WO1980001726A1

WO1980001726A1 - Audio visual device for educational games or sequences and cassettes therefor

Info

Publication number: WO1980001726A1
Application number: PCT/FR1980/000015
Authority: WO
Inventors: M Castel; J Grandclement; R Lezat
Original assignee: Occitane Electronique Soc; M Castel; J Grandclement; R Lezat
Priority date: 1979-02-09
Filing date: 1980-02-04
Publication date: 1980-08-21
Also published as: FR2448756A1; EP0023497A1

Abstract

Audio visual device intended to be associated to a television monitor screen, with a view to carrying out educational games or sequences. This device comprises a turntable of cassette tape recorder (1) for the reading of a magnetic tape comprising information representative of sound signals and information representative of program signals. A demultiplexor (6) switches the sound information over to an electro acoustic system (8), and the program information over to a managing and computing central units (4). Control unit (2) allow participants to intervene in the course of the educational game or sequence.

Description

AUDIO-VISUAL DEVICE FOR MAKING EDUCATIONAL GAMES OR SEQUENCES AND CASSETTES FOR THIS DEVICE

The invention relates to an audiovisual device intended to be associated with a television monitor screen in order to perform games or educational sequences; the invention extends to cassettes with recorded magnetic tape, intended to be associated with such a device. In what follows, the term “television monitor” is intended to mean both a monitor called upon to receive only video signals and a television receiver provided with means for receiving and decoding television waves. In general, the monitor will be separate from the audio-visual device, which will include means of connection with this monitor; it is also possible to add to the device its own monitor.

Video systems are already known capable of reading the content of magnetic tapes on which logical information corresponding to a program has been recorded, with a view to processing this information and viewing part of it on a Video screen; these systems are used in particular for making video games.

The present invention proposes to provide a new audio-visual device for making games, educational sequences or the like, in the course of which one or more participants can intervene.

To this end, the audio-visual device according to the invention comprises: - a cassette recorder deck, suitable for reading magnetic information recorded on a cassette magnetic tape, this information comprising information representative of sound signals and information representative of program signals,

- a demultiplexer receiving the signals read by the tape recorder and suitable for routing the sound information to one output and the program information to another output, - an electro-acoustic system connected to the sound output of the demultiplexer,

- at least one control unit adapted to be actuated by a participant and to deliver logical information representative of interventions by said participant,

a command input interface, receiving the logical information from the control unit (s) and adapted to deliver it at its output, upon receipt of corresponding coded addresses,

a Video interface, arranged to receive logical information representative of Video images and adapted to transform this logical information into Video information, able to be delivered to the television monitor,

a central management and calculation unit comprising a microprocessor, connected to the program output of the demultiplexer at the output of the command input interface and to the input of the Video interface, this central unit being adapted to execute the program information coming from the demultiplexer as a function of resident subroutines, for interrogating by means of coded addresses the interface for inputting the commands and receiving the logical information available at the output thereof and for supplying the Video interface logical information representative of images.

The tape recorder delivers the program information read from the cassette magnetic tape and this is sent through the demultiplexer to the central management and calculation unit. Part of this information corresponding to Video images is displayed on the screen via the Video interface. The other part of this information provides the central unit with the instructions necessary for the sequence of the sequence, which is accompanied by taking into account the logical information available at the output of the control unit or units. This last logical information is generated by the action of the participant (s) on one or more control units; this or these participants operate according to the images synthesized on the Video screen. Correlatively, the cassette magnetic tape delivers the so-called sound information to the electroacoustic system through the demultiplexer. This audio information may correspond to comments on the synthesized images or to questions asked concerning these images. They help guide the intervention of the participant (s). The action of the participants on the control units determines the appearance of the above-mentioned logical information and these taken into account by the central unit as a function of the program information received condition the future progress of the process in progress. We thus have an audio-visual device associating synthetic video images with audio comments and the progress of which is partially conditioned by one or more participants.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the device comprises an interface for controlling the deck of the tape recorder, arranged to receive control signals from the central management and calculation unit and to generate stops, starts or maneuvers of the cassette tape as a function of these control signals.

The device can thus be put in the standby position, its plate being stopped until the scheduled intervention of a participant; this intervention determines the preparation of a control signal by the central unit and the restarting of the cassette. In addition, this control interface of the plate gives great flexibility of operation to the device by allowing it to search for program information or sound information on the tape or by allowing automatic prepositioning at the start of the sequence.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the demultiplexer is adapted to present a blocking state in which the information received from the cassette is stopped, the central unit being able to generate blocking orders as a function of the program information previously received. and logical information delivered through the command input interface.

The device thus has the possibility of selecting sound information in order to let pass to the electro-acoustic system only that which is appropriate to the responses or interventions of the participants. For example, after an intervention by a participant corresponding to the choice of a given solution, the demultiplexer will block the comments relating to the other possible solutions so as to keep only the comment concerning the chosen solution.

Furthermore, according to another characteristic of the invention, the tape recorder is suitable for recording and erasing information, the magnetic tape comprising a blank area intended for recording external information and location information. of this virgin beach; the central management and calculation unit is suitable for storing and interpreting this location information and for supplying, as a function of the program information or logical information coming from the control units, a control signal to the control interface of the board to position the strip at the start of this blank area.

If one of the participants wishes to temporarily interrupt the current sequence, he can thus, by pressing a special key, determine the recording of data representative of the situation of the sequence at the time of the interruption, so that he can replace the device in this initial state, even after switching off, by simply reading this temporary recording. According to a possible possible embodiment, the magnetic strip comprises, associated with the sound information and with the program information, magnetic logic signals recorded thereon, representative of the nature of this information (sound or program), the unit central being adapted to decode these signals and issue a referral order corresponding to the demul tipl exor.

For example, the magnetic strip can comprise, along its length and successively, areas with ted to the sound information and tracks assigned to the program information, the magnetic logic signals representative of the nature of the information being located upstream of each track; the demultiplexer comprises, in this case, means for electrically switching its input to one or the other of its outputs as a function of switch orders issued by the central management and calculation unit. In this case, reading is carried out sequentially and the demultiplexer acts as a switch to orient the information appropriately according to its nature. This solution has the advantage of great simplicity of implementation. However, it has the disadvantage of being ill-suited to obtaining simultaneity between sound and video image.

According to another embodiment, the magnetic tape comprises simultaneously on each track, the sound information and program information, which are multiplexed on disjoint frequency spectra; the demultiplexer comprises two filters with frequency-independent bandwidths, one adapted to the spectrum of program information and connected to the central management and calculation unit, the other adapted to the spectrum of sound information and connected to the electro- acoustic.

In this solution, the demultiplexer known per se has a more complex structure; however, since the audio information and program information are available simultaneously, it is therefore easy to view images on the Video screen and to simultaneously hear a comment relating thereto.

Another embodiment having the advantage mentioned above consists in providing a turntable having at least two read heads and in recording the sound information and program information on different tracks; the demultiplexer is then formed by means of electrical connection of each read head respectively with the central unit and with the electro-acoustic system. Structurally, this solution abou tit a simplification of the demultiplexer but requires to provide two read heads.

Furthermore, the control units will be adapted to the nature of the games or educational sequences to be implemented; each unit can for example include a keyboard with several keys identified by symbols representative of the elements of the game or of the educational sequence in progress, in order to allow an intervention of one or of participants on these elements of the game or of the educational sequence ; each unit can also include a control member with two degrees of freedom, of the joystick type, allowing one or more participants to modify the image displayed on the screen of the video monitor.

The invention extends to cassettes with recorded magnetic tape, called to be associated with an audio-visual device of the type described above: each cassette comprises, recorded on its tape, information representative of sound signals and representative information program signals. The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings presents, by way of non-limiting examples, embodiments of the invention; on these drawings:

- Figure 1 is a block diagram of an audio-visual device according to the invention, - Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are embodiments of a demultiplexer corresponding to different variants of the device.

The audio-visual device represented in FIG. 1 is described below on the double plan of the general structure and the operating process in the application to an educational sequence constituted by a lesson of bridge. It is understood that this application is given to facilitate understanding of the description, the invention targeting a wide variety of games or educational sequences.

The first operation performed by participants in the bridge lesson is to insert the corresponding cassette into a tape recorder 1 that understands the device.

The participants have at their disposal control units such as 2; in the example each control unit is constituted by a 12-key keyboard, the first 10 keys being identified by a number from 0 to 9 and the other two by two symbols such as star and rhombus. An action on a key generates a signal, of different value depending on the key pressed.

The units are connected to a command input interface 3, itself linked by a bus with a central management and calculation unit 4.

To initialize the game and arrange the cassette tape at its start, one of the participants actuates a given key., For example key 0. The central unit 4 is programmed by a resident subroutine to explore the output of the interface 3; when it detects the value corresponding to the 0 key, this central unit executing its resident subroutine communicates a control signal to a deck control interface 5. This then determines by the action of electromagnets the rewinding of The tape.

At the beginning and at the end of the magnetic strip there are metallic portions which close a contact and generate the appearance of a signal perceived by the central unit then 4. This addresses / a stop signal to the interface 5.

The game sequence itself is ready to start.

The central processing unit 4 continuing to execute its resident subroutine sends a signal to start the deck 1 in the read position. The magnetic head of the plate is connected to a demultiplexer 6 which receives signals x corresponding to the magnetic signals recorded.

