Electronic guessing game

• US 4,375,666 A
• Filed: 01/02/1981
• Issued: 03/01/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Buck, Gordon H., Klose, George J., Ferdinand, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US06/222,099
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 364/410, 364/411, 364/412, 340/323 R, 273/1 E, 273/85 G, 273/86 B, 273/138 A, 273/237, 273/DIG. 28
• US Class Current: 463/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/186 Guessing games
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically

Abstract

An electronic guessing game is disclosed which includes a keyboard for entering numbers, and a light and speaker for producing a variety of visual and audible signals. A prize is also provided within a transparent housing. A first player enters a secret number by means of the keyboard. A second player then enters his guess at the secret number using the same keyboard. The second player attempts to retrieve the prize by reaching into the transparent housing. The position of the players hand is detected by a group of photocells. If the player'"'"'s guess is not equal to the secret number, the game will generate an error signal and the player must withdraw his hand. The closer the player'"'"'s guess is to the secret number the closer he may approach the prize before the error signal is sounded. If the player guesses the secret number within a preallotted time interval, he may retrieve the prize. A mode of operation is also disclosed in which the game chooses the secret number by means of a random number generator. Thus the guessing game may be played with only one player.

Claims

1. An electronic game comprising:

means for selecting a secret number;

means for selecting a second number as a guess to the secret number;

means for determining the magnitude of the difference between the secret number and the second number; and

means for providing a signal indicative of the magnitude of the difference between the secret number and the second number, including;

a plurality of locations each of which represents a predetermined value of the magnitude of the difference between the secret number and the second number;

means enabling a player of the game to choose a location; and

means for generating the signal in response both to the chosen location and to the magnitude of the difference between the secret number and the second number.

2. The game of claim 1 in which the means for selecting a secret number includes a random number generator, and the means for selecting a second number includes a keyboard to enter the second number.

3. The game of claim 1 in which the means for selecting the first number and the means for selecting the second number includes a keyboard to enter the first and second number.

4. The game of claim 1 in which the plurality of locations includes:

a series of photocells positioned in an order which represents sequentially decreasing values of the magnitude of difference between the secret number and the second number; and

where the means enabling a player to choose a location includes movement of the player'"'"'s hand across the series of photocells in a manner which blocks ambient light from impinging on the photocells.

5. The game of claim 1 in which the means for generating the signal includes an audio tone the frequency of which is indicative of the sign of the magnitude of the difference between the secret number and the second number.