GB2094477A - Game-of-skill - Google Patents

Abstract

In a game-of-skill apparatus e.g. a shuffleboard comprising a table having a polished upper surface on which is marked a target area, a position sensitive transducer 10 e.g. an inductive proximity sensor 11, A, B, C, D, is arranged below the target area and supplies signals to circuitry 13-38 for determining when a puck is in the target area. Means 36 are provided for adjusting the sensitivity of detection of the puck. An indicator 39 indicates when the puck 6 is in the target area within the detection range of the transducer and within the range set by the adjusting means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to game-of-skill apparatuses The present invention relates to a game-of-skill apparatus of the "shuffleboard" type.

A known shuffleboard apparatus comprises an elongate table having a highly polished flat horizontal surface. The two longer sides of the table are provided at portions intermediate their ends with cushions whereas the end portions of the longer sides and shorter sides of the table are provided with gulleys. A plurality of pucks are provided having smooth lower surfaces for sliding freely along the polished surface of the table and having a cylindrical side surface for bouncing off the cushions. Each end of the table is marked with a plurality of target zones.

Each player has several pucks and, when it is his turn, slides one of his pucks on the polished surface from one end towards the other end. In order to score, the puck must bounce off one of the cushions and must come to rest in one of the marked zones. The zones which are at the end of the surface and immediately adjacent the end gulley score the highest number of points whereas zones nearer the middle of the table, and hence further from the gulley, score less points. Pucks which overshoot the table to end up in the gulley, or which are knocked into the gulley by an opponent's puck, do not score.

According to the invention there is provided a game-of-skill apparatus comprising a substantially flat substantially horizontal surface on which is marked a target area, a position-sensitive transducer disposed below the target area, means for adjusting the range of sensitivity of the apparatus, and means responsive to the transducer and the adjusting means for indicating the presence of a puck on the target area within the range of sensitivity.

Such an apparatus may be used in a manner similar to the known shuffleboard apparatus, whereby a player slides a puck towards the target area after bouncing it from a side cushion.

However, such an apparatus may be substantially automated and may be operated by insertion of a coin into a slot-meter arrangement. The apparatus may then be arranged to pay a prize when the puck stops on the target area within the range of sensitivity. The degree of difficulty may readily be adjusted by means of the adjusting means.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement of a table forming part of a preferred game-of-skill apparatus; Figure 2a and b are a block circuit diagram of the preferred game-of-skill apparatus; Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a transducer of the apparatus; Figures 4a, b and c are a circuit diagram of part of the apparatus; and Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of another part of the apparatus.

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically a table constituting part of a preferred game-of-skill apparatus constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention. The table comprises feet means 1 which rest on a floor and support a table-top 2.

The table-top 2 is elongate and has a flat horizontal upper surface 3 provided, for instance, by highly polished wood. The longitudinal sides of the table are provided at their intermediate portions with cushions 4. One end 5 of the table is the end from which pucks 6 are projected by a player, whereas the other end of the table has a gulley 7 for receiving pucks which have overshot the table. If the table is to be fully automated, an automatic clearing device may be provided for sweeping pucks 6 remaining on the surface 3 after the finish of a game either into the gulley 7 for return to a player or directly towards the end 5 of the table. A slot mechanism (not shown) may be provided so that the table may be used by a player only after the appropriate coins have been placed in the slot, this serving to release the pucks for use by the player from within the table.A target zone 8 is marked on the upper surface 3 of the table and represents the target at which the players aim.

A plurality of retractable vertical bars are disposed in a row transversely of the table at 9 (shown retracted in Fig. 1), these bars serving when lifted into place to prevent a player from being able to slide a puck 6 directly towards the target area 8 without first having to bounce the puck off one of the cushions 4. A puck sensor (not shown in Fig. 1) is disposed adjacent the row of bars 9 and extends transversely of the table across its whole width so as to detect the passage of a puck thereover.

