The Odyssey modules

 

As explained on the main Odyssey page, the system contains a main board on which are mounted a number of small modules. Each has a specific function, which is explained below. Note that each module uses few electronic components.

Spot Generator module:

This module generates the video signal of a rectangle. A couple external components on the main board set its caracteristics: width, heigth, location, and brightness. The Odyssey uses four Spot Generators: one for each player, one for the central line, and one for the background color (made of a dark rectangle covering the whole screen).

Flip-Flop module:

This module sets the directions of the ball. The Odyssey uses two Flip-Flop modules: one for the horizontal direction of the ball, and one for the vertical direction of the ball (english).

Gate Matrix module:

This module contains a couple elementary logic gates which alters the direction of the ball or the visibility of a player when a collision happens. Collisions are detected between the ball and the players, between both players, or between the ball and the central line.

Horizontal Sync Generator module:

This module generates the horizontal synchronisation of the video signal. Simply put, this signal indicates to the TV set that it has to start drawing a line of the picture.

Vertical Sync Generator module:

This module generates the vertical synchronisation of the video signal. Simply put, this signal indicates to the TV set that it has to start drawing a new picture.

Summer Board module:

This module combines the various video signals generated by the previous modules: players, central line, ball, horizontal synchronisation, vertical synchronisation and background color, so as to generate the final video signal to be modulated and sent to the TV set.
RF Oscillator:

This module modulates the video signal output by the Summer Board to the frequency expected by the TV set (Channel 3 or 4), as if the game was being aired. Modern video games no longer use this circuit because modern TV sets contain a direct (composite) video input.
RF Filter:

This module cleans the modulated video signal output by the RF Oscillator to remove harmonics and radiations which could interfer with other equipment.

Below is the main board of the Odyssey, with its modules. The RF Oscillator and RF Filter are shielded in the metal box on the center. The small blue potentiometers are used for internal adjustments: fequencies of the synchronisation signals, size of the players, width of the central line.