Contactless ball shooter apparatus for pinball game

Abstract

Apparatus for use in shooting an imaginary ball of an electronic pinball game which has score display means comprising a shaft or plunger which shifts longitudinally in a forward direction after being pulled rearwardly and released. Detecting means adjacent to the longitudinal path of travel generates electronic signals as a function of the movement of the shaft and the signals are used as a measure of the speed and direction of the shaft, and the signals are applied to circuitry which operates scoring and other devices controlling the display means. In one embodiment, the detecting means comprises a pair of Hall effect detectors which are longitudinally spaced apart and are actuated by magnets carried by the shaft. In a second embodiment, the detecting means includes a pair of spaced photocells, respective light sources for the photocells, and an opaque tab carried by the shaft for movement between each photocell and its light source. The time interval between the actuation of the first photocell and the actuation of the second photocell is a measure of the speed of the shaft and is proportional to the force exerted by the shaft on the imaginary ball. The circuitry which operates the scoring and other electronic devices associated with the display means can then provide the output to the display means in accordance with the magnitude of the generated signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.