Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Ball games
Patent
1995-09-15
1997-08-19
Chiu, Raleigh W.
Amusement devices: games
Surface projectile game; game element
Ball games
273121A, A63F 230
Patent
active
056579870
ABSTRACT:
A pinball machine is provided and generally includes a power supply for supplying unfiltered, unregulated DC voltage, a solenoid for activating a play feature device such as a flipper, a microprocessor for controlling game play activities, a clock associated with the microprocessor for supplying a first interrupt signal thereto, a memory device associated with the microprocessor having stored therein a plurality of duty cycle settings, each of the duty cycle settings comprising a predetermined pattern of ON and OFF states, a voltage detection circuit linked to the microprocessor and connected to the power supply for providing to the microprocessor a voltage value indicative of the level of the DC voltage, wherein the microprocessor utilizes the voltage value to select one of the plurality of duty cycle settings, and a driver, responsive to the microprocessor, connecting the power supply to the solenoid for controlling the flow of current thereto based upon a corresponding one of the states of the predetermined pattern of the select one of the plurality of duty cycle settings as determined by the first interrupt signal. Preferably, a zero-voltage detect circuit is also provided and used to detect when the DC voltage level approaches zero for signalling the microprocessor to reset or synchronize the clock.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4093232 (1978-06-01), Nutting et al.
patent: 4198051 (1980-04-01), Bracha et al.
patent: 4203602 (1980-05-01), Kral
patent: 4209826 (1980-06-01), Priegnitz
patent: 4234903 (1980-11-01), Harper
patent: 4272649 (1981-06-01), Pfeiffer
patent: 4293888 (1981-10-01), McCarty
patent: 4363485 (1982-12-01), Edwall
patent: 4384716 (1983-05-01), Powers
patent: 4399483 (1983-08-01), Phelan
patent: 4511945 (1985-04-01), Nielsen
patent: 4546403 (1985-10-01), Nielsen
patent: 4599674 (1986-07-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 4634126 (1987-01-01), Kimura
patent: 4825332 (1989-04-01), Aoki
patent: 4895369 (1990-01-01), Degar
patent: 5074558 (1991-12-01), Bleich et al.
patent: 5091677 (1992-02-01), Bleich et al.
patent: 5092597 (1992-03-01), Kaminkow et al.
patent: 5146388 (1992-09-01), Parker
patent: 5149094 (1992-09-01), Tastad
patent: 5170345 (1992-12-01), Poole
patent: 5284342 (1994-02-01), Tanzer et al.
patent: 5297793 (1994-03-01), DeMar
patent: 5322282 (1994-06-01), Lund
patent: 5539608 (1996-07-01), Hurley et al.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin "Pulse Width Modulation of Magnets", Wells, vol. 21, No. 3, Aug. 18.
Design News, "The uP Says Tilt-Pinball Machines Grow Smarter", vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 16-18 Jan. 1978.
Capcom Coin-Op Inc.
Chiu Raleigh W.
Jarosik Gary
LandOfFree
Pinball solenoid power control system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pinball solenoid power control system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pinball solenoid power control system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1099632