. The game cartridge also includes a read-only program memory (ROM) and a random-access memory (RAM). The graphics coprocessor operates in conjunction with a three bus architecture embodied on the game cartridge. The graphics processor using this bus architecture may execute programs from either the program ROM, external RAM or its own internal cache RAM. The fully user programmable graphics coprocessor has an instruction set which is designed to efficiently implement arithmetic operations associated with 3-D graphics and, for example, includes special instructions executed by dedicated hardware for plotting individual pixels in the host video game system's character mapped display which, from the programmer's point of view, creates a “virtual” bit map by permitting the addressing of individual pixels—even though the host system is character based. The graphics coprocessor interacts with the host coprocessor such that the graphics coprocessor's 16 general registers are accessible to the host processor at all times.Other References
Field of SearchFor multiple memory modules (e.g., banks, interleaved memory)Detachable memory Data storage or retrieval (e.g., memory, video tape, etc.) Cartridge Microprocessor or multichip or multimodule processor having sequential program control Application specific COMPUTER GRAPHIC PROCESSING SYSTEM Plural graphics processors Pipeline processors Integrated circuit (e.g., single chip semiconductor device) Interface (e.g., controller) | |
