US20170074623A1

US20170074623A1 - Electronic dartboard with scoreboard interface with portable electronic devices

Info

Publication number: US20170074623A1
Application number: US14/999,828
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Hughes
Original assignee: Great Lakes Dart Manufacturing Inc
Current assignee: Great Lakes Dart Manufacturing Inc
Priority date: 2015-07-03
Filing date: 2016-07-05
Publication date: 2017-03-16

Abstract

An electronic dartboard game capable of wirelessly receiving and transmitting dart game information from and to a local smart phone, laptop computer, tablet, or watch using BLUE TOOTH or WIFI technology for programming dart gaming and providing a wireless scoreboard. Also presented is a method for playing dart games for one or more users at the same time using a smart phone for programming dart gaming and providing a wireless scoreboard.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/231,447 filed on Jul. 3, 2015 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field involving dart board gaming devices capable of showing the score and game related information on one or more portable electronic devices such as a smart phone, tablet, laptop, watch or other electronic device as well as providing for input/output based communication between the game board and the smart phone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a game of skill and particularly to the game of darts. Interactive video computer software, the Internet and the public's fascination with the challenge, competitiveness and enjoyment of computer based video games has increased the demand for new games and gaming formats. Gaming formats which allow players to gauge the level of skills they possess as compared to other players are growing in popularity.
The proliferation of smart phones in public has enabled the use of these phones in interactive play. Most of this interactive play involves gaming using hand controlled units containing a number of push buttons and joysticks to play video games. Such games generally don't provide for the testing of manual dexterity other than as relates to the hand, fingers and thumbs. More active games such as shooting pool, playing tennis or darts, for example haven't involved the use of smart phone technology. The present invention provides for the interfacing of smart phones with an electronic dartboard in the playing of darts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electronic dartboard game comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially an electronic dartboard capable of calculating and displaying a score in a dart game based on the type of dart game being played, the previous score and an additional score as determined by circuitry which monitors that particular area of the dartboard was most recently penetrated by a dart. The electronic dartboard is capable of wireless communication with computerized devices for the purpose of data input and output concerning dartboard game play. Also included is a smart phone capable of wireless communication with the electronic dartboard and containing a software application enabling the smart phone to display a pictorial facsimile which can hi-light score areas on the display device corresponding to areas penetrated by the dart on the dartboard and to provide display screens and input buttons which enable a player to input his profile, select the type of dart game to be played, view instructions and browse a dart game internet website.
It is an object of this invention to provide a dart game including an electronic dartboard and a computer application which can be installed in a smart phone, thus allowing user interfacing with the dartboard through the smart phone and wherein the game board and the smart phone are connected through BLUE TOOTH technology.
It is an object of this invention to provide a dart game including an electronic dartboard and a computer application which can be installed in a smart phone, providing for score displaying on one or more local smart phones.
It is an object of this invention to provide a dart game including an electronic dartboard and a computer application which can be installed in a smart phone, thus allowing users to input their user information and identification through the smart phone.
It is an object of this invention to provide a dart game including an electronic dartboard and a computer application which can be installed in a smart phone, thus allowing users to play interactive dart games such as 301, 501 and Cricket.
It is an object of the present invention to include means to activate the play button to take players to a screen where they can choose the game they wish to play.
It is an object of the present invention to include a profiles page.
It is an object of the present invention to include an ability to enter players names and select dart icon.
It is an object of the present invention to include instructions which instruct the player to proceed to a landing page where the player selects the mode to play, and games instructions.
It is an object of the present invention to include a Quick Play feature to default to the last game played on the app, so, if the player just finished playing a game such as 301, the player can hit the Quick Play feature and it launches the 301 game again with the same players and same setup (double in, double out, double bull on, etc.).
It is an object of the present invention to include a store feature.
It is an object of the present invention to add a feature that once in Game Play, upon a dart hitting the board and registering a score, an indicator on the display such as a light or symbol shows a dart hit on the dartboard where it hits, so that if a player hits a triple 20, a dart shows up in the triple 20 location. either at a specific location or section or just in designated area of the board image.
It is an object of the present invention to include a feature to activate and “Connect to the Dartboard”.
It is an object of the present invention to include an Exit game Icon.
It is an object of the present invention to click on the Exit Button and the back arrow creates a message that appears stating: “This will cancel your current game, all scores will be lost. Are you sure you want to continue?” Then have two buttons, Yes or No.
It is an object of the present invention to include an Information Button that will take you to the page where the Instructions are.
It is an object of the present invention to include an Icon of the player which takes the player to the profile page to edit his name and icon.
It is an object of the present invention to include a Shopping Cart Icon which opens in a browser to a selected website.
It is an object of the present invention to include a message that indicates that the player must click to continue playing upon temporary ceasing play of a game.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the electronic dartboard of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the smart phone of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the smart phone of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enhanced view of the various particular score areas of the dartboard; and

FIG. 5 is a close in front view of the operator push buttons and score display on the dartboard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electronic dartboard, a smart phone interfaced with the electronic dartboard, a software application and a method of playing darts on an electronic dartboard which is wirelessly interfaced with at least one local smart phone.
FIG. 1 shows an electronic dartboard 10 which is capable of calculating the score by determining which particular ‘score area’ on which a dart has landed on the board and of adding or subtracting the corresponding score from the present score and showing the score on the display 14. The electronic dartboard includes application software which enables wireless communication with a local smart phone, tablet, smart watch, laptop or other handheld electronic device with computer capabilities, preferably using WIFI, BLUE TOOTH, or other wireless communication technology.
FIG. 2 shows a smart phone 12 which shows a pictorial facsimile 100 of the dartboard and a menu providing five ‘buttons: ‘PLAY’ 20, ‘PROFILES’ 30, ‘INSTRUCTION’ 40, ‘QUICK PLAY’ 50 and ‘STORE’ 60. ‘PLAY’ allows the selection of which type of dart game to play. ‘PROFILES’ provides for the input of player profile information. ‘INSTRUCTION’ causes the displaying of instructions. Choosing the ‘QUICK PLAY’ feature automatically selects and enables the playing of the most recently played game. Selecting ‘STORE’ causes the smart phone to bring up the website for searching and purchasing of other games or features.
A dart must hit and stick in the area to get a score for that dart. FIG. 4 shows the score areas of a typical dartboard. Area 22 is a double 18. A dart in this area scores 2×18=36 points. Area 23 is a single 4, which gives a score of 4. Area 24 is a triple 13 which gives a score of 39. Area 25 is a single bulls eye which is worth 25 points. Area 26 is a double bulls eye which is worth 50 points. Area 27 is a single 3 which is 3 points. The other areas are scored accordingly. The electronic dartboard circuitry is capable of generating a signal to the smart phone which communicates the score based on the areas hit by the darts.
The following is a list of smart phone key presses and the resulting action.

- a. PLAY
  - I. This should take you to a screen where you can choose the game you'd like to play, for example 301, 501, or Cricket
- b. PROFILES
  - I. Provides ability to enter player's name and select dart icon
- c. INSTRUCTIONS
  - I. Will take you to a page where you can select how to play, and instructions for the game you selected
- d. QUICK PLAY
  - I. automatically selects and enables the playing of the most recently played game. For instance if the person just got done playing 301, you can hit that and it launched 301 again with the same players, same setup (double in, double out, double bull on, etc.)
- e. STORE
  - I. causes the smart phone to bring up the website for searching and purchasing of other games or features

The preferred embodiment of this invention allows the simultaneous connection of multiple smart phones to one electronic dart board. This allows every player and even non-players to monitor the present game activity. Further, the preferred embodiment uses BLUE TOOTH technology for interfacing the smart phones and the electronic dartboard. Other preferred embodiments use WIFI technology for interfacing the smart phones and the electronic dartboard.
The pictorial facsimile 100 of the dartboard which is pictured on the BLUE TOOTH or WIFI device such as the cell phone is capable of hi-lighting the particular score areas or displaying a ‘dart icon’ in the corresponding score areas on the facsimile 100 which have been hit by the darts. For instance, if a dart hits the ‘triple 18’, which is score area 22 in FIG. 4, then that score area 22 will be hi-lighted on the pictorial facsimile 100. Further, a scoreboard on the smart phone display, (not shown) and another scoreboard 14 on the electronic dart board 10 will display the updated score as calculated by the electronic scoreboard.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises an electronic dartboard in wireless communication with an I-pad, a laptop or other computerized device capable of such communication and containing a software application enabling the device to display a pictorial facsimile 100 which can hi-light score areas corresponding to areas penetrated by a dart and to provide display screens and input buttons which enable a player to input his profile, select the type of game to be played, view instructions and browse a dart game internet website.
FIG. 5 shows an enlarged version of the operator area 16. The dartboard is operated with the ON/OFF key 32, BOUNCE OUT key 34, MISS key 36 and NEXT PLAYER key 46. There are one score display 42 and a green LED connection indicator 44. The buttons function as follow:

ON/OFF button: Hold and press this button to turn the dartboard on (or off)
BOUNCE OUT button: Press this button to eliminate the score recorded from this turn from the APP
MISS button: Press this button to record a missed dart from the APP
NEXT PLAYER button: Press this button to switch to next player
Score Display: This display shows score of the current dart thrown
Connection Indicator: This LED indicator is green when the dartboard is connected with APP in the BLUE TOOTH or WIFI device. Indicator off when it is not connected.

Turn on the dartboard, enter the APP and at the same time turn on the BLUETOOTH function on your gadget. The dartboard will be auto connected with the APP through BLUETOOTH Low Energy 4.0 Technology. This dartboard has a built in sleep mode (after 5 minutes constantly) and shut-off mode (after 15 minutes constantly). It can be triggered back to operation by hitting any segment or pressing any button. To turn it off, press ON/OFF button.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplification presented herein above. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. An electronic dartboard game comprising:

an electronic dartboard capable of calculating and displaying a score in a dart game based on a type of dart game being played, a previous score and an additional score as determined by circuitry which monitors which area of said dartboard was most recently penetrated by a dart, said electronic dartboard capable of wireless communication with computerized devices for a purpose of data input and output concerning dartboard game play; and

a smart phone capable of wireless communication with said electronic dartboard, said smart phone containing a software application enabling said smart phone to display a pictorial facsimile which can hi-light score areas corresponding to areas penetrated by a dart on said dartboard and to provide display screens and input buttons which enable a player to input his profile, select a type of game to be played, view instructions and browse a dart game interne website.