Crane Controller Method and PCB

• US 20120190417A1
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gary Balaban, John Maurer
• Original Assignee: Gary Balaban, John Maurer
• Inventors: Balaban, Gary, Maurer, John
• Application Number:
  US13/358,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20120190417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2407 Joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2488 Remotely playable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2491 with a detachable memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/30 Capturing games for grabbing or trapping objects, e.g. fishing games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3297 Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes

Abstract

A controller provides a GUI for accessing a PCB. The controller is used to retrieve information from the controller PCB and to also program other information into it as well as perform diagnostics of the game and machine. The owner of the crane machine can place an object in the crane'"'"'s claw and then enter a setup mode using the PCB. The game will then proceed to, based on an algorithm, make its own adjustments to properly set the strength of the crane'"'"'s claw to have the game play properly. The controller is equipped with a wireless access point to allow the owner to remotely access and control all of the same functions as from the controller. An owner is able to program the value of the prize in the game along with the desired amount of money to be collected, to maintain a profitable win ratio.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a crane machine comprising:

providing a PCB with a memory;

accessing the PCB from a controller;

retrieving information from the PCB memory;

programming information into the PCB;

performing diagnostics of the game and machine via the PCB;

establishing a setup mode using the PCB;

making adjustments, based on an algorithm, to properly set the strength of the crane'"'"'s claw to have the game play properly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, based on an algorithm, the PCB makes its own adjustments to set the strength of the crane'"'"'s claw.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

equipping the controller with a wireless access point to allow the owner to remotely to access and control the functions.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing remote access to the controller via the Internet.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein access is provided by any mobile electronic device with an Internet connection.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

programming the value of the prize in the game along with the desired amount of money to be collected, on average, to maintain a profitable win ratio.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising

status LEDs on the controller to assist in diagnostics and status of physical parts of the game itself.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising

a Hand Held Controller Wand providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing the printed circuit board (PCB);

the Hand Held Controller Wand is used to retrieve information from the controller PCB and to program other information into it as well as perform diagnostics of the game and machine.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

programming the value of the prize in the game along with the desired amount of money to be collected, on average, to maintain a profitable win ratio; and

adjusting the crane'"'"'s claw, to make it weaker or stronger in a random fashion, to maintain these values as a percentage.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing adjustable price per play;

providing the ability to set a bonus play;

providing the ability to adjustable play per credit;

providing the ability to keep track of money in and prizes out; and

providing digital music for game play via a SD memory card attached to and accessed by the PCB.

11. A crane controller PCB device comprising:

a PCB with a memory;

a controller,

accessing the PCB memory;

retrieving information from the PCB memory;

programming information into the PCB memory;

performing diagnostics of the game and machine via the PCB;

establishing a setup mode using the PCB; and

making adjustments, based on an algorithm, to properly set the strength of the crane'"'"'s claw to have the game play properly.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein, based on an algorithm, the PCB makes its own adjustments to set the strength of the crane'"'"'s claw.

13. The device of claim 11 further comprising a wireless access point connected to the controller allowing remote access and control the functions.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the wireless access point provides remote access to the controller via the Internet.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the wireless access point provides remote access to the controller by any mobile electronic device with an Internet connection.

16. The device of claim 11 further comprising:

programming information into the PCB memory, wherein programming the value of the prize in the game along with the desired amount of money to be collected, on average, to maintain a profitable win ratio.

17. The device of claim 11 further comprising one or more status LEDs on the controller to assist in diagnostics and status of physical parts of the game itself.

18. The device of claim 11 further comprising:

a Hand Held Controller Wand providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing the printed circuit board (PCB).

19. The device of claim 11 further comprising means for adjusting the crane'"'"'s claw, to make it weaker or stronger in a random fashion, to maintain these values as a percentage.

20. The device of claim 11 further comprising a SD memory card attached to and accessed by the PCB providing digital music for game play.