U.S. patent number RE34,161 [Application Number 07/757,209] was granted by the patent office on 1993-01-12 for memory cartridge and information processor unit using such cartridge.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nintendo Company Limited. Invention is credited to Katsuya Nakagawa, Masayuki Yukawa.
United States Patent |
RE34,161 |
Nakagawa , et al. |
January 12, 1993 |
Memory cartridge and information processor unit using such
cartridge
Abstract
A cartridge for a gaming machine includes a case having tapered
surface formed along a side edge of the rear face thereof which
cooperates with a protrusion in the cartridge receiving tray in the
gaming machine main unit to prevent an inverted insertion of the
cartridge into the machine. A character ROM, a first semiconductor
memory storing a program for determining authenticity of the
cartridge and a first microcomputer for executing that program are
mounted on a printed circuit board accommodated in the case. The
gaming machine includes a picture processing unit generating an
image signal based on data from the character ROM, a second
semiconductor memory which stores the same program for determining
authenticity of the cartridge as the program in the first
semiconductor memory, and a second microcomputer identical to the
first microcomputer for executing the program stored in the second
semiconductor memory. The second microcomputer determines
authenticity of the loaded or inserted cartridge. Finally, a
protrusion attached to the cartridge loading device in the machine
cooperates with a recess in the cartridge case to prevent the
loading of a counterfeit cartridge.
Inventors: |
Nakagawa; Katsuya (Kyoto,
JP), Yukawa; Masayuki (Kyoto, JP) |
Assignee: |
Nintendo Company Limited
(Kyoto, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
27566608 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/757,209 |
Filed: |
September 10, 1991 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
914011 |
Oct 1, 1986 |
|
|
|
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874231 |
Jun 13, 1986 |
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|
812929 |
Dec 23, 1985 |
4799635 |
|
|
|
785226 |
Oct 7, 1985 |
D. 294020 |
|
|
|
900717 |
Aug 27, 1986 |
4763300 |
|
|
Reissue of: |
125780 |
Nov 27, 1987 |
04865321 |
Sep 12, 1989 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 4, 1985 [JP] |
|
|
60-222198 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29; 273/148B;
463/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
13/02 (20130101); G06F 21/123 (20130101); A63F
13/95 (20140902); G11C 5/00 (20130101); H05K
5/0256 (20130101); A63F 13/77 (20140902); A63F
2300/201 (20130101); A63F 2300/206 (20130101); G06F
2221/2109 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
13/02 (20060101); G06F 21/00 (20060101); H05K
5/02 (20060101); G11C 5/00 (20060101); A63F
009/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/85G,148B,435,DIG.28 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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0086395 |
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EP |
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0114522 |
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110663 |
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JP |
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59-139583 |
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JP |
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2021334 |
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Apr 1984 |
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GB |
|
2134306 |
|
Aug 1984 |
|
GB |
|
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|
Primary Examiner: Grieb; William H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 914,011 filed Oct.
1, 1986, now abandoned. This is also a continuation-in-part of
application Ser. No. 812,929, filed Dec. 23, 1985, now U.S. Pat.
No. 4,799,635. This application is also a continuation-in-part of
application Ser. No. 785,226 filed Oct. 7, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No.
Des. 294,020 and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.
900,717, filed Aug. 27, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,300.
.Iadd.This is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
874,231, filed Jun. 13, 1986, now abandoned. .Iaddend .
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic gaming apparatus comprising:
a main unit;
a frame structure mounted to the main unit;
a cartridge tray having a first end pivotally mounted to said frame
structure for rotation of a second end within a predetermined
angular range between a cartridge loading and a cartridge operating
position, said cartridge tray including a bottom plate, a side
wall, and a cartridge keying structure extending between the bottom
plate and the side wall;
means biasing said cartridge tray toward the loading position;
means for releasably locking the tray in the operating
position;
connector means fixedly mounted in said main unit at said first end
of said cartridge tray such that said cartridge tray rotates
relative to said connector means; and
a memory cartridge configured to be slideably inserted into the
second end of said cartridge tray in a direction parallel to the
bottom plate of said tray when said tray is in said loading
position and to engage said connector means at the first end of
said tray, said memory cartridge including a case having top and
bottom surfaces and a side surface intersecting said top surface,
and said memory cartridge further having a keyed surface
intersecting the side and bottom surfaces and cooperating with said
keying structure to prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge
in said cartridge tray.
2. The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cartridge
keying structure of said cartridge tray includes a bar having a
substantially planar keying surface which intersects the bottom
plate at a predetermined angle.
3. The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 2 wherein the keyed
surface of said memory cartridge case includes a substantially
planar chamfered surface which intersects the bottom surface at
said predetermined angle.
4. The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein said keying
surface of said bar is disposed along a side of said tray so as to
slideably engage, along its length, the keyed surface of said
memory cartridge case when said memory cartridge is slideably
inserted.
5. An electronic gaming apparatus comprising:
a main unit;
a frame structure mounted on the main unit;
a cartridge tray pivotally mounted to said frame structure for
rotation within a predetermined angular range between a loading and
an operating position;
means biasing said cartridge tray toward the loading position;
means for releasably locking said cartridge tray in the operating
position;
a memory cartridge adapted to be slideably inserted into said
cartridge tray when in its loading position, said memory cartridge
including a case having a bottom surface, said bottom surface
having a recess therein; and,
security means for preventing the use of an unauthorized cartridge
in said main unit, said security means including a protrusion
extending upward from said frame member and positioned such that as
the cartridge tray is rotated toward the operating position, the
protrusion enters the recess on said bottom surface of said
cartridge case and allows said cartridge and cartridge tray to
assume the operating position.
6. The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 5, wherein said recess
in said bottom surface of said cartridge case is arranged and sized
to form a manually grippable end portion for facilitating cartridge
insertion and removal.
7. An electronic gaming apparatus comprising:
a main control unit;
a frame structure mounted to the main control unit;
a cartridge tray pivotally mounted to said frame structure for
rotation within a predetermined angular range between a loading and
an operating position;
means biasing said cartridge tray toward the loading position;
means for releasably locking said cartridge tray in the operating
position;
a memory cartridge for operation with said main control unit and
being adapted to be slideably inserted into said cartridge tray
when in its loading position, said memory cartridge including a
case having a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a recess
therein; and
security means for preventing the use of an unauthorized cartridge
in said main control unit, said security means including a
protrusion extending upward from said frame member and positioned
such that as said cartridge tray is rotated toward the operating
position, the protrusion enters said recess on said cartridge and
allows said cartridge tray to assume the operating position, said
security means further including substantially identical first and
second data processing devices mounted in said memory cartridge and
said main control unit, respectively, for executing the same
predetermined authenticating program to determine authenticity of
said cartridge, and control means responsive to at least one of
said first and second data processing devices for disabling
operation of said main control unit in accordance with the
execution of said authenticating program.
8. The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 7, wherein said memory
cartridge comprises at least one ROM memory device mounted within
said case along with said first data processing device for storing
said predetermined authenticating program.
9. An electronic gaming apparatus comprising:
a main control unit;
a frame structure mounted to the main control unit;
a cartridge tray having a first end pivotally mounted to said frame
structure for rotation of a second end within a predetermined
angular range between a loading and an operating position, the
cartridge tray having a bottom plate, a side wall, and a cartridge
keying structure extending between the bottom plate and the side
wall wherein the keying structure includes a substantially planar
keying surface which intersects the bottom plate at a predetermined
angle;
means biasing said cartridge tray toward the loading position;
means for releasably locking said cartridge tray in the operating
position;
a memory cartridge for operation with said main control unit and
being adapted to be slideably inserted into said cartridge tray in
a direction parallel to the bottom plate at said second end when
said cartridge tray is in its loading position, said memory
cartridge including a case having top and bottom surfaces and a
printed circuit board mounted therein having exposed edge terminals
at one end of said case, said bottom surface having a recess
therein at an end of said opposite the exposed edge terminals, a
side surface intersecting said top surface, and said memory
cartridge further having a keyed surface intersecting the side and
bottom surfaces and cooperating with said keying structure to
prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge in said cartridge
tray, the keying surface including a substantially planar chamfered
surface which intersects the bottom surface at said predetermined
angle; and
security means for preventing the use of an unauthorized cartridge
in said main unit, said security means including a protrusion
extending upward from said frame member and positioned such that as
said cartridge tray is rotated toward the operating position, said
protrusion entering said recess on said cartridge and allowing said
cartridge tray to assume the operating position, said security
means further including substantially identical first and second
data processing devices respectively mounted in said memory
cartridge and said main control unit for executing the same
predetermined authenticating program to determine authenticity of
said cartridge, and control means responsive to at least one of
said first and second data processing devices for disabling
operation of said main control unit in accordance with said
authenticating program.
