Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
` " ~27~;'73~i
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.
Bingo is a popular game, both in U.S.A. and Canada.
Traditionally, bingo games are used by churches to raise
funds for charity. ~lmost without any chance to cheat,
bingo is fair to all players; accordingly, some state
governments have explicitly legalized this game. Players of
a traditional bingo game would keep a card with a pre-
printed number matrix and would mark the pre-printed numbers
of the matrix in accordance with the called numbers.
Players, using their eyes and memory, would mark the pre-
printed numbers in selected pattern trac~s.- To scan and
mark a plurality of card is very hard and troublesome for
the weak and the old players of a traditional bingo game.
In order to assist the players to rapidly scan and mark
repeatedly the called numbers in a plurality of cards, many
machines which can simulate bingo have been develo~ed.
Uni~ed States patents which intend to automate bingo games
include: 2,333,002; 2,760,619; 3,671,041; 4,080j596;
4,365,810; 4,378,940, c~c. But the machines o these
references fail to provide players with the appropriate
assistance.
-
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates ~o a computerized bingo-cha m g~me device
played with the bingo cards. Every transparent bingo card
25 has a set of 24 numbers ranying from 1 to 75, and
constituting a S x 5 number matrix with a blank space in the
center thereof. Before the beginning of the game, the bingo
` ~L2~
czrds are placed into a signal readin~ device 80 that the
bingo card stands in front of a display. When one number of
the bingo card is called, the LED kehind the number will
light. When every called number is manually inputted, the
LEDs at the back of the numbe.s, which are equal to the
called nu~bers and located in a plurality of bingo cards,
will light simultaneously so as to assist the players. The
bingo-chain game device includes: (1) A Z-80A cPu
based rnicroprocessor/storage means to store/retrieve the
called numbers and the number matrixes of the bingo cards;
(2) A display, constituted by a LED dot matriX, to be
interconnected with the microprocessor/storage means; (3) A
keyboard input means, constituted by MYLAR (trademark) film, to be
interconnected to the microprocessor/storage means; t4) A
transparent bingo card incorporating punch code or data and
clock code represented by bar code in a single side of the
sald bingo card, wherein the punch code or data and clock
code can be read through a signal reading means; (5) A
double check sum means which can chec~ the possi~le reading
error of ~he data code and clock code in the bingo cards;
(6) A signal reading means, constituted by infrared LEDs and
photo-coupled receivers, to bo intcrconnectcd to the
microprocessor/storage means; (7) An erase means which can
erase ~he called r.um~e_s from the microprocessor/storage
means when the game is over.
The computerized bingo-chain game device further
incorporates an interconnection means which is composed of
programmable I~O interface ICs and related software;
therefore, every one of the bingo-chain game device can
interconnect a plurality of the samc devices frorn both of
~Z7~i~3S
its sides. Each bingo-chain game device is able to
transmit signals bi-directionally. Therefore, each can be
assigned as the master machine to receive signal and
transmit the signal to other slave machines simultaneously.
Thus constructed, the bingo-chain game device has no need for the
special communication IC 8251 and its peripheral circuit.
Furthermore, the present invention is free of the def~cts of
un~-directional communication of prior art.
Each highly precise signal reading means of the bingo-chain
game device includes at least an infrared LED and a photo-
coupled receive~ malnly constituted by aDARLINTON's pair
where the infrared LED and the photo-coupled receiver are
respectively set in the upper frame and lower frame, which
are joined together with a V-type rail. Besides the benefit
of easy assembly and high preci~ion, the signal reading
means also has ~ood resolution and sensitivity.
The signal reading means of the computerized game device are
interconnected in parallel and controlled by software.
Therefore, if one of the signal reading means is damaged,
the normal operation of the other signal reading means will
not be affected.
The bingo card oE tl~e bingo-chain g~me devlce incorporates
punch cod~ in a singl~ sid~ of the bingo card, wherein the
lengt~ of the punch code can represent a binary 0 or 1
machine code. The signal representative of the pur.ch code
provides for the retrieval of data wh~ch is pre-sto ed in
the RO~ of the microprocessortstorage means and the Zata is
then stored into the RAM of the microprocessor/storage
means.
