The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 1979
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1977
David R Stubben, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Atari, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A voltage controlled oscillator having a substantially linear output over a wide range is used in video games to address picture memory means to thereby determine the size of the objects displayed on a raster type video screen. The oscillator produces an output signal having a frequency determined by an analog input voltage which is proportional to the desired size of the objects. The oscillator includes a variable current source controlled by the analog input voltage which stores charge in a capacitor. A pair of AND gates sink charge from the capacitor as determined by threshold means which senses the stored voltage. The periodic change in the output of the threshold means constitutes the output signal.