Game tower
First Claim
1. A game apparatus comprising:
- a light source;
a housing disposed around the light source wherein the housing is transparent to a range of wavelengths from the light source and wherein the housing is composed of a low distortion scratch-resistant material;
a game board wherein the housing is removably mountable at the center of the game board;
a convex mirror disposed inside the housing such that light is reflected from the light source, off the convex mirror, through the housing, and onto the game board;
one or more retro-reflective elements placed on the game board that receive light emanated from the light source and reflected off of the convex mirror and reflect said light along the path from which the light was received;
a sensor disposed inside the housing that receives light reflected from the one or more retro-reflective elements, that senses increases and decreases in the intensity of the reflected light, and that signals changes in the intensity of the reflected light greater than or equal to a predefined level;
a data store for storing the locations of the reflective elements and other game-related data; and
a processor responsive to signals from the sensor and the data in the data store.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light source, a convex mirror and an optical sensor are disposed within a housing which is transparent to the range of wavelengths from the light source and of a low distortion scratch-resistant material. A game board is used with retro-reflective elements, such as moveable playing markers or game tokens, cards or regions affixed to and integrated into the game board. A data store stores the locations of the reflective elements and other game-related data, such as data needed to measure a player'"'"'s score or position in a game or data to provide guided play. The convex mirror is disposed inside the housing such that light reflects from the light source, off the convex mirror, through the housing, and onto the game board.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A game apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a housing disposed around the light source wherein the housing is transparent to a range of wavelengths from the light source and wherein the housing is composed of a low distortion scratch-resistant material; a game board wherein the housing is removably mountable at the center of the game board; a convex mirror disposed inside the housing such that light is reflected from the light source, off the convex mirror, through the housing, and onto the game board; one or more retro-reflective elements placed on the game board that receive light emanated from the light source and reflected off of the convex mirror and reflect said light along the path from which the light was received; a sensor disposed inside the housing that receives light reflected from the one or more retro-reflective elements, that senses increases and decreases in the intensity of the reflected light, and that signals changes in the intensity of the reflected light greater than or equal to a predefined level; a data store for storing the locations of the reflective elements and other game-related data; and a processor responsive to signals from the sensor and the data in the data store. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A game apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a housing disposed around the light source wherein the housing is transparent to a range of wavelengths from the light source and wherein the housing is composed of a low distortion scratch-resistant material; a game board; a convex mirror disposed inside the housing such that light is reflected from the light source, off the convex mirror, through the housing, and onto the game board; one or more retro-reflective elements placed on the game board that receive light emanated from the light source and reflected off of the convex mirror and reflect said light along the path from which the light was received; a sensor comprising a camera and a lens disposed inside the housing that receives light reflected from the one or more retro-reflective elements, that senses increases and decreases in the intensity of the reflected light, and that signals changes in the intensity of the reflected light greater than or equal to a predefined level wherein reflected light is focused into the camera using the lens; a data store for storing the locations of the reflective elements and other game-related data; and a processor responsive to signals from the sensor and the data in the data store. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for playing a game comprising:
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emanating light from a light source; surrounding the light source with a housing composed of a low distortion scratch-resistant material wherein the housing is transparent to a range of wavelengths from the light source; providing a game board; mounting a convex mirror inside the housing; removably mounting the housing on the game board in a fixed position relative to the game board so that the housing and the game board are consistently aligned; reflecting light from the light source off the convex mirror, through the housing, and onto the game board; placing on the game board one or more retro-reflective elements, comprising at least one of a game token, a card, and a region affixed to the game board, that receive light emanated from the light source and reflected off of the convex mirror and reflect said light along the path from which the light was received; providing a sensor disposed inside the housing that receives light reflected from the one or more retro-reflective elements, that senses increases and decreases in the intensity of the reflected light, and that signals changes in the intensity of the reflected light greater than or equal to a predefined level; storing the locations of the reflective elements and other game-related data in a data store; processing signals from the sensor and data in the data store using a processor; and producing sensory output using the processor to provide guided game play. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A game apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a housing disposed around the light source wherein the housing is transparent to a range of wavelengths from the light source; a game board wherein the housing is removably mountable at the center of the game board; a convex mirror disposed inside the housing such that light is reflected from the light source, off the convex mirror, through the housing, and onto the game board; one or more retro-reflective elements placed on the game board that receive light emanated from the light source and reflected off of the convex mirror and reflect said light along the path from which the light was received; a sensor comprising a camera and a lens disposed inside the housing that receives light reflected from the one or more retro-reflective elements, that senses increases and decreases in the intensity of the reflected light, and that signals changes in the intensity of the reflected light greater than or equal to a predefined level wherein reflected light is focused into the camera using the lens; and a processor in communication with said camera. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification