Electronic dice

• US 9,694,275 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scosche Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scosche Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hawkins, Scott Allan, Pennestri, Scott Anthony, Maes, Richard Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US14/139,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 463 22
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0422 four-sided
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0424 five-sided
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0426 six-sided non-cuboid
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0428 seven-sided
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0431 eight-sided
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0433 nine-sided
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0435 ten-sided
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0437 twelve-sided
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0491 Customisable dice, e.g. with interchangeable or replaceable inserts
• 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 9/0468 Electronic dice; electronic dice simulators

Abstract

An electronic die capable of reporting roll results is disclosed. The die can include an acceleration measurement system capable of outputting roll data. A processor can then interpret the roll data and transmit it through a wireless interface to a monitoring device. The monitoring device can then show a user the roll result. Waking the electronic die from a low power mode is also disclosed along with customizing the electronic die with faceplates and protective covers.

Claims

1. An electronic die comprising:

a die casing;

a power source configured to supply power;

an acceleration measurement system comprising a three-axis accelerometer capable of providing roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing; and

a wireless interface capable of communicating the roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing provided by the acceleration measurement system to a monitoring device configured to provide an indication of the orientation of the die casing based on the roll data;

wherein the die casing is capable of enclosing some or all of the acceleration measurement system, the wireless interface, and the power source, and

wherein when assembled at least the electronic die forms a three or more sided gaming die and each side has a marking on an outer surface to identify the side.

2. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the die casing comprises a cube.

3. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the markings comprise one of pips, numbers, letters, and characters.

4. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

5. The electronic die of claim 1, comprising a protective cover.

6. The electronic die of claim 1, comprising reversible faceplates removably affixable to an outer surface of the electronic die.

7. A method of determining roll results of an n-sided gaming die, the method comprising:

generating acceleration measurement data using an acceleration measurement system of an n-sided gaming die;

electronically receiving the acceleration measurement data by at least one of a first processor located within the electronic n-sided die and a second processor located within a monitoring device separate from the electronic n-sided die, the acceleration measurement data indicative of acceleration or vibration of the n-sided die;

electronically processing the acceleration data, by means of the first or second processor, to determine the orientation of the die, while;

electronically compensating, by means of the first or the second processor, for changes in supply voltage to provide a power compensated roll result of the electronic n-sided die, wherein the electronic compensation includes calculating a vector value indicative of the effect of gravity on the electronic n-sided die.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising electronically calibrating the acceleration measurement data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the calculating a vector indicative of the effect of gravity further comprises normalizing the acceleration measurement data using calibration data.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the roll result to the monitoring device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic n-sided die is a twenty or fewer sided die.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic n-sided die is a six-sided die.

13. An electronic die comprising:

a die casing;

a power source configured to supply power;

an acceleration measurement system capable of providing roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing; and

a wireless interface capable of communicating a power dropout compensated roll result based on the roll data to a monitoring device configured to display the power dropout compensated roll-result;

wherein the die casing is capable of enclosing some or all of the acceleration measurement system, the wireless interface, and the power source, and

wherein when assembled at least the electronic die forms a three or more sided gaming die.

14. The electronic die of claim 13, wherein the power dropout compensated roll result is based on a measurement that includes a calibrated vector value.

15. An electronic n-sided die comprising:

a die casing;

a power source configured to supply power;

an acceleration measurement system comprising a three-axis accelerometer configured to provide roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing;

a processor configured to electronically calculate a vector indicative of the effect of gravity on the electronic n-sided die and electronically determine a roll result of the electronic n-sided die based on the vector; and

a wireless interface configured to communicate the roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing to a monitoring device configured to provide an indication of the roll result;

wherein the die casing encloses some or all of the acceleration measurement system, the wireless interface, the processor and the power source and

wherein each of the n sides of the electronic die has a marking on an outer surface to identify the side.

16. The electronic die of claim 15, wherein the die casing comprises a cube.

17. The electronic die of claim 15, wherein the processor is a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a field programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, an application specific integrated circuit, or a series discrete digital logic.

18. The electronic die of claim 15, wherein the monitoring device is configured to display the roll result.

19. An electronic n-sided die comprising:

a cubic die casing;

a power source configured to supply power;

an acceleration measurement system, including a three-axis accelerometer, configured to provide roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing;

a microcontroller with integrated analog to digital converters configured to electronically calculate a vector indicative of the effect of gravity on the electronic n-sided die and electronically determine a roll result of an electronic n-sided die based on the vector; and

a wireless interface configured to communicate the roll result to a monitoring device configured to provide an indication of the roll result,

wherein the die casing encloses some or all of the acceleration measurement system, the wireless interface, the microcontroller and the power source and

wherein each of the n sides has a marking on an outer surface to identify the side.

20. The electronic die of claim 19, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

21. The electronic die of claim 19, wherein the monitoring device is configured to display the roll result.

22. An electronic die system comprising:

a monitoring device and

an electronic die, the electronic die comprising;

a die casing;

a power source configured to supply power,

an acceleration measurement system comprising a three-axis accelerometer configured to provide roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing; and

a wireless interface configured to communicate the roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing provided by the acceleration measurement system,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to provide an indication of a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing based on the roll data;

wherein the die casing encloses some or all of the acceleration measurement system, the wireless interface, and the power source and

wherein when assembled at least the electronic die forms a three or more sided gaming die and each side has a marking on an outer surface to identify the side.

23. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the die casing comprises a cube.

24. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the die further comprises markings on outer surfaces thereof.

25. The electronic die system of claim 24, wherein the markings comprise one of pips, numbers, letters, and characters.

26. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

27. The electronic die system of claim 22, comprising a protective cover.

28. The electronic die system of claim 22, comprising reversible faceplates removably affixable to an outer surface of the electronic die.

29. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the monitoring device is a cell phone or a mobile device.

30. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the monitoring device comprises a video display, an alpha-numeric display, or a series of light emitting diodes for indicating the roll result.

31. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the monitoring device is configured to indicate the roll result by audio tone or speech.

32. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the signal indicative of the orientation of the die casing or signals responsive to said signal are a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing based on the roll data.

34. The electronic die system of claim 22, wherein the monitoring device is further configured to provide an indication of a roll as it occurs before the die casing comes to rest.

33. An electronic die system comprising:

a monitoring device and

an electronic die, the electronic die comprising;

a die casing;

a power source configured to supply power,

an acceleration measurement system configured to provide roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing or a roll result based on the roll data; and

a wireless interface configured to communicate the roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing provided by the acceleration measurement system,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to display the roll result and

wherein the displayed roll result is a power dropout compensated roll result based on the roll data.

35. The electronic die system of claim 33, wherein the power dropout compensated roll result is based on a measurement that includes a calibrated vector value.