WO1997015802A2

WO1997015802A2 - Device for detecting the strike positions in a darts game machine

Info

Publication number: WO1997015802A2
Application number: PCT/DE1996/001855
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas KÜHL; Horst Niederlein; Armin Frank; Andreas Buchholz
Original assignee: Nsm Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 1995-10-26
Filing date: 1996-09-26
Publication date: 1997-05-01
Also published as: WO1997015802A3; DE19539837A1; HRP960493A2; EP0857290A1

Abstract

A device for detecting the strike positions of darts (20) on a dartboard (1) divided into score sections in a darts game machine used by at least two players is capable of individually recognising and differentiating between darts (20) thrown by several players at a dartboard (1) within given time imits in order to be able reliably to credit the players with the scores obtained. In an embodiment of the invention, there is a number of darts (20) having a transponder (31) with a given transmission frequency for each player and a receiver (34) to recognise the transmission frequency of the darts (20) striking the score sections (2 to 17) on the dartboard (1).

Description

Device for recognizing the hit positions at a

Dart game device

description

The invention relates to a device for recognizing the hit positions of darts on a dart disk divided into hit segments of a dart game device which is played on by at least two players.

In dart games it is important to select certain segments of a target, i.e. a disc to hold the darts. The determination of hits is conventionally done simply by looking at this dartboard.

GB 21 96 114 discloses a device for determining the point of impact of, in particular, darts on a target, in which a single electromagnetic beam revolves around the central axis of a target, the beam, however, offset with respect to the center of the axis of rotation a rotatable carrier is arranged, which on approximately diametrically opposite arms and projecting from the target arms on the one hand has a transmitter and on the other hand has a receiver for the radiation beam. To determine the point of impact, the beam sweeps over the target once during one revolution of its carrier and is thereby twice from that on the Target arrow interrupted. The interruption takes place at two different angles of rotation, so that the interruption pulses at the corresponding angle values can be used to determine the abscissa and ordinate of the scanned point of impact by comparing data in the memory of a connected computer and to transpose them on a display. Electrical energy is to be transferred to the rotating arm, since electricity is required to generate the beam. However, the transmission of electrical energy to a rotating arm is problematic insofar as the slip ring body, brush contacts or the like must be used for this. Wear-related wear and tear can lead to the fact that the current transfer to the rotating arm is not guaranteed, in particular after prolonged use of the device.

DE-A-42 07 497 describes a device for determining the point of impact of darts on a target. This comprises one or two carriers, each with mutually opposite, parallel support rods, the edge webs of which project beyond the plane of the target and each carry a transmitter on one side and a receiver diametrically opposite. To detect the position of a dart on the target, the transmitter / receiver pairs are moved with the carrier webs along the target, an inserted dart interrupting the beam between the transmitter and receiver and this triggers a processing signal. The movement of the bracket-like carrier with the transmitter / receiver pair can occasionally lead to jamming and, furthermore, online detection of the arrow position is not possible, but depends on the drive processes. From the unpublished DE-A-44 15 795, a system for playing on several dart game devices set up apart from one another can be seen, which has a number of transmitter and receiver elements, the elements of which are fixedly arranged outside the dart target The connecting stretches form a grid over the dartboard and are crossed by a dart hitting the dartboard, the grid being assigned coordinates which are provided for data transmission to another game device for hit position detection and display.

In none of these known solutions has it been realized so far that several players can play on a single dart target at the same time, it being possible to distinguish the dart targets assigned to the players and at the same time to determine their hit position on the dart target.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset which is capable of individually recognizing and distinguishing throwing darts thrown by a plurality of players onto a dart target within certain time limits in order to give the players the to be able to reliably assign the points reached.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a number of darts, each with a specific color of the darts for each of the players, and a camera which detects the darts disc to recognize the colored darts of the dart impinging on the hit segments of the dart target. The camera provided for this purpose is either a video camera, a camcorder color camera or a CCD camera with a filter. The camera is therefore in the Ability to detect the differently colored dart feathers of the dart of each player involved in the game and the exact hit position of each dart on the dart target.

In order to also make these recorded data and images visible, the camera is connected to an evaluation and display device, which is expediently a television screen, preferably a large screen or a monitor. This means that the other players, but also the spectators or referees, can be provided with a precise picture and the current score at any time.

In a first embodiment it can be provided that the dart target of the dart game device can be played by several players at the same time, with each player being assigned a number of dart arrows of the same color of the dart feather, i.e. a different color is assigned to each player. According to a second embodiment, the dartboard of the dart game device can also be made playable by a number of players with a time delay, again a number of dice of the same color of the dart feathers being assigned to each player.

In a further embodiment of this embodiment, the dartboard can be divided into specific areas of hit segments per player in order to make it easier to distinguish the dartboards of different players.