Another embodiment of the bingo cards of the computerized
game device incorporates clock code and data code, represented
~L~7~35
by bar codes, on a single side of the bingo card. A
wider bar code in the beginning of the clock code is
assigned as the start code. A bingo card of the bingo-
chain game device only needs one set of single reading
means to operate. Furthermore, it can solve the asyn-
chronous problems of clock code and data code resulted
from traditional double-sided check. A check means is
also included in the computerized game device; therefore,
the signal being read can be verified by the double check
sum. The clock signal is related to the data signal
through a function equation. After the data code and
clock code are read, the data code and clock code can
be verified by means of the function equation. The
checking result can be shown in the LED display.
The computerized bingo-chain game device can
further be provided with a means to adjust the brightness
of the LED display through a photosensitive resistor and
a variable resistor, and with a music generator means
which is composed of a melody IC and an audio generating
software program, wherein the volume of the music generator
means can be adjusted through a variable resistor.
More specifically, according to a first aspect
of the present invention,there is provided a computerized
bingo-chain game device comprising:
a processor/storage means interconnected with
a display for storing and retrieving data from bingo
cards;
a keyboard me~ns Eor i.nputtiny data into the
processor/storage means, said lceyboard means comprising
a MYLAR film;
card keeping means having slots positioned in
front of the display;
a signal reading means positioned in a side of
the slots of the card keeping means and electrically
~L~75~3~i
connected to the processor/storage means;
wherein the processox/storage means includes:
a read onlymemory circuit;
a random access memory circuit; and
at least one input/output port for providing
interconnections to peripheral components;
wherein a plurality of number matrices and
matrix serial numbers are stored in the read only memory
circuit, each matrix serial number being representative
of a signal code located at a single side of a transparent
bingo card having a plurality of numbers thereon, the
signal reading means comprising means for automatically
reading the code on the bingo card when the same is passed
therethrough, the bingo card being kept in front of the
display by the card keeping means, the signal reading
means comprising means for sending a signal represen-
tative of the matrix serial number to the processor/
storage means, the processor/storage means comprising
means for retrieving a number matrix relating to the ma-
trix serial number from the read only memory circuit,
the processor/storage means further comprising means
for sending the number matrix to the random access memory
circuit for comparing with a called number inputted from
the keyboard means, the display comprising means for showing
the result of the comparison thereon;
wherein the display includes a-t least one LED
dot matrix connected with the processor/storage means;
and wherein the respective LEDs o:E the LE~ ~ot matr.ix
are lit ~or i.lluminat.ing the numberc.; on the blngo card
corresponding to called numb~rs i.nE)utted Erom the keyboard
means, thereby assisting a pl.ayer during a bingo-chain
game;
an erasing means connected to -the processor/
storage means for erasing the called numbers upon com-
~2~
pletion of the game; and wherein the signal reading means
includes at least one pair of photosensing and receiving
means which are respectively set in an upper frame and a
lower frame which are joined with a V-type rail to form
a gap between the photosensing and receiving means; whereby
the data on the bingo cards are read when the bingo cards
pass through the gap between the photosensing and receiving
means.
- In accordance with a second aspect of the in-
vention, there is provided a computerized bingo-chain
game device comprising:
a processor/storage means interconnected with
a display for storing and retrieving data from bingo
cards;
a keyboard means for inputting data into the
processor/storage means, said keyboard means comprising a
MYLAR film;
card keeping means having slots positioned in
front of the display;
a signal reading means positioned in a side
of the slots of the card keeping means and electrically
connected to the processor/storage means;
wherein the processor/storage means includes:
a read only memory circuit;
a random access memory circuit; and
at least one input/output port for providing
interconnections to peripheral components;
wherein a plurality of number matrices and
matrix serial. numbers are stored in the read only memory
circuit, each matri.x serial number being r~presentative
of a signal code located at a s.;mgle side of a transparent
bingo card having a plurality oE numbers thereon, the signal
reading means comprising means for automatically reading
- 5a -
the code on the bingo card when the same is passed there-
through, the bingo card being kept in front of the dis-
play by the card keeping means, the signal reading means
including means for sending a signal representative of
the matrix serial number to the processor/storage means,
the processor~storage means comprising means for retrieving
a number matrix relating to the matrix serial number from
the read only memory circuit, the processor/storage means
further comprising means for sending the number matrix
to the random access memory circuit for comparing with
a called number inputted from the keyboard means, the
display comprising means for showing the result of the
comparison thereon;
wherein the display includes at least one LED
dot matrix connected with the processor/storage means;
and wherein the respective LEDs of the LED dot matrix
are lit for illuminating the numbers on the bingo card
corresponding to called numbers inputted from the key-
board means, thereby assisting a player during a bingo-
chain game;
an erasing means connected to the processor/storage means for erasing the called numbers upon completion
of the game; and
wherein a code is incorporated in a side of the
bingo card to represent the serial number of the bingo
card; and wherein the code comprises a number of codes
with different lengths to represent binary-based O's
or l's and a longer code at the beginn.ing oE the code
to represent a. start cod~; thereby prov.idi.ng .Eor the
retrieval of the pre-stored number matrix o~ the bingo
card from the processor/storage means.
In accordance with a third aspect, the present
invention relates to a computerized bingo-chain game
device comprising:
- 5b -
~Z7~;7~35i
a processor/storage means interconnected with a
display for storing and retrieving data from bingo`cards;
a keyboard means for inputting data into the
processor/storage means, said keyboard means comprising
a MYLAR film;
card keeping means having slots positioned in
front of the display;
a signalreading means positioned in a side of
the slots of the card ]ceeping means and electrically0 connected to the processor/storage means;
wherein the processor/storage means includes;
a read only memory circuit;
a random access memory circuit; and
at least one input/output port for providing5 interconnections to peripheral components;
wherein a plurality of number matrices and matrix
serial numbers are stored in the read only memory cir-
cuit, each matrix serial number being representative
of a signal code located at a single side of a trans-
parent bingo card having a plurality of numbers thereon,the signal reading means comprising means for automati-
cally reading the code on the bingo card when the same
is passed therethrough, the bingo card being kept in front
of the display by the card keeping means, the signal
reading means comprising means for sending a signal
representative of the matrix serial number to the processor/
storage means, the processor/storage means comprising
means for retrievi.ng a number matrix rel.ating to the
matrix serlal numbe.r ~rom the .re.rl~ only mc~lo:ry circuit,
the processor/storage means furthe~r comprising
means for sending the number matrix to the random access
memory circuit for comparing with a called number inputted
from the keyboard means, the display comprising means for
showing the result of the comparison thereon;
~27~i73S
wherein the display includes at least one LED
dot matrix connected with the processor/storage means;
and wherein the respective LEDs of the LED dot matrix are
lit for illuminating the numbers on the bingo card corres-
ponding to called numbers inputted from the keyboardmeans, thereby assisting a player during a bingo-chain
game;
an erasing means connected to the processor/
storage means for erasing the called numbers upon com-
pletion of the game; and
wherein the bingo card comprises parallel dataand clock codes at one side thereof; and wherein the data
code and clock code, represented by binary-based black
and white bar codes, respectively, and a wider bar code
at the beginning of the clock code are represented by
the following function equation:
F(X) = 2 + N . 2
wherein X is a decimal number of the data code, N is
the number of " 0's" when the decimal number X is trans-
lated into binary; and wherein the processor/storage
means comprises means for checking and comparing func-
tion values of the data code and clock code to determine
erroneous readings by the signal reading means.
