Apparatus and method for automatically scoring a dart game

• US 4,789,932 A
• Filed: 09/21/1984
• Issued: 12/06/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Musselman Austin T
• Original Assignee: Austin T. Musselman
• Inventors: Cutler, Royce L., Hohmann, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harkcom, Gary V.
• Application Number:
  US06/652,846
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 364/410, 364/411, 364/517, 250/215-216, 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/222.2, 340/323 R, 273/317, 273/348, 273/373-374, 273/376, 273/403-404, 273/408, 273/410, 273/416, 273/DIG. 24, 273/DIG. 26, 273/DIG. 28, 273/371
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/26 Point counters and score indicators

Abstract

An automatic scoring apparatus for a dart game utilizing a plurality of light detecting elements situated on the periphery of a dart board. These light detecting elements are aligned to receive light emitted by a plurality of light sources so that a dart embedded in the dart board will block the path of light from the light sources to the light detecting elements. A microprocessor and associated electronic circuitry continually scan the light detecting elements to detect a decrease in the amount of light incident on any particular light detecting elements indicative of the presence of a dart in the dart board. The location of the dart is calculated mathematically from the shadow location information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for locating a dart embedded in a dart board comprising:

a housing for supporting the dart board;

means within said housing for illuminating a space adjacent a surface of the dart board supported within said housing;

means within said housing for detecting the presence of at least two shadows created by the presence of the dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said surface of the dart board supported within said housing;

means for utilizing the location of said shadows created by the presence of said dart within said illuminated space to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board;

said means within said housing for detecting the presence of at least two shadows comprising a plurality of light detecting elements for monitoring the intensity of the illumination within said illuminated space, said plurality of light detecting elements being located along a side of said dart board opposite from said means within said housing for illuminating said illuminated space; and

each of said plurality of light detecting elements being capable of detecting a reduced level of illumination incident on said light detecting element when said light detecting element is within a shadow created by the presence of said dart within said illuminated space adjacent said surface of said dart board.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for utilizing the detection of said shadows created by the presence of said dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board comprises:

a microprocessor responsive to a set of machine instructions for calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board, said set of machine instructions utilizing as input the output of said plurality of light detecting elements; and

electronic circuitry associated with said microprocessor for transmitting the output of each of said plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor to enable said microprocessor to identify which light detecting elements of said plurality of light detecting elements are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicative of the presence of a shadow on that particular light detecting element.

3. An apparatus for locating a dart embedded in a dart board comprising:

a housing for enclosing a dart board;

first means within said housing for illuminating a space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing;

second means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing;

a first plurality of light detecting elements within said housing for monitoring the intensity of the illumination within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing, said first plurality of light detecting elements being located on a side of said dart board and oppositely located from said first means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to a surface of said dart board, each of said first plurality of light detecting elements being capable of detecting a reduced level of illumination on said light detecting element when said light detecting element is within a shadow created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board;

a second plurality of light detecting elements within said housing for monitoring the intensity of the illumination within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing, said second plurality of light detecting elements being located on a side of said dart board oppositely located from said second means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to the surface of said dart board, each of said second plurality of light detecting elements being capable of detecting a reduced level of illumination on said light detecting element when said light detecting element is within a shadow created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board;

means for utilizing the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting element created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board;

said means for utilizing the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board comprising a microprocessor responsive to a set of machine instructions for calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board, said set of machine instructions utilizing as input the output of said first plurality of light detecting elements and the output of said second plurality of light detecting elements; and

electronic circuitry associated with said microprocessor for transmitting the output of each of said first plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor and for transmitting the output of each of said second plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor to enable said microprocessor to identify which light detecting elements of said first plurality of light detecting elements and which light detecting elements of said second plurality of light detecting elements are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicative of the presence of a shadow on that particular light detecting elements.

4. An apparatus for locating a dart embedded in a dart board comprising:

a housing for enclosing a dart board;

first means within said housing for illuminating a space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing;

second means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing;

third means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing;

a first plurality of light detecting elements within said housing for monitoring the intensity of the illumination within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing, said first plurality of light detecting elements being located on a side of said dart board and oppositely located from said first means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to a surface of said dart board, each of said first plurality of light detecting elements being capable of detecting a reduced level of illumination on said light detecting elements when said light detecting element is within a shadow created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board;

a second plurality of light detecting elements within said housing for monitoring the intensity of the illumination with said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing, said second plurality of light detecting elements being located on a side of said dart board and oppositely located from said second means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to a surface of said dart board, each of said second plurality of light detecting elements being capable of detecting a reduced level of illumination on said light detecting elements when said light detecting element is within a shadow created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board;

a third plurality of light detecting elements within said housing for monitoring the intensity of the illumination within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of a dart board enclosed within said housing, said third plurality of light detecting elements being located on a side of said dart board and oppositely located from said third means within said housing for illuminating said space adjacent to a surface of said dart board, each of said third plurality of light detecting elements being capable of detecting a reduced level of illumination on said light detecting elements when said light detecting element is within a shadow created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board;

means for utilizing the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements and the detection of a shadow on said third plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board;

said means for utilizing the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements and the detection of a shadow on said third plurality of light detecting elements to calculate the location of a dart embedded in said dart board comprising a microprocessor responsive to a set of machine instructions for calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board, said set of machine instructions utilizing as input the output of said first plurality of light detecting elements and the output of said second plurality of light detecting elements and the output of said third plurality of light detecting elements; and

electronic circuitry associated with said microprocessor for transmitting the output of each of said first plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor and for transmitting the output of each of said second plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor and for transmitting the output of each of said third plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor to enable said microprocessor to identify which light detecting elements of said first plurality of light detecting elements and which light detecting elements of said second plurality of light detecting elements and which light detecting elements of said third plurality of light detecting elements are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicative of the presence of a shadow on that particular light detecting element.

5. An apparatus for automatically scoring a dart game comprising:

a housing for enclosing a dart board adapted to receive darts therein;

a pair of light source within said housing for illuminating a space adjacent to the outer surface of the dart board;

a plurality of photoelectric cells arranged within said housing along a side of said dart board opposite said light sources for detecting the presence of at least two shadows created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to the outer surface of the dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of the dart board enclosed within said housing, each of said shadows extending across more than one photoelectric cell;

electronic means responsive to the light intensity of said photoelectric cells created by the presence of said dart within said illuminated space adjacent to the outer surface of said dart board to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board; and

means for automatically calculating the score of said dart embedded in said surface of said dart board from the location of said dart therein.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for automatically calculating the score of said dart embedded in said dart board comprising a microprocessor responsive to a set of machine instructions for calculating the score of said dart embedded in said dart board, said set of machine instructions utilizing as input the location of said dart embedded in said dart board.

7. A method for locating a dart embedded in a circular dart board comprising the steps of:

illuminating a space closely adjacent to the outer surface of the dart board in which the dart is embedded with at least two spaced light sources along a side of the dart board;

monitoring the intensity of the illumination within said illuminated space with a plurality of light detecting elements located along a side of said circular dart board opposed from the light sources;

detecting a reduced level of illumination incident on at least one light detecting element of said plurality of light detecting elements when said light detecting element is within a shadow created by the presence of said dart within said illuminated space; and

calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the detection of said shadows created by the presence of said dart within said illuminated space adjacent to the surface of said dart board.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 where the step of calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the detection of said shadows created by the presence of said dart within said illuminated space adjacent to the surface of said dart board comprises the steps of:

transmitting the output of each of said plurality of light detecting elements to a microprocessor;

identifying by said microprocessor which light detecting elements of said plurality of light detecting elements are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicative of the presence of a shadow on that particular light detecting element; and

calculating by said microprocessor the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the shadow location information.

9. A method for locating a dart embedded in a dart board comprising the steps of:

illuminating a space closely adjacent to the outer surface of the dart board in which the dart is embedded with a first illuminating means;

monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said first illumination means within said illuminated space with a first plurality of light detecting elements located along a first side of said dart board;

detecting the presence of the center of at least one shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of the dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board, said shadow extending across more than one light detecting element;

illuminating said space closely adjacent to the outer surface of the dart board in which the dart is embedded with a second illuminating means;

monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said second illumination means with a second plurality of light detecting elements located along a second side of said dart board;

detecting the presence of the center of at least one shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of the dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board, said shadow extending across more than one light detecting element; and

calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and from the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space closely adjacent to the outer surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 where the step of calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and from the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board comprises the steps of:

transmitting the output of each of said first plurality of light detecting elements to a microprocessor;

transmitting the output of each of said second plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor;

identifying by said microprocessor which light detecting elements of said first plurality of light detecting elements and which light detecting elements of said second plurality of light detecting elements are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicative of the presence of a shadow on those particular light detecting elements; and

calculating by said microprocessor the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the shadow location information.

11. A method for locating a dart embedded in a dart board comprising the steps of:

illuminating a space adjacent to the surface of the dart board in which the dart is embedded with a first illuminating means;

monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said first illumination means within said illuminated space with a first plurality of light detecting elements located along a first side of said dart board;

detecting the presence of at least one shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of the dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board;

illuminating said space adjacent to the surface of the dart board in which the dart is embedded with a second illuminating means;

monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said second illumination means with a second plurality of light detecting elements located along a second side of said dart board;

detecting the presence of at least one shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of the dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board;

illuminating said space adjacent to the surfaces of the dart board in which the dart is embedded with a third illuminating means;

monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said third illumination means with a third plurality of light detecting elements located along a third side of said dart board;

detecting the presence of at least one shadow on said third plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of the dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board; and

calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and from the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements and from the detection of a shadow on said third plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 where the step of calculating the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the detection of a shadow on said first plurality of light detecting elements and from the detection of a shadow on said second plurality of light detecting elements and from the detection of a shadow on said third plurality of light detecting elements created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space adjacent to a surface of said dart board when said dart is embedded in said surface of said dart board comprises the steps of:

transmitting the output of each of said first plurality of light detecting elements to a microprocessor;

transmitting the output of each of said second plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor;

transmitting the output of each of said third plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor;

identifying by said microprocessor which light detecting elements of said first plurality of light detecting elements and which light detecting elements of said second plurality of light detecting elements and which light detecting elements of said third plurality of light detecting elements are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicative of the presence of a shadow on those particular light detecting elements; and

calculating by said microprocessor the location of said dart embedded in said dart board from the shadow location information.

13. An electronic dart game apparatus for locating a dart embedded in a dart board and displaying a score calculated from the location of the dart comprising:

a housing having a central opening therein;

a dart board mounted within said central opening and having an exposed outer surface to receive darts thrown at said dart board;

light source means within said housing adjacent one side of the dart board for illuminating a space adjacent the exposed outer surface of said dart board and directing a light across the outer surface of the dart board;

a plurality of light detecting elements within said housing adjacent an opposite side of said dart board for monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said light source means within said illuminated space adjacent said outer surface of said dart board and detecting the presence of at least two shadows created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said dart board adjacent the outer surface thereof;

means responsive to said light detecting elements to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board;

means to calculate automatically the score of said dart embedded in said dart board from the location of said embedded dart; and

means on said apparatus to display visually the score calculated by the calculating means.

14. An electronic dart game apparatus for locating a dart embedded in a dart board and displaying a score calculated from the location of the dart comprising;

a generally rectangular box-like housing having a central circular opening in an outer wall of said housing;

a circular dart board mounted within said circular opening inwardly of said outer wall to define a space between said wall and an exposed outer surface of the dart board, said exposed outer surface adapted to receive darts thrown at said dart board through said circular opening and embedded therein;

a pair of light sources spaced from each other about the periphery of the dart board for illuminating said space adjacent the exposed outer surface of said dart board and directing light across said exposed outer surface of the dart board;

a plurality of light detecting elements within said housing for each of the light sources and positioned adjacent the periphery of the dart board opposite the associated light source for receiving light from said associated light source directed across the outer surface of the dart board, said light detecting elements monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said light source means and detecting the presence of at least two shadows created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said dart board adjacent the outer surface thereof;

a microprocessor responsive to said light detecting elements to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board;

electronic circuitry associated with said microprocessor for transmitting the output of each of said plurality of light detecting elements to said microprocessor to enable said microprocessor to identify which light detecting elements of said plurality of light detecting elements are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicating the presence of a shadow on that particular light detecting element;

means associated with said circuitry to automatically calculate the score of said dart embedded in said dart board from the location of said embedded dart; and

means associated with said calculating means to display visually the score calculated by the calculating means.

15. An electric dart game apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said light sources directs light in a fan-like beam across the surface of the dart board on its associated plurality of light detecting elements, the associated plurality of light detecting elements being arranged generally in a row of continuous adjacent light detecting elements extending along a portion of the periphery of the dart board.

16. An electronic dart board apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said light detecting elements are photoelectric cells.

17. An electronic dart board apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said display means comprises a cathode ray tube screen.

18. An electronic dart game apparatus for locating a dart embedded in a circular dart board and displaying a score calculated from the location of the dart comprising:

a housing having a generally circular central opening therein;

a circular dart board mounted within said circular opening and having an exposed outer surface inset inwardly from the adjacent outer surface of the housing to form a space between the outer surface of the housing and the outer surface of the dart board through which darts are thrown at said dart board;

a pair of light sources spaced from each other about the periphery of the dart board and directing light beams across the outer surface of the dart board for illuminating said space;

a plurality of photoelectric cells for each of the light sources positioned in a continuous row adjacent the periphery of the dart board opposite the associated light source for receiving light from said associated light source directed across the outer surface of the dart board, said photoelectric cells monitoring the intensity of the illumination from said light source means and detecting the presence of at least two shadows created by the presence of a dart within said illuminated space when said dart is embedded in said dart board adjacent the outer surface thereof;

a microprocessor responsive to said photoelectric cells to calculate the location of said dart embedded in said dart board;

electronic circuitry associated with said microprocessor for transmitting the output of each of said plurality of photoelectric cells to said microprocessor to enable said microprocessor to identify which photoelectric cells of said plurality are detecting a reduced level of illumination indicating the presence of a shadow on that particular photoelectric cell;

means associated with said circuitry to automatically calculate the score of said dart embedded in said dart board from the location of said embedded dart; and

means associated with said calculating means to display visually the score calculated by the calculating means.

19. An electronic dart game as set forth in claim 18 wherein the shadow formed by a dart embedded in said dart board eclipses and extends across more than one photoelectric cell, and said microprocessor and associated circuitry determine the center of the shadow extending across a plurality of adjacent photoelectric cells.

20. An electronic system for locating the position of a dart embedded in a dart board for calculating the score obtained by such embedded dart, said system comprising:

a pair of light sources positioned adjacent said dart board at a known location and spaced from each other a known distance for directing light beams over the outer surface of the dart board in a closely spaced relation thereto along a generally vertical plane;

a plurality of adjacent light detecting elements for the light sources positioned in a generally continuous line along a generally vertical plane on a side of said dart board opposite the associated light sources for receiving light therefrom; and

electronic means including associated circuitry responsive to said light detecting elements for detecting the presence of at least two shadows created by the presence of an embedded dart extending through the light beams directed by said pair of spaced light sources, each of said shadows created by said dart extending across a plurality of light detecting sources, said electronic means and associated circuitry determining the center of the shadow extending across said plurality of light detecting elements from the variation in light intensity from said associated light sources.

21. An electronic system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said electronic means and associated circuitry calculates the angle formed at each light source between a known line extending from the respective light source and a line extending from the respective light source to the embedded dart.

22. An electronic system as set forth in claim 21 wherein said electronic means and associated circuitry calculates the distance from each light source to the embedded dart thereby to calculate the score obtained by such embedded dart.

23. An electronic system for locating the position of a dart embedded in a dart board for calculating the score obtained by such embedded dart;

said system comprising;

at least three light sources positioned at known locations about said dart for directing light beams in a generally vertical plane over the outer surface of the dart board closely spaced relation thereto;

a plurality of contiguous light detecting elements for the light sources positioned in a generally continuous line along a generally vertical plane on a side of the dart board opposite the associated light sources for receiving light therefrom directed across and in closely spaced relation to the outer surface of said dart board; and

electronic means including associated circuitry responsive to said light detecting elements for detecting the presence of at least three shadows created by the presence of an embedded dart adjacent the outer surface of the dart board extending through the light beams directed by said at least three light sources, said electronic means and associated circuitry determining the center of such shadows from the variation in light intensity from the associated light sources;

said electronic means and associated circuitry further calculating the distance from each light source to the embedded dart, and the angle between a known line extending from each light source and another line extending from the light source to the embedded dart thereby accurately locating the exact position of the dart for calculating the score therefrom.

24. A method of calibrating a microprocessor for locating a dart board accurately with respect to a housing on which the dart board is mounted for determining the accurate location of darts embedded in the dart board and the calculation of a score based on such location;

said method comprising the steps of;

initially positioning the circular dart board in a centered position within a circular aperture in the housing;

positioned a pair of calibration pins at known locations on the dart board and at a known spacing between the pins;

positioning a pair of spaced light sources on the housing at known locations adjacent said dart board for directing light beams across the outer surface of the dart board, said light sources being spaced from each other a known distance;

positioning a plurality of light detecting elements on the housing adjacent said dart board for each light source on a side of said dart board opposite the associated light source for receiving light thereof, each of said plurality of light detecting elements being positioned in a generally continuous row facing the associated light source across the outer surface of the dart board, said calibration pins interrupting said light beams from said light sources and forming a shadow on the associated plurality of light detecting elements; and

providing a microprocessor and associated circuitry responsive to said light detecting elements to determine the angle formed at each light source between known lines extending from the associated light source and lines extending from the associated light source to the two calibration pins thereby to calibrate the microprocessor.

25. The method of calibrating a microprocessor as set forth in claim 24 further including the steps of:

positioning one calibration pin at the extent center of the dart board and positioning the other calibration pin at the bottom edge of the dart board; and

positioning said pair of spaced light sources below said other pin along a common generally horizontal plane, said microprocessor and associated circuitry determining the vertical distance said other pin is positioned above said light sources.

26. A method of calibrating a microprocessor for locating the exact position of a dart board with respect to a support for the dart board thereby to permit the accurate location of darts embedded in the dart board for calculating a score based on such location;

said calibration method comprising the steps of;

positioning the dart board at a generally centered position on the support;

positioning a pair of calibration pins on the dart board at known locations on the dart board and at a known spacing between the pins;

positioning a pair of spaced light sources on the support at known locations adjacent said dart board for directing light beams across the outer surface of the dart board in closely spaced relation thereto, said light sources being spaced from each other a known distance;

positioning a plurality of contiguous light detecting elements for the light sources in a generally continuous row on a side of the dart board opposite the light sources for receiving light therefrom directed across and in closely spaced relation to the outer surface of said dart board, said calibration pins extending through and interrupting said light beams and forming shadows on certain of the light detecting elements; and

providing a microprocessor and associated circuitry responsive to said light detecting elements and the shadows formed by said calibration pins to determine the angle formed between lines extending from each light source to the pair of calibration pins thereby to calibrate the microprocessor for accurately locating the exact position of embedded darts to calculate the score therefrom.