Figures 2a and b show a block diagram of the apparatus constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2a shows a position-sensitive transducer in the form of an inductive proximity detector 10. The transducer 10 comprises an energizing circuit 11 connected to the output of a 200 kHz oscillator 12. The transducer 10 further comprises inductive pick-up loops A, B, C, D, which are connected to the inputs of amplifiers 1 3 to 1 6, respectively. The outputs of the amplifiers 1 3 to 1 6 are connected to respective first inputs of synchronous detectors 1 7 to 20, respectively, whose second inputs are connected to the oscillator 12.The outputs of the synchronous detectors 1 7 to 20 are connected via smoothing filters 21 to 24 respectively to the inputs of threshold detectors 25 to 28, respectively, having fixed thresholds. The outputs of the threshold detectors 25 and 26 are connected to respective inputs of an AND gate 29, whereas the outputs of the threshold detectors 27 and 28 are connected to respective inputs of an AND gate 30. The outputs of the AND gates 29 and 30 are connected to respective inputs of a further AND gate 31, and also provide respective output signals indicative of the presence of a puck for the purpose of setting up the apparatus.

The outputs of the smoothing filters 21 and 22 are connected to respective inputs of a comparator 32 whereas the outputs of the smoothing filters 23 and 24 are connected to the respective inputs of a comparator 33. The outputs of the comparators 32 and 33 are connected to respective first inputs of threshold detectors 34 and 35 respectively, having variable thresholds.

Second inputs of the threshold detectors 34 and 35 are connected together and to a potentiometer 36 for adjusting the range of sensitivity of the apparatus by varying the threshold of the detectors 34 and 35.

The outputs of the threshold detectors 34 and 35 are connected to respective inputs of an AND gate 37. The outputs of the AND gates 31 and 37 are connected to respective inputs of an AND gate 38 whose output is connected to an indicator 39.

Figure 2b is a block circuit diagram of the puck sensor which comprises an inductive proximity transducer 40 which extends across the table adjacent the bars 9. The transducer has an energizing loop 41 connected to the output of a 200 kHz oscillator 42. The sensor further includes a detecting loop 43 connected to the input of an amplifier 44. The output of the amplifier 44 is connected to a first input of a synchronous detector 45 whose second input is connected to the oscillator 42. The output of the synchronous detector 45 is connected to a Schmidt Trigger 46 whose output provides a pulse for each passage of a puck over the sensor 40.

Figure 3 shows in more detail the inductive transducer 10 of Figure 2a. The transducer comprises an arrangement of conductors 47 which connect energizing loops 48 to 51 in series across the secondary winding of a transformer 52 which matches the impedance of the circuit to the oscillator 12. Each of the sensing loops A, B, C, D comprises a single turn arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop 48, 49, 50, 51 respectively. The loops are connected to the primary windings of transformers 53, 54, 55, and 56 for matching the impedance of these loops to the following amplifiers.

The transducer 10 may be constructed in the form of two printed circuit boards arranged backto-back with the conductors thereon on opposite outer surfaces thereof. The conductor 47 and lower horizontal parts of the loops 48 to 51 are provided on the lower printed circuit board whereas the loops A to D and the upper parts of the loops 48 to 51 are formed on the upper surface of the upper board. The upper and lower parts of each of the loops 48 to 51 are connected together by conductors passing through both circuit boards. The position of one of the limbs of the lower part of each of the loops 48 to 51 is made adjustable in inclination with respect to the adjacent conductor 47, for instance by being in the form of a wire link, so that the transducer can be properly balanced during manufacture.In this respect, each of the loops 48 to 51 is adjusted in the absence of a puck by movement of the wire link until the output from the corresponding loop A, B, C or D is reduced to a minimum value while the transducer is energized by the oscillator 12.

