GB2139186A - Display installation - Google Patents

Abstract

Each time a glass of beer is drawn via beer tap 1, a signal is passed to a master control unit 2 which generates randomly a number in the group of integers between (and including) 1 and 10; the unit then compares the generated number with three predetermined numbers (e.g. 2, 7 and 9) within that group which are held in a memory store of unit 2. If the generated number is one of these three predetermined numbers, then the unit 2 switches on a videotape recorder 3 containing a tape so as to play the recording on a separate television receiver 4; after one minute, the unit 2 stops the video recorder 3 to terminate the display. If the generated number is not one of the predetermined numbers in the group, then the unit does not switch on the videotape recorder 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display installation The present invention relates to an installation to provide an intermittent display of, particularly but not exclusively, a video tape.

The present invention provides an installation comprising a liquid dispenser connected to means to select randomly one of a group of possible choices upon operation of the liquid dispenser, said selection means being connected to control means to activate a display unit only if the selected choice is one in a predetermined subdivision within the group of possible choices.

Also, the present invention provides an installation comprising a liquid dispenser connected to means to generate randomly one of a group of numbers upon operation of the liquid dispenser, said generator means being connected to control means to activate, for a specified time interval, a unit for displaying video signals, wherein the activation occurs only if the generated number is one of a predetermined subdivision within the group of numbers.

In one form of the invention, the display unit comprises a videotape recorder connected to a television receiver; thus, when an appropriate number is generated (or, where applicable, one appropriate choice is selected) the videptape recorder is switched on and the programme contained on tape is played on the screen of the television receiver.

Clearly, in other forms, the display unit may comprise a video disc player with a television receiver, or a television receiver alone, or a film projector and suitable screen.

Clearly in this form of the invention, each time the liquid dispenser is operated, there is a possibility that a sequence of videotape or film will be shown on the screen. Thus, if such an installation is located in a bar or public house with the liquid dispenser being a beer tap, then consumption of beer may be encouraged.

The installation may include means to display the number generated (or, where applicable, the choice selected) upon operation of the liquid dispenser.

Additionally or alternatively, the installation may include means to display the predetermined subdivision within the group of numbers (or, where applicabie, of choices). When the installation includes a television receiver, either or both of these types of numbers (or choices) can be displayed on its screen.

The installation may include means to adjust any one or more of the following parameters: (i) the elements within the group of numbers which can be generated (or, where applicable, of possible choices which can be selected); (ii) the elements within the predetermined subdi vision of the group, which elements provide activation of the display unit; (iii) the time interval for which the display unit is activated.

The present invention has many applications other than for use with beer taps in bars or public houses.

For example one suitable application is in the petrol forecourts of garages, whereby the dispensing of petrol from a petrol pump activates selection means or generation means.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an installation embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of one section of the installation of figure 1; Figure 3 is a block diagram of another section of the installation of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram in greater detail of an installation embodying the present invention; and Figure 5 is a flow diagram of the operational steps of the installation of Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows a form of the present invention suitable for use in a public house. Each time a glass of beer is drawn via beer tap 1, a signal is passed to a master control unit 2. Upon reception of this signal, the unit 2 generates randomly a number in the group of integers between (and including) 1 and 10; the unit then compares the generated number with three predetermined numbers (e.g. 2,7 and 9) within that group which are held in a memory store of unit 2. If the generated number is one of these three predetermined numbers, then the unit 2 switches on a videotape recorder 3 containing a tape so as to play the recording on a separate television receiver 4; after one minute, the unit 2 stops the video recorder 3 to terminate the display.If the generated number is not one of the predetermined numbers in the group, then the unit does not switch on the videotape recorder 3.

As soon as a number has been generated, it is displayed on the screen of receiver 4; then, if applicable, the pictures derived from recorder 3 are played. This is achieved by the unit 2 instructing a teletext coder/decoder in receiver 4 to provide on a display the screen comprising all the numbers 1 to 10 in green script except for the generated number which is shown in red script; clearly this arrangement can be changed for example the predetermined numbers 2,7 and 9 may be in red script, the remaining numbers being in green script with the generated number flashing in whatever colour is appropriate.

The installation also includes an adjuster unit 5 having a key pad whereby the operating characteristics of control unit 2 can be appropriately varied.

Thus adjustor unit 5 enables the group of integers to be changed (for example to all integers between 1 and 50). Also it enables the amount of predetermined numbers within that group to be changed, as well as the particular values of those predetermined numbers. Moreover, it can vary the length of time for which recorder 3 plays whenever activated.

Details of the circuits incorporating the master control unit 2 and adjuster unit 5 are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The circuits are based on a processor operating from 4MHz and include 1K bytes of internal RAM used as scratch pad. The firmware is contained in 2K bytes of externally EPROM type (2716) one peripheral interface adaptor 6821 P incorporated to interface key-pad and VHS interface.

The section shown in Figure 2 consists of a 6802P microprocessor, the 6821 P peripheral interface adaptor and an EPROM (2716) as described above.

The section shown in Figure 3 comprises the page display memory (two 2114 type 1K x 4 static RAMs), the teletext read-only memory character generator (TROM SA 5050), the timing chain (TIC5020), a column address counter (two 74LS93), and an address compressor (74LS83), PAL encoder chip (TEA1002) followed by Astec modulator type UM1286 (although the latter be omitted if required).

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an installation embodying the present invention shown in greater detail than in Figure 1. A suitable mode of operation of the installation is illustrated by the flow diagram of Figure 5.

Thus, when the installation is switched on but in its standby mode, the screen of television receiver 10 displays the integer numbers 1 to N, being the total population of the group from which the selections are made; the predetermined numbers, a to d, of the whole group are displayed in red characters on the screen, the remainder of the group being in green characters. In orderto produce this information on the screen, the television receiver 10 utilizes data originating from a store 11 and processed using the teletext unit within receiver 10.

When a glass of beer is drawn via beer tap 12, a flow valve device (not shown) produces an enable signal which is input to a random-number generator 13 which is preprogrammed to select randomly any number from the group 1 to N, information about which is derived from store 11. Generator 13 then passes a signal representing the selected random number to television receiver 10 to produce a flashing display of the appropriate character on the screen; the signal is also passed to a comparator 14 which compares it with the predetermined numbers a to d using data derived from store 11.

If the selected number does not correspond with any of the predetermined numbers then comparator 14 generates a pulse which operates the television receiver 10 such as to stop the flashing of the selected random number, to remove all the characters 1 to N, and then to display the word "NO" for ten seconds; thereafter the installation returns to its standby mode.

If the selected number corresponds with one of the predetermined numbers, then comparator 14 generates a pulse which operates the television receiver 10 such as to display the generated number as boxed and to add the word "YES" to the screen; after five seconds of this display, it is replaced by a display of a taped recording from a video tape recorder 15 which was switched to the play mode by the pulse originating from comparator 14.This pulse also starts simultaneously each of two timers 16 and 17; one timer, 16 regulates the length of time for which videotape recorder 15 plays upon each successful selection, in that at the end of its counting cycle timer 16 produces a pulse which switches recorder 15 to its pause mode. The othertimer, 17, monitors the amount of tape which remains to be played in recorder 15; thus it counts up the total tape playing time over a number of successful selections and at the end of its counting cycle it produces a pulse which switches recorder 15 to its replay mode.

The duration of its counting cycle is an integral multiple of that of timer 16, more specifically the maximum such multiple possible for the amountof pre-recorded programme on the tape. Once the recorder 15 has rewound the tape to the starting position of the programme, the recorder 15 is switched automatically to the pause mode and the installation returns to the standby mode, with all the characters 1 to N displayed on the screen as mentioned above.

The installation has an adjustment unit 18 which allows setting of the values of the group and the subdivision, and of the cycle durations of timers 16 and 17. Unit 18 has a keyboard 19 for keying-in values of the required settings, and a liquid-crystal display 20 from which the set values, or values presently keyed in and to be set, can be read.

In a modification, the unit 18 can be omitted such that the installation operates with predetermined values of group, subdivision and timer durations which cannot be changed.

In another modification, the installation is used with the dispensing of liquid other than beer. For example the installation may be used in petrol forecourts of garages whereby the dispensing of petrol from a pump activates a random number generator.

In another modification, upon dispensing of the beer or liquid there is a random selection of a number of choices, not necessarily numbers; the choices may relate to colours or to names and the installation may be designed to mimic a race, for example a horse race, which is started bythe dispensing of liquid.

Claims (2)

1. An installation comprising a liquid dispenser connected to means to select randomly one of a group of possible choices upon operation of the liquid dispenser, said selection means being connected to control means to activate a display unit only if the selected choice is one in a predetermined subdivision within the group of possible choices.

2. An installation comprising a liquid dispenser connected to means to generate randomly one of a group of numbers upon operation of the liquid dispenser, said generator means being connected to control means incorporating one or more solid-state electronic signal-processing devices, the control means being programmed to activate, for a specified time interval, a unit for displaying video signals, wherein the activation occurs only if the generated number is one of a predetermined subdivision within the group of numbers.

2. An installation comprising a liquid dispenser connected to means to generate randomly one of a group of numbers upon operation of the liquid dispenser, said generator means being connected to control means to activate, for a specified time interval, a unit for displaying video signals, wherein the activation occurs only if the generated number is one of a predetermined subdivision within the group of numbers.

3. An installation according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the display unit comprises a videotape recorder connected to a television receiver such that, upon an appropriate generation of a number (or an appropriate selection of a choice, as applicable), the videotape recorder is switched on and the programme contained on tape is played on the screen of the television receiver.

4. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means to display the number generated (or choice selected, as applicable), upon operation of the liquid dispenser.

5. An installation according to any one of the preceding Claims, comprising means to display the group of numbers (or, where applicable, a representation of the group of possible choices) and/or the predetermined sub-division within the groups of numbers (or, where applicable, within the group of possible choices).

6. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims comprising means to adjust any one or more of the following parameters: (i) the elements within the group of numbers which can be generated (or, where applicable, of possible choices which can be selected); (ii) the elements within the predetermined subdivision of the group, which elements provide activation of the display unit; (iii) the time interval for which the display unit is activated.

7. An installation according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the liquid dispenser has a flow valve which produces an electrical signal to pass to the selection means or generation means, as applicable, upon detection of liquid flow through the valve.

8. An installation according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the liquid dispenser is a beertap.

9. An installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illusrrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or Figures 1 to 4, or in Figure 4, or in Figure 4 when operated according to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 25/6/84 Superseded claims 1, 2 New or amended claims: CLAIMS

1. An installation comprising a liquid dispenser connected to means to select randomly one of a group of possible choices upon operation of the liquid dispenser, said selection means being connected to control means incorporating one or more solid-state electronic signal-processing devices, the control means being programmed to activate a display unit only if the selected choice is one in a predetermined subdivision within the group of possible choices.