Home

Player operated game apparatus

1. a processor having program means for programming the processor and memory means for storing signals a physical mass capable of motion player operated control means for affecting the motion of the physical means a plurality of response means for detecting the mass each response means having signaling means associ ated therewith and operatively connected to the pro cessor for signaling the processor that the response means has detected the mass a plurality of display means for presenting information based upon the detection of the mass by the response means each display means having a display activation means associated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for activating the display means in response to a signal from the processor and multiplexing means operatively connected to the proces sor for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the 15 20 25 35 45 55 65 28 signaling means to signal the processor that its associ ated response means has detected the mass and for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the display activation means to activate its associated display means said processor having means for storing the signals from the signaling means enabled by the multiplexing means into the memory means for addressing the program means and the memory means and for sig naling the dispiay activation means enabled by the multiplexing means in response to the program means and t
2. prise said signaling means and said display activation means 56 A game apparatus comprising a processor having program means for programming the processor and memory means for storing signals a physical mass capable of motion said mass being a surface projectile game surface for supporting the surface projectile player operated control means for affecting the motion of the physical mass a plurality of response means for detecting the mass each response means having signaling means associ ated therewith and operatively connected to the pro cessor for signaling the processor that the response means has detected the mass a plurality of display means for presenting information based upon the detection of the mass by the response means each display means having a display activation means associated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for activating the display means in response to a signal from the processor and multiplexing means operatively connected to the proces sor for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the signaling means to signal the processor that its associ ated response means has detected the mass and for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the display activation means to activate its associated display means said processor having means for storing the signals from the signaling means enabled by the multiplexing means into the memory means for addressing the program means an
3. the playing field Such devices are generally coin operated and may provide for multiple operation whereby two or more players can sequentially play the game with individual indication of the player as well as individual scoring and the like for limited competitive purposes In such games various controls must of course be provided to control the response of the system as well as providing interlocking controls for example in response to insertion of proper coins and the like to activate the system including the flipper controls Fur ther the game will normally include an automatic tilt whereby an unacceptable jarring of the playing field results in a termination of the game Such apparatus with the several elements as de scribed have been constructed for many years employ ing hard wiring of the game system through an electro mechanical control Thus the various target input switches are connected directly to selectively control the target lights Similarly the flippers may be provided with release devices responsive to the proper introduc tion of coins to actuate an electrical interlock Although such systems have been widely employed they have been relatively expensive not only in initial cost but in subsequent maintenance Further any single construc tion is essentially related to a single game plan and thus for providing a great variety of games significant indi vidual design requirements exist Further if a game once designed
4. 35 such as a rolling contact ball a pendant switch arm or the like is provided in the lower cabinet to activate the apparatus and terminate operation of the game if excessive tilting or jarring of the cabinet 2 oc curs such as would normally be considered undesirable and indicate abnormal rough usage The present invention is particularly directed to the concept of employing a simple programmed logic and memory device 23 in combination with a multiplexing board 22 to provide a unique simplified and reliable logic control of the response to the playing field of the game apparatus The device 23 essentially has a data input port connected to a switch input means for receiv ing the signals from the several switch means a second input port to receive a monitor or test line 37 which continuously monitors significant conditions such as the tilt response means 35 and the operation of the coin units 20 In addition a plurality of output ports are connected to transmit control and operating data from the computer memory and processing means to board 22 for transmission to the various elements of units 5 16 21 and 24 The system is particularly described in connection with a preferred embodiment such as shown in FIGS 4 and 5 Generally in accordance with the present inven tion the interfacing board 22 employs a time scanned multiplexing connection to directly and separately in terface the input from the playing field 5 and the input to the b
5. acceptor 78 The lamp driver 66 is shown as including four outputs connected to port 43 and is coupled to the processor input output unit 57 via register 58 to provide for selec tive energization of the ports in accordance with the random logic control The processor will selectively activate the ports 43 in synchronism with the activation of the corresponding MUX lines 40 in accordance with the activation of the response means Thus as shown in FIG 4 the lamp driver controls various lamp circuits for indicating various scoring lamps target lamps the flipper lights and the like Each output port 43 is simi larly connected and one circuit is schematically shown in detail in FIG 4 In the illustrated embodiment the output of the lamp driver 66 produces a logic signal to a transistorized switch unit 86 shown including a control transistor 87 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 55 60 65 12 having its base connected to the lamp drive output line of port 43 and its emitter connected to ground The collector is connected to control a pair of Darlington connected power transistors 88 having the emitter con nected to a suitable power supply such as a twenty four volt supply and the collector connected as the lamp driver O input of the output ports 43 to the multiplex ing network The O driver is also connected to and is part of port 42 via diode 85 to energize the opto isolator 81 The lamp driver 66 otherwise co
6. field In accordance with the usual constructions the playing field 5 includes left and right lane walls 8 adjacent the outer edges of the field 2 with suitable switch lever means 9 right and left bumpers 10 as well as targets 11 and scoring opening 12 with lever means all located within the playing field 2 The bum pers 10 and openings 12 operate to propel the ball with a rapid movement depending upon the direction from which the bumper engaged the members and establish various scores when engaged Further when the ele ments are engaged by the ball 7 to provide additional scoring various lights and audible display means are energized to indicate the response element For exam ple a target or a lane lamp may be activated as the ball engages a corresponding portion of the playing field In accordance with more conventional construction the apparatus also includes manually operated or controlled flippers 14 pivotally mounted to the bottom portion of the playing field The flippers 14 pivot for engaging the ball 7 and returning it upwardly on the playing field 5 The flipper controls are conventionally in the form of right and left buttons 15 provided on the corresponding side walls of the cabinet 2 for manual operation by the operator Further in accordance with conventional construc tion the apparatus shown in FIG 1 includes an up standing back cabinet 16 which is normally glass cov ered and provided with a suitable decorative mat
7. from the decoder control line 63 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the interfacing is completed by a seven line segment decoder 69 provided for driving of the several digit display units or locations coupled to port 46 The output register 59 provides a four bit signal to the segment decoder 69 having seven output lines 70 to couplers 71 for selectively energizing the appropriate segments of the several units The couplers 71 are connected to the multiplex lines 40 for sequential enabling and displaying of the particular digit in the several units The segment drive register 69 is simultaneously strobed with the lamp drive register 66 from strobe line 63 which strobes the multiplexing line decoder 61 such that the corresponding output lines are activated in synchronism with the activation of the multiplex input lines 40 The devices thus conjointly operate to provide a corresponding circuit path through the input or steer ing means at the particular intercept point of the multi plex circuit More particularly in the embodiment of FIG 4 the decoders 61 and 62 are shown as one to sixteen decoders with inputs connected to a common output bus 72 of the random access memory 52 and individually strobed by control lines 63 and 64 The multiplexing input line decoder 61 providing sixteen outputs connected respec tively to the multiplexing input lines 40 which are indi vidually identified as MUX O through F as shown in FIG 4 The
8. means opera tively connected to a port of the processor and having a register for storing input signals from the signaling means before transferring the signals to the port of the processor and means for transferring said signals to said port 16 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the physical mass surface projectile comprises a ball said appara tus further comprising game surface comprises a down wardly inclined playing field and said apparatus further comprising means for ejecting the ball to the upper end of the playing field whereby the ball may roll down wardly under the force of gravity across the playing field 17 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of response means include a plurality of bumper means for ejecting the physical mass surface projectile when Re 31 441 17 detected each bumper means having solenoid means for actuating the bumper means said apparatus further comprising a decoding means operatively connected to the processor for selectively energizing the solenoid means as determined by the processor 18 The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the processor has means for storing signals representing the particular solenoid means to be energized into the memory means the decoding means comprising a decoder operatively connected to the memory means for decoding the sig nals from the memory means and having multiple out puts each output being connected to a solenoid means and said processor f
9. of the apparatus each having a signaling means operatively connected to said interrupt port and said multi plexing means having means for sequentially enabling each of said signaling means of the plurality of monitoring means 90 The apparatus of claim 89 wherein said signaling means associated with the respective monitoring means the signaling means associated with the respective response means and the display activation means associated with the respective display means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix 91 The apparatus of claim 90 wherein the interrupt input port of the processor accepts only one bit the appara tus having no more than one signaling means associated with the monitoring means in each set of elements in the matrix 92 The apparatus of claim 89 wherein said plurality of conditions includes at least one of the group consisting of a tilt condition proper receipt of coins condition and a credit condition 93 The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said condition includes a tilt condition 94 The apparatus of claim 88 wherein the processor further includes interrupt means responsive to the signaling means supplied to the interrupt port for providing immedi ate processing of a condition determined by the monitoring means Re 31 441 27 95 A game apparatus comprising
10. 97 12 1970 France 11 E Re 31 441 45 Reissued Noy 15 1983 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Bally Alley Service Manual Bally Manufacturing Corp Jan 1978 Popular Electronics Altair 8800 Jan 1975 pp 33 38 Popular Science Games Computers Play Oct 1970 p 44 EE Systems Engineering Today Electronic Plays the Pins Nov 1973 pp 27 31 The Semiconductor Data Library Motorola Inc 1973 pp 2 53 General Electric Transistor Manual 1964 pp 29 30 Intel Intellec 4 and Micro Computer Modules Reference Manual 1974 pp 15 17 39 40 The Optoelectronics Data Book for Design Engineers 1970 1971 pp 212 228 MCS 4 Microcomputer Set Users Manual 1974 pp 1 6 51 54 Electronic Design Apr 12 1973 pp 84 89 Process Instruments and Controls Handbook 1975 pp 8 34 8 47 Electronics Oct 25 1973 pp 71 106 Motorola Monitor Dec 1973 pp 5 11 Electronics Mar 21 1974 pp 19 20 Litronix Appnote 3 1971 pp 1 4 Electronics Mar 1 1973 pp 63 64 Programmable Logic Controllers Painless Program ming to Replace the Relay Bank Apr 1971 pp 49 60 Application Notes Parallel Processing System 1972 pp 1 25 The Potential Impact of Microprocessor Technol ogy Dec 1974 pp 1 33 Minicomputers amp Microcomputers The Squeeze Is On 1974 pp 79 82 85 88 113 114 140 152 211 218 Electronics Jun 27 1974 pp 69 70 Electronics Jul 11 1974 pp 92 95 Fairchild T
11. LIPPERS BUMPER gt SOLENOIDS PLAY FIELD LOWER CABINET 10 47 32 4 100 CHIMES 1000 COIN DOOR 3 LEFT COIN DOOR KNOCKER 76 EFT FLIPPER DOOR SLAM GHT FLIPPER IL COIN ACCEPTOR PILOT LAMPS POWER 5 SUPPLY a LINE A C Re 31 441 Sheet 2 of 3 Nov 15 1983 U S Patent FLET ST 9 5 9 v 2 d 1179 9 001 4431 90 ea M NT s 190M v DE E uve E Lis 2 OE SESE BE e 55 VIAVId 2 1i mi asi e pe vuv fa wes 4391 3 ty 139301 2 see as vL s 3 2S 43 had 41034 nio ano 4 354 9 oos 95V uss 8 O00 i1s213 V AOU i FELL 0e 9 wand le ug oos es Hovi 0006 sno Re 31 441 Sheet 3 of 3 Nov 15 1983 U S Patent SN WSO nS Some lc a ea E at sl Re 31 441 1 PLAYER OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specifica tion matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to player operated game appa ratus and particularly to a game apparatus employing multiple display means actuated in response to player manipulated and controlled movement of e
12. TL Applications Handbook Aug 1973 pp 1 5 1 6 3 1 3 24 15 3 15 4 Application Notes Mos LSI Timer Controller Se quencer TCS Device Apr 1972 pp 1 12 Application Notes Programming Manual for Timer Controller Sequencer Mar 1972 pp 1 15 Application Notes Timer Controller Sequencer TCS Device Evaluation Unit Dec 1972 pp 1 6 Re 31 441 Page 2 NN Primary Examiner Vance Hum Attorney Agent or Firm Welsh amp Katz 57 ABSTRACT A pinball game has a playing field with ball directing lanes and targets and flipper elements for returning the ball A programmed logic array is connected to the switches response lamps digit scoring lamps and audi ble devices A matrix circuit is connected to the switches and places information into a memory the output of which is connected through to activate lamps and audible devices which produce a continuous output if energized A scanning decoder coupled to the matrix circuit is driven from the programmed logic array 95 Claims 5 Drawing Figures U S Patent Nov 15 1983 Sheet 1 of 3 Re 31 441 4720 2 LOGIC UNIT SWITCH INPUTS DATA OUTPUTS POWER 7 23 TEST BACK CABINET MOTHER BOARD SAME ADJUSTMENTS OUTPUT ELECTRONICS z2 SCORE READOUT GAME INDICATOR LIGHTS GENERAL ILLUMINATION SCORE LAMPS ACK CABINET 4 TARGET INPUT SWITCHES TARGET LIGHTS GENERAL ILLUMINATION F
13. United States Patent Nutting et al 54 PLAYER OPERATED GAME APPARATUS David J Nutting Jeffrey E Frederiksen both of Milwaukee Wis 75 Inventors 73 Assignee Bally Manufacturing Corporation Chicago Ill 21 Appl No 936 784 22 Filed Aug 25 1978 Related U S Patent Documents Reissue of 64 Patent No 4 093 232 Issued Jun 6 1978 Appl No 576 980 Filed May 13 1975 51 Int Cl esee A63F 7 00 15211 US CL aee meer 273 121 A 58 Field of Search 273 1 E 1 GC 54 C 273 85 G 118 A 119 A 121 A 122 A 125 A 126 A DIG 28 143 R 143 C 235 1 B 1 GA 156 179 15 AL 364 410 412 445 1 340 323 R 377 5 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 2 479 707 8 1949 273 121 A 2 806 701 9 1957 Durant ee 273 125 A 2 864 619 12 1958 Burnside 273 121 A 3 703 288 11 1972 Vogel et al 273 126 A 3 715 746 2 1973 Hatano 340 365 S 3 809 395 5 1974 Allison et al ee 273 1 E 3 874 669 4 1975 Ariano et al 273 88 G 3 889 956 6 1975 Castle 273 1 EX 3 907 290 9 1975 Fischer et al 273 54 C 4 008 893 2 1977 Yoseloff 273 85 G 4 026 555 5 1977 Kirschner et al 273 85 G 4 087 855 5 1978 Bennett et al 364 200 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 20385
14. ach of the circuits is essentially the same with a couple of circuits Re 31 441 11 shown in FIG 5 and the circuit described for the ten chime unit 74 which is connected to the one decoder output line 70 The chime unit 74 includes an operating solenoid 75 having one side connected directly to a 50 volt AC bus 76 The other side of the solenoid 75 is returned to ground through a gates switch device shown as a triac 77 The gate of the triac 77 is connected to the decoder line 1 of lines 73 the line providing a rest or off position when no unit is to be energized of the one to 16 decoders 62 In operation if a signal has been received as hereinafter discussed to activate the ten chime unit 74 the processing unit 51 will have en coded the decoder 62 for establishing a control signal at the appropriate decoder line 73 The control line 64 will simultaneously activate the decoder 62 to energize the number ten chime 74 The triac 77 may of course re spond on either half of the alternating current signal and will maintain energization until the decoder is latched or reset to or rest by the microprocessor The solenoids for the several other elements with the excep tion of the coin acceptor are connected via port 42 to the several individual lines 73 and activated in a corre sponding manner in accordance with the information provided to the processing unit and thus placed in mem ory unit 52 The coin accepto
15. ack panel and to the playing field to isolate the contacts from the inputs which inherently include noise signals and thereby provides a reliable control system to respond to the movement and action of the playing ball 7 and associated elements Referring partic ularly to FIG 4 a time division multiplexing system is diagrammatically shown including sixteen multiplexing drive lines 40 coupled to and driven from the logic array device 23 for the sequential stepped operation of the multiplexing circuit on a repetitive sequential and cyclical basis The sixteen drive lines 40 may be identi fied conventionally for example in a hexidecimal system by the identifying digits zero through nine and identify ing letters A through F Each of the lines 40 are con nected in a matrix to a plurality of input output ports 41 connected to the several input switches lamps and controls of the playing apparatus as shown in labeled block diagram in FIG 4 A separate output unit 42 is _ 0 20 25 30 40 45 50 55 60 65 activated during each cycle of the logic unit 23 to con trol and energize a plurality of individually powered elements such as the chimes 32 the bumper solenoids 30 ball hole reject solenoids and the like which require continuous non multiplexed activation as noted in the labeled blocks In the embodiment of FIG 5 the output bank or unit 42 includes 16 possible outputs and thus is conveniently shown in FIG 4
16. and marketed is not readily accepted it 5 25 30 40 45 50 55 60 2 cannot be readily and conveniently changed to over come any of the assumed undesirable features Such games are of course in such demand however that they are widely manufactured and sold even with pres ent marketing restrictions and constraints There is however a need for a method of simplifying the game design and apparatus which will permit the manufac turer to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions and requirements Of course the game apparatus should provide economy in construction as well as in mainte nance and operating costs SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is particularly directed to such game apparatus wherein movement of an element is selectively and partially controlled with respect to ele ment activated response devices which in turn are con nected in an isolated connection to activate automatic display means such as visual and or audio means and the like wherein both stimulatory and numerical scoring display are provided As the present invention is uniquely applied to and develops a unique pinball game apparatus the invention is described in connection therewith for purposes of reference Generally in ac cordance with the present invention the display means the element activated response means and the inter locking control means are arranged into sequentially activated element groups and
17. atus of claim 61 wherein the processor further includes synchronizing means for synchronizing the multiplexing means with the processor means for signaling Re 31 441 25 the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means 71 The apparatus of claim 70 wherein a display means comprises a lamp said apparatus comprising a lamp drive circuit and said synchronizing means further comprising means for synchronizing the lamp drive circuit with the multiplexing means and the processor means for signaling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means 72 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein a signaling means of the response means comprises a voltage source and a switch operable by the response means 73 The apparatus of claim 72 wherein the switch is operatively connected for coupling the voltage source to the multiplexing means said multiplexing means comprising a decoder for completing the circuit of the voltage source and the switch thereby enabling the response means to signal the processor that the physical mass has been detected 74 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the processor further has an input and output circuit means operatively connected to a port of the processor and having a register for storing input signals from the signaling means before transferring the signals to the port of the processor and means for transferring said signals to said port 75 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the surface pr
18. ay for storage of the actuation thereof is also uniquely provided in another feature or aspect of the best embodiments to produce noise immunity Thus the switches are connected to ground the inputs through the transistor switch means The turn on time of the transistor inserts a time lag in the circuit to the input switches whch are coupled to the same scan line of the matrix circuit and effectively makes the response immune to noise or transients created in the switching Generally in a highly practical construction a four input port responds to the several playing field inputs to record the play while a four output port provides means for driving of the lamps and selected auxiliary equip ment A further output port provides a drive means to the scoring boards and other auxiliary equipment In addition a separate test input line is connected into the circuit through the multiplexing lines to maintain a continuous monitor and an interlock of the system for subsequent play Thus the credit condition as a result of coins is maintained and provided to sense the activa tion of such switches The test output is connected to the computer interrupt and operates the interrupt when a corresponding multiplex line is actuated to provide for the automatic recording of such information For exam ple it is of course essential that any coin introduced by any player be automatically recorded and credited The test line will respond to such a c
19. ce with the actuation of the response means and a random access memory interconnected by a processing unit to process the game information Re 31 441 9 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the sequential logic unit is shown in block diagram as a suitable microprocessor 50 such as that manufactured and sold by the Intel Corporation of Santa Barbara California and particularly identified in their Intel MCS 40 User s Manual For Logic Designers and iden tified by their number MCS 335A 175 15K which was published and copyrighted 1974 Generally as more fully disclosed in the Intel bulletin the microprocessor 50 includes a central processing unit 51 coupled to a random access memory unit 52 and to a read only mem ory unit 53 via an I O cable 54 The memory units 52 and 53 are activated from control lines 55 and 56 from unit 51 to produce a predetermined programmed se quence proceeding through the various functions re quired to control and play the game apparatus with appropriate subroutines for selected portions such as those responsive to an interrupt input In the actual construction the read only memory 53 is formed on individual chips each of which also includes individual input output ports for interfacing of the microprocessor with the game apparatus An I O circuit 57 interfaces the microprocessor system 50 and peripheral coupling registers 58 60 more particularly a lamp driver register 58 a digital display dri
20. ch set of elements in the matrix 43 The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said second decoder has an enabling rate sufficient to maintain ap parently continuous illumination of each lamp 44 The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the lamp has a given voltage rating and the apparatus comprises means for supplying power to the lamp at a voltage higher than said rating for a duration less than the per iod of said enabling rate 45 A pinball game comprising a processor having programming means and memory means a ball a downwardly inclined playing field player operated means for ejecting the ball on to the playing field whereby the ball may roll downwardly a plurality of response means for detecting the ball and having signal 20 25 35 40 45 50 55 65 20 ing means associated therewith and operatively con nected to the processor for signaling the processor that the response means has detected the ball a plurality of display means for presenting information based upon the detection of the ball by the response means and having display activation means associated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for activat ing the display means in response to a signal from the processor and multiplexing means operatively con nected to the processor for cyclicly and sequentially enabling the signaling means to signal the processor that its associated response means has detected the ball and for cyclicly and sequentia
21. circuit 6 The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the multiplexing means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements operates at a frequency such that a cyclicly activated display means appears to be continuously active 0 25 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 16 7 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signaling means associated with the respective response means and the display activation means associated with the respective display means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially en abling each set of elements of the matrix 8 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multiplexing means has an enabling rate sufficient to maintain an apparently continuous presentation of information by a plurality of display means simultaneously 9 The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the display means comprises a lamp having a given voltage rating and said apparatus comprises means for supplying power to said lamp at a voltage higher than said rating for a duration less than the period of said enabling rate so that the average current to said lamp is less than that required at said given voltage rating 10 The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the display activation means associated with the respective lamps are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of ele ments in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and s
22. connected through a ma trixing or multiplexing means to a programmed logic means such as a microprocessor to provide a highly improved control and response of the game apparatus The multiplexing means sequentially couples the acti vated elements in the system at a sufficiently rapid re petitive rate to effectively present a continuous moni toring and presentation of the several display means producing interconnection of the response means and operation of the interlocking control means to properly monitor score and display during each cycle of the program The processing system permits significant cost reduction in the initial construction as well as con venient changes in the basic approach of any given structure Generally in accordance with the present invention the playing field is constructed in accordance with the usual construction to develop a plurality of lanes response target devices and flipper elements The several elements activate switch means and establish signals to a common matrixing or multiplexing circuit A programmed logic array means rapidly and in cycli cal manner scans the input lines coupled to the switch means and detects the device operation and subse quently correspondingly activates within each cycle the proper visual output of display means which include the conventional visual display lamp means audible means or visual display means as well as a digit display In accordance with a particular aspect of th
23. cting the lamp to the power source said signaling means associated with the respective bumpers and the switching means associated with the respective lamps being operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix a lamp drive operatively connected to the input and output circuit having a plurality of outputs each output being connected to a switching means asso ciated with a lamp in each of the sets of elements for driving the switching means of each set as de termined by data from the input and output circuit and a second decoder operatively connected to the cen tral processing unit for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix said central processing unit having means for syn chronizing the first decoder second decoder and the lamp drive with the input and output circuit 41 The apparatus of claim 40 comprising a plurality of digital displays for representing a score of a player each digital display having a digit drive circuit associ ated therewith and operatively connected to the input and output circuit for driving the digital display as de termined by data from the input and output circuit 42 The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the input and output circuit provides data corresponding to one digit at a time said elements of the matrix further comprising the plurality of digit drive circuits with no more than one digit drive circuit associated with the digital dis plays in ea
24. d the memory means and for sig naling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means in response to the program means and the memory means said multiplexing means having an enabling rate suffi cient to maintain an apparently continuous presenta tion of information by a plurality of display means 5 20 25 30 35 45 55 65 22 simultaneously the display means comprising a lamp having a given voltage rating and said apparatus further comprising means for supplying power to said lamp at a voltage higher than said rating for a dura tion less than the period of said enabling rate so that the average current to said lamp is less than that required at said given voltage rating the display activation means associated with the respec tive lamps being operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix and the magnitude of said higher voltage being approximately equal to the product of said given voltage rating of the lamp and the square root of the number of sets of display activation elements defined by said plurality of display means 57 A game apparatus comprising a processor having program means for programming the processor and memory means for storing signals a physical mass capable of motion said mass being a surface projectile a game surface for supporting the
25. dance with the inputs and the mem ory The repetition rate or frequency is sufficiently rapid to maintain the presentation and activation of the output means as if a direct pass through of the informa tion from the switches to the output and control devices was established The invention thus provides a convenient means for maintaining a generalized logical control for a game apparatus employing the advantages of a small memory system which can of course be readily adapted to a conventional software control of the game response in accordance with a relatively fixed field memory More particularly in a particular unique implementa tion a small microprocessor is suitably housed in the back housing wall or box of a pinball unit and coupled through a sixteen slot matrix board to a read only mem ory for activating of the display means and sensing of the various switch conditions in combination with a continuous test and interlock system to maintain inter locking control of the system while play is in operation and storing of the condition with respect to subsequent play of the apparatus More particularly in accordance with a particular constructional novel feature and em bodiof the present invention a multiplexing circuit is driven from a random access memory to sequentially activate a plurality of multiplex input lines on a continu ous cyclic basis and a similar parallel decoder is prefera bly coupled to condition a main driving power ou
26. e being contained in said housing player operated control means said mass being a sur face projectile operably mounted on said game hous ing for affecting the motion of the physical means mass a plurality of response means for detecting the mass each response means having signaling means asso ciated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for signaling the processor that the re sponse means has detected the mass a plurality of display means connected to said housing for presenting information based upon the detec tion of the mass by the response means each dis play means having a display activation means asso ciated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for activating the display means in re sponse to a signal from the processor and multiplexing means operatively connected to the processor for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the signaling means to signal the processor that its associated response means has detected the mass and for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the display activation means to activate its associated display means said processor having means for storing the signals from the signaling means enabled by the multiplex ing means into the memory means for adddressing the program means and the memory means and for signaling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means in response to the program means and the memory means and wherein said pr
27. eans for continuously sensing certain selected priority switches and providing interrupt at any time in each scan cycle to immediately process and properly update the ma chine memory for appropriate play of the game A final port 46 is connected to drive the scoring display means for the respective players as well as to indicate to the control any additional games established in the credit system In the system the multiplexing lines 40 are sequen tially activated from the MUX line and through the MUX line F and at each activation the several ports 43 46 are thus activated to appropriately drive the sev eral indicating lamps or other elements and to transmit game condition information to the computing means for processing in the conventional manner As more fully shown in FIG 5 the interfacing be tween the multiplexing circuit means of FIG 4 and the logic array or means 23 permits the use of any desired sequential logic microprocessor which has suitable read only memory chips for operating of the elements and a suitable random access memory for appropriately pro cessing the information received and activating the multiplexing lines 40 and the separate driver or output unit 42 Thus as shown in FIG 4 and more fully shown in FIG 5 the apparatus is adapted to be driven from any suitable sequential logic unit and is preferably a micro processor including a read only memory which is preset to operate the various elements in accordan
28. equentially enabling each set of ele ments of the matrix and wherein the magnitude of said higher voltage is approximately equal to the product of said given voltage rating of the lamp and the square root of the number of sets of display activation elements defined by said plurality of display means 11 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor further includes synchronizing means for synchronizing the multiplexing means with the processor means for signaling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means 12 The apparatus of claim 11 wherein a display means comprises a lamp said apparatus comprising a lamp drive circuit and said synchronizing means further comprising means for synchronizing the lamp drive circuit with the multiplexing means and the processor means for signaling the display activation means en abled by the multiplexing means 13 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a signaling means of the response means comprises a voltage source and a switch operable by the response means 14 The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the switch is operatively connected for coupling the voltage source to the multiplexing means said multiplexing means comprising a decoder for completing the circuit of the voltage source and the switch thereby enabling the response means to signal the processor that the physical mass has been detected 15 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor further has an input and output circuit
29. erial thereon Player indicating means 17 provides visual presentation of whether player 1 or player 2 should be playing as a result of the operation of the machine a player related total score area 18 for providing a contin uous updated score in digital display for the respective players A special tilt notice 19 will normally be pro vided and illuminated if the cabinet is unduly lifted jarred or the like Various other illuminating lamps to indicate a particular score being added to the total score as a result of a target engagement and the like may also be provided Obviously the game apparatus may vary widely with respect to the particulars of the presenta tion in accordance with the movement of the ball down through the field and into engagement with the various response devices but all units basically require switch input means lamp means and digital or number scoring means which are interconnected to produce a visual display and scoring of the play 30 40 45 55 60 65 6 A typical system is diagrammatically illustrated in a matrix form in FIG 4 for purposes of fully describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention In addition a coin receiving means is provided to limit playing of the game to the introduction of coins In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a pair of redundant coin acceptors 20 are provided to minimize service requirements Introduction of the coins into either coin accepto
30. f maintenance The player enters the coins and operates the game in the identical manner as heretofore with the game appa ratus responding in essentially the same manner with a continuous monitoring of essential functions at port 45 with an immediate and priority response as well as the sequential monitoring of the several inputs via the acti vation of the scan lines 40 in combination with the se quential monitoring of the input and outputs appearing at ports 43 46 via the programmed logic unit 23 The separate decoder 62 provides for direct driving of the several heavy duty solenoids independently of the mul tiplex system and also where desired continuous ener gization such as for example the energization of the bumper solenoids without necessity of the use of mem ory or storage devices such as opto isolators This pro vides further economy in overall construction without reducing the effectiveness of reliability of the game apparatus Various modes of carrying out the invention are con templated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention I claim 1 A game apparatus comprising a game housing a processor having program means for programming the processor and memory means for storing sig nals a physical mass capable of motion Re 31 441 15 a game surface for supporting the surface projectile said surfac
31. he mass and for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the display activation means to activate its associated display means said processor having means for storing the signals from the signaling means enabled by the multiplexing means into the memory means for addressing the program means and the memory means and for sig naling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means in response to the program means and the memory means the player operated control means including a player operable switch operatively connected in circuit rela tion with a solenoid for activating the solenoid and lamp operated optical coupling means having a lamp associated therewith and operably connected to the processor for activating the optical coupling means in response to a signal from the processor the optical 4 coupling means enabling the player operable switch in response to the multiplexing means and the processor the multiplexing rate being sufficient to maintain continuous enabling of the player operable switch during a multiplexing cycle 59 The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the player operated control means includes a flipper actuated by said solenoid in response to the player operable switch at any time during said multiplexing cycle 60 The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said player operated control means further includes a thyristor circuit the thyristor having gate and load terminals the gate being connected to the p
32. he memory means and the physical mass comprising a ball said apparatus further comprising a downwardly inclined playing field and means for ejecting the ball to the upper end of the playing field whereby the ball may roll down wardly under the force of gravity across the playing field k g
33. iated display means said processor having means for storing the signals from the signaling means enabled by the muitiplexing means into the memory means for addressing the program means and the memory means and for sig naling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means in response to the program means and the memory means 62 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the signaling means associated with the respective response means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the ma trix 63 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the display acti vation means associated with the respective display means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix 64 The apparatus of claim 61 further comprising a display drive circuit operatively connected to the processor having a plurality of outputs each output being connected to a display activation means in each set of elements for selectively driving the display activation means within the set of elements enabled by the multiplexing means as determined by a signal from the processor 65 The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the processor further comprises an input and output circuit means opera tively connected to a port
34. ing monitoring means for determining the status of a condition of the apparatus and having signaling means operatively connected to the interrupt port of the processor for signaling the processor with respect to the condition 34 The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of monitoring means for a plural ity of conditions of the apparatus each having a signal ing means operatively connected to said interrupt port and said multiplexing means having means for sequen tially enabling each of said signaling means of the plu rality of monitoring means 35 The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said signaling means associated with the respective monitoring means the signaling means associated with the respective re sponse means and the display activation means associ ated with the respective display means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix 36 The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the interrupt input port of the processor accepts only one bit the apparatus having no more than one signaling means associated with the monitoring means in each set of elements in the matrix 37 The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said plurality of conditions inchudes at least one of the group consist ing of a tilt condition proper receipt of coins condition and a credit condition 38 The ap
35. is invention the digit display is developed through a suitable line seg ment generator The switch means are thus connected to place the switch information into a memory system the output of which is connected through the same matrix board to activate the desired visual and audible devices including visual display lamps scoring digit display means as well as audible devices The switch means further include interlocking monitoring means to determine the status of the apparatus with respect to for example the tilt condition the receipt of an appropriate input such as coins credit condition automatic addi tional game incentive in response to previous games Re 31 441 3 scoring and the like during each cycle and operable to provide a priority type control to the program logic array This information is also fed through the matrix board into the memory unit the output of which is selectively connected to the same matrix board The output from the multiplexing or matrix board is further interconnected to the lamps and to the control solenoid to release the apparatus for play to thereby provide complete interlocking control through the memory and the matrix unit The programmed logic array is a se quential logic microprocessor with the input lines of the matrix board sequentially scanned on a repetitive basis with the information transmitted to the interlocks and to the display means to activate the device or the game apparatus in accor
36. layer operable switch and the load termi nals being coupled to the solenoid so that the thyristor is triggered by the player operable switch and in turn causes the solenoid io be energized 61 A game apparatus comprising a processor having program means for programming the processor and memory means for storing signals a physical mass capable of motion said mass being a surface projectile a game surface for supporting the surface projectile player operated control means for affecting the motion of the physical mass a plurality of response means for detecting the mass each response means having signaling means associ ated therewith and operatively connected to the pro cessor for signaling the processor that the response means has detected the mass a plurality of display means for presenting information based upon the detection of the mass by the response means each display means having a display activation means associated therewith and operatively connected 2 4 20 5 30 iE 5 50 55 60 65 24 to the processor for activating the display means in response to a signal from the processor and multiplexing means operatively connected to the proces sor for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the signaling means to signal the processor that its associ ated response means has detected the mass and for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the dispiay activation means to activate its assoc
37. lements and particularly to a pinball game apparatus and the like Pinball type game apparatus is widely employed in various recreational establishments Uniformly such games employ the ejection of a playing ball to the upper end of a downwardly inclined playing field The ball moves down under gravity forces through a maze of alleys or lane forming elements target bumper elements of various forms and the like The movement through the lanes and into engagement with several bumpers lane switches and the like complete suitable circuits to activate suitable display and scoring mechanisms The operator can partially control the movement of the ball by limited jarring of the playing field and generally through the activation of manually operated flipper control means which operate one or more dispersed pivotally mounted flipper arms on the upper surface of the playing field Such games are widely available in many different formats and arrangements They almost universally however employ a structure with an up right back panel on which game indicating lights digit scoring and the like are displayed along with general pictoral information with suitable illumination Audible devices such as bells or chimes are also normally incor porated to respond to selected targets within the play ing field In addition scoring openings in the playing field have switches to indicate receipt of a ball and automatic rejecting means to propel the ball back onto
38. lex lines 40 for sequentially and repetitively conditioning of the multiplexing channels 41 for response The second decoder 62 includes a plurality of outputs connected to the multiplex port 42 to selectively supply power for driving of the heavy AC load such as the chimes coin acceptor and the like on a continuous non multiplexed basis The two decoders 61 and 62 are strobed by indi vidual command or control signal lines 63 and 64 from the central processing unit 51 which will of course transmit appropriate information from the random ac cess memory unit 52 to the appropriate decoder prior to the strobing thereof In addition the processing unit 51 includes an interrupt unit 65 which is connected di rectly to the test port 45 of the multiplex circuit and monitors the corresponding points during each activa 0 20 25 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 10 tion of the related multiplexing input lines 40 The com puter processing unit 51 in accordance with the usual functioning responds directly to any condition requir ing immediate attention such as the tilting of the appara tus the accepting of coins in order to ensure the appro priate crediting of such input to the apparatus Generally the interfacing to the game elements in cludes a lamp driver decoder 66 which provides four output lines one for each of the lamp driving ports 43 of FIG 3 Lamp drive 66 is coupled to register 58 via an output bus 67 and is strobed
39. lly enabling the display acti vation means to activate its associated display means said processor having means for storing the signals from the signaling means enabled by the multiplexing means in the memory means for addressing the program means and the memory means and for signaling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means in response to the program means and the mem ory means 46 The game of claim 45 wherein the signaling means associated with the respective response means and the display activation means associated with the respective display means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix 47 The game of claim 45 wherein said multiplexing means has an enabling rate sufficient to maintain an apparently continuous presentation of information by a plurality of display means simultaneously 48 The game of claim 47 wherein the display means comprises a lamp having a given voltage rating and said game comprising means for supplying power to said lamp at a voltage higher than said rating for a dura tion less than the period of said enabling rate 49 The apparatus of claim 48 further comprising a matrix of sets of elements and wherein the display acti vation means associated with the respective lamps are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements within the
40. matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of ele ments of the matrix and wherein the magnitude of said higher voltage is approximately equal to the product of said given voltage rating of the lamp and the square root of the number of sets of elements in the matrix 50 The game of claim 45 wherein a response means comprises a bumper which may be actuated when struck by the ball and its associated signaling means comprises a voltage source and a switch operable by the bumper said switch being operatively connected for coupling the voltage source to said multiplexing means and said multiplexing means comprising a decoder for completing the circuit of the voltage source and the switch to thereby enable the bumper to signal the pro cessor that the ball has made contact therewith 51 The game of claim 50 comprising solenoid means for actuating the bumper the game further comprising decoding means operatively connected to the processor for selectively energizing the solenoid means as deter mined by the processor to thereby drive the ball away from the bumper the speed of the processor and decod ers being sufficient to respond to provide said driving action by the bumper while it is still in contact with the bumper 52 A pinball game comprising a digital processor having programming means for programming the pro Re 31 441 21 cessor and memory means for storing signals a ball a do
41. mprises an input and output circuit means opera tively connected to the processor and having a register for temporarily storing the signals from the processor represen tative of the digit to be displayed before transferring the signals to the segment drive circuit and means to transfer said signals to said segment drive circuit 86 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the display acti vation means associated with a display means comprises a power source and a transistor switch means for operatively coupling the power source and the display means in re sponse to the signal from the processor the multiplexing means comprising a decoder for completing the circuit of the power source transistor switch means and the display means 87 The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the display means comprises a lamp and the transistor switch means com prises a transistor having a sufficiently low Beta character istic so that it acts as a current limiter during initial turn on of the lamp 88 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the processor further includes an interrupt input port said apparatus further comprising monitoring means for determining the status of a condition of the apparatus and having signaling means operatively connected to the interrupt port of the processor for signaling the processor with respect to the condition 89 The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of monitoring means for a plurality of conditions
42. nation means for the playing field as well as the target score lights which are operated when the target 11 is en gaged The flippers 14 and the bumpers 10 have inter locking solenoids secured to the underside of the play ing field 5 and only activated during game play The Re 31 441 7 input or response switches of the play field 5 are con nected to board 22 for signaling of the computer means 23 the back panel 16 receives appropriate general illum ination at the start of the game to illuminate the back board which may of course change during the play if desired In addition an individual signal is transmitted to the game and player indicators 17 and to the score indicator 18 The lower cabinet 2 within which the playing field 5 is housed will additionally be provided with certain auxiliary equipment such as individual audible devices such as chimes 32 to respond to certain target engage ments and operable to provide an audible as well as a visual signal The cabinet 2 further includes the coin switch 27a to sense the coins as received and transmit the signal to the computer in accordance therewith The coin door may incorporate a switch means 33 re sponding to knocking of door 21 in an attempt to artifi cially actuate the coin switch Flipper switches 34 which are coupled to buttons 15 indicate the operation of the right and left flipper and are coupled through the lower cabinet to board 22 Similarly a tilt response mechanism
43. nces through each processing cycle The several input switches 97 are connected to ground through the same transistors 88 which return the several lamps 90 to ground As previously de scribed with the lamp cold the transistor 88 functions to limit the current until the lamp becomes hot and is turned fully on This voltage also holds the switch 97 above ground for a corresponding period This func tioning introduces a practical degree of noise immunity into the system such that the switch can be driven from a noisy source Thus the transient or noise components generated within the source or the switch will settle out before the switch drops to ground and signals the input register This again contributes to an inexpensive and reliable interfacing to the programmed logic unit and thus provides for practical implementation of a pro grammed game apparatus 20 25 30 35 45 55 65 14 The scoring displaying is accomplished through the scanning of the input line 40 and port 46 Each target and the like is preassigned a predetermined score such that each engagement effectively increases the player score by a selected amount In the illustrated embodi ment of the invention the inclusive MUX 3 8 and A F lines 40 drive the scoring display lights The final port 46 is an input output port which actuates the digital display coupler 71 for indicating each of the player s scores as well as the credit status of the
