JPS61376A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Field of Application The present invention is applicable to shogi, chess (Western shogi), and other games in which the types, positions, and directions of pieces (distinguishing between enemies and allies) are particularly important in games with three or more types of pieces. The present invention relates to a game device having a detection function.

Structure of the conventional example and its problems In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for automatic recording of game records of games such as Go, Shogi, Chess, and Othello to be useful for later learning.

Needless to say, at this time, it is necessary to detect the arrangement of the pieces and Go stones. Already in the 1III1-based game, there are only a few types of stones, black stones and white stones, and φ stones have no directionality, so it is relatively easy to detect the position of stones. As shown in Fig. 1, each magnetic body 2 is embedded in a plastic stone 1 so that the magnetization direction of the magnetic body 2 is perpendicular to the game board. By reversing the direction of polarity, 111
It can be detected by a magnetically sensitive element 4 placed under 3. However,
In games such as shogi and chess, where there are many types of pieces and the pieces have different directions and heads and tails, the above method has limitations.

Purpose of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a game device consisting of a game board and a piece having a function of detecting the position, type, and direction of the pieces in a game such as shogi or chess that uses three or more types of pieces. That is.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the game device of the present invention is a game device that uses at least three types of pieces and a game board, in which at least one or more magnetic bodies are embedded in the pieces corresponding to the types of pieces. j, a magnetically sensitive element array consisting of a plurality of magnetically sensitive elements for detecting the type, position, and direction of the pieces is placed at the bottom of each square on the board, and the magnetically sensitive element array is This device is equipped with an electric circuit to process the output signal, which makes it possible to detect the types, directions, and positions of pieces even in games such as shogi and chess that use three or more types of pieces. It is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Second
The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the shogi pieces in one embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the game board side, in which permanent magnets 11, which are long rectangular bar-shaped magnetic materials with uniform magnetic strength, Only the required quantity is buried. It is preferable that the magnetic body 11 is buried so that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the surface of the piece, and that its magnetization direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The reason for using the long magnetic material 11 magnetized in this way is that when playing a game, the pieces are not always placed in the middle of the grid, so they may be slightly misaligned or placed diagonally. Even if there is, this is to ensure accurate placement detection.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show cross-sectional views taken along lines A-A and B-B in FIG. 2, respectively. For pieces that have front and back sides, such as actual shogi pieces 21, different numbers of magnetic bodies 22 are embedded in each side. Sensors for detecting the type, direction, and position of pieces on the game board can be constructed from a magnetically sensitive element array. A Hall element, a magnetoresistive element, etc. are used as the magnetic sensing element. Further, the sensor array is an assembly of Hall elements, and it is preferable to use one integrated using micromachining technology or printing technology because the arrangement of the pieces can be detected more reliably.

The required number of elements in such a magnetically sensitive element array depends on the number of magnetic bodies embedded in the pieces, but it should be at least the same number as the magnetic bodies, or even more to prevent malfunction. Desirably, the number is preferably twice or more the number of magnetic bodies.

In the present invention, the magnetic bodies 22 having the same magnetic strength are used, but in a method in which magnetic bodies with different magnetic strengths are buried in the pieces and the type of piece is detected from the difference in strength, the pieces are always in the squares on the board. Although it is fine as long as the object is located precisely at a predetermined location in the center of the object, it is possible that the object may be moved during the game, so this method is undesirable because it increases the possibility of erroneous detection.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the situation when pieces are present in one square on the game board, as seen from the player's side. Piece 3
Information from the pieces can be more accurately obtained by increasing the number of magnetically sensitive elements 33 in the magnetically sensitive element array A arranged in the board 34 than the number of magnetic bodies 32 embedded in the board 34. Regarding the directionality of the pieces, if the polarity arrangement of the magnetic material embedded in the pieces is, for example, the forward direction of the piece is an N-pole-8 complement sequence, the reverse direction is naturally an S-pole-
The reversal to the N-pole arrangement can be easily detected from the electrical signals generated in the array. Furthermore, in order to detect the direction even more reliably, in addition to the magnetic material for detecting the piece type, one or more extra magnetic materials for direction detection should be embedded, and if it is convenient, at least two or more magnetic materials should be buried. It is preferable to embed a magnetic material. In this way, information such as the type, direction, and position of the piece can be accurately determined by receiving electrical signals corresponding to the placement of the magnetic material embedded in the piece using the magnetic sensing element array and processing the circuit. .

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state of the output of the magnetic sensing element assuming various cases regarding the mutual positions of the pieces and the squares. However, in this case, the number of magnetic bodies present on the side of the piece sensed by the magnetic sensing element is five.

In Fig. 7a, the center position C of the piece placed in the square coincides with the center C' of the square, and the magnetization direction of the magnetic material in the body and the magnetic sensing direction t-' of the magnetic sensing element array =, This is the case when they match.

FIG. 7 shows a case where L' matches the above, but C and C' do not match, and there is a difference of nl in terms of the number of sensing elements.

Similarly, in Figure 7 C, L and L' match, but 0 and This is the case.

Fig. 7 In d, C and C' match, but L and l
This is a case where L. does not match, and the signal period N3 is the signal station in FIG. 7a! It is slightly thicker than III N +, and the signal width N4 is also shown in Figure 7 a [)
It is slightly wider than the signal width N2 (although it is slightly wider than the signal width N2).

A case where both C and C' and L and L' do not match is not shown, but this case also does not show a substantially similar situation.

In any of the above cases, it is easily possible to detect a signal within the pitch of the number of elements with the leading signal as the starting point.

Next, an example of a method for obtaining information regarding pieces placed in a square will be explained using FIG. 8. 1 in Figure 8! Identification signal X is between identification signals 1a and Ib.

Y and Z exist. Let's now temporarily define it as follows.

1 for a positive direction signal 2 for a negative direction signal O if neither signal exists Defined in this way, the output of the magnetosensitive element array is as shown in Figure 8a.
In this case, it has five ternary digits of information "11201". When the identification signal part is extracted from this, it becomes a three ternary digit value of "120". Since there are three identification signals, X, Y, and Z, 33=27 can be distinguished.

FIG. 8 shows a case where the same type of pieces as in FIG. 8a are placed in the opposite direction, and the output of the magneto-sensitive element array is reversed on the array scent axis. According to the above definition, in this case, the output of the magnetically sensitive element array has the information "20122". Signal signal 1a.

Since rb is "2'', it is possible to determine that the piece is in the opposite direction. Furthermore, if it is determined that the piece is in the opposite direction, the information obtained from the identification signal, such as the above "012
The following two processes are performed regarding °'.

(1) Swap 2°' and '1'°.

(2) Reverse the arrangement of the three-digit information.

Through the above two processes, it is determined that the identification signal indicates "120°", and it becomes possible to determine that the piece is the same type as in the case of FIG. 8a.

Note that the above-mentioned ``definition'' and ``processing'' can be realized using conventional techniques, and their explanation will be omitted.

In the above example, two labeling magnetic bodies and identification signals X and Y are used to obtain labeling signals 1a and Ib.

To obtain 2, a maximum of three identification magnetic bodies are required from zero to three. Therefore, there are a maximum of five in total.

In addition to making it possible to distinguish the direction of the pieces as described above, the marking magnetic material also contributes to indicating the effective area of the information given to the pieces. In addition, the identification signals are 1211 and 11
A method that does not differentiate into the three values of 11I and IIQII but differentiates into the two values of r1++ and t"0" corresponding to presence or absence can be considered, but this is disadvantageous when it is necessary to increase the number of magnetic materials for identification. It is.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the circuit of the game device of the present invention, whereby signals relating to the type, direction, and position of the pieces from the magnetically sensitive element array embedded in the game board 51 are processed by the electric circuit 52. It is recorded and saved using a recording device 53 made of a magnetic card, tape, or semiconductor memory element, and is made available for reproduction as needed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an actual shogi board 61, showing the range in which the magnetic sensing element array Δ is arranged inside one square 62. In this way, since the array A is laid out inside each square, all information regarding the placement of pieces can be accurately captured.

Effects of the Invention The game device of the present invention is a game device using at least three types of pieces and a game board, in which at least one or more magnetic bodies are embedded in the pieces corresponding to the types of pieces, and the types and positions of the pieces are A magnetically sensitive element array composed of a plurality of magnetically sensitive elements for detecting direction is arranged at the bottom of each square on the board surface, and an electric circuit is provided to process the output signal from the magnetically sensitive element array. This allows for accurate automatic recording of the game progress, which can be played back at a later date and used for learning purposes.

In addition, it is possible to easily obtain information about the placement of pieces, which change constantly during the game, even when you are outside the game room.
Possibility 1: The recorder goes out of his way to enter the game room and use the PA.
There is no need to visually know the information on Bm, and as a result, the problem of players being prevented from considering it during the game is also eliminated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a method of detecting Go stones in a conventional Go game; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of shogi pieces in an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the game board side; Figs. 3 a and b; 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pieces A-A and B-8 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pieces positioned in one square of the game board in one embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the player's side. Figure, 5th
6 is a block diagram of a circuit of a game device according to the present invention, FIG. 7
Figure 8 and Figure 8 are magnetic sensing element array output signal diagrams. 11. 22.32...Magnetic material, 12.21.31.
... Piece, 33... Magnetically sensitive element, 34.61... Game board, A... Magnetically sensitive element array agent Morimoto
Yoshihiro Figure 1 Figure 2 Yo. Figure 3 dλ Figure 4 Figure S Ishigo Figure 7 Figure β

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a game device using at least three types of pieces and a game board, at least one or more magnetic bodies are embedded in the pieces corresponding to the types of pieces, and the types, positions,
A magnetically sensitive element array composed of a plurality of magnetically sensitive elements for detecting direction is arranged at the bottom of each square on the board surface, and an electric circuit is provided to process the output signal from the magnetically sensitive element array. A game device provided. 2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body is in the shape of a long rectangular bar. 3. The game device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic body is magnetized at right angles to the longitudinal direction. 4. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the pieces 4 are shogi pieces or Chess (Western shogi) pieces. 5. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the pieces have both surfaces, and a magnetic material is embedded in each of the surfaces.