Electronic die

• US 7,334,791 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blinky Bones Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blinky Bones Incorporated
• Inventors: Lindsey, Michael K., Pearson, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US10/782,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 273/146, 264/217.1, 264/272.11, 264/238, 264/349
• US Class Current: 273/146
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1061 with electric features, e.g. light, wires
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/0457 for actuating a switch by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/04 Dice dice tops A63F5/04 D; Dice-boxes; Mechanical dice-throwing devices casino or betting games played on boards A63F3/00157
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0413 Cuboid dice
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0468 Electronic dice; electronic dice simulators

Abstract

An ostensibly solid electronic die presents visual and/or sound effects when in use. Unlike known electronic dice, the disclosed electronic die retains the weight, feel and ruggedness of conventional non-electronic dice. The die includes an outer shell defining its shape. Electronics for producing the effects are located inside the shell. The shell is preferably filled with potting material and sealed shut. The use of potting material is a unique aspect of the invention that represents a significant advance over known electronic dice. The potting material gives the inventive die added weight and safely encases the electronics. Using miniaturized electronics and batteries, the die can have physical dimensions and weight that are the same as or similar to a conventional hand-tossed gaming die.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming die for randomly selecting an outcome that is a number between one and six, comprising:

a six-sided, cube-shaped shell defining the exterior of the electronic die, each side of the cube-shaped shell representing a predetermined outcome that is distinct from the outcomes represented by the other sides of the cube-shaped shell, the cube-shaped shell being adapted to be rolled by a user to determine the outcome;

a first side of the cube-shaped shell representing the number one;

a second side of the cube-shaped shell representing the number two;

three light-emitting pips located on a third side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number three;

four light-emitting pips located on a fourth side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number four;

five light-emitting pips located on a fifth side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number five;

six light-emitting pips located on a sixth side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number six, whereby the electronic die includes a total of at least nineteen light-emitting pips;

an electronic circuit, located within the cube-shaped shell, for causing, in response to a triggering input, the at least nineteen light-emitting pips on the sides of the cube-shaped shell to light up in a predetermined pattern that has a predetermined duration, the electronic circuit including an integrated circuit (IC) for illuminating one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminating the at least nineteen light-emitting pips according to the predetermined pattern, the IC being COB-mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) for miniaturizing the electronic circuit and configured in a one-shot mode so that the LEDs illuminate for the predetermined duration upon occurrence of the trigger input;

a sensor, located within the cube-shaped shell, for providing the triggering input to trigger the electronic circuit to illuminate the at least nineteen light-emitting pips according to the predetermined pattern in response to the electronic die being physically manipulated; and

at least one battery, located in the cube-shaped shell, for powering the electronic circuit.

2. The electronic die of claim 1, further comprising a light pipe located at least partially within the shell for transferring light from the LEDs to at least one of the light-emitting pips.

3. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the shell is transparent and the electronic die further comprises an opaque layer of material disposed on the transparent shell in a predetermined pattern defining the light-emitting pips.

4. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery is a coin cell battery.

5. The electronic die of claim 1, further comprising:

potting material placed inside the cube-shaped shell.

6. The electronic die of claim 1, further comprising:

one light-emitting pip located on the first side of the shell, representing the number one.

7. The electronic die of claim 1, further comprising:

two light-emitting pips located on a second side of the shell, representing the number two.

8. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein each of the pips includes one of the LEDs.

9. The electronic die of claim 1, further comprising an audio generator.

10. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes:

a switch, located within the cube-shaped shell and operatively coupled to the electronic circuit, for indicating which of the shell sides is facing up.

11. The electronic die of claim 10, further comprising an audio generator, operatively coupled to the switch, for playing a voice message announcing a roll outcome indicated by the upward-facing side of the shell.

12. An electronic die, comprising:

a six-sided, cube-shaped shell defining the exterior of the electronic die, each side of the cube-shaped shell representing a predetermined outcome that is distinct from the outcomes represented by the other sides of the cube-shaped shell;

a first side of the shell representing the number one;

a second side of the shell representing the number two;

three light-emitting pips located on a third side of the shell, representing the number three;

four light-emitting pips located on a fourth side of the shell, representing the number four;

five light-emitting pips located on a fifth side of the shell, representing the number five;

six light-emitting pips located on a sixth side of the shell, representing the number six, whereby the electronic die includes a total of at least nineteen light-emitting pips;

at least one light source, attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) contained internally within the shell, for illuminating the pips;

a light pipe located within the shell and having an end attached to the at least one light source and one or more fingers terminating on the exterior of the shell at one or more of the light-emitting pips, for transferring light from the at least one light source to at least some the light-emitting pips;

an electronic circuit, located within the shell, for causing, in response to a triggering input, the at least one light source to illuminate in a predetermined pattern that has a predetermined duration, the electronic circuit including an integrated circuit (IC) for illuminating the at least one light source according to the predetermined pattern, the IC being COB-mounted to the PCB for miniaturizing the electronic circuit and configured in a one-shot mode so that the at least one light source illuminates for the predetermined duration upon occurrence of the triggering input;

a sensor, located within the shell, for providing the triggering input to trigger the electronic circuit to light up the at least one light source according to the predetermined pattern in response to the electronic die being physically manipulated; and

at least one battery, located in the cube-shaped shell, for powering the electronic circuit and the at least one light source.

13. The electronic die of claim 12, wherein the shell is transparent and the electronic die further comprises an opaque layer of material disposed on the transparent shell in a predetermined pattern defining the light-emitting pips.

14. The electronic die of claim 12, further comprising:

potting material placed inside the cube-shaped shell.

15. The electronic die of claim 12, further comprising:

one light-emitting pip located on the first side of the shell, representing the number one.

16. The electronic die of claim 12, further comprising:

two light-emitting pips located on a second side of the shell, representing the number two.

17. The electronic die of claim 12, further comprising an audio generator.

18. The electronic die of claim 12, wherein the sensor includes:

a switch, located within the cube-shaped shell and operatively coupled to the electronic circuit, for indicating which of the shell sides is facing up.

19. The electronic die of claim 18, further comprising an audio generator, operatively coupled to the switch, for playing a voice message announcing a roll outcome indicated by the upward-facing side of the shell.

20. An electronic die, comprising:

a six-sided, cube-shaped shell defining the exterior of the electronic die, each side of the cube-shaped shell representing a predetermined outcome that is distinct from the outcomes represented by the other sides of the cube-shaped shell;

a first side of the cube-shaped shell representing the number one;

a second side of the cube-shaped shell representing the number two;

three light-emitting pips located on a third side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number three;

four light-emitting pips located on a fourth side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number four;

five light-emitting pips located on a fifth side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number five;

six light-emitting pips located on a sixth side of the cube-shaped shell, representing the number six, whereby the electronic die includes a total of at least nineteen light-emitting pips;

an electronic circuit, located within the cube-shaped shell, for causing, in response to a triggering input, the at least nineteen light-emitting pips on the sides of the cube-shaped shell to light up in a predetermined pattern that has a predetermined duration, the electronic circuit including an integrated circuit (IC) for illuminating one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminating the at least nineteen light-emitting pips according to the predetermined pattern, the IC being circuit-on-board (COB) mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured in a one-shot mode so that the LEDs illuminate for the predetermined duration upon occurrence of the trigger input;

a sensor, located within the cube-shaped shell, for providing the triggering input to trigger the electronic circuit to illuminate the at least nineteen light-emitting pips according to the predetermined pattern in response to the electronic die being physically manipulated, the sensor including a switch, for indicating which of the shell sides is facing up;

an audio generator, operatively coupled to the switch, for playing a voice message announcing a roll outcome indicated by the upward-facing side of the shell; and

at least one battery, located in the cube-shaped shell, for powering the electronic circuit.