GB2036393A

GB2036393A - Improvements in or Relating to Electronic Systems for Scoring Games

Info

Publication number: GB2036393A
Application number: GB7846401A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BOON CHEN LIM
Current assignee: BOON CHEN LIM
Priority date: 1978-11-28
Filing date: 1978-11-28
Publication date: 1980-06-25

Abstract

An electronic system for scoring a game comprises a sensor 2 which is actuated whenever the score is to be changed. A flip-flop 8 is set by the sensor 2 and is reset periodically by a pulse generator 10. A counter 14 and associated display 16 may be connected by a manual switch either to the sensor output l or to the output of a pulse generator 22. The pulse generator 22 produces pulses while flip-flop 8 is set and thus produces a "random" number of pulses for each sensor output. Flip-flop 8 may be connected to a sound generator 18 to produce a noise each time sensor 21 which may be an optical device actuated by a "hit" from a gun emitting a light beam, is actuated. In a modification pulse generator 22 may be omitted and replaced by the sound generator 18. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements In or Relating to Electronic Systems for Scoring Games The present invention relates to electronic systems for scoring games.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic system for scoring a game, comprising a sensor arranged to be actuated automatically during the game whenever the score is to be changed, means for generating a number of pulses unpredictable to a player when actuated by the sensor, and counting and display means selectively connectable to receive pulses from the sensor or from the pulse generating means.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic system for scoring a game, comprising a sensor arranged to be actuated automatically during the game whenever the score is to be changed, a bistable circuit arranged to be set by the sensor and to be periodically reset, a pulse generator arranged to generate pulses whenever the bistable circuit is set, and counting and displaying means arranged to count the pulses from the pulse generator.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is the block diagram of a preferred electronic scoring system; Fig. 2 shows a set of graphs against a common time axis of signals in the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of the embodiment of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of an embodiment which is a modicifation of that shown in Figure 1.

With reference to Fig. 1, a light-sensitive sensor 2 is connected via a capacitor 4 to the input of an amplifier 6. The output of the amplifier 6 is connected to the set input of a bistable multivibrator or flip-flop 8, whose reset input is connected to the output of a pulse generator 10.

A first output of the flip-flop 8 is connected to a control input of a further pulse generator 22, whereas a second output of the flip-flop 8 is connected to a fixed contact I of a selector switch whose second fixed contact II is connected to the output of the further pulse generator 22. The moveable contact of the switch is connected to the clock input of a counter 1 4 whose outputs are connected to light-emitting means 1 6 such as filament lamps or light-emitting diodes. The output of the further pulse generator 22 is also connected to a control input of an audio signal generator 1 8 whose output is connected to a loudspeaker 20.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is specifically intended for use with a light-emitting toy gun, but could be used with other accessories to provide scoring of other types of games. When used with such a light-emitting toy gun (not shown), the sensor 2 is actuated whenever light from the toy gun strikes it, the sensor 2 forming a part of a target of the game. Each time the sensor 2 is actuated it supplies an output pulse via capacitor 4 to the amplifier 6, which amplifies the pulse and supplies this to the flip-flop 8, thus setting it.

Pulses from the pulse generator 10 periodically reset the flip-flop 8.

When the selector switch is in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the moveable contact contacting the fixed contact I, the pulses supplied by the flip-flop 8 are counted in the counter 14 and the score of the game is displayed by the light-emitting means 1 6 in binary format. Also, the audio signal generator 1 8 is triggered via the further pulse generator 22 to produce a series of sounds via the loudspeaker 20 for each successful "hit".

When the moving contact of the selector switch contacts the other fixed contact II, the clock input of the counter 14 is connected to the output of the pulse generator 22. In this mode of operation, a "random" number is displayed by the light-emitting means 1 6 for each successful "hit" of the game. These random numbers are produced in the following way. When a successful hit is achieved, the sensor 2 supplies a pulse via the capacitor 4 and the amplifier 6 to set the flipflop 8. The further pulse generator 22 is allowed to produce a series of pulses for as long at the flip-flop 8 remains set, these pulses being supplied to the counter 14 for counting and display. This pulse sequence is stopped when the pulse generator 10 produces a pulse which resets the flip-flop 8, at which point the count reached in the counter 14 is stored and displayed.

