Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
34
This invention relates to an electronically operated table
game, and to its method of operation.
In the standard game of Pool, known also as Kelly Pool,
there are sixteen balls, including the cue ball. The
fifteen non-cue balls are numbered consecutively, and fall
into two groups known as "unders" (under 8) and "overs"
(over 8). Each player, or team, attempts to pot all of
his/her/its balls, and then the "wild" ball (the 8) ahead
of the other player or team.
In an electronic scoring version of the game (as described
for example in Canadian Patent No. 1,206,174), each of
these balls must be individually identified electronical-
ly, as well as being visually distinguishable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
alternative game to the electronic version of Kelly Pool.
Accordingly, in the first aspect, the present invention
broadly consists in a table ball game comprising a playing
surface and ball traps, a plurality of visually
distinguishable balls marked to correspond to at least
some of the card values in a standard pack of playing
cards, and electronic detection means capable of
interacting with electronic identification means in the
balls so as to identify a ball trapped in a said trap,
said electronic detection means being coupled to display
means arranged to provide a display corresponding to the
card value with which the said ball is marked.
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Preferably, the balls are marked to correspond to the five
highest cards of each of the four card suits.
Preferably, the balls include one marked to correspond to
a "joker".
Preferably, the game comprises the steps of pocketing
balls in such a way as to form a "hand" corresponding to
the card game of "Poker".
The above gives a broad description of the present
invention, a preferred form of which will now be described
by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of components of the
invention; and
Figure 2 shows a general arrangement of the playing sur-
face and ball traps.
A table ball game has a ball playing surface, and a
plurality of pockets for the reception of balls, each
pocket having ducting associated therewith leading to a
detector assembly 10, and a ball holding area beyond the
detector.
The detector is controlled by a detector electronics unit
11, which can be coupled to a unit 12 for other table
related functions and a game scoring and display electron-
ics module 13 which is in turn connected to a display 14
and other game related functions unit 15. For example,
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the table related function~ 12 could include a conventional
coin mechanism and means for allowing access to balls to
allow the game to be played. The other game related func-
tions could include connection to a master score board
controlling several tables, means for connection to addi-
tional similar systems for championship play-off at remote
locations, means for storing the highest score played, and
displaying this on the display, and means for providing
audio or visual messages during the course of play.
Each ball 16 has an identification capsule embedded within
the ball at the time of manufacture. Preferably, the cap-
sule contains a code with more than one element so that
error checking is possible. In addition, the capsule
provides impact protection for the code element.
The code elements consist of an inductance and capacitance
connected together, with each code element tuned to a
selected frequency. Multiple elements in each ball are
each tuned to a different selected frequency and enough
combinations of elements and frequencies are chosen to
allow the required number of balls to be identified.
Balls pocketed during a game are ducted to pass through
the detector assembly 10 which preferably consists of
multiple coils arranged with multiple magnetic axes so
that the ball orientation is unimportant.
The detector has multiple attempts to read each ball. The
coils are tuned by a voltage controlled variable capaci-
tance diode and the detector electronics control the vol-
tage supplied to the diode in a manner that causes the
detector coil to search for the frequency assigned to the
code elements in the ball. The detector electronics also
monitor the level of voltage in the detector coils, as
the coil voltage will be at certain levels with no balls
present and at different levels for selected frequencies
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when the code element of a selected frequency is inside
the detector coil. Means are provided to sense the
altered level to this to decide that a selected frequency
i8 present.
The detector electronics looks at the selected frequencies
found and recognizes them as an identification number
which is distinctive for a particular ball. This informa-
tion is then transmitted to the display electronics for
games scoring and display purposes. Invalid combinations
of frequencies are ignored.
Figure 2 shows the general arrangement of chutes 21 from
the pockets 22. These chutes lie beneath the playing sur-
face 23 and are inclined so as to allow balls 16 to travel
towards the detector 10 and thence to a ball holding area
24 which may be coupled to a coin release mechanism enab-
ling balls to be released at the commencement of a game.
The preferred game of the present invention is "Poker
Pool", in which there are twenty-two balls 16. Twenty of
these are marked to correspond to the five highest cards
of each of the four suits of a standard set of playing
cards. Another is marked to correspond to the "joker",
and one ball is the "cue" ball, typically a plain white
ball, although not necessarily.
At the commencement of a game, each player or team leader
typically enters his name or code on a keyboard associated
with display 14 to book a turn at the table. The entry is
acknowledged electronically, and the position in the
current queue is indicated.
Each time the table is vacated, the board audi~ly calls
the next players, displaying their names or codes on a
display 14. If the players called do not respond (typi-
cally by inserting coins in unit 12) within a predetermined
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time, the next group of players is called.
The coins are monitored and, when the correct amount has
been inserted, the balls are dropped into a tray for
placing on the table.
Typically, the balls are designated as follows:
Visual Marking Electronic Identification
Hearts 10
J 2
Q 3
K 4
A 5
Diamonds 10 6
J 7
Q 8
K 9
A 10
Clubs 10 11
J 12
Q 13
K 14
A 15
Spades 10 16
J 17
Q 18
K 19
A 20
Joker 21
Cue Ball None
Each team takes turns to pocket balls selectively in such
a way as to gain a "poker hand", or to prevent their
opponent(s) from doing so. The Joker is a "wild" ball,
and is to be pocketed at the completion of the "hand".
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The cue ball is returned whenever pocketed, and has n~
effect on the score.
Whenever a ball is pocketed, a corresponding indicator
panel on the wall display unit 14 is lit, typically in a
group of indicators associated with the respective player
or team. Each group of indicators is laid out in a for-
mation in which suits are grouped together, with graphical
display of the corresponding card alongside, e.g.:
Spade 10 J Q K A
Club 10 J Q K A
Diamond 10 J Q K A
Heart 10 J Q K A
JOKER
This display could be in the form of an illuminated board
~r panel.
An alternative indicator panel involves the use of
electronically controlled flip cards, each card being pro-
vided with an appropriate pattern or graphics to represent
a designated playing card corresponding to a respective
one of the balls, so that when that particular ball is
pocketed, the ball will be recognized by the detector
electronics, which will then cause the appropriate flip
card to flip over, presenting the appropriate picture in-
dicating that that ball has been scored.
To ensure that the correct group of indicators is actuated
(i.e., the group relating to the current player or team),
one or other of two "TEA~I SELECT" buttons is pushed at the
commencemen~ of each player's or team's turn.
In serious games, however, a referee will be appointed to
attend to this function, together with rule interpreta-
tion, but forcasual games players will normally monitor
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this for themselves.
Various modifications to the above may be made without
departing from the scop~ of the present invention as
claimed.
