US3921161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preprogrammed television gaming system
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-22
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for playing games on the cathode ray tube screen of a television receiver is disclosed comprising a gaming device having components for providing location controllable spots on the screen, a source of prerecorded modulated audio frequency control signals, and means for demodulating those control signals and for supplying them to selected gaming device components to thereby provide gaming capabilities where the progress of a game is in part controlled by the recorded signals and in part controlled by the actions of a player. The signal source may be a magnetic tape or record/disc player and a selected prerecorded game tape or disc with control signals recorded thereon as a plurality of modulated audio frequency signals to thereby allow signal separation based on frequency and waveform control techniques and subsequent demodulation of each so separated carrier to provide a plurality of control signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph H Baer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:49
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/80; A63F13/837; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for playing games on the screen of a cathode ray tube comprising: means for generating on the screen a first spot having a plurality of visible variables associated therewith and representing a first moving game pLaying object; means for generating on the screen a second spot having a plurality of visible variables associated therewith and representing a second moving game playing object; player actuable means for controlling at least one variable of at least one of the spots; and prerecorded means having control signals recorded thereon in the form of a modulated audio frequency signal for automatically controlling at least one variable of at least one of the spots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for playing games on the screen of a cathode ray tube comprising: means for generating on the screen a first spot having a plurality of visible variables associated therewith and representing a first moving game pLaying object; means for generating on the screen a second spot having a plurality of visible variables associated therewith and representing a second moving game playing object; player actuable means for controlling at least one variable of at least one of the spots; and prerecorded means having control signals recorded thereon in the form of a modulated audio frequency signal for automatically controlling at least one variable of at least one of the spots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first mentioned at least one variable is distinct from the last mentioned at least one variable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the prerecorded means comprises a magnetic recording member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio frequency signal is frequency modulated and further comprising a discriminator for demodulating the audio frequency signal and providing output control signals to at least one of the means for generating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio frequency signal is amplitude modulated and further comprising demodulator means responsive to the amplitude modulated signal for supplying control signals to at least one of the means for generating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio frequency signal is pulse width modulated and further comprising demodulator means responsive to the pulse width modulated signal for supplying control signals to at least one of the means for generating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio frequency signal is pulse position modulated and further comprising demodulator means responsive to the pulse position modulated signal for supplying control signals to at least one of the means for generating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pluralities of visible variables include spot intensity and spot position both as functions of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cathode ray tube is a television cathode ray tube and wherein said prerecorded means is coupled to a cooperative television station transmitter to present background sots for interacting with spots generated at the site of said television cathode ray tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the prerecorded means comprises a record/disc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control signals are recorded on the prerecorded means in the form of a plurality of modulated audio frequency signals, further comprising a like plurality of demodulator means and means for separating the plurality of audio frequency signals and for supplying one audio frequency signal to each demodulator means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the prerecorded means includes at least two tracks and further comprising a frequency modulatable oscillator responsive to signals on one track, and means for presenting the oscillator output to antenna terminals of a television receiver as an audio subcarrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the prerecorded means has one track with multiplexed control signals and related audio accompaniment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for playing games on the screen of a cathode ray tube comprising: means for generating and displaying on the screen at least one game spot having a plurality of visible variables associated therewith; player actuable means coupled to said means for generating for controlling at least one of the variables; and prerecorded means having control signals recorded thereon in the form of a modulated audio frequency signal coupled to said means for generating for automatically controlling at least one of the variables to thereby allow active participation by a player in determining the progress of a game while a part of the progress of the game is predetermined by the prerecorded means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for playing games on the screen of a cathode ray tube comprising: means for generating and displaying on the screen at least one game spot having a plurality of visible variables associated therewith; player actuable means coupled to said means for generating for controlling at least one of the variables; and prerecorded means having control signals recorded thereon in the form of a modulated audio frequency signal coupled to said means for generating for automatically controlling at least one of the variables to thereby allow active participation by a player in determining the progress of a game while a part of the progress of the game is predetermined by the prerecorded means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerecorded means comprises a magnetic recording member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerecorded means comprises one track of a dual track magnetic recording membEr and further comprising means including the other track of the magnetic recording member for providing audible game related signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the means for providing audible game related signals includes a frequency modulated oscillator responsive to signals on the said other track for providing an output and means for presenting the oscillator output to antenna terminals of a television receiver as an audio subcarrier signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said magnetic recording member is a single track and wherein audible game related signals are recorded on said single track restricted to a frequency less than 2700 hertz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerecorded means comprises recording means for supplying prerecorded control signals modulated on at least one audio frequency carrier signal and demodulating means responsive to the recording means for supplying the control signals as an output.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for generating comprises a source of horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals and a plurality of spot generators responsive to the synchronizing signal source, there being one generator for each spot to be displayed, each generator comprising voltage controllable delay means for delaying the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals and amount determined by control voltages and means for combining the thus delayed signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least two spots are displayed, said player actuable means adapted to control at least one component of the location on the screen of one of the spots and said prerecorded means adapted to control at least one component of the location on the screen of the other of the spots.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerecorded means comprises a record/disc.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control signals are recorded on the prerecorded means in the form of a plurality of modulated audio frequency signals, and further comprising a like plurality of demodulator means and means for separating the plurality of audio frequency signals and for supplying one audio frequency signal to each demodulator means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerecorded means includes at least two tracks and further comprising a frequency modulatable oscillator responsive to signals on one track, and means for presenting the oscillator output to antenna terminals of a television receiver as an audio subcarrier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the prerecorded means has one track with multiplexed control signals and related audio accompaniment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |