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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus having a game function
wherein a video apparatus and an electronic game device are integrally
combined as a single product, each sharing a common circuit, and more
particularly, to a video apparatus having a game function which allows a
video apparatus such as a video cassette recorder (VCR) or television (TV)
receiver and a game device to be used at the same time.
Conventionally, a video apparatus such as a VCR or TV receiver and a game
device are each separately used as individual products. These individual
products are independently connected to a monitor to be used as necessary.
For example, a combined structure of a video apparatus and an electronic
game device will be described with reference to FIG. 1, which is
constituted by a remote-controlled receiver 1 for controlling a video
cassette recorder (VCR) remotely, a microcomputer 2 for receiving a signal
from the remote-controlled receiver 1 and a system control signal and then
performing a record and reproduction of a video signal, a playback 3 for
being controlled by the microcomputer 2 and then performing a record and
reproduction of a video signal, a modulator 4 for modulating and
outputting the output of the playback or antennae reception signal ANT, a
VCR power source 5 for supplying power to the remote-controlled receiver
1, microcomputer 2, playback 3 and modulator 4, a game unit 6 for
receiving a control signal for a game device and then performing a
predetermined electronic game program, a modulator 7 for modulating and
outputting an output signal of the game unit 6, a game power source 8 for
supplying power to the game unit 6 and modulator 7, and a switch 9 for
selectively supplying to a monitor the outputs of the modulators 4 and 7.
The conventional VCR and game device having the aforementioned
configurations which are independent from each other, are operated by the
microcomputers 2 and 6 which are their respective processors. Their output
signals are also modulated by the respective modulators 4 and 7 to then be
output, and power is supplied independently from the respective power
sources 5 and 8 to operate the devices. That is for a VCR, an user's key
instruction received from the remote-controlled receiver 1 and a system
control signal are decoded in the microcomputer 2 to control the playback
3. The playback 3 performs record and reproduction of a video signal under
the control of microcomputer 2. A signal received from antennae ANT or a
signal output from the playback 3 is modulated by the modulator 4 to then
be supplied to one input port of the switch 9. At this time, power of the
respective circuits 1, 2, 3 and 4 is supplied from a VCR dedicated power
source 5.
Meanwhile, for a game device, a control signal for a game device is applied
from a handset for performing a game on the game unit 6. Game unit 6
performs an electronic game program according to the input signal to then
output a video signal. The output video signal is modulated by the
modulator 7 to then be supplied to another input port of the switch 9. At
this time, power of the respective circuits 6 and 7 is supplied from the
game device dedicated power source 8.
As described above, the video signal output from the VCR or the game device
is selectively supplied to a monitor by the selection depending on a
user's manipulation of the switch 9, so that an image is displayed.
However, as described above, the conventional video apparatus and
electronic game device are each independently produced as separate
products, and the signals output from the two devices are selected by a
user's switch manipulation to be supplied to a monitor. This involves
problems such as heavy economic burden for buying the respective devices,
inconvenience in selecting and manipulating devices, and low efficiency of
utilizing circuits due to separate installments of processor, modulator or
power source which can be all commonly used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a single product
combining a video apparatus and a game device by jointly having a
processor, modulator and power source and by selectively supplying the
outputs to a monitor in response to a user's selection, and a video
apparatus having a game function which can save buying cost and improve
utility efficiency by simplifying the circuit thereof.
To accomplish the above object, the video apparatus according to a first
embodiment of the present invention, is comprised of a remote-controlled
transmitter for transmitting a remote control signal with respect to a VCR
mode and a game mode, a remote-controlled receiver for receiving a remote
control signal of the remote-controlled transmitter, a decoder for
decoding a control signal received from the remote-controlled receiver, an
encoder for encoding the output of the decoder in case of a game mode, a
microcomputer for controlling record/reproduction of a video signal in the
case of a VCR mode, or for controlling the output of the decoder to be
transmitted to the encoder in case of a game mode, when the output of the
decoder is interpreted, a game signal processor for performing an
electronic game program by a game control signal encoded by the encoder
and then outputting a video signal, a video signal processor for
reproducing/outputting or recording/processing the video signal under the
control of the microcomputer, a selection unit for selecting and
outputting the output of the game signal processor or video signal
processor under the control of the microcomputer, and a RF modulator for
modulating a signal selected and output from the selection unit.
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the video
apparatus further comprises a switch connected between the
remote-controlled receiver and encoder for being turned on and off,
thereby controlling a video signal to be recorded/reproduced in case of a
VCR mode, or controlling switch to be turned on in case of a game mode,
when the output of the decoder is interpreted by the microcomputer.
According to a third embodiment of the present invention, the video
apparatus further comprises a plurality of game signal processors each
being packaged and able to be separated from and combined with the main
circuit unit. If a user selects and combines one of the plurality of game
signal processors with the main circuit unit, an electronic game program
is performed by the game control signal and the video signal for amusement
is then output.
The video apparatus further comprises a plurality of encoders (one encoder
in a first embodiment). Among the plurality of encoders, the corresponding
encoder encodes and outputs the output of the decoder so that the game
signal processor is combined with the main circuit unit among the
plurality of game signal processors, in case of a game mode. Also,
according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the
microcomputer of the first embodiment controls record/reproduction of a
video signal in case of a VCR mode when the output of the decoder is
interpreted, or processes the output of the decoder via the encoder
corresponding to game signal processor which is selected by the user and
is combined, among the plurality of encoders, in case of a game mode.
The video apparatus according to a fourth embodiment further includes a
switch between remote-controlled receiver and plurality of encoders, as in
the third embodiment, and allows the microcomputer to control the switch
so that the corresponding encoder among the plurality of encoders is
selected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with
reference to the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the connection of a conventional VCR
and a game device.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a VCR having a game function according to
the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a VCR having a game
function according to the present invention.
FIGS. 4A-4D are waveform diagrams showing remote control signals adopted
for the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of a VCR having a
game function according to the present invention.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams showing third and fourth embodiments
respectively of a VCR having a game function according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, the configuration of the video apparatus having a game
function according to the present invention and the operations thereof
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a VCR having a game function.
Referring to FIG. 2, the VCR having a game function comprises a video
cassette Recorder(VCR) part 100 for recording or reproducing a video
signal from an external input terminal or an antenna,
a game signal processing part 200 for executing a game program to process a
video signal for a game and then output the processed video signal from
the game,
a remote-controlled transmitter 300 for transmitting a remote control
signal for VCR mode or game mode from a remote place,
a remote-controlled receiver 400 for receiving the remote control signal
from the remote-controlled transmitter 300,
a control part 500 for controlling the VCR part 100 or the game signal
processing part 200 in accordance with the remote control signal from the
remote controlled receiver 400,
a RF modulator 600 for modulating a reproduced video signal from the VCR
part 100 or a video signal from the game from the game signal processing
part 200, and
a selection unit 700 for selecting one of the reproduced video signals from
the VCR part 100 and the game signal processing part 200 and providing the
selected one to the RF modulator 600.
FIG. 3 also shows a first embodiment of the present invention where the
apparatus according to the present invention is adopted for a VCR.
Referring to FIG. 3, a VCR having a game function according to the present
invention includes a remote-controlled transmitter 10 for transmitting a
remote control signal for a VCR mode or game mode, a remote-controlled
receiver 11 for receiving the remote control signal from the
remote-controlled transmitter 10, a decoder 12 for decoding the control
signal received via the remote-controlled receiver 11, an encoder 13 for
encoding the output of the decoder 12 in case of a game mode, a
microcomputer 14 for switching the output of the decoder 12 to control
record/reproduction of the video signal, in case of a VCR mode when the
output of the decoder 12 is interpreted, or to transmit the output of the
decoder 12 to the encoder 13, in case of a game mode, a game signal
processor 15 for performing an electronic game program by a control signal
with respect to the game mode encoded by the encoder 13 and for outputting
a video signal for amusement, a VCR part 16 for reproducing the signal
under the control of the microcomputer 14 and to output the same or for
record processing the same, a selection unit 17 for selecting the output
of the VCR part 16 and outputting the same, a RF modulator 18 for
modulating a signal selected and output by the selection unit 17, a power
source 19 for supplying power to the respective parts of the circuit, and
an on screen display 20 for forming an on screen display screen and
outputting the same via the selection unit 17 by the control of the
microcomputer 14. Referring to FIG. 3, the control part 500 of FIG. 2
comprises the decoder 12, the encoder 13 and the microcomputer 14.
At this time, the remote-controlled transmitter 10 includes a VCR key unit
10A for a VCR control and a game key unit 10B for a game control, or
includes a mode selection key 10C for selecting a VCR mode or a game mode.
The operation of the VCR having a game function according to an embodiment
of the present invention, having the aforementioned configuration, will
now be described.
If a user manipulates a key of the remote controlled transmitter 10 to
transmit a remote control signal, remote controlled receiver 11 receives
the signal and transmits it to the decoder 12. Decoder 12 decodes the
signal and transmits it to the microcomputer 14. Microcomputer 14
interprets the received key code values and determines whether it is a VCR
mode or a game mode.
Remote controlled transmitter 10 transmits a remote controlled signal
representing a VCR mode and a remote controlled signal representing a game
mode in a different way, so that the microcomputer 14 can determine
whether the received value is VCR mode or game mode.
That is as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, if VCR mode control signal and game
mode control signal are transmitted with different pulsewidths, the
decoder 12 checks a duty of the input control signal, turns it into a
logic depending on duty value and then transmits to the microcomputer 14.
Microcomputer 14 receives the same and determines whether it is a VCR mode
or a game mode.
Also, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, if VCR mode control signal and game mode
control signal are transmitted with their pulthwidths being differently,
the decoder 12 counts the number of pulse of the input control signal,
turns this into a logic depending on counted value, and then transmits to
microcomputer 14. Thus, the microcomputer 14 receives the signal and can
determine whether the mode is a VCR mode or a game mode.
If the value is a key code value pressed via the VCR key unit 10A, or a VCR
mode selected key code value selected through the mode selection key 10C
as shown in the configuration of the remote controlled transmitter 10A,
the microcomputer 14 controls the VCR part 16 by the operation
corresponding to the code value according to the configuration of the
remote controlled transmitter 10, and performs the video signal processing
of the VCR. At the same time the microcomputer switches the selection unit
17 for record and reproduction to transmit the video signal output from
the VCR part 16 to the RF demodulator 18. As the result of the
determination, if the value is a key code value pressed via the game key
unit 10b, or a key code value by which a game mode is selected by the
selection of the mode selection key 10C, the microcomputer 14 controls the
VCR part 16 by the operation corresponding to the code value according to
the configuration of the remote controlled transmitter 10, and performs
the video signal processing of the VCR. At the same time, the
microcomputer switches the selection unit 17 for record and reproduction
to transmit the video signal output from the VCR part 16 to transmit to
the RF demodulator 18.
Encoder 13 performs an encoding process with respect to the game control
signal transmitted from decoder 12 for converting the game control signal
into that of the control method, code, type or speed of the game signal
processor 15 to thereby allow the game signal processor 15 to recognize
the game signal.
Game signal processor 15 performs an electronic game program according to
the control of the encoded game control signal to transmit a video signal
to switching unit 15 so that the signal is modulated by the RF modulator
18.
The required power is supplied to the respective parts of circuit from one
power source 19. Meanwhile, as the result of interpretation of key code
values of the microcomputer 14, if the on screen display is necessary, the
on screen display 20 is controlled to form an on screen picture, and the
selection unit 17 is switched to the on screen display 20 so that the
video signal of the on screen picture is output.
As described above, the video signal selected by the selection unit 17
under the control of the microcomputer 14 is output via audio/video jack
or is modulated by the RF modulator 18 to then be supplied to TV set,
thereby enabling an user's selected function, i.e., VCR or game screen, to
be output as a TV screen.
FIG. 5 is a second embodiment for which the apparatus according to the
present invention is adopted. An on/off switch S1 is connected between the
remote controlled receiver 11 and encoder 13 shown in FIG. 3 and is
on/off-controlled by the microcomputer 14. The operation of on/off switch
S1 will now be described. Referring to FIG. 5, the control part 500
comprises the decoder 12, the encoder 13, the microcomputer 14 and the
switch S1.
First, a user manipulates keys of the remote controlled transmitter 10 to
transmit a remote control signal and the remote controlled receiver 11
receives and transmit the signal to the decoder 12. Then, the decoder 12
decodes the signal to transmit it to the microcomputer 14. Microcomputer
14 interprets the input key value and determines whether it is a VCR mode
or a game mode.
If the result value determined by the microcomputer 14 is a key code value
with respect to a VCR mode, the operation of the VCR mode described in
FIG. 3 is controlled. If the result value determined by the microcomputer
14 is a key code value with respect to a game mode, the switch S1 is
turned on and the selection unit 17 is controlled at the same time. Thus,
the selection unit 17 is switched to the game signal processor 15.
Therefore, in case of a game mode, the game control signal received from
the remote controlled receiver 11 is directly transmitted to the encoder
13 and is converted into a signal which can be recognized by the game
signal processor 15 by means of the encoder 13. Game signal processor 15
performs an electronic game program by the control of the game control
signal to transmit a video signal to the selection unit 17.
As in the first embodiment of the present invention, the remote controlled
transmitter 10 transmits remote control signal with its pulsewidths or the
number of pulse being made differently, or is constituted by a VCR key
unit 10A and a game key unit 10B, or a mode selection key 10C, in a second
embodiment.
Also, in the case where game signal processor 15 is packaged, a connector
which can be detached from and attached to the main circuit unit is linked
between packaged game signal processor 15 and encoder 13, thereby allowing
a game device to attach to or detach from the main circuit unit easily.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show third and fourth embodiments of the present invention
and further include a plurality of encoders 13, as compared to
configurations shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The reason for such a configuration
is that since the game signal processor 15 is different in control method,
code, type or speed for the respective game manufacturers, such as
Nintendo, Sega, or Namco, the game control signal output from the decoder
12 shown in FIG. 3 and the game control signal output from the remote
controlled receiver 11 shown in FIG. 5 should be encoded to be suitably
recognized by the game signal processors 15a produced by the respective
manufacturers.
That is to say, encoders 13a, 13b and 13c for encoding the game control
signals output from the decoder 12 are adapted to be recognized by the
game signal processors 15a, 15b and 15c manufactured by Nintendo, Sega and
Namco, respectively.
At this time, the aforementioned game signal processors 15, 15b and 15c are
connected with each output port of the encoders 13a, 13b and 13c by a
connector so as to be detachable and attachable when a user selects and
connects one of the game signal processors 15a, 15b and 15c of the
respective manufacturers. Referring to FIG. 6A, the control part(500) of
FIG. 2 comprises the decoder 12, three encoders 13a, 13b, 13c and the
microcomputer 14.
Referring to FIG. 6B, the control part 500 of FIG. 2 comprises the decoder
12, three encoders 13a, 13b, 13c, the microcomputer 14 and the switch S1.
The third and fourth embodiments of the present invention having the
aforementioned configuration will now be described.
First, FIG. 6A showing a third embodiment of the present invention will be
explained. A user manipulates keys of the remote controlled transmitter 10
to transmit a remote control signal. The remote control signal is
transmitted together with data for allowing the microcomputer 14 to
determine whether the mode is a VCR mode or a game mode, and further data
telling which manufacturer's product is adopted for the game mode, in case
of a game mode.
Remote control receiver 11 receives the remote control signal and transmits
it to the decoder 12. Decoder 12 decodes the signal and transmits it to
the microcomputer 14. Microcomputer 14 interprets an input key code value
and controls the VCR mode operation described in FIG. 2 if the input value
represents a VCR mode. However, if the input value represents a game mode,
the microcomputer 14 detects which manufacturer's product is used as the
game signal processor 15.
If the user connects the game signal processor 15a by Nintendo to the
output ports of the encoder 13, the microcomputer 14 switches the output
of the decoder 12 so as to be transmitted to encoder 13a, and switches
selection unit 17 to the game signal processor 15a.
Encoder 13a performs an encoding operation by which the game control signal
transmitted from the decoder 12 is converted into that by the control
method, code, type or speed of the game control signal processor 15a by
Nintendo, to transmit to the game signal processor 15a by Nintendo.
Therefore, the game signal processor 15a by Nintendo performs an electronic
game program under the control of the encoded game control signal and
transmits to a video signal to the selection unit 17.
Similarly, if the user connects the game signal processor 15b by Sega, to
the output ports of the encoder 13, the microcomputer 14 switches the
output of the decoder 12 so as to be transmitted to the encoder 13b, and
switches the selection unit 17 to the game signal processor 15b. If the
user connects the game signal processor 15c by Namco, to the output ports
of the encoder 13, the microcomputer 14 switches the output of the decoder
12 so as to be transmitted to the encoder 13c, and switches selection unit
17 to the game signal processor 15c. Thus, the game control signal is
encoded to be suitable for each product of the respective manufacturers by
the encoders 13b and 13c.
FIG. 6B showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be
explained.
If the user manipulates keys of the remote controlled transmitter 10 to
transmit data representing a game mode and data regarding the
manufacturers of the products which is adopted for the game mode, together
with a remote control signal, remote controlled receiver 11 receives the
data and transmits it to the decoder 12.
Decoder 12 decodes the signal transmits it to the microcomputer 14.
Microcomputer 14 interprets the input key value. Then, if the result value
is a game mode of the game signal processor 15a manufactured by Nintendo,
the microcomputer 14 switches the switch S1 so that the output of the
remote controlled receiver 11 is transmitted to the encoder 13a. If the
result value is a game mode of the game signal processor 15b or 15c
manufactured by Sega or Namco, respectively, the microcomputer 14 switches
the switch S1 so that the output of the remote controlled receiver 11 is
transmitted to the encoder 13b or 13c respectively, and controls the
selection unit 17 at the same time so that it is switched to the
appropiate game signal processor 15a, 15b or 15c.
In the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention, as in the
first embodiment of the present invention, the remote controlled
transmitter 10 transmits remote control signals with the pulsewidths
thereof or number of pulses thereof being made differently, or is
constituted by a VCR key unit 10A and a game key unit 10B, or a mode
selection key 10C, in order to differentiate a VCR mode and game mode.
The aforementioned embodiments show the adoption of the apparatus according
to the present invention to a VCR. However, the same can apply for a
television receiver.
Therefore, since one single product according to the present invention has
the effect of purchasing the electronic game devices manufacturered by
various manufacturers, the cost can be reduced. Also, since the selection
of a video apparatus like a VCR or television receiver, or a game device
is automatically accomplished by a microcomputer of the video apparatus,
it is convenient to use. Moreover, since a processor, power circuit or
modulating circuit are used in common, the circuit becomes simplified.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Therefore, unless such changes depart from the scope of the invention
as defined by this specification and claims, they should be construed as
being included herein.
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