Chroma and luminance signal generator for video games

Claim 2

In a video game, having a game marker generator for generating a video signal for representing a game marker to be displayed on a television receiver, a luminance and chroma signal generator comprising: a. an oscillator means having a signal at a frequency of substantially 3.579545 MHz; b. means for combining said oscillator signal with a d.c. voltage, said d.c. voltage representing a luminance level; and c. means for switching said combined oscillator signal and d.c. voltage combination in response to said video signal whereby said switched signal comprises a chroma and luminance signal.

Claim 3

In a video game wherein a plurality of game markers are represented by a plurality of video signals referenced to vertical and horizontal sync pulses, a circuit for providing chroma and luminance signals for each game marker comprising: a. a 3.579545 MHz oscillator having a plurality of output signals, each of said output signals having a different phase; b. means for combining a d.c. voltage with each of said output signals to provide a plurality of combined signals whereby said d.c. voltage establishes the luminance level and said output signal establishes the color of a game marker; and c. means for switching each of said combined signals in response to each of said video signals, whereby each of said switched signals comprises a chroma and luminance signal for each of said video signals.

Claim 4

In a video game wherein a plurality of game markers are represented by a plurality of video signals referenced to vertical and horizontal sync pulses, a circuit for providing chroma and luminance signals for each game marker comprising: a. a 3.579545 MHz oscillator having a plurality of output signals, each of said output signals having a different phase; b. means for combining a d.c. voltage with each of said output signals to provide a plurality of combined signals whereby said d.c. voltage establishes the luminance level and said output signal establishes the color of a game marker; and c. means for switching each of said combined signals in response to each of said video signals, whereby each of said switched signals comprises a chroma and luminance signal for each of said video signals.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for generating a burst signal in response to a delayed horizontal sync signal.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for selectably changing the phase of said combined signal whereby the color of said game marker is changed.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for generating a burst signal comprises a switching means for receiving the combination of a substantially 3.579545 MHz signal and d.c. voltage, said switching means being activated by a delayed sync pulse.

Claim 8

In a video game having at least one game marker generator, said game marker generator producing a video signal for determining the location and geometry of a game marker, a chroma and luminance signal generator comprising: a. means for generating a plurality of signals having a frequency of 3.579545 MHz, each of said signals having a different phase; b. means for combining each of said signals with a d.c. voltage; c. a plurality of switches for controlling each of said oscillator signals having a d.c. voltage associated therewith; and d. means for selectively applying said video signal to one of said switches whereby said switch is activated in response to said video signal.

Claim 9

In a video game having at least one game marker generator, said game marker generator producing a video signal for determining the location and geometry of a game marker, a chroma and luminance signal generator comprising: a. means for generating a plurality of signals having a frequency of 3.579545 MHz, each of said signals having a different phase; b. means for combining each of said signals with a d.c. voltage; c. a plurality of switches for controlling each of said oscillator signals having a d.c. voltage associated therewith; and d. means for selectively applying said video signal to one of said switches whereby said switch is activated in response to said video signal.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 whereby said means for selectively activating one of said gates is controlled by the occurrence of a game event whereby the color of said game marker changes in response to said game event.