Game device using a moving light and reflective paddle

• US 6,254,485 B1
• Filed: 05/13/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tiger Electronics, Ltd. (Hasbro Inc.)
• Inventors: Kanagawa, Kazutsugi, Karasawa, Hideyasu, Yamanaka, Norihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/311,077
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1-5, 463/7, 463/30, 463/36, 463/47, 463/49-53, 273/371, 273/108.1, 273/237, 273/448, 273/459-461, 273/317, 273/317--31
• US Class Current: 463/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2444 Light detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0652 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/02 Shooting or hurling games throwing-implements for sports or recreational use A63B65/00; throwing or projecting toys per se A63H33/18; gun simulators F41A33/00, e.g. light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; practice apparatus for gun-aiming F41G3/26, e.g. using a light-emitting device F41G3/2616; targets, target ranges, bullet catchers F41J, photo-electric hit-detector systems F41J5/02

Abstract

To provide a game device utilizing light, which can carry out various operations by game players and utilizes lights and can play a game while keeping interest.

This game device is characterized by the fact that it includes light output parts (5c, 5d, and 13) that substantially irradiate a projection light for forming an image and a function light, having a function which can be detected by a prescribed detection means, in the same direction, function light detection means, in the same direction, function light detection means (SW2 and 13) that can detect the above-mentioned function light, irradiating direction change means (50, 51, and 14) that change the irradiating direction of the light from the above-mentioned light output part, and a control means (30) that controls the irradiating direction change operation of the above-mentioned irradiating direction change means in accordance with the amount of function light detected by the above-mentioned function light detection part; that the above-mentioned function light detection means (SW2 and 13) detect a reflected function light reflected when the above-mentioned function light contacts a reflection plane (10).

Claims

1. An electronic game for simulating playing of a conventional ball impacting game, the electronic game comprising:

a signal transmitter for emitting signals representative of an incoming path of a ball relative to a player;

a signal receiver for sensing signals representative of an outgoing path of a ball relative to a player;

a housing of the signal transmitter;

control circuitry for causing the signal transmitter to emit signals and for processing the signals sensed by the signed receiver;

an actuator mechanism for shifting the housing via the control circuitry to change locations of the emitted signals from the signal transmitter, wherein the actuator mechanism pivots and translates the housing in a plurality of directions for varying the location of the emitted signal to provide a realistic game play experience; and

a player manipulated implement to be moved by the player to the general location of the emitted signal for causing a signal to be transmitted to the signal receiver for continuing game play.

2. The electronic game of claim 1 wherein the signal transmitter includes a visible light source and an IR emitter for emitting IR signals, and the signal receiver includes an IR detector for detecting IR signals, and

a reflective surface of the player manipulated implement for being moved into the path of light from the visible light source for causing IR signals from the IR emitter to be reflected to the IR detector.

3. The electronic game of claim 2 including a playing surface onto which the visible light source projects an image of a ball with shifting of the housing causing the image to move about the surface.

4. The electronic game of claim 1 including a switch for selecting one of a one-person game with the control circuitry generating a simulated opponent, and a two-person game with a second player responding to emitted signals from the transmitter that are generated by the control circuitry in response to movements of the player manipulated implement which cause signals to be sensed by the signal receiver.

5. The electronic game of claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism includes a variable speed drive system whose speed is determined by the control circuitry, and

a level select switch for allowing selections of different levels of game play difficulty with the actuator mechanism shifting the housing and signal transmitter therein via the drive system from slow speeds to faster speeds at higher rates at higher game play levels as game play continues.

6. The electronic game of claim 5 wherein the control circuitry includes a hit counter that is incremented each time the drive speed is determined by the control circuitry with the drive speed being predetermined based on the selected level of game play difficulty and the value of the hit counter.

7. The electronic game of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry includes a detection counter that is incremented each time a signal is sensed by the signal receiver while the signals from the signal transmitter are being transmitted toward a single general location and the actuator mechanism includes a variable speed drive system whose speed is determined by the control circuitry, and

an optimum range for the value of the detection counter so that the control circuitry generates high speeds for the drive system with values outside the optimum range causing the causing the control circuitry to generate lower speeds for the drive system or to register a point for an opponent.

8. The electronic game of claim 7 wherein the values outside the optimum range include values of one or more sensed signals and values higher than the greatest number of sensed signals in the optimum range.