FR2738942A1 - Luminous display esp. for board game - Google Patents

Abstract

The display includes a box (2) which is mounted on a transparent or translucent flat surface (1). Each individual piece position is light illuminated (5). The returned light signal from the piece position is measured by a light detector. The light detector is preferably a contact detector. When the gaming piece (3) is in a particular position, the change in light return is detected (9) and used to control a switching mechanism (7) to provide the piece position electronically.

Description

 The present invention relates to a luminous display device, in particular for a board game, of the type in which elements, in particular play pieces, are caused to be arranged in different specific predetermined positions of a display surface.

 There are thus known light display devices which are used in certain board games to ensure the illumination of the game pieces when they are arranged on a board. We thus know from the French application filed under number 91.08665 a board game comprising a board comprising a predetermined number of positions in which transparent / translucent pieces can be placed, a lighting system arranged under the board makes it possible to illuminate the parts, through orifices provided therein. Each orifice is provided with a concealing means which normally closes the orifice but which releases it when the lower end of a part is engaged therein. Such a device, because it requires the presence, on the surface of the plate, a series of cells and pushers for controlling the concealment means, is particularly restrictive in terms of aesthetics, insofar as it restricts, by technical needs, the range of possibilities offered to the designer. Furthermore, devices of this type, due to their essentially mechanical nature, are particularly sensitive to the phenomenon of wear.

 The object of the present invention is to propose a display device of the aforementioned type, which makes it possible to produce a surface for receiving the elements, and in particular game pieces, which is perfectly uniform and free from any control element, and in which the lighting means are activated by essentially electronic means.

The present invention thus relates to a display device comprising a housing provided with a wall capable of allowing light to pass through and of receiving movable parts, mainly transparent and or translucent, which can be positioned in different specific positions given therein, each of these positions being associated with lighting means capable of illuminating said parts through said wall, characterized in that
detection means are provided near the face of the wall which is opposite to that on which the parts are positioned, in each of said specific positions likely to be occupied by the latter,
- Switching means activated by the detection means are associated with the lighting means to control their operation when a room is at a given minimum distance, or detection distance, from the wall.

 In one embodiment of the invention, the wall comprises a material with unidirectional transmission of light in a direction going from the interior of the housing to the exterior thereof. According to the invention the wall can also be made of a translucent material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the detection means consist of switches of the type
ILS (that is to say switches made up of two flexible linear metal blades constituting the two terminals of the ILS, which are arranged face to face and which are housed in a vacuum-tight glass bulb. When these blades conduct a magnetic field, for example from a magnet, they attract and come into contact thus closing the electrical circuit at their terminals) and at least one magnetic element placed on each of the parts, the longitudinal axis of each ILS preferably being inclined relative to the wall so as to be substantially tangent to the magnetic field lines produced by the magnetized element when the part is placed on the wall.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawing in which
- Figure 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the display device according to the invention.

 - Figure 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of a first embodiment of the display device according to the invention.

 FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the operation of the detector used in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2.

 FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a variant of the mode of implementation of the detector shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

 FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the display device shown in FIG. 3.

 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a play piece illustrating a variant of the detection means used in the device shown in FIG. 2.

 - Figure 7 is a partial vertical sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the display device according to the invention.

 - Figure 8 is a partial vertical sectional view of a display device according to the invention implementing a variant of the detection means.

 FIG. 8a is an electronic diagram illustrating the operating principle of the detection means used in the device shown in FIG. 8.

 - Figure 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the display device according to the invention.

 - Figure 10 is a schematic representation of means for determining the detectors of a display device according to the invention which are in the activated position.

 - Figure 11 is a detailed diagram of elements used in the circuit shown in Figure 10.

 - Figures 12 and 13 are views in partial vertical section respectively in the plane of the ILS and in a plane perpendicular thereto of an embodiment of the invention.

 - Figure 14 is a partial schematic view in the plane of the ILS showing the arrangement thereof relative to the magnetic field lines.

 In general, and as shown in Figure 1, the display device according to the invention comprises a housing 2, the upper wall of which forms a plate 1, capable of receiving elements, or play pieces 3, translucent or transparent. Lighting means 5, the activation of which is controlled by switching means 7 which are triggered by detection means 9 are arranged in the bolt case 2 under the plate 1. The latter is made of a material capable of ensuring the unidirectional transmission of light, in a direction going from the inside of the box 2 towards the outside of the latter, so that an observer placed above the plate 1 will only perceive the light rays emitted by the means lighting 5 which will illuminate the transparent or translucent parts 3. Indeed, all the light rays coming from outside will not be able to pass through the plate 1, due to the unidirectional nature of the material which constitutes it, so that when no part is placed on the tray 1 the observer will perceive the latter as a uniform, shiny and reflective surface.

