FR2527809A1 - Microprocessor controller for electronic crossword game - is programmed from diskette or cassette allowing keyboard control of mobile letters on grid - Google Patents

Abstract

A standard grid comprises a number of rows of squares arranged in columns headed by a letter. A keyboard is located at the base of the grid and has its letters and control keys arranged identically to those on a typewriter. These keys provide inputs to a microprocessor housed in the base and allow movement of letters and erasing of errors so that the letters can be entered into the required square. The letters may be inserted in upper or lower case into the grid. A screened cable enables the controlling signals to be transmitted to the grid. The microprocessor memory is programmed using diskettes or cassettes containing data on various games. A number of mobile letters may be chosen and tokens used for the formation of letters into words.

Description

- DESCR # PTION
Current State of the Art - Existing Word Games generally consist in forming or completing masts on a single grid
Each player has at the start an X number of mobile letters
The player who has just formed a word - of 5 letters for example - takes from 1 mass the desired number of tokens in order to constantly have X letters
For a word to be admitted, it must and suffices that it appears in a dictio to make agreed: Dictionary of the French Academy, Littré, Quillet etc o more conveniently in an ad hoc glossary i.e. in which the words are listed, without any definition or etymelegy, in the classic alphabetical order on the one hand and in an "reverse alphabetical" order on the other hand.

And this by series of words of 2 letters, 3 letters .... 20 letters
A word is accepted by the mere fact that it appears in the agreed dictionary or glossary, including if the player is completely unaware of its meaning. For example "weber" although he does not know that it is a unit of niesure nor, a fortiori, the unit of magnetic field strength
In short, Games are, strictly speaking, "S @ c @ summer" Games since the number of partners generally varies from 2 to 4. They have an obvious shortcoming 1 they only require an effort of mechanical memory - or mnemonic - consisting in memorizing lists of thousands of words of which it is rigorously useless and superfluous that they know the meaning. And such a player "knowing" 70,000 to 80,000 words will be able to face in formidable challenger, the National or International Competitions more formidable
What is more, some of these Games, of foreign origin, admit, in their French version, terms such as Slow, Whig, Swing, No etc while they do not admit
mho: unit of Electrical Conductance C, inverse of the unit of
Electrical resistance # expressed in Ohms or: C
. they do not admit further "dewatted" (which does not appear in most usual dictionaries) term which defines the loss of power of an electric current in a circuit whose True Resistance is de facto aggravated by the Self -Inductance and Capacitance combined of the Circuit considered.

 Significantly more intellectually advanced are the classic Crossword Puzzles. Their essential qualities and defects are the opposite of the qualities and defects of the Word Games mentioned above as an example.

Their primordial quality is characterized by the fact that they require an intellectual approach and constant reflection: the Cruciverbiste can only insert a word on the Grid if it answers exactly the question or the definition asked. mentioned above, it will only be able to write "weber" in response to: Magnetic Field Intensity unit
In conclusion on this point, they are diametrically opposite the
Above-mentioned Letter Games which require only a sterile work of graphic memory
Their essential defect is characterized by the fact that they constitute, from their distant origin, an essentially individual, personal distraction, apparently excluding any possibility of making it a Game of
Society within the meaning of the term, i.e. to two or more individual competitors = = cl @ or united within competing teams.

The Electronic Crossword Game which is the subject of the Invention is characterized by the fact that it combines the qualities of the Word Games and the classic Crossword Games to the exclusion of their respective faults.
10 because it requires the same intellectual and thinking processes as the classic Crossword
2 - because it constitutes, in the sense of the terms, a "Game of Scciety" with multiple possibilities: the number of Players can vary from 2 to 6 and more without inconvenience. They can play either in teams or individually
3 - What is more, the isolated Cruciverbists, either by goflt or for lack of partners, will appreciate the advantages of the Electronic Grid: the words and response sentences appear by "typing" them on an incor = = porous keyboard. Interval boxes and bars appear in their place. In the event of an error, the false word or letters are instantly erased, no more repeated scrubs, unreadable overloads.

x
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A first embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention is presented, by way of indication but not limitation, by the
Figure I. Each Participant has this Grid, which is autonomous in its operation. This is, for the most part, similar in design to that of the classical Grids in that it comprises a number of orthogonal boxes - in principle square - in which will appear, either horizontally from left to right or vertically from top to bottom, the letters of the answer words
The Standard-Grid represented by the Figure includes 25 columns of 30 boxes each and of suitable surface for a legibility of a quarter of cm2 at Icm2 and more per box. Fig. I & Ia.

The number of columns and rows of boxes can be reduced or increased to achieve in particular Grids of "Giant Crosswords"
This Grid I is fixed on an extra-flat base 2 in which is housed and protected a microprocessor with characteristics comparable to that of dcs
Pocket calculators currently on the Market
The rows of Horizontal Cases 4 are numbered from top to bottom in Arabic or Roman and Arabic numbers preferably. Vertical Columns 3 are designated by letters, in alphabetical order. If the number of these Columns exceeds 25 (the letter W being excluded) as stated on page 2 lines 35 to 39, the following will be designated by letters ( in minus = cules) of the ancient Greek alphabet: Ce. ss. d CL) E. or, Fig. G.

Each box is equipped electronically in such a way that the letters of the Words-Answers appear there with a high definition ensuring @ @ perfect readability. Figure 5 gives, by way of indication, an example of definition. The elements of definition may usefully consist of dotted lines, dashes or dashed / dotted combinations for letters with rounded contours: B. VS . D. O. Q
The Words-Answers appear in the Boxes by hitting on Keys located at the bottom of the Grid
According to a first arrangement mode, the Letter Keys are arranged in 3 rows, in the standardized order of typewriter keyboards
AZERTYUIOP etc. Grids thus equipped will normally be preferred by Cruciverbists having the practice of typed typing
Figure I and Figure Ia.

In a second mode, the Letter Keys are also arranged on 3 lines, but in alphabetical order. (Fig. 2)
According to a third mode, the keyboard can be established in different alphabets. Ex: Cyrillic Alphabet, Polish Alphabet, Greek Alphabet
Figure 3 gives, as an indication, a possible arrangement on 4 rows of the Cyrillic-Simplified Alphabet (32 letters instead of 35) and additional typing keys
Figure 4 shows, as an indication, a possible arrangement in 3 rows of the Ancient Greek Alphabet. This Game can be used collcc = strongly in Language Teaching as an audiovisual medium
In the specific case, for the attractive learning of the alphahet, both in upper and lower case, essential for reading in the original text of the Masterpieces of Ancient Greece
Whatever the Alphabet adopted, a Word-Answer given and recognized as correct is written on the Grid from a determined Start-Box and in the desired direction: horizontal or vertical. It is separated from the following mo @, either by a "Case-Interval" if it is a separate word, either by a "Bar /
Separation "if it is a Proverb, a quote, a historical word
The following Typing examples will allow you to describe more concretely and with more clarity the elements of Keyboard I - example - Either to write the WEBER Word-Response horizontally from the L / IO Start Box i.e. at the intersection of the vertical column L and the IOe horizontal row. The Player will successively press the horizontal writing direction key 5 identified by

. the L key of the Upper Alphabetical Keyboard 3
. the IO key on the left side keypad 4
. WEBER Lower Keypad Keys

6
. la touche D du Clavier supérieur 3
. la touche 8 du Clavier latéral gauche 4
. les 3 touches du Clavier de Frappe inférieur : @.U.O. . the "Case-Interval" key 9 2nd- example - Either to write the question of Peter to Jesus, taken up by Sienkiewicz in his novel QUO VADIS DOMINE ", vertically, the Case-Departure being D / 8. The Partner will successively press i the vertical writing direction key identified by

6
. the D key on the upper keyboard 3
. key 8 on the left side keyboard 4
. the 3 keys of the lower keypad: @ .UO

; a Bar / Separation key 8 8 identified: by
, the Keypad Keys: VADIS

. a touch of "Bar / Separation" 8
. Keystrokes: DOMINE

 . the "Case-Interval" key 9.

5
; les touches J/12 définissant la "Case-Départ"
, les touches de Frappe Q.U.O.3rd example - The same question must be written, but horizontally from J / I2. The Partner will press t the horizontal writing direction key identifies

5
; the J / 12 keys defining the "Start-Box"
, the QUO Keys

, one of the Bar / Hourly separation keys 7 7 identified
. and so on, mutatis mutandis, without using the "Case-Inter =
= valle "9 because the last letter is written in Z / I2
The Keys referenced from IO to I5 which were not used in the three examples above are used as follows
The IO key identified by the abbreviation AV allows you to skip one or more consecutive boxes, which will remain blank in order to type in its place another Word-Response either in the same row or in the same column. Fig. I and Fig. 2
In case of typing an incorrect answer or typing error, the key II will be pressed as many times as there are letters to delete
It is identified by the abbreviation AR. We will then proceed to the correct Strike
Typed Words and Answers always appear in CAPITAL LETTERS
However, they may appear in lower case, thanks to an appropriate Microproce = = seur. The Grids can also be designed to achieve these two writing modes. The keys allowing this choice are identified by the abbreviations MAJ I2 and lin I3
I4 redundant keys, in white in the Figures, are intended for complementary combinations, taking into account the experience and desi = derata of the clientele. This supernumerary arrangement will allow, from the start of manufacturing, the final standardization of keyboards
The I5 key identified "OFF" allows to erase the Grid, in whole or in part x
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A second embodiment which is the subject of the invention consists of a large-scale grid - of the order of a square meter - per = bringing to a more or less numerous assistance or public, installed in a Room, to follow the evolution of a "Giant Crossword" Contest between Participants quietly installed in a neighboring room, assisted by an Arbitrator-Operator and away from the noises and reactions of the spectators.

This Grid 16 has a design very similar to that of FIG. I
However, the keypad keys for the upper keyboard 3 and the side keyboard = wall 4 are shown on the control panel described below. Only the numbers and letters identifying the vertical columns and the horizontal rows are kept for reference. boxes, so that the general appearance of the Grid remains unchanged (Fig. 6)
The Words-Answers are communicated by the Partners to the Arbitrator-Operator "who shows them on Grid I6 thanks to the Table of
Command I7 in the base I8 of which is housed a Microprocessor designed for the transmission of orders received to the Grid via canali = suitable electrical and electronic satin-pads protected by the sheath I9.

The latter is fitted with an anti-parasite frame @ if it
This Table-Dispatching includes the Keys and Keyboards whose object is confirmed by the two examples below:
er
I-Example - either to display the isolated Response Word "Levitation", horizontally, starting from Box D / 3. The umpire-operator acti = will successively tonn:
. the D key on the Keyboard 20 and the key bearing the number 3 on the Cla = = enter numeric 21, thus defining the Start Box D / 3 of the Grid
. key 5, the response word must be written horizontally
. the SHIFT I2 key, the word to appear in CAPITAL LETTERS
. the LEVITATION keys on the Typing Keyboard itself
the button of Case-Interval 9
e Example - either to make the word-rep @ nse THALASSA, vertically, this word in front of repeated and this from the Start-Box ss / 8. The Operator will successively act on the following keys
the key of the Alphabetical keyboard 20 and the key 8 of the númé keyboard = = rique 2Is thus defining the position of the Start-Box ss / 8
the vertical writing direction key 6
key 13 identified "Min" if the word must appear in lowercase
THALASSA keys on the Typing Keyboard itself
the Bar / Separation key 8
has the keys T.lI.ALASSA of the Keypad itself
the button of Case-Interval 9
If the device which is the subject of the invention is used in the
Educational establishments according to this embodiment, the
Control panel will be made up of the three rows of Keypad in Figure 4 instead of its last three rows in Fig. 6.

The letters defining the columns of Vertical boxes 20 * and the
numbers and numbers defining the horizontal rows of Cases 2I * are
made more visible and more comfortable to read thanks to two lamps
Tubes of the luminescent type housed in the base of the Grid, the first clock :: @ horizontally under the letters 20 and the second under the numbered column 2Iw They are switched on or off thanks to the single switch 22 built-in, for example, at the top and to the left of the Grid or any other suitable place
In the event of an unexpected change in the Referee-Operator by a person
insufficiently driven, a Directory of successive strikes to be made
appears in the space 23 reserved for this purpose on the Table and of which here is a
drafting example. ABC ... x. #. #: Vertical Columns of Cases
. I.2.3 .... 48.49.50: Horizontal rows of Cases
. SHIFT - Min: Characters in CAPITAL or Lowercase
.AV: I hits = I Box jumped - 2 hits = 2 C @ his jumps etc
. AR: I strikes = I Case deleted - 2 strikes = 2 Cases deleted etc
. #: Bar / Horizontal Separation: WHO # DOES # ADVANCE | NOT # BACKWARD
. #: Bar / Vertical Separation
. #: Case / Interval: SEAL # MANDR # LL # GAGEURE #
OFF Erasing of the Grid during the game or at the end. portion.

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A third embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention consists of a variant of the previous mode
The Grid for "CROSSWORD # SÉ GÉANTS" is identical to that of the previous embodiment (Fig. 6).

The external appearance of the Control Panel is also identical
However, an Ultra-Sons transmitter is integrated into its I8 base, of comparable wavelength and intensity comparable and in neighboring frequency bands. of. those of the Devices allowing the remote adjustment (a few meters) of the TV sets: light - serious contrast - acute - sound volume. This addition is intended to remove = the annoying servitude of the I9 Connection Sheath containing the
Electrical and Electronic pipes linked x
xx
A fourth embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention makes it possible, like the previous mode, to remove any mate = side link between the control panel and the grid. To this end, the table is associated with an appropriate microcomputer. , suitably programmed and coupled to a TV video tube. Maneuvering the two Keys defining the
Case-Départ also brings up the Grid on the screen of the Tube Empty
The Words-Answers appear there by actuating the desired Keys as it has already been explained in the examples appearing on pages 4 - 5 - B.

xxx
- Miscellaneous provisions relating to one or more embodiments
POCIIE GRIDS - The format of the Grids (Fig.I) can be reduced to
I0xI5cm- approx. And 8 or 10mm thick so that they can be conveniently slipped into a pocket of male garment or a handbag of a woman.

 - DOUBLE TOUGHES - Most of the Keys located on either side of the HIT KEYBOARD proper are shown both to the left and to the right of the said Keyboard s Write direction keys 5 and 6, Bars / Separation 7 and 8, Cases / Intervalles 9, forward and reverse directions 10 and II etc.

These doubles. jobs are deliberate: they allow typing more within reach of the fingers, therefore more convenient and faster, especially for real lefties
TOUCHES IN OVERNUMBER - These I4 Keys are instantly identifiable because they are blank, without identification. They are intended to make complementary combinations, taking into account experience and also the wishes of the clientele. This standardization will allow, from the start, a single production line for keyboards (Fig.I - la - 2).

It will also make it possible to identify these Keys in the language of the Alpha = bet considered, for example ie Cyrillic Keyboard (Fig. 3).

KEYS SHAPE - The keys' hitting surface is in principle flat. It can be curved, hollow or raised, for convenience @@ the speed of typing
Keys with a recessed curved surface can be actuated with greater safety, in particular by Handicapped or amputated hands: they will need an intermediate wand. This Striking Wand (not shown) is exactly comparable to a billiard cue, i.e. with an elastomer process. More simply, it will be possible to use a school drawing pencil whose incorporated eraser will play the role of process.

. ERASING ERRORS - One of the white keys (page: .5 lines 6 a. 9) can be assigned to correct a typing error. It will be marked Err. (Error) (Fig. 3). Example: the answer word is "LEVITATION". The Player has swapped V and m: LETIVATION. This shell will disappear by acting on said task Err.24. The correct @@ t "LEVITATION" will appear by typing this word on the Typing Keyboard s other m @ n @@ work
.EQU # PEMENT PRIOR TO GR # LLES - In the examples on pages 4 and 6, the Grids are blank before the game. In other words, the "Bars /
Intervals "and the" Boxes / Intervals "are typed at the same time as the" Phrases / Answers "or after the" Words / Answers ".

The Grids can, on the contrary, be equipped before the game. In other words, the "Bars / Intervals" and the "Cases / Intervals" are previously set up. Examples: a "Bar / Interval" will appear horizontally between D / IO and D / II by acting successively on S
. the touch of writing direction herizo @ tale 5
. D / I0 keys
. helm task / interval 7
A "Case / Interval" @ p will appear in D / II between D / I0 and D / I2, consequently from the sense @ ertical, by acting on t
the vertical writing direction key 6
. D / I0 keys
the box / interval key 9
.VERSATILITY OF THE GRIDS - The Individual and Giant Grids are suitable = = nent for all other Checkerboard, Chess or Grid Grid Games: "Drafts", "Chess Games", "Grid Words", "Arrow Words", "Battle @
Naval ", etc. The Grid is equipped accordingly by the layout of a quadri = = lateral, substantially central, surrounding the Chessboard specific to the game considered @.

Examples: square of 64 squares (8x8) for a Chess game, of 100 squares (I0 x 10) for a checkers game The keys in white I4 or duplicating (I2 - I3 - 7 - 8 at the bottom and at left on Fig. I) will, if necessary, be retrieved and assigned to give the desired orders to the micropro stop by memory by Programmed Disks or Cassettes @@ function of
Games considered.

Claims (1)

 - RESELL # CAT # ONS I - ELECTRONIC GAME # ONLY CROSSWORD allowing indifferently to a Cruci =  tverbirte isolated or to several Partners playing concurrently to solve  all crossword puzzles and characterized by one or more  Electronically equipped grids  Each Grid is made up of a grid whose position  of a given Box is defined by the intersection of the column and the  horizontal row referenced to which it belongs, the letters  constituting a given Met-Response appearing in the desired Boxes  thanks to a Keypad associated with a Microprocessor housed in the  base of the set 2 - ELECTRONIC CROSSWORD GAME according to Claim I characterized  by the fact that the Keys of the Typing Keyboard proper are  arranged at the base of the Grid in several rows in order  usual alphabetical 3 - #EU ELECTRONIC OF CROSSWORDS according to Claims I and 2  characterized by the fact that the Keys on the Keypad are disse  = seated in three rows in the standardized order of Machine Keyboards  Typewriter 4 - #EU ELECTRONIC CROSSWORDS according to all the Claims  I to 3 characterized by the fact that additional keys, in addition to  those of the Keypad, are distributed respectively on a line  horizontal at the top of the Grid, a vertical column  the left of it and on both sides of the Keystrokes pro =  = precisely said. These additional keys are used to perform  all preliminary selective, related or complementary operations  of the Strict itself. They allow you to locate the Cases  Start, choose the direction of the writing, the reading characters, mark  the Separations between the Answer Words or between the words of a Phrase  Response, @ auter one or more Boxes, delete the erroneous Responses on  all of the Grid in progress or at the end of Part 5 - ELECTRONIC GAME # ONLY CROSSWORDS according to all of the Claims  I to 4 characterized by the fact that excess keys allow  complementary combinations, thus ensuring, from the  = tion, standardization of Keyboards 6 - ELECTRONIC GAME OF @OTS CROISES according to all the Claims  I to 5 characterized by the fact that the Grids are of more or less  less reduced 7 - ELECTRONIC CROSSWORD GAME according to all the Claims  I a 6 characterized by a single Grid of large dimensions, the  Keypad and Complementary flies are arranged on a  Separate Order-Dispatch Panel 8 - ELECTRONIC GAME # ONLY CROSSWORD as claimed in Claim 7 characterized  by the fact that the Control-Dispatching Table is linked to the Grid  by protected flexible electrical and electronic pipes  by a protective anti-parasite sheath 9 - ELECTRONIC GAME # ONLY CROSSWORD as claimed in Claim 7 characterized  by an Ultra-Sound Transmitter associated with the Table-Dispatching and included  in the base of this one which transmits the orders of the Microprocessor  to the Grid, thereby materially autonomous Grid and Table IO - ELECTRONIC GAME OF CRO # SE WORDS according to Claim 9 characterized  by the fact that the Grid Letters and signs of the Answers appear  on the screen of a Tube Video by an appropriate electronic link II - ELECTRONIC GAME # ONLY CROSS WORDS according to Claim 7 characterized  by the fact that the Letters and Numbers appear respectively on the  upper and left sides of the Grid to designate the columns and  rows of Cases are made more visible and legible thanks to two  Lamps-Tubes with Soft Luminance suitably arranged and housed in  the framing of it I2 - #EU ELECTRONIC CROSSWORD # SES according to all the Claims  characterized by the fact that the Microprocessor is of the Memory & BR <type  Built-in Cassettes or Floppies allowing you to play all games  Grids, Checkerboards, Chessboards