Play Meter

TECHNICAL TOPICS By Tom Tom Howarth Howarth of of Amusement Amusement Game Game Services Services By Stopping Outlaw' 'The Outlaw' ping 'The Stop have observed observed in in heavy heavy traffic traffic II have locations aa high high rate rate of of downtime downtime for for locations Outlaw, the the problem problem being being the Atari Atari Outlaw, the constant "Return "Return Gun Gun to to Holster" Holster" aa constant flashing on on the the screen screen during during game game flashing play. play. In the the bottom bottom of of the the Outlaw Outlaw In holsterlies lies an an infrared infrared LED LED that that must must holster be directed directed up up the the gun gun barrel barrel which which be tells the the logic logic board board that that the the gun gun is is in in tells the holster holster or or no no bad bad guy guy come come out. out. the Unfortunately, the the holster holster provides provides aa Unfortunately, dandy receptical to discard weenie dandy receptical to discard weenie wrappers or or other other wet wet nasties nasties which which wrappers will keep the gun module from seeing will keep the gun module from seeing the LED LED signal signal and, and, as as aa result, result, no no the bad g1,1ys. Also, the holster assembly bad guys. Also, the holster assembly vulnerable to to malicious malicious damage damage by by isis vulnerable ramming the the LED LED on on the the floor floor of of the the ramming game-and again again no no bad bad guys. guys. Of Of game-and course, there is the standard course, there is the standard amusement problem problem of of folks folks at at amusement leisure who who are are usually usually not not willing willing to to leisure read instructions; instructions; so so half half the the game game read time isis elapsed elapsed before before the the customer customer time figures out out what what he's he's doing. doing. This This figures usually results results in in aa poor poor score score and and usually discourages repeat repeat play. play. discourages This modification modification will will bring bring out out the the This bad guys guys one-half one-half to to five five seconds seconds bad after start start or or shoot shoot out out sequence sequence after whether problem problem exists exists in in holster holster or or whether customer. If both customer and customer. If both customer and holster are are for for some some reason reason working working holster right, the game will play norrpally. right, the game will play normally. To accomplish accomplish this this modification, modification, To we will will use use the the unused unused one-shot one-shot we circuit of of IC IC N6, N6, aa 100 100 MFD MFD 16V 16V circuit capacitor, lOOK OHM Trimpot and capacitor, a 100K OHM Trimpot and lOK resistor. resistor. aa 10K First, cut cut and and lift lift IC IC K6 K6 Pin Pin 1, 1, First, Jumper IC IC N6 N6 Pin Pin 13 13 to to trace trace at at K6 K6 Jumper Pin 1, 1, Jumper Jumper IC IC N6 N6 Pin Pin 10 10 to to lifted lifted Pin pin on on IC IC K6 K6 Pin Pin 1, 1, Jumper Jumper IC IC N6 N6 pin Pin 11 to IC 87 Pin 6 and Jumper IC Pin 11 to IC B7 Pin 6 and Jumper IC N6 Pin Pin 12 .1 2 to to convenient convenient ground ground N6 trace. trace. To connect connect components, components, first first To solder 100 MFD 16V capacitor ( -) to solder 100 MFD 16V capacitor ( -) to IC N6 N6 Pin Pin 15 15 and and (( +) +) to to IC IC N6 N6 Pin Pin IC 14. Next, Next, solder solder center center and and 11 end end pin pin 14. of 100K lOOK OHM OHM Trimpot Trimpot to to (( +) +) of positive lead of 100 MFD capacitor. positive lead of 100 MFD capacitor. Connect 10K lOK OHM OHM resistor resistor from from Connect remaining pin on the lOOK OHM OHM 100K remaining pin on the in the the bottom bottom of of the the holster holster and and lyingin lying Trimpotto to the the nearest nearest ++55 volt volt trace, trace, Trimpot and you're you're done. done. and is sitting sitting there there gagging. gagging. is This isis where where our our modification modification This comes to to the the rescue. rescue. Sequence Sequence shift shift comes register C7 C7 at at start start goes goes to to all all ones ones register enabling Nand Nand Gate Gate B7 87 Pin Pin 66 Lo Lo enabling which starts starts our our one one shot. shot. The The Q Q which output of of N6 N6 Pin Pin 10 10 goes goes Hi Hi for for time time output period of of one one shot, shot, variable variable from from period one-half second second to to 55 seconds, seconds, one-half adjustable; during during this this time, time, gun gun adjustable; output ifif unobstructed unobstructed would would start start output bad guy guy sequence, sequence, when when one one shot shot bad period ends ends N6 N6 Pin Pin 10 10 goes goes Lo Lo period forcing latch K6 to gun in holster forcing latch K6 to gun in holster condition and and out out comes comes bad bad guy guy condition whether gun gun isis in in holster, holster, customer's customer's whether hand or or in in the the trunk trunk of of your your car. car. hand How itit works works How to get get the the bad bad guy guy In order order to In sequence going, latch K6 must see sequence going, latch K6 must see gun output output pulses pulses at at D D input input Pin Pin 2. 2. gun This generates the signal holster, This generates the signal holster, enabling flip-flop flip-flop L6 L6 to to toggle toggle to to get get enabling to condition bad guy blank not, L6 to condition bad guy blank not, L6 Pin 33 High. High. Pin one shot shot N6 N6 to to do do its its This allows allows one This thing and and generate generate action action reset, reset, thing which gets gets aa lot lot of of things things going. going. which Let us assume, however, that the Let us assume, however, that the gun module is at this time trying to gun module is at this time trying to see through through aa day-old day-old banana banana skin skin see \/c.c VCC 10~ 10K \00\.-(. 100K \OOMF"b 100 MFD 15 + 14 Q-10 kC.-1 L1t:r~D 10 KG-1 LIFTED Q a B7-6 11C 12 ~2. 9602 NG NG 13 KG.-/1 TRACE TR4C€ KGATTRACT