44. nt invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly illustrated as well as others which will be readily understood from the following description In the drawings FIG 1 is a pictorial view of a typical pinball machine apparatus FIG 2 is a block diagram showing the various por tions of the game apparatus in block diagram with line interconnection between the several components FIG 3isa side view diagrammatically illustrating the component mounting and housing construction Re 31 441 5 FIG 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of multiplexing arrangement for a particular pinball game unit as shown in FIGS 1 3 and FIG 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a typical known computer system interfaced with the game cir cuit portions of which are schematically shown to clearly illustrate the present invention DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG 1 the present invention is illustrated applied to a typical pinball game machine 1 including an upper game field cabinet 2 supported by a plurality of legs 3 which locate the cabinet 2 approximately at waist height of the usual game player The cabinet 2 includes a glass top 4 be neath which a playing field 5 is located A manual ball feeding mechanism 6 is shown to the front for ejecting of a round ball 7 to the upper end of the playing field 5 from which it rolls downwardly under gravity forces across the playing
45. ntly low Beta characteristic so that it acts as a current limiter during initial turn on of the lamp 30 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the player operated control means includes a player operable switch operatively connected in circuit relation with a solenoid for having a lamp associated therewith and operably connected to the processor for activating the opli cal coupling means in response to a signal from the proces sor the optical coupling means activating the solenoid and lamp operated optical coupling means for enabling the player operable switch in response to the multiplex ing means and the processor the multiplexing rate being sufficient to maintain continuous enabling of the player operable switch during a multiplexing cycle 31 The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the player operated control means includes a flipper actuated by said solenoid in response to the player operable switch at any time during said multiplexing cycle 32 The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said player operated control means further includes a thyristor circuit the thyristor having gate and load terminalis the gate being connected to the player operable switch and the load terminals being coupled to the solenoid so that the thyristor is triggered by the player operable switch and in turn causes the solenoid to be energized 33 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor further includes an interrupt input port said apparatus further compris
46. ntrols the several visual display lamps as shown in FIG 4 For example when the MUX O line 40 is activated the lamp zero drive line will not be activated or if activated inopera tive as there is no load connection at such point When the MUX 1 line 40 is activated the lamp driver port 43 will be activated if the A lamp is to be ener gized The processor in turn will determine whether or not the A lamp is to be energized in accordance with the input signal indicating whether the A target has been activated as hereinafter described The several MUX lines O F each are similarly connected to ground by a transistor 88 which is turned on by the operation of decoder 61 Transistor 88 is shown in a grounded emit ter configuration with the collector connected to the MUX lines At the MUX 1 line of input lines 40 the O port 43 is connected by a diode 89 in series with the A lamp 90 to the MUX 1 line 40 When both the MUX 1 line 40 and the lamp driver O line 42 are simulta neously activated the circuit will be completed and the lamp 90 energized visually displaying the operative engagement of target A In accordance with a unique and particularly practical aspect of the illustrated em bodiment of the invention the lamp 90 and other simi lar lamps are low voltage incandescent lamps having a rating significantly below the supply Thus where a 24 volt supply is employed conven
47. nts of the playing field Thus FIG 2 is a general layout of the apparatus in accordance with a teaching of the present invention to more clearly illustrate and describe a preferred system shown in FIGS 4 and 5 and FIG 3 illustrates the structural mounting of the components Generally a main power supply connection from a main AC power supply line 25 such as conventionally employed in utility distribution systems in the United States provides main power to the system through the lower cabinet 2 The output power is applied directly to pilot lights at the coin input units 20 to indicate the apparatus is in operating condition and simultaneously providing power through the mother board 22 to the several operating components An interlock acceptor is provided to control the coin units 20 and to permit the introduction of coins only if the apparatus is in proper condition for play If such signal is received the appara tus will allow the introduction of coins through either the left or the right coin receivers 20 and provide auto matic actuating of a coin counter 27a within the lower cabinet 2 which transmits such information This infor mation is automatically transferred into a memory means forming a part of the programmed logic array unit 23 within the back cabinet 16 and which then acti vates the play field 5 and associated components to permit operation of the game if all other conditions are proper The field 5 includes a general illumi
48. o jectile comprises a ball said game surface comprises a downwardly inclined playing field and said apparatus further comprises means for ejecting the ball to the upper end of the playing field whereby the ball may roll down wardly under the force of gravity across the playing field 76 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the plurality of response means includes a plurality of bumper means for ejecting the surface projectile when detected each bumper means having solenoid means for actuating the bumper means said apparatus further comprising a decoding means operatively connected to the processor for selectively energizing the solenoid means as determined by the proces sor 77 The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the processor has means for storing signals representing the particular sole noid means to be energized into the memory means the decoding means comprising a decoder operatively con nected to the memory means for decoding the signals from the memory means and having multiple outputs each output being connected to a solenoid means and said pro cessor further having means for activating the decoder synchronously with the memory means 78 The apparatus of claim 77 wherein each of the plu rality of solenoid means has a triac switch the gate of the triac switch being connected to an output of the decoder 79 The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the plurality of response means further includes audible means for produc ing sounds
49. ocessor response means and multiplexing means are contained in said housing 2 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signaling means associated with the respective response means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of ele ments in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of ele ments of the matrix 3 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display acti vation means associated with the respective display means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means having means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix 4 The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a display drive circuit operatively connected to the pro cessor having a plurality of outputs each output being connected to a display activation means in each set of elements for selectively driving the display activation means within the set of elements enabled by the multi plexing means as determined by a signal from the pro cessor 5 The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the processor further comprises an input and output circuit means operatively connected to a port of the processor and having a register for temporarily storing signals from the processor representative of the display drive out puts to be activated before transferring the signals to the display drive circuit and means for transferring said signals to said display drive
50. of the processor and having a register for temporarily storing signals from the processor representative of the display drive outputs to be activated before transferring the signals to the display drive circuit and means for transferring said signals to said display drive circuit 66 The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the multiplexing means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements operates at a frequency such that a cyclicly acti vated display means appears to be continuously active 67 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the signaling means associated with the respective response means and the display activation means associated with the respective display means are operatively connected as a plurality of sets of elements in a matrix the multiplexing means hav ing means for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each set of elements of the matrix 68 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein said multiplexing means has an enabling rate sufficient to maintain an ap parently continuous presentation of information by a plu rality of display means simultaneously 69 The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the display means comprises a lamp having a given voltage rating and said apparatus comprises means for supplying power to said lamp at a voltage higher than said rating for a duration less than the period of said enabling rate so that the average current to said lamp is less than that required at said given voltage rating 70 The appar
51. ondition to momen tarily interrupt the usual sequencing and automatically maintain a continuous record of the credit conditions Similarly a tilt condition will take precedence and pro vide automatic processing of the tilt condition The multiplexing system develops the same input output ports providing various functions on a timed division multiplexing control The scanning rate will generally be held to a minimum of 50 or 60 cycles per second which is above the minimum flicker rate of a conventional display means and insures a continuous display presentation with the scanning concept In accordance with a further aspect and novel em bodiment of this invention the interfacing between the switches and non lamp outputs without suitable thermal inertia includes suitable opto isolator devices or the like which inherently introduce an automatic memory or storage function to permit the continuous scanning or cycle control concept as applied to the game apparatus Thus generally Applicant has found that the present invention provides a highly improved game apparatus having means to permit significant simplification in the initial cost and particularly pinball type game apparatus and the like with the production cost and maintenance of the apparatus minimized and further readily adapts to practical commercial implementation BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings furnished herewith illustrate a pre ferred construction of the prese
52. one to sixteen decoder 61 for generating the multiplexing input signals to line 40 is connected to the output of the random access memory 52 and provides for the activation of the decoder in an appropriate man ner for activating of the MUX drive lines O through F The actual activation of the MUX line is controlled by the processor sending a strobe signal via line 63 to the decoder 61 The logic unit thus provides for the repeti tive activation of the lines during each programmed cycle Thereafter the second decoder 62 receives input from the random access memory 52 in accordance with the response means for selectively activating of load solenoids for the several components connected to the power port 42 on a continuous non multiplex basis The second decoder 62 is coupled to directly drive load elements via the port 42 through outputs activated during the cycle and in practice after the first decoder 61 has completed the scan of the matrix by activation of line O through F In the illustrated embodiment of the invention decoder 62 includes eleven output ports or lines 73 for selectively controlling of the several ele ments coupled to port 42 which as shown in FIG 4 includes a first or vent portion and thereafter three chime solenoids left and right bumper and pot sole noids ball ejection solenoids for the hole and the 3 000 hole as well as the solenoids for the door knocker the coin counter and the coin accepter E
53. onnected to the MUX O line 40 via a load 95 The flippers 15 are thus continu ously enabled as long as the game apparatus is condi tioned for play The input ports 44 on the other hand are connected to the input network 68 which as shown in FIG 4 in cludes individual passive resistive branches 96 to scale the signal to an appropriate level for input to a com puter input register 60 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention four input lines 44 are illustrated each of which is connected by a corresponding branch 96 to the computer input register 60 Each input line 44 in turn is connected in common to one side of individual response switches 97 for the various responsive elements and connected in circuit through the several multiplexing input lines 40 Thus the input port 44 and MUX line 40 are coupled to a left lane target as shown in FIG 4 and a left lane target switch 97 in FIG 5 If the ball 7 engages the left lane target 9 it will close the switch 97 thereby completing a circuit through a steer ing diode 98 between the MUX O line 40 and the input register network 68 effecting a grounding and thereby developing a signal at the input line to the regis ter 60 When the MUX line is activated the signal is transferred to the computing processing unit 51 for storage in the random access 52 and subsequent process ing resulting in automatic activation of the appropriate score as the unit seque
54. or once again because of the very short duration of time The system may therefore advantageously be con structed with standardized and commercially available Re 31 441 13 parts which can also be readily and conveniently ser viced The operation of the multiplexing decoder 61 thus moves down the matrix indicating the corresponding activation for the not A lamp the left extra ball the zero hundreds the four hundreds the eight hundred the zero thousands four thousand and eight thousand lamps as shown in FIG 4 such units are connected directly to the lamp drive as illustrated The 1 2 and 3 output ports 43 similarly pro vide for activation of related lamps as identified in FIG 4 with each of them being connected in circuit in the same manner as that described for the O port and as schematically shown in FIG 5 In addition the flipper control switch means 91 cou pled to the side mounted buttons 15 of the game appara tus 1 are connected in circuit via the lamp ports 43 and particularly the 2 port The flipper control switch means 91 are connected in series with the gate circuit of triac switches 90 and to the low voltage power supply by an opto isolator unit 93 The flipper solenoid 90 is series with the triac 90 to the 50 volt A C bus 76 The lamp input of the opto isolator unit 93 has one side connected to the lamp driver switch 92 of the 2 port 43 and the opposite side c
55. paratus of claim 33 wherein said condition includes a tilt condition 39 The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the processor further includes interrupt means responsive to the sig naling means supplied to the interrupt port for provid ing immediate processing of a condition determined by the monitoring means 40 A pinball game apparatus comprising Re 31 441 19 a computer including a central processing unit opera tively connected to a read only memory a random access memory for storing data and an input and output circuit for inputting the data into and out putting the data from the random access memory and the central processing unit a ball a downwardly inclined playing field means for ejecting the ball on to the playing field whereby the ball may roll downwardly under the force of gravity a plurality of bumpers carried by the playing field having solenoids for actuating the bumpers each solenoid having a switching device for activating the solenoid and each bumper having signaling means operatively connected to the input and out put circuit for sending data indicating that a bum per was struck by the ball a first decoder operatively connected to the input and output circuit and being responsive to the bumper data for providing a signal to the switching device associated with the bumper to be actuated a plurality of lamps each lamp being connected in a circuit having a power source and switching means for conne
56. r 20 will condition the apparatus for the first and second players with the response providing for automatic and alternate play and scoring for the two players Access to a coin box not shown is provided by a locked front door unit 21 The embodiment shown is thus generally typical of the conventional pinball game apparatus The present invention is particularly directed to the mounting and interconnection of such input switch means the lamp means the digit scoring display means and interlocking controls through a special con necting board 22 to a programmed logic array means 23 as diagrammatically shown in FIGS 2 and 3 The logic array means 23 and board 22 are constructed as a small compact assembly which is readily mounted within the back cabinet 16 The location of these ele ments provides extremely convenient construction and subsequent servicing of the interconnection to the sev eral components of the playing field 5 on the coin door 21 and elements located within the lower play field cabinet 2 and identified in FIG 2 as the lower cabinet by block diagram 24 The various components and logic array means for controlling the apparatus are coupled through a motherboard and the coin door for main control thereof The board further provides intercon nection to drive the display of the back panel and simul taneously to activate the panel to receive signals from the playing field switch means and to provide control to the several compone
57. r unit 78 is driven from the eleventh output 73 of the triac drive port 42 and is coupled into the circuit through the lamp driver 66 to insert a mem ory to positively maintain the acceptor operational dur ing and between each cycle Thus the coin acceptor 78 includes a solenoid 79 the one side of which is con nected to the fifty volt AC bus 76 with the other side returned to ground through a triac 80 The triac 80 in turn is controlled by the gate signal from the line 73 of the triac driving decoder 62 with the connection cou pled to the lamp driver 66 through an opto isolator unit 81 The gate of the triac 80 is connected to a suitable low voltage source such as 12 volt source in series with a current dropping resistor 82 and a sensing resistor 83 of the opto isolator unit 81 The resistance of sensing resistor 83 is normally of such a level as to hold the triac off A lamp element 84 of the opto isolator unit 81 has one side connected to line 73 of decoder 62 via port 43 and the opposite side connected in series with a steering diode 85 to the one output of lamp driver 66 If the lamp driver 66 is simultaneously energized with the decoder output the lamp 84 is illuminated and the resistance of resistor 83 reduced The gate current will increase and the triac 80 will turn on The opto isolator unit 81 will inherently maintain energization as a result of the illumi nating characteristic and thus provide for continued operation of the coin
58. source and the display means in response to the signal from the processor the multiplexing means comprising a decoder for com pleting the circuit of the power source transistor switch means and the display means and the transistor switch means comprising a control transis tor coupled to a pair of Darlington connected power transistors 58 A game apparatus comprising a processor having program means for programming the processor and memory means for storing signals a physical mass capable of motion said mass being a surface projectile a game surface for supporting the surface projectile Re 31 441 23 player operated control means for affecting the motion of the physical mass a plurality of response means for detecting the mass each response means having signaling means associ ated therewith and operatively connected to the pro cessor for signaling the processor that the response means has detected the mass a plurality of display means for presenting information based upon the detection of the mass by the response means each display means having a display activation means associated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for activating the display means in response to a signal from the processor and multiplexing means operatively connected to the proces sor for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the 1 signaling means to signal the processor that its associ ated response means has detected t
59. surface projectile player operated control means for affecting the motion of the physical mass a plurality of response means for detecting the mass each response means having signaling means associ ated therewith and operatively connected to the pro cessor for signaling the processor that the response means has detected the mass a plurality of display means for presenting information based upon the detection of the mass by the response means each display means having a display activation means associated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for activating the display means in response to a signal from the processor and multiplexing means operatively connected to the proces sor for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the signaling means to signal the processor that its associ ated response means has detected the mass and for cyclicly and sequentially enabling each of the display activation means to activate its associated display means said processor having means for storing the signals from the signaling means enabled by the multiplexing means into the memory means for addressing the program means and the memory means and for sig naling the display activation means enabled by the multiplexing means in response to the program means and the memory means the display activation means associated with a display means comprising a power source and a transistor switch means for operatively coupling the power
60. system The segment driver 69 is encoded via register 59 and activated in synchronism with the decoder 61 to corre spondingly set the digit display coupler 71 Each digit is displayed by the well known 7 segment display having 7 individually energized segments with the digits 0 9 selectively presented by energization of one or more of the appropriate segments Each connector coupler 71 drives an assigned LED display in accordance with the 7 segment input as shown by the coupling cable 99 with the MUX line inputs providing proper selection of the outputs Thus the first coupler may be scanned with lines 0 7 the second with lines 4 8 and the final 8 F inclusive The displays will be related sequentially however to the scanning with the cross wiring provid ing a convenient and inexpensive internal wiring and coupling The individual interconnecting cables 99 may be suitably tapped to select particular outputs in accor dance with the MUX line assignments In summary the game apparatus of this invention may employ conventional standardized switches lamps and the like mounted in the usual manner within a pinball housing and uniquely interconnected and in terfaced with a programmed logic means to monitor the game and create outputs displays in accordance with the game play The multiplexing concept and interfac ing with the illustrated features and constructions estab lish significant economy in construction as weli as ease and cost o
