CA2033534A1 - Control circuit for a multiple power level solenoid - Google Patents
Control circuit for a multiple power level solenoidInfo
- Publication number
- CA2033534A1 CA2033534A1 CA 2033534 CA2033534A CA2033534A1 CA 2033534 A1 CA2033534 A1 CA 2033534A1 CA 2033534 CA2033534 CA 2033534 CA 2033534 A CA2033534 A CA 2033534A CA 2033534 A1 CA2033534 A1 CA 2033534A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- solenoid
- control circuit
- flipper
- power level
- plunger
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
- A63F7/22—Accessories; Details
- A63F7/24—Devices controlled by the player to project or roll-off the playing bodies
- A63F7/26—Devices controlled by the player to project or roll-off the playing bodies electric or magnetic
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of The Disclosure The control circuit of the invention consists of a solenoid which generates a high propelling force when the player closes a flipper switch. A primary timer circuit decreases the power when the flipper switch is held closed by a player for more than a predetermined length of time such that only a lower holding power is delivered. Thereafter, if the flipper begins to slip from its holding or static position, a sensor activates a maintenance timer circuit which again generates the higher propelling force. The maintenance timer circuit lowers the power after another predetermined length of time has expired. If the flipper again begins to slip, the maintenance timer circuit is reactivated and the cycle is repeated. Once the player releases the flipper switch, the solenoid is de-energized and both timer circuits are reset until such time as the player again depresses the flipper switch. In this manner, only the power necessary to maintain the desired mode of operation is delivered to the solenoid such that overheating and failure of the solenoid is avoided.
Description
2`~
PATENT
DOCRET NO. 1994 "CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR A MULTIPLE POWER LEV~:L SOLENOID"
sAcxGRouND OF ~HE INVE~TION ;~
The pre~ent invention relate3 generally to pinball ghmes and, more particularly, to a circuit for controlling the power delivered to a multiple po~er level solenoid actuakor of a - flipper.
In the typical pinball game, an inclined playfield support~ a rolling ball and a plurality of play feature~. The play~ield al~o ~upports a pair of flippers, the activation o~
which allows the player to propel, hold and/or redirect the pinball during the course of game play.
; The typical flipper is u~ed both in a dynamic mode to deliver a sufficient force to the pinball to change its direction and propel the ball across the playfield and in a static mode to holt the pinball momentarily 3tationary to aim it for 3kill shots. On average, only one-ten~h the power i~ required to hold the flipper in the static po~ition a~ compared to that required to deliver a propelling force to the pinball.
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., 1 . ., ...... j .- ... ,. .. , . .:: - .:
.. ~ . : ::: . . , -: :.: . , . . : , . . . : - ~ : - ~ ., ,... 2~ ~ 3~ Ll, A single solenoid is used ~o drive each flipper such that the solenoid must be able to deliver both the propelling or dynamic force and the lower, holding or s~atic force.' Failure to reduce ~he power deli~ered to the solenoid in ~he static mode can result in the overheating and failure of the solenoid. As a .
result, various techniques have been developed to lower the power '~
delivered to the solenoid when the flipper i in a ~tatic or holding position. A description of the technique~ developed in the prior art can be found in U.S Patent No,'4,790,536~i~sued to Z ~3//?
Deger and U.S. Patent No~. 4,384,716~issued to Power. While these ~ 2 prior art systems can lower`'thë'''power dèl-ivered to the ~olenoid in the holding position, they are unable to compensatë for~``''''`'' -~^--slippage in the flipper that may occur when the flipper i9 held 3~/!2t~ ~`
in the static position for extended periods of time. ~herefore " '`3//' an impro~ed control circuit that can efficiently and 5 automatically maintain the power delivered to the solenoid actuator in both the dynamic and static modes is desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
,. '.
~he present invention overcomes the above-noted short-comings of the prior art by providing a control circuit for a ' solenoid actuator that is capable of delivering high power to the '' solenoid in the dynamic mode, reducing the power delivered to the ;
solenoid when the flipper is employed in the static mode, and increasing the delivered power in the static mode when slippage .
