DE3024784A1 - Control and display for bowling alley with automatic pin setting - has multi-cell memory coupled to control circuit set by switch on display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The bowling alley has an additional figure selector, enabling the setting of certain pins in a preset pattern. A service panel has preselector switches, associated with individual pins, whose actuation determines the erection of the respective pins in a preselected pattern. A control circuit receives signals from the preselector switches and transmits the control signals determining the erection pattern. To the control circuit is connected a memory with several storage cells. The service panel contains a storage switch whose actuation controls a storage of a code group, corresp. to the actuated preselector switches, in a memory cell. The control circuit is designed such that it generates the pin erection effecting signals in accordance with the stored code groups. Pref. a memory addressing device actuates the input of the code groups in subsequent memory cells, while effecting the code groups recall in the same sequence.

Description

Control and display device for a bowling alley

with automatic cone setup The invention relates to a control and display device specified in the preamble of claim 1 Art.

There are control and display devices for bowling alleys with automatic Known cone set-up that contain a figure pre-selection device that makes it possible to set up predetermined cones in a given figure to create the so-called "figure cones" to enable. Most devices of this type allow the player to do so in front of everyone Set-up process determine the figure to be set up by using the preselection switch operated, which are assigned to the individual cones.

This type of figure pre-selection is perceived as annoying because it does the Distracts the player's attention between throws. Furthermore it is difficult to get a large number of different figures in a prescribed order set without errors.

There are also figure pre-selection devices are known in which several Figures are fixed and before each installation process by pressing a Selector switch can be accessed. In this case there is no risk of a Misadjustment; however, the possibilities of these figure selection devices are limited, and there is still player intervention for each setting requires a new character.

The object of the invention is to create a control and display device, the convenient pre-setting of a large number of figures and the automatic Playback of these figures made possible without further intervention by an operator.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

In the control and display device according to the invention, a large number of figures limited only by the capacity of the memory is to be set before starting the game. When the setting of all figures has been made, the adjusted figures can be easily accessed by the operator are automatically brought to the installation one after the other. It is possible the change of characters after each throw or after any given number of throws. It is also possible at any time by calling up the memory cells possible to check the saved figures and change them as desired.

Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following Description of an embodiment shown in the drawing.

The only figure in the drawing shows a block diagram of a control and display device according to the invention.

The drawing shows very schematically the bowling field 1 one Bowling alley with automatic bowling, assuming that it is is the usual nine-pin skittles game. Each cone has a cone switch Assigned to K1, K2 ... K9, which is actuated when a cone falls. These cone switches can be attached directly to the bowling field 1; if for automatic Setting up the cones a cone setting machine is used, in which the cones hang on ropes and pull upwards with each installation and then onto the Set up field 1, it is common for the cone switches K1 to Kg Use rope switches that are operated by the cone ropes.

Furthermore, a light barrier 2 is arranged at the bowling alley, which at is broken by the ball with each throw to give a signal indicating the throw is delivered, which enables the registration of the litter even if no Cone falls.

Finally, there is a figure control device on the cone setting machine 3 attached, which makes it possible to exclude individual cones from the installation process, so that only predetermined cones in a given figure on the field 1 can be set up. With a cone setting machine equipped with ropes For example, the figure control device 3 can have an electromagnet for each cone M1 ... Mg included, which, when excited, clamps the rope of the assigned cone, when the cone is in the highest position, so that this cone at subsequent lowering process and not placed on installation field 1 will.

In a place that is clearly visible to the player, for example above the bowling alley, an illuminated display 4 and a display board 5 are attached. the Includes 4 light indicator for each cone an assigned lamp L1, L2 ... Lg, these lamps in a position corresponding to the position of the cones spatial distribution are arranged. The display panel 5 contains several (shown in FIG Example ten) display fields for a multi-digit digital display, for example in binary digits or in letters and symbols. The indicator light 4 and the Scoreboard 5 are used to display the throw results and other information, that are important to the player.

The evaluation of the throwing results and the control of the character control device 3, the illuminated display 4 and the display panel 5 and possibly other functions the bowling system is used by a control circuit 6. This receives via a multi-core Line 7 the signals corresponding to the closing of the cone switches K1 to Kg and via a line 8 generated by the light barrier 2 at each interruption Signal.

It supplies over a multi-core line 9 for the control of the Magnets M1 to M9 require control signals to the figure control device 3. Furthermore, the control circuit 6 is connected to the illuminated display 4 via a multi-core line 10 connected, via which the lighting of the lamps L1 to Lg control signals be transmitted. A multi-core line 11 is used by the control circuit 6 transmit the signals to the display panel 5, which the digital display in the control various display fields.

Finally, a control panel 12 is attached at the player's location, which carries a switch group S with several switches S1, S2 ... Sn through which the player can set the functions of the bowling system that he wants. He can thereby specify a desired game program, for example. The functions the switches S1 ... Sn are known and customary and are therefore not explained in more detail. The switch group S contains three further switches SA, SB, SD, their functions will be explained later. The generated when the switches of switch group S are pressed Signals are transmitted to the control circuit 6 via a multi-core line 13.

The control circuit 6 is designed in the usual manner so that after each throw by closing one or more of the cone switches K1 to Kg displayed fallen cone on the light display 4 thereby to display causes them to light up or extinguish the associated lamps L1 to Lg brings.

You can also change the number of consecutive Register throws fallen pins (totalizator) and the number of throws due count the signals supplied by the light barrier 2 via the line 8, corresponding Store information and display it on display board 5. The processing this information and the display on the display panel 5 can depending on the set Game program can be done in several ways. All of these functions of the tax circuit 6 are known per se and are therefore not explained in more detail here.

The peculiarity of the illustrated embodiment lies in the Setting and implementation of the so-called "figure preselection" with the aid of the figure control device 3. It allows the player to play a larger number of preset different figures, which are then under control in turn the control circuit 6 can be played automatically without further intervention the operator is necessary.

For this purpose there is a group of preselection switches on the control panel 12 V1 ... Vg attached, each assigned to one of the cones and in the same spatial distribution as the cones are arranged on the cone installation field 1.

An illuminated display is assigned to each of the preselection switches V1 to Vg. In the example shown, it is assumed that each preselection switch by a Push button is formed, in which the indicator light in the form of an incandescent lamp, glow lamp or light emitting diode 14 is installed. When you press one of the counter V1 to V9 are corresponding signals to the control circuit via a multiple line 13b 6, which identify the operated switch. The control circuit 6 transmits signals via a multiple line 13c that indicate that the in the Control switches V1 to Vg built-in lights 14.

A memory arrangement 15 is connected to the control circuit 6, which is shown separately next to the control circuit 6 for clarity, in In reality, however, it can form part of the control circuit 6. The storage arrangement 15 contains a digital memory 16 with several memory cells 16-1, 16-2 ... 16-n. The memory arrangement 15 also contains an input circuit 17 for input a code group into one of the memory cells of the memory 16, a removal circuit 18 for removing a code group from one of the memory cells and an addressing circuit 19, each indicating the memory cell into which a code group is entered or from which a code group is taken. These different circuits are with the control circuit 6 is connected.

A digital display device 20 is located on the control panel 12 attached which the display of the number of the addressed by the addressing circuit 19 Storage cell allows. The memory cells can be numbered consecutively from 1 on be; if, for example, 99 memory cells are provided, a two-digit number is sufficient decimal display device 20 for displaying the numbers of all memory cells. the Control signals required to display these numbers are provided by the control circuit 6 is supplied to the display device 20 via a line 21.

The switch 5A of the switch group S serves as a storage switch and the switch SB as a call switch for the figure preselection. the Functions of these switches are explained below.

The signals generated upon actuation of each of these switches are also transmitted via the multiple line 13 to the control circuit 6.

The arrangement described so far operates in the following way: It is first assumed that the memory 16 is empty and that the player wants to enter a series of figures for the cone lineup. He pressed first those preselection switches V1 to Vg that correspond to the cones that are used in the first Figure should be set up. For the purpose of illustration it is assumed that this the switches are V1, V3, V5 and V7.

The signals corresponding to these switches are transmitted over the line 13b transmitted to the control circuit 6, which forms a code group therefrom, which identifies the actuated switches V1, V3, V5, V7. At the same time, the tax sends circuit 6 via the line 13c to the control panel 12 signals, which the light up the lights 14 assigned to switches V1, V3, V5 and V7, as indicated in the drawing.

The player thus immediately sees the from on the control panel pre-selected figure in the form of an illuminated display.

Since the memory 16 is empty, the addressing circuit 19 is on Address '801'! the first memory cell. The control circuit 6 transmits via a Line 13d to the display device 20 signals which the address for display bring.

When the operator has finished setting and using the figure who has checked for glowing lamps 14, she operates the save switch SA. The thereby transmitted to the control circuit 6 signal causes the previously code group formed is entered into memory cell No. 01.

Then the arrangement is for the setting of the next figure ready. The addressing circuit 19 controls the next memory cell, its number is displayed on the display device 20, and the lamp 14 of the preselection switch V1 to Vg go out. Now the player can press other preselection switches set a new figure and, after setting, by pressing the switch Enter 5A in memory cell # 02 of memory 16.

This process can now be repeated until the player has all of has entered the desired figures for him, at most one of the number of memory cells corresponding number of figures, e.g. 99.

The player only needs one to play the game To press the switch of the control panel 12, which the game program "figure skittles" triggers. After actuating this switch, the control circuit 6 removes the in of the first memory cell 16-1 with the number 01 stored code group and forms control signals therefrom, which are transmitted to the character control device 3. at the aforementioned example of a cone setting machine working with ropes those magnets M1 to Mg must be excited that correspond to the figure in question correspond to unactuated preselection switches V1 to Vg. Through these control signals the corresponding cones are held and therefore not on the installation field 1 set up. The cones that are set up therefore correspond to those for the setting of the figure concerned actuated preselection switches.

The control circuit 6 transmits via the line 13c at the same time Signals that light up the lights 14 assigned to these switches, so that again the preset and now executed figure on the control panel 12 is shown. Corresponding control signals can also to the indicator light 4 are transmitted so that the cones corresponding to the erected Lights L1 to Lg light up. If during the subsequent throw some of these cones fall, the corresponding lamps are extinguished.

After each throw that is caused by the light barrier 2 over the line 8 transmitted signal is displayed, the control circuit 6 removes the next one Code group from the following memory cell of memory 16, and it forms it the necessary control signals for the figure control device 3, the lamps 14 the preselection switch V1 to Vg and the lamps L1 to Lg of the indicator light 4. This The process can be continued until all figures stored in memory 16 have been played are.

A variant of the previously described game program consists in that the control circuit 6 does not change the figure to be set after each throw, but after each execution of a predetermined number of throws. The number the throws, which are each to be carried out on the same piece, can be done on the control panel 12 are set and made visible in a display field of the display panel 5. The control circuit 6 then counts each time a code group is removed from the Memory 16 the number of throws indicated by the light barrier 2 up to the preset number Number, and it transmits the same over lines 19 for each of these throws Control signals that correspond to the code group last removed.

Only when the preset number of throws has been reached does it take out the control circuit 6 the next code group from the following memory cell, whereupon she starts counting the number of throws again.

The retrieval switch SB allows the player to read the items in the memory 16. to check stored figures without the Game program expires. Each time the switch SB is closed, the control circuit is switched via the lines 13a 6 transmit a signal. The first signal causes the in the first to be removed Memory cell 16-1 stored code group by the control circuit 6. The control circuit 6 supplies the control signals via the lines 13c, which the lamps 14 of this Bring the preselection switch corresponding to the code group to light up. Simultaneously the signals are transmitted over the line 13d, which the visualization of the Cause number of the memory cell in the display device 20. The player receives thus on the control panel 12 the display of the number of the set figure and the visual representation of this figure.

With each further actuation of the call switch SB it is repeated the same process for the next memory cell, so that the player of the Can make all preset and saved figures visible one after the other.

The player also has the option of calling up individual figures to change. When he gets to the figure to be changed in the course of the retrieval process he only needs to set a new figure using the preselection switches V1 to Vg and by actuating the store switch SA into the relevant memory cell whose number is displayed in the display device 20. At this Input, the previous content of the memory cell is deleted.

As mentioned earlier, the 5 data made visible by the control circuit 6 is determined. It can be here partly to be fixed data, for example given by the player (like the aforementioned number of throws on the same figure), for the most part but to data that is generated by the control circuit 6 on the basis of the predetermined game program and that of the Cone switches K1 to Kg and the light barrier 2 delivered signals can be formed. In certain cases it may be desirable this data can also influence or change the player.

All the data at a given point in time on the scoreboard 5 are made visible, are in a memory 22 in the control circuit 6 and is indicated schematically in the drawing. The memory 22 contains an assigned memory cell 22-1, 22-2 for each display field of the display panel 5 ... 22-n. As far as these data are given by the player and during the implementation of a game program remain constant, remains the. Content of the relevant memory cell unchanged, so that on the corresponding display panel of the display panel 5 each the same information appears. For data that changes in the course of the game program change, the control circuit 6 changes the content of the associated memory cell.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing is a particularly advantageous arrangement provided, which makes it possible with very little Effort the information made visible on the display board quickly and conveniently adjust or influence.

For this purpose there is an input device 23 on the display panel provided, which contains ten numeric keys in the example shown, the Decimal digits 0 to 9 are assigned, as well as the scroll switch SD. The from the input device 23 output signals are via a multiple line 13e to the control circuit 6 transmitted.

The first time the slide switch SD is pressed, the D input device 23 is assigned to the first memory cell 22-1 of the memory 22. By pressing a With the numeric keys it is possible to enter a code group in this memory cell, which expresses the relevant decimal digit. These Decimal digit is then displayed immediately in the first display field of the display panel 5. In the next actuation of the pass switch SD, the input device 23 becomes the assigned to the next memory cell 22-2 of the memory 22. By pressing a Key of the input device 23 it is possible to use the second display field of the display panel Enter 5 decimal digits to be displayed.

By. repeated operation of the scroll switch 5D can thus the entire contents of the memory 22 and thus also those on the display panel 5 are visible made information can be determined.

Each time a code group is entered into memory 22, the previous one The content of the relevant memory cell is deleted.

The content of a memory cell can remain unchanged if between two actuations of the pass switch SD no button. the input device 23 is operated.

In this way the player can not only get the required fixed Enter information into the memory 22, but also that of the control circuit at any time 6 formed in the course of the game program and made visible on the scoreboard 5 Change information. As the control circuit 6 when executing the program in each case based on the information stored in the memory 22, the information provided by the player Any changes made are also taken into account in the further implementation of the program.

The input device 23 can of course also be designed in other ways be. In the simplest case, a simple button is sufficient, which is activated by repeated actuation Emits pulses, the number of which corresponds to the decimal digit to be entered. If on the other hand In addition to decimal digits, letters or symbols are also visible on the display panel 5 are to be made, the input device 23 can correspondingly have more keys.

In any case, the savings achieved can be seen immediately, there for a scoreboard five with any number of scoreboards just that input device corresponding to the character set of a single input field 23 needs to be provided.

So that the player knows at all times where the scoreboard is 5 the input device 23 is currently assigned, can under each display field a flashing light 24 can be arranged. The control circuit 6 then supplies to the display device 5 also signals that the blinking of the flashing light 24 of the respective controlled Cause display field. It would also be possible to have a digital To attach display, which receives signals from the control circuit 6, which the Display the number of the currently controlled display field.

The design of the control circuit 6 is arbitrary. It can be about act as a digital circuit composed of discrete circuit elements, or also a suitably programmed microprocessor. As a microprocessor generally only a limited number of connections for the input and output to be given In this case it may be necessary in the various multiple transmission lines insert appropriate encoders and decoders. These measures known to the person skilled in the art are not shown in the drawing.

Blank page

Claims (12)

Claims t control and display device for a bowling alley with automatic cone setup and a figure pre-selection device that enables Set up predetermined cones in a given figure, with an operator panel with the preselection switches assigned to the individual cones, the actuation of which the installation the associated cone in the figure is determined, and with a control circuit which receives the signals emitted by actuating the preselection switch and the provides control signals that determine the setting up of the cones, characterized in that that a memory with several memory cells is connected to the control circuit, that a storage switch is provided on the control panel, when Actuation of a code group corresponding to the activated preselection switches into a Memory cell is input, and that the control circuit is so arranged that the control signals that determine the setting up of the cones based on the Memory cells standing code groups generated. 2. Control and display device according to claim 1, characterized by a memory addressing arrangement, which allows the input of the code groups in the successive actuations of the save switch in successive Memory cells causes. 3. Control and display device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the memory addressing arrangement removes the code groups from the successive ones Cells memory cells in the same order as when they were entered. 4. Control and display device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control circuit displays the next code group after each throw removes from the memory and supplies the control signals corresponding to the code group. 5. Control and display device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control circuit in each case after a preset Number of throws the next code group is taken from the memory and with each throw supplies the control signals corresponding to the code group last extracted. 6. Control and display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a polling switch is provided on the control panel is that with each actuation the removal of the next code group from the memory triggers. 7. Control and display device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a digital display device for displaying the number of Memory cell addressed when entering or removing. 8. Control and display device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an illuminated display is assigned to each preselection switch which lights up when the preselection switch is actuated. 9. Control and display device according to claim 8, characterized in that that the control circuit supplies control signals each time a code group is extracted, which lights up the indicator lights which when entering the code group actuated control switches are assigned. 10. Control and display device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized characterized in that the preselection switch and the associated indicator lights in one the arrangement of the cones corresponding spatial distribution are arranged. 11. Control and display device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that each light indicator is in the associated preselection switch is built in. 12. Control and display device according to one of the preceding claims, with a multi-digit digital display indicated by the control circuit is controlled to display data stored in the control circuit, thereby characterized in that the control panel has an input device for entering the has information corresponding to a display point, and that a scroll switch is provided, the input device for successive actuations one after the other to the memory cells assigned to the successive display positions in which the data to be displayed is stored.