Arcade game with color sensing apparatus

• US 5,704,612 A
• Filed: 11/09/1994
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rlt Acquisition Inc.
• Inventors: Goodman, John J., Kelly, Matthew F., Petermeier, Norman B., Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/337,098
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 473/4, 473/17, 473/23, 473/53, 473/153, 473/166, 473/168, 273/401, 273/352, 273/371, 273/398, 273/411, 364/411, 463/7
• US Class Current: 273/402
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/70 Coin-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

An arcade game including a number of playing pieces having distinct colors and a number of targets associated with at least one of the distinct colors. A sensor apparatus is arranged to sense the color of a playing piece received by a target. The targets can preferably be highlighted to draw a player'"'"'s attention to a designated target. A scoring apparatus changes a game score when the color of a ball received by a highlighted target matches a color associated with the highlighted target. A variation of the game includes a playing piece return mechanism and a playing piece dispenser mechanism. Another variation of the game includes an award dispenser, which dispenses an award based upon the game score.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having a distinct color associated therewith;

a plurality of targets arranged to receive said playing pieces, each target being associated with at least one of said distinct colors;

sensor means arranged to detect the color of a playing piece received by a designated one of the targets;

scoring means for changing a game score when the color associated with a particular one of said playing pieces that has been received by said designated target matches a color associated with said designated target; and

highlighting means operative to highlight a selected one of said targets for a predetermined period of time,

wherein said scoring means is arranged to permit scoring when the color of a playing piece received by a highlighted target matches a color associated with the highlighted target.

2. A game apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a timer coupled to said scoring means and operative to stop said scoring means from changing said game score after a predetermined period of time.

3. A game apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising award dispensing means for dispensing an award to a player.

4. A game apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising dispenser means for dispensing said playing pieces to a player.

5. A game apparatus as recited in claim 4 further comprising return means coupled to said targets for automatically guiding a playing piece received by said targets to said dispenser means.

6. A game apparatus comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having a distinct color associated therewith;

a plurality of targets arranged to receive said playing pieces, each target being associated with at least one of said distinct colors;

sensor means arranged to detect the color of a piece received by a designated one of the targets;

a timer coupled to said scoring means and operative to stop said scoring means from changing said game score after a predetermined period of time; and

dispenser means for dispensing said playing pieces to a player;

wherein said dispenser means stops dispensing said playing pieces to said player after said predetermined period of time.

7. An arcade game comprising:

a plurality of balls, each of said balls having one of a plurality of predetermined colors associated therewith;

a dispenser operative to allow a player access to said balls;

a plurality of targets arranged to receive said balls, each target being associated with one of said predetermined colors;

highlighting means for highlighting a designated one of said targets in a manner that will draw a player'"'"'s attention to the designated target;

sensor means coupled to each of said targets and operative to detect the color of a ball received by one of said targets;

scoring means for changing a game score when the color associated with a particular one of said balls that has been received by said highlighted target matches the color associated with said highlighted target;

display means for displaying said game score to said player;

a timer for stopping said dispenser from allowing access to said balls after a predetermined period of time;

ball return means coupled to said target for guiding a ball to said dispenser;

an award dispenser operative to dispense an award to said player based upon said game score; and

a frame for supporting said plurality of targets and said dispenser.

8. A game comprising:

a plurality of playing substantially spherical pieces each of said playing pieces having one of a plurality predetermined physical attributes associated therewith wherein a one of said plurality of predetermined physical attributes is color;

a plurality of targets arranged to receive said playing pieces, each target being associated with one of said predetermined attributes;

highlighting means for highlighting a designated one of said targets in a manner that will draw a player'"'"'s attention to the designated target;

sensor means arranged to detect the attribute of a playing piece received by one of said targets;

processing means for outputting a determination of whether the attribute of a particular one of said playing pieces that has been received by said highlighted target matches the attribute associated with said highlighted target;

tabulating means coupled to said processing means for changing a game score based upon said determination of said processing means; and

timing means operative to stop said tabulating means from changing said game score after a predetermined amount of time.

9. A method for operating a game having a plurality of targets and a plurality of playing pieces, each playing piece and each target having a designated color associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

a) highlighting at least one target as a selected target;

b) detecting said color of each playing piece received by said targets;

c) for each playing piece received by said selected target, determining whether the color of the playing piece matches a color associated with said selected target;

d) tabulating points scored by a player, wherein the points scored are based at least in part on whether the playing pieces received by said selected target match the color associated with said selected target;

e) highlighting a different at least one target as a selected target; and

f) repeating steps b) through d) with respect to said different selected one of the targets.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said selected target is non-randomly selected.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said selected target is randomly selected.

12. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said step of repeating steps b) through d) is accomplished for a predetermined period of time.

13. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of displaying said points scored by said player.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein points are only scored when the color of a playing piece received by a selected target matches the color associated with said selected target.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of dispensing an award based upon said points scored by said player.

16. A method for playing a game comprising:

a) providing a plurality of playing pieces in a playing piece dispenser, each of said playing pieces having an associated one of a group of predetermined colors;

b) providing a plurality of targets receptive to said playing pieces, each of said targets having an associated one of said group of predetermined colors;

c) highlighting one or more selected targets for a predetermined period of scoring time;

d) changing a game score when a highlighted target receives a playing piece having a color that corresponds to said predetermined color associated with said highlighted target;

e) guiding playing pieces received by said targets to a playing piece dispenser; and

f) repeating steps c) through e) for a different selected target.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of repeating steps c) through e) is accomplished for a predetermined period of time.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of guiding said playing piece to a playing piece dispenser is stopped after said predetermined period of time has elapsed.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of dispensing an award based upon said game score.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of displaying said game score.

22. A game with a color sensing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces, each of which is one of at least two different colors;

at least one means for receiving a playing piece including an elongated tube;

means for allowing a player to affect the relative position of a playing piece and said means for receiving a playing piece said means for allowing a player to affect the relative position including a player-controlled door associated with an opening to said tube; and

means for determining a color of a playing piece received by said means for receiving a playing piece.

23. A game as recited in claim 22 wherein said means for determining a color includes sensing means, and optical guide means directing light from said playing piece received by means for receiving a playing piece to said sensing means.

24. A game as recited in claim 23 wherein said optical guide means includes fiber optic cable means.

25. A game as recited in claim 23 wherein said optical guide means includes lens means.

26. A game as recited in claim 23 wherein said optical guide means includes an aperture means.

27. A game as recited in claim 23 wherein said sensing means comprises charge coupled device (CCD) means.

28. A game as recited in claim 22 wherein said means for determining a color is operative to determine a color of a playing piece within said tube.

29. A game as recited in claim 22 wherein said means for receiving a playing piece comprise a plurality of holes in a playing field, and wherein said means for varying the relative position of said playing piece comprises means for ejecting at least one playing piece from at least one hole depending upon a color of said playing piece.

30. A game as recited in claim 29 wherein said means for determining a color determines the color of each ball within each hole.

31. A game apparatus comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having a color associated therewith;

at least one target arranged to receive one of said playing pieces, said target being related to one of said colors;

a sensor arranged to detect a color of said playing piece received by said target;

a scorer operative to change a game score when the color of said playing piece received by said target at least approximately matches said color to which said target is related, said scorer arranged to permit scoring when the color of a playing piece received by an illuminated target matches said color to which said target is related; and

a light operative to selectively illuminate a selected one of said targets.

21. A method as recited in claim 31 further comprising a step of receiving a game token into a slot means before said step of providing said plurality of playing pieces.

32. A game apparatus as recited in claim 31 further comprising a timer coupled to said scorer and operative to stop said scorer from changing said game score after a period of time.

33. A game apparatus comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having a color associated therewith;

at least one target arranged to receive one of said playing pieces, said target being related to one of said colors;

a sensor arranged to detect a color of said playing piece received by said target;

a scorer operative to change a game score when the color of said playing piece received by said target at least approximately matches said color to which said target is related;

a timer coupled to said scorer and operative to stop said scorer from changing said game score after a period of time; and

a dispenser for dispensing said playing pieces to a player;

wherein said dispenser stops dispensing said playing pieces to said player after said period of time.

34. A target game comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having one of a plurality of distinct physical attributes associated therewith;

a plurality of targets arranged to receive said playing pieces, each target being associated with one of said attributes;

a light for illuminating a designated one of said targets in a manner to indicate that said target is in a special state;

a sensor arranged to detect the attribute of a playing piece received by one of said targets;

an analyzer for outputting a determination of whether the attribute of a particular one of said playing pieces that has been received by said illuminated target matches the attribute associated with said illuminated target;

a tabulator coupled to said analyzer for changing a game score based upon said determination of said analyzer; and

a timer operative to stop said tabulator from changing said game score after a predetermined amount of time.

35. A game with a color sensing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces, each of which is one of at least two different colors;

at least one receptor operative to receive a playing piece including an elongated tube;

a mechanism for allowing a player to affect the relative position of a playing piece and said receptor, said mechanism for allowing a player to affect the relative position comprises a player-controlled door associated with an opening said tube; and

an apparatus for determining a color of a playing piece received by said receptor.

36. A game as recited in claim 35 wherein said apparatus for determining a color includes a sensor and an optical guide for directing light from said playing piece received by a playing piece receiver to said sensor.

37. A game as recited in claim 36 wherein said sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD).

38. A game as recited in claim 35 wherein said mechanism for determining a color is operative to determine a color of a playing piece within said tube.

39. A game as recited in claim 35 wherein said at least one receptor comprises one of a plurality of holes in a playing field, and wherein said mechanism for affecting the relative position of said playing piece comprises an ejector for ejecting a playing piece from at least one hole depending upon a color of said playing piece.