LCD game machine and ROM cartridge

Abstract

A hand-held LCD game machine is combined with a cartridge in which the program datum is memorized. The game machine has a smaller and oblong shape LCD display. When the game is operated in a vertical scrolling manner, the LCD display portion is used lengthwise, while when the operated game is in a horizontal scrolling manner, the LCD display is used sideways. The game is operated by both thumbs of the player's bands, and plural operative key sets and switches are provided in proper positions so that the game machine may be smoothly operated by the player in either a lengthwise or sideways position.

1 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         2 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the third operation unit has the same functionality as that of the second operation unit.  
     
     
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         4 . In a hand-held LCD game machine into which a cartridge equipped with a memory cell of a game program datum is inserted and a game is developed on a LCD display portion, wherein a first operative means is positioned at a place to be handled by one thumb and a second operative means is also positioned at another place to be handled by the other thumb, the improvement comprising: 
 the LCD display portion formed having an oblong shape;    the first operative means and the second operative means are located in the vicinity of two opposite sides of the display portion wherein the LCD display portion is sandwiched between the first and second operative means; and    a third operative means with the similar functions of the first means; and    a fourth operative means with the similar functions to the second means established in the vicinity of two opposite sides of the display portion in the condition that the display portion is sandwiched between the third and fourth means.    
     
     
         5 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein operative functions are allotted to the first, second and third operative means in correspondence with a game program datum when a cartridge is inserted into the game machine, wherein the first, second and third operative means have the functions.  
     
     
         6 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 when a cartridge in which a horizontal scrolling game program data is memorized is inserted into the game machine, operative functions are allotted to a set of operative means positioned apart from a longer side of the LCD display portion; and    when the cartridge in which a vertical scrolling game data is memorized is inserted in the game machine the operative functions are allotted to another set of operative means positioned apart from a shorter side of the LCD display portion.    
     
     
         7 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 when a cartridge in which a horizontal/vertical mixed scrolling game program data is memoried is inserted into the game machine operative functions are adapted to be allotted to a set of operative means positioned apart from a longer side of the LCD display portion in case of the horizontal game while in case of the vertical game operative functions are allotted to another set of operative means positioned apart from a shorter side of the LCD display portion.    
     
     
         8 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the operative functions allotted to the operative means include instructions to move a character or a background scene shown on the display portion.  
     
     
         9 . The game machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the operative means to move the character or the background scene comprises a cruciform switch set composed of four key switches and each top of the key switch set is separated by a X-letter like partitioned wall higher in the middle and inclining toward its ends in four directions.  
     
     
         10 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 when a horizontal scrolling game is running the signal of the operative function is allotted to the game program datum to proceed a set of operative means positioned apart from the longer side of the LCD display portion; and    when a vertical scrolling game is running the signal is allotted to the game program datum to proceed another set of the operative means positioned apart from the shorter side of the LCD display portion.    
     
     
         11 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein a decision means to judge whether a horizontal scrolling game is memorized or a vertical scrolling game is memorized is prepared in the cartridge to be inserted into the game machine.  
     
     
         12 . A cartridge to be inserted into a game machine and to be equipped with game program datum memory, wherein: 
 when a horizontal scrolling game datum is memorized a set of operative means is positioned apart from the longer side of the LCD display portion; and    when a vertical scrolling game datum is memorized another set of operative means is positioned apart from the shorter side of the LCD display portion.    
     
     
         13 . The cartridge according to  claim 12 , wherein, when a game program datum is memorized so that a character or a background scene is developed in a horizontal display and when the horizontal/vertical mixed movements of the character or the background scene are developed in vertical display, a set of operative means is positioned apart from the longer side of the LCD display portion in the case of the horizontal display while another set of operative means is positioned apart from the shorter side of the LCD display portion in the case of the vertical display.  
     
     
         14 . The cartridge according to  claim 12 , wherein a data memory means is prepared in order to judge whether a horizontal scrolling game datum is memorized or a vertical scrolling game datum is memorized.  
     
     
         15 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein the data memory means is established in a memory cell.  
     
     
         16 . A hand-held game machine having a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation, the game machine comprising: 
 a game machine housing positionable in the horizontal orientation and the vertical orientation;    a display screen having a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension, the horizontal dimension being longer than the vertical dimension;    at least three operation receiving areas on the housing, wherein: 
 each of the operation receiving areas is located at a separate and distinct physical location;  
 each of the operation receiving areas includes at least one of said operation keys;  
 at least two of the operation receiving areas are oriented for play when the game machine is operated in the horizontal orientation and at least two of the operation receiving areas are oriented for play when the game machine is operated in the vertical orientation;  
   an electronic circuit configured to selectively operate a horizontally oriented game or a vertically oriented game, the electronic circuit including a circuit to set a first functionality of a first one of said operation receiving areas when a horizontally oriented game is operated and second functionality to the first one of said operation receiving areas when a vertically oriented game is selected.    
     
