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EP0501456A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Video game computer provided with an optical disc drive

Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1992-02-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-02-26
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Abstract

Abstract A game computer (1) utilizes a 16-bit CPU and accepts either ROM game cartridges via a cartridge port (7) provided on an upper face thereof or optical disks via a disc drive (20) provided within the computer casing (2). The cartridge port (7) and the disc drive (20) may be configured in a variety of ways allowing various convenient and compact options for using and for manufacturing the unit. <IMAGE>

Inventors

  • 👤 Keiji Aramaki
  • 👤 Sadaaki Shinjo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 16:21
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/90; A63F13/92; A63F13/95; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G11; G11B; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043; G11B31/00; G11B33/00; G11B33/02; G11B33/06; G11B33/12; G11B33/121; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/20; A63F2300/206

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim 77 words
A video game computer comprising: a CPU; first receiving means (5, 7), associated with said CPU, for connectably receiving a first software medium; second receiving means (17, 20, 24), associated with said CPU, for connectably receiving a second software medium; control means (14, 15) allowing interactive use of said first or second software mediums; a casing (2), receiving at least said first receiving means (5, 7), said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) and said CPU therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 77 words
A video game computer comprising: a CPU; first receiving means (5, 7), associated with said CPU, for connectably receiving a first software medium; second receiving means (17, 20, 24), associated with said CPU, for connectably receiving a second software medium; control means (14, 15) allowing interactive use of said first or second software mediums; a casing (2), receiving at least said first receiving means (5, 7), said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) and said CPU therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 52 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing (2) further includes a substrate (4) for mounting said CPU and said first receiving means (5, 7), a chassis (3) for mounting said substrate (4) and a support framework (21) for mounting said second receiving means (17, 20, 24).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said first receiving means (5, 7) is a pin connector and said first software medium is a ROM cartridge compatible with said pin connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said first receiving means is a pin connector and said first software medium is an IC card compatible with said pin connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) is a disk drive and said second software medium is a disk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said disk drive is an optical disk drive (20) and said second software medium is an optical disk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said disk drive is a CD ROM disk drive and said second software medium is a ROM CD.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) is mounted in said casing (2) at a position below said first receiving means (5, 7).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein said second receiving means is mounted in said casing at a position above said first receiving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein said second receiving means is mounted in said casing at a position beside said first receiving means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 10, wherein said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) opens at a substantially vertical front face (2c) of said casing (2).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 10, wherein said second receiving means opens at a substantially vertical side face (2d) of said casing (2).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 52 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 12, wherein controller connectors (14, 16) are provided on the same substantially vertical face (2c, 2d) of said casing (2) as said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) at a position below said second receiving means (17, 20, 24).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 52 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 12, wherein controller connectors (14, 16) are provided on the same substantially vertical face (2c, 2d) of said casing (2) as said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) at a position above said second receiving means (17, 20, 24).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 46 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 12, wherein controller connectors (14, 16) are provided on a substantially vertical face (2d) of said casing (2) other than that (2c) on which said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) is provided.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 35 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 15, wherein said second receiving means (17, 20, 24) is associated with an eject button (18) for facilitating removal of said disk.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 16, wherein said CPU is a 16-bit CPU provided on a semiconductor chip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 39 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 17, wherein said control means include at least a power switch (12), a reset button (13), a cursor moving button (15a), and a play button (15b).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 43 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 18, wherein said reset button (13) and said power switch (12) are provided on an upper surface of said casing (2) and separated from said cursor moving button (15a) and said play button (15b).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 40 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 19, wherein said first receiving means (5, 7) is mounted on a top surface of said casing (2) for vertically mounting said first software medium when connected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 33 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 19, wherein said first and second receiving means are mounted so as to be longitudinally parallel within said casing (2).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 103 words
A video game computer comprising: a 16-bit CPU; a cartridge port (7) associated with said CPU for receiving ROM cartridges therein; an optical disk drive (20) associated with said CPU for receiving an optical disk therein; a casing (2) enclosing said cartridge port (7) and said optical disk drive (20) therein and having therein a substrate (4) for mounting said CPU and a connector (5) of said cartridge port; control means (15) for interactive control of software contained in said ROM cartridge or on said optical disk; connection means for connecting said video game computer (1) to display means for displaying software contents.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 103 words
