U.S. patent number 3,735,982 [Application Number 05/239,057] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-29 for electronic card game machine.
Invention is credited to Jay N. Gerfin.
United States Patent |
3,735,982 |
Gerfin |
May 29, 1973 |
ELECTRONIC CARD GAME MACHINE
Abstract
A card playing machine for "poker" or the like including
electronic circuitry for controlling a display of card
transparencies. Initially a flashing card display is provided, the
flashing time of which is selectively controlled so that either
random selection or skilled selection of a card hand can be made by
a player. A hand is normally obtained by the sequential operation
of a plurality of manually depressed push-buttons. The control
circuitry, moreover, will terminate operation and display a
randomly selected hand if the player does not make his selection
within a predetermined playing time. Additionally, electronic
control means are also included for allowing the player to reject
or "discard" one or more of the cards in the hand initially
displayed and reselect or "draw" new cards in another predetermined
time period in an effort to improve the card hand. Another
embodiment of the invention discloses control circuitry which
provides the player an option to play a game other than poker which
may be, for example, "black-jack" or "twenty-one."
Inventors: |
Gerfin; Jay N. (Cherry Hill,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
22900400 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/239,057 |
Filed: |
March 29, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/22;
463/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
1/18 (20130101); A63F 2001/008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
1/18 (20060101); A63F 1/00 (20060101); A63f
009/00 (); A63f 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/1E,138A,139,141A,142,143 ;340/378 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Shapiro; Paul E.
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. An electronically controlled game apparatus particularly adapted
to play card games such as poker, black-jack and the like,
comprising in combination:
a plurality of electrically controlled character projection display
units, each including a selected number of individual character
bearing means adapted to be illuminated by respective electric lamp
means which when energized projects a character such as a card face
on a display screen located on one face of said display unit;
a housing wherein each of said plurality of display units are
mounted such that said plurality of display screens are adapted to
be viewed as a group;
an electronic display driver circuit coupled to each of said
plurality of display units, said driver circuit being operable to
energize said electric lamps one at a time in said display unit to
provide both a flashing display of a sequence of different
characters as well as a steady state display of a single
character;
an electronic clock oscillator coupled to each display driver
circuit, said oscillator being selectively rendered operative and
inoperative in accordance with the output state of a respective
control circuit to generate a pulse output, said driver circuit
being responsive to the pulse output of said clock oscillator to
control the energization of said electric lamps in the respective
display unit;
an electronic binary control circuit coupled to each clock
oscillator, being operable to have a first and second output state
and including input means responsive to a first and second type
input signal to switch to said first and second output state
respectively and including output means coupled to said clock
oscillator wherein said clock oscillator becomes operative when
said control circuit switches to said first output state and
thereby generate a pulse train, said input means being further
responsive to at least one additional second type input signal
whereby said control circuit switches to said second output state
to render said clock oscillator inoperative;
first circuit means, including starting means, coupled to said
input means of each said control circuits circuits for generating
and coupling said first type input signal thereto when said
starting means is activated by a player; and
second circuit means coupled to said input means of said control
circuit generating and coupling said second type input signal to
said control circuit for terminating operation of said game
apparatus.
2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said second circuit
means includes player operated switch means and a signal source
coupled to said switch means, said switch means upon actuation by
said player operates to couple said signal source to said input
means of said control circuit, whereupon said control circuit
switches to said second output state.
3. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said second circuit
means comprises player operated means coupled to each control
circuit for individually switching said control circuits to said
second output state deliberately and instantaneously, and a timer
circuit coupled to all of said control circuits for switching said
binary control circuits to said second output state after a
predetermined period of time without the operation of said player
operated means.
4. The apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said control circuit
comprises a flip-flop circuit.
5. The invention as defined by claim 3 wherein said timer circuit
is comprised of a time delay pulse generator triggered into
operation by said first circuit means.
6. The invention as defined by claim 3 wherein said player operated
means comprises manually actuated electrical switch means.
7. The apparatus as defined by claim 3 and additionally
including:
at least one AND logic gate having first and second input means and
output means;
at least one respective lamp energization circuit means coupled
between said output means of said AND gate and a selected display
unit of said plurality of display units for operating another lamp
in said selected display unit;
at least one other electronic control circuit having an output
coupled to said first input means of said AND logic gate and being
operable to produce a first and a second output state at said
output and including input means responsive to said first and
second type input signal to switch to said first and second output
state respectively;
said AND logic gate having said second input means coupled to said
timer circuit, said AND gate being responsive to the voltage output
level of said timer circuit after said predetermined time period
and said first output state of said one other electronic control
after said predetermined time period to energize said another lamp
and thereby provide an indication that the respective player
operator means had not been activated during said predetermined
time period.
8. The apparatus as defined by claim 7 wherein said at least one
other electronic control circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.
9. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said starting means
includes switch means and said first circuit means additionally
includes a one-shot pulse generator generating a start of play
pulse upon actuation of said starting switch means, said start of
play pulse comprising said first type input signal coupled to said
control circuit.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said one shot pulse
generator comprises a flip-flop circuit and a transistor
multivibrator having its operation enabled and inhibited by the
output state of said flip-flop circuit, and additionally including
semiconductor diode means coupling said flip-flop circuit to said
multivibrator whereby the output state of said flip-flop enables
said multivibrator to generate a pulse after a predetermined delay
when said starting means is activated and circuit means coupling
said multivibrator pulse back to said flip-flop causing said
flip-flop to switch states whereupon the opposite output state of
said flip-flop inhibits further operation of said
multivibrator.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said second circuit
means additionally includes an electronic timing circuit coupled to
said one shot pulse generator and being responsive to said start of
play pulse generated thereby to produce an output signal after a
second predetermined time delay comprising another second type
input signal, said input signal being applied to all said control
circuits for rendering said respective clock oscillators
inoperative after a predetermined time interval in the event said
respective player operated switch means have not been actuated.
12. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein said timing
circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit and a transistor
multivibrator having its operation enabled and inhibited by the
output state of said flip-flop circuit and additionally including
feedback means coupled from said multivibrator back to the input of
said flip-flop circuit, said flip-flop circuit additionally
including input circuit means coupled to said one shot pulse
generator being responsive to the start of play pulse generated
thereby to become set to a first output state and enabling said
multivibrator which after said second predetermined time interval
generates an output pulse signal which is fed back to the input of
said multivibrator, causing said flip-flop to switch to the
opposite output state and inhibiting further operation of said
multivibrator.
13. The apparatus as defined by claim 12 wherein said variable
frequency oscillator comprises a unijunction transistor oscillator
having frequency adjusting circuit means coupled thereto.
14. The apparatus defined by claim 11 wherein each said electronic
clock oscillator comprises a variable frequency oscillator.
15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each said control
circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.
16. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein each said display
driver circuit comprises an electronic ring counter including a
plurality of electronically controlled switches respectively
connected to a selected lamp in said display unit, said controlled
switches being operable to sequentially become conductive in
response to the pulsed output of said clock oscillator to energize
said lamps in said display units.
17. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 and additionally including
circuit means initially setting said control circuit to said first
output state, a timer circuit coupled to said control circuits for
individually switching said control circuits to said second output
state after a predetermined time period without the operation of a
player;
first player operated circuit means coupled to each said control
circuit for switching the respective control circuit to said first
output state after said predetermined time period; and
second player operated circuit means coupled to each said control
circuit for switching the respective control circuit to said second
output state after said respective first player operated circuit
means is activated.
18. The apparatus as defined by claim 17 and additionally including
a second timer for individually switching said binary control
circuits to said first output state after a second predetermined
time period without the operation of said first and second player
operated means.
19. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and additionally including
third circuit means coupled to said first and second circuit means
and each driver circuit means for establishing an initial operating
state of said circuits when power is first applied.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gaming apparatus and more particularly
electronically controlled card playing apparatus of the type where
a player selects a sequence of card transparencies which are
visually displayed on the front panel of the machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various prior art mechanical and electrically controlled devices
have already been made which make number, letter, or character
choices available with the choice either being one of a random
nature or in some instances, a trained or practiced selection.
Mechanical devices for playing card games such as poker are also
well known to those skilled in the art and normally include for
example, five reels upon which indicia of cards are displayed and
winning combinations determined according to random or selective
stopping of the reels by the player. Typical examples of such
apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,149 issued to A.
Miller and U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,337 issued to L.E. Larsen et al. An
electronic card game device on the other hand is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,584,876 issued to Thomas E. Segers; however, this patent
discloses a different type of device which operates to establish
various probabilities between the relative values of two selected
cards. The display panel therein contained a deck of six
translucent playing cards and once a card becomes illuminated it
flashes continuously on and off without any synchronization between
the flashing of any two cards. Once a game is completed only one
card of a predetermined color and one card of another predetermined
color will remain illuminated on the display panel.
SUMMARY
Briefly, the subject invention comprises an electronically
controlled card game apparatus having five projection display units
each having up to twelve playing card transparencies contained
therein which are selectively illuminated to provide a single
projected card on its face. A respective projection lamp is
associated with each of the transparencies in the units and the
lamps are lighted in sequence by means of an SCR ring counter which
is clocked in accordance with the output of a selectively enabled
adjustable frequency unijunction clock oscillator. A control
circuit, for example a flip-flop, is coupled to each of the clock
oscillators for initially enabling the respective oscillator at the
beginning of play whereby the card transparencies will be
illuminated sequentially at the operating frequency of the
oscillator. Each flip-flop circuit is further operable to inhibit
the operation of the respective clock oscillator in order to
provide a fixed projection of a single card transparency upon
player selection or after a predetermined time limit without player
selection. The former condition is provided by manual push-button
means coupled to each of the flip-flops while the latter is
provided by means of a timer circuit operating after a
predetermined time delay (30 sec.). In order to insure initial
operating state of the circuitry, first a power-up preset circuit
couples a signal to the ring counters and flip-flops for effecting
a predetermined operating state when power is first applied at
turn-on. At the start of play another circuit again applies a set
signal to the circuitry and after very short time delay (1 sec.)
applies a start pulse to the flip-flops which then enable the
respective clock oscillators. Such apparatus is particularly
adapted for the game of poker. When desirable, additional control
circuitry similar to the control circuitry referred to above, can
be utilized to provide a draw poker modification and also a
"black-jack" (twenty-one) modification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally illustrative of a structural
embodiment of the subject invention;
FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram illustrative of the basic
embodiment of the subject invention;
FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic diagram of the preset circuit
operable at power turn-on;
FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of the "start of play"
circuitry;
FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic diagram of a play timer circuit
for terminating play after a predetermined time period;
FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of one of five identical
display circuits including a control flip-flop, an adjustable clock
oscillator, a ring counter driver circuit, and projection type card
transparency display unit;
FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic diagram of supplemental circuitry
for providing a "discard" and "draw" mode of operation;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrative of supplemental
circuitry for providing a random hand and "draw" mode of operation;
and
FIG. 9 is an electrical schematic diagram of the supplemental
circuitry for implementing a "black-jack" mode of operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like
parts, attention is now directed to FIG. 1 which discloses a
cabinet 10 for housing the electronic apparatus comprising the
subject invention. A coin slot 12 appears on the outside thereof
for the insertion of a coin by a player desiring to "play" the
apparatus and acts to initiate operation at the start of play. Five
push-button switches 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, 14.sub.4 and
14.sub.5 are selectively mounted on the front of the housing 10
such that a player can individually actuate the switches by a
manual depression of push-buttons. The push-button switches
14.sub.1 . . . 14.sub.5 control electronic circuitry generally
designated by reference numeral 15. Such circuitry is more fully
disclosed in FIG. 6 and comprises a plurality of modular packages
for operating five playing card display units 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2,
16.sub.3, 16.sub.4 and 16.sub.5. The display units 16.sub.1 . . .