Figures 4a b and c, show a detailed circuit diagram of the circuit shown in block diagrammatic form in Figure 2a. The oscillator comprises a pair of transistors 57 and 58 with a common emitter resistor 59. The collectors of the transistors 57 and 58 are connected to respective ends of the primary winding of the transformer 52, which primary winding has a center tap connected to a supply line 60. A tuning capacitor 61 is connected across the primary winding of the transformer 52. The base of each transistor 57 and 58 is connected to the tapping point of a respective potential divider comprising resistors 61 and 62 or 63 and 64 connected between the collector of the respective transistor and a supply line 65.Further, the base of each transistor 57 and 58 is connected to the collector of the other transistor, respectively via a series circuit comprising a resistor 66 and a capacitor 67 or a resistor 68 and a capacitor 69. A smoothing capacitor 70 is connected between the supply lines 60 and 65.

A series circuit comprising a fixed resistor 71, and adjustable resistor 72, and a capacitor 73 is connected between the collectors of the transistors 57 and 58. The connection between the resistor 72 and the capacitor 73 is connected via a resistor 74 to the base of a transistor 75. The emitter of the transistor 75 is connected to the supply line 60 whereas the collector is connected via a resistor 76 to the supply line 65 and to the synchronous detectors 1 8 to 20. The adjustable resistor 72 may be adjusted during manufacture so as to correct for phase shifts in order to optimize the output from the synchronous detectors 1 7 to 20.

Figure 4b shows in detail the amplifier 13, the synchronous detector 1 7 and the smoothing filter 21, the amplifiers 14 to 16, the synchronous detectors 1 8 to 20 and the smoothing filters 22 to 24 being identical and the respective channels containing them being indicated by blocks 77 to 79. The amplifier 13 comprises an operational amplifier provided with negative feed-back by means OT resistors 81 and 82 so as to have a gain of approximately 100. Resistors 83 and 84 and capacitors 85, 86, and 87 set the frequency response and adjust the plane characteristics of the operational amplifier 80 so as to maintain stability. The non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 80 is connected to an adjustable potentiometer 88 which is connected to the loop A via the transformer 53. The adjustable potentiometer 88 allows the output level from the amplifier 1 3 to be adjusted during manufacture.

The output of the operational amplifier 80 is connected via a coupling capacitor 89 and a current limiting resistor 90 to the synchronous detector 1 7 which comprises a field effect transistor 91 whose source and drain are connected between the resistor 90 and ground 92. The gate of the field effect transistor 91 is connected via a resistor 93 to the collector of the transistor 75 in the oscillator 12. The drain of the field effect transistor 91 and the resistor 90 are further connected to the smoothing filter 21 which comprises a resistor 94 and a capacitor 95 arranged as a single pole low-pass filter.

Figure 4e is a circuit diagram of the remainder of the blocks shown in Figure 2a. The comparators 25 to 28 comprise operational amplifiers 96 to 99, respectively, whose inverting inputs are connected via resistors 100 to 103, respectively, to the outputs of the smoothing filters 1 7 to 20, respectively. Each comparator includes a resistor 104, 105, 106 or 107 connected between its output and its non-inverting input. The non inverting inputs of the operational amplifiers are further connected to respective potential dividers formed by resistors 108 to 11 5. The outputs of the operational amplifiers 96 to 99 are connected via resistors 11 6 to 11 9, respectively, to inverting inputs of the AND gates 29 and 30.The outputs X, Yofthe gates 29 and 30, respectively, are connected to the AND gates 31 and 38 which are combined as a single 3-input AND gate. The outputs of the gates 29 and 30 are further connected via respective resistors 120 and 121 to the bases of respective transistors 1 22 and 1 23 whose collectors are connected to a positive supply line and whose emitters are connected to a common line via respective resistors 1 24 and 1 25 and respective light emitting diodes 126 and 1 27.

The light emitting diodes, which are provided on a printed circuit board supporting the circuitry of the apparatus, are used during adjustment of the sensitivity of the circuit during manufacture.

The comparators 32 and 33 comprise operational amplifiers 1 28 and 129 whose inputs are connected via respective resistors 1 30 to 1 33 to the outputs of the filters .17 to 20, respectively.

Each operational amplifier has a resistor 134 or 135 connected between the output and the non inverting input. Each input of the operational amplifiers 128 and 129 is further connected to the common line via respective resistors 1 36 to 1 39.

The threshold detectors 34 and 35 comprise operational amplifiers 140 and 141, respectively.

The inverting input of the amplifier 140 is connected via a diode 1 42 and a resistor 143 to the output of the comparator 32, whereas the non-inverting input of the amplifier 140 is connected via an oppositely poled diode 1 44 and a resistor 145 to the output of the comparator 32.

The inputs of the amplifier 141 are similarly connected via diodes 146 and 147 and resistors 148 and 149 to the output of the comparator 33.

Each of the amplifiers 140 and 141 have a feedback resistor 150 and 151 connected between its output and its non-inverting input. The inputs of the amplifiers 140 and 141 are further connected to the common line via respective resistors 1 52 to 1 55. The inverting inputs of the amplifiers 140 and 141 are connected via respective resistors 1 56 and 1 57 to the target area adjusting potentiometer 36 shown in Figure 2a.

The outputs of the threshold detectors 34 and 35 are connected via respective resistors 1 58 and 159 to inverting inputs of the AND gate 37, whose output is connected to an input of the combined gates 31 and 38. The output of the combined gates is connected via a gate 1 60 wired as an inverting buffer and via a resistor 161 to the base of a transistor 1 62 forming part of the indicator 39. The collector of the transistor 1 62 is connected to the positive supply line whereas the emitter is connected via a resistor 1 63 and a light emitting diode 164 to the common line. The emitter of the transistor 1 62 is connected to a delay circuit 1 65 shown in Figure 4a.The input of the delay circuit 1 65 is connected via a resistor 1 66 to the base of a transistor 1 67 and to one side of a capacitor 1 68 whose other side is connected to a common iine. The collector of the transistor 1 67 is connected to a supply line whereas the emitter is connected via resistors 1 69 and 170 to a common line. A transistor 1 71 has its base connected to the junction between the resistors 1 69 and 1 70 and its emitter connected to the common line. The collector of the transistor 1 71 is connected to the output of the delay circuit 1 65 via a resistor 172, a capacitor 173 being connected between the output and the common line.

Figure 4a further shows a plurality of adjustable resistors 174 to 1 77 connected in parallel in a potential divider including resistors 178' and 1 79' between positive and negative supply lines. The spiders of the adjustable potentiometers are connected via resistors 178 to 181 to the input resistors 130 to 133 of the comparators 32 and 33. The adjustable potentiometers 174 to 1 77 thus allow zero-offsets and the like in the circuit to be nulled. Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the block diagram of Figure 2b.The oscillator 42 comprises a pair of transistors 182 and 1 83 having a common emitter resistor 1 84.The collectors of the transistors 1 82 and 1 83 are connected to the ends of a primary winding of an output transformer 1 85 whose secondary winding is connected to the energizing loop 41 of the sensor 40. The primary winding has a center tap connected to a positive supply line. A capacitor 1 86 is connected in parallel with the primary winding. The collectors of the transistors 182 and 183 are connected to a negative supply line via respective series circuits comprising resistors 1 87 to 190, with the base of each transistor being connected to the tapping point of the respective potential divider. The base of each transistor is further connected to the collector of the other transistor via a pair of series circuits comprising resistors 191 and 192 and capacitors 193 and 194. A de-coupling capacitor 1 95 is connected between the common line and the negative supply line.

A series circuit comprising a resistor 196, an adjustable resistor 197, and a capacitor 1 98 is connected between the collectors of the transistors 1 82 and 1 83. The connection between the adjustable resistor 197 and the capacitor-198 is connected via a resistor 1 99 to a transistor 200 whose emitter is connected to the common line and whose collector is connected to the negative supply line via a resistor 201.

The amplifier 44 comprises an operational amplifier 202 whose non-inverting input is connected to the slider of an adjustable potentiometer 203. The track of the potentiometer 203 is connected across the secondary winding of an input transformer 204 whose primary winding is connected to the loop 43.