A video game computer comprising: a 16-bit CPU; a cartridge port (7) associated with said CPU for receiving ROM cartridges therein; an optical disk drive (20) associated with said CPU for receiving an optical disk therein; a casing (2) enclosing said cartridge port (7) and said optical disk drive (20) therein and having therein a substrate (4) for mounting said CPU and a connector (5) of said cartridge port; control means (15) for interactive control of software contained in said ROM cartridge or on said optical disk; connection means for connecting said video game computer (1) to display means for displaying software contents.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 48 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 22, wherein said optical disk drive (20) is retained within said casing (2) on a support framework (21) formed so as to suitably position and secure said optical disk drive (20) relative other components contained in said casing (2).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 32 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 22 or 23, wherein said optical disk drive (20) is mounted in said casing (2) at a position below said cartridge port (7).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 34 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 22 or 23, wherein said optical disk drive (20) is mounted in said casing (2) at a position above said connector of said cartridge port.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 32 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 22 or 23, wherein said optical disk drive (20) is mounted in said casing (2) at a position beside said cartridge port (7).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 46 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 26, wherein said casing (2) is comprised of box-like upper and lower sections (2a, 2b), an upper edge of the lower section (2a) mating with a lower edge of the upper section (2b).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 32 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 22 to 27, wherein said optical disk drive (20) slidingly opens at a substantially vertical front face of said casing (2).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 30 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 22 to 27, wherein said optical disk drive (20) slidingly opens at a substantially vertical side face of said casing (2).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 41 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 29, wherein said control means is comprised of an external controller unit (15) which is detachably connected to said video game computer (1) via controller connectors (14, 16).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 31 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 30, wherein a plurality of controller connectors (14, 16) is provided for connection to a plurality of said external control units (15).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 47 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 30 or 31, wherein said controller connectors (14, 16) are provided on the same substantially vertical face (2c, 2d) of said casing (2) as said optical disk drive (20) at a position below said optical disk drive (20).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 46 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 30 or 31, wherein said controller connectors (14, 16) are provided on the same substantially vertical face (2c, 2d) of said casing (2) as said optical disk drive (20) at a position above said optical disk drive.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 42 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 30 or 31, wherein said controller connectors (14, 16) are provided on a substantially vertical face (2d) of said casing (2) other than that (2c) on which said optical disk drive (20) opens.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 39 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 34, wherein said first receiving means and said cartridge port (5, 7), respectively, are associated with an eject button (11) for facilitating removal of said cartridge.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 35 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 31, wherein said second receiving means and said optical disk drive (20), respectively, are associated with an eject button (18) for facilitating removal of said disk.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 37 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 36, wherein said control means include a power switch (12), a reset button (13), a cursor moving button (15a), and a play button (15b).
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 52 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 36, wherein a reset button (13) and a power switch (12) are provided on an upper surface of said casing (2) and a cursor moving button (15a) and a play button (15b) are provided on an external controller (15).
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 36 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 22 to 38, wherein said cartridge port is mounted on a top surface of said casing (2) for vertically mounting said ROM cartridge when connected.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 34 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 22 to 38, wherein said cartridge port and said optical disk drive are mounted so as to be longitudinally parallel within said casing.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 27 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 40, wherein said computer (1) is connectable to display means for displaying software contents.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 18 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 41, wherein said display means is a television set.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 18 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 41, wherein said display means is a video monitor.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 28 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 1 to 43, further including networking means for interconnecting said video game computer (1) with other computers.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 18 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 44, wherein said networking means is a telephone modem.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 21 words
A video game computer as set forth in claim 44 or 45, wherein said networking means is contained within said casing.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 33 words
A video game computer as set forth in anyone of claims 22 to 46, wherein said optical disk drive (20) is a CD ROM drive and said optical disk is a ROM CD.

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