Computerized pool cue and controller

• US 6,220,963 B1
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher Meredith
• Original Assignee: Christopher Meredith
• Inventors: Meredith, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/310,358
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 463/2, 463/37, 463/47, 273/108.1, 273/112.3 R, 273/148.B, 473/2, 473/44, 473/45, 473/46
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/08 Cues
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/105 Guides for the cue during strike, e.g. cue rests, bridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A combination pool cue stick and controller is provided which includes a housing adapted to move over a flat surface. The housing includes a receptacle member adapted to receive a pool cue, sensing means in the receptacle member to sense the position and movement of the pool cue, and circuit means receiving and processing this information for input into a computer having appropriate compatible software to display the effects of the pool cue activity.

Claims

1. An electronic controller apparatus and cue stick for pool or billiard simulation games, comprising:

a housing adapted to move over an underlying surface and having;

a top,

a bottom,

sidewalls interconnecting said top with said bottom for providing said housing with an interior space,

a stalk rotatably mounted within said interior space of said housing, said stalk having an upper end extending from the top of said housing, and a lower end terminating within said interior space of said housing proximate said bottom of said housing;

a first support member disposed in said interior space at said bottom of the housing to support the lower end of said stalk;

a second support member disposed within said interior space near said top of said housing to support said upper end of said stalk;

a control receptacle mounted to said upper end of said stalk;

a cue stick having a coating of rubber compound along a portion of an exterior surface thereof, said cue stick constructed and arranged for movement within and in contact with said control receptacle;

a first sensor assembly mounted to said upper end of said stalk and exposed to said control receptacle for generating a signal responsive to movement of said cue stick in contact with said receptacle;

a second sensor assembly mounted to an exterior surface of said stalk for generating a signal responsive to rotational movement of said stalk about a longitudinal axis of said stalk;

a first control button extending from a sidewall at a first region of said housing between said top and bottom of said housing;

a second control button extending from a sidewall at a second region of said housing between said top and bottom of said housing;

a spring supported by said first support member for coaction with said lower end of said stalk for biasing said stalk in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stalk;

a mouse ball disposed within said interior space of said housing, a portion of said mouse ball extending through said bottom of said housing to contact said underlying surface;

a third sensor assembly mounted within said interior space of said housing for generating a signal responsive to movement of said mouse ball along said underlying surface;

a circuit board disposed within said interior space of said housing;

means for interconnecting said circuit board with said stalk, said control receptacle, said first, second and third sensor assemblies, and said first and second control buttons;

wherein movement of said stalk, mouse ball, cue stick, and first and second control buttons generates signals to said circuit board with information about movement of said cue stick for display of the effects of cue stick movement.

2. An electronic controller apparatus for controlling pool or billiard simulation games, comprising:

a housing adapted to move over an underlying surface;

a control support extending upwardly from said housing and having;

an upper support portion adapted to receive a cue stick;

sensing means disposed in said housing within said upper support portion for sensing the position and movement of said cue stick; and

circuit means within said housing for processing information,

said sensing means providing information of said position and movement of said cue stick to said circuit means,

said circuit means processing said information for input into a display device for display of the effects of cue stick movement.

3. The electronic controller apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises:

a first region at a first side of the housing between an upper surface and a lower surface of the housing,

a second region at a second side of the housing between said upper and lower surfaces and substantially opposite to said first region,

a first switch extending from said first region at said first side of said housing, said first switch adapted to transmit a signal indicating contact of an end of said cue stick on a select area of a game ball, and

a second switch extending from said second region at said second side of said housing, said second switch adapted to transmit a signal representing movement of said end of said cue stick towards and away from said game ball.

4. The electronic controller apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control support comprises:

a lower portion opposite to said upper portion and disposed within an interior of the housing,

a receptacle within said upper portion of said control support for receiving said cue stick, and

a support member disposed within said interior of said housing proximate the lower surface of the housing for supporting said lower portion of said control support.

5. The electronic controller apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a third switch disposed at said lower portion of said control support for actuation by depressive force exerted on said control support.

6. The electronic controller apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sensing means comprises:

a first sensor assembly mounted to said upper support portion of said first control means for sensing movement of said cue stick in contact with said first sensor,

a second sensor assembly mounted to said housing for sensing the rotational movement of said first control means, and

a third sensor assembly mounted to said housing for sensing movement of said housing along said underlying surface.

7. The electronic controller apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second and third sensor assemblies are mounted within said interior of said housing.

8. The electronic controller apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said cue stick comprises:

a coating of rubber compound along a portion of an exterior surface of said cue stick for coaction with said first sensor assembly.

9. The electronic controller apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for interconnecting said control support and said sensing means.

10. A device for simulating the play of a game of pool and the action and feel of the use of a pool cue stick comprising:

a housing adapted to move over an underlying surface, said housing including a top, a bottom and sidewalls connected together to provide an interior space;

a receptacle at the upper end of said housing;

first optical sensing means secured within said receptacle, said first optical sensing means generating a signal upon movement of a cue stick thereover;

a rotatable ball mounted on the bottom of said housing and extending therethrough for rotatable movement along said underlying surface;

second and third optical sensing means mounted adjacent to said ball for generating signals responsive to movement of said ball along respective X and Y axes of said underlying surface;

electrical circuit means within said housing connected to said first, second, and third optical sensing means for receiving the signals therefrom; and

means connected to said circuit means for communicating said signals to external utilization apparatus.

11. The device according to claim 10 including a first control switch means mounted on the bottom of said housing operative to disable said second and third optical sensing means upon depression of said first control switch means for applying a first control signal to said external utilization apparatus.

12. The device according to claim 11 including second and third control switch means mounted on opposite outer sides of said housing and connected to said circuit means for communicating second and third control signals to said external utilization apparatus.

13. A device for simulating the play of a game of pool and the action and feel of the use of a pool cue stick comprising:

a housing adapted to move over an underlying surface;

an interior space disposed in said housing;

translation means to enable movement of the housing over an underlying surface;

sensing means in said housing adapted to sense movement of the housing;

signal generating means in said housing adapted to generate a signal in relation to said sensing means to indicate movement of said housing over an underlying surface;

cue receptacle means operatively associated with the housing adapted to receive a pool cue stick;

cue sensing means operatively associated with said cue receptacle means to sense movement of a pool cue stick associated with said receptacle means and generate a signal in relation to said cue sensing means to indicate movement of a pool cue stick in relation to said cue receptacle means, and

circuit means within said housing receiving and processing said signal indicating pool cue stick movement for communication to an external display device.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein said cue receptacle means includes a slot disposed on an upper surface of said housing, said cue sensing means includes an optical reader roller within said slot engageable with said cue stick and generating a signal of rotation to said circuit means.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein said translation means includes a rotatable ball mounted on and extending through the bottom of said housing, and optical axis reader sensing means mounted adjacent said ball for generating signals responsive to movement of said ball along respective x and y axes of said underlying surface.

16. The device according to claim 15 including an optical reader within said slot and a pair of microswitch buttons on a front housing surface, wherein depression of said buttons disables said optical axis sensing means and enables said slot optical reader, said optical reader sensing reciprocal stroking movement of said cue stick.

17. The device according to claim 16 including a pair of microswitch buttons on a side housing surface for control of table zoom in and out and cue tip spin rotation.

18. The device according to claim 17 including a plug connected to said circuit means for connection to said external display device.

19. The device according to claim 18 including a recessed switch or the bottom of the housing for reversal of the optical reader enabling use by left and right handed players.

20. A device for simulating the play of a game of pool and the action and feel of the use of a pool cue stick comprising:

a housing adapted to move over an underlying surface;

an interior space disposed in said housing;

translation means to enable movement of the housing over an underlying surface;

sensing means in said housing adapted to sense movement of the housing;

signal generating means in said housing adapted to generate a signal in relation to said sensing means to indicate movement of said housing over an underlying surface;

cue receptacle means operatively associated with the housing adapted to receive a pool cue stick;

cue sensing means operatively associated with said cue receptacle means to sense movement of a pool cue stick associated with said receptacle means and generate a signal in relation to said cue sensing means to indicate movement of a pool cue stick in relation to said cue receptacle means; and

circuit means within said housing receiving and processing said signal indicating pool cue movement for communication to an external display device, wherein said cue receptacle means includes a slot disposed on an upper surface of said housing, said cue sensing means includes an optical reader roller within said slot engageable with said cue stick and generating a signal of rotation to said circuit means;

said translation means includes a rotatable ball mounted on and extending through the bottom of said housing, and optical axis reader sending means mounted adjacent said ball for generating signals responsive to movement of said ball along respective x and y axes of said underlying surface;

an optical reader within said slot and a pair of microswitch buttons on a front housing surface, wherein depression of said buttons disables said optical axis sensing means and enables said slot optical reader, said optical reader sensing reciprocal stroking movement of said cue stick;

a pair of microswitch buttons on a side housing surface for control of table zoom in and out and cue tip spin rotation;

a plug connected to said circuit means for connection to said external display device; and

a recessed switch on the bottom of the housing for reversal of the optical reader enabling use by left and right handed players.