10. A memory cartridge for an electronic programable gaming
apparatus of the type having a cartridge receiving front loading
apparatus, said memory cartridge comprising:
a printed circuit board;
a relatively flat cartridge case containing said printed circuit
board and being adapted for slideable endwise insertion into and
connection with a front loading apparatus, and having a connection
end, a manually grippable end opposite said connection end, and top
and bottom surfaces lying in substantially parallel planes and
joining said connection end and grippable end, and further having
first and second side surfaces joining said top and bottom
surfaces, at least one of said side surfaces having a keyed surface
adapted for cooperating with a front loading apparatus to prevent
an inverted insertion of the cartridge therein, and said printed
circuit board having a plurality of edge contacts that are
substantially centered between said top and bottom surfaces and
between said first and second side surfaces at said connection end
so that but for said keyed surface, said cartridge and said printed
circuit board therein, when inverted, would be connectable to a
front loading apparatus;
gaming data memory means mounted on said printed circuit board for
generating data that is adapted to be communicated to the
electronic gaming unit via connection therewith at said plurality
of edge contacts; and
data processing means mounted in said cartridge for executing a
predetermined data processing program that determines authenticity
of said cartridge when loaded into a front loading apparatus.
11. The memory cartridge of claim 10 further comprising a manually
engageable recess at said grippable end of said case, said recess
intersecting at least said bottom surface of said case and being
adapted for cooperating with a registering protrusion on the front
loading apparatus during loading of said cartridge to further
determine authenticity of said cartridge.
12. The memory cartridge of claim 11, wherein said recess on said
bottom surface of said case is sized to form a manually grippable
end portion of reduced thickness between said top and bottom
surfaces.
13. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein said data processing means
comprises a microprocessor and a memory storing said predetermined
data processing program.
14. A memory cartridge receivable in a front loading apparatus of
an electronic programable gaming system, said memory cartridge
comprising:
a printed circuit board;
a relatively flat cartridge case containing said printed circuit
board and being adapted for slideable endwise insertion into and
connection with a front loading apparatus, and having a connection
end, a manually grippable end opposite said connection end, and top
and bottom surfaces lying in substantially parallel planes and
joining said connection end and grippable end, and further having
first and second side surfaces joining said top and bottom
surfaces, at least one of said side surfaces having a keyed surface
adapted for cooperating with a front loading apparatus to prevent
an inverted insertion of the cartridge therein, and said printed
circuit board having a plurality of edge contacts that are
substantially centered between said top and bottom surfaces and
between said first and second side surfaces at said connection end
so that but for said keyed surface, said cartridge and said printed
circuit board therein when inverted, would be connectable to a
front loading apparatus;
game data memory means mounted on said printed circuit board for
generating data that is adapted to be communicated to the
electronic gaming unit via connection therewith at said plurality
of edge contacts; and
said cartridge case having a recess at the manually grippable end
adapted for cooperating with a protrusion on a front loading
apparatus that determines authenticity of said cartridge when
loading.
15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein said recess on said
cartridge case is located and sized so as to form a cartridge end
portion of reduced thickness suitable for manually gripping during
cartridge loading and unloading.
16. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein said keyed surface is a
substantially planar chamfered surface which intersects the bottom
surface and at a predetermined angle and extends lengthwise along
said one of said surfaces from the connection end and toward the
grippable end.
17. A memory cartridge for an electronic gaming unit having a
cartridge tray pivotally mounted therein for rotation within a
predetermined angular range between a cartridge loading position
and a cartridge operating position, the tray including a bottom
plate, said walls having offset portions, a cartridge keying
structure extending between the bottom plate and one of the side
walls, a low insertion force edge connector mounted near an end of
the tray and a security means disposed within the gaming unit
adjacent the tray to prevent the use of an unauthorized cartridge
in the gaming unit, the security means including an upwardly
extending protrusion, the cartridge comprising:
a case adapted to be slideably inserted into the tray and having
top and bottom surfaces and side surfaces intersecting the top
surface, an insertion end having an elongated opening therein and
adapted to cooperate with the edge connector, a keyed surface
intersecting one side surface and the bottom surface and adapted to
cooperate with the keying structure in the tray to prevent an
inverted insertion of the cartridge in the tray, the bottom surface
of the case including a recess disposed adjacent an end of the
cartridge case opposite the insertion end and having a sufficient
depth to accommodate the protrusion on the gaming unit when the
tray is rotated into the operating position;
a printed circuit board mounted within the case and having an
insertion edge positioned within said opening at the insertion end
of the case midway between the top and bottom surfaces and centered
between the side surfaces, a plurality of electrical contacts
disposed along the insertion edge and adapted for electrical
interconnection with the edge connector; and
game data memory means mounted in said cartridge for generating
data to be communicated to the gaming unit through the electrical
contacts and the edge connector.
18. The memory cartridge of claim 17 wherein the cartridge keying
structure of the gaming unit includes a bar having a substantially
planar keying surface which intersects the bottom plate at a
predetermined angle, and wherein said keyed surface of said
cartridge case includes a substantially planar chamfered surface
which intersects the bottom surface of the cartridge at the same
predetermined angle.
19. The memory cartridge of claim 17 wherein said recess in the
bottom surface of said cartridge case extends into an end surface
opposite said insertion end and includes gripping means to
facilitate removal of the cartridge from the tray.
20. The memory cartridge of claim 17 wherein said side surfaces
include an offset section adjacent the insertion end which
cooperate with the offset portions of the side walls of the tray to
limit the insertion of the cartridge into the tray.
21. A memory cartridge for an electronic gaming unit of the type
having a cartridge tray pivotally mounted therein for rotation
within a predetermined angular range between a cartridge loading
position and a cartridge operating position, the tray including a
bottom plate, a side wall having an offset portion, a cartridge
keying structure extending between the bottom plate and the side
wall, the keying structure including a bar having a substantially
planar keying surface which intersects the bottom plate at a
predetermined angle, a low insertion force edge connector mounted
near an end of the tray and security means disposed within the
gaming unit adjacent the tray to prevent the use of an unauthorized
cartridge in the main unit, the security means including an
upwardly extending cylindrical protrusion, the cartridge
comprising:
a case adapted to be slideably inserted into the tray and having
top, bottom and side surfaces, one side surface intersecting the
top surface and including an offset section which cooperates with
the offset portion of the side wall of the tray to limit the
insertion of the cartridge into the tray, an insertion end of said
case having an elongated opening therein and adapted to engagably
receive the edge connector, said case having a keyed surface
intersecting the side and bottom surfaces and cooperating with the
keying structure in the tray to prevent an inverted insertion of
the cartridge in the tray wherein the case keyed surface includes a
substantially planar chamfer which intersects the bottom surface at
said predetermined angle, the bottom surface including a recess
disposed adjacent and extending into an end of the cartridge case
opposite said insertion end, said recess including gripping means
to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the tray and having a
sufficient depth to accommodate the security means protrusion when
the tray is rotated into the operating position;
a printed circuit board mounted within the cartridge case and
having an insertion edge positioned within said opening at the
insertion end of the case midway between the top and bottom
surfaces, a plurality of electrical contacts disposed along the
insertion edge and adapted for electrical interconnection with the
edge connector; and
game data memory means mounted on the circuit board for generating
data to be communicated to the game machine through the electrical
contacts and the edge connector.
22. The memory cartridge of claim 21, further comprising data
processing means mounted in said cartridge for executing a
predetermined data processing program in synchronism with a like
data processing means in the gaming unit that determines
authenticity of said cartridge when loaded into the gaming unit.
.Iadd.
23. Video game apparatus comprising:
a frame structure;
a cartridge tray having a first end and a second end, said first
end being pivotally mounted to said frame structure for rotation of
said second end of said cartridge tray between an upper cartridge
loading position and a lower cartridge operating position, said
cartridge tray including a bottom plate, two side walls and two
wedge shaped structures extending between the bottom plate and each
of said side walls;
a low insertion force connector fixedly mounted at said first end
of said cartridge tray, such that said cartridge tray rotates
relative to said low insertion force connector, said low insertion
force connector including:
a housing having an inner wall forming an elongated opening leading
to a recess within said housing, said elongated opening being sized
and located to receive the edge of a printed circuit board carried
by a memory cartridge when said cartridge tray is in said upper
loading position, a first plurality of resilient electrodes, each
disposed within said recess and having a first upper contact spaced
from the inner wall of the recess and positioned to be in contact
with an associated first electrode of said printed circuit board
when it is in said operating position, and a second plurality of
resilient electrodes each disposed within said recess, but offset
from said first plurality of resilient electrodes so as to be
disposed closer to the elongated opening than said first plurality
of resilient electrodes; and
a memory cartridge including a printed circuit board having a ROM
mounted thereon storing a game program,
said printed circuit board being housed in a memory cartridge case
having an open insertion end within which an insertion end of said
printed circuit board is disposed and visible;
said printed circuit board insertion end having conductive patterns
disposed thereon for insertion into said low insertion force
connector when said cartridge tray is in said upper loading
position, said memory cartridge being configured to be slideably
inserted from the upwardly located second end of said cartridge
tray towards the first end of the tray adjacent said low insertion
force connector, said memory cartridge case being configured to
cooperate with said wedge shaped structure such that it can not be
inserted in an inverted fashion into said lower insertion force
connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. Apparatus according to claim 23,
further comprising a double edge connector, wherein said low
insertion force connector is disposed at one end of said double
edge connector, said double edge connector having a generally
U-shaped cross-section and including a further edge connector array
of electrical contacts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. Apparatus according to
claim 24, further comprising an additional printed circuit board
having a microprocessor mounted thereon for executing said video
game program and having conductive patterns disposed thereon
coupled to connecting electrodes formed on an edge portion of the
additional printed circuit board, said additional printed circuit
board being coupled to said further edge connector array of
electrical contacts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. Apparatus according to
claim 23, wherein said memory cartridge includes a case having a
slit formed to surround said printed circuit board insertion end.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said
slit is sized to receive said low insertion force connector,
whereby in use the slit surrounds the low insertion force connector
such that the edge of said memory cartridge printed circuit board
is coupled to said first plurality of resilient electrodes and said
second plurality of resilient electrodes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. Video
game apparatus comprising:
a removable video game memory cartridge having a video game
computer program stored in a ROM included on a memory cartridge
printed circuit board and connected with conductive patterns to
connecting electrodes disposed transversely to an exposed edge of
the printed circuit board at one end of the cartridge,
a video game base unit including:
a printed circuit control board carrying a microcomputer for
executing said video game computer program and connected with
conductive patterns to connecting electrodes disposed transversely
to an edge thereof;
a double edge connector having a generally U-shaped cross-section
with one end thereof including a first edge connector array of
contacts disposed in electrical contact and frictional engagement
with the connecting electrodes of the printed circuit control board
and with the other end thereof including a low-insertion force
second edge connector array of upper and lower cantilevered
contacts offset from one another and capable of accepting the
exposed edge of the printed circuit program board at lower
insertion force when tilted upwardly while also being capable of
effecting firm electrical connection thereto when the circuit
program board is rotated downwardly to a horizontal position;
a first frame fixed with respect to said double edge connector,
a second frame rotatably disposed with respect to said first frame
and having an opened sized to accept, in a upwardly rotated loading
positioned, an inserted end of said game cartridge in one
orientation and configured to prevent an inverted insertion of said
game cartridge and having its exposed edge printed circuit board
inserted into and between the cantilevered conductors of the second
edge connector array, whereupon by rotation of the second frame
downwardly within the first frame, the printed circuit board in the
cartridge becomes firmly electrically connected to said base unit
control board via said double edge connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.
Apparatus as in claim 28 wherein an upper end of said double edge
connector includes a housing having an opening an outer surface
which is angled obliquely upwardly and sized to fit within the open
end of a video game cartridge while an exposed end of the cartridge
printed circuit board simultaneously slides within the opening of
the edge
connector housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. Apparatus as in claim 28
further comprising a stop member on the edge connector housing to
limit the intersection of the edge connector and video game
cartridge to a predetermined position where at edge connecting
electrodes on the cartridge printed circuit board are positioned
for locking engagement with the cantilevered edge connector
contacts when the cartridge is thereafter rotated to its lowermost
position within the base unit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. Apparatus
according to claim 28, wherein said memory cartridge includes a
case having a slit formed to surround said exposed edge of said
memory cartridge printed circuit board. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32.
Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said slit is sized to
receive said low insertion force connector, whereby in use the slit
surrounds the lower insertion force connector array such that the
connecting electrodes of said memory cartridge printed circuit
board is coupled to said upper and lower cantilevered contacts.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cartridge for gaming machine and
a gaming machine using the same. More specifically, the present
invention relates to a memory cartridge incorporating a memory and
an information processing apparatus for operating as a game in
accordance with a program stored in the cartridge memory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For example, a ROM cartridge having a general or common shape and
structure is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,027.
Also, a gaming machine wherein a ROM cartridge is loaded in a
gaming machine main unit by so-called front loading is disclosed in
the U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,791.
Any mechanism or structure which prevents a so-called reverse
insertion and allows only an authentic cartridge to be used is not
disclosed at all in either of the above-described prior art
systems.
The prior art for preventing a reverse insertion discloses the use
of a connector for the cartridge which is shifted from the center
of the opening of the cartridge.
In the case where the connector is shifted from the center in the
direction of length of the opening, an extra length is required in
the direction of length, and accordingly a problem of restricting
miniaturization of the cartridge occurs. Also, in the case where
the connector is shifted from the center in the direction of
thickness of the connector, a built-in printed circuit board is
biased up or down in the direction of thickness of the cartridge,
and therefore electronic components can be mounted only on one face
of the printed circuit board, and accordingly a problem of
restricting the degree of integration of the printed circuit board
occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to
provide a cartridge for a gaming machine having a novel shape or
structure which prevents an inverted insertion and allows only an
authentic cartridge to be used.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming
machine which uses a novel cartridge for gaming machine.
One aspect of the present invention can be broadly summarized as a
cartridge for a gaming machine which comprises a case, a side
surface including a keying surface cooperating with the front end
loading device in the gaming machine to prevent an inverted
insertion of the cartridge, an opposing side surface having a
configuration in cross section, which when inverted is different
from the corresponding cross sectional shape of the other side
surface, a printed circuit board accommodated in the case, game
information generating means for generating information required
for a game, and a data processing means mounted on the printed
circuit board for executing predetermined data processing to
determine authenticity of the cartridge.
