WO2006061393A2

WO2006061393A2 - Electronic games set including identifiable or positionable physical objects

Info

Publication number: WO2006061393A2
Application number: PCT/EP2005/056545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrice Madigou
Original assignee: Sylvius
Priority date: 2004-12-06
Filing date: 2005-12-06
Publication date: 2006-06-15
Also published as: EP1848517A2; FR2878758A1; WO2006061393A3; FR2878758B1; JP2008522694A

Abstract

The invention relates to a games set, comprising a game board (300), at least one playing object such as a dice (200) or pawn (100), which may be brought into contact with or into the vicinity of the game board (300), the set further comprising control means (700, 120), at least one part of the extent of the game board (300) comprises means for detection of electromagnetic signals, the object comprises a memory unit (150, 250a) for storage of data information, for reading out said data in order to communicate the same, when the control means are switched on, to transmission means for electromagnetic signals which represent the data stored in memory such as to be received by the detection means (700) and then further transmitted to the central unit (1000), characterised in further comprising a touchpad (500), at least partially covering one face of the game board (300), the pad (500) being sensitive to contact on the essentially free surface thereof with a body having fixed mechanical properties and which may generate a signal relating to the contact established on the surface thereof. Said signal is transmitted to the central unit (1000), which integrates the signals received from the pad (500) and said detection means as data for the electronic game in progress. The invention further relates to game objects.

Description

Electronic game set including identifiable or localizable physical objects

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic games, in particular board games.

Many board games use pawns and / or dice (eg Monopoly®, Trivial Pursuit®, Yams®, etc.). At the same time, we have already tried to transpose these games into electronic gaming environments (dedicated console or personal computer). However, such a transposition has not kept the tactile interest of the game implemented for example in throwing dice or displacements of pawns or the like. Indeed, these are replaced purely and simply by virtual dice or pions, displayed on the screen of the system, and whose throws, displacements, etc. are usually activated by actions on a button (keyboard key, mouse button, joystick button, etc.).

The user loses the sensation of action to obtain a result whose character, including randomness in the matter of throwing dice, is poorly perceived by the user. The player often has the impression that the machine plays in his place, and may doubt the quality of the probability laws and algorithms to random result implemented by the computer program of the game.

Moreover, such movements, throws, etc. buttons or the like do not help to find the usability that exists when such actions are performed manually.

Some intermediate games were then proposed, which retain the manual aspect (ie touch and mechanics) of the classic board game and which also present the virtual aspect of the modern board game, means of communication between the manually operated means and the electronic means then allowing to propose a board game that can offer more playful possibilities of playful variants. The logic Electronic game can thus for example identify the result obtained during such a manual action.

Examples that may be mentioned are games comprising pions that emit sound and light and that are able to move according to an order placed by an upstream control unit (WO 04/056430, GB 2 271 724), or a device that can be handled easily. display of virtual cards provided with tactile means to allow the player to send a game order to an interfaced central unit (WO 04/056434), or a game called "King Arthur ©" marketed by the company Ravensburger® in which one find intelligent interfaces between game objects and a central unit.

In US 6,168,158 there is provided a game platform of the checkerboard type, on which are placed pieces of game type pions including induction coils. The game platform itself comprises two sets of induction coils, one being a magnetic field emitter and the other being a receiver, the coils of each series being orthogonally superimposed on the coils of the other series, the presence a game object above a couple of coils (transmitter / receiver) will then disturb the magnetic resonance between these coils. It is then possible to determine the position of the piece on the plateau from this disturbance. In addition, one can place in each game object a winding of its own, so as to cause a disturbance specific to each game object, and thus recognize the identity of the disruptive object.

This set of game, if it allows identification and location of parts on a plate, has drawbacks of interference that may interfere with the game, from the coils between them or interaction with the external environment, particularly requiring coils compensation, an upstream and / or downstream signal processing system being furthermore necessary to provide. This set of games is therefore complex and expensive to implement. In the same spirit, the document US 5 853 327 proposes a gaming platform able to locate a game piece on its surface, thanks to a matrix of induction coils disposed in the platform and each of which can individually excite the induction coil provided in the pin when it is placed on a coil of the platform. It is thus possible to identify and locate the pawn. However, the pins presented here require the incorporation of either a battery coupled to the electrical circuit of a transponder, or a capacitive resonant circuit, placed after an inductive reception antenna also incorporated in the pin. In addition, the transmitter and the receiver are two different coils, thereby increasing the means implemented in this game device. In addition, the response signal sent back by the pin to the receiver of the gaming platform can not to be modified only by the replacement of the internal electrical circuitry, which implies providing means of replacement of the aperture type, and requires manipulation of electronic components, and an additional cost because it is necessary to provide a different component by variant.

In the document US 6 206 371 is proposed a die-shaped game device in the form of a die cup, for projecting a die and to automatically determine the drawn face, the faces of the die having permanent magnetic properties which are clean so that a hall effect probe placed in the base of the cup can identify them. This device therefore allows the recognition of the face drawn from a die that would have been thrown by the cup under the impulse of the player.

