Interfacing device for a computer games system

Abstract

An interfacing device for connecting the processing unit of a computer games system to an external data storage medium has a user-operable selection unit for generating a user-selected address and user-selected data. The user-operable selection unit may comprise user-operable switches or electronic latches that are set by a program in response to selections made by the user by means of a joystick, keypad or any other input device. An address comparison unit compares the user-selected address with the addresses from the processing unit, and a data switching device causes the user-selected data to be substituted for data in the storage medium whenever the compared addresses are the same. Instead of a user-operable selection unit, preselected addresses and preselected data may be stored in a ROM, which in one embodiment changes the way the computer interprets external memory and in another changes the computer's internal memory itself.

We claim: 
     
       1. An interfacing device for connecting a processing unit of a computer games system to an external data storage medium so as to enable the processing unit to address, and receive data from, different storage locations in the external data storage medium, said interfacing device being removably connectable to the processing unit and to the external data storage medium and comprising means responsive to the processing unit for recognition of a selected address and means responsive to said recognition for modification of data processed by the processing unit. 
     
     
       2. An interfacing device according to claim 1 wherein said recognition means includes means for comparing the selected address with an address from the processing unit and said modification means effects the modification if the compared addresses are the same. 
     
     
       3. An interfacing device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the selected address is an address selected by the user. 
     
     
       4. An interfacing device according to clam 3 wherein the modification means comprises user-operable selection means for generating the selected address and user-selected data and means for supplying the user-selected data to the processing unit in substitution for the data in the addressed storage location of the external data storage medium if the compared addresses are the same. 
     
     
       5. An interfacing device according to claim 4 wherein the data supplying means includes a semiconductor switching device responsive to an output from the comparing means. 
     
     
       6. An interface device according to claim 4 wherein the user-operable selection means comprises a first plurality of user-operable switching devices for setting the selected address and a second plurality of user-operable switching devices for setting the user-selected data. 
     
     
       7. An interfacing device according to claim 6 wherein the switching devices are user-operable rotary switches. 
     
     
       8. An interfacing device according to claim 7 wherein the rotary switches are 16-position rotary switches. 
     
     
       9. An interfacing device according to claim 6 wherein the first plurality comprises four said switching devices and the second plurality comprises two said switching devices. 
     
     
       10. An interfacing device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said selected address is preselected. 
     
     
       11. An interfacing device according to claim 10 wherein the modification means effects the modification in response to recognition of one of a plurality of preselected addresses in accordance with identification data from the external data storage medium. 
     
     
       12. An interfacing device according to claim 11 wherein the recognition means includes a memory for storing said plurality of preselected addresses together with a plurality of corresponding preselected data, and means for comparing said one address with an address from the processing unit, and said modification means includes means for supplying to the processing unit the preselected data, corresponding to the one address, in substitution for the data in the external data storage medium, if the compared addresses are the same. 
     
     
       13. An interfacing device according to claim 12 wherein the preselected data corresponding to one or more of said preselected address each may be user-selected from a corresponding set of possible values, said interfacing device further including user-operable means for selecting from each said corresponding set. 
     
     
       14. An interfacing device according to claim 1 wherein the modification means effects a modification in response to recognition of any one of two or more selected addresses from the processing unit. 
     
     
       15. In combination, an interfacing device according to claim 1, the processing unit and the external data storage medium. 
     
     
       16. An interfacing device according to claim 1 wherein the modification means comprises a .[.read-only memory.]. .Iadd.data source .Iaddend.and the modification means interrupts the processing unit in response to said recognition and .[.banks.]. .Iadd.presents .Iaddend.data from said .[.read-only memory into.]. .Iadd.data source to .Iaddend.said processing unit in order to modify an internal memory in the processing unit. 
     
     
       17. An interfacing device according to claim 16 wherein said selected address is user-selected. 
     
     
       18. An interfacing device according to claim 16 wherein said selected address is preset in said recognition means. 
     
     
       19. An interfacing device according to claim 16 wherein said recognition means comprises bus means connected to said processing unit, register means, and comparator means connected to said bus means and said register means, said register means being adapted to store a value corresponding to said selected address and said comparator means producing an output indicative of correspondence between an address on said bus means and said stored value. 
     
     
       20. An interfacing device according to claim 16, wherein said recognition means includes comparator means for comparing in selected address with an address from the processing unit and said modification means comprises switch means responsive to said comparator means for enabling access by said processing unit to data in said .[.read-only memory.]. .Iadd.data source.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       21. An interfacing device according to claim 20 wherein said switch means comprises a semiconductor device. 
     
     
       22. An interfacing device according to claim 1 wherein said recognition means also recognizes a selected data value, and said modification means effects said modification of data only if said recognition means recognizes both said selected address and said selected data value. 
     
     
       23. An interfacing device according to claim 1 further comprising case means containing said recognition means and said modification means, said case means including a handle portion. 
     
     
       24. An interfacing device according to claim 23, said external data storage medium being connectable thereto in such a manner as to be positioned underneath said handle portion, and said handle portion being formed with a thumb rest protruding from an upper portion thereof, said thumb rest being formed with a concave portion for accommodating the thumb of a user, whereby an assembly of said interfacing device and said external data storage medium can conveniently be grasped with a thumb engaging said thumb rest and fingers engaging said external data storage medium for connection of said assembly to said processing unit of said computer games system. 
     
     
       25. An interfacing device according to claim 24 wherein said protruding thumb rest prevents connection of said assembly to said processing unit in an up-side-down relation. 
     
     
       26. An interfacing device according to claim 24 wherein said recognition means and said modification means are incorporated in a printed circuit board that has sufficient thickness that said connection of said assembly to said processing unit of said computer games system can be effected with a movement that is rectilinear. 
     
     
       27. An interfacing device according to claim 1 that operates in a latch-setting mode wherein a user can determine said selected address and replacement data and further operates in an active mode wherein said recognition means recognizes said selected address and said modification means effects said modification of data in response to said recognition. 
     
     
       28. An interfacing device according to claim 27 wherein a display screen used with the interfacing device has a plurality of character cells each measuring a plurality of display screen pixels in each of two mutually orthogonal directions. 
     
     
       29. An interfacing device according to claim 28 wherein, at least in the latch setting mode, a plurality of pixels in each cell are controlled as a unit. 
     
     
       30. An interfacing device according to claim 29 further comprising a graphic generating means for generating said graphic display, said display screen presenting said graphic display, at least in said latch-setting mode. 
     
     
       31. An interfacing device according to claim 30 wherein said graphic generating means comprises a plurality of gate means responsive to graphic address signals and a graphic output buffer responsive to said gate means, said graphic output buffer producing graphic data outputs that control said pixels, whereby said graphics display is generated without the provision of a read-only memory. 
     
     
       32. A method or playing a computer game controlled by a computer games system having an internal processing unit and an external data storage medium, comprising the following steps performed outside the internal processing unit: comparing an address from the processing unit with a selected address; and   modifying data processed by the processing unit whenever the compared addresses are the same.   
     
     
       33. A method according to claim 32 wherein aid selected address is selected by a player of the game. 
     
     
       34. A method according to claim 32 wherein aid selected address is presettable. 
     
     
       35. A method according to claim 32 wherein the modification of data processed by the processing unit comprises the step of replacing data being transmitted to the processing unit from the external data storage medium. 
     
     
       36. A method according to claim 32 wherein the modification of data processed by the processing unit comprises the step of supplying to said processing unit data from a source external to both the external data storage medium and the processing unit. .Iadd. 
     
     
       37.  An interfacing device for interconnecting a processing unit of a computer games system and an external data storage medium of a kind which is directly connectable to the processing unit, the interfacing device being removably connectable to the processing unit and to the external storage data storage medium to enable the processing unit to address, and receive data from, different data storage locations in the external data storage medium, and the interfacing device comprising: means for conveying addresses from an address output of the processing unit to an address input of the external data storage medium;   recognition means for recognizing a selected address from the processing unit; and   modifications means responsive to recognition of said selected address for causing the processing unit to process different data than the processing unit would process if the external data storage medium is directly connected to the processing unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. A method of operating a computer games system in which an interfacing device interconnects a processing unit of the computer games system and an external data storage medium of a kind which is directly connectable to the processing unit, the interfacing device being removably connectable to the processing unit and to the external data storage medium to enable the processing unit to address and receive data from different data storage locations in the external data storage medium, the method including the following steps performed in the interfacing device:   conveying addresses from an address output of the processing unit to an address input of the external data storage medium;   recognizing a selected address from the processing unit addressing a storage location in the external data storage medium; and   in response to recognition of said selected address, causing the processing unit to process different data than the processing unit would process if the external data storage medium is directly connected to the processing unit. .Iaddend.