U.S. patent application number 11/548315 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system.
Invention is credited to Chih-Hao YIU.
Application Number | 20070228658 11/548315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37491582 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070228658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YIU; Chih-Hao |
October 4, 2007 |
Integrating Wave Sensing and Magnetic Induction Dartboard
System
Abstract
An integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system comprises: a magnetic induction dartboard, a wave sensing
device, and an electronic scoring circuit. The waving sensing
device is fixed on the magnetic induction dartboard and is
connected to the electronic scoring circuit. When the electronic
scoring circuit receives the magnetic signal and the wave signal
simultaneously, a score will be created. The abovementioned system
still can produce accurate scoring data in the presence of
electromagnetic interference. It can determine if the target is
missed or not based on the shock or sound caused by dart`
landing.
Inventors: |
YIU; Chih-Hao; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANGER SHIA
204 CANYON CREEK
VICTORIA
TX
77901
US
|
Family ID: |
37491582 |
Appl. No.: |
11/548315 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/372 ;
273/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41J 5/052 20130101;
F42B 6/003 20130101; F41J 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/372 ;
273/371 |
International
Class: |
F41J 5/06 20060101
F41J005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2005 |
TW |
94135394 |
Claims
1. An integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system cooperating with a magnetic induction dartboard to produce
magnetic induction signal after a dart lands on the dartboard, and
cooperating with an electronic scoring circuit to create a score,
comprising: at least one wave sensing device fixed on the dartboard
and connected to the electronic scoring circuit, after the dart
lands on the dartboard, the wave sensing device produces wave
signal; the electronic scoring circuit serves to synchronously
integrate the magnetic signal of magnetic induction coils with the
wave signal of the wave sensing device, and to calculate the
score.
2. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 1 comprising the dartboard, magnetic
induction coils, the electronic scoring circuit, and the wave
sensing device: wherein: the dartboard defines a plurality of
scoring areas; the magnetic induction coils act as a magnetic
induction component disposed on the dartboard and are located
correspondingly to the respective scoring areas of the dartboard;
and the electronic scoring circuit is installed on the dartboard
and is connected to the respective magnetic induction coils and
serves to receive the magnetic induction signal of the magnetic
dart transmitted by the magnetic induction coils.
3. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wave sensing device
receives shock wave.
4. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wave sensing device
synchronously receives sound wave and shock wave.
5. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 1, when the electronic scoring circuit
receives the magnetic induction signal of the dartboard and the
wave signal of the wave sensing device simultaneously, a score will
be created.
6. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 2, when the electronic scoring circuit
receives the magnetic induction signal of the dartboard and the
wave signal of the wave sensing device simultaneously, a score will
be created.
7. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 5, when the electronic scoring circuit
receives the wave signal of the wave sensing device only, it will
be considered as a target missed.
8. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 6, when the electronic scoring circuit
receives the wave signal of the wave sensing device only, it will
be considered as a target missed.
9. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 5, when the dart falls off the
dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic
signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, if the wave
sensing device senses no shock wave or sound wave generated by dart
landing, it can be determined as a target missed, and previously
recorded score will be deducted instantly.
10. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 6, when the dart falls off the
dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic
signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, if the wave
sensing device senses no shock wave or sound wave generated by dart
landing, it can be determined as a target missed, and previously
recorded score will be deducted instantly.
11. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 5, when the dart is pulled out of the
dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic
signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, when the wave
sensing device doesn't sense the wave signal caused by dart's
landing and a predetermined times of scoring operation has been
fulfilled, it can be determined as an action of pulling out the
dart.
12. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 6, when the dart is pulled out of the
dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic
signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, when the wave
sensing device doesn't sense the wave signal caused by dart's
landing and a predetermined times of scoring operation has been
fulfilled, it can be determined as an action of pulling out the
dart.
13. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 11, after the electronic scoring circuit
determines that the dart has been pulled out of the dartboard, it
will be prepared automatically to record the score of the next
throw.
14. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system as claimed in claim 12, after the electronic scoring circuit
determines that the dart has been pulled out of the dartboard, it
will be prepared automatically to record the score of the next
throw.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an integrating wave sensing
and magnetic induction dartboard system, which uses magnetic
induction to cooperate with sound wave or shock wave to produce an
accurate scoring effect, and the scoring result of the present
invention can be prevented from magnetic disturbance.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Dart game is one of the major sports and recreation
activities, therefore, the demand for improving the technology of
dart products grows increasingly. To cope with the demand for
innovation and change, various target products also need to be
improved in terms of accuracy, convenience and quality. And
induction-scoring has long become an important selling point that
the dartboard manufactures are competing for, and such a scoring
function has already been used in international dart competitions.
Therefore, finding an electronic dartboard scoring equipment to
better meet the users' requirement has become an important issue
for the manufacturers.
[0005] Conventional dartboard is normally made of sisal or fiber
for easy landing of the dart, and the tip of various darts is also
made of metal. When the user throws the dart, the action of the
dart landing on the dartboard is very stable and the sound of the
darting hitting the dartboard is muffled. Although the scoring
method is difficult to implement, this conventional dartboard is
still popular among users.
[0006] The electronic scoring dartboards currently on the market
are generally classified into tactile type and magnetic induction
type.
[0007] The tactile type product employs a porous board to trigger
an electronic tactile circuit board, and the electronic tactile
circuit board will create a score and display it. Since the porous
board of this conventional structure is a movable structure, it
will move and press the circuit board as long as a dart impacts the
porous board, thus wrongly sending out a signal to start scoring.
Therefore, no matter the tip of the dart is inserted into the hole
of the porous board or not, the porous board will move and create a
wrong score, as along as an impact occurs. And even if the tip of
the dart rebound after hitting the porous board, the porous board
will still move and trigger the circuit board, and start scoring.
In addition, if the force when the tip of the dart is inserted into
the hole of the porous board is too small to move the porous board
and to make the electronic circuit to create a score, or the
throwing force of the tip of the dart is so great that the porous
board can't return to its original position, thus repeatedly
triggering the scoring function. The abovementioned conditions will
cause misjudgment and wrong score. Therefore, the electronic
tactile type dartboard cannot be used in formal competition.
[0008] In recent years, magnetic induction type electronic
dartboard has been improved in many aspects, one of its main
characteristic structure is that induction coils wind around a high
density dartboard (block). For example, a magnetic dart is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,694, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein
the dart 10 is made of non-magnetic material and has a strong
magnetic member 11 protruding out of the front end of the dart 10
(also there is a needle-shaped magnetic member on the market). The
dartboard 14 is provided with a plurality of electric induction
coils 12 that cooperate with an electronic scoring system 13 to
record the score of the dart automatically. The dartboard 14 can
accurately sense the magnetic force of the strong magnetic member
11 and calculate the score automatically. However, it still has the
following disadvantages:
[0009] First, the plurality of the electric induction coils 12 of
the dartboard 14 can cooperate with the electronic scoring system
13 to accurately sense every electric magnetic signal. If, in a
competition, someone is using a mobile phone or an electric
magnetic equipment passes by, the electric induction coils 12 will
also cooperate with the electronic scoring system 13 to wrongly
create a score, causing unacceptable misgivings. Therefore,
nowadays, the players in a dart game still would like to score by
eye.
[0010] Second, when the force that the tip of the dart hits the
dartboard is too small to keep the dart 10 on the dartboard 14,
however, the dart 14 falling along the surface of the dartboard 14
still has a strong magnetic member 11 at the front end thereof. In
the process of falling, the strong magnetic member 11 will be
sensed constantly by a plurality of electric induction coils 12,
and will make the electronic scoring system repeatedly create wrong
scores. Or, if the force that the dart hits the dartboard is so
small that the dart fails to land on the dartboard, but when the
strong magnetic member 11 nearly touches the dartboard 14, it will
also be sensed by the electric magnetic coils 12, thus causing
repeated wrong scores. The abovementioned conditions will cause
misjudgment, therefore, the conventional electronic dartboard
cannot be used in a formal competition if it is not modified.
[0011] Third, if the dart missed the dartboard 14 (it is called
target missed), no score will be created, therefore, the target
missed cannot be calculated.
[0012] To solve the abovementioned disadvantages, TW Pat. No.
89208150 discloses an improved induction structure for an
electronic dartboard, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the dartboard is
provided with tactile and movable block 16, and induction coils 15
are wound around the movable block 16. The abovementioned structure
provides both magnetic induction function and tactile induction
function to the dartboard, improving the accuracy of scoring.
Although this improved structure can prevent the occurrence of
wrong score when the dart falls off the dartboard, it still has the
following disadvantages:
[0013] First, it requires many structures to cooperate with the
movable block 16, and the tactile induction equipment is
complicated, therefore, the cost is definitely high.
[0014] Second, the movable block 16 must have a downward pushing
force, if the tip of the dart is not thrown onto the dartboard, the
body and the shaft of the dart will also push the movable block 16
to move with a great pushing force. In this way, the induction
coils 15 will also sense the magnetic member, but actually, such a
toss should not be scored.
[0015] Third, the tip of the dart missed the movable block 16
cannot be scored, and the target missed cannot be calculated.
Therefore, this conventional product still has the defect which
cannot be solved by itself.
[0016] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system
that can be prevented from the magnetic interference, wherein a
wave sensing device is fixed on a magnetic induction dartboard and
is connected to an electronic scoring circuit. The abovementioned
system still can produce accurate scoring data in the presence of
electromagnetic interference.
[0018] The secondary objective of the present invention is to
provide an integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction
dartboard system that can record the target missed. The wave
sensing device is fixed on the magnetic induction dartboard, the
sound wave or the shock wave caused by dart's landing will be
transmitted to the wave sensing device instantly (frequency and
volume can be set to a predetermined value), and the wave sensing
device is connected to an electronic scoring circuit and can
determine if the target is missed or not, and then both the result
of the target missed and the scoring result will be recorded
together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a conventional dartboard
system;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a second conventional
dartboard;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing the arrangement of an
integrating waving sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system
in accordance with the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of showing the arrangement of
an integrating waving sensing and magnetic induction dartboard
system in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The present invention will be more clear from the following
description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings,
which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred
embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an integrating wave sensing and
magnetic induction dartboard system in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention is shown and comprises: a
dartboard 20, magnetic induction coils 30, an electronic scoring
circuit 40, and a wave sensing device 50, which are to be used with
a magnetic dart 60 to create a scoring function during a dart
game.
[0025] The dartboard 20 is defined with a plurality of scoring
areas 21.
[0026] The magnetic induction coils 30 act as a magnetic induction
component disposed on the dartboard 20 and are located
correspondingly to the respective scoring areas 21 of the dartboard
20.
[0027] The electronic scoring circuit 40 is installed on the
dartboard 20 and is connected to the respective magnetic induction
coils 30 and serves to receive the magnetic induction signals of
the magnetic dart 60 transmitted by the magnetic induction coils
30.
[0028] The wave sensing device 50 is disposed at the periphery of
the dartboard 20 and is connected to the electronic scoring circuit
40, and serves to produce wave signal at a predetermined frequency
and volume, based on the sound and the shock caused by the dart's
60 landing. The electronic scoring circuit 40 synchronously
integrates the magnetic signal of the magnetic induction coils 30
with the wave signal of the wave sensing device 50. If the magnetic
signal and the wave signal are received simultaneously, a score
will be created. If the wave sensing device 50 only receives the
wave signal of the wave sensing device 50, it will be considered as
a target missed. And if only the magnetic induction signal of the
magnetic induction coils 30 is received, it will neither be scored
nor considered as target missed. The electronic scoring circuit 40
then outputs the scoring result (the method of signal outputting
and displaying is a conventional technology, so further
explanations are omitted).
[0029] For a better understanding of the embodiment, its operation
and function, reference should be made to FIGS. 3 and 4 again.
[0030] The dartboard 20 cooperates with the magnetic induction
coils 30 and the wave sensing device 50 to sense the magnetic dart
60, and serves to implement scoring operation by integrating the
magnetic induction signal of the magnetic dart 60 with the sound
and the shock caused by the dart's landing.
[0031] In usual state:
[0032] The magnetic dart 60 lands on one of the scoring areas 21 of
the dartboard 20, the magnetic induction coils 30 around the
respective scoring areas 21 of the dartboard 20 will produce an
effect of magnetic lines of force of cutting, and will produce
magnetic signal when the dart 60 lands on the dartboard.
[0033] Meanwhile, it will produce a sound wave (sounds like "du")
at a certain frequency and volume, and a shock wave at a frequency
when the dart 60 inserts in the dartboard 20. And the wave sensing
device 50 at the periphery of the dartboard 20 will produce wave
signal at a predetermined frequency and volume, based on the sound
or the shock generated when the dart 60 hits the dartboard (it can
also be set to receive the sound wave and the shock wave
simultaneously).
[0034] After that, the electronic scoring circuit 40 synchronously
integrates the magnetic signal of the magnetic induction coils 30
with the wave signal of the wave sensing device 50. If the magnetic
signal and the wave signal are received simultaneously, a score
will be created and will be outputted after calculation.
[0035] In an unusual state:
[0036] If, in a competition, someone is using a mobile phone or an
electric magnetic equipment passes by, the magnetic induction coils
30 around the respective scoring areas 21 of the dartboard 20 will
produce an effect of magnetic lines of force of cutting, and will
produce magnetic signal when the dart 60 lands on the dartboard.
However, the electronic scoring circuit 40 is unable to integrate
the magnetic signal and the wave signal simultaneously. Therefore,
the electronic scoring circuit 40 will not take the magnetic signal
of a single magnetic induction coils 30 as a valid score nor take
it as a target missed, and the score result will be outputted after
calculation.
[0037] When the dart missed the dartboard:
[0038] When the dart missed the dartboard, the magnetic dart 60
lands on the non-scoring area (including the boundary of the
scoring areas) of the dartboard 20, since there is no magnetic
induction coils 30 in the non-scoring area, and no effect of
magnetic lines of force will be produced, as a result, it can't
produce a magnetic signal when the dart 60 missed the dartboard.
The electronic scoring circuit 40 is still unable to integrate the
magnetic signal and the wave signal simultaneously, it will
determine if it is a target missed merely based on the wave signal
of the wave sensing device 50 (the method of distinguishing the
sound of the dart hitting the dartboard is a conventional
technique, so further explanation is omitted), and the electronic
scoring circuit 40 will record it as a target missed.
[0039] The present invention still can produce an accurate score in
the presence of magnetic interference, and can set the wave sensing
device to make it sense the sound wave and the shock wave
simultaneously, or make it only sense the sound wave or the shock
wave caused by dart's landing), allowing the target missed to be
recorded by the electronic scoring circuit. Therefore, both the
result of the target missed and the scoring result will be recorded
together, it truly meets the requirement of the current
competition.
[0040] The integrated scoring mode not only can reduce the mistakes
caused by the conventional tactile type sensing system or the
magnetic induction system, but also can differentiate the "target
missed" and the action of pulling out of the dart. When the dart is
pulled off or falls off the dartboard, the magnetic induction coils
30 will produce an effect of magnetic lines of force of cutting, it
can determine the position at which the signal is produced by the
electric wave cut by the reverse magnetic lines of force of
cutting. At this moment, the wave sensing device 50 senses no shock
wave or sound wave generated by dart landing, it can be determined
as a target missed, and the previously recorded score will be
deducted instantly.
[0041] In the same way, when the wave sensing device doesn't sense
the dart-landing caused wave signal and the predetermined times of
scoring operation has been fulfilled, it can be determined as an
action of pulling out the dart. When it detects that the player has
pulled out the dart for three times (formal competition stipulates
that the dart can be pulled out for three times), the electronic
scoring circuit 40 will send out a signal to ask the next player to
get ready to throw, and the signal can be displayed on an
electronic display.
[0042] It is to be noted that the dartboard of the present
invention cooperates with the magnetic induction coils and the wave
sensing device to sense the dart, but whether the dart has magnetic
force is not the key point of the present invention. The embodiment
of the dart with magnetic force is described above. As for a dart
without magnetic force, the signal can be obtained by the change of
the magnetic induction flux of the magnetic induction coils of the
dartboard (magnetic induction method is a conventional technique,
so further explanation is omitted). Therefore, both magnetic dart
and non-magnetic dart are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0043] While we have shown and described various embodiments in
accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled
in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *