Video image positioning control system for amusement device

Claim 2

In a video image control system for causing a video image to be displayed on a video display tube and caused to travel selectively thereon in a plurality of directions, said system including a pulse-generating clock means for generating a continuous stream of signals at a predetermined frequency, first counting means coupled to count said signals and to provide a first output signal upon attainment of a predetermined count and a second output signal upon attainment of a multiple of said predetermined count, a video adder of a type for receiving and combining horizontal sync pulses, vertical sync pulses, and information signals to provide a composite video signal to be coupled to the video display tube, means for supplying said first and second output signals to said adder to function as horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively, second counting means coupled to count said clock signals and to provide a third output pulse therefrom upon attainment of a given predetermined count and a fourth output pulse upon attainment of a multiple of said given predetermined count, means for generating an infoRmation signal in response to the conjoint occurrence of both said given predetermined counts, and means for supplying said information signal to said video adder to provide the composite video signal thereof with an information portion to be displayed, and means for selectively varying said given counts with respect to the first named said predetermined counts to relatively displace the information signal with respect to the positioning of said horizontal and vertical sync pulses thereby moving said image in a direction determined by the relative difference between said predetermined counts and said given counts.

Claim 3

In a video image control system according to claim 1 wherein the last named means includes means for selectively varying both of said given counts.

Claim 4

In a video image control system according to claim 1 wherein said second counting means includes first and second predetermined counters, and means coupled to said first and second counters serving to preset a selected initial count therein to initiate the count thereof at one of a number of selected counts displaced in time with respect to said predetermined counts of the first named said counting means so as to relatively displace the information signal with respect to the occurrence of said horizontal and vertical sync pulses.

Claim 5

In a video image control system for causing a video image to be displayed on a video display tube and caused to travel selectively in various directions thereon, said system including pulse-generating clock means for generating a continuous stream of signals at a predetermined frequency, a first counting means comprising first and second predetermined counters, said first predetermined counter being coupled to receive and count pulses from said clock means to provide a first output signal upon attainment of a predetermined count therein, said second predetermined counter being coupled to count said first output signals and to provide a second output signal upon counting a multiple of said first output signal, a video adder of a type for receiving and combining horizontal sync pulses, vertical sync pulses, and information signals to provide a composite video signal to be coupled to the video display tube, means for supplying said first and second output signals to said adder to function as horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively, second counting means comprising first and second predetermined counters, said first counter of said second counting means being coupled to count said clock signal to provide a third output signal upon attainment of a predetermined given count, said second counter of said second counting means being coupled to count said third output signals and to provide a fourth output signal upon counting a multiple of said third output signal, means responsive to conjoint occurrence of said third and fourth output signals for generating an information signal, means for supplying said information signal to said video adder to provide the composite video signal with information to be displayed, and means for selectively varying the count of one of said first predetermined counters with respect to the other of said first predetermined counters to relatively displace the information signal along an axis on said display tube, and means for selectively varying the count of one of said second predetermined counters with respect to the other of said second predetermined counters to relatively displace the information signal along another axis on said display tube extending substantially perpendicular to the first named axis.

Claim 6

In a video image control system for causing a video image to be displayed on a video display tube and caused to travel selectively in various directions thereon, said system including pulse-generating clock means for generating a continuous stream of signals at a predetermined frequency, a first counting means comprising first and second predetermined counters, said first predetermined counter being coupled to receive and count pulses from said clock means to provide a first output signal upon attainment of a predetermined count therein, said second predetermined counter being coupled to count said first output signals and to provide a second output signal upon counting a multiple of said first output signal, a video adder of a type for receiving and combining horizontal sync pulses, vertical sync pulses, and information signals to provide a composite video signal to be coupled to the video display tube, means for supplying said first and second output signals to said adder to function as horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively, second counting means comprising first and second predetermined counters, said first counter of said second counting means being coupled to count said clock signal to provide a third output signal upon attainment of a predetermined given count, said second counter of said second counting means being coupled to count said third output signals and to provide a fourth output signal upon counting a multiple of said third output signal, means responsive to conjoint occurrence of said third and fourth output signals for generating an information signal, means for supplying said information signal to said video adder to provide the composite video signal with information to be displayed, and means for selectively varying the count of one of said first predetermined counters with respect to the other of said first predetermined counters to relatively displace the information signal along an axis on said display tube, and means for selectively varying the count of one of said second predetermined counters with respect to the other of said second predetermined counters to relatively displace the information signal along another axis on said display tube extending substantially perpendicular to the first named axis.

Claim 7

In a video image control system for causing a video image to be displayed on a video display tube and caused to travel selectively thereon in a plurality of directions, said system including pulse-generating clock means for generating a continuous stream of signals at a predetermined frequency, first counting means coupled to count said signals and to provide a first output signal upon attainment of a predetermined count and a seCond output signal upon attainment of a multiple of said predetermined count, a video adder of a type for receiving and combining horizontal sync pulses, vertical sync pulses, and information signals to provide a composite video signal to be coupled to the video display tube, means for supplying said first and second output signals to said adder to function as horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively, second counting means operatively coupled to count said clock signals and to provide a third output pulse therefrom upon attainment of a given predetermined count and a fourth output pulse upon attainment of a multiple of said given predetermined count, means for generating an information signal in response to the conjoint occurrence of both said given predetermined counts, means for supplying said information signal to said video adder to provide the composite video signal thereof with information to be displayed, and means for selectively varying the count of one of said counting means with respect to the count of the other counting means to relatively displace said information signal along an axis on said video display tube.

Claim 8

In a video image control system for causing a video image to be displayed on a video display tube and caused to travel selectively thereon in a plurality of directions, said system including pulse-generating clock means for generating a continuous stream of signals at a predetermined frequency, first counting means coupled to count said signals and to provide a first output signal upon attainment of a predetermined count and a seCond output signal upon attainment of a multiple of said predetermined count, a video adder of a type for receiving and combining horizontal sync pulses, vertical sync pulses, and information signals to provide a composite video signal to be coupled to the video display tube, means for supplying said first and second output signals to said adder to function as horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively, second counting means operatively coupled to count said clock signals and to provide a third output pulse therefrom upon attainment of a given predetermined count and a fourth output pulse upon attainment of a multiple of said given predetermined count, means for generating an information signal in response to the conjoint occurrence of both said given predetermined counts, means for supplying said information signal to said video adder to provide the composite video signal thereof with information to be displayed, and means for selectively varying the count of one of said counting means with respect to the count of the other counting means to relatively displace said information signal along an axis on said video display tube.