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:
Apr. 01, 1986
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1983
Charles B Heffron, Knoxville, TN (US);
North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A video game device for use with a conventional television receiver includes microprocessor-based game control circuitry for generating audio and video signals in accordance with a series of digital instructions contained in a removable game cartridge. A signal provided by an RF generator within the game device is modulated by the audio and video signals to produce an RF output signal for application to the television receiver. A switch responsive to the presence of a game cartridge in the game unit supplies electrical power to the game control circuitry independently of power supplied to the RF generator. The switch reacts to disengaging movement of the game cartridge to remove power from the cartridge during such movement to prevent electrical damage to the cartridge and game control circuitry. Current continues to be supplied to the RF generator in the absence of the cartridge to prevent objectionable audio and video noise signals from appearing at the output of the television receiver.