DE29902195U1 - Interactive game device - Google Patents

Description

Attorney file: FO 10 Gbm
Device for interactive play

1. Area of the utility model

The present utility model relates to a device for an interactive game, in particular for an interactive game which can be set up as a baseball game, football game or hockey game, etc. for at least one player.

2. Description of the state of the art

A baseball game, a football game or a hockey game requires several players and a large playing field. Due to limited space and lack of players, the game often cannot be played. To avoid the need for a full complement of players, a "pitching" device is introduced to the market for baseball fans. The pitching device of this type is shown in Figure 5, which comprises a frame (50) with a pair of vertical front posts (51) and a pair of lateral rear posts (53). Each of the two front posts (51) is provided with a plurality of first sensors (52), and each of the two rear posts (53) is provided with a plurality of second sensors (53). A frame provided with the first sensors

(52) and the second sensors (54) is provided next to the frame (50) and has a display (65) mounted thereon. With such an arrangement, a player is able to make throws with the catcher net device. The first and second sensors (52, 54) are able to measure the speed and the position of the ball (not shown) when the ball passes the first sensors

(52) and reaches the second sensors (54).

This type of throwing device is designed for a single player only, and after a certain period of time that player is likely to lose interest in the game due to the lack of interaction with other players.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional throwing device, the present utility model intends to provide a multi-player (interactive) game that allows the player to use the device interactively against an opponent or against the microprocessor controller. It can therefore be concluded that the utility model tends to reduce and/or completely eliminate the problems described above.

The main object of the present utility model is to provide an improved device for an interactive game which enables a player to play interactively with an opponent or with the microprocessor controller in order to increase the attractiveness and entertainment value of the device.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the game device comprises a microprocessor control capable of deciding, on the basis of a pre-programmed sequence, whether a thrown ball is in the hitting area or not. The microprocessor control, using a random number table, therefore provides a corresponding result of the location of the ball thrown by the first player to a second player so that the second player can continue playing, thereby increasing the interactive relationship between the players and thus certainly also the enjoyment of the game.

Further objects, advantages and novelties of the utility model will become apparent from the following detailed description when read together with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1: a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

utility model;

Figure 2: a front view of the utility model; Figure 3: a side view of the utility model, in which

the relationship between a thrown ball

and the speed detector

is;
Figure 4: a logical flow diagram for a baseball or

Softball game and
Figure 5: a perspective view of a conventional

Gaming device.

An interactive game device of the utility model is used, for example, in a baseball game. Referring to Figure 1, an interactive game device of the utility model comprises a contact surface (10) with at least three detectors (11, 12, 13) mounted thereon. The contact surface (10) may be made of metal, plastic or textile. The contact surface (10) may also be an invisible surface consisting of a plurality of infrared sensors, photosensors or ultrasonic emitters. At least three detectors (11, 12, 13) are used to determine the position of a thrown ball (40), as shown in Figure 2, to enable a microprocessor controller (20) to react based on the position of the ball (40). The contact surface (10) further comprises a cushion (15) on the back of the contact surface (10) to reduce the impact and noise of the ball when it hits the contact surface (10), and an outer frame (16) mounted along the edge of the contact surface (10) to vertically erect the game device on the ground.

Furthermore, a second frame (30) used to determine the speed of the ball comprises the enclosing elements (31) with a plurality of second sensors (32) arranged from one another at a distance Dl which is smaller than the diameter of the ball (40) in order to ensure that the ball (40), when it passes the photosensors (32)

happens, at least one of the second sensors (32) is blocked and a corresponding signal is generated. The frame (30) is spaced a distance D2 from the contact surface (10), D2 being smaller than the diameter of the ball (40), so that two time marks are created by the second sensors (32) or the detectors (11, 12, 13) to calculate the speed of the ball. The microprocessor control (20) further comprises a control switch (21) for determining the level of difficulty and the mode of the game device (single or double), a selector switch (22) for determining the game for which the game device is used (baseball, softball, ice hockey, football ... etc.) and a display

(25) with a status display (26) and a score display

(27) on.

In order to better understand the game device of the utility model, a baseball game is used below to illustrate the function and principles of the utility model.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, in use the microprocessor controller determines the strike area before a first player throws the ball (40), and after the ball (40) is thrown and hits the contact surface (10), the detectors (11, 12, 13) simultaneously calculate the precise position of the ball (40) to determine whether or not the ball (40) is in the strike area. When the respective detectors (11, 12, 13) determine the position of the ball (40), the signals (S1, S2, S3) detected by the detectors (11, 12, 13) are sent to the microprocessor controller (20) to determine the precise position of the ball (40). As previously mentioned, the second sensors (32) generate a first time mark and the detectors (11, 12, 13) generate a second time mark which is sent to the microprocessor controller (20) to calculate the speed of the ball. For example, after the first player has thrown the ball (40), the microprocessor controller (20) first determines the position of the ball (40). Depending on the position of the ball (40),

the microprocessor control (20) then generates a corresponding situation on the basis of the random number table, such as: a hit, a ball, a wild pitch, a fair ball, a home run, a walk, etc. on the contact surface (10) so that a second player can continue the game.

After the second player has thrown the ball (40), the microprocessor control (20) determines the position of the ball (40) and the microprocessor control (20) will determine the situation for the second player and his continuation of the game based on the result of the first throw, depending on the previously determined situation. For example, if the second player's ball (40) hits the batting field, the status display (26) shows that a runner is on base (first, second or third time of play) or that the batter has yet to bat for the second time, while the status on the contact surface (10) remains unchanged.

Referring to Figure 4, when the first player begins to throw, the detectors (11, 12, 13) and the microprocessor controller (20) will determine whether the ball (40) is a strike or a ball. If the throw is a strike, the microprocessor controller (20) creates a corresponding situation for a second player to continue the game based on a random number table for a strike. Depending on the situation created by the strike random number table and displayed on the contact surface (10), i.e. a fair ball, a foul tip, a bunt, etc., the second player begins to throw the ball (40). However, if the first player throws the ball (40) outside the batting area, the microprocessor controller (20) creates a corresponding situation based on a "BaIl" random number table to indicate the result, for example a fair ball, a foul tip, a ball, a hit batter, a home run, a bunt, etc. The game is played entirely according to the actual rules of a baseball game, until

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the status display (26) shows three outs. Then the defender and attacker positions are switched, or the status display (26) shows nine innings (runs) to end the game.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the game device of the utility model provides an interactive opportunity for players to play against each other or against the microprocessor controller (20), thereby eliminating the tediousness of the conventional throwing device and turning it into an enjoyable and entertaining game.

Although the foregoing description has set forth numerous features and advantages of the present invention, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in the details, particularly as to shape, size and arrangement of parts, within the scope of the principle of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (5)

1. Device for an interactive throwing game, comprising:
a contact surface with at least three detectors mounted thereon, a microprocessor control connected to the at least three detectors for determining the position of a ball thrown by a first player and for creating a corresponding situation dependent on the position of the ball so that the second player can continue the game; wherein the microprocessor control has a status display for displaying a current game status. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor controller includes a control switch for determining the game mode and selecting the difficulty level of the game, and a selector switch for determining the type of game for which the gaming device is used. 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein a display is provided on which a score display is located for displaying the current score of the players. 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein a second frame for determining the speed of the ball is provided, which has a plurality of second sensors which are spaced apart from one another by a distance which is smaller than the diameter of the ball and which are located at a distance from the contact surface which is smaller than the ball diameter, the second sensors being connected to the microprocessor control. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor controller is adapted to control a one or two player mode of the game.