Amusement devices: games – Chance devices – Dice
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-04-24
Pierce, William M. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Chance devices
Dice
C273S138200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220594
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device that may automatically discriminate the spot S number ofthe upward face of the die.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dice have existed for a long time and are usually used in games, e.g., backgammon, “Monopoly”, and other adventuring games to decide the play sequence and/or how many steps to move, thereby increasing the amusement effect Although computers may provide a random function to replace the possibility function of the dice, the amusement effect of throwing the dice is irreplaceable. Game machines nowadays create an environment to make the player feel like experiencing the real site, including game machines that require dice throwing The machine must be capable of detecting the spot number of the upward face of each die for next step. Thus, the die must send a signal to the machine for discriminating the spot number.
Taiwan Invention Patent Publication No. 247351 issued on May 11, 1995 discloses an apparatus for detecting a portion of a die and the die that can be detected at a portion thereof. Resonance circuits with different resonance frequencies are embedded under and adjacent to six faces of the die, respectively. When the die is rolling on a table, signals indicating identity of the resonance frequencies are transmitted in sequence to a signal transmitting circuit to cooperate with a detecting device for obtaining information of the spot numbers. Analogous signals are used in this apparatus and thus tend to be interfered by alien electrical waves. Embedding of the complicated circuits under the faces of the die is costly. The present invention is intended to provide a device that mitigates and/or obviates the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device that automatically discriminates the spot number of the upward face of the die.
In accordance with the present invention a device is provided for automatically discriminating a spot number of an upward face of a die with six faces. The device comprises a signal transmitter embedded in the die and a receiver means. The receiver means includes a receiver and an operation computer. The signal transmitter includes a substrate embedded in the die with respect to one of the six faces of the die. A sensor chip is mounted on the substrate. The substrate further includes four corner areas each having a conductive element mounted thereon. A mercury switch extends upward and outward from and electrically connects to each conductive element in a manner that each mercury switch is at an angle of 15°~75° (preferably 45°) with the substrate. Each mercury switch contains conductive mercury therein.
The mercury in each mercury switch flows under gravity so as to be in one of a conductive status and a non-conductive status with respect to an associated conductive element, thereby generating a signal representing the status of the mercury switch The operation computer discriminates the spot number of the upward of of the die according to the signals representing the status of the mercury switches.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4909513 (1990-03-01), Kiyono
patent: 5694045 (1997-12-01), Ikeda et al.
patent: 6095991 (2000-08-01), Krausman
Pierce William M.
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
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