Fig. 2 shows various signals of the arrangement of Fig. 1 when operating in the "random score" mode. The graph 2a shows the pulses produced by the pulse generator 10 and the graphs 2b and 2c show the pulses produced at the output of the sensor 2 and the amplifier 6, respectively. Each of the pulses produced by the amplifier 6 sets the flip-flop 8 as shown in the graph 2d and the flip-flop remains set until the arrival of the next pulse produced by the pulse generator 10. The pulses produced by the further pulse generator 22 during the time when the flipflop 8 is set are shown in the graph 2e.Since the timing of the pulses produced by the pulse generator 10 are not known to a player of the game, the time between his scoring a successful hit and the arrival of the next pulse at the reset input of the flip-flop, and hence the number of pulses produced by the further pulse generator 22, will appear to be random. Thus, an unpredictable score for each successful hit will be registered by the counter 14 and displayed by the light-emitting means 16. Further, a number of bursts of audio signal equal in number to the random score is produced by the audio signal generator 18 and the loudspeaker 20.

A modification of the arrangement of Fig. 1 is shown in this Figure by dashed lines. According to this modification, the further pulse generator 22 is removed and replaced by the audio signal generator 18, which has a control input connected to the output of the flip-flop 8 and a signal output connected to the fixed contact II of the selector switch. This modified arrangement functions in essentially the same way as the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and will therefore not be described further.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed circuit diagram of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3, the reference numerals 6, 8, 10, 18 and 22 refer to the same parts as in Fig. 1. A light-sensitive sensor in the form of a photo transistor 102 is connected in series with a resistor 100 between positive and negative power supply lines. The collector of the photo transistor 102 is connected via a capacitor 104 to the input of the amplifier 6 which comprises the common emittor transistor 110, a resistor 108, and collector load resistor 106. The output of the amplifier 6 is connected via a diode 112 to the set input of the flip-flop 8, which comprises two inverters 120 and 122 cross-coupled by resistors 114 and 11 6 with a storage capacitor 11 8 connected across the resistor 11 6.The reset input of the flip-flop 8 is connected via a diode 136 to the output of the pulse generator 10, which comprises an astable multi-vibrator formed from inverters 124 and 126, resistors 128 and 130, capacitor 132 and diode 134.

A first output of the flip-flop 8 is connected to the fixed contact I of selector switch 1 50 whereas the second output of the flip-flop is connected via a diode 138 to the input of the further pulse generator 22, which comprises a controlled astable multi-vibrator formed from inverters 140 and 142, resistors 144 and 146, and capacitor 148. The inverters 120,122,124,126, 140 and 142 are provided by an integrated circuit, for instance, a hex-inverter of the CMOS type.

The output of the further pulse generator 22 is connected to the fixed contact II of the switch 150, whose moveable contact is connected to the clock input of the integrated circuit 4-bit binary counter 200 whose digit outputs are connected via respective resistors 1 52, 1 54, 1 56 and 1 58 to the bases of transistors 160,162, 164 and 166 respectively. The emittors of these transistoos are connected to one of the supply lines and the collectors are connected via respective filament bulbs 168, 170, 172 and 174 to the other supply line, which is decoupled by resistor 1 96 and capacitor 198 before supplying the photo transistor 102 and the amplifier 6.A switch-on reset circuit is provided for the counter 200 and comprises a capacitor 1 76 and resistor 1 80 connected in series between the power supply lines with the connection between the capacitor and the resistor being connected to the reset input of the counter 200.

