Game apparatus for supplying power to playing elements
First Claim
1. Game apparatus comprising a game module and at least one playing piece separate from the game module, the game module having a playing surface with at least one playing area, the at least one playing area having first electrical coupling means, the at least one playing piece having second electrical coupling means for coupling with the first electrical coupling means, the game module having means for supplying a signal to a playing piece electrically coupled to the game module, and the playing piece having a memory means for storing data, means for deriving a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the power supply deriving means comprising coupling means for coupling to a user so as to complete an electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and means for communicating data between the playing piece and the game module in response to power being derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A game module has a signal generator for generating a signal for supply to a playing piece when the playing piece is electrically coupled to the games module. The playing piece has a memory for storing data and is arranged to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module by coupling to a user so as to complete an electrical path via the user back to the game module and to communicate data with the game module when power is thereby derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
126 Citations
37 Claims
- 1. Game apparatus comprising a game module and at least one playing piece separate from the game module, the game module having a playing surface with at least one playing area, the at least one playing area having first electrical coupling means, the at least one playing piece having second electrical coupling means for coupling with the first electrical coupling means, the game module having means for supplying a signal to a playing piece electrically coupled to the game module, and the playing piece having a memory means for storing data, means for deriving a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the power supply deriving means comprising coupling means for coupling to a user so as to complete an electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and means for communicating data between the playing piece and the game module in response to power being derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
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20. Game apparatus comprising a game module and at least one playing piece separate from the game module,
the game module having first electrical coupling means, the at least one playing piece having second electrical coupling means for coupling with the first electrical coupling means, the game module having means for generating a signal for supply to a playing piece when the playing piece is electrically coupled to the game module, and the playing piece having means for deriving a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the power supply deriving means comprising coupling means for coupling to a user so as to complete an electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and communication means for communicating data to at least one of the user and the game module in response to power being derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
- 22. A playing piece for use with a separate game module having a playing surface with at least one playing area having first electrical coupling means and having means for supplying a signal to a playing piece electrically coupled to the game module, the playing piece having second electrical coupling means for coupling with the first electrical coupling means, a memory means for storing data, means for deriving a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the power supply deriving means comprising coupling means for coupling to a user so as to complete an electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and means for communicating data between the playing piece and the game module in response to power being derived by the power supply deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
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24. A playing piece for use in a game apparatus, the playing piece comprising:
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memory means storing a plurality of sets of data;
electrical coupling means for coupling with electrical coupling means of a game module that is separate from the playing piece;
means for deriving a power supply from a signal supplied by supplying means of the game module in response to a user touching the playing piece; and
means for communicating a particular one of the plurality of sets of data with a user or game module in response to power being derived by the power supply deriving means from the signal provided by the game module, wherein the particular set of data that is communicated is dependent upon where the user touches the playing piece.
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25. A game module comprising:
- a playing surface with at least one playing area having first electrical coupling means for receiving a separate playing piece having second electrical coupling means, a memory means for storing data and means for deriving a power supply having coupling means for coupling to a user, the game module having means for supplying a signal to the separate playing piece when the first and second electrical coupling means are electrically coupled so that an electrical path from the game module back to the game module is completed via the user, and means for communicating data between the separate playing piece and the game module in response to power being derived by the power supply deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. Game apparatus comprising:
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a game module having a playing surface defining at least one playing area having first electrical coupling means;
at least one playing piece separate from the game module and adapted to be placed on the at least one playing area, the at least one playing piece having second electrical coupling means for coupling with the first electrical coupling means when the playing piece is placed on the playing area;
processing means for carrying out instructions relating to a game to be played;
first memory means for storing data relevant to a game;
signal supplying means for supplying a signal to a playing piece when the playing piece is placed on the at least one playing area so that the first and second electrical coupling means are electrically coupled, the at least one playing piece having means for deriving a power supply from the signal supplied by the signal supplying means, the power supply deriving means comprising coupling means for coupling to a player so as to complete an electrical path from the game module back to the game module when the player places the playing piece on the playing area thereby supplying power to the playing piece; and
communication means for communicating data between the playing piece and the processing means in response to the player placing the playing piece on the playing area so that power is derived by the power supply deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
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30. Game apparatus comprising:
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a playing surface defining at least one playing area;
processing means for carrying out instructions relating to a game to be played;
at least one playing piece or component separate from the playing surface and adapted to be placed on the at least one playing area, the at least one playing piece comprising;
memory means storing a plurality of sets of data;
electrical coupling means for coupling with electrical coupling means of a game module;
means for deriving a power supply from a signal supplied by supplying means of the game module in response to a user touching the playing piece; and
means for communicating a particular one of the plurality of sets of data with a user or game module in response to power being derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module, wherein the particular set of data that is communicated is dependent upon where the user touches the playing piece.
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31. Game apparatus comprising:
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a game module having a playing surface with at least one playing area, the at least one playing area having a first electrical coupler; and
at least one playing piece separate from the game module and having a second electrical coupler operable to couple with the first electrical coupler, the game module having a supplier operable to supply a signal to a playing piece electrically coupled to the game module, and the at least one playing piece having a memory operable to store data, a deriver operable to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the deriver comprising a coupler operable to couple to a user so as to complete an electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and a communicator operable to communicate data between the playing piece and the game module in response to power being derived by the deriver from the signal provided by the game module.
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32. Game apparatus comprising:
- a game module having a first electrical coupler and at least one playing piece separate from the game module and having a second electrical coupler operable to couple with the first electrical coupler,
the game module having a signal generator operable to generate a signal for supply to a playing piece when the at least one playing piece is electrically coupled to the game module, and the at least one playing piece having a deriver operable to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the deriver comprising a coupler operable to couple to a user so as to complete an electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and a communicator operable to communicate data to at least one of a user and the game module in response to power being derived by the deriver from the signal provided by the game module.
- a game module having a first electrical coupler and at least one playing piece separate from the game module and having a second electrical coupler operable to couple with the first electrical coupler,
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33. A playing piece for use with a separate game module having a playing surface with at least one playing area having a first electrical coupler and having a supplier operable to supply a signal to a playing piece electrically coupled to the game module, the playing piece having a second electrical coupler operable to couple with the first electrical coupler, a memory operable to store data, a deriver operable to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the deriver comprising a coupler operable to couple to a user so as to complete an electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and a communicator operable to communicate data between the playing piece and the game module in response to power being derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
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34. Game apparatus comprising:
- a game module and at least one playing piece separate from the game module,
the game module having means for supplying a signal to the at least one separate playing piece; and
the at least one separate playing piece having power supply deriving means for deriving a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the power supply deriving means including coupling means for coupling the at least one playing piece to a user so as to complete an electrical path in order for the playing piece and the game module to communicate with one another.
- a game module and at least one playing piece separate from the game module,
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35. Game apparatus comprising a game module and at least one playing piece, the game module having a playing surface with at least one playing area, the at least one playing area having a first electrical coupler, the at least one playing piece having a second electrical coupler operable to couple with the first electrical coupler, the game module having a signal supplier operable to supply a signal to a playing piece electrically coupled to the game module, and the at least one playing piece having
a memory storing data, a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module, the power supply deriver comprising a coupler operable to couple to a user so that the game module, playing piece and user are coupled in series and the user is coupled back to the game module, thereby completing a series electrical path from the game module via the user back to the game module, and a communicator operable to communicate data between the playing piece and the game module in response to power being derived by the power deriver from the signal provided by the game module.
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36. Game apparatus comprising:
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a game module having a playing surface with a plurality of playing areas each having a first electrical coupler and a signal supplier operable to supply a signal to the first electrical couplers; and
at least one playing piece movable over the playing surface so as to enable the playing piece to be positioned on different ones of the plurality of playing areas, the at least one playing piece having a second electrical coupler operable to couple with the first electrical coupler of the playing area on which the playing piece is positioned so as to couple the signal supplied by the signal supplier to the second electrical coupler, a memory storing data, a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from the signal coupled to the second electrical coupler, the power supply deriver comprising a coupler operable to couple to a user to complete an electrical path from the game module via the playing piece to the user and from the user back to the game module, and a communicator operable to communicate data from the playing piece to the game module in response to power being derived by the power deriver from the signal provided by the game module, the game module further having a memory storing game data and game rules for at least one game, a processor operable to implement the game rules for the at least one game, a user interface operable to communicate with a user in accordance with the game rules implemented by the processor to enable the user to play the at least one game, a determiner operable to determine the playing area on which the playing piece is positioned, and a game controller operable to modify, change or upgrade at least one of the game rules and game data on the basis of data communicated from the playing piece and in dependence upon the determined playing area.
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37. Game apparatus comprising:
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a game module having a first electrical coupler; and
at least one playing piece separate from the game module and having a second electrical coupler operable to couple with the first electrical coupler, the game module having a signal supplier operable to supply a signal to a playing piece when the playing piece is electrically coupled to the game module, and the playing piece having a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from a signal supplied by signal supplier of the game module when the playing piece is electrically coupled to the game module, the power supply deriver comprising a coupler operable to couple to a user or other body so as to complete an electrical circuit from the game module via the playing piece to the user or other body and thence from the user back to the game module when the user or other body is in contact with or in close proximity to the playing piece and the playing piece is electrically coupled to the game module, thereby enabling the power supply deriver to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the signal supplier of the game module, and a communicator operable to communicate date in response to power being derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.
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Specification