U.S. patent number 3,791,650 [Application Number 05/253,057] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-12 for simulated dice game and control circuit therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Elec ronic Data Controls Corporation. Invention is credited to Dennis D. Dice.
United States Patent |
3,791,650 |
Dice |
February 12, 1974 |
SIMULATED DICE GAME AND CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREFOR
Abstract
A simulated dice game including a playing board on which is
presented a display including lamps arranged in a pattern
corresponding to the spot patterns on two dice. A manually operated
switch button is provided to activate and deactivate pulse
generating devices for each lamp arrangement, and the generated
pulses are fed to counter circuits that are switched through a
predetermined recurring sequence of operating states which
selectively energize the lamps through output circuitry to show
combinations of one to six lamps on each die. The pulse generating
device produces triggering pulses at a relatively low frequency and
at a constant repetition rate during activation thereof by the
switch button and produces such pulses at a descending repetition
rate upon deactivation thereof by the switch button whereby the
lamps flash visibly during activation and continue to flash at a
descending repetition rate upon deactivation until a final
operating state is displayed upon cessation of pulse
generation.
Inventors: |
Dice; Dennis D. (Yadkinville,
NC) |
Assignee: |
Elec ronic Data Controls
Corporation (Salem, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
22958651 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/253,057 |
Filed: |
May 15, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/22;
331/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/0468 (20130101); G07C 15/006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/04 (20060101); G07C 15/00 (20060101); A63b
071/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/138A ;331/111 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Popular Electronics, September 1967, pages 29-34. "Spots Before
Your Eyes". .
Spofford, Jr., "The D13T-A Programmable Unijunction Transistor",
General Electric Application Note 90.70, November 1967, pp. 1-14.
.
Plevy, "Electronic Dice," Electronics World, October 1968, pp.
82-84..
|
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Richards, Shefte & Pinckney
Claims
I claim:
1. An amusement device for producing one of a plurality of possible
output indications selected by chance, including, in combination,
manual switch means operable between activating and deactivating
positions; pulse generating means connected to said switch means
for activation and deactivation thereby, said pulse generating
means producing triggering pulses at a constant repetition rate
during activation thereof by said switch means and for producing
triggering pulses at a descending repetition rate following
deactivation thereof by said switch means and said pulse generating
means including a programmable unijunction transistor having a
ground connection to the cathode thereof, means for supplying the
anode of said transistor with a supply voltage, means for imposing
a bias voltage in the gate of said transistor, and selectively
operable means including said switch means for imposing bias
voltage on the gate of said transistor for establishing a voltage
differential at which the anode voltage exceeds the gate voltage
sufficiently to cause the transistor to commence generating pulses
at a constant rate, and for decreasing said voltage differential at
a predetermined rate until said voltage differential is
substantially zero whereupon said transistor will cease generating
pulses, said predetermined rate of decreasing said voltage
differential being sufficiently slow to result in said transistor
generating pulses at a descending repetition rate beginning at said
constant repetition rate and progressing through a plurality of
different repetition rates until no pulses are generated; counter
circuit means connected to said pulse generating means and operable
to be switched through a predetermined recurring sequence of
operating states by pulses received from said pulse generating
means and operable to remain in an operating state in the absence
of said pulses; and output means connected to said counter circuit
means and operable to provide an indication of the operating state
of said counter circuit means.
2. An amusement device as defined in claim 1 and further
characterized in that said selectively operable means includes said
switch means and a gate biasing circuit which includes a voltage
source and a resistor-capacitor timing circuit, said switch means
being selectively operable between a first position at which said
transistor gate is effectively grounded whereby the voltage at said
gate is reduced and a second position at which said
resistor-capacitor timing circuit is in circuit with said gate
whereby said voltage at said gate is progressively increased as
said capacitor charges until the voltage at said gate is sufficient
to disable said transistor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is now commonplace to find applications utilizing an array of
lamps or other indicators that are controlled by pulse generating
circuitry and dividing outputs which operate to switch the
indicators randomly through a predetermined sequence of states
until a final indicating state remains. Amusement devices are
common examples of such applications, particularly games of chance
such as games designed to simulate the rolling or throwing of
conventional dice cubes by lamp arrangements depicting combinations
presented by the spots on the faces of dice.