A second aspect of the invention can also be summarized as a gaming
machine having a main unit adapted to receive a memory cartridge,
wherein the cartridge includes a case, a side surface including a
keying surface cooperating with a front end loading device in the
gaming machine to prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge,
an opposing side surface having a configuration in cross section,
which when inverted is different from the corresponding cross
sectional shape of the other side surface, a printed circuit board
accommodated in the case, game information generating means mounted
on the printed circuit board for generating information for a game,
a first semiconductor memory mounted on the printed circuit board
for storing a program for determining authenticity of the
cartridge, and first data processing means for executing the
program stored in the first semiconductor memory, while the gaming
machine main unit comprises a cartridge inserting portion for
receiving the cartridge, a contacting portion formed at the
cartridge inserting portion and being able to contact the tapered
portion when the cartridge is inserted, display signal generating
means for generating a display signal for an image displaying means
based on game information from the game information generating
means, a second semiconductor memory associated with the first
semiconductor memory for storing a program for determining
authenticity of the cartridge, and second data processing means
having the same performance as that of the first data processing
means for executing the program stored in the second semiconductor
memory.
When the cartridge is normally inserted with the top surface
thereof facing upward, the keying surface formed on the side
surface of the case is inserted smoothly without any trouble. On
the other hand, when the case is inserted with the bottom surface
thereof facing upward, that is, inserted upside down, the inverted
keying surface interferes with the front end loading device and
prevents the insertion of the cartridge. Furthermore, the data
processing means mounted on the printed circuit board determines
whether the cartridge is authentic or forged.
In accordance with the present invention, an inverted insertion of
the cartridge can be prevented without shifting the connector of
the cartridge from the center as in the prior art. Accordingly, in
accordance with the present invention, the cartridge can be made
smaller and also an inverted insertion of the cartridge can be
prevented effectively without reducing the degree of integration of
the built-in printed circuit board. Also, in accordance with the
present invention, the authenticity of the cartridge is verified by
the data processing means. Accordingly, a determination as to
whether the cartridge is authentic or forged can be made by
cooperative actions of the gaming machine and the cartridge, and
the use of any unauthorized cartridges can be excluded.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, only the authentic
cartridge can be used, and thereby copying or forging of programs
(software) of the game information generating means in the
cartridge or of the gaming machine itself can be prevented
reliably, and protection of software is performed more
completely.
These objects and object objects, features, aspects and advantages
of the present invention will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of the embodiments of the present
invention when taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cartridge for
a gaming machine in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the same as viewed from the rear
face thereof.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1
embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one example of a gaming
machine main unit which can be used for a cartridge in accordance
with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a front loading apparatus in
the gaming machine main unit.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the front loading apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the front loading apparatus.
FIG. 7 is an illustrative cross-sectional view taken on line 7--7
in FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing a locking mechanism.
FIG. 9 is an illustrative cross-sectional view showing an edge
connector.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the whole system configuration
including the cartridge and the gaming machine main unit.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a key
microprocessor.
FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing operation in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing operations of the embodiment shown
in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.
.Iadd.FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment
in accordance with the present invention. .Iaddend.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a cartridge as viewed from the
front surface thereof, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the
same as viewed from the rear face thereof. A cartridge 10 includes
a case 12, and this case 12 includes a lower half 14 and an upper
half 16. A rectangular opening 18 is formed at the end of the case
12 in the direction of insertion thereof, and an edge 20a of a
printed circuit board accommodated in the case 12 is exposed in
that opening 18.
The cartridge 10 is inserted and loaded in a gaming machine main
unit 42 as described later (FIG. 3) in the direction as shown by an
arrow in FIG. 1A with the upper half 16 facing upward. Then, in the
vicinity of the end of the case 12 in the direction of insertion,
stepped portions 22 are formed at both side ends thereof. The case
12 is formed in a manner that the width of end portion in the
direction of insertion is made narrower and the width of rest
behind the same is made wider by these stepped portions 22. A
configuration similar to these stepped portions 22 is disclosed,
for example, as a "neck portion 25" as shown in FIG. 1 in the U.S.
Pat. No. 4,500,879. However, in this embodiment a so-called front
loading mechanism is adopted wherein the whole of the cartridge 10
is inserted into the gaming machine main unit 42 (FIG. 3), and
therefore, unlike the one in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,879, these
stepped portions 22 do not define the portion of the cartridge to
be exposed beyond the main unit, but act as stops for setting the
insertion amount of the cartridge 10, that is, the case 12 to a
constant value.
A concave or recess portion 24 is formed at the rear end of the
upper half 16 of the case 12 in the direction of insertion, and a
concave or recess portion 26 is formed at the corresponding
position of the lower half 14. These concave portions 24 and 26
serve as gripping surfaces for the fingers in taking the cartridge
10 out of the gaming machine main unit 42 (FIG. 3).
The concave portion 26 of the lower half 14 also acts to inhibit
the normal loading of any cartridge other than an authentic one
into the gaming machine main unit. More specifically, the concave
portion 26 of the lower half 16 allows loading of only a specially
shaped cartridge wherein a concave portion of a certain depth is
formed at the position of the concave portion 26 and prevents
normal loading of any cartridge having a shape other than that in
cooperation with a cylindrical protrusion 144 as shown in FIG. 6 as
described later. Meanwhile, in the illustration, to serve also as a
pinch portion, the concave portion 26 is formed so that the area
thereof is considerably larger than the tip face of the cylindrical
protrusion 144, but the concave portion 26 may be formed in a small
notched portion or hold just large enough to allow this protrusion
144 to be inserted. In this case, whether or not the cartridge is
adaptable can be distinguished by a positional relationship or
shape relationship between the cylindrical protrusion 144 and the
notched portion or hole.
As is well understood from FIG. 1B, keying surfaces 28 here
provided by a chamfer having a certain inclination are formed at
both side ends of the bottom face of the lower half 14. These
keying portions 28 are for preventing the so-called reverse
insertion, i.e., attempted insertion of the cartridge 10 upside
down. Then, edge portions having a shape different from the keying
surfaces 28 are formed at both sides of the top face of the upper
half 16. However, a surface having a different inclination from
that of the keying surface 28, such as an edge portion having a
smaller radius than the tapered portion 28, or a simple corner
portion can be considered. Also, this keying surface 28 and the
edge portion corresponding thereto may be formed along only one
side of the case.
In reference to FIG. 2, inside the case 12 formed by the lower half
14 and the upper half 16, a printed circuit board 20 is
accommodated with a predetermined interval maintained by a spacer
42, and the edge portion 20a of this printed circuit board 20 is
exposed to the opening 18 of the case 12. The edge portion 20a of
the printed circuit board 20 is positioned inward from the edge
face of the opening 18 of the case 12 to prevent that portion from
being damaged. On the edge portion 20a, a plurality of connecting
electrodes 30 are connected to ROMs 32 and 34 and a microprocessor
36 which are mounted across the width of the printed circuit board
20. The printed circuit board 20 is fixed by inserting screws
through a hole 38 formed on the printed circuit board 20 and a hole
40 formed on the lower half 14.
In this embodiment, the ROM 32 functions as a program ROM for
storing a program for a game, and the ROM 34 works as a character
ROM for generating a character signal or data for the game. The
microprocessor 36 functions as data processing means for
determining whether or not the gaming machine main unit 42 in which
the cartridge 10 is loaded is authentic and hence is allowed to be
used. Accordingly, a determination on whether or not the cartridge
is authentic is executed by cooperative actions of the
microprocessor 36 and a microprocessor 202 of the gaming machine
main processor unit 42.
Cartridge 10 is inserted into the gaming machine main unit 24 as
shown in FIG. 3. This main unit 42 includes a case 44, and a lid 46
is supported in a manner that permits opening or closing of the
front end portion of the top face of this case 44. Then, in the
case 44, a front loading apparatus 62 is incorporated, which is
described in detail later in reference to FIG. 4 through FIG.
7.
Jacks 48 and 50 are provided on the front face of the case 44, and
controllers 194a and 194b (FIG. 10), operated by the user are
connected through these jacks 48 and 50. Also, on the lower front
face of the case 44, a power switch 52, a light emitting diode 54
for indicating the power switch position and a reset switch 56 are
installed. Furthermore, on the right side of the case 44, an
external terminal 58 for sound signal and an external terminal 60
for video signal are installed, which provide signals to an image
displaying apparatus, for example, a CRT 196 (FIG. 10) from the
main unit 42.
