Sensory games
AssigneeSaitek Limited
InventorEric E. Winkler
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AssigneeSaitek Limited
InventorEric E. Winkler
Estimating the term…
A sensory electronic game which includes a board having a number of defined positions each provided with an isotropic field sensor such as a reed switch which has open and closed positions depending upon the presence or absence of a magnetic field, and two sets of playing pieces. All pieces have a magnet with its N-S axis substantially upright to provide a magnetic field which will open or close the sensor when a piece is positioned on the associated board position. To avoid a lack of detection if one piece is quickly replaced by another piece, the pieces of one set have the N pole facing downwardly whilst the pieces of the other set have the S pole facing downwardly. Then, by detecting the opening and closing of the sensors including momentary open and closed positions during capture or replacement of a piece of one set by a piece of another set, movement of pieces can be determined.
A sensory electronic game comprising a board, a number of defined positions on said board, an isotropic magnetic field sensor associated with each of said defined positions, said sensors having open and closed positions depending upon the presence or absence of a magnetic field, a first set of playing pieces and a second set of playing pieces, all of said pieces having a magnet with its N-S axis substantially upright, the pieces of said first set having the N pole facing downwardly and the pieces of said second set having the S pole facing downwardly, means for detecting the opening and closing of said sensors including momentary open and closed positions during capture or replacement of a piece of one set by a piece of another set, and logic means for storing the position of all playing pieces, the logic means being updated by the detecting means when they detect movement of a piece by the opening and/or closing of a sensor.
A method for detecting capture or replacement of a playing piece on a defined position of a game board comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.