; 2 ~, ~33~ ~
of the flipper is detected. The control circuit of the invention pre~erably con~rols either a double coil solenoid or a solenoid having a single coil which can be energized ~o at least two power levels. When the player closes a flipper switch the high propelling force is generated. If the flipper switch is held closed by a player for more than a shor~ time the power i~
reduced so that only the lower holding power is delivered to maintain the flipper in the static position~ Thereafter, if the flipper begins to slip from its holding or static position tdue to the weight of the ball thereon), a sensor activateq a maintenance timer circuit which increases tne power delivered by the solenoid to again generate tha high propelling force. The maintenance tir~er circuit decreases the power delivered by the ~olenoid a~ter another predetermined length o~ time ha3 expired.
If the flipper again begins to slip, the maintenance timer - circuit is reactivated and the cycle is repeated. Once the player releases the flipper switch, the solenoid is de-energized ; and the circuits are reset until such time as the player again depresses the flipper switch. In this manner, only the power necessary to maintain the desired mode of operation is delivered to the solenoid such that overheating and failure of the solenoid ~ is avoided.
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OBJEC~S OF ~HE INVEy?ION
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It is a general ob~ect of the invention to provide an improved control circuit for a 301enoid actuator that can opera~e in both a high power or dynamic mode and a low power or static mode to thereby avoid overhea~ing and failure of the solenoid. ~ ~
, ; , .
It is a further ob~ect of the invention to provide a control circuit for a pinball flipper that can increase the power delivered to the 801 noid actuator in the hblding or ~tatic ~node if the flipper should slip from its holding position.
:~
Other ob~ects of the invention, ln addition to those sat forth above, will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in -- the art from the following detailed de~cription of ~he invention.
.'' ~'' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
, FIG. 1 show~ a partial bottom view of the solenoid ~;
aatuating mechanism of the invention mounted to the underside of a pinball playfield.
~IG. 2 shows a block diagram of the control circuit of ;~`~
the in~ention~
2~?~3 '3~ 4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
.: Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the:flipper ~ mechanism of the invention includes a support 3 mounted to the underside of a playfield 9. A shaft 11 is rotatably supported in a bearing located in support 3 such that ~he shaft extends through an aperture formed i~ the playfield g and is disposed perpendicularly ther~to. A flipper 15 is fixad to the end of the shaft 11 such that rotation of the shaft 11 results in a ~i~ul-taneous rotation of flipper 15.
' A solenoid 17 is secured to support 3 such that its : retractable plunger 21 is arranged perpendicularly to shaft 11.
: ~ linkage 23 i8 fixed to ~haft 11 and i8 pivotally connected to .~ plunger 21 at ~oint 22 such that the linear reciprocating motion - of plunger 21 is tran~lated into rotational pivoting motion of . shaft 11. A compre~sion spring 25 is disposed coaxially over .: plunger 21 and i~ provided to return the plunger 21 to its ., extended position upon deactivation of the solenoid 17.
i- Associated with the solenoid 17 is a player-operated flipper switch 35 (shown in FIG. 2) that energizes the ~olenoid thereby to control actuation of the flipper as will hereina~ter ba described.
An optical switch 27 is fixed to support 3 and linXage ~;
23 carrie~ a reflective member 29 extending therefrom such that ~"': S
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optical switch 27 can detect the presence of the reflective member 29. Because movement of the reflective member 29 is concurrent with that of flipper 15, optical switch 27, in effect, detects the position of flipper lS. The function and operation ~ -of optical switch 27 will hereinafter be described.
Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, the control circuit for activating solenoid 1~ is shown in block form. The solenoid 17 is a~sociated with each of the game~s flippers, a~
previously described, and consists of either a first power coil 31 and a second holding coil 33 or a single coil with a plurality of taps so that it is energizeable over a first number of turns to create the ball propelling force and a second le~er number of turns to creake the holding force. In describing the operation of the control circuit, specific reference will be made to the dual coil solenoid, it being understood that the output from the control circuit can al~o control actuation a single coil solenoid ~ ;
having multiple taps.
, .
One or more flippers may be pr~vided for each pinball game; however, the typical game has two such flipper~. The control circuit for one such flipper will be described, it being understood that, preferably, an identical control circuit would be associated with each flipper.
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The player-operated switch 35 for controlling the activation of the flipper i8 mounted on the plnball gEme cabinet such that it can be activated by the player. When the player closes switch 35, a circuit i~ completed via line 36 whereby hold coil 33 is immediately energized and remains energized a~ long a~
the player keep~ switch 35 closed. The closing of switch 35, :~
also triggers a switch detect circui~ 37. The ~switch detect circuit 37 i~ a typical NPN transi~tor switch. One output, 37a, is coupled to the input of the primary timer circuit 40. The o~her output, 37b, activates the timer reset circuit 39. The timer reset circuit 39 is also a typical NPN transistor switch.
The timer reset circuit 39 initializes the primary timer circuit 40 and a maintenance timer circuit 41 such that both timers axe placed in an active mode. ~he primary timer circuit 40 may consist of one of the two timer circuits of a standard 556 dual timer integrated circuit chip. The primary timer circuit 40 also includes any additional support circuitry consistent with the application of the timer chip chosen, as will ..:
...
be readily under~tood by one having ordinary -Rkill in the art of circuit de~ign.
:, Once the primary timer circuit 40 has received both the signal from the timer reset circuit 39 and the trigger signal 37a from the switch detect circuit 37, it turns on the power output circuit 43 for a predetermined length of time. The power output .. '' .
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circuit 43 is a typical two-stage transistor amplifier. The first stage includes a Darlington transistor. Irhe second stage includes a typical PNP power transistor. Preferably, the primary timer circuit 40 turns on the power output circuit 43 for about 40 milliseconds. However, the tLme period can be changed by selecting different circuit components for ~he primary timer circuit 40 as desired. The power output circuit 43, in turn, energizes ~he power coil 31 fnr the length of time determined by the primary timer circuit 40. ~
' :, It will be understood by one of o~dinary skill in the art that the time delay between the time that the player activates switch 35 and the time that power coil 31 is energlzed i8 negligible. Therefore, activation of switch 3S causes the hold coil 33 and the power coil 31 to be energized ~irtually -;~
simultaneously. The effect is that the solenoid 17, acting under the force o~ both the hold coil 33 and the power coil 31, (or both portions of a multiple tap ~olenoid coil) quickly pivot3 flipper 15 thereby to deliver sufficient force to propel a pinball across tha playfield.
' '' '; ', ~
Upon expiration o~ the time period determined by the primary timer circuit 40, the power output circuit 43 i5 tu~ned ' off and the powar coil 31 i~ de-energized such that only the hold i:i coil 33 remains energized. As long as the player.continue~ to ,i .- .
depres3 switch 35, the hold coil 33 will remain acti~ated and ':
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will exert force upon the plunger to maintain the flipper 15 in the static or holding position. Thus, the control circuit of the pre~ent invention, like the prior art, reduce~ t:he pbwer delivered to the solenoid during the holding or static mode such that the solenoid will not overheat and fail.
After prolonged activation of switch 35, the flipper 15 may have a tendency to slip back toward its non~activated po~ition, particularly if an external force iY exerted on ths flipper such as that produc d by a pinball. The control circuit ; of the present invention has the capability of boosting the power to the flipper 15 by intermittently reactivating the power coil 31 ~uch that ~lippage o the ~lipper can be avoided, a~ will hereinafter be described.
;'' ; - The optical switch 27 is activated when reflecting member 29 is aligned therewith, that is, when the flippar 15 i~
in it~ static or holding position a~ shown in da~hed line~ in Figure 1. In the holding position the ~ignal generated by the optical ~witch 27 providos a continuous Yignal to the ~lip detect circuit 45. The slip de~ect circuit 4S includes a simple RC
smoothing network- The output of the slip detect circuit i9 coupled to the trigger input of the maintenanca timer circuit 41.
Should the flipper 15 begin to ~lip, reflective member 29 will begin to move ~way from optical switch 27 such that the 51ip detect circuit 45 will trigger th~ maintenance timer circuit 41.
.
', . ~: ... .. . : . . . .. . :
If a standard 556 dual timer chip of the preferred embodiment i~
usied for the primary timer circuit 40, the econd tLmer contained thereo~ can be used as the maintenance timer circuit 41.
:
When the maintenance timer circuit 41 receives the trigger signal from the slip detec~ circuit 45, the power output circuit 43 reactlvate~ the power coil 31 to again boost the power ~ -to the solenoid and maintain the flipper in ~he static or holding po~ition. ~he maintenance timer circuit 41 is preferably pre~et for a 10 milliseconds countdown such that t~e power coil is ~ `
anergized for that period. Once the 10 milli~econd countdown has elapsed the power coil 31 i~ again deenergized such that only the hold coil 33 remains energized and the slip detect circuit agaln awaits a signal from the optical switch 27 that the 1ipper i8 slipping. Thus, the control circuit of the invention can maintain ~he flipper in the holding or static po~ition indefinitely so long a~ the player keap~ the player-operated flipper actuatlng ~witch 35 closed.
, Once the player release~ the flipper ~witch, the hold coil 33 i5 deactiva~ed and the timer reset circuit 39 places both ~' timers in an idle mode such that neither coil is energized. If the player again closes the flipper switch, the above-de3cribed operation will be repeated. ~;
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While the control circuit of the invention h ~ ~3 described with particular reference to the us~ with a pinball flipper act~ating mechanism, it will be understc~od by one of ordinary skill in tha art that the control circuit can be employed whenever a solenoid is required to operate in both a static or holding mode and in active or dynamic mode. While the preferred embodiment of this in~ention has been shown and de~cribed in ~ome detail, it will ~e understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that this de~cription and the accompanying drawings are offered merely by way of example, and that the invention i~ to be limited in scopé only by the appended C1.~.iJ113 .
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PATENT
DOCRET NO. 1994 "CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR A MULTIPLE POWER LEV~:L SOLENOID"
sAcxGRouND OF ~HE INVE~TION ;~
The pre~ent invention relate3 generally to pinball ghmes and, more particularly, to a circuit for controlling the power delivered to a multiple po~er level solenoid actuakor of a - flipper.
In the typical pinball game, an inclined playfield support~ a rolling ball and a plurality of play feature~. The play~ield al~o ~upports a pair of flippers, the activation o~
which allows the player to propel, hold and/or redirect the pinball during the course of game play.
; The typical flipper is u~ed both in a dynamic mode to deliver a sufficient force to the pinball to change its direction and propel the ball across the playfield and in a static mode to holt the pinball momentarily 3tationary to aim it for 3kill shots. On average, only one-ten~h the power i~ required to hold the flipper in the static po~ition a~ compared to that required to deliver a propelling force to the pinball.
'~
... .
., 1 . ., ...... j .- ... ,. .. , . .:: - .:
.. ~ . : ::: . . , -: :.: . , . . : , . . . : - ~ : - ~ ., ,... 2~ ~ 3~ Ll, A single solenoid is used ~o drive each flipper such that the solenoid must be able to deliver both the propelling or dynamic force and the lower, holding or s~atic force.' Failure to reduce ~he power deli~ered to the solenoid in ~he static mode can result in the overheating and failure of the solenoid. As a .
result, various techniques have been developed to lower the power '~
delivered to the solenoid when the flipper i in a ~tatic or holding position. A description of the technique~ developed in the prior art can be found in U.S Patent No,'4,790,536~i~sued to Z ~3//?