The front loading apparatus 62 includes a frame 66 fixed by screws
through spacers 64 in the case 44 (FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. 7. As
shown in FIG. 7, this frame 66 has a front wall 68 formed in the
front thereof and side walls 70 and 72 formed at both sides
thereof. These right and left side walls 70 and 72 are connected to
connecting portions 74 and 76 at the end portions thereof in the
direction of depth. Between these connecting portions 72 and 74, a
slender opening 80 is formed so that an opening 170 of an edge
connector 78 can be inserted in it.
In the vicinity of the end portions of the side walls 70 and 74 in
the direction of insertion of the cartridge 10, L-shaped stepped
portions 82 and 84 are formed. Also, brim portions 86 and 88 are
formed on the outside faces of the side walls 70 and 72, and
mounting holes for fixing this frame 66 to the case 44 are formed
in these brim portions 86 and 88.
On the outside faces of the side walls 70 and 72 cylindrical spring
shoes 90 and 92 as well understood from FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are
formed. In front of these spring shoes 90 and 92, that is, in the
rear thereof in the direction of insertion, engaging grooves 96 and
98 (FIG. 5) for defining the rotation limits of a tray 94 (FIG. 7)
as described later are formed on the inner faces of the side walls
70 and 72. These engaging grooves 96 and 98 extend from the bottom
ends of the side walls 70 and 72 to a height of nearly two-thirds
of the height of the walls. Then, in the vicinity of the stepped
portions 82 and 84 of the side walls 70 and 72, shaft holes 100 for
rotatably supporting the tray 94 are formed respectively, and
grooves 102 extending from the top end portions of the side walls
70 and 72 to these shaft holes 100 are formed to those
positions.
In the frame 66, the tray 94 for holding the inserted cartridge is
supported rotatably by a shaft inserted into the shaft holes 100.
This tray 94 includes a bottom plate 104 and side walls 106 and 108
formed at both sides of this bottom plate 104. Protruding bars 110
and 112 having a triangular cross-section are fixed to the junction
corner portions formed by the bottom plate 104 and the side walls
106 and 108. The inclination of these protruding bars 110 and 112
with respect to the bottom plate 104 corresponds to the inclination
of the keying surfaces 28 of the cartridge 10 (FIG. 1B) as
described above. Accordingly, the faces of these protruding bars
110 and 112 work as contacting faces with the keying surfaces 28.
This means that an inverted insertion of the cartridge 10 is
prevented by the keying surfaces 28 and the protruding bars 110 and
112.
On the top surface of the bottom plate 104 of the tray 94, rails
114 and 116 having a rectangular or circular arc in cross-section
are disposed in the vicinity of the side end portion extendingly in
the direction of insertion of the cartridge 10. These rails prevent
the surface of the lower half 14 from being brought in face-contact
with the bottom plate 104, thereby serving to reduce the contact
resistance. Also, these rails act as reinforcing members of the
bottom plate 104.
Stepped portions 118 and 120 corresponding to the stepped portions
82 and 84 of the frame 66 are formed in the side walls 106 and 108.
These stepped portions 118 and 120 engage with the stepped portions
22 of the cartridge 10, working to define the amount of insertion
of the cartridge 10 at a constant value.
As well understood from FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, inwardly protruding
pieces 122, 124, 126, and 128 are formed at the top ends of the
side walls 106 and 108 of the tray 94. The interval between the
bottom end faces of these protruding pieces 122-128 and the top end
faces of the rails 114 and 116 is selected equal to or a little
larger than the thickness of the case 12 of the cartridge 10.
Accordingly, the cartridge 10 is inserted between the rails 114 and
116 and the protruding pieced 122-128. The protruding pieces
122-128 cause the cartridge 10 to move with the tray when it is
rotated downward.
A reinforcing plate 130 composed of metal or the like is mounted on
a pair of protruding pieces 122 and 124 at the rear end side in the
direction of insertion of the cartridge 10. This reinforcing plate
130 prevents the bottom plate 104 from warping, and also acts to
prevent downward rotation of the tray unless the cartridge is fully
inserted.
Furthermore, because the reinforcing plate 130 is composed of a
conductive material and connected to frame 66, it acts also as
means for preventing electric interference of the cartridge by
discharging charges on the case 12. More specifically, when the
cartridge 10 is inserted into the tray 94, the surface of the upper
half 16 of the case 12 is brought in contact with the reinforcing
plate 130. Then, charges on the case 12 are discharged to the
electric potential of the frame 66, that is, ground potential
through the reinforcing plate 130. Accordingly, electric
bombardment to the electronic components 32, 34, 36 and the like
mounted on the printed circuit board 20 of the case 12 is
prevented, and these electronic components 32, 34, 36 and the like
are protected effectively from electrostatic electricity.
On the top portions of the side walls 106 and 108 of the tray 94,
spring stopping pieces 132 and 134 are formed in an
outward-protruding fashion at the positions of the spring shoes 90
and 92 installed on the side walls of the frame 66. Coil springs
136 are held between these spring stopping pieces 132 and 134 and
the spring shoes 90 and 92, respectively. The tray 94 is rotatably
mounted to a shaft (not illustrated) passing through holes 100 and
biased upwardly by these coil springs 136. Then, engaging
protrusions 138 (FIG. 7) for defining the upper limit of the upward
rotation by the springs 136 of the tray 94 are formed on the
outside faces of the side walls 106 and 108 facing the engaging
grooves 96 and 98.
A stepped portion 140 is formed at the front end of the bottom
plate 104 and a hole 146 is formed in this stepped portion 140.
Inside the front wall 68 of the frame 66, a holding plate 142 is
formed beneath portion 140. A cylindrical protrusion 144 extends
upward from plate 142. The outer diameter of the cylindrical
protrusion 144 is a little smaller than the inner diameter of hole
146, and the height thereof protrudes beyond the top surface of the
bottom plate 104 by a length equivalent to the depth of the concave
portion 26 of the cartridge (FIG. 1B). In addition, the cylindrical
protrusion 144 is positioned such that when the cartridge 10 is
inserted into the tray 94, and the tray 94 is rotated downward into
the operating position, the top end of the cylindrical protrusion
144 contacts the bottom of portion 26. Thereby, the normal loading
of the cartridge 10 is made possible.
If any cartridge not having the concave portion 26 is inserted, the
top end of the cylindrical protrusion 144 will contact the rear
face of the cartridge when the tray is rotated downward, preventing
loading of the cartridge. Thus, the cylindrical protrusion 144 acts
to inhibit loading of any cartridge other than the one having a
concave portion substantially identical to concave portion 26.
Furthermore, a locking mechanism 148 is installed in association
with the front wall 68 of the frame 66 and the stepped portion 140
of the bottom plate 104 of the tray 94. This locking mechanism 148,
as shown in FIG. 7, includes a key mechanism 150 which is provided
on the front wall 68 and is equivalent to a key. It also includes a
cam mechanism 152 for locking which is provided under the stepped
portion 140 and is equivalent to a lock. As shown in FIG. 7, the
key mechanism 150 includes an engaging groove 154 formed on rear
side of the front wall 68, and a plate spring 156 is fixed to this
engaging groove 154. A U-shaped hook pin 158 is forced into contact
with the cam mechanism 152 by the plate spring 156, and further a
holder 159 fixes the top end of the hook pin 158 and supports the
bottom end thereof in a manner capable of swinging.
As shown in FIG. 8, the cam mechanism 152 includes a heart-shaped
groove 160 which is a little wider than the thickness of the
above-described hook pin 158. An engaging protrusion 162 is formed
by an island portion surrounded by this heart-shaped groove 160,
and a groove 164 extending downward from the bottom end of the
heart-shaped groove 160 is formed, and a trumpet-shaped groove 166
is formed further under the groove 164.
