Games using tangible projectile – Bowling
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-17
2001-08-07
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Games using tangible projectile
Bowling
C473S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270421
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display unit for bowling alleys for presenting displays to bowlers and spectators in a bowling alley.
In bowling alleys, an automatic bowling scoring system for automatically performing the scoring process has conventionally been installed, where as display devices for the scoring system, a relatively large-size overhead CRT is provided at a ceiling portion before the approach and a small-size CRT is provided within the casing of the console. Some of these CRTs would be designed to display a picture derived from a pin camera that picks up the pin array, or to be equipped with the function of displaying the bowler's bowling form.
Unfortunately, such a conventional display unit in bowling alleys has been not able to give a display to the bowler standing in the approach, but intended to present a display for the other bowlers who are present before the approach, i.e., who are waiting for their turns of bowling. Therefore, it would be the case, for example, that the bowler, after having performed a bowl and then ascertained how the pins have fallen down, returns to the rear of the overhead CRT or console (to a position where the bowler is allowed to view the overhead CRT or the CRT in the console) only to make sure of changes in the score display, or to see a strike, if gotten, applauded. Otherwise, whereas it has also been practiced to display on the CRT a predetermined additional game other the bowling game and to offer some services depending on the result of the additional game, the contents of the additional game could not be ascertained from any positions but positions where the display screen of the CRT within the console or the overhead CRT can be seen.
Any applauding display to be displayed upon a strike as a result of a bowl or depending on the circumstances of the additional game would only be displayed on the CRT within the console or the overhead CRT, such that the applauding display would lack in power.
Furthermore, in the conventional display unit of bowling alleys, while the console is provided every two adjacent lanes, the display screen is provided independently for each lane. As a result, it would be impossible to display messages that require large display area. For this reason, it has been impossible hitherto to present a message with an abundance of information and a high visibility to spectators present in the passage behind the bench or bowlers who are about to begin the bowling game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a display unit for bowling alleys which is enabled to make a display on the bowling game or other additional game even for the bowler who is standing in the approach.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a display unit for bowling alleys which is enabled to make a powerful display over a wide range on the bowling game or other additional game.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a display unit for bowling alleys which can present a message with an abundance of information and a high visibility even for spectators and bowlers present in the passage behind the bench.
The display unit for a bowling alley according to the present invention comprises:
a plurality of display devices to which, as each one lane or a plurality of lanes within the bowling alley is taken as a unit, a display surface is given by a wall surface corresponding to the unit and covering a pin setter provided above each lane, the display devices incorporating their display surfaces in steps of the unit;
and a display controller for performing display control on display contents of the display surfaces of the plurality of display devices according to a specified state.
With this arrangement, since the wall surface covering the pin setter forms the display surface of the display device, even a bowler present in the approach is allowed to easily view the display surface.
When a plurality of lanes are taken as the unit and the display surface is given in steps of this unit, the display unit can be used as one having a wide display surface extending across a multiplicity of lanes. As a result, it becomes possible, for example, to give a display of high incentive to bowlers present in the approach or spectators present in the passage between console and front.
The display unit for a bowling alley also comprises
display control means for causing a display to be made on the display surfaces of the display devices, the content of the display being either one of:
a detection result of pin-state detecting means which detects the pin state of bowling pins after a bowl;
a counting result of score counting means which counts score of a bowling game according to the detection result; or
a state of a game other than the bowling game which is run according to the detection result of the pin-state detecting means or the counting result of the score counting means. With this arrangement, it becomes possible to present a display associated with the bowling game or other game even for the bowler present in the approach.
Also, by performing such display control that the display contents are displayed across a plurality of display surfaces, either one of a pin-state detection result, a score counting result or a state of the game other than the bowling game is largely displayed across the display surfaces of the plurality of display devices. As a result, it becomes possible to present a powerful display with an abundance of information and a high visibility.
In addition, when the display surface is constituted in the unit of a plurality of lanes, it also becomes possible to divide and display the display contents within one display surface. As a result, without providing the display device for each lane, a lane-to-lane display can be implemented by providing the display device in the unit of a plurality of lanes and by partly using the display surface of the display device. For example, when one display device is designed to implement displays for two lanes, it is sufficient to provide display devices half in number of the lanes.
When the display device incorporates the wall surface covering the pin setter as a transmitting screen and a projective display is effected from the pin setter side against the screen, the wall surface covering the pin setter is simplified in structure, and moreover the space above the pin setter can be put into effective use.
Also, the display unit for a bowling alley according to the present invention effectively utilizes a wide space of the ceiling, or near the ceiling, above the lanes within the bowling alley, in order to give a powerful display associated with the bowling game or other game.
Accordingly, the display unit for a bowling alley comprises:
a plurality of light emitters arrayed on at least a ceiling, or its peripheries, located above the lanes within the bowling alley; and
a light emitter drive controller for performing drive control on the light emitters according to a signal which is issued when a specified state has come up out of either one of:
a detection result of pin-state detecting means which detects the pin state of bowling pins after a bowl;
a counting result of score counting means which counts score of a bowling game according to the detection result; or
a state of a game other than the bowling game which is run according to the detection result of the pin-state detecting means or the counting result of the score counting means. With this arrangement., the light emitters on the ceiling or near the ceiling will be drive-controlled when the score state has come to a predetermined state, such as upon occurrence of a strike, upon occurrence of a specified pattern of the score pattern, or upon reach to a specified value of the score total, or when the started-up game other than the bowling game has come to a specified state. As a result, in a sight toward the pin array from the approach, the console installation position, the further rear passages or the like, the ceiling above the lanes or its pro
Paradiso John
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Telesystems Co., Ltd.
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
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