JPH0819660A - Air hockey game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an air hockey game to be played not only with collision sounds but also with electronic sounds and blink of lamps as in pinball, etc. CONSTITUTION:An air hockey game device comprises a collision detecting means 12 for detecting a puck 7 colliding to a guide wall 11, a controlling means for emitting an output signal prepared upon receipt of a detecting signal from the collision detecting means 12 and output means (speakers) 9, 16 to be operated by the output signal from the controlling means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio device for an air hockey game installed in a game center or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an air cushion table game device, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 39-39609 and U.S. Pat.
No. 325. This is a hockey game in which air is blown out from countless minute air holes opened on a play field, two people each have a mallet, and two pucks are hit in the play field to enter the opponent's goal. On the other hand, in a rolling ball game machine called a pinball game, when an iron ball rolling on the play field collides with bumpers provided everywhere on the play field, various electronic sounds are emitted, which is very interesting. It is a thing.

[0003]

As described above, in the air cushion table game, the puck on the play field is hit with a mallet, and the puck moves violently by inertial motion on the play field while bouncing on the wall of the play field. When the puck collides with the wall of the play field, it collides and bounces off. However, since the puck is made of hard resin and the wall of the play field is made of metal, the collision sound is unpleasant. Therefore, in the present invention, an air hockey game is not limited to a mere collision sound, but an electronic sound is emitted or a lamp is blinked so that a game can be played, as seen in a pinball.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A play field having a large number of minute holes that open in a plane surrounded by guide walls, and blowing out air from the minute holes, and a goal formed of notched openings in opposing guide walls. In a game device in which a player is divided into enemies and ally, each has a mallet, and fights to strike a puck on the play field to enter the opponent's goal, when a puck hit with a mallet collides with a guide wall, the puck collides. For detection, a collision detecting means such as a microphone or a piezoelectric sensor built in the guide wall, an optical sensor arranged immediately before the guide wall, or a tape sensor provided on the guide wall is provided.

Receiving the detection signals from the collision detection means of these various sensors, the control means such as the sound control means and the electric light control means are air hockey game devices which output the prepared output signals to the output means. The sound control means outputs various kinds of effect sounds, which are electronic sounds, from the speaker, and the electric light control means controls lighting of a large number of electric lights arranged on the housing or the billboard.

[0006]

Describing the operation of the above structure, when a puck hit on the play field collides with the side wall of the play field, the collision detection means detects the collision of the puck,
In response to the detection signal, an output signal prepared in advance from the control means is output to the output means, and the sounding body, which is the output means, emits sound or blinks the electric light to produce the impact effect of the pack. .

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an air hockey game apparatus according to the present invention. The air hockey game apparatus 1 has a shape almost like a billiard table, and legs 3 are provided at four corners of a bottom surface of a housing 2. . The upper surface of the housing 2 is a flat play field, and a large number of minute holes 5 are opened upward on the entire play field surface to blow air.

A short flat rectangular goal hole 6 is provided at the center of the short side of the play field 4, so that when a player hits the pack 7 with a mallet (not shown), it falls to the pack outlet on the side of the casing. It has become. Speakers 9 are provided on the left and right sides of the pack outlet 8, respectively. A side surface of the play field 4 is surrounded by a guide rail 10, a girdle surface is higher than the play field surface, and a wall surface 11 is provided all around the play field. The microphones 12 are built in the long side guide rails on both sides of the play field.

A billboard 13 is supported on the upper part of the housing 2 by pipes 14 provided on both sides of the center of the long side surface of the housing 2. The billboard 13 is provided with a score display section and a speaker 16 on the bottom surface. Although not shown, a coin insertion slot is provided on the side of the housing, and when a coin is inserted, an air delivery device provided in the housing 2 is operated to blow air onto the play field 4 and score. Is reset and the game starts.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the play field surface, and the side surfaces of the play field 4 are guide rails 1 on all sides.
The guide rail 10 surrounds the entire playfield 4 except for the goal hole 6 with a long wall surface 11 made of aluminum at each end face of the playfield 4. A microphone 12 is built in the guard rail 10 on the long side. The microphone 12 may be a piezoelectric sensor. Speakers 9 are provided on the left and right sides of the pack outlet below the goal hole 6.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the guide rail on the long side of the play field. The guide rail 10 on the long side is made of aluminum and has a T-shaped groove 10a along the length direction.
Are provided at both ends of the groove 10a.
And a wiring 17 is arranged along the groove 10a, and leads to a control circuit in the housing. A microphone is not built in the guide rail on the short side of the play field, but the guide rail has an end face fixedly adhered to the guide rail on the long side.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the groove of the guide rail, in which the microphone 12 is attached to the substrate 12a, the substrate 12a is screwed to the guide rail 10, and the wiring 17 passes through the groove 10a and is inside the housing. It is connected to the control circuit.

FIG. 5 shows frequency characteristics showing an input signal from the microphone. FIG. (A) shows the frequency characteristics when the pack collides with the guide rail, and FIG.
Indicates frequency characteristics when another object collides. These differences have a high level near 9 KHz as shown in FIG. 9A, and a sound near 9 KHz may be detected to distinguish the sound of the puck colliding with the guide rail from other sounds. The input signal from the microphone can be distinguished from other sounds by detecting the collision signal of the puck through the band pass filter.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a play field using an optical sensor as a second embodiment, in which a light emitting sensor 18 is provided along each side of a rectangle on the play field 10 surrounded by a guide rail 10. The light receiving sensors 19 are provided in pairs at the four corners of the guide rail 10. When the pack 7 blocks the light from the light emitting sensor 18 just before the pack 7 collides with the guide rail 10, the light receiving sensor 19 detects the light and the collision of the pack 7 with the guide rail 10 is detected. The light emitted from the light sensor is located on the play field surface at a position lower than the height of the puck.

In the above description, the light sensor is provided as a pair of a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor, but in the case of one, a reflecting mirror is provided at the place where the light receiving sensor is attached, and the light emitted from the light emitting sensor is reflected by the reflecting mirror. Alternatively, the light may be reflected and returned to the light emitting sensor to receive light to detect the interruption of light.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a play field in which a tape switch is provided along the wall surface of the guide rail as the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sectional view in which the pack collides with the tape switch provided on the wall surface of the guard rail.

FIG. 8A shows that the pack 7 has the guide rail 1.
The state immediately before colliding with 0 is shown. When the pack 7 collides with the guide rail 10, the tape switch 20 provided along the wall surface 11 of the guide rail 10 as shown in FIG.
a and 20b contact each other to detect a collision. According to this, when the puck 7 collides with the guide rail 10, the impact is somewhat buffered by the tape switch 20 and the speed is reduced, but this is not so special as an air hockey game.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a control system of the air hockey game apparatus. A coin switch 22 is connected to the control circuit 21 so that a coin signal enters the control circuit 21 when a coin is inserted. A goal switch 23 is provided in each goal hole, and a puck entering the goal hole can be detected. Two sensors 24 such as microphones and piezoelectric switches are provided on the long-side guide rail, and a pack collision detection signal is sent to the control circuit 21 via each sensor control 25.

From the control circuit 21 through the sound circuit, various electronic collision onomatopoeia sounds at the time of a pack collision and light music during a game are prepared from a speaker at the bottom of the billboard or a speaker provided on the side surface of the housing. Emit. Further, the control circuit 21 has a relay for controlling a blower motor 26 for blowing air on the play field and a lockout solenoid 27 for opening a passage (not shown) at the pack outlet for taking out the pack in the goal hole to the pack outlet. Two
8 are connected. In addition, the score display unit 15 is connected to the control circuit 21 to display the scores of the two persons. The control circuit 21 is connected to a coin counter 29 for displaying the number of coins inserted.

The control circuit is connected to speakers 9 and 16 that emit sound effects. Although not shown, various illumination lamps are also connected. Further, in the present invention, the collision effect of the pack may be produced by detecting that the pack collides with the guide rail and blinking the illumination lamp arranged on the play field or billboard.

[0021]

According to the present embodiment, each time the puck collides with the guide rail by striking the puck in the air hockey game, an electronic sound can be emitted, and a pleasant electronic sound or light can be generated as in the pinball game. You can enjoy air hockey by blinking. In addition, the speaker on the billboard and the speaker on the side of the housing give a stereoscopic sound, and along with the lamp lighting display, it is easy for the player to understand which is better, sound or light, which is very interesting. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an air hockey game of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a play field surface.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a guide rail on a long side of a play field.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a groove of a guide rail.

FIG. 5 is a frequency characteristic diagram showing an input signal from a microphone.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a play field showing a method using an optical sensor as a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a play field in which a tape switch is provided along a wall surface of a guide rail as a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view in which the pack collides with a tape switch provided on the wall surface of the guard rail.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control system of the air hockey game device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Air hockey game device 2. Housing 3. Legs 4. Play field 5. Micro hole 6. Goal hole 7. Pack 8. Pack outlet 9. Speaker 10. Guide rail 11. Wall 12. Microphone 13. Billboard 14. Pipe 15. Score display section 16. Speaker 17. Wiring 18. Light emission sensor 19. Light receiving sensor 20. Tape switch 21. Control circuit 22. Coin switch 23. Goal switch 24. Sensor 25. Sensor control 26. Blower motor 27. Lockout solenoid 28. Relay 29. Coin counter

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 29, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Detailed explanation of the invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio device for an air hockey game installed in a game center or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an air cushion table game device, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 39-39609 and U.S. Pat.
No. 325. This is a hockey game in which air is blown out from countless minute air holes opened on a play field, two people each have a mallet, and two pucks are hit in the play field to enter the opponent's goal. On the other hand, in a rolling ball game machine called a pinball game, when an iron ball rolling on the play field collides with bumpers provided everywhere on the play field, various electronic sounds are emitted, which is very interesting. It is a thing.

[0003]

As described above, in the air cushion table game, a puck on the play field is hit by a mallet, and the puck moves violently by inertial motion on the play field while bouncing on the wall of the play field. When the puck collides with the wall of the play field, it collides and bounces off. However, since the puck is made of hard resin and the wall of the play field is made of metal, the collision sound is unpleasant. Thus, in the present invention, an air hockey game is not only a mere collision sound, but also emits an electronic sound as seen in a pinball or the like, and enables a player to play a game by blinking a lamp.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A play field having a large number of minute holes that open in a plane surrounded by guide walls, and blowing out air from the minute holes, and a goal formed of notched openings in opposing guide walls. In a game device where players are divided into enemies and ally, each has a mallet, and they compete against each other on the play field to enter the goal on the enemy side, if the pack hit by the mallet collides with the guide wall, it is built into the guide wall. A collision detection unit for detecting a collision of the pack is provided by a microphone, a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor arranged immediately before the guide wall, a tape sensor provided on the guide wall, or the like.

Receiving the detection signals from the collision detection means of these various sensors, the control means such as the sound control means and the electric light control means are air hockey game devices which output the prepared output signals to the output means. The sound control means outputs various kinds of effect sounds, which are electronic sounds, from the speaker, and the electric light control means controls lighting of a large number of electric lights arranged on the housing or the billboard.

[0006]

Describing the operation of the above configuration, when a puck hit on the play field collides with the side wall of the play field, the collision detection means detects the puck collision,
In response to the detection signal, an output signal prepared in advance from the control means is output to the output means, and the sounding body, which is the output means, emits sound or blinks the electric light to produce the impact effect of the pack. .

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an air hockey game device according to the present invention. The air hockey game device 1 has a shape almost like a billiard table, and legs 3 are provided at four corners on the bottom surface of a housing 2. I have. The upper surface of the housing 2 is a flat play field, and a large number of minute holes 5 are opened upward on the entire play field surface to blow air.

