Dart Game With Two Microcomputers

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to dart games and in particular to a computerized dart game which has more than one microcomputer and which has a novel dart board.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Electronic dart games are known such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,057,251, 1,199,564, 2,808,266, 2,818,259, and 3,309,091 in which patents impinge upon a board so as to cause segments of the board to close a switch and wherein such switches are connected to components for registering, totalling and displaying the score of the player.

The present invention comprises a computerized dart game which has a novel dart board formed with segments that are guided by guide ribs so as to actuate a matrix switch and wherein at least two microcomputers are utilized with one of the microcomputers scanning the matrix switch of the dart board to detect scoring and the other microcomputer controlling various indicator, totallizing and other functions of the game. The use of at least two microcomputers allows the operation of the game to be very rapid and allows many different functions to be provided for the game.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dart game of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the indicator and control board of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dart board of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the details of the dart board;

FIG. 5 is a cut-away sectional view illustrating the dart board segments;

FIG. 6 is another cut-away view of the dart board;

FIG. 7 illustrates the positioning of the switch elements;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the dart board;

FIG. 9 illustrates the matrix switch of the invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B comprise a schematic view of the microcomputer boards;

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C comprise electrical schematic of the detecting and control boards; and

FIG. 12 comprises electrical schematic of the audio board.

FIG. 1 illustrates the dart game 10 of the invention which has a base 11 and a top extending portion 12 which carries the dart board 13. A control panel 14 is illustrated in FIG. 2 in greater detail and comprises a game selector switch 36 which allows for example the selection of five different games with three levels of skill such as high score which can be selectived by depressing a switch 39, 501 which can be selected by depressing a switch 38, 301 which can be selected by depressing a switch 37, shanghai which can be selected by depressing a switch 43, and scram which can be selected by depressing a switch 42. A double in switch segment 40 allows double in to be selected and a double out switch segment 41 can also be selected. It is to be realized, of course, that both double in and double out can be selected upon payment of the appropriate fee by each player. Coin slots 21 are mounted on the side of the game 10 and a coin ejector and return 22 is also mounted on the game 10.

The control board 14 also carries indicator such as remove dart indicator 31, a bust indicator 32, a throw dart indicator 33, a game over indicator 34, a push button 44 and scoring indication 23 which has first, second, third and fourth player indicators 24, 25, 26 and 27, a temporary score 28 and a dart round indicator 29.

FIGS. 3 through 8 illustrate in detail the dart board 13 of the game. The target 13 comprises a plurality of radial ribs 81 through 100 which are spaced equal angularly relative to each other and which are joined at their outer ends by a rim 73 which has its inner edge tapered so as to throw darts into the target. Radial dividers 200, 201, 202 and 203 are also provided in the target and target segments comprise the inner bullseye 204, a plurality of first inner pie-shaped elements 205a through t are located in the spaces between the ribs 81 through 100 and the ring 202 and 203. Smaller double score elements 206a through 206t are mounted between rings 201 and 202. Target segments 207a through 207t are mounted between rings 200 and 201. Smaller triple score segments 208, 208a through 208t are mounted between rings 73 and 200.

As shown in FIG. 8, the target assembly 13 is attached to the front panel 71 of the upper part 12 of the case by a screw 77 and a rim 76. A matrix switch structure 211 is mounted to the upper portion 12 by bolt 212 which is connected to the portion 71 as shown in FIG. 8. Each of the target segments 203 through 208 are formed with feet 213 as is illustrated in FIG. 8 which are mounted so as to engage the pressure switch 211a which is mounted on the pressure switch support 211 as illustrated in FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the matrix switch 211 has openings so that the feet 213 can close the switch at locations associated with the feet 213 of the target segments so as to indicate when a dart 214 impinges on a switch segment as illustrated in FIG. 4. Each of the switch segments is formed with a plurality of openings 216 into which the point of the dart 214 can enter and the reaction of the segments such as segment 205d when hit by the dart is to cause its associated switch actuated feet 213 to engage a rubber pad 217 which overlies the matrix switch 211a and the feet 213 of the target segment 205d will close the switches associated with the target segment 205d when the target segment is hit with a dart 214.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, guide ribs 220 are mounted on the ribs 81 through 100 so as to engage and guide the target segments 203 through 208 of the target board.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the leads 101 to 120 which are connected to the dart board switch matrix 211a and these leads are connected to a microcomputer 66 which may be an Intel type 8748 which scans the dart board matrix switch to detect when darts strike the target board. The Intel type 8748 includes a clock, an eight bit CPU, a 1024 word program memory, a 64 word data memory, an eight bit timer event counter and 27 input/output lines.