16.sub.5 are identical in construction, being of the type disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,600, entitled "Character Projection
Apparatus" issued to D. G. Gumpertz, et al.
Each display unit 16, etc. includes up to twelve individually
controlled electric lamps which are adapted to light a respective
card transparency which is then projected by optical means to a
viewing screen 18.sub.1. Thus by utilizing five such display units
16.sub.1 . . . 16.sub.5 and up to eleven lamps in each unit, all of
the playing cards in a deck can be presented in groups of five on
the front face 19 of the housing 10.
While FIG. 1 generally illustrates the type of gaming apparatus
involved, that is a machine for playing a card game wherein the
cards are transparencies selected by means of player actuated
push-buttons, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the electronic
control circuitry utilized for operating or "playing" the machine.
Each of the five display units 16.sub.1 . . . 16.sub.5 are
controlled by a respective display driver circuit 20.sub.1,
20.sub.2, 20.sub.3, 20.sub.4 and 20.sub.5. The display drivers are
all identical in circuit configuration and preferably are comprised
of n-bit SCR ring counters with each bit being coupled by means of
a circuit lead to a separate lamp in the display unit for
illuminating a specific card transparency. Each of the display
drivers 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2, etc. are triggered by the clock pulse
output from a respective controlled clock oscillator.
More particularly, each of the display drivers 20.sub.1, 20.sub.2,
20.sub.3, 20.sub.4 and 20.sub.5 respectively receive clock pulses
from adjustable clock oscillators 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, 22.sub.3,
22.sub.4 and 22.sub.5. The display drivers 20.sub.1 . . . 20.sub.5
additionally receive a signal from a power-up pre-set circuit 24
whereby a selected bit of the ring counter is triggered "on" at the
time that power is first applied. The power-up pre-set circuit is
also coupled to a "start of play" circuit 26 which has for its
purpose initially setting the output state of five flip-flop
circuits 28.sub.1, 28.sub.2, 28.sub.3, 28.sub.4 and 28.sub.5 which
respectively operate to enable or inhibit operation of the
adjustable clock oscillators 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2 . . . 22.sub.5. In
FIG. 2, the start of play switch 13 and push-button switches
14.sub.1 . . . 14.sub.5 are shown in their respective normally
deactivated position. The normally closed contacts of these
switches are adapted to charge respective capacitors 30 and
32.sub.1 . . . 32.sub.5 to a positive potential applied to power
supply terminal 34. At the start of play, the switch 13 is
activated and the normally open contacts become closed whereupon
capacitor 30 applies a positive potential to the "start of play"
circuitry 26. In the same manner, the push-button switches 14.sub.1
. . . 14.sub.5 when manually activated couple the respective
capacitors 32.sub.1 . . . 32.sub.5 to the reset terminal of the
flip-flop circuits 28.sub.1 . . . 28.sub.5 which act to inhibit
further operation of the respective clock oscillator 22.sub.1 . . .
22.sub.5.
Prior to discussing the circuit details, a brief description of the
operation of the basic embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be
presented. When the machine is turned "on" and power is first
applied, the display drivers 20.sub.1 . . . 20.sub.5 are set as
indicated above. At the start of play an operator activates the
switch 13 by inserting a coin in the coin slot 12 (FIG. 1).
Thereafter he disables the clock oscillators 22.sub.1 . . .
22.sub.5 by selectively pressing the respective push-button
switches 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2 . . . 14.sub.5. He has a predetermined
time limit (30 seconds) during which he must energize push-button
switches 14.sub.1 . . . 14.sub.5 before the machine automatically
stops play. Also the "start of play" circuit 26 is set in order to,
inter alia, trigger a counter or tally means 36, when the start
switch 13 is actuated. When switch 13 is activated the circuit 26
after a short time delay of example 1 sec. triggers the timer
circuit 29 as well as the five flip-flop circuits 28.sub.1 . . .
28.sub.5. The flip-flop circuits all switch a first output state
which enable the respective clock oscillators 22.sub.1 . . .
22.sub.5 which then apply clock pulses to the respective display
drivers 20.sub.1 . . . 22.sub.5. The adjustability of the clock
oscillators 22.sub.1 . . . is significant in that it is desirable
in one mode of operation to make the clock frequency slow enough
(4-10 pps) so that a player can distinguish the various card faces
appearing on the respective display screens 18.sub.1 . . . 18.sub.5
(FIG. 1). The player selectively depresses push-buttons 14.sub.1 .
. . 14.sub.5 which will cause its respective flip-flop to switch to
a second or opposite output state which then act to deactivate the
respective clock oscillators. The display units will then
respectively display a fixed card transparency on the front panel
19. If the player fails to make the desired choices such as five
choices for the game of poker in the alloted time limit, the
push-button switches 14.sub.1 . . . 14.sub.5 are disabled by the
timer circuit 29, resetting the five flip-flop circuits 28.sub.1 .