However, it seems that in this device, the detection of the face of the die can be done only if the die is in a precise final position at the bottom of the cup (the latter being deliberately concave for this purpose). This device seems to be able to work with only one die. Operation of this device with several dies would require additional means that could result in a final product that is too expensive from a commercial point of view. In addition, the device comprises coils, an iron core whose precise dimensioning required requires a meticulous realization, a Hall effect probe, a die with incorporated permanent magnets, which are all elements that can make the product expensive from an economic point of view.

An objective of the invention is therefore the recognition by the game set of the face drawn from one or more dice thrown by a player on a flat game platform, knowing that a difficulty to achieve such a set of The game lies in the random character of the result, which is determined by the way the player throws (which imposes a course and a printed energy to the given die (s)), and by the three-dimensional geometry of the die. . Another difficulty is the automatic recognition of the die, without the intervention of the participants in the game, and can work with several dice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set of games for locating a game object (pawn, or dice, or other) on a gaming platform, simpler and less expensive.

Another objective is to provide these play sets with additional interactivity between the player and the electronics.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a set of game with autonomous game objects, requiring no recharging, battery, battery, etc.

Another object of the invention is to allow the player to customize his pawn.

For this purpose, the invention proposes, in a first aspect, a game assembly, comprising: a game plate at least a part of its extent comprises means for detecting electromagnetic signals, at least one game object such as a die or pin capable of being brought into contact with or in the vicinity of the play plate, the object comprising a memory unit capable of storing data and means for emitting electromagnetic signals, and a central data processing unit (1000) capable of executing an electronic game, control means.

Said control means are able to trigger the reading of said stored data and the emission by said emitting means of electromagnetic signals representative of these read data so that they are received by the detection means to be then directed to the CPU,

The playing assembly further comprises a touch-sensitive panel covering at least partially one face of the play plate, the slab being sensitive to contact on its generally flat free surface of a body having specific mechanical properties and being able to generate a signal in relation to the contact established on its surface, the signal being directed towards the central unit. The central processing unit is able to integrate the signals received from the slab and said detection means, as data of said electronic game being executed.

Some favorite aspects of this game set are:

the detection means comprise at least one turn of electrically conductive material;

- The turn (s) is (are) screen printed (s) on the rear surface of the game plate;

- It further comprises a generally flat display device at least partially covered by the rear face of the game plate; the part of the game plate covering the display device is transparent to at least two wavelengths of light, and in that the detection means are made of transparent or translucent material at least these two lengths of light. wave of light such as glass or the like; - The game plate is the touchscreen optionally surface wave;

According to a first preferred set of games according to the invention: the control means are means for generating electromagnetic control signals, in that these generation means and said detection means are the same means situated in at least a part of the extent of the game board; object comprises at least one antenna adapted to receive the control signals, and the central processing unit is able to send to the generation / detection means a control signal, and to receive electrical signals therefrom;

- The memory unit is an electrically passive component, and the antenna further allows the transmission of energy to the memory unit; the memory unit is arranged so that the data to be stored can be written thereon, and the generation / detection means are able to emit electromagnetic signals allowing writing to the memory unit;

- Each game object is intended to be placed directly on the touch screen, and it is arranged to be undetectable by the touch screen when installed there;

- The contact surface of each game object with the touch screen is of a material hard enough to be undetectable by the touch screen, such as hard plastic; the game object is of the pawn type, and the memory unit is able to store identification data of the pawn;

the memory unit is able to store other types of data, such as personal data;

the game object is of die type, thus having a plurality of faces, and the object comprises, in the vicinity of each face, an antenna and a memory unit connected to the antenna;

it comprises a plurality of game objects of the dice type, the memory unit of each face of each die storing data distinct from those stored at the level of the other faces of the same die and those stored at the other faces of the dice; other dice; the generation / detection means are formed of a single turn surrounding the surface of the play plate intended to receive the dice-type objects;

the generation / detection means are formed of a network of essentially adjacent turns able to transmit an electromagnetic signal independently to a game object placed above and to receive the signals from the memory unit;

- The central processing unit is able to feed a short time and successively each turn, and read the signals it receives; the central processing unit is then able to deduce the position of the pawn as a function of the location of the turn having received the signals;

the central processing unit is then able to:

- deducing the position of the pawn according to the location of the turn received signals, and - identify a pawn from the signals it has received;

the central processing unit is then able to deduce the position of the pion as a function of the location of several turns having received the same signals, the pawn then overlapping these different turns;

the central processing unit is able to deduce the position of several pions positioned on the same turn, each pin having stored data of their own;

the central processing unit is then able to deduce the face of the drawn dice.

According to a second preferred set of games according to the invention: said control means are located on each game object, are manually operable and are arranged with the memory unit so as to trigger the emission of said electromagnetic signals when are operated;

the memory unit is an electrically passive component, the processing unit is furthermore capable of supplying power to said detection means, and said transmitting means is an antenna which furthermore makes it possible to receive means for detecting the electromagnetic energy and transmitting this energy in electrical form to the memory unit for powering it, each game object is intended to be placed directly on the touch screen, and is arranged so as to be detectable by the touch screen when the control means are actuated;

- The control means is secured to a support means of a sufficiently flexible material, such as rubber, to be detectable by the touch screen when the control means is actuated;

the game object is of the pawn type, and in that the memory unit is able to store identification data of the pawn;

the memory unit is able to store other types of data, such as personal data;

said detection means are formed of a single turn surrounding the surface of the play plate; - The central processing unit is able to deduce the position of the object according to the signals received from the touch screen.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a game object such as a die or a pin, capable of being brought into contact with or in the vicinity of a game platform, characterized in that the object comprises a memory unit. capable of storing data and reading this data in order to communicate them to means for emitting electromagnetic signals representative of this data, and control means operable manually and arranged with the memory unit so as to trigger said transmission of said signals electromagnetic when actuated. Other features of this game object are:

it is provided, at least at the level of the surface intended to be placed in contact with the game platform, with a sufficiently flexible material so as to be detectable by a touch screen included in the platform when said control means are actuated ; the flexible material is rubber. According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a game object such as a die or a pin, able to be brought into contact with or in the vicinity of a gaming platform, characterized in that the object comprises at least one antenna capable of receiving control signals coming from the platform, and a memory unit connected to each antenna and able to store data and to read this data to communicate them, on reception of the control signals, to means for transmitting electromagnetic signals representative of these data so that they are received by the same generation / detection means. - It is arranged to be undetectable by a touch screen whose surface is sensitive to contact with a body having a flexibility close to that of a finger, when it is placed there;

- For this purpose, the contact surface of each game object with the touch screen is of a material hard enough to be undetectable by the touch screen, such as hard plastic;

- The memory unit is an electrically passive component, and the antenna is further arranged to allow the transmission of energy to the memory unit;

the memory unit is arranged so that data can be written there to be stored;

according to a first variant, the object is of type d, thus having several faces, it comprises, in the vicinity of each face, an antenna and a memory unit connected to the antenna;

the data stored in the memory unit of a face are those identifying another face;

- Each face of the game object further comprises an electromagnetic screen of each set "antenna - memory unit" of each face, each screen being arranged to electromagnetically isolate the assembly that protects other sets; in a second variant, the game object is of the pawn type, and the memory unit is capable of storing identification data of the pawn; - The memory unit is also able to store other types of data, such as personal data.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: :

Figure 1a is an elevational view of a pawn for electronic game according to the invention, in which we see by transparency the electrical elements of the pawn. Figure 1b is a view from below of the pin of Figure 1a, in which we see by transparency the electrical elements of the pin.

Figure 2a is a sectional view along a plane of symmetry of a die for electronic game, in which we see by transparency the electrical elements of the pin for four of the six faces of the die. FIG. 2b is a front view of the die according to FIG. 2a, in which the electrical elements of the pin incorporated by the transparency under the face represented by the die are seen by transparency.

FIG. 3 represents a network of turns according to the invention included in a gaming platform according to the invention. FIG. 4 represents a first gaming platform according to the invention.

FIG. 5 represents a second gaming platform according to the invention.

Figure 6 shows a third gaming platform according to the invention. Figures 7a to 7d respectively show different configurations of placement of pawns on a gaming platform.

FIG. 8 represents a variant of the game platform according to the invention, which is intended to receive game objects of the dice type.

Figure 9 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a game object of the type pawn according to another variant of a game set according to the invention. FIG. 10 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the game object according to FIG. 9.

It will be noted as a preliminary that the invention applies in particular to an electronic gaming platform as described in document WO 02/20110 A in the name of the Applicant, but that it may also apply in certain cases to electronic gaming systems with a vertical screen, or without a screen as will be seen.

According to the invention, the game set comprises a game platform, one or more game objects (pion-type, dice, etc.), and a central data processing unit. Signals and data are communicated between the game platform and each object by a wireless link, of the electromagnetic type (preferably radiofrequency). The signals are managed upstream by the central processing unit, and the data is received, read and interpreted downstream by the same processing unit, or possibly another data processing unit.

The game platform is preferentially divided into cells, each cell comprising means for generating / detecting signals. Each game object is provided with a transponder including a memory storing data specific to the object. Thus, when an object is on a cell, the generating / detecting means generate a signal for reading the data stored in the transponder memory.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1a and 1b, there is shown a game object of the type 100 for an electronic game which comprises a body 110 with a base or flange 112. In this base 112 is provided a receiving antenna 140 electromagnetic signals, such as radiofrequency signals, and a memory unit 150 connected to the antenna. The antenna 140 may for example be a coil, a coil, or any other antenna capable of receiving a radiofrequency type electromagnetic signal. In this example, the antenna 140 has a simple geometry, for example circular. The memory unit 150 comprises a memory capable of storing data (preferably in forms digital) and to be read, an interface between the antenna 140 and the memory arranged so as to trigger the reading of the memory on reception of control signals (originating from the antenna 140) determined, and means for transmitting signals electromagnetic signals, such as radiofrequency signals, representative of the data stored and read from the memory to the underlying gaming platform (not shown here).

The means for transmitting can be integrated in the memory unit 150, or be constituted by the antenna 140 which then has the additional function of transmitting signals. Preferably, the memory unit 150 is an electrically passive component, and the antenna 140 is arranged to allow, in addition to the transmission of signals from the gaming platform, the transmission of energy to the unit of memory 150 so as to supply enough to trigger the release of the data it stores, and their conversion to electromagnetic signal. Thus, the counter 100 has no integrated power source.

Referring to Figures 2a and 2b, there is shown a game die 200 using the same principle. The die 200 has a generally cubic body with rounded corners, conventionally per se, for example plastic. In each of the six faces of the die 200 is embedded or embedded an antenna for receiving electromagnetic signals (such as radiofrequency signals), respectively 240a to 24Of (the antennas 240e and 24Of are not shown in the two figures), and a memory unit, respectively 250a to 25Of (the antennas 250e and 25Of are not shown in the two figures), connected to the antenna. Each antenna may for example be a winding, a coil, or any other antenna capable of receiving a radiofrequency type electromagnetic signal. In this example, each antenna has a simple geometry, for example circular. Each memory unit comprises a memory capable of storing data, preferably in digital form, and to be read, an interface between the antenna of the same face and the memory arranged so as to triggering the reading of the memory on receipt of determined control signals (from the antenna), and means for transmitting electromagnetic signals, such as radiofrequency signals, representative of the data stored and read in the memory to the gaming platform underlying (not shown here).

The means for transmitting can be integrated in the memory unit 150, or be constituted by the antenna 140 which then has the additional function of transmitting signals.

Preferably, each memory unit is an electrically passive component, and each antenna is arranged to allow, furthermore, the transmission of signals from the gaming platform, the transmission of energy to the memory unit connected thereto so as to supply enough power to trigger the release of the data it stores, and their conversion to electromagnetic signal. Thus, die 200 does not have an integrated power source.

When throwing die 200, it will be the face in contact with the surface of the platform which will then be read.

Each of the six "antenna-unit of memory" assemblies of die 200 is electromagnetically isolated from the other five "antenna-memory unit" assemblies by respective electromagnetic displays 260a-26Of (the 260e and 26Of screens are not shown on both of them). figures) so that it is only the antenna of the hidden face (ie lying on the surface of the platform of game) which receives the signals coming from the plate, and so that the signal delivered by the associated unit of memory does not can not be detected by other antennas. For this purpose, each electromagnetic screen may include its "antenna-unit of memory" assembly so as to present only an electromagnetic opening at the face of the die under which the assembly is located.

The memory unit of each face of the die 200 stores data distinct from those of the other faces. Similarly, the invention can provide several dice, the memory unit of each face of each die storing data separate from those of other memory units of other faces of the same die and other dice.

Each face has its own identification. The central processing unit can then assign the signals from the memory unit 250a to the face of the die 200 incorporating the memory unit 250c (ie the opposite face), so that when the memory unit 250a will be in a situation to emit a signal, that is to say that the associated face will be in contact with the game platform, the memory unit 250a will send the data relating to the actually drawn face. Of course, the die 200 which is for example a six-digit die identified by a number of points on each face, but also any other type of die, has on its faces the usual markings.

As will be seen below, the antenna (140, 240a, 240b, 240c, 24Od) is intended to receive an electromagnetic signal established by means of electromagnetic signal generation and detection provided in the electronic gaming platform, the latter being further provided with a display device for example liquid crystal.

Thus, FIG. 3 schematically illustrates such a gaming platform 600 comprising means for generating / detecting signals formed of a network of miniature spirals 700 of electrically conductive material, electrically independent of each other, and connected to said central processing unit . These 700 miniature turns are here essentially adjacent, of similar size, and form a regular network extending mainly in a plane. It is thus possible to obtain a checkerboard platform, the network of 700 miniature turns forming a network of "boxes". Control means of the lines 800 and columns 900 of the checkerboard can then be provided, for electrically and independently connecting each turn 700 to a central processing unit 1000 to which these means 700 and 800 are connected. The reading can be done by conventional techniques in themselves, using a sequential addressing or scanning along line buses L1, L2, L3, etc. and bus columns C1, C2, C3, etc.

Each of these turns 700 can thus receive an electrical signal, then locally generating a corresponding electromagnetic signal that can be detected by an antenna of a game object (of the 100, 200, or other type) placed above it. The control signal can be successively sent to each of the turns 700, so that it thus has only one active turn at a time, the control signal being thus sent on a line and a column. As a result, there is only one possible communication at a time between a game object and the platform. The communication can thus be done according to the principle of the RFDC (the English acronym "Radio Frequency Data Collection" meaning "Collection of Information by Radio Frequency"). The excitation period of a coil 700 may be for example 1/2 second. The antenna (140, 240a, 240b, 240c, 24Od) of the game object (100,200, or other) then captures the control signal of the underlying coil 700, which it transmits to the memory unit (150,250) in an electrical form capable of triggering the reading of the data stored in the memory and then remission by the memory unit of an electromagnetic signal associated with the stored data, this signal then being picked up by the turn 700 then de-energized.

Indeed, each turn 700 is further able to restore an electrical signal representative of the value of the electromagnetic signal at its level. Thus, when a game object, placed above such turn 700, emits a signal (representative of data that it stores), the coil 700 is able to detect it and convert it into electrical form.

The signals present at the turns 700 are received, for example via the scanning system of lines 800 and columns 900 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, by a central signal processing unit 1000 which, by reading the signals at different points of the platform 600, deduces the position and / or the identification of a pawn, face of dice or other object. This data is then transmitted to a game program running on the platform.

According to the invention, the cooperation of such a network of turns 700 with the electrical parts of a pin 100, a die 200, or another game object can locate the object in question.

According to the invention, the cooperation of such a network of turns 700 with the electrical parts of a pin 100, a die 200, or another game object can also make it possible to identify a pin 100, if the data it stores are its own and are known to the central processing unit 1000. According to the invention, the cooperation of such a network of turns 700 with the electrical parts of one or more de (s) 200 identifies the (or) face (s) that have been drawn, the data stored in each face of each die 200 being clean and known to the central processing unit 1000. In a particular configuration, the memory unit (150,250) is arranged so that the data to be stored can be written thereon, and the turns 700 are able to emit electromagnetic signals allowing writing in this memory unit. Thus, personal data can be stored in the game object, by simple protocol writing. Numerous variants, in the downstream electronic game, can thus be developed from the contribution that represents this writing possibility (the modifiable personal data can indeed be processed by the game software). In addition, this personal data will be reviewed according to the wishes of the player, giving additional interest to the game set according to the invention.

We will now describe in greater detail, with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, various configurations of embodiment of the gaming platform 600 according to the invention.

According to each of the three configurations, the game platform 600 comprises a game plate 300 on which the network of turns 700 has been screen printed. This screen printing is performed on the back side, ie the face which is not on the side intended to receive the game objects (100,200, or others).

Optionally, a flat display device 400, such as for example a liquid crystal or plasma connected to the central processing unit 1000, or a simple cardboard or plasticized support, covers at least partially the rear face of the game plate. 300. This display device 400 may, for example, represent the graphics of the game. In order for the display device 400 to be visible to the player, it is necessary for the game plate 300 to be made of a material that is transparent to at least two. wavelengths of light emitted (or reflected) by the display device 400. The screen-printed patterns 700 are also preferably made in this case of transparent or translucent material to at least these two wavelengths of light. In addition, fine screen printing will be preferred. According to another configuration (not shown), a display device of screen type, for example liquid crystal or plasma, is provided so as not to be placed under the game plate 300, but on the side, for example in a vertical position so as to be placed on a flat surface. It is further connected to the central processing unit 1000. According to another configuration (not shown), no display device is provided.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a sectional view of a portion of a game platform 600 according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the game plate 300 is made of glass or other transparent material, the arrangement of the turns 700 being on the entire game plate 300. The pins are directly placed on the game plate 300.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a sectional view of a portion of a gaming platform 600 according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the game plate 300 is made of glass or other transparent material, the arrangement of the turns 700 being made on the whole of the plate 300. The game platform 600 further comprises here a touch screen 500 of transparent material covering at least a portion of the front face of the game plate 300. This touch screen 500 is sensitive to a contact made by a body having specific physical properties, with its generally flat free surface, such as a surface wave tile as manufactured by ELO TouchSystems®. This touch screen 500 is intended to serve as a dialogue interface between the player and the game platform 600, the central processing unit 1000 then being able to integrate this control information in the electronic game. The radio frequencies for the RF communication are chosen so as not to interfere with the mechanical waves of the touchpad 500. In addition, it is preferable that the pins 100, 200 dice, or other game objects used, placed on this tile 500 , do not affect the result of the touch control (action of a finger on the slab 500). For this purpose, the material of the game object is chosen sufficiently hard not to create a control signal to the touch screen 500. In the case of a pin 100 used on a slab 500 with a surface wave, it will be chosen a contact surface, or more particularly a base 112, the pin 100 made of a material not absorbing the surface wave so that the pin 100 becomes undetectable by the slab 500. The Applicant has for example found that a hard plastic pin 100 is undetectable by the touchpad 500 (unlike softer materials such as the modeling lug, eraser or finger).

Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a sectional view of a portion of a game platform 600 according to a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the game plate 300 is a touch screen of transparent material, the arrangement of the turns 700 is directly on the lower surface of the touch screen 300. This touch screen 300 is substantially identical to that previously discussed with reference to Figure 5 except that the turns 700 are here screen printed on the underside. FIG. 6 furthermore shows the presence of a 100 counter above a turn 700, thus illustrating the system of cooperation between a pin 100 and a turn 700.

According to the last two variants of the invention (with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6), a particularity of the platform 600 is found in that it combines two types of detection on the same support; on the upper surface, touch detection; and on the lower surface the electromagnetic detection (in particular radiofrequency). The game set according to the invention thus offers new game perspectives, with additional variants. Referring to Figures 7a to 7d, there is shown different possible positions of the pins on the surface of the game platform, these positions being detectable according to the invention.

With reference to FIG. 7a, two pins 101 and 102 are respectively positioned on two turns 701 and 702. Their positions are then found by the central processing unit 1000 from the knowledge of the positioning of the turns 701 and 702 in the network. of turns, and the reading of the signals emitted by the turns, representative of the data stored in their respective pieces. The pieces 101 and 102 can be differentiated from their own data transmitted to the central processing unit 1000.

With reference to FIG. 7b, a pin 103 is positioned astride between two turns 703 and 704. The pin 103 will respond to the requests of the two turns 703 and 704, and the central processing unit 1000 will then be able to locate it in this region. precise position. Referring to Figure 7c, two pins 104 and 105 are positioned on the same turn 705 (the pin 105 may even be straddling the coil 705 and a turn 706). The turn 705 must be able to transmit to the central processing unit 1000 the information from the two pins 104 and 105. For this purpose, the signals transmitted by the two pins 104 and 105 must be so distinct as not to interfere. With reference to FIG. 7d, a pin 106 is positioned astride between four turns 707, 708, 709 and 710. The pin 106 will respond to requests from the four turns 707, 708, 709, 710, and the central processing unit. 1000 will then be able to locate it precisely in this position. The game set according to the invention thus makes it possible to very accurately detect and identify game objects such as pawns when they are placed on the platform.

An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that the pieces, dice or other objects are completely passive, do not require an integrated power supply, and retain substantially the same appearance as in a conventional game.

In addition, thanks to such a non-contact electromagnetic system, it can be placed immediately above a flat screen LCD, plasma or other, so without disturbing the screen display produced by the program of the game

The present invention has many applications in the field of play.

In the first place, it allows to locate a pawn during a manual movement of this pawn by a player. In the case where the game is such that there are several pawns on the board, each of the pieces stores different data, so that the system can differentiate the positions and movements of the different pieces. For example, the invention can be applied to checkers, chess games, etc.

Secondly, as described, it allows to practice a real die roll, and to directly raise the result of the throw to introduce it as input to the current game program. execution, so that this program commits or authorizes / prohibits certain operations.

In this regard, young children (typically 3 to 5 years) on the one hand do not yet know how to use command objects such as mice, tablets, pencils and other optical interfaces for didactic software, and on the other hand are disturbed by the on-screen virtualisation of the objects used in the game.

The invention thus makes it possible to combine the manipulation of real objects in three dimensions, which they can easily handle, and the didactic contribution authorized by the software, without the child having to perform a cerebral transposition between real object and object. virtual.

Finally, an improvement of the invention consists in the provision of a touch interface allowing an additional interface between the player and the electronics, the display device can project the boxes on which the player can press.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the invention.

Thus, with reference to FIG. 8, a variant of the invention consists in that the platform 600, comprising a play plate made of transparent material, of glass, of "tactile" material or of another material as described above covering possibly a display device

400, does not include a network of turns 700 as shown in Figure 3, but a single turn 700 surrounding the surface of the game board

300 for receiving one or more dice. This variant is applicable for games that do not require knowing the positioning of the dice (s) on the platform 600. Indeed, this single turn 700 will interrogate the dice (s) that have been discarded, and will not refer back to the central processing unit 1000 (via the control means 800) that information concerning the identification of the face (s) drawn (s). This set of games is simpler to perform and more modest.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, another variant of a game set according to the invention is illustrated.

This set of game comprises a platform 600 substantially identical to that previously described in support of Figure 8, with the specificity that it comprises a touch screen. In particular, the different platform variants described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 may also be used in this variant according to the invention.

In contrast, the touch screen and the processing unit 1000 are here arranged and connected together so that the central unit 1000 is able to receive signals from the touch screen, and to interpret them to deduce:

the surface of the slab has been in contact with a body having specific physical and / or mechanical properties; and which surface area has been contacted.

Thus, the central processing unit 1000 is able to determine the position on the touch screen to which the contact has been established.

In addition, the CPU 1000 processes the information from the coil 700, through the interface 800. Referring to Figure 9, is shown a longitudinal sectional view of a pin 100 used in this set game, comprising a body 110, a base or flange 112, a memory unit 150 (such as an RFID module), a control means 120, such as a push button. The memory unit 150 may have an antenna incorporated to transmit, or alternatively the pin 100 may include an antenna (not shown in Figure 9) substantially identical to that of Figure 1A to transmit and / or receive.

The memory unit 150 may be an electrically passive component, and is powered by said processing unit 1000, via the coil 700 and the antenna, the energy transmitted between these two last elements being electromagnetic .

Referring to Figure 10, the base 112 is integral with the body 110, the assembly being symmetrical to revolution about an axis 1. The body 110 extends generally longitudinally relative to the base 112, so as to define an upper part of the pin 100 and the base 112 a lower part thereof.

The base 112 is intended to be placed on the game platform 600 at a contact surface 114 substantially perpendicular to the axis 1.

The base 112 is advantageously made of undetectable material by a mechanical wave touchscreen, such as a hard plastic.

A reciprocating symmetrical cavity 119 around the axis 1 is provided through the body 110 and in the base 112, the cavity 119 being emerging from the base 112 at the bearing surface 114 thereof and opening at the upper end of the body 110.

Advantageously, the cavity 119 consists of three successive cavity portions (a high cavity 119 ', an intermediate cavity 119 ", and a low cavity 119'"), each substantially cylindrical, having respective average sections successively larger . Thus, the upper end of the intermediate cavity 119 "is limited by an annular surface 117 extending from the lower end of the upper cavity 119 'With reference to Figure 9, an intermediate piece 116 is housed at bottom of the lower cavity 119 '". This intermediate piece 116 is traversed by an orifice extending along the axis 1 whose section is chosen substantially smaller than that of the intermediate cavity 119 ".

Thus, the piece 116 partially closes the lower end of the intermediate cavity 119 "by an annular surface 118 around the upper end of said orifice.

The pin 100 further comprises a control means 120 of the push button type comprising a head 121 and a support foot 113 at its two ends between which extends longitudinally with respect to the axis 1 a shaft 122. The shaft 122 of this control means 120 passes through the body 110, the body 112 and the piece 116 at the level of the cavities 119 and orifice made, so that it can be moved in translation along the axis 1, and so that the head 121 is located outside the body 110 and the support foot 113 is located in the lower cavity 119 '"provided in the base 112.

An elastic means 123, such as for example a spring, is disposed between the head 121 and the upper end of the body 110 so that, in the equilibrium position, this elastic means 123 defines a high position of the control means 120 in which the support foot 113 is not in contact with the contact surface 114.

In contrast, when the pin 100 is placed on the touch screen, and the user presses the head 121 of the control means 120, the support foot 113 comes into contact with the touch screen.

The material constituting at least the lower part of the support foot 113 is chosen for this purpose sufficiently flexible so that, when the control means 120 is actuated, the contact established with the touch screen is detectable by the latter.

For example, it is possible to choose a material such as a rubber, which is a material easily detectable by a mechanical wave slab. This material can be secured, for example, by gluing, with the shaft 122. For this purpose, the latter comprises a terminal plate 124 on which is secured the support foot 113.

Part of said intermediate piece 116 may also be made so as to receive a complementary and removable manner said plate 124, when the control means 120 is in the upper position.

On the other hand, the shaft 122 of the control means 120 comprises an intermediate portion 122 "housed in the intermediate cavity 119" having a larger section than two other end shaft portions 122 'and

122 '"(the latter being housed at least partly in respectively the cavities high 119' and low 119 '"). Thus, the low 152 and high ends 153 of the intermediate portion 122 "of the shaft respectively extend along annular surfaces 152 and 153 from, respectively, the upper and lower ends of the end portions 122 'and 122'. " of the tree. Moreover, the length of the intermediate portion 122 "is less than the height of the intermediate cavity 119".

In addition, the section of the intermediate portion 122 "is larger than the section of the lower cavity 119 'and that the cross section of the orifice through the workpiece 116, so that the surfaces 152 and 153 can bear, respectively , on the surfaces 118 and 117 when the control means 120 is actuated in translation.

The surface 152 is covered with an electrically conductive material, extending at least partly in projection between closure contacts 151 present on said surface 118. On the other hand, the base 112 or the intermediate piece 116 houses the memory unit 150 in which data such as identification data of the pin or other data are stored, as well as the closing electrical contacts 151 in electrical connection with separate parts of the memory unit 150, so that that the latter can emit electromagnetic signals as these contacts 151 are not electrically connected.

These closure contacts 151 are located near the axis 1, on said surface 118.

These closure contacts 151 may be punctual or form for example a ring around the axis 1.

Thus, when a force is exerted on the control means 120, the electrical material covering the surface 152 comes into contact with the closing contacts 151 thus closing the circuit of the memory unit 150, thus causing the transmission by the (or by an associated antenna) of electromagnetic signals representative of the data it stores. Accordingly, when the player actuates the control means 120, he:

- makes contact with the touch screen allowing the central processing unit 1000 to locate the pin on the gaming platform 600;

- Initiates the emission of electromagnetic signals representative of data relating to the pin to the turn 700, which it directs it to the processing unit 1000 (via the interface 800). These different pieces of information (location of the pawn and data relating to the pawn) are then integrated as data in a running electronic game managed by the processing unit 1000.

Claims

1. Game set, comprising:

a game plate (300) at least a part of whose extent comprises means for detecting electromagnetic signals,

at least one game object such as a die (200) or a pin (100) capable of being brought into contact with or near the play plate (300), the object comprising a memory unit (150, 250a) capable of storing data and means for emitting electromagnetic signals, - a central data processing unit (1000) capable of executing an electronic game, and

control means (700, 120), said control means (700, 120) being able to trigger the reading of said stored data and the emission by said emitting means of electromagnetic signals representative of these data read so that they are received by the detection means (700) to be then directed towards the central unit (1000), characterized in that the game unit further comprises a touch screen (500) covering at least partially a face of the play plate (300), the slab (500) being sensitive to contact on its generally flat free surface of a body having specific mechanical properties and being able to generate a signal in relation to the contact established on its surface, the signal being directed towards the central unit (1000), the latter being able to integrate the signals received from the slab (500) and from said detection means (700) as data of the electronic game being executed. ution.

2. Play set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said detection means comprise at least one turn of electrically conductive material.

3. Set of game according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the or turn (s) is (are) screen printed (s) on the rear surface of the game plate.

4. Play set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a display device (400) generally flat covered at least partially by the rear face of the game plate.

5. Set of game according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the portion of the game plate covering the display device is transparent to at least two wavelengths of light, and in that the detection means are made of transparent or translucent material to at least these two wavelengths of light.

6. Play set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the play plate is glass or the like.

7. Play set according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the game plate is the touch screen.

8. Play set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the touch screen is surface wave.

9. Play set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means are means (700) for generating electromagnetic control signals, in that said generation means and said detection means are the same. means located in at least a part of the extent of the play plate (300), in that the object comprises at least one antenna (140, 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d) adapted to receive the control signals, and in that the central processing unit (1000) is connected to the antenna and is able to transmit on reception of the control signals received from the antenna.

10. Play set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the memory unit is an electrically passive component, and in that the antenna further allows the transmission of energy to the memory unit.

11. Play set according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the memory unit is arranged so that it can write the data to be stored, and in that the means of generation / detection are able to emit electromagnetic signals allowing writing in the memory unit.

12. Game set according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that each game object is intended to be placed directly on the touch screen, and in that it is arranged to be undetectable by the touch screen when he is sitting there.

13. Game set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact surface of each game object with the touch screen is of a material hard enough to be undetectable by the touch screen, such as hard plastic.

14. Set of game according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the game object is of the pawn type, and in that the memory unit is able to store identification data of the pawn.

15. Game set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the memory unit is able to store other types of data, such as personal data.

16. Play set according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the game object is of type d, thus having several faces, and in that the object comprises, in the vicinity of each face, a antenna and a memory unit connected to the antenna.

17. Game set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of game objects of the dice type, the memory unit of each face of each die storing data different from those stored at the other level. faces of the same die and those stored at the other faces of the other dice.

18. Play set according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the generating / detecting means are formed of a single turn surrounding the surface of the play plate for receiving the dice type objects.

19. Play set according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the generating / detecting means are formed from a network of substantially adjacent turns capable of independently transmitting an electromagnetic signal to a game object placed above and receiving signals therefrom from the memory unit.

20. Play set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the central processing unit (1000) is adapted to feed a short time and successively each turn, and read the signals it receives.

21. Set of game according to one of the two preceding claims combined with claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the central processing unit (1000) is then able to deduce the position of the pawn according to the location of the spire having received the signals.

22. Set of game according to one of claims 19 and 20 combined with claim 15, characterized in that the central processing unit (1000) is then able to:

- deduce the position of the pawn according to the location of the turn received signals, and

- identify a pawn from the signals it has received.

23. Set of game according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the central processing unit (1000) is then able to deduce the position of the pin according to the location of several turns having received the same signals, the piece then overlaps these different turns.

24. Set of game according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the central processing unit (1000) is able to deduce the position of several pins positioned on the same turn, each piece having stored data which they are clean.

25. Play set according to one of claims 19 and 20 combined with one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the central processing unit (1000) is then able to deduce the face of the drawn dice.

26. Play set according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a control means (120) is embedded in each game object, is manually operable and is arranged with the memory unit of so as to trigger the emission of said electromagnetic signals when actuated.

27. Play set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the memory unit is an electrically passive component, in that the processing unit is further able to supply energy to said detection means, and in that said transmitting means is an antenna further for receiving means for detecting the electromagnetic energy and transmitting this energy in electrical form to the memory unit for powering it.

28. Play set according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that each game object is intended to be placed directly on the touch screen, and in that it is arranged to be detectable by the touch screen when the control means is actuated.

29. Set of game according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control means is secured to a support means of a sufficiently flexible material, such as rubber, to be detectable by the touch screen when the means of command is operated.

30. Set of game according to one of claims 26 to 29, characterized in that the game object is of the pawn type, and in that the memory unit is able to store identification data of the pawn.

31. Game set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the memory unit is able to store other types of data, such as personal data.

32. Play set according to one of claims 26 to 31, characterized in that said detection means are formed of a single turn surrounding the surface of the play plate.

33. Play set according to one of claims 26 to 32, characterized in that the central processing unit (1000) is adapted to deduce the position of the object according to the signals received from the touch screen.

34. A game object such as a pin (100) capable of being brought into contact with or in the vicinity of a gaming platform (600), characterized in that the object comprises a memory unit (150, 150a, 150b, 150c, 150d) able to store data and to read this data to communicate them to means resigning electromagnetic signals representative of these data, and a control means operable manually and arranged with the memory unit so as to trigger said emission of the electromagnetic signals when actuated.

35. Game object according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control means further comprises a support means which bears on the platform when the control means is actuated, the support means being made of a material sufficiently flexible that the contact established with the platform by the control means (120) actuated is detectable by a touch screen included in the platform (600).

36. Object game according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the flexible material is rubber.

37. A game object such as a die (200) or a pin (100) capable of being brought into contact with or in the vicinity of a gaming platform (600), characterized in that the object comprises at least one antenna (140, 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d) adapted to receive control signals from the platform, and a memory unit (150, 150a, 150b, 150c, 150d) connected to each antenna and able to store data and reading these data to communicate them, upon receipt of the control signals, to electromagnetic signal transmitting means representative of such data so that they are received by the same generation / detection means (700).

38. A game object according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is arranged to be undetectable by a touch screen whose surface is sensitive to a contact of a body having a flexibility close to that of a finger, when he is sitting there.

39. Object game according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact surface of each game object with the touch screen is of a material hard enough to be undetectable by the touch screen, such as hard plastic.

40. Playground object according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the memory unit is an electrically passive component, and in that the antenna is further arranged to allow the transmission of energy to the memory unit.

41. Object game according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized in that the memory unit is arranged so that it can write data to be stored.

42. A game object according to one of the five preceding claims, characterized in that it is of type d, thus having several faces, and in that it comprises, in the vicinity of each face, an antenna and a unit of memory connected to the antenna.

43. Game object according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the data stored in the memory unit of a face are those identifying another face.

44. Object of game according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that each face of the game object further comprises an electromagnetic screen (160a, 160b, 160c, 160d) of each set "antenna - memory unit Of each face, each screen being arranged so as to electromagnetically isolate the assembly that it protects from other sets.

45. A game object according to one of claims 39 to 43, characterized in that the game object is of the pawn type, and in that the memory unit is able to store identification data of the pawn.

46. A game object according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the memory unit is able to store other types of data, such as personal data.