It is, of course, important in games such as this that the control
circuits be designed to eliminate any reasonable possibility that
an operator or player can control the final state of the indicators
to obtain a desired result, and it is likewise significant in the
enjoyment of such games that a player have a sense of participation
in the operation of the game as well as a sense of anticipation
about the final state of the indicators. Prior proposals have
heretofore failed to meet all of these requirements.
One of the more pertinent of these prior proposals is disclosed in
an article entitled "Spots Before Your Eyes" appearing in the
September 1967 issue of Popular Electronics magazine at pages
29-34. The device described in this article includes two
dice-simulating lamp configurations controlled by respective
counter circuits having a reset feature and characterized by a
relatively low frequency (i.e., 500 HZ) oscillator to drive the
counter circuits. It is to be noted that from a psychological
standpoint, it is very advantageous to have a low frequency
response from lamps because it allows the player or operator of the
device to see the lamps flashing as the counter circuit switches.
However, in the device described in the aforementioned article,
this advantage is outweighed by the fact that it is perhaps
possible because of the low frequency operation for the final
outcome to be predetermined by a player or operator who has had
some experience in manipulating the control switch.
In an effort to eliminate the possibility of controlling the dice
odds in this manner, it has also been proposed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,592,473, issued July 13, 1971, to provide separate oscillators
for each simulated die and more importantly to increase
substantially the frequency at which these oscillators operate. The
patent indicates that this operating frequency should be at least
100,000 cycles per second, but the patentee prefers to use
regenerating oscillators having a substantially higher frequency
(e.g., 1MHZ). While this prior art disclosure apparently does
eliminate the possibility of a practiced operator being able to
influence successfully the outcome of the dice display, the high
frequency oscillators eliminate the aforementioned desirable effect
obtained by the relatively slow flashing of the lamps which gives
the operator a greater sense of participation and anticipation.
In accordance with the present invention, a unique pulse generating
circuit is utilized which provides lamps with a relatively slow
flashing frequency, yet which successfully eliminates any
possibility of obtaining a predetermined final state and this pulse
generating circuit is incorporated in a dice-simulating game which
does not have the drawbacks described above in connection with
known prior art dice games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes an arrangement of lamps or other
indicators which are controlled through a drive circuit that is
manually activated and deactivated and that is operable to switch
the lamps through a predetermined recurring sequence of operating
states and to retain the lamps in one such operating state after
the drive circuit is deactivated. The lamps are switched through
these operating states at a low frequency having a constant
repetition rate during activation of the drive circuit; and they
continue to be switched through such operating states at a
decreasing repetition rate after deactivation of the drive circuit
until a final operating state is presented by the lamps.
The present invention has particular application to amusement
devices such as a simulated dice game, but it is to be understood
that the present invention is not limited to this particular
application and can be useful in other amusement devices and
similar devices employing indicators which are switched through a
plurality of operating states.
In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, a pulse
generating circuit is provided for selectively producing pulses at
a constant repetition rate in one condition thereof and for
producing pulses at a descending repetition rate in a second
condition thereof. This circuit includes a programmable unijunction
transistor having a ground connection to the cathode thereof,, a
supply voltage supplied to the anode thereof, and a bias voltage
imposed on the gate thereof. The gate biasing circuit includes a
voltage source, a resistor-capacitor (R-C) timing circuit, and a
manually operated switch which is selectively operable between a
first position at which the transistor gate is biased into
conduction, and a second position at which the R-C circuit is
connected to the transistor gate. In the first position of the
switch, the voltage at the transistor gate is substantially zero
and the transistor therefore generates pulses at a constant rate,
while in the second position of the switch, the gate voltage is
progressively increased by allowing the capacitor to charge through
resistor until it equals or exceeds the anode voltage whereby the
transistor generates pulses at a descending repetition rate until
the transistor becomes disabled and ceases generating pulses.
This pulse generating circuit is used in the present invention in a
simulated dice game which includes an output display having two
lamp arrangements each of which is patterned after the spot
arrangements on the faces of a conventional die. A divide-by-six
counter circuit for each lamp arrangement is connected to the
aforesaid pulse generating circuit and is operable to be switched
through a predetermined recurring sequence of operating states by
pulses received from the pulse generating circuit, and the output
display is connected to the counter circuit means and is operable
to provide an indication of the operating state of the counter
circuit.
Thus when the manual switch is at its first or "on" position, the
lamps will flash continuously as the pulses are generated at a
constant repetition rate, and upon turning the switch to its second
or "off" position, the lamps will flash at a descending repetition
rate until the transistor in the pulse generating circuit becomes
disabled whereupon the lamps will be left lighted to indicate the
last operating state of the counter circuit.
It will be noted that a low frequency pulse generating circuit can
be employed to provide visibly flashing lights, yet the final
operating state of the counter circuit cannot be correctly
anticipated because it continues to switch for a time even after
the operating switch is moved to its "off" position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a game board for a simulated dice game according
to the present invention, including two simulated dice faces having
lamps representing the spots thereon; and
FIG. 2 is a logic diagram of the simulated dice game of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Looking now in greater detail at the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1
illustrates a gameboard 10 which includes a plurality of
representations similar to those found in conventional dice games
whereby players can place chips or similar tokens at designated
locations to obtain varying odds in attempting to predict correctly
the number of "spots" which will appear on the playing dice. At the
center of the gameboard 10, two simulated dice faces 12 and 14 are
presented, each such dice face 12 and 14 including a display of
seven lamps 16-28 and 16' - 28' respectively, arranged in a pattern
corresponding to the spot arrangements on the surfaces of a die.
Also included on the gameboard 10 is a push-button switch 30 which
operates an electronic circuit disposed beneath the gameboard 10,
and this circuit controls the energizing and deenergizing of the
lamps in a manner to be described in greater detail presently.
The logic diagram for the lamp control circuit is shown in FIG. 2
together with the aforementioned lamps and switch 30. This circuit
includes a pulse generating unit 32 for supplying separate pulses
to divide-by-six counter circuits 34 and 36 which are thereby
cycled through six states in a fixed sequence each of these six
states being then displayed in different combinations of lighted
lamps as will become apparent below.
The pulse generating unit 32 includes two low frequency oscillators
38, 38' which, preferably, are programmable unijunction transistors
manufactured by General Electric Company as D13T. The two
oscillators 38, 38' are identical and generate pulses at
substantially the same frequency (i.e., 16 HZ), although there will
obviously be some minor variation therein because of normal
tolerances, and such variation precludes the two dice faces always
having identical lamp displays and identical progressions of lamp
switching. Since these oscillators 38, 38' are identical, it is
only necessary to explain the operation of one. As will be apparent
to those skilled in the art, the oscillator 38 has a source voltage
(i.e. 5 volts) applied to the anode thereof, and the voltage at the
gate thereof can then be varied so that the oscillator will
generate pulses when the anode voltage is greater than the gate
voltage. The oscillator will cease generating pulses when gate
voltage exceeds the anode voltage.
