GB2139905A - Electronic chess game - Google Patents

Abstract

The game apparatus comprises a chessboard 10 and chessmen 21 and an electronic switching circuit arranged so that application of a chessman to a square will cause lights 16 to be indicated on the board and/or a video screen to show all possible moves of this chessman. In particular, each square of the board has a hole 15 for receipt of a projection 22 on a chessman such that the projection activates the electronic circuit upon application of pressure on that chessman. A row of press buttons and associated lights 18 may be provided for each player. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electronic chess game This invention reiates to an electronic chess game intended more particularly for teaching the game of chess for beginners or relatively inexperienced players.

According to this invention the game comprises a chess board and a series of chessmen, each square on the board being associated with an electronic switching device actuated by applying the chessmen to the squares, together with illumination means actuated by said device, the arrangement being such that all possible moves for any selected piece will be shown by the illumination means.

The illumination means may be lights on the squares and/or display on a separate board or on a video screen.

The illumination may be all in one colour or different colours may be used for different chessmen.

A constructional form of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: Figure lisa plan view of a chess board made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one square of the board; Figure 4 is an elevational view of a chessman, and Figure 5 shows an application to a video screen.

Figure 1 shows a chessboard 10 having the usual 64 squares together with a row 11, 12 of indications on each side, one for white and one for black. Each square has a central hole 15 and a an electric light 16.

The rows 11, 12 carry press buttons carrying the words "play", "stale mate", "mate" and "check" and by the side of each word there is an electric light 18. The board has a bottom compartment 19 which contains electronic switching devices including a silicon chip and a switch board 20. The design of the chip and associated electronics is on well known principles and technique and need not be described for the purpose of the invention.

The chessmen 21 are moulded from plastics material and include an integral pin 22 adapted to enter the hole 15 and thereby when pressed to contact the switch board 20 to activate the circuitry.

Thus either player can apply pressure to any piece of the chessmen and this will illuminate all the lights on the chessboard to show all possible positions to which that piece may be moved by either player respectively. When the player releases his pressure from the piece the light will be extinguished.

When a player has decided on a move he will press his "play" button, make a move and press the moved piece in its new position.

After making a move the "play" signal light will be illumined for the other player. This alternately showing each player when it is his turn to play.

As shown in Figure 5 the board may be connected by conductor 25 to a video screen 26 to provide the same set of positions for each piece for either player respectively.

The board has a tray 28 for pieces taken off the board.

1. An electronic chess game comprising a chess board and a series of chessmen, each square on the board being associated with an electronic switching device actuated by applying the chessmen to the squares, together with illumination means actuated by said device, the arrangement being such that all possible moves for any selected piece will be shown by the illumination means.

2. An electronic chess game comprising a chess board and two sets of chessmen, the board having a hole and an electric light at each square, a row of buttons and lights opposite each player's position serving for indications including "check" and "play", and an electronic circuit beneath the board; each chessman having a projection adapted to enter said hole and activate the electronic circuit, said circuit being arranged so that pressure on any piece will cause the various lights to show all the possible moves to which that chessman can be moved.

3. An electronic chess game as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the electronic switching device is connected to a video screen on which the possible moves are indicated.

4. An electronic chess game substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electronic chess game This invention reiates to an electronic chess game intended more particularly for teaching the game of chess for beginners or relatively inexperienced players. According to this invention the game comprises a chess board and a series of chessmen, each square on the board being associated with an electronic switching device actuated by applying the chessmen to the squares, together with illumination means actuated by said device, the arrangement being such that all possible moves for any selected piece will be shown by the illumination means. The illumination means may be lights on the squares and/or display on a separate board or on a video screen. The illumination may be all in one colour or different colours may be used for different chessmen. A constructional form of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: Figure lisa plan view of a chess board made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one square of the board; Figure 4 is an elevational view of a chessman, and Figure 5 shows an application to a video screen. Figure 1 shows a chessboard 10 having the usual 64 squares together with a row 11, 12 of indications on each side, one for white and one for black. Each square has a central hole 15 and a an electric light 16. The rows 11, 12 carry press buttons carrying the words "play", "stale mate", "mate" and "check" and by the side of each word there is an electric light 18. The board has a bottom compartment 19 which contains electronic switching devices including a silicon chip and a switch board 20. The design of the chip and associated electronics is on well known principles and technique and need not be described for the purpose of the invention. The chessmen 21 are moulded from plastics material and include an integral pin 22 adapted to enter the hole 15 and thereby when pressed to contact the switch board 20 to activate the circuitry. Thus either player can apply pressure to any piece of the chessmen and this will illuminate all the lights on the chessboard to show all possible positions to which that piece may be moved by either player respectively. When the player releases his pressure from the piece the light will be extinguished. When a player has decided on a move he will press his "play" button, make a move and press the moved piece in its new position. After making a move the "play" signal light will be illumined for the other player. This alternately showing each player when it is his turn to play. As shown in Figure 5 the board may be connected by conductor 25 to a video screen 26 to provide the same set of positions for each piece for either player respectively. The board has a tray 28 for pieces taken off the board. CLAIMS

1. An electronic chess game comprising a chess board and a series of chessmen, each square on the board being associated with an electronic switching device actuated by applying the chessmen to the squares, together with illumination means actuated by said device, the arrangement being such that all possible moves for any selected piece will be shown by the illumination means.

2. An electronic chess game comprising a chess board and two sets of chessmen, the board having a hole and an electric light at each square, a row of buttons and lights opposite each player's position serving for indications including "check" and "play", and an electronic circuit beneath the board; each chessman having a projection adapted to enter said hole and activate the electronic circuit, said circuit being arranged so that pressure on any piece will cause the various lights to show all the possible moves to which that chessman can be moved.

3. An electronic chess game as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the electronic switching device is connected to a video screen on which the possible moves are indicated.

4. An electronic chess game substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.