The object on which the invention is based is alternatively achieved by a number of darts, each with a specific code identifier on the surface thereof for each of the players and a scanner unit scanning the dart target for recognizing the code identifier of the striking Darts on the target segments of the dartboard. In this case, the code identifier is preferably a bar code identifier as is known from the field of goods / price labeling.

Thus, the code identifier is attached either on the circumference of the shaft of the arrow or on at least one arrow spring of the arrow.

The scanner unit consists of at least two scanners, which are arranged at right angles to one another on the circumference of the dartboard. As a result, the scanners are able to scan the two-dimensional surface of the dartboard and to recognize the dart by its code identifier, to record the associated hit position and to assign it to the correct player.

In order that the determined result can be displayed, the scanner unit is connected to an evaluation and display device, which, as in the previous solution, is preferably a television screen or a monitor.

In this embodiment, too, the dart target of the dart game device can be played by several players at the same time or with a time delay, with each player being assigned a number of darts with the same code identifier.

Likewise, here too, the dartboard can be divided into certain areas of hit segments per player.

The object on which the invention is based is further alternatively achieved by a number of darts, each of which has a transponder with a specific transmission frequency for each of the players, and a receiver for recognition the transmission frequency of the darts hitting the hit segments of the dart target.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the receiver is arranged on the rear of the dartboard and the shape of the dartboard is designed accordingly.

When using transponders attached in the darts, the coordinates of the darts hitting the dart target are detected by the receiver and the individual detection of the darts takes place via the transmission frequency of the transponders.

However, it can also be provided that each transmission frequency is assigned a receiver which is coordinated with it and which is exclusively responsible for this one transmission frequency of this one transponder of an arrow.

After a dart strikes the dart target, the receiver preferably queries the frequency over the entire frequency range of the dart involved in the game, so that a reliable and exact determination of the belonging of the dart to the player and the hit position of the dart on the dart target is made can be.

It is preferably provided that the transponder of each dart emits only a single transmission signal after hitting the dart target disc in order to avoid irritation in the data acquisition of the associated dart. For this purpose, each dart can have a Hall, piezo or pressure sensor that only the associated transponder once activated, namely when the dart strikes the dart target by pressure.

As with the previous solutions, the receiver is connected to an evaluation and display device. The display device is expediently a television screen or monitor for the permanent display of the respective game status. Here, too, the dart target of the dart game device can be played simultaneously or with a time delay by a number of players, each player being assigned a number of dart arrows with transponders having the same transmission frequency.

In addition, this solution can also provide that the dartboard is divided into specific areas of hit segments per player. The aim of this is to avoid throwing darts from different players simultaneously being scored as a single hit within a few milliseconds in one and the same hit segment.

Finally, the object of the present invention is further alternatively achieved by a number of darts, each with a metallic arrow head having a specific electrical conductivity or magnetic field strength for each of the players and a sensor unit for determining the electrical conductivity or the magnetic field strength of the arrow heads the impacting arrows on the target segments of the arrow disc.

So that the electrical conductivity or the magnetic field strength of the arrowheads of the darts can be detected directly by the sensor unit, the dartboard is connected directly to the sensor unit to determine the electrical see conductivity or the magnetic field strength of the arrowheads of the darts, so that the electrical conductivity or the magnetic field strength is determined directly when the dart hits the dartboard at its arrowhead.

In order to be able to distinguish the darts of different players, the arrow heads of the number of darts of each player consist of a different metallic material than the arrow heads of another player's darts. According to a further embodiment variant, the distinguishability of the darts for two players can be achieved in that the arrowheads of the darts of one of the players consist of an electrically nonconductive or non-magnetizable material, while the arrowheads of the darts of the other player are electrical are designed to be conductive or magnetic.

The sensor unit is in turn expediently provided with an evaluation and display device, the display device being a television screen or monitor. connected.

This solution of the device for recognizing the hit positions of darts on a darts disk of a darts game device divided into hit segments can also be played by several players at the same time or with a time lag, whereby each player can play a number of darts with arrowheads is assigned the same electrical conductivity or magnetic field strength. These arrowheads differed from the arrowheads of the other players in their electrical conductivity or in their magnetic field strength. It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is explained in more detail in several exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawings. The drawings show in:

Fig. 1: a dartboard for a dart game device;

Fig. 2: a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

3: different embodiments of the darts for an embodiment according to FIG. 4;

Fig. 4: a second embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

Fig. 5: a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, a dartboard 1 of a dart game device, not shown, is shown. The dartboard 1 comprises a circular field divided into hit segments 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. The hit segments 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. are each externally delimited by circular ring sections 6, 7, 8, 9, etc. to limit the playing field. Furthermore, they are divided into sub-segments 14, 15, 16, 17, etc. by further circular ring sections 10, 11, 12, 13, etc. In the following exemplary embodiments, the dartboard 1 is the For clarity no longer shown in this detailed form.

