Connect a Sega Game Gear to ANY TV

This a follow on from my Game Gear RGB output design. I've condensed all the digital logic into a single programmable logic chip. This allows room on the PCB for a video encoder so those who live outside of Europe (who are bereft of RGB SCART) can play the Game Gear on a TV too.

This new design is superior to the previous in all cases with the exception of power consumption. Two voltage regluators supply +3.3V for the CPLD (programmable logic) and +5V for the video encoder. The former is regulated from the main +5V rail and the latter takes its power directly from the battery. The reason for this is that I was worried that I may overload the main +5v rail if I tried to pull an extra 100mA (worst case) from it. This is quite an inefficiant setup but the Game Gear itself is hardly famous for battery life so I don't think anybody will mind.

Video outputs available:
* Composite Video (NTSC)
* S-Video (NTSC)
* RGB Video

Circuit Diagram
Logic Equations - Written in AHDL and will fit into a 32 macrocell CPLD.
Compiled CPLD binary - In Altera's POF format. Compiled for EPM3032ALC44-10N.

Installation

The board is designed to fit into the space below the cartridge slot. It can be held in place with some hot glue at each end.

The pads to the left are outputs and those to the right are inputs, with the exception of !ENABLE which must be connected to ground for the board to operate. When the !ENABLE pin is not grounded (pulled to logic high by a resistor on the board), the video encoder IC is switched off and all outputs are disabled to conserve power. This signal can be used to enable the video outputs only when an external cable is plugged in.

When playing Sega Master System games (with a cartridge adapter) the Game Gear compresses the video signal to make it fit into the internal LCD screen. This compressed video is not compatible with this output board. The compression can be disabled by connecting point T10 to +5v (logic high). In this state, the video will no longer display on the internal LCD screen but a good, full screen picture will output from the board. A switch or pin on the video connector can be used to select whether SMS games render properly on the internal screen or video output. Game Gear games will have a large border (see picture below) and will look the same regardless of the state of T10.

Installation diagram for:
1 ASIC Game Gear (later model)
2 ASIC Game Gear (earlier model)

It's important to keep the PIXEL CLOCK wire as far away from all the other wires as possible. If it's too close you will get glitchy video on some games.

There is more information available on my other page, How to Connect a Sega Game Gear to a TV via RGB SCART. When comparing diagrams, HSYNC (on this page) = HLATCH (on the other page).

<-- Return to INDEX

Last modified 5/8/2011