Game board, pawn, sticker and system for detecting pawns on a game board

#The invention relates to a game board comprising a board surface, the game board comprising means for detecting a pawn which is positioned on the game board.

#The invention also relates to a pawn, a sticker for applying to a pawn and a system for playing board games, the system comprising a game board and at least one pawn.

#The concept of recognizing objects on tables or desks, with or without a display is known from systems which comprise video cameras which are positioned above the desk and use object recognition software for identifying and locating objects on the desk. A major drawback of such systems is that the view of the cameras may be obscured by the user, especially when a user reaches for a pawn for making a move. Furthermore, ambient lighting may negatively influence the quality of the object recognition, making such systems less useful for playing board games outside or in dark rooms. When playing outside, also the placement of the camera may be problematic.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the system according to the invention,

#FIGS. 2a to 2d show exemplary arrangements of light modulating cells and light sensors in a game board according to the invention,

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the system 1 according to the invention. The system 1 comprises a game board 2 and pawns 20. The game board 2 comprises a board surface 3 whereon various board games can be played. The game board 2 may comprise or is coupled to a processor 5, a memory 6 and a graphics generation unit 4 to display a game board layout according to a selected board game on the board surface 3. Well known examples of board games are Chess, Backgammon, Scrabble, and Monopoly. The system according to the invention does not only enable the playing of classical, known board games, but may also be used for completely new board games. Such new board games may include, for example, board games wherein the game board layout changes according to the run of the game. The board surface 3 may, for example be the surface of a display device, such as a LCD monitor, or a transparent plate covering such a display device. The memory 6, the processor 5 and the graphics generation unit 4 may be included in a personal computer (PC), coupled to the game board 2. The game board further comprises light sensors 12, for detecting light, reflected by a code surface of a pawn 20. In FIG. 1 the light sensors 12 are schematically indicated by a block 12, in practice the light sensors are present in the game board 2 near the board surface 3. Different embodiments and arrangements of these light sensors 12 will be described later on.

#Preferably the system also comprises a user interface 8 to enable the user to select board games, start new games, save games, load previously saved games, choose playing modes etc. The user interface 8 may comprise well known devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse or a joystick. Alternatively, part of the board surface may function as a user interface 8 if the board surface is operative to detect a contact with a pointing object, such as a pen or a fingertip. The use of different types of touch screens for such user interfaces 8 is well known. Also the light sensors 12 may be used to detect a contact or a proximity of a pointing object to the board surface 3. The size and the elements of the user interface 8 may vary according to the game, game situation and/or available options. The system may comprise an Internet connection 9 which enables playing board games with or against other players from all over the world.

#Signals, supplied by the light sensors 12 may be used to detect whether the pawn 20 is above or in contact with the board surface 3. Possibly, the game board also comprises a contact detection unit 7 for detecting a contact of a contact surface of the pawn 20 with the board surface 3. In some board games it might be advantageous for the game board 2 to be able to distinguish the situation of a pawn 20 being held just above the board surface 3 by a user with the code surface directed towards the board surface 3 from the situation of a pawn 20 being placed at and in contact with the board surface 3. The contact detection unit 7 may, for example, use well known touch screen techniques and may also be used for providing the user interface 8.