Deger and U.S. Patent No~. 4,384,716~issued to Power. While these ~ 2 prior art systems can lower`'thë'''power dèl-ivered to the ~olenoid in the holding position, they are unable to compensatë for~``''''`'' -~^--slippage in the flipper that may occur when the flipper i9 held 3~/!2t~ ~`
in the static position for extended periods of time. ~herefore " '`3//' an impro~ed control circuit that can efficiently and 5 automatically maintain the power delivered to the solenoid actuator in both the dynamic and static modes is desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
,. '.
~he present invention overcomes the above-noted short-comings of the prior art by providing a control circuit for a ' solenoid actuator that is capable of delivering high power to the '' solenoid in the dynamic mode, reducing the power delivered to the ;
solenoid when the flipper is employed in the static mode, and increasing the delivered power in the static mode when slippage .
; 2 ~, ~33~ ~
of the flipper is detected. The control circuit of the invention pre~erably con~rols either a double coil solenoid or a solenoid having a single coil which can be energized ~o at least two power levels. When the player closes a flipper switch the high propelling force is generated. If the flipper switch is held closed by a player for more than a shor~ time the power i~
reduced so that only the lower holding power is delivered to maintain the flipper in the static position~ Thereafter, if the flipper begins to slip from its holding or static position tdue to the weight of the ball thereon), a sensor activateq a maintenance timer circuit which increases tne power delivered by the solenoid to again generate tha high propelling force. The maintenance tir~er circuit decreases the power delivered by the ~olenoid a~ter another predetermined length o~ time ha3 expired.
If the flipper again begins to slip, the maintenance timer - circuit is reactivated and the cycle is repeated. Once the player releases the flipper switch, the solenoid is de-energized ; and the circuits are reset until such time as the player again depresses the flipper switch. In this manner, only the power necessary to maintain the desired mode of operation is delivered to the solenoid such that overheating and failure of the solenoid ~ is avoided.
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.: : ., , . . :
2 ~ ~ 3 ~
OBJEC~S OF ~HE INVEy?ION
,................... ~
It is a general ob~ect of the invention to provide an improved control circuit for a 301enoid actuator that can opera~e in both a high power or dynamic mode and a low power or static mode to thereby avoid overhea~ing and failure of the solenoid. ~ ~
, ; , .
It is a further ob~ect of the invention to provide a control circuit for a pinball flipper that can increase the power delivered to the 801 noid actuator in the hblding or ~tatic ~node if the flipper should slip from its holding position.
:~
Other ob~ects of the invention, ln addition to those sat forth above, will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in -- the art from the following detailed de~cription of ~he invention.
.'' ~'' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
, FIG. 1 show~ a partial bottom view of the solenoid ~;
aatuating mechanism of the invention mounted to the underside of a pinball playfield.
~IG. 2 shows a block diagram of the control circuit of ;~`~
the in~ention~
2~?~3 '3~ 4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
.: Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the:flipper ~ mechanism of the invention includes a support 3 mounted to the underside of a playfield 9. A shaft 11 is rotatably supported in a bearing located in support 3 such that ~he shaft extends through an aperture formed i~ the playfield g and is disposed perpendicularly ther~to. A flipper 15 is fixad to the end of the shaft 11 such that rotation of the shaft 11 results in a ~i~ul-taneous rotation of flipper 15.
' A solenoid 17 is secured to support 3 such that its : retractable plunger 21 is arranged perpendicularly to shaft 11.
: ~ linkage 23 i8 fixed to ~haft 11 and i8 pivotally connected to .~ plunger 21 at ~oint 22 such that the linear reciprocating motion - of plunger 21 is tran~lated into rotational pivoting motion of . shaft 11. A compre~sion spring 25 is disposed coaxially over .: plunger 21 and i~ provided to return the plunger 21 to its ., extended position upon deactivation of the solenoid 17.
i- Associated with the solenoid 17 is a player-operated flipper switch 35 (shown in FIG. 2) that energizes the ~olenoid thereby to control actuation of the flipper as will hereina~ter ba described.
An optical switch 27 is fixed to support 3 and linXage ~;
23 carrie~ a reflective member 29 extending therefrom such that ~"': S
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.,:: ' , " ' ' ' ~ : ' . ' ,': .` . ' ' ~ ' ~ . , ' 2 ~ 3 3 ~
optical switch 27 can detect the presence of the reflective member 29. Because movement of the reflective member 29 is concurrent with that of flipper 15, optical switch 27, in effect, detects the position of flipper lS. The function and operation ~ -of optical switch 27 will hereinafter be described.
Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, the control circuit for activating solenoid 1~ is shown in block form. The solenoid 17 is a~sociated with each of the game~s flippers, a~
previously described, and consists of either a first power coil 31 and a second holding coil 33 or a single coil with a plurality of taps so that it is energizeable over a first number of turns to create the ball propelling force and a second le~er number of turns to creake the holding force. In describing the operation of the control circuit, specific reference will be made to the dual coil solenoid, it being understood that the output from the control circuit can al~o control actuation a single coil solenoid ~ ;
having multiple taps.
, .
One or more flippers may be pr~vided for each pinball game; however, the typical game has two such flipper~. The control circuit for one such flipper will be described, it being understood that, preferably, an identical control circuit would be associated with each flipper.
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The player-operated switch 35 for controlling the activation of the flipper i8 mounted on the plnball gEme cabinet such that it can be activated by the player. When the player closes switch 35, a circuit i~ completed via line 36 whereby hold coil 33 is immediately energized and remains energized a~ long a~
the player keep~ switch 35 closed. The closing of switch 35, :~
also triggers a switch detect circui~ 37. The ~switch detect circuit 37 i~ a typical NPN transi~tor switch. One output, 37a, is coupled to the input of the primary timer circuit 40. The o~her output, 37b, activates the timer reset circuit 39. The timer reset circuit 39 is also a typical NPN transistor switch.
The timer reset circuit 39 initializes the primary timer circuit 40 and a maintenance timer circuit 41 such that both timers axe placed in an active mode. ~he primary timer circuit 40 may consist of one of the two timer circuits of a standard 556 dual timer integrated circuit chip. The primary timer circuit 40 also includes any additional support circuitry consistent with the application of the timer chip chosen, as will ..:
...
be readily under~tood by one having ordinary -Rkill in the art of circuit de~ign.
:, Once the primary timer circuit 40 has received both the signal from the timer reset circuit 39 and the trigger signal 37a from the switch detect circuit 37, it turns on the power output circuit 43 for a predetermined length of time. The power output .. '' .
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circuit 43 is a typical two-stage transistor amplifier. The first stage includes a Darlington transistor. Irhe second stage includes a typical PNP power transistor. Preferably, the primary timer circuit 40 turns on the power output circuit 43 for about 40 milliseconds. However, the tLme period can be changed by selecting different circuit components for ~he primary timer circuit 40 as desired. The power output circuit 43, in turn, energizes ~he power coil 31 fnr the length of time determined by the primary timer circuit 40. ~
' :, It will be understood by one of o~dinary skill in the art that the time delay between the time that the player activates switch 35 and the time that power coil 31 is energlzed i8 negligible. Therefore, activation of switch 3S causes the hold coil 33 and the power coil 31 to be energized ~irtually -;~
simultaneously. The effect is that the solenoid 17, acting under the force o~ both the hold coil 33 and the power coil 31, (or both portions of a multiple tap ~olenoid coil) quickly pivot3 flipper 15 thereby to deliver sufficient force to propel a pinball across tha playfield.
' '' '; ', ~
Upon expiration o~ the time period determined by the primary timer circuit 40, the power output circuit 43 i5 tu~ned ' off and the powar coil 31 i~ de-energized such that only the hold i:i coil 33 remains energized. As long as the player.continue~ to ,i .- .
depres3 switch 35, the hold coil 33 will remain acti~ated and ':
r ..