. . 28.sub.5. Thus, a selection of a five card display is made for
the player. The normal rules of poker can then be used to determine
the winner. While the adjustable clock oscillators 22.sub.1 . . .
22.sub.5 were noted to be preferably slow enough in frequency so
that a player can visually distinguish card faces, the clock
frequencies when desirable can be increased requiring a greater
degree of operator skill and may also be increased to the point
wherein a completely random selection is made by the operator.
Turning now to a more detailed description of the electronic
circuit configurations embodying the subject invention, attention
is first directed to FIGS. 3-6, inclusive, which schematically
represent the block diagrammatic representation shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the power-up preset
circuit 24 which is operable only for a short period of time when
power is first applied thereafter becoming inoperative. Referring
now to FIG. 3, capacitor 38 is initially discharged having been
previously discharged through resistor 40. Upon the application of
a positive supply potential to terminal 42 from a power supply, not
shown, transistor 44 being an N-P-N transistor, will be initially
non-conductive or in an "off" state. The collector of transistor 44
will then be "high," that is, at the positive power supply
potential as opposed to "low" which is near ground reference
potential when transistor 44 is "on." Therefore, a signal
corresponding to waveform A appears on circuit lead 46 and will
initially be high because of the load resistor 48 being connected
from the collector of transistor 44 to the power supply terminal
42. This positive voltage appearing on circuit lead 46 is
simultaneously applied to the start of play circuit 26 shown in
FIG. 4, the thirty second timer circuit 29 shown in FIG. 5, and the
display driver circuits 20.sub.1 . . . 20.sub.5 one of which is
shown in FIG. 6, it being understood that all of the display driver
circuits 20.sub.1 . . . 20.sub.5 are identical in configuration.
Approximately 300 milliseconds after power is applied which time is
determined by the RC time constant of capacitor 38 and resistor 50,
capacitor 38 charges through resistor 50 to a level whereupon the
base of transistor 44 becomes sufficiently positive to saturate
transistor 44 which then acts like a closed switch. The voltage at
the collector of transistor 44 and consequently on circuit lead 46
drops to approximately 0.3 volts above ground which is the voltage
drop across the saturated transistor 44.
Diodes 52, 54 and 56 shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 respectively are
coupled to circuit lead 46 from the collector of transistor 44 and
are so poled that when transistor 44 saturates and its collector
goes low, the diodes effectively disconnect transistor 44 from the
circuit 26, the timer circuit 29 and the display driver 20. These
diodes, moreover, will continue to block the respective circuits
from the transistor 44 as long as power is applied to the machine.
Therefore, circuit lead 46 provides a signal which goes high
immediately upon the application of power, but after a time delay
in the order of 300 milliseconds, goes low and thereafter remains
low.
Referring now to FIG. 4 which discloses the "start of play"
circuitry, circuit 26 interfaces with the start switch 13
associated with the coin drop 12 shown in FIG. 1 and a counter
circuit 36. The circuit 26 comprises a one shot delay pulse
generator made up of a flip-flop circuit including transistors 60
and 62, a driven pulse oscillator including unijunction transistor
64 and a coupling diode 66. The momentary initial signal (waveform
A) appearing on circuit lead 46 when power is turned on causes a
positive signal to be applied to the base of transistor 62 which
turns "on." Circuit junction 68 immediately goes low while the
opposite transistor 60 turns "off" causing the voltage at junction
70 to go high. This is the initial power-up preset state of the
flip-flop. The diode 66 is coupled from circuit junction 68 to
circuit junction 72 which is common to the emitter of the
unijunction transistor 64 as well as capacitor 74 and resistor 76.
Moreover, resistor 76 is coupled to the positive supply potential
applied to terminal 42. The conductive state of transistor 62
causes capacitor 74 to discharge through diode 66 and remain in a
discharged condition thereby effectively grounding the emitter of
unijunction transistor 64, causing it to be non-conductive.
As noted earlier, in its normally closed position, as shown in FIG.
4, the start switch 13 charges capacitor 30 to a positive potential
through resistor 78. When the switch 13 is activated to initiate
operation, the positively charged capacitor 30 is coupled to the
base of transistor 60 through resistor 80. Transistor 60
immediately turns "on" and due to the resistive coupling,
transistor 62 immediately turns "off." The voltage at circuit
junction 68 immediately goes high which causes diode 70 to become
non-conductive, whereupon capacitor 74 begins to charge toward the
positive supply potential through resistor 76. After an RC time
delay of approximately 1.0 sec., capacitor 74 charges to a level
sufficient to cause the unijunction transistor to "fire," i.e.
become conductive. Capacitor 74 immediately discharges through the
emitter and one base 75 of unijunction transistor 64 causing a
voltage pulse corresponding to waveform B to appear across resistor
82. This pulse (waveform B) is fed back to the base of transistor
62 by means of resistor 84 which immediately resets the flip-flop
by turning transistor 62 back "on," completing a one shot cycle.
This pulse (waveform B) is also simultaneously coupled to all of
the flip-flops 28.sub.1 . . . 28.sub.5 (FIG. 2) by means of circuit
lead 86 and also to the play limit timer circuit 29 shown in FIG.
5.
Also when transistor 60 is turned "on," transistor 88 which has its
base connected to the collector of transistor 66, turns "off,"
allowing the positive voltage through resistors 90 and 92 to turn
transistor 94 "on" which is part of the counter circuit 36. The
conduction of transistor 94 energizes an inductance 98 which is
part of a tally or counter mechanism, not shown. Inductance 98
remains energized until the flip-flop is reset after the 1 sec.
time delay as noted. A diode 100 is connected across the inductance
98 to allow the inductor to discharge when transistor 94 again
becomes non-conductive. Thus the circuit 26 triggers the tally
counter circuit 26 and produces the pulse (waveform B) 1 sec. after
initiation of play.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the timer circuit 29 measures a 30 sec.
time period to limit the active time of the machine requiring a
player to make all his selections within the specified time. More
particularly, the timer circuit 29 comprises a one-shot signal
generator made up of a flip-flop circuit including transistors 102
and 104 and a driven unijunction oscillator including unijunction
transistor 106 coupled to the flip-flop by diode 108. The power-up
preset pulse (waveform A) is coupled to the base of transistor 104
through the diode 54 which initially makes transistor 104
conductive, thereby making the voltage at circuit junction 110 low.
The other transistor 102 in the flip-flop circuit is
non-conductive, and therefore the voltage at circuit junction 112
is high. The emitter of unijunction transistor 106 is coupled to
circuit junction 110 by means of the diode 108. Since transistor
104 is conductive, the diode 108 shunts capacitor 114, thereby
discharging it and holding unijunction transistor 106
non-conductive. Upon the generation of the pulse (waveform B) at
the base of unijunction transistor 64 in the start of play
circuitry 26 shown in FIG. 4, it is applied by means of resistor
116 to the base of transistor 102 which is driven conductive. The
voltage at the collector of transistor 102 immediately goes low as
evidenced by the waveform C. The flip-flop action causes transistor
104 to turn "off," whereupon the blocking action of the diode 108
allows capacitor 114 to charge through the fixed resistor 118 and
the variable resistor 120. After an RC time delay of approximately
30 sec., the voltage across capacitor 114 causes the unijunction
transistor 106 to "fire" causing a trigger pulse to be generated
across resistor 122. The pulse appearing across resistor 122 is
coupled back to the base of transistor 104 by means of resistor 124
which gain turns transistor 104 "on." Transistor 102 again becomes
non-conductive and the voltage at the collector and circuit
junction 112 again goes high. This voltage which appears as
waveform C is coupled to the flip-flops 28.sub.1 . . . 28.sub.5
(FIG. 2) by means of circuit lead 126. The output level of the
voltage appearing on circuit lead 126 is adapted to simultaneously
reset any of the flip-flops 28.sub.1 . . . 28.sub.5 that have not
already been reset by a player actuating push-button switches
14.sub.1 . . . 14.sub.5.
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is disclosed one of five identical
circuit sections each including for example display unit 16, its
respective driver circuit 20, the adjustable clock oscillator 22
for the driver circuit, and the control flip-flop 28 which enables
and inhibits the operation of the clock oscillator 22. More
particularly, the flip-flop 28.sub.1 is comprised of transistors
128 and 130. At power turn-on, the voltage on circuit lead 126 is
high as evidenced by waveform C. This signal is applied through the
diode 132 to the base of transistor 130, causing it to become
conductive, thereby making the voltage at circuit junction 134 low.
Junction 134 is coupled to the emitter of unijunction transistor
136 by means of the diode 138. As long as transistor 130 in the
flip-flop circuit 28.sub.1 is conductive, the regenerative action
of the circuit 22.sub.1 will be inhibited due to the fact that
capacitor 140 is shunted by means of the conductive diode 138 and
the conductive transistor 130. Thus, initially the oscillator
21.sub.1 is inoperative. Upon the closing of the play switch 13
wherein the pulse (waveform B) is generated, this signal is coupled
by means of circuit lead 86 and resistor 142 to the base of
transistor 128 which causes the flip-flop to change state, that is
the voltage at circuit junction 144 goes low while circuit junction
134 goes high. The voltage appearing on circuit lead 126,
meanwhile, has gone low, being blocked by the action of diode 132.
The high state of circuit junction 134 will remain until
push-button switch 14.sub.1 is player actuated whereupon a positive
voltage accumulated on capacitor 32 is coupled to the base of
transistor 130 or the voltage on circuit lead 126 again goes high
after a 30 sec. interval.
During the time at which circuit junction 134 is high, the diode
138 decouples capacitor 140 from the flip-flop 28.sub.1. The
oscillator 22.sub.1 will become enabled and capacitor 140 charges
by means of the fixed resistor 148 and the variable resistor 150.
The capacitor 140 charges to the breakdown level of the unijunction
transistor 136 whereupon capacitor 140 immediately discharges
through the unijunction transistor 136 which turns "off," whereupon
the capacitor 140 again charges. A positive pulse train will appear
across resistor 152. The oscillator 22.sub.1 will free run at a
frequency determined by RC time constant of the capacitor 140 and
the resistors 148 and 150. Thus the flip-flop circuit 28.sub.1 and
the unijunction clock oscillator 22.sub.1 operate as previously
described, with the exception that the output pulse developed
across resistor 152 and appearing at circuit junction 154 is not
fed back to the flip-flop but is fed to the display driver circuit
20.sub.1 via circuit lead 155.
The driver circuit 20.sub.1 comprises a semiconductor controlled
rectifier (SCR) ring counter of n-bits. The ring counter includes a
plurality of SCRs 156.sub.1, 156.sub.2 . . . 156.sub.n which are
equal in number to the number of lamps 158.sub.1, 158.sub.2 . . .
158.sub.n required to be sequentially lit in the display unit
16.sub.1. In the subject embodiment, n is preferably equal to 11,
so that five display units can be adapted to project 5 .times. 11
different characters which is sufficient to display a deck of card
transparencies as five card playing "hands." Taking one stage of
the ring counter, for example the first stage, the lamp 158.sub.1
is connected in series between a source of positive power supply
potential applied to terminal 160 and the anode electrode of SCR
156.sub.1. The cathode of the SCR is directly connected to ground.
Upon the application of a positive pulse to its gate electrode, SCR
156.sub.1 will become conductive to light the lamp 158.sub.1 and
will remain conductive until it is turned "off" in a manner to be
described. As previously indicated, the power-up preset circuit 24
as shown in FIG. 3, is coupled to the gate of SCR 156.sub.1 by
means of circuit lead 46 and the diode 56. Thus when power is first
applied, a positive pulse is coupled to the gate of SCR 156.sub.1
which turns it "on." Likewise, the identical corresponding SCR and
lamp in the other four display drivers circuits and display units,
respectively, are also energized.
Returning to the circuitry shown in FIG. 6, all of the other lamps
158.sub.2 . . . 158.sub. n are "off" due to the non-conductivity of
the respective SCRs 156.sub.2 . . . 156.sub.n. With SCR 156.sub.1
being conductive, the anode is substantially at ground potential.
The cathode of diode 162.sub.2, which is coupled to the anode of
SCR 156.sub.1 by means of resistor 164.sub.2 is accordingly also
near ground potential while all other diodes 162.sub.1 . . .
162.sub.n have their cathodes near the positive potential applied
to terminal 160, that is, they are reverse biased. Additionally,
capacitor 166.sub.2 is charged to the supply potential appearing at
terminal 160 through the conductive SCR 156.sub.1. When the first
clock pulse generated by unijunction clock oscillator 22.sub.1
appears on the common circuit lead 155, diode 162.sub. 2 is the
only diode not reverse biased. The clock pulse is therefore coupled
through capacitor 170.sub.2 which turns SCR 156.sub.2 "on." SCR
156.sub.2 becomes conductive very rapidly, lighting the lamp
158.sub.2. The now conductive SCR 156.sub.2 and the previously
conductive SCR 156.sub.1 provide a discharge path for the
previously charged capacitor 166.sub.2. In discharging, capacitor
166.sub.2 effects a reverse current flow through SCR 156.sub.1
which now turns "off," leaving only SCR 156.sub.2 "on." Each
succeeding clock pulse will fire the succeeding SCR due to the free
running capability of the unijunction oscillator 22.sub.1 until
such time that the player pushes a respective push-button 14.sub.1
or the 30 sec. timer circuit output (waveform C) on circuit lead
126 again goes high, at which time the flip-flop circuit 28.sub.1
is reset, thereby making the voltage at circuit junction low. As
indicated, when circuit junction 134 goes low, the coupling diode
138 inhibits or disables the operation of the charging and
discharging of the capacitor 140 so that one of the lamps 158.sub.1
. . . 158.sub.n will remain lit to project a card transparency on
its display screen 18.sub.1.
Recapitulating the operating cycle for the apparatus thus
described, play begins with the switch 13 changing state thereby
setting the flip-flop comprised of transistors 60 and 62 (FIG. 4)
in the start of play circuitry 26. The tally counter 36 is
energized and after a one second delay, the unijunction transistor
64 shown in FIG. 4, conducts and pulse waveform B is generated
which then resets the above mentioned flip-flop. Additionally, the
pulse (waveform B) sets the flip-flop circuit comprised of
transistors 102 and 104 of the 30 sec. timer circuit 29 (FIG. 5)
and the five flip-flops 28.sub.1, 28.sub.2, 28.sub.3, 28.sub.4 and
28.sub.5 (FIGS. 2 and 6). At this time five character displays
16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3, 16.sub.4 and 16.sub.5 sequentially
present card faces in sets of five, changing at a rate determined
by the frequency of the respective unijunction clock oscillators
22.sub.1, 22.sub.2, etc. The player now has 30 sec. to make his
selections of five card projections by selectively depressing
push-button switches 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, 14.sub.4 and
14.sub.5 in any desired order. However, if the player does not make
all five selections within the predetermined time limit the timer
circuit 29 produces an output signal corresponding to waveform C
which resets any display control flip-flop 28.sub.1 . . . 28.sub.5
not yet manually reset by player operation.
Having thus described the basic embodiment of the subject
invention, it becomes desirable to now disclose modifications of
the circuitry described in order to provide a different mode of
play or operation.
Whereas it becomes desirable in another form of poker to initially
be "dealt" a five card hand and thereafter "discard" and "draw" new
cards in order to improve the hand, it merely becomes necessary in
the present invention to include another flip-flop circuit operable
with each of the five flip-flop circuits 28.sub.1 . . . 28.sub.5
and five additional push-button switches for respectively
controlling the additional five flip-flop circuits. To this end,
attention is now directed to FIG. 7 which discloses one of the five
additional flip-flops and push-buttons required to operate one
display unit in order to provide a discard and draw capability.
FIG. 7 discloses a "discard" flip-flop circuit 172.sub.1 comprised
of transistors 174 and 176. Additionally, a respective push-button
switch 178.sub.1 shown in its normally deactivated position, is
coupled between a positive source of voltage potential applied to
terminal 34 and a capacitor 180. The base of transistor 176 is
coupled to circuit lead 86 by means of resistor 182 for receiving
the pulse (waveform B) generated by the start of play circuit 26
shown in FIG. 4. The collector of transistor 176 at circuit
junction 184 is coupled to the base of transistor 128 of the
display control flip-flop circuit 28.sub.1 by means of a resistor
186 and a differentiator circuit comprised of capacitor 188 and
resistor 190.
In operation, the game starts as previously described. Now after
the player has selected five cards by depressing the push-buttons
14.sub.1 . . . 14.sub.5 or after the predetermined time limit (30
sec.), he may now choose to discard any or all cards and redraw to
his "hand" displayed on the front panel 19 of the machine (FIG. 1).
This is accomplished by the extra set of five flip-flop circuits
172.sub.1 (FIG. 7) and 172.sub.2 . . . 172.sub.5 (not shown) and
push-buttons 178.sub.1 (FIG. 7) and 178.sub.2 . . . 178.sub.5 (not
shown). The "discard" flip-flop 172.sub.1 is initially set by the
pulse (waveform B) 1 sec. after the beginning of play, the same as
previously described with respect to flip-flops 28.sub.1, etc. If
during the 30 sec. allowed time interval he chooses to discard a
card he has been "dealt," for example the transparency displayed by
the unit 16.sub.1, it is merely necessary to push the push-button
178.sub.1 which couples the charged capacitor 189.sub.1 to the base
of transistor 174 which immediately turns "on." Transistor 176
turns "off" and the voltage at circuit junction 184 goes high, as
depicted by waveform D. The differentiator circuit comprising
capacitor 188 and resistor 190 generates a positive going trigger
waveform E which is coupled to the base of transistor 128, turning
it "on." Transistor 130 turns "off" and the voltage at circuit
junction 134 goes high, allowing the unijunction clock oscillator
22.sub.1 to again become enabled, as it did when the game initially
started. The player can now select a new card simply by again
depressing push-button 14.sub.1. Further actuation of the
additional push-button switch 178.sub.1 will have no effect because
the discard flip-flop circuit 172.sub.1 has been set and cannot be
reset until a new game begins.
The foregoing configurations have allowed a player to manually
select a poker hand by energizing the push-button switches 14.sub.1
. . . 14.sub.5. The circuit configuration shown in FIG. 8 now
discloses a modification of the circuitry whereby a player is
supplied a random hand immediately without any manual selection,
but thereafter providing a "discard" and "draw" option to improve
the hand thus supplied. Considering now FIG. 8, reference numeral
26' denotes a modification of the start of play circuitry shown in
FIG. 2 to a 3 sec. delay configuration as opposed to the 1 sec.
delay previously used by varying the capacitance value of the
capacitor 74'. Additionally, another transistor 194 is coupled to
the collector of transistor 60 at junction 196 by means of
resistors 198 and 200. The collector of transistor 194 is coupled
by means of circuit lead 202 and resistor 204 to the base of
transistor 128 of the display control flip-flop 28'.sub.1 and like
corresponding points of modified flip-flop circuits 28.sub.2 ' . .
. 28.sub.5 ' (not shown). Whereas circuit lead 86 couples the pulse
(waveform B) to the flip-flop 28.sub.1 in the previous
configuration such as shown in FIG. 6, in the instant embodiment
the circuit lead 86 and resistor 142 is now coupled to the base of
transistor 130. Also, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a circuit
lead 206 is coupled to resistor 116 in FIG. 5 instead of the lead
86 as shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, by varying the value of
resistor 130 of the timer circuitry 29 shown in FIG. 5, the
pulsewidth of the waveform C is increased such that it is, for
example 33 sec.
Now when switch 13 is energized by dropping a coin in the slot 12,
(FIG. 1) the transistor 60 in the flip-flop associated with the 3
sec. delay pulse generator circuitry 26', is turned "on." This
turns transistor 62 "off" whereupon after a 3 sec. time delay
unijunction transistor 64 fires generating the pulse (waveform B).
Meanwhile, the flip-flop circuit associated with the timer circuit
29 shown in FIG. 5, has been set by means of the connection of
circuit lead 206 to begin generation of waveform C. The turning
"on" of transistor 60 by the closing of the switch 13, moreover,
causes the voltage at junction 196 to go low, which turns
transistor 194 "off." In turning "off," the collector of transistor
194 goes high, as shown by waveform D and is coupled by means of
circuit lead 202 and resistor 204 to the base of transistor 128 of
the modified display control flip-flops 28.sub.1 ', etc. Waveform D
turns transistor 128 "on" and transistor 130 "off." This action
allows the free running clock oscillators 22.sub.1 . . . 22.sub.5
to again become enabled. Due to the fact that the voltage waveform
D is high for a period of 3 sec., it will override the player
push-button 14.sub.1 during the 3 sec. it is high. During this time
the SCR ring counters 20.sub.1 . . . 20.sub.5 continually vary the
presentation of the respective display units 16.sub.1 . . .
16.sub.5. At the end of the 3 sec. period, pulse (waveform B) is
now applied to the base of transistor 130, which turns it "on" and
has the effect of deactivating the respective clock oscillator
22.sub.1, etc. Also at this time waveform D again goes low. The
player now has a randomly selected hand of five cards chosen by
action of the machine itself. The control flip-flop 28.sub.1' is
also coupled to the discard flip-flop circuitry 172.sub.1, shown in
FIG. 7 so that the player has the further option of discarding one
or more cards selected by the machine and drawing new cards by
subsequent manual operation of the push-button switches 14.sub.1 .
. . 14.sub.5 during the remaining 30 sec. interval after the hand
has been displayed 3 sec. after start of play.
The apparatus as heretofore described, has for its purpose
primarily the playing of a five card hand required for playing the
game of poker. While not immediately recognizable, the circuitry
heretofore described with respect to the subject invention, can
also be modified to operate so as to allow the operator to play the
game of "black-jack" or "twenty one." Such a game would be played
wherein the "dealer," i.e., the machine is assumed to have 18
points at all times. It is well known that in order to win at
black-jack, it is necessary to beat the dealer by having a point
count greater than that of the dealer, but in any event equal to or
less than twenty-one. The player can also win if he "hits" and
receives five cards which total 21 or less. Also, in this type of
game, an ace counts as either one or eleven points, at the player's
option.
In order to play black-jack, the electrical circuitry described
with respect to FIGS. 2 through 6 would remain the same and the
cards are selected in the same manner as previously described, that
is by push-button. However, now a player inserts a coin and the
machine runs as in the random-hand draw poker mode for several
seconds after which the last two or right-hand display units
16.sub.4 and 16.sub.5 are stopped, thereby presenting the player
with a two card dealt hand. This is accomplished by the circuit
means described in FIG. 8 with the exception that only the last two
units 16.sub.4 and 16.sub.5 of the five display units stop after
the 3 second interval and thereafter the player, if he desires a
"hit," now is dealt one or more additional cards by selective
actuation of pushbuttons 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, and 14.sub.3. At the
end of the predetermined time limit of play, e.g. 30 sec., the
player may or may not have selected additional cards by means of
manual actuation of pushbuttons 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2 or 14.sub.3
(FIG. 2) in attempting to beat eighteen points, but not exceed
twenty-one points. However, after the 30 sec. playing time
interval, the remainder of the displays stop as a result of the
timer circuit 29. The only difference in circuitry required from
the poker game configuration previously described in the provision
of a visual indication of which cards the player has selected and
which cards are unselected at the end of the 30 sec. time limit.
This is easily accomplished by the apparatus thus described because
each display unit 16.sub.1 . . . 16.sub.5 includes 12 display
lamps; however, only 11 lamps in each unit are required for
displaying transparencies of a deck of playing cards. If the
twelfth display lamp of display units 16.sub.1 . . . 16.sub.3 is
suitably lighted at the end of the playing time period in the event
that the respective push-button switch 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2 or
14.sub.3 has not been activated by the player, the twelfth lamp can
project, the example, a transparency of an X on the screen to
indicate that it was not chosen by the player.
Apparatus for providing such a modification is shown by the
circuitry displayed in FIG. 9. Again, only one of the first three
identical circuit sections for display unit 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2 and
16.sub.3 are shown. The additional circuitry required includes,
inter alia, flip-flop 208.sub.1 coupled to diode 210.sub.1. A diode
212.sub.1 is coupled for circuit lead 126 to circuit junction
214.sub.1 and carries waveform C from the timing circuitry 29 shown
in FIG. 2. A resistor 216.sub.1 is coupled from the positive supply
terminal 42 to the anode electrodes of diodes 210.sub.1 and
212.sub. 1. Circuit junction 214.sub.1 couples another diode
218.sub.1 to the base of transistor 220.sub.1 . The collector of
transistor 220.sub.1 is connected to the base of a second
transistor 222.sub.1 of opposite conductivity and the two
transistors 220.sub.1 and 222.sub.1 operate in a complementary
transistor configuration from the positive supply source connected
to terminal 42. The collector of transistor 222.sub.1 is connected
to the 12th lamp 224.sub.1 in the display unit 16.sub.1. Diodes
210.sub.1 and 212.sub.1 in combination with the resistor 216.sub.1
form a coincidence or AND logic gate that requires two high signals
to appear at their cathode electrodes simultaneously in order to
provide a high signal at junction 214.sub.1 which is also common to
the anode of diode 218.sub.1. This condition exists at the
collector of transistor 130 of flip-flop 28.sub.1 (FIG. 6) when
play begins due to transistor 128 being triggered on by the pulse
(waveform B). In the present embodiment, waveform B is coupled to
the set S input of flip-flop 208.sub.1 by means of resistor
226.sub.1 which sets the flip-flop output appearing on circuit
228.sub.1 to a high state. This supplies the AND gate with one high
input. The other input of the AND gate is waveform C which is low
during the 30 sec. time of play interval only. If during play the
player does not depress pushbutton switch 14.sub.1 which coupled to
the reset R input of the flip-flop 208.sub.1 by means of resistor
230.sub.1, the flip-flop is not reset so that at the end of 30
seconds the AND gate including diodes 210.sub.1 and 212.sub.1 has
two high inputs, which turn"on" transistors 220.sub.1 and 222.sub.1
and the light lamp 224.sub.1.
To further describe the circuit operation, assume that play begins
and waveform C from the timer circuit 29 goes low for a 30 sec.
period. The cathode of diode 212.sub.1 meanwhile, is at ground and
its anode will be at .7 volts, which is an insufficient voltage to
drive transistor 220.sub.1 into conduction through diode 218.sub.1.
When transistor 220.sub.1 is non-conductive, so will be transistor
222.sub.1 and the lamp 224.sub.1 will remain deenergized. If after
thirty seconds pass the player does not energize the push-button
14.sub.1, the cathode of diode 212.sub.1 again goes high. Since
flip-flop 208.sub.1 was never reset, the cathode of diode 210.sub.1
remains high and thus provides the logic condition under which the
lamp 224.sub.1 will light. With both diodes high, the anode of
diode 218.sub.1 goes high and current through resistor 216.sub.1
turns transistor 220.sub.1 on. Transistor 220.sub.1 will saturate,
causing transistor 222.sub.1 to turn on and thereafter energize the
light 224.sub.1.
While there has been shown and described what is at present
considered to be the preferred embodiments of an improved
electronically controlled gaming apparatus, modifications thereto
will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired,
therefore, that the invention be limited to the specific circuit
configurations shown and described, but it is to be understood that
all equivalents, alterations and modifications falling within the
spirit and scope of the present invention are herein meant to be
included.
* * * * *