In loading the cartridge 10, the cartridge 10 is inserted into the
tray 94, and thereafter this tray 94 is pressed down against the
spring force of the coil springs 136 (FIG. 4). At this time, since
the top end of the hook pin 158 is fixedly supported by the holder
149, the cam mechanism 152 is guided by the bottom end of the hook
pin 158 and the trumpet-shaped groove 166, the groove 164 and the
heart-shaped groove 160 at the right side of the engaging
protrusion 162. Accordingly, the bottom end of the hook pin 158 is
brought to the position shown by a point p1 in FIG. 8. The dash-dot
line in FIG. 8 represents the path followed by the bottom end of
the hook pin 158 in the heart-shaped groove 160. Thereafter, if the
downward force against the tray 94 is relaxed, this tray 94 is
restored upwardly by the elastic force of the coil springs 136
(FIG. 4). Then, the bottom end of the hook pin 158 engages with the
U-shaped concave portion at the upper side of the engaging
protrusion 162; that is, the portion as shown by a point p2 in FIG.
8. Thereby the tray 94 is retained in the locked state.
On the other hand, when the cartridge 10 is to be removed, the tray
94 is pressed downward again. When the bottom end of the hook pin
158 reaches point p3, the downward force against the tray 94 is
relaxed and the bottom end of the hook pin 158 moves along the
heart-shaped groove 160 at the left side of the engaging
protrusions 162, the groove 164 and the trumpet-shaped groove 166,
to the bottom end of this trumped-shaped groove 166. That is, the
bottom end of the hook pin 158 moves so as to depict a locus as
shown by a dotted line in FIG. 8, and the locked state of the tray
94 is released.
As described above, the cam system locking mechanism 148 of this
embodiment first locks the tray 94 at the position of the frame 66
by pressing down the tray 94, and this locking is released by a
second pressing, and therefore it is not required to install an
additional ejecting mechanism. Accordingly, the configuration of
the locking mechanism 148 of the tray 94 can be simplified and
miniaturized. Obviously, the configuration may be made in a manner
that such a locking mechanism is constituted with a lever or the
like, and locking by this lever can be released in interlocking
with an operation of an eject button (not illustrated).
As shown in FIG. 4, the opening 170 of the edge connector 78 is
engaged with the opening 80 at the front end of the frame 66 in the
direction of insertion of the cartridge 10. Case 168 of edge
connector 78 has a U-shaped cross section and two vertically spaced
openings 170 and 172. The edge portions of printed circuit board 20
and a printed circuit board 182 are inserted into these openings
170 and 172, respectively.
To be further detailed, as shown in FIG. 9, the front end of the
upper portion of the case 168 protrudes forward beyond the front
end of the lower portion thereof, and accordingly the opening 170
is positioned forward beyond the opening 172. Then, the printed
circuit board 20 of the cartridge 10 is inserted obliquely into the
opening 170. In order to accommodate the circuit boards, upper
opening 170 is oriented in the direction of insertion of board 20
whereas lower opening 172 is oriented horizontally as shown.
A number of pairs of spring electrodes 178 and 180 are accommodated
in the case 168 and these pairs are uniformly spaced in the
direction of width of the edge connector 78. To locate the spring
electrodes 178 and 180 in the case, grooves or partitions may be
formed on the inner face of the case 168. The respective lower open
ends of the spring electrodes 178 and 180 are bent in a V-shape,
being formed as contacting portions 178b and 180b which are faced
each other.
The upper open end of the spring electrode 178 is bent in a V-shape
to form the contacting portion 178a, and the upper open end of the
spring electrode 180 is bent outward in a V-shape in the vicinity
of the opening 170 and further the tip is bent back in a V-shape,
and thereby the contacting portion 180a is formed. The contacting
portion 180a and the contacting portion 178a are positioned so as
to be spaced from each other in the direction of insertion of the
cartridge 10, and when viewed in the direction of insertion of the
cartridge 10 (from obliquely above), an interval nearly equal to or
a little larger than the thickness of the printed circuit board 20
is kept between them. Then, a stopper protrusion 184 for defining
the insertion depth of the printed circuit board 20 is formed under
the contacting portion 178a.
In order to load the cartridge it is inserted in the tray until the
tip portion 20a (FIG. 2) of the printd circuit board 20 of the
cartridge 10 strikes against the stopper protrusion 184. Next the
tray and cartridge are rotated downward, pressing circuit board 20
against contact portion 180a which acts as a fulcrum to the
position where the printed circuit board 20 becomes parallel with
the printed circuit board 182. Thereby the printed circuit board 20
can be loaded easily.
When a game is played using the gaming machine main unit 42 (FIG.
3), first the external terminal 58 for sound and the external
terminal 60 for video are connected to the CRT 196 (FIG. 10) such
as a home TV set. Thereafter, the lid 46 is opened, and the
cartridge 10 is inserted into the tray 94 so that the lower half 14
thereof becomes the down side (FIG. 7). At this time, the stepped
portions 22 of the cartridge 20 engage with the stepped portions
118 and 120 of the tray 94, and the amount of insertion of the
cartridge 10 is defined. Then, the upper opening 170 of the case
168 of the edge connector 78, that is, the whole of the upper open
end 168a fits into the opening 18 (FIG. 1A) of the case 12 of the
cartridge 10. In this state, as shown in FIG. 9, the printed
circuit board 20 of the cartridge 10 has an inclination of about 10
degrees to printed circuit board 182 of the gaming machine main
unit 42. In that position the spring electrodes 178 are not in
perfect contact with the contacts 30 of the printed circuit board
20.
Subsequently, the cartridge 10 and the tray 94 are pressed downward
from above. When an authentic cartridge is inserted, and the tray
94 is pressed downward, and the locking mechanism 148 locks the
tray 94 while holding the same in the horizontal state.
Accordingly, the conductive patterns of the printed circuit board
20 are brought into firm electrical contact with the corresponding
spring electrodes 178 and 180 in the upper opening 170 of the edge
connector 78. Thereafter, the lid 46 (FIG. 3) is closed and the
game can be played using the controllers 194a and 194b (FIG.
10).
If any cartridge not having a concave portion analogous to concave
portion 26 (FIG. 1B) is inserted into the tray 94, the tray 94
cannot be pressed down because the cylindrical protrusion 144 (FIG.
6) strikes the rear face of the cartridge.
In reference to FIG. 10, the controllers 194a and 194b are
connected to the gaming machine main unit 42 through the jacks 48
and 50 and the CRT 196 is connected through the external terminals
58 and 60 (FIG. 3). Also, the printed circuit board 182 connected
by contacting portions 178b and 180b of the above-described edge
connector 78 is accommodated in the gaming machine main unit 42. A
game microprocessor 198 is mounted on the printed circuit board
182, and the above-described controllers 194a and 194b and the CRT
196 are connected to this microprocessor 198 through an I/O
interface 206. A PPU (picture processing unit) 200, a
microprocessor 202 for determining authenticity and a clock
oscillator 204 are further connected to the printed circuit board
182. The PPU 200 is composed, for example, of the IC "2C03"
manufactured by Nintendo and outputs image information processed by
the microprocessor 198 as a video signal for the CRT 196.
The microprocessor 202 for determining authenticity preferably is
composed of a four-bit microprocessor like the microprocessor for
determining authenticity 36 mounted on the printed circuit board 20
of the cartridge 10. The reset switch 56 is connected to the
microprocessor 202. A reset condenser 56a is further connected to
the reset terminal of the microprocessor 202 in parallel with the
reset switch 56. This reset condenser 56a is charged when the power
switch 52 (FIG. 3) is turned on, thereby performing so-called
initial reset (power on clear) that holds the microprocessor 202 in
the reset state for a predetermined time.
As described above, the ROM 32 for storing a program and the ROM 34
for generating character information are mounted on the printed
circuit board 20 of the cartridge 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the
printed circuit board 20 of the cartridge 10 and printed circuit
board 182 of the gaming machine main unit 42 are connected
electrically by the edge connector 78. Then, a clock signal from
the clock oscillator 204 is given also to the microprocessor for
determining authenticity 36 mounted on the printed circuit board 20
of the cartridge 10 through the edge connector 78; that is, the
contacting portions 178b, 180b, 178a and 180a.