,.:-~
2~33 ~ ~ ;
will exert force upon the plunger to maintain the flipper 15 in the static or holding position. Thus, the control circuit of the pre~ent invention, like the prior art, reduce~ t:he pbwer delivered to the solenoid during the holding or static mode such that the solenoid will not overheat and fail.
After prolonged activation of switch 35, the flipper 15 may have a tendency to slip back toward its non~activated po~ition, particularly if an external force iY exerted on ths flipper such as that produc d by a pinball. The control circuit ; of the present invention has the capability of boosting the power to the flipper 15 by intermittently reactivating the power coil 31 ~uch that ~lippage o the ~lipper can be avoided, a~ will hereinafter be described.
;'' ; - The optical switch 27 is activated when reflecting member 29 is aligned therewith, that is, when the flippar 15 i~
in it~ static or holding position a~ shown in da~hed line~ in Figure 1. In the holding position the ~ignal generated by the optical ~witch 27 providos a continuous Yignal to the ~lip detect circuit 45. The slip de~ect circuit 4S includes a simple RC
smoothing network- The output of the slip detect circuit i9 coupled to the trigger input of the maintenanca timer circuit 41.
Should the flipper 15 begin to ~lip, reflective member 29 will begin to move ~way from optical switch 27 such that the 51ip detect circuit 45 will trigger th~ maintenance timer circuit 41.
.
', . ~: ... .. . : . . . .. . :
If a standard 556 dual timer chip of the preferred embodiment i~
usied for the primary timer circuit 40, the econd tLmer contained thereo~ can be used as the maintenance timer circuit 41.
:
When the maintenance timer circuit 41 receives the trigger signal from the slip detec~ circuit 45, the power output circuit 43 reactlvate~ the power coil 31 to again boost the power ~ -to the solenoid and maintain the flipper in ~he static or holding po~ition. ~he maintenance timer circuit 41 is preferably pre~et for a 10 milliseconds countdown such that t~e power coil is ~ `
anergized for that period. Once the 10 milli~econd countdown has elapsed the power coil 31 i~ again deenergized such that only the hold coil 33 remains energized and the slip detect circuit agaln awaits a signal from the optical switch 27 that the 1ipper i8 slipping. Thus, the control circuit of the invention can maintain ~he flipper in the holding or static po~ition indefinitely so long a~ the player keap~ the player-operated flipper actuatlng ~witch 35 closed.
, Once the player release~ the flipper ~witch, the hold coil 33 i5 deactiva~ed and the timer reset circuit 39 places both ~' timers in an idle mode such that neither coil is energized. If the player again closes the flipper switch, the above-de3cribed operation will be repeated. ~;
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While the control circuit of the invention h ~ ~3 described with particular reference to the us~ with a pinball flipper act~ating mechanism, it will be understc~od by one of ordinary skill in tha art that the control circuit can be employed whenever a solenoid is required to operate in both a static or holding mode and in active or dynamic mode. While the preferred embodiment of this in~ention has been shown and de~cribed in ~ome detail, it will ~e understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that this de~cription and the accompanying drawings are offered merely by way of example, and that the invention i~ to be limited in scopé only by the appended C1.~.iJ113 .
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Claims (17)
1. A control circuit for a solenoid having higher and lower power levels for moving an associated plunger from a first position to a second position and for maintaining it in the second position, comprising:
a. first means for: (1) actuating the solenoid to cause it to move the plunger from the first position to the second position at the higher power level; (2) maintaining the plunger in the second position at the lower power level; and b. second means for detecting and signaling said first means of undesired slippage of said plunger away from said second position, said first means temporarily reenergizing said solenoid to said higher power level in response thereto.
a. first means for: (1) actuating the solenoid to cause it to move the plunger from the first position to the second position at the higher power level; (2) maintaining the plunger in the second position at the lower power level; and b. second means for detecting and signaling said first means of undesired slippage of said plunger away from said second position, said first means temporarily reenergizing said solenoid to said higher power level in response thereto.
2. The control circuit according to claim 1, further including means connecting said plunger to a flipper such that movement of said plunger between the first and second positions results in pivoting movement of said flipper.
3. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes a timer circuit for lowering the power from said higher power to said lower power after the elapse of a predetermined period of time.
4. The control circuit according to claim 3, wherein said first means includes a power output circuit controlled by said timer circuit for energizing said solenoid to said higher power level for said predetermined period of time.
5. The control circuit according to claim 3, wherein said first means includes means for initiating said timer circuit.
6. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes means for energizing the solenoid to the lower power level.
7. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a second timer circuit for raising the power from said lower power level to said higher power level for a predetermined period of time.
8. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid has a single coil with a plurality of taps.
9. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid has dual coils.
10. An activating device for the flipper of a pinball game, comprising:
a. a solenoid having a higher power level and a lower power level for moving its plunger from a first position to a second position and for maintaining the plunger in said second position;
b. means connecting said plunger to said flipper whereby movement of said plunger results in pivoting movement of the flipper;
c. first means for: (1) actuating the solenoid to cause it to move the plunger from the first position to the second position at the higher power level; (2) maintaining the plunger in the second position at the lower power level; and d. second means for detecting and signaling said first means of undesired slippage of said plunger away from said second position, said first means temporarily reenergizing said solenoid to said higher power level in response thereto.
a. a solenoid having a higher power level and a lower power level for moving its plunger from a first position to a second position and for maintaining the plunger in said second position;
b. means connecting said plunger to said flipper whereby movement of said plunger results in pivoting movement of the flipper;
c. first means for: (1) actuating the solenoid to cause it to move the plunger from the first position to the second position at the higher power level; (2) maintaining the plunger in the second position at the lower power level; and d. second means for detecting and signaling said first means of undesired slippage of said plunger away from said second position, said first means temporarily reenergizing said solenoid to said higher power level in response thereto.
11. The control circuit according to claim 10, wherein said first means includes a timer circuit for lowering the power from said higher power to said lower power after the clasps of a predetermined period of time.
12. The control circuit according to claim 11, wherein said first means includes a power output circuit controlled by said timer circuit for energizing said solenoid to said higher power level for said predetermined period of time.
13. The control circuit according to claim 11, wherein said first means includes means for initiating said timer circuit.
14. The control circuit according to claim 10, wherein said first means includes means for energizing the solenoid to the lower power level.
15. The control circuit according to claim 10, wherein said second means includes a second timer circuit for passing the power from said lower power level to said higher power level for a predetermined period of time.
16. The control circuit according to claim 10, wherein said solenoid has dual coils.
17. The control circuit according to claim 10, wherein the solenoid has a single coil with a plurality of taps.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US57978290A | 1990-09-10 | 1990-09-10 | |
| US579,782 | 1995-12-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2033534A1 true CA2033534A1 (en) | 1992-03-11 |
Family
ID=24318338
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2033534 Abandoned CA2033534A1 (en) | 1990-09-10 | 1991-01-03 | Control circuit for a multiple power level solenoid |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0475552A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH04246389A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU7605291A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2033534A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1472275A (en) * | 1974-04-18 | 1977-05-04 | Standard Telephones Cables Ltd | Relay circuits |
| US4895369A (en) * | 1989-04-24 | 1990-01-23 | Data East Pinball, Inc. | Flipper control circuit for pinball machine |
-
1991
- 1991-01-03 CA CA 2033534 patent/CA2033534A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-01-11 EP EP19910300227 patent/EP0475552A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-04-29 AU AU76052/91A patent/AU7605291A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-09-10 JP JP23037691A patent/JPH04246389A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH04246389A (en) | 1992-09-02 |
| EP0475552A2 (en) | 1992-03-18 |
| AU7605291A (en) | 1992-03-12 |
| EP0475552A3 (en) | 1992-04-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |