ELECTRONIC DICE

• US 20140309016A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 10/16/2014
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,694,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 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 capable of providing roll data indicative of the orientation of the die casing;

a wireless interface capable of communicating a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing based on the roll data to a monitoring device;

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.

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

3. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the acceleration measurement system includes a three-axis accelerometer.

4. The electronic die of claim 1, wherein the die further comprises markings on outer surfaces thereof.

5. The electronic die of claim 4, wherein the markings comprise one of pips, numbers, letters, and characters.

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

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

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

21. The electronic die of claim 1 wherein the roll result is based on a power dropout compensated roll measurement.

22. The electronic die of claim 21 wherein the power dropout compensated roll measurement further comprises a calibrated vector value.

6. (canceled)

10. 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 calculating, by means of the first or second processor, a vector indicative of the effect of gravity on the electronic n-sided die; and

electronically determining, by means of the first or the second processor, a roll result of an electronic n-sided die based on the vector.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising electronically calibrating the acceleration measurement data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the calculating a vector indicative of the effect of gravity further comprises normalizing the acceleration measurement data using calibration data.

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

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic n-sided die is a twenty or fewer sided die.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic n-sided die is a six-sided die.

23. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of displaying the roll result of the electronic n-sided die on the monitoring device, further comprises the step of displaying a roll of the electronic n-sided die as the roll occurs before the n-sided gaming die comes to rest.

16. A sleep control system for reducing power consumption of an electronic die comprising:

an acceleration measurement system capable of outputting acceleration data; and

a monitor that monitors the acceleration data, wherein the monitor changes an electronic die from a low power state to an operational state based the monitored acceleration data.

17. The sleep control system of claim 16, wherein the acceleration data is analog.

18. The sleep control system of claim 16, wherein the acceleration data is digital.

19. The sleep control system of claim 16, wherein the monitor changes the electronic die from the low power state to the operational state based on a threshold level.

20. The sleep control system of claim 19, wherein the threshold level corresponds to a user'"'"'s shaking the die.

24. An 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;

a processor configured to process the roll data to determine a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing;

a wireless interface configured to communicate the roll result; and

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

25. The electronic die of claim 24, wherein the die casing comprises a cube.

26. The electronic die of claim 24, wherein the acceleration measurement system includes a three-axis accelerometer.

27. The electronic die of claim 24, wherein the processor is a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a filed programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, an application specific integrated circuit, or a series discrete digital logic.

28. The electronic die system of claim 24, wherein the monitoring device is configured to display the roll result.

29. An electronic 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 convertors configured to process the roll data and determine a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing based on the roll data;

a wireless interface configured to communicate the roll result to a monitoring device; and

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

30. The electronic die system of claim 29, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

31. The electronic die system of claim 29, wherein the monitoring device is configured to display the roll result.

32. 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 a signal indicative of the orientation of the die casing die casing;

a wireless interface configured to communicate said signal or signals responsive to said signal to the monitoring device,

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

wherein the monitoring device is configured to display a roll result indicative of the orientation of the electronic die.

33. The electronic die system of claim 32, wherein the die casing comprises a cube.

34. The electronic die system of claim 32, wherein the acceleration measurement system includes a three-axis accelerometer.

35. The electronic die system of claim 32, wherein the die further comprises markings on outer surfaces thereof.

36. The electronic die system of claim 35, wherein the markings comprise one of pips, numbers, letters, and characters.

37. The electronic die system of claim 32, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

38. The electronic die system of claim 32, further comprising a protective cover.

39. The electronic die system of claim 32, further comprising reversible faceplates removably affixable to an outer surface of the electronic die.

40. The electronic die system of claim 32 wherein the roll result is based on a power dropout compensated roll measurement.

41. The electronic die system of claim 32 wherein the monitoring device is further configured to display a roll as it occurs before the die casing comes to rest.

42. The electronic die system of claim 41 wherein the power dropout compensated roll measurement further comprises a calibrated vector value.

43. The electronic die system of claim 32, wherein the monitoring device is a cell phone or a mobile device.

44. The electronic die system of claim 32, wherein the monitoring device comprises a video display, an alpha-numeric display, or a series of light emitting diodes for indicating the roll result.

45. The electronic die system of claim 32, wherein the monitoring device is configured to indicate the roll result by audio tone or speech.

46. An electronic die comprising:

a die casing;

a power source configured to supply power;

an acceleration measurement system capable of providing a signal indicative of the orientation of the die casing;

a wireless interface capable of communicating the signal or signals responsive to the signal to a monitoring device,

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

wherein the monitoring device is configured to display a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing.

47. The electronic die of claim 46, wherein the die casing comprises a cube.

48. The electronic die of claim 46, wherein the acceleration measurement system includes a three-axis accelerometer.

49. The electronic die of claim 46, wherein the die further comprises markings on outer surfaces thereof.

50. The electronic die of claim 49, wherein the markings comprise one of pips, numbers, letters, and characters.

51. The electronic die of claim 46, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

52. The electronic die of claim 46, further comprising a protective cover.

53. The electronic die of claim 46, further comprising reversible faceplates removably affixable to an outer surface of the electronic die.

54. The electronic die system of claim 46 wherein the roll result is based on a power dropout compensated roll measurement.

55. The electronic die system of claim 46 wherein the monitoring device is further configured to display a roll as it occurs before the die casing comes to rest.

56. The electronic die system of claim 54 wherein the power dropout compensated roll measurement further comprises a calibrated vector value.

57. 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;

a wireless interface configured to communicate a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing based on the roll data to the monitoring device,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to display a roll result indicative of the orientation of the die casing based on the roll data; and

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

58. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the die casing comprises a cube.

59. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the acceleration measurement system includes a three-axis accelerometer.

60. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the die further comprises markings on outer surfaces thereof.

61. The electronic die system of claim 60, wherein the markings comprise one of pips, numbers, letters, and characters.

62. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

63. The electronic die system of claim 57, comprising a protective cover.

64. The electronic die system of claim 57, comprising reversible faceplates removably affixable to an outer surface of the electronic die.

65. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the roll result is based on a power dropout compensated roll measurement.

66. The electronic die system of claim 57 wherein the monitoring device is further configured to display a roll as it occurs before the die casing comes to rest.

67. The electronic die system of claim 65, wherein the power dropout compensated roll measurement further comprises a calibrated vector value.

68. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the monitoring device is a cell phone or a mobile device.

69. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the monitoring device comprises a video display, an alpha-numeric display, or a series of light emitting diodes for indicating the roll result.

70. The electronic die system of claim 57, wherein the monitoring device is configured to indicate the roll result by audio tone or speech.

71. The electronic die system of claim 57 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.