US 5,284,342 A · Pinball machine having a system controlled rotating flipper

Abstract

A flipper in a pinball machine is rotated by a motor, permitting control of the angular position or velocity of the flipper by the pinball machine in response to player input, ball position or game sequences. The flipper is controlled internally through software of the microcomputer that keeps track of game sequences and the player's score, or externally via a switch or control manipulated by the player. Preferably the angular position of the flipper is sensed, and the motor can rotate the flipper in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. In one embodiment, the flipper is rotated by more than 360 degrees to intermittently permit a timing shot when passage of the ball is synchronized to the rotation of the flipper. For example, the flipper may intermittently open a path for a ball to a target, or may intermittently permit the ball to be deflected by the flipper to a target. In either case, a player's attention is captivated by turning the motor on and off at different times in a game sequence, and permitting the player to have a degree of control over the angular velocity of the flipper. In another embodiment, the flipper is both rotated by a motor and pivoted by a solenoid, the player adjusts a control to select the angular position of the flipper, and the player activates a switch to actuate the solenoid.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A pinball machine comprising:

a playfield supporting a rolling ball;
a first flipper that is activated by a player of said pinball machine;
a second flipper mounted on said playfield for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to said playfield and having a surface for striking and deflecting said ball;
and
a motor mounted beneath said playfield and coupled to said second flipper for continuously rotating said second flipper by more than 360 degrees;
wherein rotation of said second flipper by said motor intermittently defines a predetermined path for said ball to reach a predefined region of said playfield and deflects said ball from said predefined region of said playfield unless passage of said ball over said predetermined path is synchronized to said rotation of said second flipper by said motor;
and
wherein said predefined path originates from said first flipper that is activated by said player of said pinball machine.

5 more elements

A pinball machine comprising:

a playfield supporting a rolling ball;
a flipper mounted on said playfield for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to said playfield and having a surface for striking and deflecting said ball;
and
a motor coupled to said flipper for rotating said flipper by more than 360 degrees;
wherein rotation of said flipper by said motor intermittently defines a predetermined path for said ball to reach a predefined region of said playfield and deflects said ball from said predefined region of said playfield unless passage of said ball over said predetermined path is synchronized to said rotation of said flipper by said motor;
wherein said predefined path originates from another flipper that is activated by an operator of said pinball machine;
and
wherein said pinball machine further includes a speed control coupled to said motor for manipulation by a player of said pinball machine for speed adjustment of said motor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pinball machine having a system controlled rotating flipper

Life of this patent

Pinball machine having a system controlled rotating flipper

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23