2 shows the device for recognizing the hit positions of darts 20 on the dart target 1 using a color camera 21. The dart springs 22 of the dart 20 have a specific color for a specific player. The color camera 21 captures the entire front area of the dartboard 1 and thus the dart

20 with the colored dart feather 22. Through the color camera

21, the color of the arrow spring 22 of the arrow 20 and the hit position of the arrow 20 is detected. Likewise, the color camera 21 detects a plurality of darts 20 from players playing at the same time or at different times, who have thrown darts 20 with dice springs 22 of different colors onto the dartboard 1.

The color camera 21 transmits the images it has taken to an evaluation and display device 23, the display device being a television screen, preferably a large screen, on which the hit positions of the darts 20 for the players and / or the referees and / or the audience are recognizable.

3 and 4 represent another device for recognizing the hit positions of darts 20 on the dart target 1, in which a scanner device 24 is used. The darts 20 according to this embodiment are provided with a bar code identifier 25 on their shaft. Each set of darts 20 has a uniform bar code identifier 25 for each player, but each set of darts 20 of a player differs in terms of bar code identifier 25 from the bar code identifier 25 of a set of darts 20 of another player. The scanner device 24 according to FIG. 4 consists of at least two scanner units 26 and 27 which are offset at right angles to one another and are arranged on the circumference of the dart target 1 and which detect the hit position 30 of a dart 20 by means of their detector beams 28 and 29. The determined hit position 30 is displayed via the evaluation and display device 23. The hit position 30 of the arrow 20 can be reproduced on the display device designed as a television screen in the form of a coordinate network with the X and Y directions of the coordinate axes, the hit segments 2 to 5, the circular ring sections 6 to 13 and the partial segments 14 to 17 of the dartboard 1 can be displayed on the television screen 23. The different bar code identifiers 25 of the arrows 20 of the players involved in the game identify the different hit positions 30 in the hit segments 2 to 5, the circular ring sections 6 to 13 and the sub-segments 14 to 17 of the dartboard 1.

5, the darts 20 each have a transponder 31. Via a control unit 32, the transmission frequencies fl ... fn for the transponders 31 of the darts 20 are tuned differently for each player via a corresponding actuator 33. Thus, the dart arrows 20 of a player receive the transmission frequency fl, the dart arrows 20 of a further player the transmission frequency f2 and the dart arrows 20 of an n-player the transmission frequency fn. The number of transmission frequencies depends on the players involved in the game.

A receiver 34, which is shown schematically in FIG. 5 in connection with the further electronic components, can be arranged on the rear of the dartboard 1. the. When the darts 20 hit the dart target 1, the transponders 31 of the darts 20 emit their signals of a predetermined frequency. The respective frequency signal is passed on to a receiver 34 via an antenna 35 via a mixer / filter unit 36. The antenna 35 and the mixer / filter unit 36 are part of the receiver 34. The receiver 34 converts the frequency signals prepared by the mixer / filter unit 36 from the transponders 31 of the darts 20 and reproduces them in the form of a graphic representation on the television screen .

By means of the present invention, a device of various types has been created, which is capable of individually recognizing and differentiating darts thrown at a dart target by several players within certain time limits in order to give the players the points achieved to be able to assign reliably

Claims

claims

Device for recognizing the hit positions of darts on a darts disk, divided into hit segments, of a darts game device, which is played by at least two players, characterized by a number of darts (20), each with a specific color of the darts springs (22) for each of the players and a camera (21) capturing the dart target (1) for recognizing the colored dart feathers (22) of the dart targets (20) hitting the target segments (2 to 17) of the dart target (1).

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera (21) is a video camera.

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera (21) is a color camcorder or a CCD camera with filter.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the camera (21) is connected to an evaluation and display device (23).

Device according to claims 1 to 4, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the display device of the evaluation and display device is a television screen or monitor.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dart target (1) of the dart game device can be played simultaneously by several players, each player having a number of dart arrows (20) of the same color Arrow springs (22) is assigned.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dart target (1) of the dart game device can be played with a time delay by several players, each player having a number of dart darts (20) of the same color of the dart feather (22) assigned.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the dartboard (1) is divided into certain areas of hit segments (2 to 17) per player.

9. Device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized by a number of darts (20), each with a specific code identifier (25) on the surface thereof for each of the players and one of the darts disc (1) scanning scanner unit (24) for recognition the code identifier (25) of the impacting arrows (20) on the hit segments (2 to 17) of the arrow disc (1).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the code identifier (25) is a bar code identifier.

