EP0819452A1 - Game - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises an object (OB) which is intended to be thrown from one player to another, or slid along the ground between two players. It comprises a flat disc-shape forming a box, the surfaces of which may be concave in order to offer the minimum of friction as it slides over the ground. The box is made in two parts accommodating an electronic circuit within the internal space. This carries light-emitting diodes (LED 1-3) on its edges, and a pushbutton in the middle. The circuit includes a shock detector, arranged so that if the object receives a shock, e.g. by falling on the ground, this triggers the operation of the LEDs and possibly also a piezoelectric buzzer mounted within the casing. These may be reset by operation of the pushbutton. A logic circuit is provided to control operation of the LEDs in response to the activation of the shock detector.

Description

The invention relates to a gaming device.

An object of the invention is to propose a game device which can be used by one or more players and which in particular enables the latter or them to exercise their skill.

According to a general characteristic of the invention, the skill game device comprises at least two portable autonomous objects that can be sent by one or more players, and intended to collide, and preferably when the game device is intended to be used by several players, a plurality of autonomous objects distributed between each of the players. Each object comprises a housing comprising a shock detector capable of detecting a shock on the object, and restitution means capable of delivering at least one sensory signal outside the housing in response to a shock on the object. This sending of an object, for example in the form of a puck or a ball, by a player can be carried out in different ways, in particular by launching or throwing the object so that its trajectory is at least partially in the air , or by dragging or rolling the object on the ground for example.

In a first variant of the invention, in particular in which the objects, for example in the form of a puck or a ball, are intended to be thrown, the means of restitution of each object are capable of delivering at least two different sensory signals in the event of impacts on said object and the restitution means are capable of consecutively delivering two different sensory signals in response respectively to two consecutive impacts on said object temporally spaced by at least a predetermined minimum duration.

In other words, for example a first impact on one of the objects, for example when said object touches the ground, triggers a first sensory signal, for example sound and light signals of a particular type. When another object, launched towards the first object, touches the latter, the shock on the first object triggers the emission of a second sensory signal which can consist in the absence of emission of any sensory signal, or else in the broadcast of a different light signal. On the other hand, the shock on the second object triggers the same sensory signals as those emitted by the first object following its first shock. If another object, different from the second, hits the latter, the second object will emit the second sensory signals, while the third object will in turn emit the first sensory signals.

Although the predetermined minimum duration may be zero, it is preferable to choose it not zero, for example of the order of 3 seconds, to avoid in particular that successive rebounds of an object launched on the ground are not interpreted as shocks consecutive on this object.

In order to avoid in particular a discharge of the electrical supply means contained in the housing of each object, there are advantageously provided actuatable activation means, capable of rendering the object fit for play and deactivation means capable of rendering it automatically the object unfit for play at the end of a predetermined time delay, for example of the order of 10 minutes, after actuation of the activation means.

In a second variant of the invention, which is moreover not incompatible with the first variant, and which is more particularly intended to be used when the objects are intended to slide on the ground for example, the means for restoring each object is capable of delivering at each shock the restitution signal for a predetermined restitution duration, for example for 3 seconds. After these 3 seconds, the object is ready to take into account another shock which will trigger the same restitution signal.

The sensory signals can comprise an audible signal and / or a light signal, for example a flashing of light-emitting diodes.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing of each object incorporates electronic processing means connected to the shock detector and to the restitution means.

More particularly, the detector of each object is advantageously capable of delivering an electric shock signal and the means for processing each object include comparison means able to compare the level of the shock signal with a predetermined threshold to provide a logic signal representative of a shock. Blocking means can then freeze the value of the logic signal for a minimum chosen duration, which makes it possible to avoid considering the successive rebounds of an object launched on the ground as representative of two consecutive shocks which would be obtained after launching of other objects on it.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for restoring each object comprise an electroacoustic transducer, for example a piezoelectric plate, and at least one indicator light such as an electroluminescent diode.

The housing of each object may include fixing means capable of cooperating with a removable external element. This allows in particular to removably fix on the housing of each object decorative elements, such as cardboard pads for example, which will be intended to be given to the player whose puck has struck the one carrying said removable element.

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématique d'un objet d'un dispositif selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique éclatée de l'objet de la figure 1; et
• la figure 3 est un synoptique des moyens de traitement de l'objet de la figure 1.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description of an embodiment which is in no way limitative, and the attached drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an object of a device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is an exploded schematic view of the object of Figure 1; and
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the processing means for the object of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an object OB of a game device according to the invention has the shape of a puck which can be launched on the ground or else which can slide on the ground via its underside similar to the upper face and preferably concave to offer minimum friction with the ground. This object includes a box fitted on its periphery with three LED1, LED2, LED3 indicator lights, for example light-emitting diodes. A location on the upper side of the LV box is provided, to receive so removable, an EM element, for example a magnetic token representing for example a drawing.

As illustrated more particularly in FIG. 2, the housing includes a lower shell 2 made of translucent material, the lower face of which is preferably concave. This lower shell supports electrical supply means such as batteries 3 and 4, as well as an electro-acoustic transducer, for example a piezoelectric blade or BZ buzzer. This lower shell also supports a printed circuit CI to which the transducer BZ is connected. This affirmed circuit comprises a conventional DCH shock detector connected to an electronic integrated circuit (chip) incorporating processing means MT. A push button BP1, here forming activation means which can be actuated manually by the user of the object, is also connected to the processing means MT. Finally, the three LED1-LED3 indicator lights are fixed to the periphery of the PCB.

The LV box is closed by an upper shell 1 made of translucent material comprising a notch making it possible to fix a magnetic token on a magnetic sheet 5 placed opposite the notch 6. It would also be possible to insert an advertising object provided with a flexible base in specific notches located on the upper face of the housing so as to obtain a fixing by wedging (the specific notches being not shown in the figure for the sake of simplification).

We will now describe, with particular reference to FIG. 3, the structure of the means for processing an object according to the invention as well as its operation. Those skilled in the art will easily be able to produce these processing means, for example in the form of an integrated circuit from examination of this figure and the description below which relates to it. For the sake of simplification, certain elements and / or interconnections represented in this figure and conventional for those skilled in the art will not however be described in detail.

It is assumed, firstly, that each object is equipped with only one push button BP1 and that said object is intended to be launched on the ground.

The means MT comprise a block 98 comprising an oscillator as well as frequency dividers. The block 98 is therefore capable of delivering clock signals of nominal frequency F (for example 1500 Hz and of frequencies submultiples of the frequency F.

A manual press on the push button BP1 through the notch 6 and the magnetic sheet 5, causes the emission of a logic signal SBP1 in the direction of a conventional anti-rebound stage 30. This stage 30 conventionally comprises a rocker 301 looped back on itself via a NOR 300 logic gate. The purpose of the anti-rebound stage 30 is to eliminate all rebounds caused by the actuation of the push button. The signal SBP1 is in the zero state when the push button BP1 is actuated and the output of this anti-rebound stage is therefore in state 1 each time the push button is pressed. This state 1 at the output of the flip-flop 301 is transmitted via an inverter 600 to a flip-flop 601 whose output C is blocked in state 1. The flip-flop 601 is part of a block 60 allowing the detection of the game version used ("launched" version or "dragged" version).

State 1 at the output of flip-flop 301 causes a logic 1 to be sent to terminal B of a block 50 formed of two logic gates 500 and 501 and intended to detect pressing on the push-button. Terminal B is in state 1 only when the push button BP1 is pressed.

The rising edge on terminal B of block 50 acts on the clock input of a flip-flop 960 of a timing block 96. More precisely, the output G of this flip-flop 960 changes to state 1 and goes on. stay for a predetermined delay time chosen here of the order of 10 minutes. Block 96 therefore forms deactivation means capable of automatically rendering the object unfit for play at the end of the predetermined delay time, unless a new rising edge appears at terminal B of block 50, that is to say - say if a new press on the push button occurs.

The output G of flip-flop 960 of block 96, in state 1 when the push-button is pressed, leads to setting the two inputs B and G of a logic gate AND 801 of a logic block 80 sound emission.

The output of this logic gate 801 is therefore at state 1, which puts one of the inputs of the AND logic gate 802 at state 1. We therefore obtain at the output of this logic gate 802 an oscillation of frequency equal to that injected on the other input of this logic gate 802, that is ie of frequency F.

The oscillations at the output of logic gate 802 are then transmitted in the form of two electrical signals SN1 and SN2 at the output of block 80 and in the direction of the buzzer in order to vibrate the latter.

If the shock detector detects a shock, a SCH voltage appears at the input of comparator 100 of block 10. If this SCH voltage is greater than the voltage set by the resistive divider bridge connected at input of comparator 100, a logic state 1 then appears at the output of this comparator.

This state 1 then appears at the output A of an AND logic gate 200 belonging to a block 20 which is in fact a timing block used not to consider as a shock, pressing the push button.

The rising edge on terminal A is transmitted to the clock input of a flip-flop 970 of a block 97, which blocks the output E of this flip-flop in state 1 for a minimum chosen duration, in the species about 3 seconds. This block 97 makes it possible not to consider successive rebounds of the puck on the ground as being consecutive shocks on the puck. In other words, puck rebounds on the ground spaced less than 3 seconds will therefore be counted as a single shock.

A first rising edge at the output E of the flip-flop 970 of the block 97 causes the rise to 1 of the output Q of the flip-flop 901 of the block 90 which is a validation block for the flashing of the indicator lights. The rise to 1 of the output Q of the flip-flop 901 causes a rising edge at the output of the AND gate 902 and therefore a falling edge on one of the inputs of the logic gate NOR 950 of a logic block 95 for blinking of the indicator lights. Consequently, an oscillation of frequency F / 128 appears at the output of this logic gate 950.

This signal makes it possible to count the integrated circuits 951 and 952 which deliver signals LD1, LD2 and LD3 allowing the LEDs 1, LED2 and LED3 to flash.

The signal at the output of logic gate 950 is also transmitted to the input of an AND gate 803 of block 80. The output of this logic gate 803 is therefore at state 1 in the presence of this signal on the one hand and when the output Q of the flip-flop 804 of block 80 is also at 1, on the other hand.

As at this time the output G of flip-flop 960 of block 96 is at 1 and that the output E of flip-flop 970 of block 97 is also at 1 for 3 seconds, we thus find the oscillations of frequency F / 128 on the output of the AND gate 805 of the block 80 and therefore also at the input of the gate 802, which makes it possible to obtain at the output of this gate 802 a signal of a frequency F every 128 / F second for 3 seconds. The signals SN1 and SN2 therefore also deliver to the buzzer BZ signals of a frequency F every 128 / F second for 3 seconds.

In other words, the first impact on an object triggers an acute intermittent sound of 3 seconds and the flashing of the light sources.

On the next impact on the object, a rising edge reappears at output E of flip-flop 970 of block 97, which blocks at zero the output Q of flip-flop 901 of block 90. A zero state therefore appears at the output of the logic gate 902, which blocks the output of logic gate 950 at zero. Consequently, no counting is carried out by the integrated circuits 951 and 952. The indicator lights therefore do not flash and are off.

In addition, a zero state on the Q output of flip-flop 901 leads to a state 1 on the Q output of this same flip-flop. As the output C of the flip-flop 601 is in state 1 as well as the output E of the flip-flop 970 (for 3 seconds), one thus obtains, for 3 seconds, a state 1 at the output of the logic gate 806 of the block 80 and therefore at the input of logic gate 807. An oscillation of frequency F / 4 is therefore obtained for 3 seconds at the output of logic gate 807 and therefore at the output of block 80.

In other words, this second shock on the puck triggers a its continuous low 3 seconds and stops the flashing of the indicator lights.

Of course, the next shock will return the puck to the same state as during the first shock and so on.

We have previously seen that pressing the push button BP1 activates the block 70 and causes the emission of a beep.

A zero state on the CLR input of the flip-flop 700 of the block 70 for more than 2 seconds causes the emission of a rising edge at the output H of the gate 702. There is therefore a rising edge at the input of the gate 807 of the block 80, which corresponds to an oscillation at F / 4 Hertz at the output of this door and consequently to the activation of the sound source by a low beep. A rising edge at output H of gate 702 also acts on block 96 and more particularly on gate NOR 962, which blocks output G of flip-flop 960 at zero. This corresponds to a forced low consumption state, since the light and sound sources can no longer be activated. This is equivalent to manually switching off the puck.

Automatic power off is performed as seen by block 96, and more particularly by counter 964. Indeed, approximately 10 minutes after activation of the push button, a rising edge appears at the output of counter 964 , which causes, since the output C of the flip-flop 601 is at 1, a zero state at the output G of the flip-flop 960, which de-energizes the puck.

Thus, this automatic power-off prevents the batteries from being discharged when the puck is at rest with the light sources on.

The functioning of the puck in its launched version can therefore be summarized as follows:
before each launch of a puck, it is necessary to press the push button BP1 in order to reset the power-up delay. This press is accompanied by a beep.

From this moment, the first shock, caused for example by contact with the ground, triggers an acute intermittent sound of 3 seconds and the flashing of the light sources.

The shock of this puck with a second puck launched in its direction, triggers, with regard to the first puck, a continuous low sound of 3 seconds and the stop of the flashing of the light sources. On the other hand, this shock causes the same effects on the second puck as those produced by the first impact on the first puck.

In other words, the second puck having struck the first puck triggers an acute intermittent sound of 3 seconds and the flashing of the light sources of the second puck.

In general, the next shock on a puck puts the latter in the same state as it had during the previous shock.

Pressing the push-button for more than 2 seconds triggers a serious beep which indicates that the puck has been switched off. If the manual power off of the puck at the end of the game has been forgotten, it will happen automatically after 10 minutes without action.

Of course, each player or group of players can create their own rules of the game. As an example, we can imagine that at the start of each game each player has an identical number of pucks of different colors from those of these opponents, on which he places an advertising medium or token, for example magnetic.

Each player then throws, in turn, one of his pucks, trying to light his own and extinguish those of the other players.

The winner will be the one who has the greatest number of his pucks lit at the end of the game. He then recovers his advertising media and those of the adversaries who are fixed on a puck whose light sources are switched off.

In a version using a ball, incorporating the restitution means and the shock detector, it can be provided, in a manner analogous to the launched version, for a first player to hold the ball in his hand and strike it against the ground to flash the ball and then throw it on the ground by rolling it. A second player, or the same, then throws by rolling it on the ground, a second ball in the direction of the first. In the event of an impact with the latter, the first ball goes out and the second ball flashes.

One can also plan to use the object according to the invention in a "swiped" version. In this regard, a second push button (not shown in the figures for simplification purposes), the actuation of which causes the emission of a signal SBP2 in the direction of an anti-rebound stage 40 similar to stage 30. The actuation of this second push button causes a rising edge on output D of block 60 and consequently the appearance of a zero state on output C.

This causes a blocking in the zero state of the output of the logic gate 961 of the block 96. As the terminal H is also in the zero state as long as it is not desired to manually extinguish the token, the output of the gate logic 962 remains blocked at 1. An initialization of the flip-flop 960 is therefore not possible under these conditions.

In other words, after a short press on the second push button, the output G of flip-flop 960 will therefore remain at 1 as long as there is no attempt to manually switch off the puck. The audible confirmation of this pressing of the push button is carried out here in the same manner as that described above for the version launched.

A shock on the puck causes a rising edge on the output E of the flip-flop 970 of block 97 for 3 seconds in a manner similar to that which has been described for the launched version.

However, as in this case, the input D of the logic gate 900 of the block 90 is at 1, a state 1 is obtained at the output of the logic gate 900 and at the output of the logic gate 902. Consequently, the light sources as well as the buzzer are activated as in the launched version, that is to say that one obtains an acute intermittent acoustic signal and the flashing of the light sources for 3 seconds. However, while in the launched version, the flashing of the indicator lights continued until a new shock was obtained or until the 10-minute delay was reached, in this sliding version the light sources stop flashing after 3 seconds.

After these 3 seconds, the puck is ready to take into account another shock which triggers the same effects, and so on.

This version does not have a power-up delay because it is impossible to block the puck in a state where the light sources remain on.

However, it is still possible to switch off the puck manually, in the same way as that described for the launched version.

The sliding version is best played with two players. By way of example, it can be foreseen that the players each have a different colored puck where the advertising medium to be lost is fixed. Using their finger, or a wand, each player takes turns sliding their puck and trying to flash the opponent's puck lights. The winner then recovers his advertising medium and that of the loser.

Of course, when a puck is only intended to be used in one version, the means provided for the other version which have been described above can be omitted in the production of the puck. If, on the other hand, the same puck is intended to be used either in the launched version or in the sliding version, all the means which have just been described here are incorporated in the electronic chip and it is then necessary to provide two push-buttons separate.

Claims (10)

Game device, characterized in that it comprises at least two autonomous objects (OB) intended to collide, each object (OB) comprising a housing comprising a shock detector (DCH) capable of detecting a shock on the object, and restitution means (BZ, LED1-LED3) capable of delivering at least one sensory signal outside the housing in response to an impact on the object. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for restoring each object are capable of delivering two different sensory signals in the event of impact on said object, and in the fact that the restoring means are capable of delivering the two consecutively sensory signals in response respectively to two consecutive shocks on said object temporally spaced by at least a predetermined minimum duration. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing of each object incorporates electrical supply means (3, 4), actuation activation means (BP1) capable of making the object suitable for play, and deactivation means (96) capable of automatically rendering the object unfit for play at the end of a predetermined time delay after actuation of the activation means. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of restitution of each object are capable of delivering at each shock the restitution signal during a predetermined restitution period. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensory signal or signals comprise an audible signal and / or a light signal. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing of each object incorporates electronic processing means (MT) connected to the shock detector and to the restitution means. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the shock detector of each object is capable of delivering a signal electric shock (SCH), and by the fact that the means for processing each object include comparison means (100) capable of comparing the level of the shock signal with a predetermined threshold to provide a logic signal representative of a shock , and blocking means (97) for freezing the value of the logic signal for a selected minimum duration. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for restoring each object include an electroacoustic transducer (BZ) and at least one indicator light (LED1-LED3). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing of each object includes fixing means (5) capable of cooperating with a removable external element (EM). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each object has the shape of a puck which can be launched or be able to slide.

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