U.S. patent application number 10/078528 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-21 for cards and pieces for a game, and reading apparatus.
Invention is credited to Higashida, Mitsuru.
Application Number | 20030155714 10/078528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27732843 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030155714 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Higashida, Mitsuru |
August 21, 2003 |
Cards and pieces for a game, and reading apparatus
Abstract
Each of a set of cards for a game has a resistance member
printed thereon by applying resist ink thereto so that the
character of each card can be specified by reading the resistance
value of the resistance member. Further, when the parameter of the
character is corrected based on the difference of the resistance
value, the game can be provided with a contingent factor. With this
arrangement, the character of the card can be read at less
expensive cost as compared with a case in which it is read through
a barcode displayed on a card because an expensive card reader
having a complex structure is necessary to read the barcode.
Inventors: |
Higashida, Mitsuru; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARENT FOX KINTNER PLOTKIN & KAHN
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 400
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
27732843 |
Appl. No.: |
10/078528 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2009/2411 20130101;
A63F 1/18 20130101; A63F 1/02 20130101; A63F 2003/00678
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A set of cards for a game having a plurality of types of
characters displayed on each of the cards comprising: a resistance
member having a resistance value determined for each character,
wherein the resistance value of the resistance member is measured
by causing the resistance member to come into contact with an
external terminal.
2. A set of pieces for a game molded in a plurality of types of
characters, each of the pieces comprising: a resistance member
having a resistance value determined for each character, wherein
the resistance value of the resistance member is measured by
causing the resistance member to come into contact with external
terminals.
3. A reading apparatus comprising: a terminal for coming into
contact with a resistance member having a resistance value
determined for each of characters; and correction means for
correcting a parameter set to each of the characters, wherein a
type of a character is specified by measuring the resistance value
of the resistance member through the terminal and wherein the
parameter set to each character is corrected by the correction
means based on a difference between the resistance value determined
to the character the type of which is specified and an actually
measured resistance value.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a set of cards for a game
having a plurality of types of characters displayed thereon, to a
set of pieces for a game molded in a plurality of types of
characters, and to a reading apparatus used in a game played using
these game cards and pieces.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] There are known card games that are played in a matching
mode using game cards on which a plurality of types of characters
are displayed. In this type of card game, each of the cards has a
different character as well as a parameter of fighting power, and
the like intrinsic to the card, and they are displayed on the card.
In this game, each of game players shows a card to an opponent
player according to a rule. When , for example, a player shows a
card whose parameter of fighting power is smaller than that of an
opponent player, the points of the player is reduced by the points
of the parameter of the card shown by him or her. Finally, when any
one of the players loses all the points, the opponent player wins
the game.
[0005] The rule described above is simplified for the purpose of
explanation, and actually more complex rules are employed. For
example, a player shows a plurality of cards, places cards with the
characters displayed thereof facing downward so that an opponent
player cannot get the view of the characters, or uses cards with
the capabilities of the characters thereof combined.
[0006] These games do not always require to use cards, and may be
played using pieces formed in the shapes of characters. For
example, it is possible to play the games by placing these pieces
on a game board and by employing a rule similar to that used in the
card games.
[0007] In the games played using the cads or the pieces, game
players must judge the result of the games and count scores. The
rules of the games are not simple in many cases as described above,
and further the scores must be counted by the players themselves,
which makes it difficult for children before entering elementary
school and school children in the lower grades to enjoy the games.
This disadvantage can be overcome by making these children to play
the games using a game machine that electrically reads the
characters of cards and pieces, that counts scores, and that leads
the game according to the rules of the games.
[0008] As a method of electrically reading the character of a card,
there is contemplated a method of providing a digital code such as
a barcode, which is set to each character of a card and a piece,
therewith and of reading the digital code by a game machine. While
the digital code can be relatively simply provided with the card
and the piece at a less expensive cost, a mechanism for reading the
digital code is expensive, which increases the cost of the game
machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the problem described above, it is an object of
the present invention to provide a card and a piece for a game the
character of which can be read at less expensive cost.
[0010] To solve the above problem, a set of cards for a game
according to the present invention have a plurality of types of
characters displayed thereon, and each of the cards includes a
resistance member having a resistance value determined for each
character, wherein the resistance value of the resistance member is
measured by causing the resistance member to come into contact with
an external terminal.
