JPH01145087A - Automatic bowling score apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To perform a score processing of a final frame without being affected by the bowling of a next bowler by providing a means to complete the score processing of the final frame after the operation of a photoelectric switch, when a pin remaining after the third bowling of the final frame is detected. CONSTITUTION: A third bowling pin detecting means detects the remaining of pins after the third bowling of a frame, by a ball passing detection signal of a photoelectric switch 3 and an output signal of a remaining pin presence/ absence judging means 1. At the time of this detection, a score processing means completes a score processing of a final frame after the operation of the photoelectric switch 3. Therefore, when pins remain after the third bowling in the final frame, if a ball is bowled, or when a rake 4 has operated by a reset button control of an automatic pin setter machine, this photoelectric switch 3 operates, and for this reason, the score processing of the final frame is completed at this point. As a result, a next bowler can continuously bowl as it is.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to an automatic bowling score device that automatically processes bowling scores.

(b) Prior Art - A conventional general automatic bowling scoring device functions by electrically connecting it to an already installed or newly installed pin center machine. Pin center machines have different signal formats and coupling methods depending on the machine manufacturer's model, and automatic bowling scoring devices are installed for each model.

Such an automatic bowling score device receives signals representing the first and second pitches of the pitched ball and a reset button signal from the automatic pin center machine, detects the number of frames of the game and the number of pitches. There is. In particular, in the final 10th frame, the third pitch is also identified and the score is calculated.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, such conventional automatic bowling scoring devices operate by being electrically connected to the control circuit of the automatic pin center machine. A complex interface circuit must be prepared for each case. In addition, when a failure occurs in the device, when investigating whether the cause is a failure on the pin center machine side or the score device side, it is necessary to confirm either one before investigating the cause of the failure. I can't.

The purpose of this invention is to automatically calculate bowling scores by resetting the remaining pins after the third pitch of the final frame by operating the machine's reset button, without directly connecting the signal from the automatic pin setter machine. To provide an automatic bowling score device which does not affect the score even when pitching a ball even if the ball is eliminated.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The automatic bowling score device of the present invention comprises: a photoelectric switch that detects the passage of a pitched ball and the operation of a rake; a video camera that images the arrangement position of the pins; means for determining the presence or absence of a remaining pin from the output signal of the camera; and a third throw bin residual for detecting the presence or absence of a pin after the third throw of the final frame from the output of the photoelectric switch and the output of the residual bin presence/absence determination means. The present invention is characterized by comprising: a detection means; and a score processing means that completes the score processing of the final frame after the photoelectric switch is actuated when the means detects that a pin remains after the third throw.

(e) Function In the automatic bowling scoring device of the present invention, the photoelectric switch detects the passage of the pitched ball and the operation of the rake, the video camera images the arrangement position of the pins, and the residual pin presence/absence determining means is the video camera. Determine whether there are any remaining pins from the output signal. Therefore, the pitching of the ball, the operation of the rake, and the presence or absence of any remaining pins after pitching can be determined without being directly electrically connected to the automatic pinsetter machine.

Further, the third throw pin detection means detects the remaining pin after the third throw of the final frame from the output of the photoelectric switch and the output of the remaining bin presence/absence determining means, and the score processing means detects the remaining pin after the third throw of the final frame. When the residual detection means detects that the pin remains after the third throw, the scoring process for the final frame is completed after the photoelectric switch is activated. Therefore, when the pin remains after the third throw in the final frame, when the ball is pitched, or when the rake is activated by operating the rese/throat button of the automatic pin center machine, the photoelectric switch is activated, so at that point The scoring process for the final frame is completed. Therefore, the next bowler can simply continue bowling.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of an automatic bowling score device which is an embodiment of the present invention.
) is a console operated by the bowler, 1 is a video camera that images the position of the pin arrangement, 7 is a video camera that captures the bowler's pitching form, etc., and 8 is C that displays scores, etc.
It is RT.

The console 1) is connected to the various input/output devices mentioned above, and is also provided with a small CRT that displays the same content as shown in 8 and a keyboard operated by the bowler. In the figure, 20.21 is the first. A second host computer 20 is installed at the front desk, and the receptionist inputs the name of the bowler who completed the procedure, and the data is transferred to the console 1) in the designated lane. . The host computer 20 is also provided with a score printer to print out the scores after the competition is over. The host computer 21 is connected to the host computer 20 and manages various information regarding the overall operation of the bowling center.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the vicinity of the pin arrangement position of a device for detecting the upright presence or absence of a hollowing pin according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, PL, P2. P4 and P7 are arrayed bowling pins, respectively, and represent the state seen from the left side with respect to the lane. Therefore, pin P2. P4. P
Other pins are arranged behind 7. In the figure, 4 is a rake, and 5 is a pin deck, which removes fallen pins and rearranges remaining pins. 2 is a light that illuminates the pins from diagonally above the pin arrangement position at the bottom of the pin deck 5, that is, from above the front as viewed from the bowler; 1 is a video camera that takes images of the pins from the same direction. Furthermore, 3 is a photoelectric switch provided at a position where the ball B and the rake 4 block the optical path.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the control section of the automatic bowling score device which is an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a plurality of consoles lla, llb, llc, etc. are connected to a host computer 20 as a LAN (local area network). Each console is comprised of a microcomputer, including a ROM that stores control programs in advance, and a RAM that is used as a working area for various flags, counters, etc.

It is equipped with a memory for storing display data, an input/output board, etc. The following equipment and devices are connected to these consoles.

The console panel has a small CRT9 and a keyboard 10.
is provided. 12 is a keyboard controller. The image processing device 13 performs image processing on the output signal of the video camera 1, detects the presence or absence of a pin standing upright at the pin arrangement position, and the console inputs this information at a necessary time.

The video printer 14 displays the bowler's pitching form by outputting the video signal of the video camera 7 to the large CRT 8 via the video switch 15 based on the instruction signal from the console. Also, video printer 1
4 temporarily stores a still image taken by the video camera 7 based on instructions from the console, displays it on the CRT 8, and prints it out. Reference numeral 15 denotes a switch for switching between the output signal of the video printer and the output signal of the console, and normally supplies scona information etc. from the console to the CRT. 3 and 6 are photoelectric switches, and as shown in FIG. 2, the photoelectric switches 3 detect the pitching of the ball and the operation of the rake □. A photoelectric switch 6 is provided at the foul line, and the console detects fouls based on its signal. In Figure 3, one console shows only the equipment and devices used for one run, but in reality, one console manages two runs, and the equipment connected to it is shown in Figure 3. It is equipped with 2ml of equipment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the keyboard 10 shown in FIG. 3. In the figure, the alphabetic and symbol keys attached to the numeric keypad are keys for score correction. Also, the four arrow keys are CR
This is a cursor movement key displayed on T. Fl~F4
is a function key, which operates as a function key for the contents displayed in the lower column of the CRT.

9 to 13 each show an example of a CRT display. At the start of the game, the bowler's name transferred from the front host computer is displayed in kanji characters as shown in FIG. 9, and the name of the bowler who is to pitch is indicated. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the position of the remaining pin after pitching is displayed in the center of the score display. The example in the figure is the third bowler (
(Yamada) after his second pitch in the first frame. Furthermore, as shown in the figure 1), if there are no remaining pins, a mark corresponding to the state is displayed graphically.
Figure 2 is an example of a display in the center of the screen, and is an example of a display when a message necessary for a competition is transferred from the host computer to a predetermined lane. FIG. 13 is an example of a display at the bottom of the screen when using the video printer. This display is performed, for example, by operating the camera switch (the function key F3) while the display shown in FIG. Ru. Also,
By operating the print key (F3), the image is printed out. Figures 5 to 7 are each console 1)
and a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the host computer 20. °The explanations will be given below.

FIG. 5 shows the processing procedure of the host computer 20. When the lane number and bowler name are input, the bowler name is transferred to the designated lane. Also, if a lane number and a predetermined message are input, the message is transferred to the designated lane.

FIG. 6 shows the processing procedure of the console for displaying remaining pin information etc. in the center of the score display as shown in FIG. 1θ and FIG. 1). First, a specific area of the display memory where the score is displayed is saved. Next, data representing the status of the remaining pins and data for displaying marks such as spares and strikes are written into the display memory. This results in the 10th
As shown in FIG. This display is performed for a certain period of time,
When it is time to restore the display, the display memory of the specific area that was evacuated is restored and the original score is displayed. By displaying the remaining pin information on a large CRT in this manner, the conventional problems of erroneous display due to broken lamps and difficulty in viewing due to long-distance display are solved.

FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B) show the procedure of score control performed by the console. First, as shown in (A) of the same figure, the frame counter FC and pitching counter SC are initialized,
Wait for pitching (n1 to n3). The presence or absence of a pitch is detected based on the signal from the photoelectric switch 3, and if a pitch is thrown, the number of remaining pins is counted through processing by the video camera 1 and image processing device 13 (n4). If 5C=1, that is, there is no remaining bottle in the first pitch, a strike process is performed (n5 to n?). If there are any remaining pins, score processing is performed based on the number of fallen pins. 1. The pitch counter SC is incremented, and if the score of the previous frame is determined by the current pitch, the score of that frame is calculated (n3-*n9-n15).

5C=2, that is, if there are no remaining pins in the second throw, spare processing is performed (n 10 = n 1)), and if there are remaining pins, score processing is performed based on the number of fallen bottles (n12).
. Thereafter, the pitch counter SC is set to 1, the frame counter FC is incremented, and if the score of the previous frame is determined by the current pitch, the score of that frame is calculated (n13-4n14→n15).

After calculating the score of the determined frame, it is determined whether or not 10 frames have been determined (n16). In this example, 1
0 frame is handled as 10 to 12 frames as internal processing. FIG. 8 shows an example of scores for 10 frames, where, for example, l0FI indicates the first shot of the pseudo 10 frames, and 1)F2 indicates the second shot of the pseudo 1) frame.

In this way, if there are no pins remaining after the first throw or if there are no pins remaining after the second throw, the process continues until the third throw in total counting from the first throw of the IO frame.

In FIG. 8, ('B) and (F) indicate that the pseudo 1) frame or the pseudo 12 frame has not been completed, and thereafter the pin center machine is in a state of waiting for pitching. In this state, after the actual 10 frames have been determined, the pin setter machine, which can be known by the value of the pitch counter SC, is in a state of waiting for a pitch, and whether the pitch is made or the rake processing "h=ip
←Wait until there is a younger sister year (n17-+n18.n19)
, Then, the determined score of the 10th frame is calculated.

As described above, frames are counted and pitches are counted using a photoelectric switch, a video camera, and a means for determining the presence or absence of residual pins without electrical connection to the automatic pinsetter machine, and after the third pitch of the final frame, The remaining pins are detected. Furthermore, when a pin remains in this third throw, the scoring process for the final frame is completed by detecting the pitch or the operation of the reset button based on the operation of the photoelectric switch.

(g) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the remaining pins after the third throw of the final frame without electrically connecting to the automatic pinsetter machine. If a pin remains on the third throw, the scoring process for the final frame can be completed by making a throw or operating the machine's reset button. This will not affect subsequent scores. Furthermore, the inconvenience caused by the addition of a circuit associated with electrical connection to the automatic pinsetter machine is eliminated, and furthermore, it becomes easier to deal with failures.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an automatic bowling scoring device that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration near the pin arrangement section of the device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control section of the device. 4 are plan views of the keyboard of the console used in the same device. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the host computer, Figures 6 and 7 (A
) and (B) are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the console. FIG. 8 shows an example of the score results for the final frame. 9 to 1) are display examples of a CRT, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams showing display examples of a part of the display screen. l-video camera, 3-photoelectric switch. Applicant Telesystems Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A photoelectric switch that detects the passage of a pitched ball and the operation of a rake; a video camera that images the arrangement position of the pins; and a means for determining the presence or absence of remaining pins from the output signal of the video camera; 3rd throw pin remaining detection means for detecting the remaining pin after the third throw of the final frame from the output of the photoelectric switch and the output of the remaining pin presence/absence determining means; and this means detects the pin remaining after the third throw. and score processing means that completes the score processing of the final frame after the photoelectric switch is activated.