US 6,022,274 A · Video game system using memory module

Abstract

A video game system includes a game cartridge which is pluggably attached to a main console having a main processor, a 3D graphics generating coprocessor, expandable main memory and player controllers. A multifunctional peripheral processing subsystem external to the game microprocessor and coprocessor is described which executes commands for handling player controller input/output to thereby lessen the processing burden on the graphics processing subsystem. The player controller processing subsystem is used for both controlling player controller input/output processing and for performing game authenticating security checks continuously during game play. The peripheral interface includes a micro-processor for controlling various peripheral interface functions, a read/write random access memory, a boot ROM, a coprocessor command channel interface, a player controller channel interface, etc. A peripheral interface macro may be executed to start a read or write transaction with each peripheral device and thereafter transfer the transaction results stored in the random access memory to the game microprocessor main memory.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A home video game system for displaying three-dimensional video game play graphics on a television, comprising:

at least one player controller operable by a player to generate video game control signals;
a video game system console having a game program executing processing system including a game microprocessor, a coprocessor, coupled to said game microprocessor, for cooperating with said game microprocessor to execute video game programs for displaying three-dimensional video game play graphics on a television in accordance with the video game control signals, a peripheral processing subsystem coupled to said at least one player controller and to said game program executing processing system for executing commands related to coupling said video game control signals to said game program executing processing system, and a main memory accessible to said game program executing processing system and having a first port which is accessible from said video game console;
and
a replaceable memory cartridge, coupled to said coprocessor, for expanding said main memory, said replaceable memory cartridge adapted to be received in said first port which is accessible from said video game console.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Video game system using memory module

Life of this patent

Video game system using memory module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12