Next further detailed description is made of the microprocessor 36
for determining authenticity in reference to FIG. 11. In addition,
the microprocessor 202 of the gaming machine main unit side is of a
similar configuration, and therefore in FIG. 11, reference symbols
relating thereto are shown in parentheses, and duplicate
description is omitted here.
As described above, the microprocessors 36 and 202 determine
whether the cartridge 10 is authentic or forged in cooperation with
each other. The functions of these two microprocessors 36 and 202
can be compared to the relation between a key and a lock.
Accordingly, in the following description, the microprocessor 36 is
referred to as the key microprocessor and the microprocessor 202 is
referred to as the lock microprocessor.
As shown in FIG. 10, a predetermined terminal of the lock
microprocessor 202 is grounded, while a predetermined terminal of
the key microprocessor 36 is connected to a power source Vcc.
Thereby, the microprocessors 36 and 202 can determine whether they
themselves function as a key or a lock.
In the key microprocessor 36 and the lock microprocessor 202,
corresponding terminals I, O and R are connected respectively
through the edge connector 78 to give and receive data
therebetween. Also, as described above, a clock signal CLK from the
common clock oscillator 204 is given to these two microprocessors
36 and 202. The microprocessors 36 and 202 operate in the state
that respective operation periods and phases are perfectly
synchronized.
In reference to FIG. 11, the key microprocessor 36 is preferably of
four-bit configuration and this microprocessor 36 comprises a CPU
36a as data processing means, a ROM 36b as a semiconductor memory,
and a RAM 36c for storing various data required for data processing
of the CPU 36a. The ROM 36b stores operation programs of the CPU
36a, and these operation programs comprise two arithmetic operation
programs. One of the arithmetic operation programs contains a
plurality of kinds of arithmetic operation formulas and data of
random numbers for arithmetic operation. Also, the operation
programs contains a determining program for comparing and checking
the result of operation of the other arithmetic operation program
against that of the lock microprocessor 202 and a determining
program of one arithmetic operation against that of the key
microprocessor 36. When these determining programs are executed,
the CPU 36a functions as determining means.
Furthermore, the operation programs contain a controlling program
for controlling the reset or release of reset state of the gaming
machine main unit 42 based on the result of determination by the
above-described determining program.
An accumulator 36d is connected to the CPU 36a. On the other hand,
a register 36e is connected to the ROM 36b. The register 36e is for
temporary storing the program data accessed from the ROM 36b. The
CPU 36a, the accumulator 36d and the register 36e are connected by
a data bus 36h. This data bus 36h is connected to an I/O port 36g.
Through this I/O port 36g, data is outputted to the lock
microprocessor 202, and data from that microprocessor 202 is
received.
Furthermore, in the key microprocessor 36, a frequency divider 36f
for receiving the clock signal CLK from the clock oscillator 204
(FIG. 10) and for frequency dividing the same is installed, and the
frequency dividing ratio of the frequency divider 36f is selected,
for example, at one-fourth.
Next, brief description is made on operation of the frequency
divider 36f in reference to a timing chart in FIG. 12. As described
above, the frequency divider 36f makes a 1/4 frequency-division of
the clock signal CLK from the clock oscillator 204. Accordingly,
four signals having different phases o1, o2, o3 and o4 are obtained
from the frequency divider 36f. These signals o1-o4 are given to
the CPU 36a. The CPU 36a performs predetermined sequential
operations synchronized with these four signals o1-o4. For example,
it reads data from the I/O port 36g synchronized with the signal
o1, performs a predetermined arithmetic operation processing (data
processing) synchronized with the signals o2 and o3, and outputs
data from the I/O port 36g synchronized with the final signal
o4.
In addition, these signals o1-o4 are given also to the lock
microprocessor 202, and accordingly the two microprocessors 36 and
202 operate in perfect synchronization. The architectures and the
numbers of steps of the operation programs are the same as are the
clock signals and hardware, so respective machine cycles coincide
completely.
In reference to FIG. 13, after the cartridge 10 is loaded in the
gaming machine main unit 42, and the main unit power switch 52 or
the reset switch 56 is turned on, a reset operation of the lock
microprocessor 202 is performed. In step S10, lock microprocessor
202 starts to operate.
In the following step S11, the lock microprocessor 202 determines
whether it is to function as a lock or to function as a key. As
explained with reference to FIG. 10, this determination is made by
determining whether the predetermined terminal is grounded or
connected to the power source. In this case, the microprocessor
lock 202 should determine that it is to function as a lock. If it
determines that it is to function as a key, for example, due to
wrong wiring, malfunction or the like, it is put in the unstable
state, not performing any operation.
When "YES" is determined in step S11, in step S12, to the lock
microprocessor 202 resets each circuit so that the gaming machine
main unit 42 does not execute the game program, and this reset
state is continued. More specifically, the CPU 198 and the PPU 200
(FIG. 10) are placed in the reset state and disabled until the
reset is released in step S21 as described later. Also, in this
step S12, the key microprocessor 36 is reset.
In the following step S13, the lock microprocessor 202 releases the
reset of the key microprocessor 36, and synchronizes the two
microprocessors 36 and 202. More specifically, the machine cycle of
the lock microprocessor 202 is set so that the reset signal given
to the key microprocessor 36 from the lock microprocessor 202 is
outputted between a signal of a specific period of the clock signal
CLK, for example, o4 and the signal o1 of the next period.
Consequently, the key microprocessor 36 is sure to start operation
with that signal o1. Accordingly, the key microprocessor 36 starts
operation with the same machine cycle as that of the lock
microprocessor 202. Thereby, the two microprocessors 36 and 202 are
synchronized, and thereafter the respective microprocessors perform
operations in a perfectly synchronized state.
When the reset of the key microprocessor 36 is released in step
S13, the key microprocessor 36 determines whether it is to function
as a lock or a key in the next step S11'. In this step S11' a
determination is made whether the terminal of the key
microprocessor 36 is grounded or connected to the power source
similar to the above-described determination made in step S11. When
"NO" is determined in the step S11', an unstable state takes place
and no operations are performed at all. When "YES" is determined in
step S11', operations in step S14' and following steps are
executed.
On the other hand, the lock microprocessor 202 executes step S13
and thereafter executes operations in step S14 and following steps.
Thereafter, in the lock microprocessor 202 and the key
microprocessor 36, the same operations can be performed in
synchronization, that is, in coincidence in the time axis.
First, in step S14'; the lock microprocessor 202 and the key
microprocessor 36 output ciphered codes in a random number fashion
from respective program ROMs 202b and 36b (FIG. 11) (steps S14 and
S14'). These outputs of ciphered codes are performed using the same
random function. Then, conditions given to the random function are
the same for the two microprocessors 36 and 202. Accordingly, when
the cartridge is authentic, the ciphered codes generated in the key
microprocessor 36 become identical.
Next, in steps S15 and S15', the lock microprocessor 202 and the
key microprocessor 36 exchange data and receive the ciphered codes
generated by the counterportion, respectively. Then, in steps S16
and S16', the both perform predetermined data processings based on
the ciphered codes inputted from the counterportions. Arithmetic
operation formulas used for these arithmetic operation processings
are identical in the two microprocessor 36 and 202, and therefore
when the inputted ciphered codes are the same, the results of these
arithmetic operation are identical. Then, in steps S17 and S17',
the lock microprocessor 202 and the key microprocessor 36 send the
result of arithmetic operation to the counterportion, respectively.
Responsively, in steps S18 and S18', the two microprocessors 36 and
202 receive the result of arithmetic operation inputted from the
counterportion, respectively. Here, since the key microprocessor 36
and the lock microprocessor 202 perform the same operation at the
same timing, the results of arithmetic operations inputted from the
counterportion are to be inputted at the same timing. Accordingly,
in this embodiment, not only coincidence in the result of
arithmetic operation but also coincidence in the time axis are
taken into consideration to determine whether or not the cartridge
is authentic.