 When a part 3 is brought near the upper surface of the tray 1, the detection means 9 detect the presence of the latter and activate the switching means 7 which then ensure the connection of the lighting means 5 with power supply means 11.

The light rays emitted by the lighting means 5 pass through the plate 1 and illuminate the part 3 which then reflects and / or diffracts these rays in directions which are a function of its own shape and the quality of its surface (transparent or translucent ). The different rooms 3 can be lit by lamps 5, the colors of which vary according to their own positions, the rooms 3 themselves being able to have different characteristic shapes.

 In a variant of the invention, the switching means can consist of computer means, such as for example a computer or a microcontroller. These computer means activate the lighting means 5 when, for example, a part 3 is detected on the board 1 and a rule (game rule, calculation, etc.) validates this command.

In an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the display device comprises a box 2, the upper side of which forms the plate 1 consists of a glass plate 1a on the internal face of which is fixed, for example by gluing, a sheet 12 made of a material with unidirectional light transmission in the interior to exterior direction. The part 3 consists of a cylindrical bar, made of a transparent material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (marks "ALTUGLAS and
PLEXIGLAS "), whose external walls have been etched. The base of the bar 3 is provided with a magnet 15, of annular shape, the external diameter of which corresponds to that of the bar 3.

 A plate 17, for example of the printed circuit type, is disposed under the plate la, this plate 17 supporting a lamp 5 provided with a reflector 6 and a detector consisting of an ILS 9a. This ILS 9a is arranged in series with the lamp 5 and the assembly is connected to two terminals A and B of power supply, as shown in the electrical diagram of Figure 3. Under these conditions, when the annular magnet 15 comes close to the ILS 9a, which occurs when there is a play piece 3 on the glass plate 1a, the latter goes into the contact position, or active position, and the lamp 5 is thus connected to the power supply, so that the bar 3 is then illuminated by it and will remain so as long as it occupies this same position on the glass plate 1a. A colored filter 19 can be interposed between the lamp 5 and sheet 12, so as to control the color of the illumination of the bar 3.

 As shown in the diagram in FIG. 4, the lines of the magnetic field produced by the annular magnet 15 extend in planes perpendicular to the plane thereof, along field lines which close on each of the opposite poles N-S. It was found that the orientation of the longitudinal axis zz 'of the blades of ILS 9a with respect to the field lines was not indifferent, and that the maximum effect was obtained when said longitudinal axis zz' was tangent to field lines. According to the invention, and as shown in FIG. 4, the axis zz ′ of the ILS 9a is advantageously inclined at an angle a relative to the plane of the plate la, that is to say relative to the plane of the annular magnet 15, when the latter is in abutment on the plate.

This angle a is determined so that, taking into account the position of the ILS 9a under the plate la, its longitudinal axis zz 'is substantially tangent to a field line M.

 In such a particularly simplified embodiment of the invention, the ILS 9a constitutes both a detection means and a switching means.

 In another embodiment of the invention shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5, a computer 21 is used as the switching means. To do this, one of the terminals E of the ILS 9a is connected to ground and its other terminal L is connected on the one hand to a positive voltage terminal via a strong resistance 23 and on the other leaves to a terminal G of an input port of the computer 21. The terminals of the lamp 5 are connected in turn to two terminals H and I of an output port of the computer 21, by the through a power interface 24. Under these conditions, when no part 3 is located near the ILS 9a, the terminals E and L thereof are not in contact, and the terminal G is thus at a positive potential, or high state. When a part 3 is placed near the ILS 9a, the terminals E and L thereof are in contact and put the input terminal G in contact with the ground, so that it is at ground potential, or low state. The computer 21 is thus able to detect this variation in state, which allows it then to carry out the appropriate specific processing for which it has been programmed, for example a game, a display of planning, etc., then the sending on the terminals H and I of the output port of the activation signals of the power interface 24 controlling the lighting of the lamp 5.

 Of course, several lamps 5 could be used instead of just one, the lighting of each of these lamps can advantageously be controlled by an interface which may be controlled by computer.

 In addition, the magnets arranged under the parts 3 may not be of annular shape. It is thus possible in particular to make use, as a variant, of several straight magnets regularly arranged at the lower periphery of the part 3.

 Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown schematically in FIG. 6 which is a cross section seen from above of a part 3, positioned on the plate 1, two ILS 9a can be used, 9b arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis yy 'passing through a lamp 5 and perpendicular to the plate la, and two straight magnets 15a 15b diametrically opposite on the part 3.

In such a configuration, the ILS 9a, 9b are connected in series and it is considered that the detection is carried out when the two ILS 9a, 9b are in the contact position. This is achieved when not only the part 3 is arranged on the plate 1 but when, in addition, said part 3 is positioned angularly so that the magnets 15a and 15b are opposite the ILS 9a, 9b, which will occur for two positions offset by 1800. Such a variant can thus be used in particular in educational games for pattern recognition.

 One can of course, according to the invention, use a tray capable of allowing light to pass in both directions, which will then be made of frosted glass, or of transparent glass, one of the faces of which is optionally made translucent. .

 The plate 1 can also consist of a completely transparent plate, made of glass or of synthetic material, not frosted. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the plate 1 thus consists of a glass plate 1a which receives play pieces 3 made for example of synthetic resin, the external faces of which are translucent and of which the base receives in its center a small cylindrical magnet 15 'constituted in such a way that its north and south poles correspond to the bases of the cylinder, so that the magnetic spectrum emitted by it, represented in the section plane of figure 12, presents the schematic appearance of FIG. 14.

 As in the assembly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the axis zz 'of ILS 9a is arranged to be tangential to the magnetic field lines. The lamp 5 consists of an LED whose axis aa 'is inclined on the horizontal in a radial plane perpendicular to that of the ILS 9a, so that the incident light rays i coming from it can illuminate the translucent external walls of the room 3.

 For certain types of applications it is important that the display surface is arranged vertically. This is particularly the case when the display device is used in a panel intended to provide information to users. In such an application, the magnets are preferably annular magnets 15, which are used not only for controlling the ILS, but also for holding the parts 3 on the plate. To this end, as shown in FIG. 7, the plate 1 consists of a frosted glass plate 1a on the internal face of which is fixed an iron washer 25, the internal diameter of which is equal to the internal diameter of the annular magnets 15 fixed to the base of the parts 3. A lamp 5 provided with a reflector 6 ensures the lighting. This thus ensures the maintenance by magnetization of the parts 3 on the plate 1 without disturbing the lighting provided by the lamp 5. In this As a form of implementation, the detector 9 can be placed on the axis yy 'passing through the center of the lamp 5 and perpendicular to the plate 1.

 The detectors 9 can of course be constituted by other types of sensors than ILS, although the latter have proved to be particularly well suited to the implementation of the present invention as regards both the simplicity of the setting and the cost price.

 FIG. 8 shows a display device composed of a glass plate 1a, the internal face of which is covered with a film 12 made of a material with unidirectional light transmission, at a determined location from which arranged, under its internal face, a reflection detector 9c. A lamp 5 is placed under the detector 9c at the focal point F of a parabolic reflector 6 ′ of vertical axis yy ′, which concentrates the light rays emitted by the lamp 5 in an area of the plate 1a. Such a reflection detector, widely used in the art, essentially consists, as shown in FIG. 8a, of an infrared diode 27, which emits incident light radiation i, and of a phototransistor 29, these two elements being arranged in the same housing. so that, when an object to be detected 28 is close to the detector, the radiation i produced by the diode 27 is reflected on said object 28 and then comes to light the phototransistor 29 according to a radiation r, which thus becomes conductive. On the other hand, when the object 28 is not close to the detector, the incident radiation i is not reflected, so that the phototransistor 29 is not lit and that, consequently, it does not become conductive.

 In this embodiment, the terminals W 'of the infrared diode 27 and the terminals PP' of the phototransistor 29 are combined with respective computer processing means, not shown in the drawing.

One could of course also use any other type of detector and in particular effect detectors
Hall, capacitive proximity sensors etc ...

 As regards the lighting means, any type of lamp can also be used. One can also make use, as shown in FIG. 9, of one or more bundles of optical fibers 8 lit at their upstream end by a light source 5 ′ and whose downstream end opens near the display face, the light rays at the outlet of the downstream end possibly being focused by a lens 31.

 The present device can also be used with a display panel produced in three dimensions. It is thus possible in particular to compose models representing a given geographical place whose raised panel represents the ground and whose parts represent for example a construction, or any other element of a landscape. These landscape elements can thus be lit or not depending on the one hand on their positioning on the panel and on the other hand on a determined program stored in particular in a computer or a microcontroller.

 In the case where such means are used to manage the control of the lighting means, it will be necessary to have means making it possible to know, at a given instant, those of the detectors 9 which are in the active position.

To do this and as shown in Figure 10 we can achieve a mesh consisting of a series of lines
L1, L2, ... Ln and columns C1, C2, ... Cn, the number of which will depend on the dimensions of the panel and the number of desired lighting positions. Each ILS 9a is associated in series with a diode 35 so as to constitute a detector element comprising an input terminal E and an output terminal T (FIG. 11). Each detector element is arranged so that its input terminal E is connected to a line and its output terminal T is connected to a column. In order to detect the ILS which are in the activated position, electronic means carry out a scanning of the lines in order to bring them successively to a positive potential, or high state, and the potential, or the state is measured simultaneously or successively. top or bottom), of each of the different columns.

When a determined ILS is activated (that is to say when its blades are in contact, so that it is conductive) and the line to which its input terminal E is connected is in a high state, the column to which the output terminal T of this same detector element is connected is in a high state.

 Analysis means, such as software, are able, from this information, to determine the coordinates of the ILSs which are activated.

 Of course, these means making it possible to determine the position of the detectors 9a being in the activated position could be implemented with detectors of a type other than ILS.

Claims (15)

 1 - Display device comprising a housing (2) provided with a wall (1, la) capable of allowing light to pass through and of receiving movable parts (3), mainly transparent and / or translucent, which can be positioned in different specific positions data of the wall (1, la), with each of these positions being associated with lighting means (5,5 ′) capable of illuminating said parts (3) through said wall (1, la), characterized in that  - detection means (9,9a, 9b, 9c) are provided near the face of the wall (1, la) which is opposite to that on which the parts (3) are positioned, in each of said specific positions likely to be occupied by them,  - switching means (7,21) activated by the detection means (9,9a, 9b, 9c) are associated with the lighting means (5,5 ′) to control their operation when a part (3) is found at a given minimum distance, or detection distance, from the wall (l, la).  2 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the wall (l, la) comprises a material with unidirectional transmission of light (12) in a direction from the inside of the housing (2) to the outside of it- this.  3 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the wall (1) comprises a translucent material.  4 - Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the detection means consist of contact detectors (9a, 9b).  5 - Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the detection means consist of ILS (9a, 9b) and in that each of the parts (3) is provided with at least one magnetic element (15,15 ', 15a, 15b).  6 - Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the magnetic element (15) is of annular shape and is arranged at the base of the part (3).  7 - Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the magnetic element (15 ') is in the form of a cylinder, the poles of which are formed by the bases of the cylinder, the latter being disposed at the center of the base of the part ( 3).  8 - Device according to one of claims 5 to 7 characterized in that the longitudinal axis (z, z ') of each ILS is inclined relative to the wall (1, la) so as to be substantially tangent to the lines of magnetic field produced by the magnetic element (15,15 ', 15a, 15b).  9 - Device according to claim 5 characterized in that it comprises several straight magnetized elements (15a, 15b), arranged on the periphery of the base of the part (3), the line joining the opposite poles is perpendicular to the surface base of the part (3).  10 - Device according to claim 9 characterized in that it comprises two ILS (15a, 15b) arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis (yy ') perpendicular to the wall (1, la) and passing through the lighting means ( 5), and two magnetic elements (15a, 15b) having the same spacing as the ILS with respect to this axis.  11 - Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the wall (l, la) of the housing (2) intended to receive the parts (3) is vertical and its internal face comprises means (25) able to cooperate with at least one magnetic element (15,15 ', 15a, 15b) integral with the part (3) to ensure the maintenance by magnetization of this on said wall (l, la).  12 - Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the switching means (7,21) consist of programmable electronic elements.  13 - Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the lighting means (5.51) comprise several light sources of different colors.  14 - Device according to claim 13 characterized in that each light source (5.5 ') has its own detector (9,9a, 9b).  15 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that each of the detection means (9a) is mounted in series with a diode (35) to form a detector element, the different detector elements being associated so as to form a matrix consisting of a series of lines (L1, L2, .. Ln) and a series of columns (C1, C2, ... Cn), one of the terminals (E) of each detector element being in contact with a line, and the other terminal (T) of this detector element being in contact with a column, this device comprising scanning means for successively supplying electric current to each of the lines (L1, L2, ... Ln) and measuring means to determine for each of these lines the columns (C1, C2, ... Cn) which then provide a high signal.