Electronic game apparatus

• US 5,188,368 A
• Filed: 06/25/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saitek Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Saitek Ltd.
• Inventors: Ryan, Paul T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/691,028
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 273/237, 273/238, 340/323 R
• US Class Current: 273/237
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00665 using inductance
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

An electronic game apparatus for determining the presence and optionally the identity of playing pieces. Each playing piece (10) is provided with a resonator circuit (12,14,16), which may be tuned so that each playing piece or type or piece has a unique resonant frequency. A board (2) defining a number of particular playing positions is provided with transmit and receive coils (4,6) underneath it to stimulate the resonator circuit of a piece and to sense the resonant signal respectively. An amplifier is provided between the two sets of coils to amplify the signal generated by the resonant circuit. A resonant signal results if a playing piece is placed on a particular position on the board (2). The frequency of this signal is detected and may then be determined and the piece thereby identified.

Claims

1. An electronic game apparatus comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces each including an electrical resonant circuit;

means forming at least one surface and having a plurality of transmit and receive coils beneath the surface defining a number of discrete playing positions for the playing pieces on the surface;

means for selecting a transmit and a receive coil and hence a unique playing position, an amplifying circuit being connected between the transmit and receive coils whereby a resonant signal is generated when a playing piece is positioned on a selected playing position; and

means for detecting the generated resonant signal.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for determining the frequency of the detected resonant signal and for identifying the playing piece on the corresponding playing position.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for determining the resonant frequency comprises a counter for counting the number of resonant oscillations within a fixed time period, a memory storing an oscillation frequency for each piece, and means for comparing the count from the counter with the stored oscillation frequencies.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for compensating for a residual coupling between the transmit and receive coils.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the compensating means comprises a single transformer having a first winding in series with the transmit coils and a second winding in series with the receive coils.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including means for generating a drive current in said transmit coils, wherein said detection means comprises means for cutting said current in said transmit coils and means for subsequently detecting a resonant signal in said receive coils.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for controlling the amplitude of the resonant signal.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the controlling means comprises an Automatic Gain Control circuit.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the playing pieces comprise a hollow interior, a ferrite core mounted within said playing piece interior, a coil disposed about an end of the core proximate said surface, and an adjustable capacitor connected to said playing piece coil.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for selecting includes a multiplexer.