US4793618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-scoring electronic target game with video display
Assignee: Arachnid Inc
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Filing: 1987-08-24
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Granted: 1988-12-27
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Expires: 2007-08-24
Abstract
Abstract An electronic target game adapted for use with a display device which is disposed within the viewing region of the game. The preferred embodiment is a dart game employing "safe" darts and a dart board which is divided into a plurality of target sections and an associated pressure sensitive switch matrix. A microprocessor executes instructions stored in an EPROM memory unit which is easily removed and interchanged from the game. The EPROM memory unit contains instructions for a variety of dart games with different rules and procedures of play. The invention provides one or more displays for selecting a game and displaying scores, instructions and various game conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Tillery
- 👤 Paul F. Beall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:33
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/02; A63F9/0204; A63F9/0208; F; F41; F41J; F41J3/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
An electriconic dart game apparatus to be played by one or more players having successive turns which comprises an entire game, said apparatus comprising in combination: an electronic dart board forming a target for a dart, said dart board comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs and concentric circular ribs dividing the dart board into a plurality of scoring segments each containing a large number of closely spaced holes corresponding substantially to the cross-sectional dimensional of the tip of said dart, one or more of said scoring segments comprising a scoring element, and a switch matrix means for electrically indicating one of the plurality of scoring segments hit by a thrown dart; a first electronic memory storage area containing algorithms for scoring one or more different dart games wherein the value of points earned in a particular turn of said one or ore different dart games is dependent upon the scoring segments hit during previous player turns; a second electronic memory storage area for retaining information regarding which of one or more of said scoring elements were hit by a thrown dart during at least one previous turn of the same player; selection means for selecting said algorithms for a particular one of said one or more different dart games; an electronic data process means responsive to said electronic dart board, said first and second memory storage areas and said selection means for (1) detecting and distinguishing said electrical indication of a target scoring segment hit by said thrown dart, (2) calculating from said algorithms selected by said selection means appropriate dart game conditions for each of said players, including the score and (3) providing said conditions and an indications of said information for display; and a means for displaying said conditions and an indication of said information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
An electriconic dart game apparatus to be played by one or more players having successive turns which comprises an entire game, said apparatus comprising in combination: an electronic dart board forming a target for a dart, said dart board comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs and concentric circular ribs dividing the dart board into a plurality of scoring segments each containing a large number of closely spaced holes corresponding substantially to the cross-sectional dimensional of the tip of said dart, one or more of said scoring segments comprising a scoring element, and a switch matrix means for electrically indicating one of the plurality of scoring segments hit by a thrown dart; a first electronic memory storage area containing algorithms for scoring one or more different dart games wherein the value of points earned in a particular turn of said one or ore different dart games is dependent upon the scoring segments hit during previous player turns; a second electronic memory storage area for retaining information regarding which of one or more of said scoring elements were hit by a thrown dart during at least one previous turn of the same player; selection means for selecting said algorithms for a particular one of said one or more different dart games; an electronic data process means responsive to said electronic dart board, said first and second memory storage areas and said selection means for (1) detecting and distinguishing said electrical indication of a target scoring segment hit by said thrown dart, (2) calculating from said algorithms selected by said selection means appropriate dart game conditions for each of said players, including the score and (3) providing said conditions and an indications of said information for display; and a means for displaying said conditions and an indication of said information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic dart game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electronic dart board, said first electronic memory storage area and said electronic data processor are all housed together with said display means disposed within the viewing region of said electronic dart game.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first electronic memory storage area is contained within a single removable cartridge for replacement or interchange with another cartridge containing said first electronic memory storage area having different algorithms for different dart games.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for displaying said conditions and an indication of said information includes a video display screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for displaying said conditions and an indication of said information includes a liquid crystal display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic dart games apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information includes an indication of the number of times a scoring segment is hit during a game.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information includes an indication of the availability of certain ones of said scoring segments for game play.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
176 words
An electronic dart game apparatus for automatically scoring a dart game requiring consideration of events occurring during previous player turns, said apparatus comprising in combinations: a dart board forming a target for darts thrown by players of said dart game, said dart board comprising a plurality of scoring segments, and a sensing means for detecting when one of said scoring segments is hit by a thrown dart; a first memory storage area containing algorithms for said dart game wherein the value of points earned in a particular turn of said dart game is dependent upon the scoring segments hit during previous player turns; a second memory storage area for retaining information regarding said scoring elements hit by a thrown dart during at least one previous turn of the same player; and a processor means responsive to (1) the detection by said sensing means of a scoring segment hit by a thrown data and (2) said information in said second memory storage area for providing data for said algorithms and executing said algorithms to determine a score.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
176 words
An electronic dart game apparatus for automatically scoring a dart game requiring consideration of events occurring during previous player turns, said apparatus comprising in combinations: a dart board forming a target for darts thrown by players of said dart game, said dart board comprising a plurality of scoring segments, and a sensing means for detecting when one of said scoring segments is hit by a thrown dart; a first memory storage area containing algorithms for said dart game wherein the value of points earned in a particular turn of said dart game is dependent upon the scoring segments hit during previous player turns; a second memory storage area for retaining information regarding said scoring elements hit by a thrown dart during at least one previous turn of the same player; and a processor means responsive to (1) the detection by said sensing means of a scoring segment hit by a thrown data and (2) said information in said second memory storage area for providing data for said algorithms and executing said algorithms to determine a score.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including a display responsive to said processor means for visualizing said score.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said dart board comprises a plurality of radially extending ribs and concentric circular ribs dividing the dart board into said plurality of scoring segments, each of said scoring segments containing a large number of closely spaced holes corresponding substantially to the cross-sectional dimension of the tip of said dart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said information includes the number of times each of said scoring segments has been hit by a thrown dart over a plurality of turns of one player.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for a dart game to be played by one or more players having successive turns which comprises an entire game, said apparatus employing a dart having a slender tip, said apparatus comprising in combination: a dart board forming a target for said dart, said dart board comprising a plurality of scoring segments, and a switch matrix means for detecting which one of the plurality of scoring segments is hit by a thrown dart; a memory storage area containing rules and instructions for said dart game and a record of the number of times each one of said plurality of scoring segments has been hit by a thrown dart; a first means responsive to said switch matrix means and said memory storage area for (1) determining the number of points to be added to a score in response to said thrown dart hitting said one of said plurality of scoring segments and (2) providing information for visual display regarding the number of times said one of said plurality of scoring segments has been hit during said entire game; and a display responsive to said first means for visualizing said information.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for a dart game to be played by one or more players having successive turns which comprises an entire game, said apparatus employing a dart having a slender tip, said apparatus comprising in combination: a dart board forming a target for said dart, said dart board comprising a plurality of scoring segments, and a switch matrix means for detecting which one of the plurality of scoring segments is hit by a thrown dart; a memory storage area containing rules and instructions for said dart game and a record of the number of times each one of said plurality of scoring segments has been hit by a thrown dart; a first means responsive to said switch matrix means and said memory storage area for (1) determining the number of points to be added to a score in response to said thrown dart hitting said one of said plurality of scoring segments and (2) providing information for visual display regarding the number of times said one of said plurality of scoring segments has been hit during said entire game; and a display responsive to said first means for visualizing said information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said display is a video monitor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dart game comprises a plurality of radially extending ribs and concentric circular ribs dividing the dart board into said plurality of scoring segments, each of said scoring segments containing a large number of closely spaced holes corresponding substantially to the cross-sectional dimension of the tip of said dart.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic dart game apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said display is responsive to said first means for also visualizing the score of said dart game.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-27 | 1992-06-27 | 1992-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-27 | 1996-06-27 | 1996-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-27 | 2000-06-27 | 2000-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |