GB1488654A - Electronic games device - Google Patents

Abstract

1488654 Electronic games device J B PALMER and G F CROFT 23 Sept 1974 [22 June 1973] 29655/73 Heading A6H [Also in Divisions G4 and G6] An electronic display device for use in playing chess, or other games, consists of a housing 10 with a playing surface 11 defined by a transparent or translucent sheet 12 bearing, for example, a chess-board pattern and overlying a corresponding array of playing cells which may be selectively energised to display a chess piece, or the like representation, and its position. The cell displays are seven-segment elements selected by using switch-board 14' to identify the piece, and by using pressure or proximity switches provided at each cell. The colour of the piece is shown by the presence or absence of a "dot" element at each cell. To move a piece, a player touches its present square first and then touches the destination square. Two such devices may be connected via a telephone line for remote play, the moves being simultaneously displayed. With an appropriate overlay 12 and a connected game programme and random signal generator, the device may be used to play games of chance involving cards or dice. Each square, or playing region, on sheet 12 is allocated an address code which is translated by the game programme into a code representing a particular symbol or absence of a symbol to be displayed at the playing regions. The electrical system for the device consists of: a) the playing cells, each of which includes circuitry for storing information relating to the progress of the game, and for automatically changing that information, and the corresponding display, in response to a direct or random selection of that or another cell, b) a timing control unit with docks for providing time-dependent control signals, and c) a master control unit which together with the timing control unit, monitor and control the device, d) a piece selector unit providing an address code and a control signal when the piece symbol selection switches 14' are operated, e) a transmitter unit for sending information relating to a selected cell or cells to a remote device, f) a receiver unit for receiving similar information from another device, g) an address unit responsive to actuation of any of the cell switches to activate that cell, and h) a piece code and display control unit for transferring information corresponding to symbols to and from the playing cells. The circuit for each of these units is shown schematically in the drawings.