FR2473330A1 - APPARATUS FOR PLAYING ELECTRONIC TENNIS - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic tennis game apparatus. It comprises a multiplicity of manually operated first volley buttons, a display panel having a multiplicity of projectile segments, and a multiplicity of first player elements each corresponding to one of the first volley buttons and comprising at least one. body segment and a multiplicity of peripheral segments. One of the peripheral segments of each first player element is a return segment disposed adjacent to a corresponding returnable projectile segment. Means display projectile segments in sequence according to a multiplicity of trajectories. Means successively display projectile segments along a second predetermined path towards the second side of the panel if a return peripheral segment of a first player element and its corresponding returnable projectile segment are simultaneously displayed. (CF DRAWING IN BOPI)

Description

The present invention relates to a game, and in particular an electric game

  comprising a display panel with projectile segments which can be switched on one after the other along predetermined trajectories to give the impression of a moving projectile and with

  player elements positioned to intercept the tra-

  jectories, each player element having peripheral segments

  which can be turned on one after the other when a button corresponding only to that player element is pressed to give the impression of a player striking the approaching projectile. If the correct button is pressed at the correct moment, so that the striking movement of a

  player element positioned correctly intercepts the trajec-

  the apparent movement of the projectile element is reversed to give the illusion of movement on a new

  path. This game is ideally suited for use

  As an electric tennis game, game users attempt to determine the trajectory of an approaching ball and select a flight button to illuminate a player element positioned to intercept the trajectory. If the correct fly button is pressed at the correct moment, the corresponding player element is illuminated

  and seems to hit the ball to send it back through the court.

  Ball games have long been favored by

  toy users, both because of the intrinsic interest in

  of these games and the fact that they derive from competitive sports. A number of expedients have been used to create the illusion of a moving ball. For example, Japanese Patent Application 52-24992 discloses a mechanical assembly displacing a light source which projects on a screen a bullet image. These systems are mechanically complicated and the trajectories that can be produced are relatively limited. It is also possible to use independent light sources to give the impression of

  movement following a trajectory, as in the game of ping-

  pong according to US Pat. No. 3,603,538.

  In addition, television sets have been linked to

  positive effects of play to produce a variety of trajectories

  but the resulting games are both expensive and non-portable. These prior methods for simulating the

  movement of a projectile do not generally

  faction, because of their size, complexity, cost, limited number of trajectories, or

combination of these factors.

  Japanese Patent Applications 54-140,499 and 54-140,487 have described fluorescent display panels

  and LCD panels.

  There are also a number of prior methods for allowing players to have an action on the movement of a ball. For example, the movement can be mechanically stopped, as in Japanese Patent Application 52-24992 or reflected by a picture of

  mobile palette as in a TV game show ping-pong.

  None of these interaction methods realistically simulates a game of tennis, as long as a tennis player determines the trajectory of an approaching ball, goes into

  place and then acts on the ball by striking it.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to

  to provide a portable and relatively inexpensive game,

  both to produce complex projectile trajectories

  and a realistic interaction with the projectile.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable tennis game, which allows a variety of ball trajectories and players elements.

  arranged in different positions to intercept the

  jectoires and maneuvering snowshoe segments to strike

the ball.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a tennis game having service buttons for the ball and volley buttons to perform a volley, each volley button corresponding to a player element that is displayed.

  and who builds his racket when the volley button corres-

  laying is pressed. A mark display is provided to increase the mark when the ball is missed and there are provided trophy elements to indicate the winner of the round. A sound element emits characteristic sounds when the ball bounces, when a round is over, and so on. The invention will be better understood on reading the

  detailed description, given below as an example

  only one embodiment of the present invention, in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tennis game of the present invention; - Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the basic characteristics of the electrical assembly; - Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a switch plate, which cooperates with patterns of conductors on a printed circuit board to form the various switches used by the game of tennis; FIG. 4 illustrates the segments on the fluorescent display display panel; FIG. 5 illustrates the various trajectories of the balls; FIG. 6 illustrates the various configurations of the player elements and the sequential actuation of the snowshoe segments when the body segments are illuminated; FIG. 7 illustrates the lighting structure of a desired segment of the display panel; Figure 8 shows how the system of Figure 7 can be used to illuminate segments on the display panel; FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the tennis game, more detailed than that of FIG. 2;

  FIG. 10 is the circuit diagram of a

  practice of the present invention; and - Figure 11 shows a circuit for the converters

  represented in block form in FIG.

  The mobile projectile game of the present invention

  The invention is shown in FIG. 1 in the form of its preferred embodiment, namely a tennis game 12; it comprises a cafter constituted by a cover 14 and a bottom 16 connected together in an appropriate manner, for example by screws. The peripheries of the portions 14 and 16 are cut to provide elongate openings 18 and 20 through which the switch handles 22 and 24 project. The cover 14 has an opening 26 behind which is placed a transparent tinted window 30 carrying lines 32 and 34 representing in perspective

  a tennis court and a tennis net respectively.

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  The lid 14 also has openings 36 and 38 through which the service buttons 40 and 42 project, as well as openings 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64 and 65. through which flight buttons 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88 project. It should be noted that the service buttons and the flight buttons are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the housing, the flight buttons corresponding to the different positions on the court on both sides of the net 34. The bottom 16 has a locked door 90 (not shown) to access a compartment 92 with batteries (no

  shown) molded into the plastic forming the bottom 16.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, a button frame 94 is mounted between a printed circuit board 96 (not shown) and the cover 14, the service buttons and the flight buttons protruding through the corresponding openings. Each of these buttons is supported elastically by two elastic branches 98 which allow to push these buttons by hand. A spring element 100 having bent portions 102 and 104 is fixed to the frame 94, with the portions 102 and 104 disposed above sliders 106 and 108. The sliders 106 and 108 are guided in their movements by tongues 110 and 112, which are held between the outer wall of the bottom 16 and a flange 114 (not shown) which extends from the bottom 16 and which is parallel to its outer wall. Each of the elements 106 and 108 has a left notch 116, a middle notch 118 and a right notch 120, in which the portions 102 and 104 can be accommodated to allow the sliders 106 and 108 to be manually brought into one of the three positions. distinct. The button frame 94 and the sliders 106 and 108 cooperate with driver circuits on a

  circuit board 96 to constitute interrupts

  electric motors. Metal projections 122 (not shown)

  are attached to the respective bottoms of the sliders 106 and 108, and they close the conductor circuits provided on the printed circuit board 96 in accordance with the notch 116, 118 or 120, which receives the angled portions 102 and 104. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the switch handles 22 and 24 each operate as a multi-position switch. Similarly, the service buttons 40 and 42, as well as the flight buttons 66 to 68, cooperate with the conductor circuits on the printed circuit board 96 to constitute fourteen switches that are momentarily closed when the buttons are depressed. For example, two conductor circuits arranged below the service button 42 are momentarily connected by a third conductor when the button 42 is depressed. Although this third conductor can be fixed directly on the underside of the button 42, it is cored. to predict these connecting conductors on

  the lower faces of bubbles 124 formed in

  flexible switch leads 126, which are mounted

  between frame 94 and printed circuit board 96.

  When the button 42 is depressed, the bubble 124 below it flattens to bring the connecting conductor of its lower face into electrical contact with the conductive pattern of the printed circuit located below the button 42. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by using the button frame 94 and the sliders 106 and 108 in conjunction with a properly engraved printed circuit board, a number of switches, such as those shown in FIG. Figure 10, without the need to mount individual switches on the housing and can be individually wired on the circuit board

  printed. Containing the electric circuit of the game.

  The electrical circuit of the game 12 preferably comprises a microprocessor that processes several different variants

  depending on the position of the joysticks 22 and 24.

  Descriptions of these variants are introduced when they are

  become appropriate, in the form of modifications of the characteristics

  basic electrical characteristics set out below.

  FIG. 2 represents the main electrical characteristics of the game 12, this figure being divided by the

  dashed lines in a portion of manually operated switches

  A display panel such as the display portion of the set 130, and a control portion 132 which receives signals from the portion 128 and illuminates segments of the portion 130 in response thereto are provided. A service switch 134 and a row of fly switches 136 are provided to be manually operated by each of the players L and R, respectively representing the left player and the right player. The display portion 130 has a players section 138, which shows the player elements

  arranged at different positions corresponding to

  breakers 126, a ball section 140, which

  carry a number of bullet segments that can be sequentially illuminated to provide the impression of a moving ball in its path, and a section

of mark 142.

  Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the control portion 132 includes a ball movement control unit 144 which receives service signals when the service switches 134 are depressed and which emits a ball movement signal. to illuminate the one after

  the other, in sequence, bullet segments of section 140.

  The flight detection unit 146 receives flight signals from the switches 136 and sends a strike signal to a player control unit 148 which in turn transmits a signal

  of player control causing the movement of this element-

  section 138 player corresponding to the switch of

  volley stuck. The flight detection unit 146 also receives

  of the flight path signal unit 144 and determines which correct flight switch is to be depressed at the appropriate time, in which case a strike signal is issued for the control unit 144 to change the sequence according to which the bale segments are illuminated so as to "return" the ball, or create the illusion that the

  movement of the ball has been reversed by the player element.

  If the appropriate fly switch has not been depressed at the appropriate time to return the ball, the unit 146 sends a miss signal to the brand control unit, which in turn sends a command signal from brand to

  the mark section 142 of the display.

  FIG. 4 shows the positions and shapes of the segments that can be illuminated in the display portion 130. The mark section or portion 142 includes four models 152, 154, 156, and 158 each having seven segments 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170 and 172 arranged according to the conventional model of the digital display. The bullet section 140 has 42 circular bullet segments 174-215. The players section 138 has twelve player elements 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238 and 240, each having nine body segments 242-249, which are electrically

  connected, and three peripheral segments or segments-

  racket 250, 252 and 254 which are electrically isolated from one another and body segments 242 to 249. Two trophy segments 256 and 258 are also seen. It should be noted that the display portion 130 is arranged symmetrically on either side of a central line passing through

bullet segments 194 and 195.

  Referring now to Figure 6, we should note

  the three player elements of Figure 6 (a) which correspond to

  to the player-elements in the upper right-hand corner of Figure 4, are a symmetrical image of the player-elements in Figure 6 (b), which corresponds to the three player-elements in the upper-left corner of Figure 4. note that the player elements of Figure 6a are not identical; for example, the player element 238 {and in particular the position of the racket segment 252) is not identical to the elements 230 and 234, although it is the image in a mirror of the player element 216 of the Figure 6b. It appears to the specialists of this technique that the illusion of movement will be created if the snowshoe segments corresponding to a

  element-player are illuminated one after the other, segments-

  body being continuously illuminated during this sequence.

  This example is illustrated in Figure 6 (c) which shows three

  different positions that can be taken by the element-

  player 230 of Figure 6 (a). The illustration to the right of the

  Figure 6 (c) shows the visible image when the segments-

  242 to 249 of the player element 230 are actuated with the segmentraquette 250. The middle illustration corresponds to the extinction of the segmentraquette 250 and the lighting of the

  segments-body and snowshoe segment 252, while the illus-

  The left-most direction corresponds to the final illumination of the segmentraquette 254 with the body segments. Composite image is a tennis player making a setback. A

  slightly different movement results from sequential illumination

  racket segments 250, 252 and 254 of the

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  player 234, while the player element 238 performs a movement

  service. This service movement is not used on the lower half of FIG. 4 and it will be noted that the player element 240 is identical to the player element 230 and not to the player element 238, and likewise that the player element 218 is identical to the player element 224, and not

  216. It should be noted that the six elements

  The players on the right side of Figure 4 each correspond in position to one of the flight buttons 66, 68, 70, 72, 74 and 76 while the six player elements on the left side of Figure 4 correspond to the six buttons of FIG. 78, 80,

82, 84, 86 and 88.

