Electronic game with spinning and electronic display features

• US 20040162127A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Bristow, Steve, Siegel, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/777,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/10 Card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/0441 with a written message or sentence, e.g. chance or instruction cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2442 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/1094 for velocity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/04 Disc roulettes; Dial roulettes; Teetotums; Dice-tops
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/181 Fortune-telling games

Abstract

An electronic game, including a base, and a spinning unit affixed to the base and adapted to spin relative thereto. The spinning unit includes a display mechanism adapted to displaying text that dictates actions to be taken in the electronic game. The electronic game also includes a circuit for controlling the display mechanism, and a sensor including a magnet disposed in the base and a magnetic switch disposed in the spinning unit for communicating with the circuit. Whereby the circuit triggers the display mechanism based on the communications from the sensor independent of a minimum speed requirement.

Claims

1. An electronic game, comprising:

a base;

a spinning unit affixed to said base and adapted to spin relative thereto, said spinning unit including a display mechanism adapted to displaying text that dictates actions to be taken in said electronic game;

a circuit for controlling said display mechanism; and

a sensor including a magnet disposed in said base and a magnetic switch disposed in said spinning unit for communicating with said circuit,

whereby said circuit triggers said display mechanism based on the communications from the sensor independent of a minimum speed requirement.

2. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said display mechanism includes light emitting diodes.

3. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said spinning unit includes a speaker.

4. An electronic game according to claim 3, wherein

said spinning unit includes a microphone for recording sounds to be played by said speaker.

5. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said spinning unit includes a handle.

6. An electronic game according to claim 5, wherein

said handle includes at least one control button.

7. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said spinning unit is translucent plastic.

8. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said circuit is disposed in said spinning unit.

9. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said circuit is a microprocessor.

10. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said display mechanism is a single row of light emitting diodes.

11. An electronic game according to claim 1, wherein

said single row of light emitting diodes extends from an outer periphery of the spinning unit towards the center of the spinning unit.

12. An electronic game according to claim 11, wherein

said single row includes seven light emitting diodes.

13. An electronic game according to claim 11, wherein

said spinning unit is substantially circular and said single row extends along a radial line thereof.

14. An electronic game, comprising

a base;

a spinning body adjacent said base and adapted to rotate relative thereto;

a display mechanism disposed on said spinning body and adapted to display a text message when said spinning body is rotating; and

a circuit in electrical communication with said display mechanism and adapted to communicate the text to be displayed; and

a sensor including a magnet and a magnetic switch in electrical communication with said circuit, and adapted to communicate to said circuit when said spinning body is rotating, thereby effecting initiation of the text display.

15. An electronic game according to claim 14, wherein

said sensor is configured such that is can determine the rotational speed at which the spinning body is rotating, thereby effecting regulation of the text display.

16. An electronic game according to claim 14, wherein

said spinning body is coupled to said base.

17. An electronic game according to claim 16, wherein

said spinning body is substantially surrounded by said base.

18. An electronic game according to claim 14, wherein

said magnet is disposed in said base;

and

said magnetic switch is disposed in said spinning body.

19. An electronic game according to claim 14, wherein

said display mechanism includes light emitting diodes.

20. An electronic game according to claim 14, wherein

said spinning body includes a speaker.

21. An electronic game according to claim 20, wherein

said spinning body includes a microphone for recording sounds to be played by said speaker.

22. An electronic game according to claim 14, wherein

said display mechanism is a single row of light emitting diodes.

23. An electronic game according to claim 22, wherein

said single row of light emitting diodes extends from an outer periphery of the spinning body towards the center of the spinning body.

24. An electronic game according to claim 23, wherein

said single row includes seven light emitting diodes.

25. An electronic game according to claim 23, wherein

said spinning body is substantially circular and said single row extends along a radial line thereof.

26. An electronic game according to claim 14, wherein

said spinning body includes a handle.

27. An electronic game according to claim 26, wherein

said handle includes at least one control button.

28. A method of displaying text for an electronic gaming device, the gaming device having a spinning unit and a base, the method comprising the steps of

rotating the spinning unit relative to the base;

using a sensor to generate information by determining when the spinning unit makes a complete revolution, and the rate at which the spinning unit revolves; and

initiating a text display based on the information from the sensor.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein

the step of using a sensor includes using a magnet and a magnetic switch.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein

the step of initiating a text display includes text formed from a single row of light emitting diodes.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein

the spinning unit is substantially circular;

and

the single row of light emitting diodes extends along a radial line of said spinning unit.

32. A method according to claim 28, further including the step of

regulating the text display using the information from the sensor.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein

the regulating step includes regulating the text display using the rate at which the spinning unit revolves.

34. A method of playing an electronic game with a spinning electronic display, comprising the steps of

spinning a body that is coupled to a base, the body including at least two lights positioned thereon;

activating a magnetic sensor that determines if the body is spinning relative to the base;

reading a text display formed by the lights positioned on the spinning body being selectively activated when the sensor indicates that the body is spinning; and

taking action dependent upon the text display.