     
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         22 . A hand-held game machine operated by a game player having a left thumb and a right thumb, the game machine comprising: 
 a game machine housing positionable in either a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation in relation to a user;    a first pair of activation keys on the housing arranged in a play position when the housing is horizontally oriented, one key configured to be activated by the left thumb and the other key configured to be activated by the right thumb;    a second pair of activation keys on the housing arranged in a play position when the housing is vertically oriented, one key configured to be activated by the left thumb and the other key configured to be activated by the right thumb;    a circuit operably coupled to the activation keys to set key functionality; and    wherein the left thumb controls a first functionality independent of the housing orientation and the right thumb controls a second functionality independent of the housing orientation;    wherein the first activation key is not directly attached to the second activation key.    
     
     
         23 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 22 , wherein the first pair of activation keys and the second pair of activation keys are arranged to have a common activation key, the common activation key assigned the first functionality when the housing is vertically oriented and the second functionality when the housing is horizontally oriented.  
     
     
         24 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 22 , further including an oblong display having a longer display dimension and a shorter display dimension.  
     
     
         25 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the first pair of activation keys is positioned generally parallel to the longer display dimension; and    the second pair of activation keys is positioned generally parallel to the shorter display dimension.    
     
     
         26 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 24 , wherein the display is between the first pair of activation keys and is also between the second pair of activation keys.  
     
     
         27 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 24 , wherein the display is constructed to selectively display a vertically oriented video game and a horizontally oriented video game.  
     
     
         28 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 27  wherein the display is constructed to be substantially without dead spaces when display the horizontally oriented video game.  
     
     
         29 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 28  wherein the display is constructed to be substantially without dead spaces when display the vertically oriented video game.  
     
     
         30 . The hand-held game machine of  claim 27  wherein the display is constructed to be substantially without dead spaces when display the vertically oriented video game.  
     
     
         31 . The hand-held game machine according to  claim 16  wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to determine whether a horizontally oriented or vertically oriented game is operating, and responsive to the determination set the functionality of the first one of said operation receiving areas.  
     
     
         32 . A method of using a hand-held game machine, the hand held game having at least three controls and a display, comprising: 
 selecting to operate a horizontally oriented game in the game machine;    holding the game machine in a play position so that two of the three controls are generally levelly aligned relative to a user, with the display substantially between the two controls;    using a left digit to activate a first function in the horizontally oriented game, and using a right digit to activate a second function in the horizontally oriented game, wherein the left digit activates the first function at a first location and the right digit activates the second function at a second location that is distinct and separate from the first location;    rotating the game machine approximately ninety degrees;    selecting a vertically oriented game;    holding the game machine in the play position so that two of the controls are generally levelly aligned relative to the user, with the display substantially between the two controls;    using the left digit to activate the first function in the vertically oriented game, and using the right digit to activate the second function in the vertically oriented game; and    whereby the user's left digit activates the first function and the user's right digit activates the second function, irrespective of whether the horizontally oriented game or the vertically oriented game is played.    
     
     
         33 . A hand-held game machine with which game play is displayed on a display portion having an oblong shape, wherein a first operation unit is positioned at a place to be handled by one thumb and a second operation unit is positioned at a distinct and separate physical location from the first operation unit to be handled by the other thumb of a game player, the first operation unit having a first functionality and the second operation unit having a second functionality, wherein: 
 the display portion is substantially utilized in operation without blank areas surrounding a used portion of the display in which said game play is displayed, the display portion including: 
 a first side; and  
 a second side, the first side being longer than the second side;  
   the first operation unit and the second operation unit are located in the vicinity of and apart from one side of the display portion;    the game machine further comprising a third operation unit having the same functionality as that of one of the first or the second operation units, the third operation unit positioned at a distinct and separate physical location from the first operation unit; and wherein: 
 the game program data includes at least one of a horizontal scrolling game program or a vertical scrolling game program, wherein:  
 for game program data comprising a horizontally scrolling game program, operative functionalities are allotted to a set of operation units positioned across the first side of the display portion from one another; and  
 for game program data comprising a vertically scrolling game program, operative functionalities are allotted to a set of operation units positioned across the second side of the display portion from one another.  
   
     
     
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