11. Device according to claims 9 and 10, characterized ge indicates that the code identifier (25) is attached circumferentially on the shaft of the dart (20).

12. Device according to claims 9 and 10, characterized ge indicates that the code identifier (25) on at least one arrow spring (22) of the arrow (20) is attached.

13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the scanner unit (24) consists of at least two scanners (26; 27) which are arranged at right angles to one another on the circumference of the dartboard (1).

14. Device according to claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the scanner unit (24) is connected to an evaluation and display device (23).

15. Device according to claims 9 to 14, characterized ge indicates that the display device of the evaluation and display device (23) is a television screen or monitor.

16. Device according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the dartboard (1) of the dart game device can be played by several players at the same time, each player being assigned a number of darts (20) with the same code identifier (25).

17. Device according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the dartboard (1) of the dart game device staggered by several players is recordable, each player being assigned a number of darts (20) with the same code identifier (25).

18. Device according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the dartboard (1) is divided into certain areas of hit segments (2 to 17) per player.

19. Device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized by a number of darts (20), each having a transponder (31) with a specific transmission frequency (fl ... fn) for each of the players, and a receiver (34) for Detection of the transmission frequency (fl ... fn) of the darts (20) hitting the hit segments (2 to 17) of the dart target (1).

20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the receiver (34) is arranged on the rear side of the dart disc (1) and the shape of the dart disc (1) is designed accordingly.

21. Device according to claims 19 and 20, characterized ge indicates that the coordinates (th) of the dart target (1) hitting the dart arrows (20) are detected by the receiver (34) and on the transmission frequency

(fl ... fn) the transponder (31) the individual detection of the darts (20) takes place.

22. Device according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that each transmission frequency (fl ... fn) is assigned a tuned receiver (34).

23. Device according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that after the impact of a dart (20) on the dart target (1) by the receiver (34) a frequency query over the entire frequency range of the dart involved in the game (20) he follows.

24. Device according to one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that the transponder (31) each Wurfpfei¬ les (20) after hitting the dartboard (1) emits only a single transmission signal.

25. Device according to one of claims 19 to 24, characterized in that each dart (20) has a Hall, piezo or pressure sensor which activates the associated transponder (31) only once.

26. Device according to claims 19 to 25, characterized in that the receiver (34) is connected to an evaluation and display device (23).

27. Device according to claims 19 to 25, characterized ge indicates that the display device of the evaluation and display device (23) is a television screen or monitor.

28. Device according to one of claims 19 to 27, characterized in that the dart target (1) of the dart game device can be played simultaneously by several players, each player having a number of dart arrows (20) with transponder (31) same transmission frequency (fl ... fn) is assigned.

29. Device according to one of claims 19 to 27, characterized in that the dart target (1) of the dart game device can be played with a delay by a plurality of players, each player having a number of darts (20) with transponders (31) of the same transmission ¬ frequency (fl ... fn) is assigned.

30. Device according to one of claims 19 to 29, characterized in that the dartboard (1) is divided into certain areas of hit segments (2 to 17) per player.

31. Device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized by a number of darts (20), each with a metallic arrow head of certain electrical conductivity or magnetic field strength for each player and a sensor unit for determining the electrical conductivity or the magnetic field strength of the Arrowheads of the impacting arrows (20) on the target segments (2 to 17) of the arrow disc (1).

32. Device according to claim 31, characterized in that the arrow disc (1) with the sensor unit for determining the electrical conductivity or the magnetic field strength of the arrowheads of the arrows (20) is provided.

33. Device according to claims 31 and 32, characterized ge indicates that the arrowheads of the number of darts (20) of each player from a different metallic see material consist of the arrowheads of another player's darts (20).

34. Device according to one of claims 31 to 33, characterized in that the arrowheads of the darts (20) of one of the players consist of an electrically non-conductive or a non-magnetic material.

35. Device according to one of claims 31 to 34, characterized in that the sensor unit is connected to an evaluation and display device (23).

36. Device according to one of claims 31 to 35, characterized in that the display device (23) is a television screen or monitor.

37. Device according to one of claims 31 to 36, characterized in that the dart target (1) of the dart game device can be played simultaneously by several players, each player having a number of dart arrows (20) with arrowheads of the same electrical conductivity or magnetic field strength is assigned.

38. Device according to one of claims 31 to 36, characterized in that the dart target (1) of the dart game device can be played with a time delay by several players, each player having a number of dart arrows (20) with arrowheads of the same electrical conductivity or magnetic field strength is assigned.

39. Device according to one of claims 31 to 38, characterized in that the dartboard (1) in certain areas of hit segments (2 to 17) per player.