JPH0317513B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an adapter for connecting to an information processing device, and is particularly suitable for playing games such as karaoke by inserting it into a ROM cassette connector of a television game machine. This relates to an adapter device that can be used.

[Prior art]

Recently, television game devices using replaceable ROM cassettes have become popular, and with the recent karaoke games, not only commercial karaoke machines but also small karaoke machines for home use have become popular.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, with conventional video game devices using ROM cassettes, the user had to create a joystick controller or Matsuto switch to play the game, which is easily boring for older people and difficult for young people to operate. The problem was that it was difficult. Another problem was that only two people at most could play on one game machine at the same time, making it impossible to play with many family members or friends at the same time. In addition, small home karaoke machines produce only accompaniment sounds, and there is a problem in that they cannot display song lyrics or background images on a television screen or the like. In order to display lyrics, background images, etc. on a television screen, a video disc playback device or the like is required, which poses the problem of being extremely expensive. Therefore,
There has been a desire for an inexpensive karaoke device that uses a home video game console and can display lyrics, etc. on the screen.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention was devised in view of the above problems, and
An adapter for connecting to an information processing device to which a removable external storage means can be attached, comprising: a first connection means compatible with a connecting part provided on the external storage means; and a first connection means for connecting to the information processing device. a first storage means for controlling the connection between the first storage means and the information processing device; and a first storage means for controlling the connection between the first storage means and the information processing device; a second connection means for mounting a second storage means for storing information such as image information such as information, characters, figures, etc.; and a microphone section having an audio input means for connection to the information processing device. It is characterized by becoming.
In particular, the information processing device is a video game machine, the external storage means and the second storage means are ROM cassettes, the first connection means is a male connector formed on the adapter body, and the second The connection means may be a female connector, and the first storage means may be composed of RAM and ROM.

[Effect]

In the present invention configured as described above, when the first connecting means is connected to the external storage device mounting part of the information processing apparatus, the first storage means and the information processing apparatus are electrically connected. . Then, the control means controls the connection between the first storage means and the information processing device. Further, a microphone unit having audio input means is connected to the information processing device, and is configured to send out at least electrical signals such as audio to the information processing device. Further, a second connection means for attaching a second storage means in which information such as music information is stored is connected to at least one of the control means and the information processing device, and the second connection means is connected to at least one of the control means and the information processing device, and the information is stored in the second storage means. The information being displayed is sent to at least the information processing device. In particular, the information processing device is a video game machine, the external storage means and the second storage means are ROM cassettes, the first connection means is a male connector formed on the adapter body, and the second If the connection means is a female connector, connect the adapter body to the information processing device.
By inserting the ROM cassette into the ROM cassette insertion connector and inserting the ROM cassette containing music information into the female connector formed on the adapter body, the television game machine can be used as a karaoke machine.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes an adapter body, and a male connector 2.
, a memory 3 , a control means 4 , a microphone section 5 , a female connector 6 and a microphone stand 7 . 10 is the main body of the video game machine,
CPU, PPU (image processing unit), RAM, ROM,
It consists of a PSG (programmable sound generator), an I/O port, a joystick controller, an RF converter, a female connector 11 for inserting a ROM cassette, etc. The male connector 2 is one of the first connection means, and is a female connector 11 for inserting a ROM cassette of the video game machine main body 10.
It is designed to be inserted into and mated with the ROM cassette connector, and has a structure compatible with the ROM cassette connector. The memory 3 is a first storage means and is a ROM 31.
It consists of RAM32, and in this example,
The ROM 31 stores control programs and characters such as letters, figures, and symbols. RAM32
is for storing the character signal transferred from the ROM 31. The control means 4 is for controlling the connection between the video game machine main body 10 and the memory 3, etc., and mainly has the function of expanding the memory capacity of the video game machine main body 10 by a bank switching method and adding ROM 31 and RAM 32. have. That is, the control means 4 controls the PSG (programmable sound) of the video game machine main body 10.
It is also possible to control and drive the generator) according to a program in the RAM 31, or to combine the audio output signal from the microphone section 5 with the output signal from the PSG. The control means 4 can also be formed in the microphone section 5 or can control the video game machine main body 10 by operating a remote switch 53. Moreover, this control means 4
It is also possible to add processing means to prevent illegal copying. In this embodiment, the control means 4
is constructed from a gate array, but it goes without saying that it may be constructed by combining general-purpose integrated circuits. Reference numeral 5 denotes a microphone section, which is comprised of a microphone 51 serving as voice input means, a low frequency amplification circuit 52, and a remote switch 53 consisting of a switch member. The microphone 51 is for converting the user's singing voice into an electrical signal.
Although a capacitor type microphone is used in this embodiment, the system is not limited to this type, and any element that can exchange sound and electricity will suffice. The low frequency amplification circuit 52 is for amplifying the output voltage of the microphone 51, and is configured to send the amplified output signal to the control means 4 and the video game machine main body 10. The remote switch 53 is operated by the user while holding the microphone unit 5.
0, and is configured to transmit a control signal generated by the remote switch 53 to the video game machine main body 10 via the control means 4. Female connector 6 is a ROM dedicated to this adapter.
This is for installing cassette 61, and is specially designed for this purpose.
The ROM cassette 61 is electrically connected to the memory, the control means 4, and the video game machine main body 10. The ROM cassette 61 dedicated to this adapter is a cassette that can be newly added when used for information other than the audio information stored in the ROM 31. i.e. for adapter only
The ROM cassette 61 corresponds to the second storage means,
The female connector 6 corresponds to the second connection means. The microphone stand 7 is for fixing the microphone section 5 to the adapter body 1, and is integrally molded on the upper surface of the adapter body 1. The video game machine main body 10 is one of the information processing devices, and is designed to have a ROM cassette, which is a removable external storage means, attached thereto. The information processing device can be not only a dedicated video game machine, but also a general-purpose personal computer, one-port control microcomputer, minicomputer, office computer, etc., and at least a CPU
It is sufficient if it has arithmetic processing means including the following.

Next, to explain the operation of this embodiment, first, the male connector 2 formed on the adapter body 1 is inserted and connected to the female connector 11 for inserting a ROM cassette of the television game machine body 10. As a result, memory 3
and control means 4 are electrically connected to the video game machine main body 10. A control program and character signals for controlling the video game machine main body 10 are recorded in the ROM 31. This control program includes the SPG in the video game machine main body 10.
In addition to the function of activating the PPU in the video game machine main unit 10 to generate a desired scale and perform so-called karaoke accompaniment, the command also operates the PPU in the video game machine main body 10 to display background images and characters such as lyrics on the monitor etc. is stored. Also, the character signal is
This is one of the data signals required when the PPU creates an image signal, and is, for example, a signal for generating characters, symbols, graphics, etc. on the monitor. When the control program is executed, the control means 4 transfers the character signal stored in the ROM 31 to the RAM 32 in conjunction with the video game machine main body 10. That is, the RAM 32 can be used as a character memory, and the ROM 31 can be used as a program memory. The control means 4 is controlled by the program stored in the ROM 31 in the game machine main body 10.
The SPG is activated and karaoke accompaniment sounds are generated.
At the same time, the character signal stored in the control means 4 and the RAM 32 drives the PPU in the game machine main body 10, and displays the lyrics, background, characters from the anime, etc. on the monitor in time with the accompaniment. Can be done. At this time, it is desirable to scroll the image on the monitor in accordance with the speed of the accompaniment. Further, the user's singing voice is detected by a microphone 51 provided in the microphone unit 5, and after amplified to an appropriate voltage by a low frequency amplification circuit 52, an audio signal is output to the control means 4 and the video game machine main body 10. . Control means 4 and video game machine main body 10
is configured to synthesize a scale signal generated by the PSG and an audio signal, and output amplified audio from a speaker. If the storage capacity of the ROM 31 is relatively large, it is possible to store two or more songs. In this case, a remote switch 53 is provided on the microphone section 5, and the user can switch the remote switch 53 while holding the microphone section 5.
By operating 3, the video game device 10
can be controlled. That is, when the program of the adapter according to this embodiment is started, the control means 4 works in conjunction with the video game machine main body 10 to display a list of stored songs on the initial screen on the monitor. Then, by operating the remote switch 53, the user can freely select the song he or she wants to sing. In addition, in the configuration of this embodiment, in order to prepare a large number of songs, the built-in ROM 31
This alone is insufficient, and it is desirable to add a replaceable ROM cassette. This second storage means, ROM cassette 61 exclusively for this adapter, is
Similarly to the ROM 31 of the memory 3, which is the first storage means, control programs and character signals are stored. Especially for the memory 3, the control means 4, and the video game machine main body 10, an adapter-dedicated ROM is provided.
In order to electrically connect the cassette 61, the second
It is necessary to prepare a female connector 6 as a connection means. This female connector 6 is a ROM cassette insertion connector 11 for the video game machine main body 10.
Although connectors of the same standard may be used, it is preferable to use a connector of a different standard to prevent such use. When the adapter-specific ROM cassette 61 is inserted, the control means 4 inserts the adapter-specific ROM cassette 61.
The character signal stored in 1 is transferred to RAM 32.
It is desirable to have a configuration that transfers the data to In this case, the number of ROMs in the adapter-dedicated ROM cassette 61 can be reduced to one, which has the effect of reducing costs. Note that if the configuration is such that the audio output of the microphone section 5 is sent to the control means 4,
A so-called automatic karaoke scoring function can be provided. In other words, the tempo of the user's singing voice, etc.
ROM31 or adapter-only ROM cassette 61
The control means 4 compares the tempos, etc. of the music information in the music information. In this case, by displaying the scoring results on a monitor, a toy with extremely high playability can be provided. Furthermore, by changing the control program, it is possible to perform not only a karaoke function but also an intro guessing game.

In this embodiment configured as described above, since the male connector 2 is integrally molded with the adapter main body 1, it has the effect that connection with the video game machine main body 10 is extremely simple. Since it can be operated using the remote switch 53, even young children can play with it. It should be noted that the male connector 2 and the video game device main body 10 can be constructed separately, and in this case, there is no need to stack them, so there is an effect that the whole can be made thinner.

〔effect〕

The present invention configured as described above is an adapter for connecting to an information processing device to which a removable external storage means can be attached, and an adapter that is compatible with the connecting parts provided on the external storage means. 1 connection means, a first storage means for connecting to the information processing apparatus, a control means for controlling the connection between the first storage means and the information processing apparatus, this control means and the The second connecting means is connected to at least one of the information processing apparatuses and is connected to a second storage means for storing information such as music information, and the microphone section is connected to the information processing apparatus. This has the effect of providing a so-called home karaoke machine that uses an information processing device to play accompaniment to a song while displaying lyrics and a background screen on a television screen or the like. Particularly, when a dedicated video game machine is applied to the information processing device, the video game machine and the home television receiver can be used as they are, and an inexpensive and easy-to-operate home karaoke machine can be provided. In particular, it does not require the use of expensive video tape recorders or video disks, and software changes can be made by simply replacing the ROM cassette, making it possible to provide an extremely inexpensive yet high-performance home karaoke machine. be. Furthermore, it not only offers a new way to play by singing along to the screen and electronic sounds of the video game console, but also allows you to enjoy the game with multiple friends and family members at the same time, without using the keyboard or Matsuto switch like with conventional video game consoles. Because you can do it, it has the effect of not getting boring.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of this embodiment. 1...Adapter body, 2...Male connector, 3
. . . memory, 4 . . . control means, 5 . . . microphone section, 6 . . . female connector, 10 . . . video game machine body.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An adapter for connecting to an information processing device to which a removable external storage means can be attached, comprising a first connection means compatible with a connection part provided on the external storage means; , a first storage means for connecting to the information processing apparatus, a control means for controlling the connection between the first storage means and the information processing apparatus, and at least one of the control means and the information processing apparatus. Music information, characters, connected to one side
It is characterized by comprising a second connection means for mounting a second storage means for storing information such as image information such as graphics, and a microphone section having an audio input means for connection to the information processing device. adapter device. 2. The information processing device is a video game machine, the external storage means and the second storage means are ROM cassettes, the first connection means is a male connector formed on the adapter body, and the second connection means is a male connector formed on the adapter body. 2. An adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the means is a female connector. 3. The adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means is comprised of RAM and ROM. 4. The adapter device according to claim 3, wherein the RAM is for storing characters such as characters, figures, and symbols, and the ROM is for storing a program for operating the information processing device. 5. The adapter device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control means transfers a part of the information recorded in the second storage means to the RAM. 6. The adapter device according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the microphone section includes a switch member, and the information processing device is controlled via a control means by operating the switch member.