Interactive video game of chance and player controlled subsystem therefor

• US 4,799,683 A
• Filed: 09/16/1986
• Issued: 01/24/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tekbilt Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tekbilt Incorporated
• Inventors: Bruner, George M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/908,049
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138 A, 273/85 CP, 273/DIG. 28, 273/1 E, 273/85 G, 340/825.68
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A remote control system for playing a game upon a color television receiver, such that a broadcast received by the receiver may be viewed interchangeably with the game each without interference to the other, includes a supervisory transmitter to control viewing selection and a player transmitter to play the game. Infrared signals from the transmitters command a solid-state game board through an infrared receiver and decoder, with signals from the game board being output to a transfer unit which bypasses the television receiver'"'"'s composite sync signal.

Claims

1. A remote control system for playing a game upon a color television receiver having red, green and blue video signal circuit means for driving at least one electron gun, means for amplifying an audio signal, means for generating a composite sync signal, and circuit means receiving the composite sync signal for controlling a color picture tube with at least a horizontal sync signal and a vertical sync signal, wherein a broadcast received by the color television receiver may be viewed interchangeably with the game, each without interference to the other, said remote control system comprising:

supervisory transmitter means for remotely transmitting a first signal having encoded thereon a first plurality of commands including a display command for selectively displaying the game or the broadcast;

player transmitter means for remotely transmitting a second signal having encoded thereon a second plurality of commands;

wherein said first and second signals comprise infrared signals;

means for receiving said first and second encoded signals;

a main enclosure, including a power supply, a solid-state logic board having programmable means for simulating the game in response to said first and second plurality of commands, and means coupled between said receiving means and said logic board for decoding said first and second encoded signals to produce said first and second plurality of commands; and

a transfer unit coupled between said main enclosure and the circuit means for controlling the color picture tube, said transfer unit being adapted to bypass the composite sync signal and further coupled to the video signal circuit means for driving the at least one electron gun in response to a third plurality of commands produced by said logic board responding to said first and second plurality of commands;

wherein said supervisory transmitter means and said player transmitter means each comprise;

a plurality of push buttons for respectively selecting said first and second plurality of commands;

integrated circuit means coupled to said plurality of push buttons for respectively outputting said first and second plurality of commands;

a transistor amplifier coupled to receive the commands output from said integrated circuit means; and

a pair of light emitting diodes coupled to said transistor amplifier and adapted to emit infrared light in response to said first and second plurality of commands.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is adapted to receive an infrared signal.

3. A remote control system for playing an interactive game of chance upon a color television receiver having red, green and blue video signal circuit means for driving at least one electron gun, means for amplifying an audio signal, means for generating a composite sync signal, and circuit means for receiving the composite sync signal for controlling a color picture tube with at least a horizontal sync signal and a vertical sync signal, wherein a broadcast received by the color television receiver may be viewed interchangeably with the interactive game, each without interference to the other, said remote control system comprising:

supervisory transmitter means for remotely transmitting a first signal having encoded thereon a first plurality of commands including a display command for selectively displaying the interactive game or the broadcast and a cash out command for cashing out winnings taken by a player;

player transmitter means for remotely transmitting a second signal having encoded thereon a second plurality of commands which enable said player to selectively play the interactive game;

means for receiving said first and second encoded signal;

a main enclosure, including a power supply, a solid-state logic board having programmable means for simulating the interactive game in response to said first and second plurality of commands, and means coupled between said receiving means and said logic board for decoding said first and second encoded signals to produce said first and second plurality of commands; and

a transfer unit coupled between said main enclosure and the circuit means for controlling the color picture tube, said transfer unit being adapted to bypass the composite sync signal and further coupled to the video signal circuit for driving the at least one electron gun in response to a third plurality of commands produced by said logic board responding to said first and second plurality of commands, said third plurality of commands including commands which enable said logic board to play the interactive game based upon the selections of said player;

wherein said supervisory transmitter means and said player transmitter means each comprise;

a plurality of push buttons for respectively selecting said first and second plurality of commands;

integrated circuit means coupled to said plurality of push buttons for respectively outputting said first and second plurality of commands;

a transistor amplified coupled to receive the commands output from said integrated circuit means; and

a pair of light emitting diodes coupled to said transistor amplifier and adapted to emit infrared light in response to said first and second plurality of commands.