Arcade game for sensing and validating objects

A game apparatus comprising:

• a target field;
• a sensor for detecting a playing piece directed by a player, said sensor detecting an identity of said playing piece and a final resting position of said playing piece on said target, said identity being used to determine whether said playing piece is valid for said game apparatus or whether said playing piece is a false playing piece;
• and
• a scoring mechanism coupled to said sensor for increasing a game score based on said identity and said final resting position of said playing piece, wherein said scoring mechanism does not increase said game score when said identity of said playing piece is not valid.

A method for playing a game having an object sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a playing piece to a player;
• (b) providing a target in a target field at which to direct said playing piece;
• (c) sensing a final resting position of said playing piece in relation to said target, wherein said final resting position is sensed by comparing a region of said target field around said target to a predetermined image;
• (d) providing a game score based upon said final resting position of said playing piece.

A method for playing a game comprising the steps of:

• providing a target field for receiving a moving playing piece directed by a player;
• detecting a final rest position of said moving playing piece with respect to said target field;
• validating an identity of said playing piece so that said playing piece is determined either as a valid playing piece for said game or as a false playing piece;
• and
• providing a score based on said final rest position of said playing piece when said playing piece is determined as a valid playing piece.

A method for sensing an object with respect to a target, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a target at which a moving object is directed;
• periodically recording an image of said target;
• determining that said moving object has either engaged or has not engaged said target by examining a recorded image of said target;
• and
• validating an identity of said object by examining said recorded image of said target.

A game apparatus comprising:

• (a) a sensor for validating a moving playing piece for said game apparatus, said playing piece being directed by a player, said sensor including:
• (i) a visual sensor for validating and determining a final position of said moving playing piece by detecting visible light;
• (ii) a digital processor for determining and analyzing said final position of said playing piece;
• and
• (iii) a video camera and a charge coupled device coupled to said video camera for detecting and recording an image of said moving playing piece and for recording an image of said final position of said playing piece;
• (b) a target field for receiving said moving playing piece, wherein said sensor determines a final position of said moving playing piece at rest after said playing piece is engaged with said target field;
• and
• (c) a scoring mechanism coupled to said sensor and operative to provide a game score based on said validation of said playing piece and said final position of said playing piece engaged with said target field, said digital processor relaying said final position to said scoring mechanism.

A game apparatus comprising:

• (a) a sensor for validating a moving ring for said game apparatus, said ring being directed by a player, said sensor including:
• (i) a visual sensor for validating and determining a final position of said moving ring by detecting visible light;
• and
• (ii) a digital processor for determining and analyzing said final position of said ring;
• (b) a target field for receiving said moving ring, wherein said sensor determines a final position of said moving ring at rest after said ring is engaged with said target field, said target field including a plurality of individual targets, said individual targets including a plurality of cylindrical objects extending perpendicularly from said playing field;
• and
• (c) a scoring mechanism coupled to said sensor and operative to provide a game score based on said validation of said ring and said final position of said ring engaged with an individual target, wherein said game score is increased when said ring has a final position such that one of said cylindrical objects extends through a center of said ring, said digital processor relaying said final position to said scoring mechanism.

A game apparatus comprising:

• a target field including a plurality of targets;
• a sensor for detecting a playing piece directed by a player, said sensor including a video camera that can record an image of said target field and a digital processor for processing and analyzing said image of said target field, said sensor detecting an identity of said playing piece and a final resting position of said playing piece on said target field, wherein said playing piece can engage any one of said plurality of targets;
• and
• a scoring mechanism coupled to said sensor for increasing a game score based on said identity and said final resting position of said playing piece, wherein said scoring mechanism does not increase said game score when said identity of said playing piece is not valid.

A method for playing a game having an object sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a playing piece to a player;
• (b) providing a plurality of individual targets in a target field at which to direct said playing piece;
• (c) sensing a final resting position of said playing piece in relation to said target, wherein an image of said target field is recorded and said final resting position is sensed by comparing a region of said target field around said target in said recorded image to a predetermined image;
• (d) providing a game score based upon said final resting position of said playing piece.

A method for playing a game comprising the steps of:

• providing a target field for receiving a moving playing piece directed by a player;
• determining a final position of said moving playing piece with respect to said target field;
• validating an identity of said playing piece, including recording an image of said target field and examining said image to determine said final position and validate said identity of said playing piece;
• and
• providing a score based on said final position of said playing piece and based on said identity of said playing piece.

A method for playing a game having an object sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a target in a target field at which a player is to direct a playing piece;
• (b) recording an image of said target field;
• (c) examining a portion of said recorded image that corresponds to a region of said target field that includes said target and corresponds to a predetermined image stored in memory;
• (c) determining a final resting position of said playing piece in relation to said target by comparing said portion of said recorded image to said predetermined image;
• (d) providing a game score based upon said final resting position of said playing piece when said portion of said recorded image is equal to said predetermined image within a threshold percentage.