A feedback resistor 205 is connected between the output of the operational amplifier 202 and the inverting input thereof. The inverting input is further connected to the common line via a resistor 206 and via a series circuit comprising a capacitor 207 and a resistor 208. Capacitors 209 and 21 0 and a resistor 211 provide phase compensation for the operational amplifier 202.

The output of the operational amplifier 202 is connected via a coupling capacitor 212 and a current limiting resistor 21 3 to the synchronous detector 45, which comprises a field effect transistor whose source-drain path is connected between the resistor 21 3 and the common line.

The gate of the field effect transistor 214 is connected via a resistor 21 5 to the collector of the transistor 200. The adjustable resistor 1 97 thus serves to adjust the phase of the oscillator signal supplied to the synchronous detector so as to maximize the output thereof.

The output of the synchronous detector is connected to the smoothing filter 46 which comprises a single pole low-pass filter formed by a resistor 216 and a capacitor 217. The output of the filter 46 is connected via a resistor 218 to the Schmidt trigger 46 which comprises a gate 219 arranged as an inverter, a transistor 220, a feedback resistor 221 connected between the output of the gate 219 and the base of the transistor 220, a resistor 222 connected between the base of the transistor 220 and the common line, and a resistor 223 connected in series between the positive supply line and the collector of the transistor 220 which is connected to the input of the inverter 219.The output of the inverter 219 is connected to a monostable arrangement comprising another gate 224 whose input is connected via a series circuit comprising a capacitor 225 and a resistor 226 to the output of the gate 21 9. The input of the inverter 224 is further connected to the positive supply line via a parallel circuit comprising a resistor 227 and a diode 228. The output of the gate 224 is connected via a potential divider comprising resistors 229 and 230 to the base of a transistor 231 whose emitter is connected to the common line. The collector of the transistor 231 is connected via a resistor 232 to further circuitry (not shown) for counting the number of pucks which have passed over the sensor 40 during each game.

When the apparatus is in use, a player slides a puck up the table towards the target area 8 by bouncing the puck off one of the side cushions 4 to avoid the bar 9 when raised. The puck, which is of metal, passes over the sensor 40. In the absence of a puck, the sensor 40 is balanced such that little or no signal is induced in the loop 43 from the loop 41 which is energized by the oscillator 42. However, as a puck passes over the sensor 40, the balance of the sensor is upset and a signal is induced in the loop 43. The signal is then amplified by the amplifier 44 and is synchronously detected by the detector 45 so as to minimize the effects of interference or stray pickup generated by sources other than the oscillator 42.The output of the synchronous detector is smoothed by the filter comprising the resistor 21 6 and the capacitor 217 and is supplied to the Schmidt trigger 46, which produces a single well defined pulse for each transition of a puck over the sensor 40. The monostable arrangement shown in Figure 5 further ensures that a clean output signal is produced, and this output signal may be used to count the number of throws by a player during a particular game and, if necessary, to disable the apparatus once the game has been completed so as to prevent further attempts until, for instance, a further coin is put in a slot meter which operates the apparatus.

In the absence of a puck from the target area, the transducer 10 is balanced such that each of the loops A to D produces little or no output. The fixed thrashold of the threshold detector 25 to 28 is such that no signal is produced under these conditions. When a puck is in or adjacent the target area 8 on the surface 3 of the table, the balance of one or more of the loops of the transducer 10 is upset so that a signal is induced in one or more of the loops A to D. This signal is amplified and synchronously detected by the respective detector 1 7, 1 8, 1 9 or 20 with respect to the output from the oscillator 1 2. The output from the detector is smoothed by one of the filters 21 to 24 and supplied to the corresponding fixed threshold switch.

The output signal from each of the loops is substantially dependent on the distance of the puck in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the respective energizing loop 48, 49, 50, 51. The threshold of the threshold detectors 25 to 28 is such that the detector is actuated when the puck is within the target area, so that all four threshold detectors produce an output.

The comparators 32 and 33 compare the signal ievels induced in the opposite pairs of loops of the transducer 10 so that the output signal from the comparator 32 is a minimum when the puck is equidistant from the transducers A and B, and similarly the output from the comparator 33 is a minimum when the puck is equidistant from the loops C and D. The arrangement of the diodes 142, 144, 146 and 147 together with the inverting and non-inverting inputs of the amplifiers 140 and 141 is such as to provide a full-wave rectification of the output signals from the comparators 32 and 33. The threshold detectors 34 and 35 thus produce output signals when the levels of the signals from the comparators 32 and 33 are below the threshold level set by the potentiometer 36.Adjustment of the potentiometer 36 thus allows the range of positions of the puck within the target area corresponding to an accurately positioned puck to be altered so as to vary the degree of difficulty of, and hence skill required in, the game.

The AND gate comprising the combined gates 31 and 38 thus only receives logic level 1 signals when the puck is in a position at the middle of the target area 8 within a predetermined tolerance as set by the potentiometer 36. The indicator 39 then indicates a "WIN" and supplies a "PAY-OUT" or "JACKPOT" signal for paying a prize to the player.

When the puck is not at the center of the target area or within the predetermined tolerance thereof, at least one of the signals supplied to the AND gate 31, 38 will be at logic level 0 so that no prize will be paid and no indication will be given by the indicator 39.

The apparatus may be provided with further means for allowing automatic operation thereof.

Thus, a slot meter and a clearing device may be provided so that pucks are only released to a player upon insertion of an appropriate coin and so that pucks which have been used are swept from the surface 3 of the table at the end of each throw or at the end of each game and are only returned to the player upon insertion of a further coin.

Means may also be provided for covering part of the table including the target area 8 so as to prevent tampering or cheating by the player.

Dispiays may also be provided to indicate how far away from the winning area a puck is located after each attempt.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A game-of-skill apparatus comprising a substantially flat substantially horizontal surface on which is marked a target area, a positionsensitive transducer disposed below the target area, means for adjusting the range of sensitivity of the apparatus, and means responsive to the transducer and the adjusting means for indicating the presence of a puck on the target area within the range of sensitivity.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the position-sensitive transducer comprises a plurality of induction proximity sensors disposed in a circle below the target area, each of the induction proximity sensors comprising a pick-up loop disposed in a plane parallel to the substantially flat substantially horizontal surface and an energizing loop disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the pick-up loop and to a radius of the circle and disposed symmetrically of the pick-up loop.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the energizing loops of the induction proximity sensors are connected in series to the output of an energizing oscillator.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the pick-up loops is connected to the input of a respective amplifier whose output is connected to a first input of a respective synchronous detector the synchronous detectors having second inputs connected to the energizing oscillator via phase adjusting means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outputs of the synchronous detectors are connected via respective smoothing filters to respective fixed threshold detectors whose outputs are connected to logic AND means, the indicating means being connected to the output of the AND means.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the induction proximity sensors are arranged in diametrically opposite pairs with the outputs of the smoothing filters corresponding to the members of each pair being connected to a respective comparator, the output of each of the comparators being connected to inputs of respective variable threshold detectors whose outputs are connected to the AND means, the adjusting means comprising means for adjusting the variable thresholds of the variable threshold detectors.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a puck passage sensor is arranged below the substantially flat substantially horizontal surface between the target area and a puck launching area of the surface, the puck passage sensor comprising a pick-up loop disposed in a plane parallel to the surface and an energizing loop disposed in a plane perpendicular to the pick-up loop plane and symmetrically thereof.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the energizing loop of the puck passage sensor is connected to an energizing oscillator and the pickup loop of the puck passage sensor is connected via an amplifier to a first input of a synchronous detector which has a second input connected via phase adjusting means to the energizing oscillator.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the output of the synchronous detector is connected via a Schmidt trigger and a monostable member to the AND means.

10. A game-of-skill apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.