Electronic dice
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A die having n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable and comprising wireless transmitting means for transmitting data to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object (10) having n faces, includes wireless transmitting means (12) for transmitting the value of at least the face of the object lying on a surface. In one embodiment, the face of the object (10) has n faces, includes at least n−1 sensors (S) installed therein, a controller (27, 101) coupled to each of the n−1 sensors (S) and a wireless transmitter device (12) coupled to the controller unit (27, 101) for transmitting data from each of the n−1 sensors (S).
99 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A die having n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable and comprising wireless transmitting means for transmitting data to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface.
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2. A die having n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable and comprising:
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a. at least n−
1 sensors, each of n−
1 faces of said die having one of said at least n−
1 sensors installed therein;
b. a controller coupled to each of said at least n−
1 sensors; and
c. wireless transmitter device coupled to said controller, said wireless transmitter device transmitting data from at least one of said at least n−
1 sensors to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface.- View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) storage means coupled to said radio frequency transceiver; and
controller connected to said memory means and said RF transceiver.
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6. A die according to claim 2, and wherein said controller is coupled to said RF transceiver for latching the signals being transmitted by each of said at least n−
- 1 sensors at predetermined intervals.
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7. A die according to claim 2, wherein the electrical components of said die receive their operating energy from a remote transceiving unit.
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8. A die according to claim 2, wherein the electrical components of said die receive their operating energy from any of a group of power supplies including solar cells, dry-cell batteries, photo-voltaic cells coupled thereto.
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9. A die according to claim 5, wherein said EEPROM storage means comprises an ID code and/or encrypted data stored therein.
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10. A die according to claim 2, wherein said sensors comprise photodiode, photo-transistor sensors, mechanical sensors, capacitance sensors or induction coll sensors.
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11. A die having n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable, the die comprising at least n−
- 1 transponders, installed therein for transmitting data to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for communicating with at least one die, each die having n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable, said system comprising:
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a wireless transmitter device installed in said die, for transmitting data to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface;
a read/write unit for receiving said transmitted data; and
a processing unit coupled to said read/write unit, for processing said data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
a. a base station transceiver having at least one antenna;
b. a microcontroller or control logic coupled to said base station transceiver.
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17. A system according to claim 15, wherein said processing unit is coupled to said read/write unit by means of a coupling comprising any of the following group including serial RS232, parallel, USB (Universal serial Bus) and SCSI (small computer system Interface) or keyboard interface.
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18. A system according claim 15, wherein said die further comprises:
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a. at least n−
1 sensors, each of n−
1 faces of said die having one of said at least n−
1 sensors installed therein; and
b. a controller coupled to each of said at least n−
1 sensors;
wherein said wireless transmitter device is coupled to said controller, said wireless transmitter device transmitting data from at least one of said at least n−
1 sensors to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface.
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19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said controller is a device selected from a group consisting of a register, processor, buffer control logic and micro-controller.
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20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said wireless transmitter device is a device selected from a group consisting of an infra-red transmitter, RF transmitter and an ultrasonic transmitter.
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21. A system according to claim 18, wherein said wireless transmitter device comprises:
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a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) storage means coupled to said radio frequency transceiver; and
a controller connected to said memory means and said RF transceiver.
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22. A system according to claim 18, wherein said controller is coupled to said RF transceiver for registering the signals being transmitted by each of said at least n−
- 1 sensors at predetermined intervals.
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23. A system according to claim 18, wherein said electrical components of said die receive their operating energy from a remote read/write unit.
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24. A system according to claim 18, wherein said electrical component of said die receive their operating energy from any of a group of power supplies including solar cells, dry-cell batteries, photo-voltaic cells coupled thereto.
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25. A system according to claim 21, wherein said EEPROM storage means comprises a ID code and/or encrypted data stored therein.
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26. A system according to claim 18, wherein said at least one sensors comprise photodiode, photo-transistor sensors, mechanical sensor capacitance sensor or induction coil sensors.
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27. A system according to claim 15, wherein said die comprises:
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n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable; and
at least n−
1 transponders, each of n−
1 faces of said die having one of saidat least n−
1 transponders installed therein for transmitting data to identifywhich of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface.
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28. A system according to claim 27, wherein said at least n−
- 1 transponders comprise;
a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) storage means coupled to said radio frequency transceiver; and
a controller, connected to said memory means and said RF transceiver.
- 1 transponders comprise;
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29. A system according to claim 27, wherein said at least n−
- 1 transponders receive their operating energy from a remote transceiving unit.
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30. A system according to claims 28, wherein at least one of said EEPROM storage means comprises a ID code and/or encrypted data stored therein.
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31. A system according to claim 15, and further comprising a playing surface for throwing said die thereon.
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32. A system according to claim 31, wherein said playing surface comprises sealing means to prevent light from reaching the face of said die in contact with said surface.
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33. A system according to claim 31, wherein said playing surface is composed of a metallic material.
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34. A system for identifying a die having n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable, said system comprising:
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a CCD (charge coupled camera) for imaging at least one face of said die; and
a processing unit coupled to said CCD, for processing said image to identify the uppermost or lowermost face of the die. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. Apparatus for a software driven application comprising:
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c. at least one die, each of said at least one die having n faces, where n is greater than 2, each face being identifiable an having an ID code encrypted therein and comprising a wireless transceiver for transmitting data to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface; and
d. a software application for verifying the authenticity of said encrypted ID code for each of said at least one die in order to run the software application. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method for identifying which of the faces of A die is laying on a surface, each face of the die being identifiable, said method comprising the steps of:
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said at least one n-sided die transmitting data from at least the uppermost or lowermost face of said die and;
processing said data. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method for protecting a plurality of software applications running in a multi-tasking environment, said method comprising:
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storing data associated with each of said plurality of software applications in each of a plurality of dice, each of said plurality of dice having an ID code encrypted therein and having n faces, where n>
2, each face being identifiable and comprising wireless transmitting means for transmitting data to identify at least which of the n faces is lying face down when the die is lying on a surface,said software applications verifying the ID code of the die;
transmitting data from each of said plurality of dice to said software applications; and
verifying the authenticity of said transmitted data in order to run each of said plurality of software applications.
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Specification