The first signals of the band are program signals corresponding to instructions or data to be executed or processed by the central unit 4. The latter, on instruction contained in its resident subroutine, sends the demultiplexer an order signal routing from the deck, to itself.

It thus receives the program signals which in the envisaged bridge game correspond, on the one hand, to logical instructions, on the other hand, to data for developing an image on a screen of color television receiver 9 by the via a Video interface 7. The central unit stores the logical instructions and stores the data in a random access memory constantly linked to the Video interface to display them.

In the game of bridge described, the image appearing on the screen is a combination of cards constituting the deal of a player. According to the orders contained in the resident subroutine, the logical instructions are stored and not immediately executed.

The subroutine then determines the routing of the demultiplexer to an electroacoustic system constituted by a speaker 8; this speaker can be the TV speaker 9 or a game-specific speaker.

The magnetic strip which continues to unfold contains audible information corresponding to a commentary on the game viewed and to a question asked about openings to choose from. Once the speaking time has ended, the central processing unit 4 executes the logical instructions of the tape, previously stored. These instructions condition a new demultiplexer switch 6 to said central unit in order to read new program signals. The process is similar to that described above: image data synthesizes, superimposed on the screen, the image of possible openings with a symbol identifying them and logical instructions are stored and then executed. These logic instructions include an order to stop the stage 1 and an order to explore the interface 3 to know the response of the participants. Each one selects an opening identified by its symbol visible on the screen: just press the button with this symbol.

When all the participants have replied, the central unit having detected these responses at the output of the interface 3 assigns to each response a score stored in memory at the same time as the proposed openings.

The execution of the stored program from the tape continues with a visualization of the score obtained by each participant; then a command to start the cassette is transmitted to the interface 5 and a referral order to the loudspeaker 8 allows the hearing of a commentary on the proposed openings.

Once the comment time has ended, the execution of the stored program from the tape is continued by switching from the demultiplexer to the central unit 4.

Again it reads logic instructions and image data. The former are stored and the latter determine the appearance on the screen, superimposed on the initial deal, of the ideal opening for the player concerned and the opening of his partner. Simultaneous possible auctions appear.

The process continues in a similar fashion until the end of the auction. The playing of the card is carried out in an analogous manner by a sequence of execution of the instructions of the resident subroutine and of the tape program, with visualizations of the image data, switches for hearing comments, and explorations of the interface 3 to take into account participants' responses.

The cards can be identified by symbols displayed on the screen and corresponding to those of the keyboards, the selected cards being played by pressing the corresponding keys; it is also possible to cause the cards displayed on the screen to flash in turn, the choice being made by the participant's action on a key at the instant the card concerned flashes.

The previous example is given to illustrate the invention and is in no way limiting; the various assemblies of the device are each known in themselves and can be produced according to multiple structural variants to which the invention extends. FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c give exemplary embodiments of the demultiplexer 6 as a function of the mode of recording program information and sound information on the magnetic tape of the cassette.

FIG. 2a presents the case in which the cassette comprises, over the length of its magnetic tape and successively, tracks assigned to the sound information and tracks assigned to the program information, magnetic logic signals representative of the nature of the information being recorded upstream of each beach. The demultiplexer 6 is then advantageously composed of a preamplifier 6a, connected at the output to two parallel parallel chains, one connected to the central unit 4 comprising an analog door 6b which opens and closes on command of the central unit, a demodulator 6c (demodulation of the carrier frequency modulated by logic information) and a fitness circuit 6d, the other connected to the speaker 8 comprising an analog gate 6e controlled by the central unit and a corrector amplifier 6f with adjustment of the sound volume by potentiometer 6g. In this embodiment, the program information and the sound information are processed by two different chains which are opened or closed according to the nature of the information which arrives, by means of the commands originating from the central unit. FIG. 2b presents the case in which the cassette simultaneously comprises, on each track of its magnetic tape, the sound information and program information, multiplexed on disjoint frequency spectra.

The demultiplexer 6 then comprises in a chain a low-pass filter 6h which blocks the frequencies above a determined frequency and, in the other chain, a high-pass filter 6j which blocks the frequencies below this threshold. FIG. 3c presents the case in which the cassette comprises at least two parallel tracks on its magnetic tape, the sound information and program information being recorded on different tracks.