  The bullet segments 174-215- are illuminated one after the other according to sequences determined along varied trajectories, shown in FIG. 5, each time the bullet is served or returned. FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (h) represent the set of possible trajectories when the ball is struck by a player-element controlled by the player: on the right-hand side R, either at the service or by returning. The ball is served when the player on the right pushes his service button 40,

  what snowshoe segments 250, 252 and 254 of the element-

  Player 238 is illuminated in sequence to give the impression of a strike movement that sends the ball to one of the three paths shown in Figures 5 (a), 5 (b) or 5 (c). The electronic circuits of the game 12 choose "service" trajectories on the basis of probabilities, the probability that the trajectory represented in FIG. 5 (a) is illuminated being a 1/2, the probability of the trajectory

  shown in Figure 5 (b) being 3/8 and that of the

  "fault" jectory of Figure 5 (c) being 1/8. Of course, this trajectory "fault" represents the case where the ball is

  served in the net. This uncertainty concerning the trajec-

  The ball after the service, and especially the risk of a trajectory "fault" low probability increases realism of the game and consequently the interest found to play. However, when the ball is returned, there is no choice of trajectory. For example, when the right-hand player depresses the flight button 66 at the correct time to intercept an approaching bullet, the return is made along the path shown in Figure 5 (a). Similarly,

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  there are unique "return" trajectories for each of the

  player-elements remaining controlled by the player on the right.

  A referral by the player element 240 traverses the trajectory illustrated in FIG. 5 (d), a referral by the player element 234 according to the trajectory shown in FIG. 5 (e), a referral by the player element 236 according to the trajectory of FIG. 5 (f), a return by the player element 230 according to the trajectory shown in FIG. 5 (g), and a return by the player element 232 according to the trajectory represented in FIG. 5 (h). In summary, the service paths are illustrated in Figures 5 (a) through 5 (c), the trajectory of the

  Figure 5 (a) being most likely. This figure 5 (a) represents

  also sees one of the return paths, the other return paths being shown in Figs. 5 (d) through 5 (h), depending on which flight button is depressed

the right player.

  Continuing to refer to Figures 4 and 5,

  positions in Figure 5 illustrated by the circles

  are the points of the trajectories where the ball can be intercepted by the opponent or player on the left

  to return or return. These bullet segments can

  can be considered as "returnable" segments. By

  example, if the ball moves on the trajectory

  5 (a) and that the left player depresses the flight button 82 at the appropriate time, the player element 220 will be illuminated and will swing his racket so that the

  racket segment 252 and ball segment 178 will be simultaneously

  light, as if the racket had smashed the ball. Because the ball has been returned, element 178 is no longer illuminated as the last element of the sequence illustrated in Figure 5 (a); instead, the ball is sent back to the right player. The three service paths of the left-hand player, shown in Figures (i), (j) and (k), with the six return paths illustrated in Figures 5 (i) and 5 (1) through 5 (p) are the mirror images of the corresponding trajectories of the right-hand player, which have already been described. Accordingly, continuing the example above, in which the left-hand player returned the ball when the ball segment 178 was lit, the ball is returned to the right-hand player according to the

  trajectory shown in Figure 5 (m). The left player

  would also have been able to return the ball by moving in the trajectory of Figure 5 (a) by depressing its fly button 178 at the appropriate time and returning the ball from position 174. Figure 5 (i) represents the return trajectory in this case. The player on the right would then have the opportunity to return the ball to one of the points 211 or 214. It should be noted in Figures 4 and 5 that there are at least two possibilities to return a ball moving on any one of trajectories of FIG. 5 (except the "fault" trajectories of FIGS. 5 (c) and 5 (k), of course),

  and that the "returnable" positions correspond to the elements

  balls closest to the snowshoe segments 252 that are believed to be the "return" snowshoe segments. This feature increases the realism of the game because it appears that a real

  tennis player may return an approaching ball of

  his position, but he must always strike it by swinging the racket. To successfully use game 12, a player must determine the trajectory of the approaching ball, choose one of the volley buttons corresponding to a player element positioned on that path, and press this fly button before the ball is there. arrival,

  so that the racket-return segment 252 and the segment-

  corresponding "returnable" ball are illuminated simultaneously.

  If the button is pressed too early or too late, the ball seems to pass the player whistling without being hit. In short, the racket segments of a player element are illuminated according to the sequence 250, 252 and 254 after the depression of the button

  the corresponding button, so that the button must be

  dark shortly before the ball arrives, so that the returnable ball segment and the return racket segment 252 are illuminated simultaneously. If the wrong fly button is depressed, or if either one of the racket segments 250 or 250 is illuminated when one of the ball segments represented by the concentric circles in FIG.

  illuminated, the ball is not returned.

  Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the display portion 130 is preferably a fluorescent indicator panel mounted on the printed circuit board 96 beneath a window 30, with rubber mounting elements 260 (FIG. not shown) used to protect the glass envelope 262 from shocks. Suitable and commercially available devices are known in the art, for example from Nippon Electric Company Ltd., 33-1 Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. The cathode 264 emits electrons which are controlled by gates 266

  and attracted to the anodes 268 in a well-known manner.

  The anode segments 268 have a shape and are positioned as shown in FIG. 8, and they are coated with a

  phosphorescent material to emit light when

  that they are bombarded by electrons. The anode segments shown in Figure 8 are not marked so as not to increase confusion, but it should be noted that

  these elements correspond to the player-elements, the segments-

  balls, etc. of FIG. 4. In FIG. 8, the grids 266 are conductive polarized one after the other by potentials on conductors 270-280, whereas the

  anodes are connected to conductors 282-293. It appears

  experts will be able to choose any particular anode segment by simultaneously exciting

  one of the grid drivers and one of the anode drivers.

  For example, the right trophy segment 256 can be illuminated by simultaneous potentials on the gate conductor 276 and on the anode conductor 293. The gate conductors can be swept rapidly in a manner known in the art, with anode voltages quickly adjusted accordingly, to create persistent images. One can also use, of course, a billboard

liquid crystal.

  Now that the nature of the display panel has been described, the electronic circuits will be described more completely. Referring to Figure 9; the service signals output from the service switches 134 are received by the service sequence generating unit 294, which selects one of the service paths shown in FIG. 5. The unit 294 outputs an output signal for one of the service paths.

  ball display unit 296, which sends the control signal

  Bullet trajectory to illuminate the chosen sequence

  of segmoents-ball 174-215. The output of the sequence generator

  These service units 294 are also sent to the service fault detector 298, which identifies the double faults by determining whether the unit 294 has produced two consecutive "fault" trajectories. The output of the service fault detector 298 is sent to the mark section 142, which rapidly displays "F" to indicate a single fault, and "FF" to indicate a double fault. The flight signals from the flight switches 136 are received by the flight switch identification units 300, which detect when a flight switch has been depressed and which then issue switch identification output signals.

  designating the closed switch. These output signals of iden-

  switches are received by the control unit

  of player 148, which illuminates the body segments of the element-

  designated player and sequentially activates the three segments-

  corresponding rackets as previously described,

  if the flight button has been pressed while the ball is

  Chait. However, the player element is not lit if the volley button was depressed while the ball was moving away from the player element instead of coming towards it. The switch identification output signals, as well as an output signal from the ball display unit 296, are also sent to the timing unit of the flight timing 302.

  The unit 302 sends the ball strike signal if the volley button has been depressed at the appropriate time to return the ball; i.e., if a return racket segment 252 and the corresponding return ball segment are simultaneously illuminated ,. The ball strike signal is

  received by the reference sequence generator 304, which

  Blows the return path as shown in Fig. 5. The output of the generator 304 is sent to the ball display unit 286 so that the return path is displayed on the display portion 130. The speed of a ball on the return path depends on the position of the ball when struck; a ball returned by the player elements 234, 236, 220 or 222 is faster than a ball returned by the player elements 230, 232, 224 or 226 which represent positions closer to the net. In the case where the unit 302 fails to detect that the appropriate fly button is depressed at the appropriate time to return the ball, a ball miss signal

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  is sent to the brand control unit 150, which sends the brand control signal to the mark section 142 of the display. The mark displayed by each player advances from 0 to 15, then to 30, then to 40, then to play, according to the signals of lack of ball and signals of double faults, with a mark such as "15/30" appearing briefly

  on the brand section 142 whenever the brand changes.

  An end of game detector 306 emits an end of game signal when a game point has been marked. The end-of-game signal is sent to the service sequence generator 294 to indicate that the adversary is inheriting the service, and to the game counter 308, which briefly shows the number of games that each player has won (for example "0 / 1 ") on the gaming account section 310. In the present embodiment, the seven segment templates 152, 154, 156, 158 are used for both the mark section 142 and the gaming account section 310. and, accordingly, these sections are connected by a dashed line in Figure 9. A sleeve detector 312 detects when one or the other player has won six games, and illuminates the appropriate trophy 258 or 256 of the

  trophy display section 214.

  Continuing to refer to Figure 9, an acoustic element 316 is shown in six different positions to simplify the diagram, although in fact it is not used.

  only one acoustic element. A piezo element is preferred

  mounted inside the portion 16 and acoustically

  connected to it, such as one of the piezo-

  electrics well known in the art. As indicated in the diagram, a characteristic sound is emitted each time the ball striking or ball miss signal appears and each time a game or a round is over. The acoustic element 316 is also sensitive

  to the ball display unit 296 and emits a distinctive sound.

  "rebound" event whenever the bale element in the lower position on the trajectories shown in FIG. 5 is illuminated. For example, on the trajectory shown in Figure 5 (a), the sound corresponding to the rebound is emitted when the element 185 is illuminated. The acoustic element 316 is also sensitive to the power switch 318, so that a sound is emitted when the game 12 is turned on. At the same time, the content of the game counter 308 is reduced to zero and the mark "0/0"

appears briefly.

  as mentioned above, several game variations are possible. The ball control switch 320, actuated by the switch handle 22, can be provided to allow different levels of game difficulty. A first switch position allows play

  as described above, while a second posi-

  The switch unit instructs the service ball display unit 296 to reduce the speed of the ball so that it is easier for the players to flip. A third switch position instructs the service sequence generator 394 to select only the service paths on which the player is serving. A mode switch 322, operated with the power switch 318 by the switch handle 24, allows a microprocessor to replace one of the players. The microprocessor automatically returns the ball and flips, but is programmed to miss the ball randomly so

  that the real player can win by playing to perfection.

  FIG. 10 shows a practical embodiment of the game shown in FIG. 9. Microprocessor 324 is a UPD 552C microprocessor, from Nippon Electric Company Ltd., 33-1, Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, available in trade. This microprocessor, which has an internal ROM and an internal RAM, is the strongly negative output version of the well-known MCOM-44 microprocessor of the same manufacturer, with outputs that can be brought to the negative level required by the direct interface with the display 130, as indicated by the drawing; A converter 324 receives power from the battery 326 through leads 328 and 330 and sends a negative voltage of 10 V to the microprocessor through the lead 332 and a negative voltage of 30 V for the display 130 through the lead 334. The converter 324 also sends a filament current to the display 130 through the leads 336 and 338. The filament current is an alternating current of 50 kHz at 8 V peak tip, substantially square waveform, with a mean value of V. Figure 11 shows an appropriate circuit for the

  324. Switches 320A and 420B, corresponding to

  at the ball control switch 320 of FIG.

  9, are physically coupled to be controlled by the

  switch 22 as previously described. Likewise, the power switch 318 and the mode switch 322 are coupled to be controlled by the handle

  24. Service switches and inter

  fly breakers are identified by the markers of the buttons

  associates who close them. We see in Figure 10 that cnn-

  the circuit for the game 12 employs a minimum number of components, which makes it possible to lower the costs as much as possible.

of production.

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Claims (10)

