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US 5,702,308 AGranted
Miniature bowling alley game
OwnerDelbert S. Alexander, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A miniature bowling alley game comprising a lane surface adjusted to such a height where at one end an individual could comfortably roll a miniature bowling ball towards the other end which contains a plurality of lamps backlighting a translucent panel which represents bowling pins. The game features a microcontroller and sensors which detect the speed and angle of the bowling ball as it enters the area of the pins; actual sound of the pins falling; an information panel; and more than 50 spares that can be set up for practice bowling.
Claims11
A miniature bowling alley game comprising:
- an elongated cabinet having a front end and back end and extending side walls;
- said elongated cabinet including an alley disposed within said cabinet and positioned between said front and rear ends;
- said alley being defined by a first recessed gutter running along the side of said alley, and a second recessed gutter running along the opposite side of said alley, said alley further defined by the extending side walls of said cabinet, said extending side walls extending the length of said alley and being raised above said alley and said first and second recessed gutters;
- means for detecting fouls affixed to said cabinet walls having the ability to send an activation signal indicating that a foul has occurred;
- said rear end including means for display comprising means for displaying a simulated bowling pin arrangement having the ability to display an individual pin or a spare combination, means for displaying information on the number of bowlers, game score and frame, and positioned above said means for displaying a simulated bowling pin arrangement;
- means for sensing the position of a ball as it rolls down the alley and sending an activation signal;
- said front end including means for selection having the ability to control the number of players, game mode, and practice spare combination, and further including a ball return area;
- said means for displaying a simulated ten pin arrangement comprising a masked translucent panel, said masked translucent panel being angled and having a ten pin arrangement adapted to display each of said ten pins individually or in combination depicting a spare combination;
- and
- a means for processing positioned behind said masked translucent panel and attached to said rear end, said means for processing having means for determining a first and a second ball spare combination, means for determining the speed of a ball, means for determining a sound effect, and the ability to receive said activation signal from said means for detecting fouls and said activation signal from said means for sensing.
7 more elements
An improved method for simulated bowling on a miniature bowling alley comprising the steps:
- determining the number of bowlers and turning on bowler indicator lights;
- starting a new frame;
- polling the first row of multiple microsensors;
- saving a first row sensor position;
- polling said second row of multiple microsensors;
- saving a second row sensor position and converting a ball speed to a pin count delay;
- retrieving said first row sensor position and applying a limiter to begin sensor analysis;
- retrieving said second row sensor position and applying a second limiter for sensor analysis;
- getting a random mixer count;
- determining a spare combination home position and getting a spare combination pin information;
- saving a first ball spare combination home position, said spare combination containing pin knockdown information, and a pin count information;
- determining a pin knockdown sequence and a sound effect;
- sending a pin knockdown signal a means for displaying a ten pin arrangement and sending a sound effect signal;
- sending a pin count signal to a means for displaying information;
- returning for a second ball;
- polling the first row of multiple microsensors;
- saving a first row sensor position;
- polling said second row of multiple microsensors;
- saving a second row sensor position;
- converting a ball speed to a pin count delay;
- getting a random mixer count;
- getting a second ball spare combination pin information and retrieving said first ball spare combination home position;
- retrieving said first row sensor position and applying a limiter to begin a sensor analysis;
- retrieving said second row sensor position and applying a second limiter for sensor analysis;
- comparing a first ball pin knockdown information with said second ball pin knockdown information;
- determining a final pin knockdown sequence and a final sound effect;
- sending a final pin knockdown signal to said means for displaying a ten pin arrangement and sending a sound effect signal;
- sending a second ball pin count signal to said means for displaying information;
- and
- returning for next player first ball roll.
27 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.