Certain of the leads 101 through 120 are connected to the microcomputer 66 through the unit 67 which may be a type 74LS156. A second microcomputer 45 may be of the type 8031 available from Intel which receives an input from an oscillator on terminal 10 from the crystal CR. The microcomputer 45 can be reset by the reset switch 57 which is connected to terminal 9. Leads 32 through 39 are connected from the microcomputer 45 to a buffer 62 which may be a type 74LS273 and to a unit 63 which may be a type 2716 and to a unit 64 which may be a type 2716. The leads 32 through 39 are also connected to a unit 46 which may be a type 74LS244. The microcomputers 45 and 66 are connected together by leads 401 through 403 as shown.

As shown by FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C, the matrix switch 211 supplies inputs through the transistors Q25, Q26, Q27 and Q28 to displays 501 through 517. Unit 518 is connected to unit 519 and the unit 518 might be a type 74LS244 and the unit 519 may be a latch buffer type 74LS2737 which is connected through suitable driver amplifiers to the displays 501 through 504. The unit 521 is also connected to the unit 518 and might be a type of 74LS273 and drives the displays 506 through 509 through the driver amplifiers illustrated.

The unit 518 is also connected to the unit 522 which might be a type 74LS273 which is connected to the display units 510 through 513. The unit 518 is also connected to unit 523 which might be a type 74LS273 which is connected through suitable drivers to the displays 514 through 517. A unit 524 is connected to unit 518 and might be a type 74LS273 and is connected through suitable drivers to transistors Q1 through Q8 which drive lights 525 through 532 which might be respectively light up the indications which show the temporary score, the throw darts, player number 1, player number 3, player number 4, player number 2, game over, and Push.

A unit 533 is connected to unit 518 and might be a type 74LS273 and is connected through suitable drivers to transistors Q9, Q10, Q14, Q15 and Q16, to drive lamps 534 through 538. Lamp 534 might be "Darts". Lamp 535 might indicate bust, lamp 536 might indicate rounds, and light 538 might indicate remove darts.

The unit 540 which might be a type 74LS173 is connected to unit 518 and is connected through suitable drivers to transistors Q17 through Q24 which drive lights 541 through 548 which might respectively indicate 25 cents, Scram, count-up, 501, 301, shanghai, double-in, and double-out.

The programs for the microcomputers 45 and 66 are attached.

FIG. 12 illustrates the audio board and comprises speech in terminals audio out terminals, speaker out terminal and power in terminals and tone-in terminal which are respectively connected to amplifiers 561, 562 and 563. A unit 560 might be a type 7815 is connected as shown and the audio board.

It is to be realized that in use the players deposit coins in the slot 21 and presses the selected switch 36 to choose the game they wish to play. Then the players alternately throw their darts at the target board 13 and the scores are recorded on the scoring indicia 23. As each dart is thrown, if it hits any of the target segments the associated switches in the switch matrix 211a will be closed which will be fed to the scanning microcomputer 66 which will then be supplied through the microcomputer 45 to the displays 501 through 517 to indicate the scores of the players.

This continues until the game has ended at which time the game over light 34 will be illuminated and the winner will be indicated.

If points of the darts break off in the target, the matrix 211 can be by taking the nuts 212a off of bolts 212 and then the broken points can be pushed through the target.

The software for the microcomputers is such that if a dart is thrown which hits another dart in the board and then is deflected to a second segment only the score in the second segment will result.

The audio board produces an audible sound when a segment is struck.

Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications will be made which are within the full intended scope as defined by the appended claims.