  1. Electronic tennis game apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a housing; a multiplicity of first manually operated fly knobs mounted on the crankcase; a billboard, having a first side and a second   side, mounted on the housing, this panel having a multi-   plicity of projectile segments disposed between its first side and its second side, and a multiplicity of first players arranged in the vicinity of the first side of the   panel, each of these first player elements correspond to   to one of the first flight buttons and having at least one body segment and a plurality of peripheral segments, one of these peripheral segments of each first player element being a diverting peripheral segment   disposed adjacent to a returnable projectile segment corresponding to   laying; and first means for sequentially displaying projectile segments at a plurality of first predetermined paths to the first side of the panel, each of said first paths including at least one projectile segment that can be returned, said first means including second means for displaying said body segment the first player element while successively displaying these peripheral segments when the corresponding first flight button is depressed, and third means for successively displaying projectile segments according to a second predetermined trajectory to the second side of the panel if a peripheral return segment. of a first   player element and its returnable projectile segment corres-   are simultaneously displayed.   2. A game apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a multiplicity of second hand-thrust manually operated buttons on the housing, that the display panel further comprises a multiplicity of second players-elements arranged in the vicinity of   second side of the panel, each of the second-   players corresponding to one of the second flight buttons and having at least one body segment and a plurality of peripheral segments, one of these peripheral segments of each second player element being a   peripheral return segment disposed adjacent to a segment 17 2473330   corresponding projectile, and that the   miers moyère further comprise fourth means for displaying this body segment of the second player element while   by successively displaying its peripheral segments when   that the second corresponding fly button is depressed, and fifth means for successively displaying projectile segments along a first predetermined path towards the first side of the panel if a peripheral return segment of a second player element and its corresponding returnable segment-projectile are simultaneously displayed.   Game apparatus according to claim 2, characterized   in that the display panel further comprises a plurality of   tiplicity of first mark segments and a multiplicity of second mark segments, and in that the first means further comprises sixth means for displaying an augmented mark on the multiplicity of first mark segments if a passing peripheral segment of a second player element is not simultaneously displayed with a corresponding returnable segmentile projectile when the projectile segments along a second path are successively displayed, and seventh means for displaying an augmented mark on the multiplicity of second mark segments if a peripheral return segment of a first player element is not displayed simultaneously with a corresponding returnable projectile segment when the projectile segments on a first trajectory are displayed successively.   4. Gaming apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the first means further comprise at least one manually operated service button and eighth means for successively displaying projectile segments along one of the first and second second trajectories if this service button is pressed after a change in the mark displayed on the first and second segments brand.   5. Game apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises an acoustic element mounted on the housing and in that the first means further comprise ninth means for actuating this acoustic element if a projectile segment-projectile and the peripheral segment   corresponding referral of a player element are simultaneously displayed.   6. A game apparatus according to claim 5, characterized   in that the first and second paths comprise projectile bounce segments disposed at lower positions and that the ninth means further comprise means for cabling this acoustic element when a projectile bounce segment is displayed.   7. A game apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means of manually operated switches for changing the speed at which are displayed the projectile elements.   8. Game apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the body segments of the first and second player elements are in the form of tennis players and in that the peripheral segments of the first and second   Player elements are shaped like tennis rackets.   9. Game apparatus, characterized in that it comprises   a casing having a first and a second side, a multiplier   cited first manual flight buttons mounted adjacent the first side of the housing, a first manually operated service button adjacent to the first side of the housing, a plurality of second manually operated flight buttons mounted adjacent the second side of the housing, housing, a second manually operated service button mounted adjacent to the second side of the housing, a display panel having a first side and a second side mounted on the second housing, the panel having a plurality of bale segments disposed between the first and the second   side of the panel, a multiplicity of first elements-   players disposed adjacent to the first side of the panel, each of the first player elements corresponding to one of the first flight buttons and having at least one body segment and a multiplicity of snowshoe segments, one of the snowshoe segments of each first player element being a return racket segment disposed adjacent to a corresponding returnable segment, and a plurality of second members disposed adjacent the 19 2473330   second side of the panel, each of the second elements   players corresponding to one of the second volley buttons   and having at least one body segment and a multiplicity   a racket segment cited, one of the racket segments of each second player element being a return racket segment disposed adjacent to a corresponding return ball segment, and control means for sequentially illuminating the ball segments according to a service trajectory   in response to the depression of a service button, the trajec-   service area comprising at least one ball segment   Viable, illuminating the body segments of an element-   player while successively illuminating these snowshoe segments in response to the depression of the corresponding fly button   to the player element, and illuminating in sequence segments-   ball on a flight path if a return racket segment is illuminated at the same time as the ball segment corresponding returnable.   Play apparatus according to claim 9, characterized   characterized in that the control means comprise ball movement control means responsive to service signals generated by depressing the service buttons to create ball movement signals and successively illuminating bullet segments; for detecting the volley signals that are generated during the pressing of flight buttons to produce player movement signals, means for controlling players responsive to the player movement signals to create player control signals, and illuminating body segments while sequentially illuminating snap segments, said flip detection means further creating ball strike signals for the ball movement control means and said ball movement control means further ball trajectory signals for the flight detection unit.