ballyalley Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 I have uploaded to Archive.org a collection of the 46 patents cited by both of the Bally Arcade/Astrocade patents 4,301,503 and 4,296,930. It's pretty neat reading/browsing the patents referenced in the Astrocade patents. Some of the referenced patents go back as far as 1958. Also, some of the patents are for systems from Atari, Magnavox's original 1972 Odyssey or even very obscure computers like the VideoBrain.Here is a link to all of the patents:https://archive.org/details/46PatentsCitedbytheBallyArcadeandAstrocadePatentsHere is some general information about both the Astrocade patents and the patents that are cited by them.------------------------------Bally Arcade/Astrocade Patent 1:"TV Game Apparatus"United States Patent #4,296,930Inventor: Jeffrey E. Frederiksen (Arlington Heights, IL)Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corporation (Chicago, IL)Patent Granted October 27, 1981AbstractA TV-type game employs a raster screen television for presenting game symbols. Player operated control switches are encoded to move the symbols. A microprocessor reads the switches. A dually addressed random access memory is employed as the interfacing between the screen and the processor which otherwise function as essentially separate and distinct devices. The memory provides a static storage of the screen pattern for each point in the raster lines with a portion assigned as a processor scratch pad. The memory may be dynamic with periodic refreshing and constructed with individual chips for each of the several bits in a word. The chips are grouped for alternate refreshing and powered during access periods. The processor updates the memory during idle display access periods. The memory is accessed in multiple bit words or bytes for display and processing. For display, a parallel to serial output latch is employed. The previous symbol position and pose is stored in the scratch pad and is erased and rewritten in a new position and pose. The controls may provide encoding. A hardwired bit shifter with programmed shift level rapidly shifts the symbol bits before placing in memory. A high speed memory and low speed processor are shown with separate clocks and a special synchronizer unit.------------------------------Bally Arcade/Astrocade Patent 2:"Home Computer and Game Apparatus"United States Patent #4,301,503Inventor: Jeffrey E. Frederiksen (Arlington Heights, IL)Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corporation (Chicago, IL)Patent Granted November 17, 1981AbstractA home computer system provides a video processor for use with a television receiver. The video processor can selectively perform a variety of modifications to pixel data under the direction of the CPU of the computer system before the pixel data is stored in a random access memory to effectively increase the speed or data handling power of the system.------------------------------Here are links to both of the Bally Arcade patents: Bally Arcade Patent 4,296,930 (Oct. 27, 1981)"TV Game apparatus"Filed: July 05, 1977.http://www.ballyalley.com/documentation/Astrocade_Inc/Bally%20Arcade%20Patent%204296930/Bally_Arcade_Patent_-_(4296930)_(Oct_27_1981).pdfBally Arcade Patent - 4301503 (Nov. 17 1981)"Home Computer and Game Apparatus"Filed: May 30, 1978.http://www.ballyalley.com/documentation/Astrocade_Inc/pdf/Bally_Arcade_Patent_-_4301503%20(Nov%2017%201981).pdf------------------------------46 total patents are cited between the two patents. It breaks down like this:15 Patents Cited by Bally Arcade/Astrocade U.S. Patent 4301503 ("Home Computer and Game Apparatus")31 Patents Cited by Bally Arcade/Astrocade U.S. Patent 4296930 ("TV Game Apparatus")Here is a list of each of the 46 cited patents:Rectangular coordinate point data displayCharles F AlthouseU.S. Patent #28476611958Translation systemDick Co AbU.S. Patent #30176251962Training appliances for marksmenBolkow Entwicklungen K GU.S. Patent #30466761962Symbol generator circuitGeorge H BaldingU.S. Patent #31226071964Method for the representation of the movement of two bodies by means of electron beams and apparatus for carrying out this methodBolkow Entwicklungen K GU.S. Patent #31358151964Digital storage and generation of video signalsRCA CorpU.S. Patent #33454581967Digital storage and generation of video signalsRCA CorpU.S. Patent #33883911968Display systemsRCA CorpU.S. Patent #34224201969Arrangements for indicating the state of adjustment of optical components in a television cameraFernseh GmbhU.S. Patent #34351361969Digital marker generator for cathode ray tubeUs NavyU.S. Patent #34626391969Logical expansion circuitry for display systemsSperry Rand CorpU.S. Patent #34977601970Means for limiting field length of computed dataFairchild Camera Instr CoU.S. Patent #35771301971Computer for generating animated images with overlap prevention and animation recordingComputer Image CorpU.S. Patent #35856281971Character generator for cathode ray tube display deviceIBMU.S. Patent #36577161972Television gaming apparatusSanders Associates IncU.S. Patent #36592841972Television gaming apparatus and methodSanders Associates IncU.S. Patent #36592851972Video data display systemViatron Computer Systems CorpU.S. Patent #36850391972System and method for the continuous movement of a sheet having graphic subject matter thereon through a window of a display screenIBMU.S. Patent #37168421973Method of perspective transformation in scanned raster visual displaySinger CoU.S. Patent #37255631973Graphics display systemAtomic Energy CommissionU.S. Patent #37364111973Digitally controlled computer animation generating systemComputer Image CorpU.S. Patent #37470871973Source data entry terminalSycor IncU.S. Patent #37603751973Circle or arc generator for graphic displayIBMU.S. Patent #37892001974Video image positioning control system for amusement deviceN BushnellU.S. Patent #37934831974Television combat gameMagnavox CoU.S. Patent #38093951974System for generating orthogonal control signals to produce curvilinear motionHughes Aircraft CoU.S. Patent #38098681974Portable computer terminal using a standard television receiverDigi Log Syst IncU.S. Patent #38223631974Special effect generator for a simulator visual systemSinger CoU.S. Patent #38268641974Visual display systemRaytheon CoU.S. Patent #38724461975Electronic device for the simulation of an animated game, in particular the game of footballRosalba ArianoU.S. Patent #38746691975Waterborne vehicle trainer visual systemUs NavyU.S. Patent #38951831975Method and means for reducing data transmission rate in synthetically generated motion display systemsSperry Rand CorpU.S. Patent #38996621975Apparatus and methods for computer graphicsNat Res DevU.S. Patent #39061971975Synthetic terrain generatorSinger CoU.S. Patent #39115971975Preprogrammed television gaming systemSanders Associates IncU.S. Patent #39211611975Method and apparatus for generating character patternsFuji Xerox Co., Ltd.U.S. Patent #39366641976Computer automated information systemDMA Data Industries, Inc.U.S. Patent #39493751976Data display terminal having data storage and transfer apparatus employing matrix notation addressingLear SieglerU.S. Patent #39551891976Microcomputer terminal systemZentec CorporationU.S. Patent #39732441976Multi-channel data color display apparatusMidwest Analog And Digital, Inc.U.S. Patent #39784701976Multi-microprocessing unit on a single semiconductor chipBurroughs CorporationU.S. Patent #39809921976Digital video modulation and demodulation systemSanders Associates, Inc.U.S. Patent #39938611976Television display control apparatusAlpex Computer CorporationU.S. Patent #40265551977Method for generating a plurality of moving objects on a video display screenAtari, Inc.U.S. Patent #41164441978Digital joystick control interface system for video games and the likeTexas Instruments IncorporatedU.S. Patent #41421801979Computer control of television receiver displayUmtech, Inc.U.S. Patent #41774621979------------------------------One of the two Bally Arcade/Astrocade patents (U.S. Patent 4,296,930, "TV Game Apparatus") references 31 patents. Among them are two by Ralph Baer, usually referred to as the father of home video games. These both refer to patents related to the original 1972 Odyssey home video game system. Here is some information about them:Preprogrammed Television Gaming SystemBaerU.S. Patent #3921161November 1975 AbstractApparatus for playing games on the cathode ray tube screen of a television receiver is disclosed comprising a gaming device having components for providing location controllable spots on the screen, a source of prerecorded modulated audio frequency control signals, and means for demodulating those control signals and for supplying them to selected gaming device components to thereby provide gaming capabilities where the progress of a game is in part controlled by the recorded signals and in part controlled by the actions of a player. The signal source may be a magnetic tape or record/disc player and a selected prerecorded game tape or disc with control signals recorded thereon as a plurality of modulated audio frequency signals to thereby allow signal separation based on frequency and waveform control techniques and subsequent demodulation of each so separated carrier to provide a plurality of control signals.Here is a link to the above patent (check out the cool drawings of the console!):https://patents.google.com/patent/US3921161------------------------------Digital video modulation and demodulation systemBaerU.S. Patent #3993861November 1976AbstractIn a television system, a digital video system permits the transmission of data along with the usual television picture. The television picture field includes one or more selectively addressable areas and the data is impressed on these areas as digital, binary-coded brightness modulations at rates greater than the vertical field rate. At the receiving end of the system, the viewer positions one or more light sensors opposite these screen areas. The light sensors respond to the binary-coded brightness modulations by developing corresponding binary-coded digital electrical signals. The data stream from a light sensor can then be decoded by a demodulator/decoder operated by the viewer.Here are links for the second patent:https://patents.google.com/patent/US3993861------------------------------I have opened and glanced through all 46 of these patents, but I have not really read them, nor even browsed most of them. If you find anything interesting, then please leave some comments.Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted October 30, 2018 Author Share Posted October 30, 2018 Bally Fun & (Video) BrainsThe Bally Professional Arcade's original slogan was "Fun & Brains." The Bally Arcade patent cites the VideoBrain patent called "Computer control of television receiver display" (weird!), so maybe the slogan should have been "Fun and (Video) Brains."Check out the VideoBrain patent as a web page:https://patents.google.com/patent/US4177462Here's a pdf of the VideoBrain patent:https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/68/4e/39/14031164add3be/US4177462.pdfThe VideoBrain patent has F8 CPU source code for a Tennis game. I typed in this source code back in 2012 (see, I'm not only an Astrocade fan!):https://www.orphanedgames.com/videobrain/f8_programming/f8_source/Tennis%20(patent%20source).f8I wish that more source code for classic game systems was available. Did the patent for the Colecovision have the source code for it's on-board ROM?Lance Squire uploaded game footage of the VideoBrain playing "Gladiator," a game with "384 unique games:" There sure are some oddball video game and computer systems out there-- the Bally Arcade can't even compete in the strangeness level with systems like the VideoBrain console.Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted October 30, 2018 Author Share Posted October 30, 2018 Screen Overlays for the Astrocade... kinda, sorta, maybe?It's really fun going through the patents that are cited from the two Bally Arcade patents. I came across this patent from 1974 for a "Television combat game." With just one look at it I realized that the game was for the original Magnavox Odyssey game "Submarine." I had no idea that the games for the original Odyssey were patented on their own! That's so strange.Here is a link to the second page of the pdf for the "Television combat game" patent. Look at the drawing of the "combat" game's overlay:https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/4b/76/eb/e9df22d1583b2f/US3809395.pdf#Page=2Compare that overlay with the final image to the final "Submarine" overlay: And, of course, don't miss the original promotional film for the Magnavox Odyssey: What the heck is the connection between this submarine game that uses screen overlays to the Bally Arcade? Investigating the Astrocade has sure lead me into some unexpected areas over the years. The history of all the videogame systems are intertwined in some unexpected ways more often that I expect.Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted October 30, 2018 Author Share Posted October 30, 2018 Warner Owns Midway... so Warner Bros. Owns the Bally Arcade/Astrocade? The last time that the Bally Arcade patents changed hands was in 2000. At that time, Midway got the patents. The patent for the console expired after twenty years (so, I guess in 2001?). Here are the details of that transaction:2000-07-14 AS AssignmentOwner name: MIDWAY AMUSEMENT GAMES, LLC, ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MIDWAY GAMES, NC.;REEL/FRAME:011027/0864Effective date: 19990701This information is from the bottom of the Google Patents page, here:https://patents.google.com/patent/US4301503A/en?oq=4296930If Midway owned the Astrocade rights, then they probably owned the rights to the 8K onboard, right? I understand that Midway has exchanged hands quite a few times since 2000. Who the heck owns Midway now?"Ubersaurus," posted the answer to who owns Midway to the Bally Alley Yahoo groups, "Midway is currently owned by Warner, and has essentially been rebranded as Netherrealm Studios under their umbrella. Functionally they just make Mortal Kombat and Injustice games, but they do own all the rights to their arcade (and apparently console) library."Trolling through these videogame-related patents sure is fun!Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_me Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Didn't Bally/Midway sell the Astrocade rights to Astrovision in 1980? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share Posted November 8, 2018 Didn't Bally/Midway sell the Astrocade rights to Astrovision in 1980? No, Bally didn't sell the rights to the Bally Arcade to Astrovision (aka Astrocade, Inc). From what I understand, it was only licensed to them. I wish I could find paperwork that stated this as a matter-of-fact. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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