Amusement devices: games – Simulated-projectile game – target therefor – or accessory – Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-13
2001-07-03
Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Simulated-projectile game, target therefor, or accessory
Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path, or...
C463S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254485
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a game device utilizing lights.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As a conventional game device utilizing lights, a game device shoots at a moving target using a light gun, etc., and reports hitting of the target with the shot light to a player by various means.
Using such a game machine, the player plays a game by shooting at the target with the gun. However, the interest of the player is simply whether or not the target is shot. Therefore, it was difficult to maintain the interest of the player.
A first purpose of the present invention is to provide a game device utilizing lights, which can carry out various operations by a player and can be played with maintained interest.
A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a game device that can play a game which returns an image moving like a ball game involving returning of a ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The game device of a first embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the fact that it includes a light output part that substantially irradiates a projection light for forming an image and a function light, having a function which can be detected by a prescribed detection means, in the same direction, a function light detection means that can detect the above-mentioned function light, an irradiating direction change means that changes the irradiating direction of the light from the above-mentioned light output part, and a control means that controls the irradiating direction change operation of the above-mentioned irradiating direction change means in accordance with the amount of function light detected by the above-mentioned function light detection part; that the above-mentioned function light detection means detects function light reflected when the above-mentioned function light contacts a reflection plane.
The projection light in the present invention is a light that can form images, light points, bright spots which can be observed by the eyes of a player, and as a general example, a condensed visual light can be mentioned.
The function light in the present invention is a light having a function that can be detected by a detection means or sensor which can be assembled into the device, and any light may be adopted as long as the detection result generates certain information.
The projection light irradiated from the light output part furnished in the projection unit forms a bright image of light. The function light is also irradiated from the substantially same position as the image of the projection light.
The player can detect the position at which the function light is irradiated by observing the image of the projection light, even if the irradiation position of the function light cannot be found out.
The function light detection means detects reflected function light when the function light contacts a reflection plane.
The irradiating direction change means changes the irradiating direction of the light from the light output part. In the change of the irradiating direction, a method that directly changes the irradiating direction from the light source and a method that changes the reflecting direction of a mirror surface for reflecting light from the light source are mentioned.
The control means controls the irradiating direction change operation of the irradiating direction change means in accordance with the amount of function light detected by the function light detection means.
As mentioned above, in the game device of the present invention, since the control means changes the irradiating direction of the light from the light output part in accordance with the amount of function light detected by the function light detection means, the reflection plane can be quickly operated in accordance with a moving image by a player.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned projection unit is equipped with a report means and the above-mentioned control means controls the report operation of the above-mentioned report means in accordance with the amount of function light detected by the above-mentioned function light detection part.
The information being provided by the report means corresponds to the amount of function light. Therefore, it corresponds to the control of the irradiating change of the light output part. Referring to voice, sound effects, auditory reports by other sounds, or visual reports using light as the medium, the player can play an operation game of the reflection plane.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned projection light and the above-mentioned function light are different lights, and the above-mentioned light output part is equipped with a projection light output part and a function light output part.
Although the projection light and the function light are different lights, the output direction of the two lights must be substantially the same.
In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the above mentioned function light is infrared light, and the above-mentioned function light output part is infrared light output part.
A preferable example as the function light is infrared light that has the most general function light output part and function light detection means.
In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned infrared output part intermittently outputs the infrared light, and the above-mentioned function light detection part generates a detection signal each time it detects infrared light. The above-mentioned control means adopts the number of said detected signals as the amount of infrared light detected.
The control means can measure the amount of infrared light detected by counting the number of detected signals generated by the function light detection part.
In a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned projection light and the above-mentioned function light are the same light.
Even if the projection light forms an image, if it is an effective means, it can be used as function light, and in this case, the light output part outputs one kind of light.
As a specific example in which the projection light is the detection light that can be easily detected by a detection means, a laser beam can be mentioned.
A seventh embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the fact that the change of the irradiation direction from the above-mentioned light output part is substantially a reciprocating change in the front and rear directions.
With the change of the irradiating direction in the front and rear directions, similar to a ball game such as tennis and table tennis, a match type game with an opponent can be played.
An eighth embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the fact that changes of the above-mentioned light output part include changes in the horizontal direction.
If the irradiating direction is also horizontally changed, it is difficult for the player to predict the projection position, technical ability in moving the reflection plane is required, and interest in the game is increased.
A ninth embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the fact that the above-mentioned control means changes the above-mentioned irradiation direction at a preset speed in accordance with the amount of said function light detected when the above-mentioned irradiating direction is in a prescribed angle range.
The change rate of the irradiating direction is controlled in accordance with the amount of function light detected in an angle range of a specific irradiating direction, so that the operation of the reflection plane by the player increases in difficulty, thereby increasing interest in the game.
A tenth embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the fact that the above-mentioned function light output part intermittently outputs the function light at a prescribed number of times in the above-mentioned prescribed angle range and that the above-mentioned control means changes the above-mentioned irradiating direction at a preset speed in accordance with the amount of detected sign
Kanagawa Kazutsugi
Karasawa Hideyasu
Yamanaka Norihito
Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery
Hotaling, II John M
Sager Mark
Tiger Electronics, Ltd.
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