Next, in step S18, the lock microprocessor 202 compares and checks
the result of arithmetic operation done by itself against the
result or arithmetic operation given from the key microprocessor
36, determining whether or not both coincide with each other. As a
result of this check, if "NO" is determined, the lock
microprocessor 202 holds the reset state of each circuit in the
gaming machine main unit 42, namely, the CPU 198, the PPU 200 and
the like in the next step S20. Thereby, the gaming machine main
unit 42 is inhibited to execute the game program.
In addition, in place of such a holding of the reset state, an
alarm may be raised in response to a determination of
noncoincidence, or processing may be returned to the initial state,
namely, step S11.
As a result of checking in step S19, if "YES" is determined, the
lock microprocessor 202 releases the reset state of these circuits,
that is, the CPU 198, the PPU 200 and the like in the next step
S21.
Subsequently, in step S21, the lock microprocessor 202 generates
two sets of random numbers based on a predetermined random
function. Then, in step S23, the lock microprocessor 202 selects
the kind of arithmetic operation formula by the second set of
random numbers, and uses the two sets of random numbers as values
to be substituted into the selected arithmetic operation formula.
More specifically, in this embodiment, n (a positive integer) kinds
of arithmetic operation formulas are set in advance as the second
arithmetic operation processing (data processing) in the arithmetic
operation program and an arithmetic operation formula is selected
from among them in response to the second data of random numbers.
Next, in step S24, arithmetic operation by the two sets of random
numbers is executed based on the selected arithmetic operation
formula. These operations in steps S19-S24 are performed also in
the key microprocessor 36 in the same manner at quite the same
timing. Then, the random function for generating the two sets of
random numbers employed here is also the same as that employed in
the lock microprocessor 202. Then, conditions given to the random
function for generating the two sets of random numbers are quite
the same for the lock microprocessor 202 and the key microprocessor
36. Accordingly, if the cartridge 10 is compatible with the main
unit 42, the same arithmetic operation formula is selected, and the
results of the arithmetic operation also be the same.
Next, in step S25, the lock microprocessor 202 gives the result of
arithmetic operation performed in step S24 to the key
microprocessor 36, and receives the result of arithmetic operation
by the key microprocessor 36. The same operation is performed also
in the key microprocessor 36.
Next, in step S26, the lock microprocessor 202 compares and checks
the result of arithmetic operation by itself against the result of
the arithmetic operation received from the key microprocessor 36,
and determines whether or not they both coincide.
If the cartridge 10 loaded in the gaming machine main unit 42 is
not authentic, the result of arithmetic operation by the both do
not coincide, and therefore the lock microprocessor 202 forcedly
puts the CPU 198, and PPU 200 and the like in the reset state so as
to stop the following operations in step S27.
On the other hand, in the lock microprocessor 202, when the result
of arithmetic operation by itself and the result of arithmetic
operation received from the key microprocessor 36 coincide,
processing returns again to step S22, thereafter repeating the
operation in steps S22-S26. This means that, in this embodiment,
the second arithmetic operation program is executed as long as the
gaming machine main unit 42 operates, but if a noncoincidence takes
place even once during operations, the step S27 is executed, and
operations of the CPU 198 and the PPO 200 are stopped. Thereby,
execution of the game program in the main unit 42 is inhibited.
Meanwhile, the same operations as in step S26 and S27 are performed
also in the key microprocessor 36. However, the key microprocessor
36 has no effect on reset and release of reset of each circuit of
the gaming machine main unit 42.
Also, for the operation of the key microprocessor 36, because
terminals for chip selection are installed normally in the ROMs 32
and 34, it is also possible that these terminals are disabled and
thereby the microprocessor 198 and the PPU 200 of the gaming
machine main unit 42 side are made inaccessible.
Although a sufficient determination of authenticity can be made by
checking the result of the first arithmetic operation in step S19,
in the above-described embodiment, the second arithmetic operation
and checking of the result thereof are further performed in steps
S22-S26 continuously as long as the gaming machine main unit 42
operates. Therefore the determination of whether or not the
cartridge 10 is authentic can be made with a high degree of
certainty. Accordingly, when any cartridge which copies the ROMs 32
and 34 in the cartridge 10 or comprises ROMs storing programs
similar thereto is used, such a protection for software cannot be
broken unless hardware identical to the key microprocessor 36 is
obtained. Also, by using custom ICs as the key microprocessor 36
and the lock microprocessor 202, such a protection can be made more
completely.
Thus, with the cooperation of microprocessor 36 in the cartridge
and microprocessor 202 in the gaming machine main unit 42, the
software of the cartridge 10 can be protected completely.
Accordingly use of any cartridge other than an authentic one is
prevented.
In accordance with the present invention, by means of a peculiar
shape of the cartridge 10 and by the data processing means
accommodated in the cartridge 10, whether or not the cartridge is
authentic can be determined perfectly, and thereby use of any
cartridge other than the authentic one can be excluded.
In addition, the cartridge 10 in accordance with the present
invention may be used with other gaming machines having an
inserting port adapted to receive the cartridge where the cartridge
is inserted from the upper portion of the main unit.
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment in
accordance with the present invention. The cartridge 10' of the
embodiment is modified in some respects from the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1A through FIG. 2 to facilitate manufacture. More
specifically, in the opening 18 of the upper half 16, a
partitioning plate 210 having a notched portion 208 is formed.
Also, near both sides of the partitioning plates 210, there are
formed protrusions 212 and 214 for positioning. These positioning
protrusions 212 and 214 are formed in an L-shape or step-shape
correspondingly to the form of the both sides of the printed
circuit board 20. The form and the position of the right and left
sides of the positioning protrusions 212 and 214 are different from
each other, thereby preventing the mounting of printed circuit
board 20 in reverse in the case 12.
Meanwhile, instead of the single printed circuit board unit 20, a
printed circuit board unit 20' may be used. Board unit 20' includes
a first printed circuit board 215, a second printed circuit board
218 and a double edge connector 220 for interconnecting the both
printed circuit board 216 and 218. The reason why such printed
circuit board unit 20' is used is to make the printed circuit board
218 having no key microprocessor 36 applicable to the gaming
machine main unit 42 of the embodiment shown. It will provide a
cartridge 10' usable with printed circuit board 218 for another
kind of game and having the number of connecting electrodes
different from that of the edge connector 78. In this case, the
number of the connecting electrodes formed on the tip 20a of the
first printed circuit board 216 is selected equal to the number of
the connecting electrodes of the printed circuit board 20 of the
above described embodiment. Also the number of the connecting
electrodes formed at the rear end of the first printed circuit
board 216 is selected equal to the number of the connecting
electrodes of the second circuit board 218. Further the key
microprocessor 36 is mounted on the first printed circuit board
216. Then, the rear end of the first printed circuit board 216 is
inserted into one insertion part of the double edge connector 220
and, the second printed circuit board 218 is inserted into the
other insertion part of the double edge connector 220.
At the both right and left sides of the double edge connector 220,
a mounting piece 224 having a mounting hole is formed. The ROMs 32
and 34 are mounted on the second printed circuit board 218. In the
center of the second printed circuit board 218, a hole 226 is
formed and, a hold 228 is formed at the position shifted from the
hole 226.
On the other hand, in the case where the printed circuit board unit
20' is used, mounting posts 230 and 232 having threaded holes
therein and positioning post 234 are formed on the upper half 16.
On an outer periphery of the mounting post 232, a fin-shaped
protrusion 236 is formed below the position corresponding to the
thickness of the second printed circuit board 218. Therefore, the
mounting of printed circuit board unit 20' is facilitated and a
reverse mounting of the board is prevented. Further, by such
structure, it is possible to secure stably the printed circuit
board unit 20' to the case 12.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated
in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of
illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of
limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *