Simulated shooting game with continuous transmission of target identification signals

• US 4,695,058 A
• Filed: 01/28/1986
• Issued: 09/22/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Photon Marketing Limited
• Original Assignee: Photon Marketing Limited
• Inventors: Carter, George A. III, Dooley, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/822,966
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 273/310-316, 434/21-22
• US Class Current: 463/5
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/02 Photo-electric hit-detector systems comprising a light-emitting device for simulating the firing of a gun F41G3/2622; detecting by optical means G01V8/10

Abstract

An amusement shooting game for play by a plurality of players (30, 40) wherein players (30, 40) shoot at each other while avoiding being shot at is provided. The players'"'"' (30, 40) equipment includes a vest module (46) and helmet (44) for generating and transmitting a coded signal uniquely identifying each player (30, 40). Each player further utilizes a gun (50) for receiving the transmitted coded signals transmitted by players (30, 40). A processing unit (74) is responsive to the gun (50) for detecting a transmitted coded signal. Data processing devices (126, 110, 114) are utilized for counting and displaying the number of detected coded signals to provide a score for each player representing the number of players (30, 40) he has shot during the play of the game.

Claims

1. An amusement shooting game for play by a plurality of players, wherein players shoot at each other while being shot at on a battlefield comprising:

means carried by each player for generating and transmitting continuously in a wide-angle beam directed outwardly from each player a coded signal unique to each player;

means carried by each player for receiving said transmitted coded signal being transmitted by all of the players, said means for receiving having a reception angle substantially smaller than said wide-angle beam;

means responsive to said receiving means for detecting a transmitted coded signal; and

means for counting the number of detected coded signals to provide a score for each player representing the number of players he has shot.

2. The amusement shooting game of claim 1 further including:

hit means associated with each player for indicating to a player that his transmitted coded signal has been detected by another player.

3. The amusement shooting game of claim 2 wherein said hit means includes:

a helmet worn by each player; and

means for generating audio sounds in said helmet.

4. The amusement shooting game of claim 3 wherein said hit means includes:

means for generating a visual display on said helmet.

5. The amusement shooting game of claim 2 wherein said hit means includes:

means for preventing operation of said receiving means for a predetermined time period.

6. The amusement shooting game of claim 1 further including:

sight means associated with each player for indicating to a player that he has received a transmitted coded signal, transmitted by another player.

7. The amusement shooting game of claim 6 wherein said sight means includes:

means for generating a visual display to the shooting player.

8. The amusement shooting game of claim 1 wherein said means for generating and transmitting said coded signals includes:

a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes mounted to a helmet worn by each player.

9. The amusement shooting game of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving said transmitted coded signals includes:

gun means carried by each player, said gun means including trigger means such that said means for receiving is actuated when said trigger means is operated.

10. The amusement shooting game of claim 9 and further including:

means for preventing operation of said trigger means when a player has been shot.

11. The amusement shooting game of claim 1 and further including:

means for preventing a player from repeatedly shooting another player within a predetermined time period.

12. The amusement shooting game of claim 1 wherein the battlefield includes obstacles for preventing the free movement of a player.

13. The amusement shooting game of claim 12 wherein said obstacles include:

means for shooting at all the players for decreasing the players'"'"' scores.

14. The amusement shooting game of claim 12 wherein said obstacles include:

passageways which are periodically opened and closed to provide hiding places for the players.

15. The amusement shooting game of claim 12 wherein the battlefield further includes:

targets for being shot at by all the players for increasing the players'"'"' score.

16. An amusement shooting game for play by a plurality of players wherein the players shoot at each other while avoiding being shot at on a battlefield including:

vest means carried by each player for generating a continuous coded signal uniquely identifying each player;

helmet means worn by each player for transmitting said continuous unique coded signal in a wide angle beam directed outward from each player;

gun means carried by each player and having a trigger, said gun means for receiving said unique coded signals when said trigger is actuated, said gun means having a reception angle substantially smaller than said wide angle beam; and

data processing means for generating a score for each player indicative of the number of players that each player has shot.

17. The amusement shooting game of claim 16 wherein said data processing means further includes:

means for generating signals to a player indicating that the player has been shot.

18. The amusement shooting game of claim 16 wherein said data processing means further includes:

means for generating signals to each player indicating that the player has been shot by another player.

19. The amusement shooting game of claim 16 wherein said unique coded signals include infrared coded signals.

20. The amusement shooting game of claim 16 wherein said data processing means further includes:

means for preventing operation of a player'"'"'s gun means for a predetermined time when the player has been shot.

21. An amusement shooting game for play by a plurality of players, wherein the players shoot at each other while avoiding being shot at on a battlefield, each of the players having personal equipment including a helmet, vest and gun, the game comprising:

means housed in the player'"'"'s vest for generating a continuous code uniquely identifying the player;

means connected to the player'"'"'s vest for receiving said continuous code and mounted to the player'"'"'s helmet for transmitting said continuous code in the form of a wide angle infrared beam directed outward from the player;

means including a trigger mounted in the player'"'"'s gun for receiving infrared beams transmitted by the other players, said means for receiving having a reception angle substantially smaller than said wide angle beam;

means mounted to the player'"'"'s gun and connected to the player'"'"'s vest for detecting a received, coded infrared beam upon actuation of the gun;

transmitting means housed in the player'"'"'s vest for transmitting information related to received, coded infrared beams to a data processing unit;

said data processing unit including means for receiving said transmitted data from said transmitting means for calculating a score for each player based upon the number of players he has shot and the number of times he has been shot by other players; and

said data processing unit further including means for transmitting data to each player to provide an indication whether the player has been shot or has shot another player.

22. The amusement shooting game of claim 21 wherein said data processing unit includes:

means for preventing operation of a player'"'"'s gun for a predetermined time period when the player has been shot.

23. The amusement shooting game of claim 21 wherein each player'"'"'s gun includes means for generating a light beam upon actuation of said gun trigger.

24. The amusement shooting game of claim 23 wherein the player'"'"'s gun includes:

means for indicating to the player that he is receiving an infrared code transmitted by another player.

25. The amusement shooting game of claim 21 wherein each player'"'"'s helmet includes:

sound generation means for producing battlefield sounds and sounds indicating that the player has been shot.

26. The amusement shooting game of claim 25 wherein the player'"'"'s helmet includes:

display means indicating that the player has been shot.

27. The amusement shooting game of claim 21 wherein said processing unit further includes:

means for calculating the score for each player based upon nonconsecutive shooting of another player.

28. The amusement shooting game of claim 21 wherein the battlefield includes obstacles for preventing the free movement of a player.

29. The amusement shooting game of claim 28 wherein the battlefield includes targets for being shot at by all the players for increasing the players'"'"' score.

30. The amusement shooting game of claim 21 and further including:

power supply means for generating power to the player'"'"'s helmet, vest and gun, said power supply means being worn as a belt by the players.

31. An amusement shooting game for play by a plurality of players, wherein the players shoot at each other while avoiding being shot at on a battlefield:

means carried by each player for continuously generating a unique, repeated, coded signal to identify the player,

means carried by each player and connected to receive said coded signal for generating an infrared beam modulated by said coded signal thereby producing a coded infrared beam, said beam transmitted outward as a wide angle beam from the player,

means carried by each player for receiving the infrared beams generated by the other players, said means for receiving having a reception angle substantially smaller than said wide angle beam,

a transmitter carried by each player and connected to said means for receiving the infrared beams for transmitting a hit signal when said means for receiving the infrared beams receives one of said infrared beams generated by another of said players, said hit signal coded to identify the unique coded infrared beam received by the means for receiving the infrared beams,

a receiver for receiving said hit signals from said transmitters carried by said players,

processing means connected to said receiver for maintaining a score for each of said players and for generating a hit received signal in response to each said hit signal received at said processing means,

a transmitter connected to said processing means for transmitting said hit received signals,

receiving means carried by each player for receiving said hit received signals from said transmitter wherein said hit received signal is received by the one player whose coded infrared beam has been intercepted by another player'"'"'s means for receiving the infrared beams, and

means carried by each player for generating a hit indication signal to the player upon receipt of said hit received signal.