Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Player-actuated control structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2002-11-12
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Player-actuated control structure
C463S037000, C463S043000, C463S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06478679
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a memory device including a memory for storing information in a case and connection terminals for inputting and outputting the information provided on one end of the case, a controller, and an electronic device.
BACKGROUND ART
Domestic game apparatuses are very popular as an amusement as various interesting games have been recently developed. As the contents of the games become sophisticated, memory cards for temporarily storing game progress information of respective game players, game setting information, etc. are increasingly demanded. Some game apparatuses have backup memories built in. However, the backup memories usually have small capacities, and separate memory cards are required for sophisticated games. The memory cards are used inserted in connectors for memories of the game apparatus bodies.
The conventional memory cards are mounted on the game apparatus bodies as described above to back up game data. To back up game data is only one function the conventional memory cards have.
Some players own a plurality of memory cards to back up game data of a plurality of games. However, when they own a plurality of memory cards, they are often at a loss to locate the memory cards storing game data they require. All that they can do is confirm stored contents is to load the memory cards in game apparatuses for the confirmation.
On the other hand, as storage mediums storing game programs having larger capacities, the games themselves have larger scales and take too a long time to be completed, which results in a disadvantage that the game players are contrarily bored. As a countermeasure to this disadvantage, storage mediums of large capacities are used so that one game contains various games which can be played for relatively short periods of time. For example, a game which is a main game contains smaller sub-games, or a plurality of games make up a main game.
The inventors of the present application halve obtained an idea that functions of a conventional memory card are expanded to enable execution of smaller games, and various sub-games are played by using the memory card, whereby an innovational interesting game system which has not been available can be realized.
An object of the present invention is to provide a memory device having functions of a conventional memory device expanded.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a memory device which allows the stored information to be confirmed.
A further another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device using the memory device having the functions expanded.
A further another object of the present invention is to provide an innovational game system using the memory device having the functions expanded.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The above-described object is achieved by a memory device including a case, a memory disposed in the case and storing information, and a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case and inputting/outputting information, comprising: a display disposed on one side of the case and displaying information; and a memory device disposed on one side of the case and including operation buttons to be operated by an operator.
In the above-described memory device it is possible that the memory stores backup data and/or a program.
In the above-described memory device it is possible that one of the backup data and the program is stored first in an upper address of the memory toward an lower address, and the other of the backup data and the program is stored first in lower address of the memory toward an upper address.
In the above-described memory device it is possible that contents stored in the memory are displayed on the display unit.
In the above-described memory device it is possible that the operation buttons are operated to designate a contents stored in the memory to erase the content or to protect the content from writing.
In the above-described memory device it is possible that the memory stores a first program to be executed when the memory device is singly operated, and a second program to be executed when the memory device is connected, the first program is executed when the connection terminal is not connected to an outside apparatus, and the second program is executed when the connection terminal is connected to an outside apparatus.
The above-described object is achieved by a game system including a game apparatus body, display device connected to the game apparatus body, and a controller connected to the game apparatus body, the game system comprising the above-described memory device being loaded in the loading portion of the controller, and a game display which is different from that displayed on the display means being displayed on the display of the memory device.
In the above-described game system it is possible that a plurality of the controllers are connected to the game apparatus body, the memory device is connected to the respective controllers, and game displays which are different from each other between the displays of the memory devices are displayed on the displays.
The above-described object is achieved by a game system including a game apparatus body, display means connected to the game apparatus body, and a controller connected to the game apparatus body, the above-described memory device being loaded in a loading portion of the controller, data or a program being transferred from the game apparatus body to the memory device.
The above-described object is achieved by a game system including a game apparatus body, display means connected to the game apparatus body, and a controller connected to the game apparatus body, the above-described memory device being loaded in a loading portion of the controller, and data or a program being transferred from the memory device to the game apparatus body.
In the above-described memory device it is possible that the connection terminal has a first male connection terminal and a second female connection terminal.
The above-described object is achieved by a game system including the above-described two memory devices, wherein the first connection terminal of one of the two memory devices being connected to the second connection terminal of the other of the two memory devices, and the second connection terminal of the one of the two memory devices being connected to the first connection terminal of the other of the two memory devices, whereby the one of the two memory devices is connected directly to the other of the two memory devices.
The above-described object is achieved by a memory device comprising: a case; a memory disposed in the case and storing information; a connection terminal disposed on one end of the case, and inputting/outputting the information; a display disposed on one side of the case, and displaying the information; and a save key inputting information through the connection terminal to save the information in the memory.
The above-described object is achieved by a memory device comprising: a case; a memory disposed on one end of the case and inputting/outputting through a connection terminal; a display disposed on one side of the case and displaying information; and a selection key selecting arbitrary one of a plurality of information.
The above-described object is achieved by a memory device comprising: a case; a memory disposed in the case, and storing information; a connection terminal disposed on one side of the case, and inputting/outputting information; a display unit disposed on one side of the case, and displaying information; a selection key selecting arbitrary information out of a plurality of information; and a save key inputting information through the connection terminal, and saving the information in the memory.
The above-described object is achieved by a controller including a prescribed operation key, and outputting a prescribed command signal to an electronic device, comprising: a loading portion for the above-described memory device to be loaded in.
The above-described object is achieved by a controller comprising:
Himoto Atsunori
Nakayama Madoka
Tosaki Kenji
Tsuchiya Koji
Yasuoka Miyuki
Cheng Joe H.
Christman Kathleen M.
Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinksky LLP
Sega Enterprises Ltd.
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