In conventional pulse generating circuits, the voltage at the gate
of the oscillator of the type described above is substantially
instantaneously increased to and from a value substantially equal
to the anode voltage whereby the oscillator likewise changes
instantaneously between a state of generating pulses at a maximum
frequency rate and a state of non-generating of pulses. However, in
accordance with the present invention, a unique control circuit is
provided for the oscillators 38, 38' which results in their having
the capability of starting to generate pulses at a constant
repetition rate substantially instantaneously with the closing of
switch 30, and then continuing to generate pulses at a descending
repetition rate for a brief period after switch 30 is opened. This
control circuit includes a common line 40 connecting the gates of
oscillators 38, 38', and this common line 40 is connected to a
capacitor 42 (i.e. 6.8 uF) and a resistor 44 (i.e. 100,000 ohms)
which is connected to a voltage supply (i.e. 5 volts). Also
connected to the common line 40 is the switch 30, and a capacitor
46 (i.e. 1uF) and a resistor 48 (i.e. 100,000 ohms).
With this circuit arrangement, when the switch 30 is initially
closed, the resistance 48 will be placed across capacitor 42 and
the supply voltage at the gate of each oscillator 38, 38' will be
quickly reduced so that these oscillators will commence pulsing
substantially instantaneously at its constant maximum frequency
repetition rate. Then when the switch 30 is opened, the bias
voltage at the gates of the oscillators 38, 38' will increase
relatively slowly due to the charging of capacitor 42 through
resistor 44, and this relative slow progressive increase in the
bias voltage at the gates will result in the oscillators 38, 38'
generating pulses at a descending repetition rate until the bias
voltage reaches a point just below the anode-supply voltage at
which time pulsing ceases.
The time period during which the oscillators 38, 38' continue to
generate pulses after switch 30 is opened depends upon the rate of
voltage increase at the oscillator gates. Using the formula T=RC,
when T is time, R is resistance and C is capacitance, it will be
noted that when resistor 44 is 100,000 ohms and capacitor 42 is 6.8
uF, T = 0.68 second. Thus, after switch 30 is opened, the lamps
will continue to flash at a descending repetition rate for 0.68
second whereby the lamps flash in a manner that is visibly
discernible and, yet, the final state of the lamps cannot be
determined by the operator.
It will also be noted that the common line 40 includes two
isolation resistors 50, 50' which eliminate voltage feedback
between the gates of oscillators 38, 38' when the switch 30 is
closed and thereby prevent synchronized pulse generation by the
oscillators 38, 38'. These isolation resistors 50, 50' are
relatively small (i.e. 47,000 ohms) and they have substantially no
effect on the circuit when the switch 30 is open and the
oscillators therefore become substantially synchronized when switch
30 is opened.
Thus, with a pulse generating circuit as described above, the
closing of switch 30 will result in the oscillators 38, 38'
substantially instantaneously generating pulses at a constant
maximum repetition rate, when switch 30 is opened, the oscillators
will generate pulses at a descending repetition rate for a period
of time after which pulse generation will cease altogether.
The pulses generated by oscillators 38, 38' will be fed to counter
circuits 34, 36, respectively, and since these counter circuits 34,
36 are identical, it is only necessary to explain the operation of
one. The counter circuit 34 has a divide-by-six output and includes
three conventional flip flops 52, 54 and 56 which as is well
understood in the art, are switched by a pulse from one stable
condition ("1" state) during which an output signal is produced at
one output to a second stable condition ("0" state) at which an
output signal is produced at the other output thereof.
By way of illustration, it will be assumed that flip flop 52 is at
a "1" state with an output signal produced at terminal 5 thereof,
flip flop 54 is at a "0" state with an output signal produced at
terminal 2 thereof, and flip flop 56 is at a "0" state with an
output signal produced at terminal 6 thereof. In this condition an
output signal from terminal 5 of flip flop 52 is an input for drive
58 associated with lamp 28 whereby the source voltage will be
transmitted through the driver 58 to light lamp 28. However, since
there is no output signal from terminal 3 of flip flop 54, the
driver 60 for lamps 20 and 22 will receive no voltage and,
accordingly, lamps 20 and 22 will be unlighted. Likewise, since
there is no output signal from terminal 5 of flip flop 56, driver
62 will not permit lamps 16 and 26 to be lit. Moreover, since the
driver 64 for lamps 18 and 24 is controlled by a decoding circuit
as shown in FIG. 2, lamps 18 and 24 will only be lighted when flip
flops 52 and 56 are both at a "0" state, and they will, therefore,
not be lighted in the assumed condition because flip flop 52 is in
the "1" state. Thus, in the assumed condition of states of "1",
"0", and "0" for flip flops 52, 54 and 56, respectively, only lamp
28 will be lighted.
When the next pulse is received from the oscillator 38, flip flop
52 will change from its "1" state to its "0" state, and the
decrease in voltage at terminal 5 of flip flop 52 will change the
state of flip flop 56 from "0" state to "1" state. However, this
decrease in voltage at terminal 5 of flip flop 52 will not change
the state of flip flop 54 because its terminal 1 is grounded.
Accordingly, after receiving the first pulse, the state of flip
flops 52, 54 and 56 will be changed from "1", "0", and "0"
respectively to "0", "0", and "1" respectively. In this latter
condition, lamp 28 will not be lighted because terminal 5 of flip
flop 52 does not generate a signal, lamps 20 and 22 will not be
lighted because there is no output signal generated at terminal 3
of flip flop 54, and lamps 18 and 24 will not be lighted because
flip flop 56 is in a "1" state. However, lamps 16 ans 26 will be
lighted because of the output signal to driver 62 from terminal 5
of flip flop 56 (in its "1" state). Accordingly, two lamps, 16 and
18, will be lighted on dice face 12 in the second condition of flip
flops 52, 54 and 56.
The two states of the three flip flops described above are set out
in Table A below, together with the subsequently recurring states
that occur when additional pulses are received from the pulse
generating unit. It is to be noted, of course, that since the
counter circuits 34 and 36 are divide-by-six counter circuits, the
flip flops will proceed from the sixth state set out in Table A to
the first state upon receiving a further pulse.
TABLE A
State of: Flip-flop Flip-flop Flip-flop Lighted Lamps 52 54 56 1 0
28 1 16,26 1 1 28,16,26 1 1 16,26,20,22 1 1 1 28,16,26,20,22 0
16,26,20,22,18,24
Thus it will be seen that as each pulse is generated by the
oscillators 38, 38' and fed to the counter circuits 34, 36 the
lamps on each of the dice faces 12, 14 will be progressively
lighted in six combinations corresponding to the six spot
arrangements which would occur in throwing a conventional die.
When the push-button switch 30 is pressed momentarily, the
oscillators 38, 38' will cause the lamps on each die face to
progress through the six recurring sequences and because of the low
frequency (16 HZ) of the pulse generation; this recurring
progression will be plainly visible to the players as a discernible
flashing progression which adds to the anticipation and excitement
of playing the game. However, even though the flashing progression
is visible, a player still cannot acutally "step" the sequence of
progression by releasing the push-button switch 30 at a particular
instant because, as has been previously described, the oscillators
38, 38' continue to generate pulses at a descending repetition rate
after switch 30 is released and the lamps will therefore, continue
to flash for a period of time until a final state is reached. This
descending repetition rate serves the dual function of adding to
the anticipation and enjoyment of the game, and more importantly,
it prevents a player from being able to cause a certain final state
for the lamps by releasing the switch 30 at a certain instant.
Finally, it will be noted that if the oscillators 38, 38' began
generating pulses at a low repetition rate when switch 30 was
closed, it may be possible for a player to instantaneously press
and release the switch 30 and thereby "step" the lamp sequence by
advancing it one progression. However, because capacitor 46 and
resistor 48, the oscillators 38, 38' begin to generate pulses at a
maximum repetition rate as soon as switch 30 is closed.
The present invention has been described in detail above for
purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by
this description or otherwise to exclude any variation or
equivalent arrangement that would be apparent from, or reasonably
suggested by, the foregoing disclosure to the skill of the art.
* * * * *