61. tional 6 volt incandes cent lamps which are readily available and very inex pensive are employed Each lamp is thus driven signifi cantly above the rating and will draw significantly greater current For example the current and voltage will both be four fold and the power will increase six teen fold However the lamp is only momentarily ener gized during each scan cycle and with the sixteen line matrix for a period of 1 16 the cycle time Thus the average current is reduced to 1 This duty cycle is readily accepted by the lamps to produce the desired illumination without adversely affecting the practical life thereof However the effective reduction in the average current places a significantly smaller load on the connectors and the like and will in fact improve the life of the unit and minimize maintenance and service Further in this system the transistor 88 is deliber ately selected as an inexpensive relatively low Beta transistor For example the power Darlington transis tor may have a Beta of 1 000 The transistor 88 then acts as a current limiting element for the lamp 90 during the initial turn on thereof Thus the cold lamp would tend to draw an abnormally high current which of course would adversely affect the connectors and other com ponents as well as the lamp The low Beta and low cost transistor limits such current The transistor can readily absorb the voltage which of course appears across the emitter to collect
62. to the segments of the digits 25 The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a segment drive circuit operatively connected to the pro cessor for driving the inputs as determined by the pro cessor of each of the digit drives when the digit drive is enabled by the multiplexing means 26 The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the processor further comprises an input and output circuit means operatively connected to the processor and having a register for temporarily storing the signals from the processor representative of the digit to be displayed before transferring the signals to the segment drive circuit and means to transfer said signals to said seg ment drive circuit 27 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display activation means associated with a display means com prises a power source and a transistor switch means for operatively coupling the power source and the display means in response to the signal from the processor the multiplexing means comprising a decoder for complet ing the circuit of the power source transistor switch means and the display means 28 The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the transistor switch means comprises a control transistor coupled to a pair of Darlington connected power transistors 0 5 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 60 65 18 29 The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the display means comprises a lamp and the transistor switch means comprises a transistor having a sufficie
63. tput as connected to operate the several playing compo nents Processing will further normally include a step com mand signal to simultaneously activate the multiplexing decoder or sequencing system and simultaneously con trol the interfacing drive to the display means to main tain precise synchronous relationship This is particu larly significant to permit the use of relatively minimal number of driver transistors or the like The multiplex ing output lines are coupled to provide information to the random access memory and to drive the several lamps interlocks and control means The lamp circuits include suitable low beta driver transistors in series with low voltage lamps with a driving voltage significantly greater than the rated voltage The circuits are com pleted once each programmed cycle and produce mo mentary high current lamp energization However the average current is normal and the lamps will operate without adverse effect and at a significant economy Further the transistors of limited capacity produce inherent current limiting on cold lamp start to further increase lamp life and are less expensive than higher capacity transistors They therefore provide an inex pensive switch which can be readily and satisfactorily applied in the game apparatus to again provide maxi mum economy The input or response switch connec 5 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 tion to the programmed logic arr
64. urther having means for activating the decoder synchronously with the memory means 19 The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of the plurality of solenoid means has a triac switch the gate of the triac switch being connected to an output of the decoder 20 The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of response means further includes audible means for pro ducing sounds when the physical mass surface pro jectile is detected each of the audible means having means operatively connected to the decoding means for activation thereof 21 The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said audible means comprises a chime and said display activation means includes a solenoid responsive to the decoding means 22 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection of the physical mass surface projectile by a response means is assigned a score and the plurality of display means includes multiple digit scoring means for display ing digits representing a player s score 23 The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the multiple digit scoring means comprises a plurality of single digit display means for displaying a digit of a player s score each single digit display means being energized one digit at a time 24 The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the single digit display means comprises a segmented digit display and the display activation means for each segmented digit display comprises a digit drive circuit having a plurality of inputs and outputs corresponding
65. ver register 59 and a response input register 60 are connected to the microprocessor system 51 via an input output circuit 57 and coupled to the ports 42 46 and 44 of the multiplexing circuit through appropriate interfacing means as presently described The game apparatus as more fully developed herein after basically comprises of a plurality of response means providing input information for selectively driv ing a plurality of lamp loads and digital display means which may be relatively low level direct current loads as well as main power loads such as the solenoids for chimes coin counter main game controls and the like The interfacing between the microprocessor and the game apparatus in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention includes a suitable decoder 61 to de velop the necessary sequential and repetitive activation of the multiplexing input lines 40 and sequentially within a processing cycle the activation of a second decoder 62 for controlling unit 42 and particularly the high level power drivers More particularly in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the central processing unit 51 is con nected to the random access memory unit 52 and to the read only memories in the usual configuration The output of the random access memory unit 52 is con nected to the pair of decoders 61 and 62 shown as one to sixteen decoders The first decoder 61 includes six teen outputs connected as the input to the multip
66. when the surface projectile is detected each of the audible means having means operatively connected to the decoding means for activation thereof 80 The apparatus of claim 79 wherein said audible means comprises a chime and said display activation means includes a solenoid responsive to the decoding means 81 The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the detection of the surface projectile by a response means is assigned a score and the plurality of display means includes multiple digit scoring means for displaying digits representing a player s score 82 The apparatus of claim 81 wherein the multiple digit scoring means comprises a plurality of single digit display means for displaying a digit of a player s score each single digit display means being energized one digit at a time 10 5 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 26 83 The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the single digit display means comprises a segmented digit display and the display activation means for each segmented digit display comprises a digit drive circuit having a plurality of inputs and outputs corresponding to the segments of the digits 84 The apparatus of claim 83 further comprising a segment drive circuit operatively connected to the processor for driving the inputs as determined by the processor of each of the digit drives when the digit drive is enabled by the multiplexing means 85 The apparatus of claim 84 wherein the processor further co
67. with the matrix or multi plexing unit 41 In FIG 4 the several elements of the matrix system or unit 41 have been shown in labeled blocks and grouped generally in accordance with the port connec tions for interfacing with the programmed logic unit 23 Thus the several indicating lamps and solenoid controls are grouped and connected to a first set of output ports 43 connected in circuit through similar port configura tion A separate output unit 42 is activated during each cycle of the logic unit 23 to control and energize a plurality of individually powered unit elements such as the chimes 32 the bumper solenoids 30 ball hole reject solenoids and the like which require continuous non multiplexed activitation as noted in the labeled blocks A set of input ports 44 are connected to the switch means of play field 5 as well as certain feedback signals for updating the memory unit during any given game or interrelated series of games A test line port 45 is cou pled to continuously monitor the state of the identified selected switch means and provide a direct input to the computer means to interrupt and transfer vital informa tion at any point in the game process Thus if a coin is introduced into the unit credit must be given therefor If the game apparatus is tilted the condition must be monitored and the signal essentially immediately trans mitted to terminate game play directly to computer means The test line port 45 provides the m
68. wnwardly inclined playing field player operated means for ejecting the ball onto the playing field whereby the ball may roll downwardly a plurality of response means for detecting the ball and having signal ing means associated therewith and operatively con nected to the processor for signaling the processor that the response means has detected the ball and a plurality of display means for presenting information based upon the detection of the ball by the response means and having display activation means associated therewith and operatively connected to the processor for activat ing the display means in response to a signal from the processor said processor having means for transferring the signals from the signaling means to the memory means for addressing the program means and the mem ory means and for signaling the display activation means in response to the program means and memory means and the display activation means associated with the respective display means and signaling means asso ciated with the respective response means defining a plurality of operable elements the game further com prising multiplexing means for cyclically enabling at least some of said elements to perform their associated functions 53 The game of claim 52 wherein said elements com prise said signaling means 54 The game of claim 52 wherein said elements com prise said display activation means 55 The game of claim 52 wherein said elements com

Player operated game apparatus

Contents

Download Pdf Manuals

Related Search

Related Contents