The output of the further pulse generator 22 is also connected via a resistor 1 94 to the control input of the audio signal generator 1 8, which comprises an astable multivibrator of the "complementary" type comprising transistors 182 and 184, resistors 1 86 and 188, and capacitor 1 90. The base of the transistor 1 84 forms the control input of the audio signal generator whereas the collector of the transistor 182 forms the output and is connected to one of the supply lines via loudspeaker 192.

Fig. 4 shows the detailed circuit diagram of the modified form of embodiment shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4 reference numerals 6, 8, 10, and 18 refer to the same parts as in Fig. 1. A light-sensitive sensor is provided in the form of a photo transistor 402 connected in series with a resistor 400 between the power supply lines. The collector of the photo transistor 402 is connected via capacitor 404 to the input of the amplifier 6, which comprises a transistor 408 and a diode 406 connected across the base-emittor junction of the transistor 408. The collector of the transistor 408 is connected directly to the set input of the flip-flop 8, which is formed from discrete transistors 418 and 420, resistors 410, 412,414,416 and 422.The reset input of the flip-flop 8 is connected to the output of the pulse generator 10, which comprises discrete transistors 428 and 430, resistors 424, 426, 428 and 434, and capacitor 432 connected as a relaxation oscillator.

The output of the multi-vibrator 8 is connected to the fixed contact I of selector switch 436 and via resistor 482 to the control input of the audio signal generator 18. The audio signal generator 1 8 comprises transistors 462 and 464, resistors 466,468 and 478, capacitors 470 and 480, and inductance 476, the output of the pulse generator being connected to loudspeaker 472. The inductance 476, the resistor 478, and the capacitor 480 modulate the audio signal generator 18.

The output of the audio signal generator 18 is also connected to the fixed contact II of the selector switch 436, whose moveable contact is connected to the clock input of a four bit binary counter 460. The digit outputs of the counter 460 are connected via respective light-emitting diodes 446, 448, 450 and 452 and respective resistors 438, 440, 442 and 444 to one of the supply lines.

The counter 460 is provided with a switch-on reset circuit comprising a resistor 454, a diode 456 connected in parallel therewith, and a capacitor 458 connected in series with the parallel combination between the supply lines.

The reset input of the counter 460 is connected to the common connection point of the resistor 454, the diode 456, and the capacitor 458. The counter 460 may be an integrated circuit as in the arrangement of Figure 3 or may be formed from discrete components.

The arrangement of Fig. 4 functions in essentially the same manner as the modified arrangement of Fig. 1 and will therefore not be described further.

Claims

1. An electronic system for scoring a game, comprising a sensor arranged to be actuated automatically during the game whenever the score is to be changed, means for generating a number of pulses unpredictable to a player when actuated by the sensor, and counting and display means selectively connectable to receive pulses from the sensor or from the pulse generating means.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the counting and display means comprise a binary counter whose digit outputs are connected to light-emitting means for displaying the score in binary format.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the pulse generating means comprises a bistable multi-vibrator having a set input connected to receive pulses from the sensor, a reset input connected to the output of a first pulse generator, and an output connected to a second pulse generator whose output forms the output of the pulse generating means, the second pulse generator being arranged to produce output pulses only when the bistable multi-vibrator is set.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which there is provided an audio signal generator connected to a loudspeaker and having a control input connected to the output of the bistable multi-vibrator or the second pulse generator.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, in which control input is connected to the output of the bistable multi-vibrator and the second pulse generator is formed by the audio signal generator.

6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sensor is sensitive to light.

7. An electronic system for scoring a game, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An electronic system for scoring a game, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An electronic system for scoring a game, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A game including a system as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, a light-emitting toy gun, and a target, the sensor of the system being mounted on the target.

11. An electronic system for scoring a game, comprising a sensor arranged to be actuated automatically during the game whenever the score is to be changed, a bistable circuit arranged to be set by the sensor and to be periodically reset, a pulse generator arranged to generate pulses whenever the bistable circuit is set, and counting and displaying means arranged to count the pulses from the pulse generator.