[0011] Further, a set of pieces for a game according to the present
invention is molded in a plurality of types of characters, and each
of the pieces includes a resistance member having a resistance
value determined for each character, wherein the resistance value
of the resistance member is measured by causing the resistance
member to come into contact with external terminals.
[0012] In both of the inventions, the card or the piece is provided
with a resistance member having a resistance value determined for
each character. Thus, a simple and less expensive apparatus for
reading the resistance value can identify and read a character.
[0013] A reading apparatus according to the present invention
includes a terminal for coming into contact with a resistance
member having a resistance value determined for each of characters;
and a correction means for correcting a parameter set to each of
the characters, wherein the type of a character is specified by
measuring the resistance value of the resistance member through the
terminal and wherein the parameter set to each character is
corrected by the correction means based on a difference between the
resistance value determined to the character the type of which is
specified and an actually measured resistance value.
[0014] The resistance value of the resistance member has an error
and does not perfectly agree with a preset resistance value as a
reference resistance value, thereby a difference is caused
therebetween. While this difference can be restricted to a certain
extent, it is difficult to predict the difference of each card or
piece. Thus, when a parameter set to each character is corrected
based on the difference, a game can be provided with a contingent
factor, making the game more interesting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a view showing an arrangement of a reading
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a view showing the recording medium into which a
card is inserted;
[0017] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are views showing other shapes of a
resistance member;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a view showing an arrangement of a reading
apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a view showing an arrangement of a game board
according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of a piece;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a view showing an arrangement of a reading
apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0022] FIG. 8 is a view showing a film on which resist ink is
applied as a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a reading
apparatus, in which a card 2 is inserted into a slit 11 formed on
the right side thereof. The card 2 has a band-shaped resistance
member 21 that is composed of resist ink and printed on at least
one surface thereof. The resistance member 21 has a resistance
value previously set according to the character (not shown) printed
on each card 2, and the resistance member 21 is printed so as to
have the thus set resistance value. When the card 2 is inserted
into the slit 11, the reading apparatus 1 detects the resistance
value of the resistance member 21 and specifies the type of the
character printed on the card 2. The reading apparatus 1 displays
the character specified thereby on a display 12, makes progress of
a game according to a predetermined rule, and displays the progress
of the game on the display 12 together with the character.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, a pair of electrodes 13 are mounted on
the inside of the reading apparatus 1. When the card 2 is inserted
into the reading apparatus 1, the electrodes 13 come into contact
with both the ends of the resistance member 21, respectively. Both
the electrodes 13 are connected to a microcomputer 14 acting as a
correcting unit. Both the electrodes 13 are connected to a
microcomputer 14 acting as a correcting means. The microcomputer 14
measures the resistance value of the resistance member 21 and
specifies the character printed on the card 2 from the measured
resistance value. Each character has parameters set thereto that
indicate fighting power, defensive power, and the like. The
resistance value, which is measured actually, of the resistance
member 21 of a character does not perfectly agree with the
resistance value preset to the character, and a difference is
caused therebetween. It is assumed, for example, that a character
of the card 2 has a resistance value of 10 kiloohms and that the
resistance value of the character measured by the microcomputer 14
is 10.191 kiloohms. Thus, the character has a difference of +0.191
kiloohm between the resistance values. If the character has
fighting power of 1000 points in correspondence to the resistance
value of 10 kiloohms, fighting power of 191 point, which is
obtained by multiplying the fighting power of 1000 points by the
difference, is added to the fighting power of 1000 points, whereby
the displayed fight power of the card 2 is corrected from 1000
points to 1191 points.
[0025] While the difference is simply multiplied by the fighting
power in the above description, the resultant product may be
further multiplied by a constant. Further, when the difference is a
multiple of, for example, "3", the fighting power corrected by the
difference may be multiplied by "10". In the above example, for
example, since the difference 191 kiloohms is not a multiple of
"3", the fighting power is set to 1191 points after it is
corrected. However, when the difference is 192 kiloohms that is a
multiple of "3", the fighting power is set to 2920 points by adding
1920 points, which is obtained by multiplying 191 by "10", to 1000
points. In addition to the above-mentioned, a specific content of
correction, which is made by the difference, maybe appropriately
determined according to the property, and the like of a game.