The two chains of the demultiplexer are then completely separate and each located downstream of a read head 1k or 11.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 / - Audio-visual device intended to be associated with a television monitor screen with a view to making games or educational sequences in the course of which one or more participants may intervene, said device being characterized in that it comprises:

a cassette recorder deck, suitable for reading magnetic information recorded on a magnetic tape, this information comprising information representative of sound signals and information representative of program signals,

- a demultiplexer receiving the signals read by the tape recorder and suitable for routing the sound information to one output and the program information to another output,

- an electro-acoustic system connected to the sound output of the demultiplexer,

a command input interface, receiving the logical information from the control unit (s) and adapted to deliver it at its output upon receipt of corresponding coded addresses,

a Video interface, arranged to receive logical information representative of Video images and adapted to convert this logical information into Video information able to be delivered to the television monitor,

a central management and calculation unit comprising a microprocessor, connected to the program output of the demultiplexer, to the output of the command input interface and to the input of the Video interface, this central unit being adapted for execute the program information from the demultiplexer according to resident subroutines, to interrogate by means of coded addresses the command input interface and receive the logical information available at the output of this and to provide the Video interface with logical information representative of images.

2 / - Audio-visual device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an interface for controlling the deck of the tape recorder, arranged to receive control signals from the central management and calculation unit and to generate the stops, starts or maneuvers of the cassette tape according to these control signals. 3 / - Audio-visual device according to claim 2, characterized in that the demultiplexer is adapted to present a blocking state in which the information received from the cassette is stopped, the central unit being able to generate blocking orders in function of the program information previously received and of the logic information delivered by the command input interface.

4 / - Audio-visual device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the tape recorder is suitable for recording and erasing information, the magnetic tape comprising a blank area for recording external information and location information of this blank area, the central management and calculation unit being adapted to store and interpret this location information and to deliver according to program information or logical information from the control units , a control signal to the control interface of the plate in order to position the strip at the start of this blank range.

5 / Audio-visual device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the magnetic tape comprises, associated with the sound information and the program information, magnetic logic signals recorded thereon, representative the nature of this information (sound or program), the central unit being adapted to decode these signals and issue a routing order corresponding to the demultiplexer.

6 / - Audio-visual device according to the claim 5, characterized in that the magnetic strip comprises, over its length and successively, tracks assigned to the sound information and tracks assigned to the program information, the magnetic logic signals representative of the nature of the information being located upstream of each track, the demultiplexer comprising means for electrically switching its input to one or other of its outputs as a function of referral orders issued by the central management and calculation unit. 7 / - Audio-visual device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the magnetic tape comprises simultaneously on each track, the sound information and program information, which are multiplexed on frequency spectra disjoint, the demultiplexer comprising two frequency-bandwidth disjointed filters, one adapted to the spectrum of program information and connected to the central management and calculation unit, the other adapted to the spectrum of sound information and connected to the system electro-acoustic. 8 / - Audio-visual device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the tape recorder comprises at least two read heads, each assigned to a track of the magnetic tape, the sound information and program information being recorded on different tracks, the demultiplexer being formed by means of electrical connection of each read head respectively with the central unit and with the electro-acoustic system.

9 / - Audio-visual device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the Video interface is a programmable interface comprising memories capable of storing logical data provided by the central unit and representative of Video images, in order to generate the formation of the corresponding images on the Video screen on the order of the central unit.

10 / - Audio-visual device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein each control unit comprises a keyboard with several keys identified by symbols representative of the elements elements of the game or the educational sequence in progress, in order to allow an intervention by one or more participants on these elements of the game or the educational sequence.

11 / - Audio-visual device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, in which each control unit comprises a control member with two degrees of freedom, of the type joystick, allowing one or more participants to modify the image displayed on the screen of the Video monitor. 12 / - Audio-visual device according to claims 2 and 9 taken together, making it possible to play or learn to play a card game, characterized in that the magnetic tape comprises, recorded:

. program information corresponding to the image of a combination of cards on the screen of the Video monitor,

. audio information corresponding to comments concerning this combination of cards,

. program information corresponding to the image on the screen of the Video monitor of several playing possibilities left to the choice of one or more participants,

. program information corresponding to stops on the cassette,. audio information intended to be read after restarting the cassette and corresponding to a comment relating to the choice of playing possibilities performed by the participant (s),

. program information corresponding to the image on the screen or on a part of the screen of the Video monitor, of correct playing possibilities.

13 / - Cassette with recorded magnetic tape, called to be associated with an audiovisual device according to one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that that it comprises, recorded on its tape, information representative of sound signals and information representative of program signals.

14 / - Cassette according to claim 13 characterized in that it comprises, over the length of its magnetic strip and successively, tracks assigned to the sound information and tracks assigned to the program information, magnetic logic signals representative of the nature of the information being recorded upstream of each track.

15 / - Cassette according to claim 13, characterized in that it simultaneously comprises, on each range of its magnetic tape, the sound information and programmed information, multiplexed on disjoint frequency spectra.

16 / - Cassette according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises at least two parallel tracks on its magnetic tape, the sound information and program information being recorded on different tracks.