A short rectangular goal hole 6 is provided at the center of the short side of the play field 4, and when the puck 7 is driven by a player with a mallet (not shown), the puck 7 falls into the pack outlet 8 on the side of the housing. It has become.
Speakers 9 are provided on the left and right sides of the pack outlet 8, respectively. The side of play field 4 is a guide rail.
It is surrounded by a rail 10, a girder surface is higher than the play field surface, and a wall surface 11 is provided all around the play field. The microphones 12 are built in the long side guide rails on both sides of the play field.

A billboard 13 is supported on the upper part of the housing 2 by pipes 14 provided on both sides of the center of the long side surface of the housing 2. The billboard 13 is provided with a score display unit 15 and a speaker 16 on the bottom surface. Although not shown, a coin insertion slot is provided on the side of the housing, and when a coin is inserted, an air delivery device provided in the housing 2 is operated to blow air onto the play field 4 and score. Is reset and the game starts.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the play field surface, and the side surfaces of the play field 4 are guide rails 1 on all sides.
The guide rail 10 surrounds the entire playfield 4 except for the goal hole 6 with a long wall surface 11 made of aluminum at each end face of the playfield 4. A microphone 12 is built in the guard rail 10 on the long side. The microphone 12 may be a piezoelectric sensor. Speakers 9 are provided on the left and right sides of the pack outlet below the goal hole 6.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the guide rail on the long side of the play field. The guide rail 10 on the long side is made of aluminum and has a T-shaped groove 10a along the length direction.
Are provided at both ends of the groove 10a.
And a wiring 17 is arranged along the groove 10a, and leads to a control circuit in the housing. A microphone is not built in the guide rail on the short side of the play field, but the guide rail has an end face fixedly adhered to the guide rail on the long side.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the groove of the guide rail. A microphone 12 is mounted on a substrate 12a, and the substrate 12a is screwed to the guide rail 10 and the wiring 1
7 is connected to a control circuit in the housing through the groove 10a.

FIG. 5 shows frequency characteristics showing an input signal from the microphone. FIG. (A) shows the frequency characteristics when the pack collides with the guide rail, and FIG.
Indicates frequency characteristics when another object collides. These differences have a high level near 9 KHz as shown in FIG. 9A, and a sound near 9 KHz may be detected to distinguish the sound of the puck colliding with the guide rail from other sounds. The input signal from the microphone can be distinguished from other sounds by detecting the collision signal of the puck through the band pass filter.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a play field using an optical sensor as a second embodiment, in which a light emitting sensor 18 is provided along each side of a rectangle on the play field 10 surrounded by a guide rail 10. The light receiving sensors 19 are provided in pairs at the four corners of the guide rail 10. When the pack 7 blocks the light from the light emitting sensor 18 just before the pack 7 collides with the guide rail 10, the light receiving sensor 19 detects the light and the collision of the pack 7 with the guide rail 10 is detected. The light emitted from the light sensor is located on the play field surface at a position lower than the height of the puck.

In the above description, a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor are provided as a pair as an optical sensor. However, in the case of one sensor, a reflecting mirror is provided at the place where the light receiving sensor is attached and the light emitted from the light emitting sensor is reflected by the reflecting mirror. Alternatively, the light may be reflected and returned to the light emitting sensor to receive light to detect the interruption of light.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a play field in which a tape switch is provided along the wall surface of a guide rail as a third embodiment. Tape switch 20 is guide rail 1
0 is provided on the entire surface of the wall surface 11. FIG. 8 is a sectional view in which the pack collides with the tape switch provided on the wall surface of the guard rail.

FIG. 8A shows that the pack 7 has the guide rail 1.
The state immediately before colliding with 0 is shown. When the pack 7 collides with the guide rail 10, the tape switch 20 provided along the wall surface 11 of the guide rail 10 as shown in FIG.
a and 20b contact each other to detect a collision. According to this, when the puck 7 collides with the guide rail 10, the impact is somewhat buffered by the tape switch 20 and the speed is reduced, but this is not so special as an air hockey game.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a control system of the air hockey game apparatus. A coin switch 22 is connected to the control circuit 21 so that a coin signal enters the control circuit 21 when a coin is inserted. A goal switch 23 is provided in each goal hole, and a puck entering the goal hole can be detected. Two sensors 24 such as microphones and piezoelectric switches are provided on the long-side guide rail, and a pack collision detection signal is sent to the control circuit 21 via each sensor control 25.

From the control circuit 21 through a sound circuit, various electronic collision onset sounds at the time of a pack collision prepared from the speaker 16 on the bottom of the billboard and the speaker 9 provided on the side surface of the housing and light during the game are provided. Emits music. Further, the control circuit 21 has a relay for controlling a blower motor 26 for blowing air onto the play field and a lockout solenoid 27 for opening a passage (not shown) in the pack outlet to take out the pack in the goal hole to the pack outlet. 28 are connected. Further, the score display unit 15 is connected to the control circuit 21 to display the score of each of the two players. The control circuit 21 is connected to a coin counter 29 for displaying the number of coins inserted.

The control circuit is connected to speakers 9 and 16 that emit sound effects. Although not shown, various illumination lamps are also connected. Further, in the present invention, it may be possible to detect the collision of the puck with the guide rails and blink the illumination lamp arranged on the play field or the billboard to produce the puck collision effect.

[0021]

According to the present embodiment, each time the puck collides with the guide rail by striking the puck in the air hockey game, an electronic sound can be emitted, and a pleasant electronic sound or light can be generated as in the pinball game. You can enjoy air hockey by blinking. In addition, the speaker on the billboard and the speaker on the side of the housing give a stereoscopic sound, and together with the lamp lighting display, it is easy for the player to understand which sound or light wins. Can be provided.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 7

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 7

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 7]

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 8

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 8] ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 27, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an air hockey game of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a play field surface.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a guide rail on a long side of a play field.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a groove of a guide rail.

FIG. 5 is a frequency characteristic diagram showing an input signal from a microphone.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a play field showing a method using an optical sensor as a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a play field with a tape switch provided along a wall surface of a guide rail as a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view in which the pack collides with a tape switch provided on the wall surface of the guard rail.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control system of the air hockey game device.

[Explanation of Codes] Air hockey game device 2. Housing 3. Legs 4. Play field 5. Micro hole 6. Goal hole 7. Pack 8. Pack outlet 9. Speaker 10. Guide rail 11. Wall 12. Microphone 13. Billboard 14. Pipe 15. Score display section 16. Speaker 17. Wiring 18. Light emission sensor 19. Light receiving sensor 20. Tape switch 21. Control circuit 22. Coin switch 23. Goal switch 24. Sensor 25. Sensor control 26. Blower motor 27. Lockout solenoid 28. Relay 29. Coin counter

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A player having a large number of minute holes opened in a plane surrounded by guide walls, a play field for blowing air from the minute holes, and a goal consisting of a notched opening in the opposite guide wall. In a game device in which each has a mallet divided into an enemy and an ally, and competes for hitting the packs on the play field to enter the goal on the enemy side, collision detection means for detecting the packs colliding with the guide wall,
An air hockey game device comprising: a control unit that receives a detection signal from the collision detection unit and outputs a prepared output signal; and an output unit that operates according to the output signal from the control unit. 2. The air hockey according to claim 1, wherein the control means which receives the detection signal outputs a sound signal prepared in advance through the sound control means as an output signal from the sounding body which is the output means. Game device. 3. The control means which receives the detection signal outputs a prepared lighting signal as an output signal to the electric light which is an output means via the electric light control means.
Air hockey game device described. 4. The air hockey game device according to claim 1, wherein the impact detection means is a microphone provided inside the guide wall. 5. The air hockey game device according to claim 1, wherein the impact detection means is a piezoelectric sensor provided inside the guide wall. 6. The air hockey apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the impact detecting means is provided with an optical sensor which emits a light ray immediately before the guide wall at a height lower than the height of the pack at the end of the guide wall. Game device. 7. The air hockey game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the impact detecting means is a tape sensor provided on the guide wall surface.