[0026] Incidentally, while the resistance member 21 is printed by
printing the resist ink on the card 2 in the band-shape, when it is
desired to increase the resistance value of a resistance member, a
resistance member 22 may be printed slenderly in a long size, as
shown in, for example, FIG. 3A. When it is desired to reduce the
difference of a resistance value, a pair of copper foils 23 may be
bonded on the card 2 and a chip resistance 24 may be bridged
therebetween and soldered thereto, as shown in, for example, FIG.
2B. The card 2 is not limited to a card composed of paper and may
be composed of plastic, and further an IC chip 25 may be buried in
the card 2 to store game data. In this case, it is sufficient to
print a resistance member 26 by bypassing the IC chip 25. Note that
the IC chip 25 may be any of a contact type and a non-contact
type.
[0027] While the reading apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes many
switches to cope with a game played according to a complex rule, a
reading apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 4 is used in a game having a
simple rule for simply making a fight using a parameter of each one
card. When the card 2 is inserted into a slit 31 formed on the
upper surface of the reading apparatus 3, it reads the resistance
value of the resistance member 21, similarly to the above reading
apparatus 1, corrects the parameter of the card 2 based on a
difference, and displays the corrected parameter on a display
32.
[0028] While the resistance member is printed on the card in the
above embodiments, it is also possible to contain a recording
medium in each of pieces 5 and to play a game on a game board 4, as
shown in FIG. 5. The game board 4 has terminals 41. Placing a piece
5 on terminals 41 permits the resistance value of the resistance
member contained in the piece 5 to be read and permits the
character of the piece 5 to be determined. Then, the parameter of
the character is corrected based on the difference of the actual
resistance value. A game shown in FIG. 5 is a "Sumou" game, that
is, a "Japanese wrestling" game, in which the parameters, each of
which corresponds to fighting power, of the characters are
corrected, and a character having a larger corrected parameter wins
the game. The corrected parameters and the result of the game are
shown on a display 42.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, the game board 4 contains a
microcomputer 43 similar to the microcomputer 14 contained in the
reading apparatus 1, and the terminals 41 are connected to the
microcomputer 43. In contrast, a pair of terminals 51 having the
same interval as that of the terminals 41 are attached to the
bottom of each piece 5, and both the terminals 51 are connected
with each other through a resistance member 52. Accordingly, when
the piece 5 is placed on the terminals 41, the terminals 41 come
into contact with the terminals 51, thereby the resistance value of
the resistance member 52 can be measured by the microcomputer
43.
[0030] Further, games other than the games of a fighting mode can
be played using the piece 5. As shown in FIG. 7, when terminals 61
are disposed at respective positions of a dwelling model 6 and the
piece 5 is placed on a pair of terminals 61 at, for example, an
entrance, a microcomputer (not shown) analyzes the character of the
piece 5. When the character is a father as a result of analysis,
the microcomputer causes a speaker (not shown) to issue a voice
"welcome back father". Further, when the piece 5 is placed on a
pair of terminals 61 at a kitchen 62 and it is determined that the
character of the piece 5 is a mother, the microcomputer turns on a
light in the kitchen 62. When the piece 5 is placed on a pair of
terminal 61 on a bed 63 side, the microcomputer turns off a light
in a bed room together with a voice "good night" issued from the
speaker.
[0031] Note that the resistance member is printed on the card 2 by
directly applying the resist ink thereon. However, a resistance
member 71 may be formed on a film 7 independently from the card 2
by applying resist ink thereto, and the film 7 may be bonded on the
card 2.
[0032] Incidentally, in the above embodiments, any known circuits
may be used as a circuit through which the microcomputer detects
the resistance value of the resistance member. Contemplated as the
circuit is, for example, a detection circuit, in which known fixed
resistors are connected in series with each other and a partial
voltage derived from a midpoint between the resistors is detected,
a circuit in which a capacitor is charged by a voltage passing
through the resistance member and the charging time of the
capacitor is measured, a circuit in which the resistance member is
assembled in a CR oscillation circuit and the resistance value of
the resistance member is measured from the frequency oscillated by
the oscillation circuit, and the like.
[0033] As apparent from the above description, the reading
apparatus of the present invention specifies the character of a
card and a piece from the resistance value of the resistance
member. Accordingly, the reading apparatus of the present invention
is less expensive than a reading apparatus for specifying the
character using a barcode. Further, the present invention can
provide a game with a contingent factor. This is because a
difference is caused in a resistance value in the form of analog
data, and thus a parameter is corrected according to the
difference.
* * * * *