The objects, advantages and other features of
the present invention will become more apparent upon reading
of the Eollowing non restrlctive descl~iL)ti.on oE preEerred
embodiments thereoE, givell in conj~lnctiprl with the accom-
~0 panying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRI TION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
- 5d -
~27S~3~;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bingo-
chain game of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the CPU based
bingo-chain game;
Figure 3 is a block diagram of the display of
the present invention;
Figure 4 is a block diagram of the keyboard
input means of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of
the bingo card of the present invention;
Figure 5A is a front elevational view of
another embodiment of the bingo card of the present
nventlon;
Figures 6a-6j are flow charts of the software
program of the present invention;
Figure 7I whi.ch is disposed on the same sheet
of formal drawings as Figures 3 and 4, is a block diagram
of the interconnection be-tween a master machine and
slave machines of the bingo-chain game of the present
invention;
Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of the display
brightness adjustment means of the bingo-chain game of the
present invention;
Figure 9 is a circui-t diagram of the signal
reading means of the bingo-chain game of the present
invention;
Fi.gure 9A is a block d:iag.ram of the signal
reading means of the b:ingo-cha:in game o~ the L.~resent
invention;
Figure 10 :is a cross-sectional vi.ew of the photo-
sensor of the signal reading means oE the present inven-
tion;
Figure 11 is a circuit diagram of the sound
effect means of the bingo-chain game of the present in-
~Z7573~;
vention;
Figure 12 is a circuit diagram showing the
interconnection between the master machine and slave
machines; and
~igure 13 is a circuit diagram of the keyboard
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODlMENTS
The bingo-chain game 10 of the present
invention can be interconnected as shown in Figure 1,
which is a perspective view of ten interconnected bingo-
chain games. Every bingo-
--- ~2~5~73~
~ ~ ' ,-;,
chain game 10 is composed o~ a display 20, constituted by
upper and lower 5 x 5 LED dot matrixes, and a pàir of slot
11. This pair of slots ll constitute the card keeping means
to guide the bingo card 30, to be inserted therein, thereby
keeping the bingo card in front of the display 20. Two sets
of numbers are printed on the upper and lower areas of the
bingo card 30, which is made of transparent material. Each
area has twenty-four numbers, ranging from 1 to 75, formed
by a 5 x 5 matrix with an empty space or word "FREE" on the
center of the matrix. The number matrix on the bingo card
30 coincides with the dot matrix of the LED display 20.
Therefore, each LED can light the related num~er on the
bingo card 30. Punch code 31 (Figure 5a) or bar code is
incorporated in a single side of every bingo card 30.
A photo-sensor 40 of the signal reading means is
incor~orated in a singlc side of the slots 11 of the bingo-
chain game 10. The signal of bingo card /30 will be
automatically read when every bingo ca~d 30 is inserted into
thé slots 11. The signal will then be stored into the
storage~controlled CPU 50, preferably a Z-80 A processor.
The number matrix representcd by tho inputtcd signal will
then be compared with thc callcd numbcxs ln the ncxt stage.
The called numbers are manually inputted by the player
through a keyboard 12. The called numbers will also be
stored, and will be erased when the game is over. I~the
called number, inputted to the bingo-chain game 10, is the
same as one o the numbers on the bingo card 30, the LED
behind the number on bin~o card 30 will be lit.
~ very bingo-chain game 10 can be assigned as a master
mac~ine or slave mac~ine. Interconnected as shown in Flgure
P27573~;
1 and Figure 7, the signal of each machine can bi-
directionally communicate. If one called number is
inputted, all LED's in different machines which represent
the same called number will be lit simultaneously. During
play, only one bingo-chain game 10 needs to be assigned as
the master machine, to be connected to the keyboard 12 of
the input means. Thereafter, one keyboard can make a
plurality of bingo-chain games 10 work concurrently.
Shown in Figure 5a is a preferred embodiment of bingo
card 30. Two 5 x 5 number matrixes are printed on the upper
and lower areas of bingo card 30, which is made of
transparent material. Bingo card 30 incorporates a
plurality of punch holes 31, separated from each other to
represent some signal, along one longitudinal side of the
bingo card. The one longitudinal side of the bingo card 30
is made ~of`;a non-transparent material. A serial number 32,
printed on the upper right corner of bingo card 30,
represents the predetermined number matrix stored in the
read only memory (thereafter ROM) shown in Figure 2. The
serial number in every bingo card 30 is different from that
of another.
Referring to Figure 2, the numbcr matrix, represented
by the serial number on bingo card 30, can be retrieved from
the erasable programmable read only memory (hereafter EPROM)
via the selector IC 74LS138. When bingo card 30 is inserted
into slots 11 o~ bingo-chain game 10, photo-sensor 40 of the
signal reading means will first read start code 35, then the
bingo code represented by punch hole 31. The bingo code is
then translated into a decimal number, which should be the
same as the serial number 32 printed on the upper right
~2757~5
corner of bingo card 30. The CPU of the bingo-chain game 10
will retrieve the numbers of bingo card 30 from the EPROM
and then store the numbers into a random access memory
(hereafter RAM) to complete the reading procedure of the
bingo card data. Only one set of photo-sensor 40 is needed
for this preferred bingo card 30. Therefore, the
manuf~acturing cost is drastically reduced and the
asynchronous problems resulting from the traditionaI dual
photo-sensors are eliminated. The reading errors are very
scarce durin~ inserting bingo card 30 before the game
starts. Furthermore, traditional cards are inclined to
erroneous readings, due to incorrect position of printing
codes or the unclear printing. Previously, it was necessary
for the in-process quality control of the traditional cards
to key in 24 numbers to check if the code is coincidental to
the numbers printed on each card. But for bingo card 30 of
the present invention, the photo-sensor 40 will
automatically read the punch hole 31 after the bingo card 30
is inserted into the slot 11. Then the number matrix,
represented by the serial number 32 on the upper right
corner of the bingo card 30, will automatically be retrieved
and compared, thereby making it unnecessary to manually key-
in number matrix one by one. Moreover, traditional
inspection needs more than 24 key in inputs, compared with
the only two ~ey in inputs of the present invention.
Therefore, the present invention is more convenient and
taster. Furthermore, as the punch operation of the bingo
card of the present invention is also fast and accurate, the
defective rate of punch operation approaches zero.
~27~i735
Shown in Figure 5b is another embodiment of a bingo
card 30A. The circuit design of the microproce~sor/storage
means related to bingo card 30A is the same as that shown in
Figure 2~ Two 5 x 5 number matrix~s are also printed on the
upper and lower areas; respectively, of the bingo card 3~
Bingo card 30A incorporates a bar-type data code 33 and
another parallel clock code 34 along one longitudinal side
thereof. Concentrating data code 33 and clock code 34 on a
single side facilitates the photo sensing operation, so as
to eliminate the defect of asynchronous photo sensing due to
crooked insertion of a bingo card having two codes
incorporated into two different sides of the card.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a double check
sum for the bingo card 30A, so'as to assure error-free data
readin~ of the CPU 50.
The bingo card 30A is designed with a clock code having
204,signals. The wider bar code 341 on the bottom of the
clock code 34 is the start code, which can signal the
beginning o~ the reading operation. The number signal of
the data code 33 and the clock code 34 can check each other
with a function value. A preferred embodiment of the
function equation is:
F(X) = 2 ~ N 2
where F~X) is a clock function, X is the decimal number of
the data code 33, N is the number of "0" when the decimal X
is translated,into binary. The sum of the clock function is
treated as one additional code and is placed at the end of
the data code 33. The function e~uation ls prestored into
the microprocess,or/storage means. The clock code 34 and
~27573~
data code 33 are read respectively by two sets of photo-
sensors 40, when bingo card 30A is inserted. Ciock code 34
and data code 33 are then sent to microprocessor/storage
means 50 for checking. The LED relatin~ to the central
space (or the word "FREE") of the bingo card 30A will be
lit, if the check sum of the 204 signal of the clock code 34
and the function equation match. This is to prove that
there is correct reading of the data in the bingo card 30A.
As shown in Figure 2, the control center of the
electronie circuit of the bingo-chain game 10 is the CPU 50,
i.e. Z-80 A. CPU 50 controls the other components in the
electronic circuit and can also store the called numbers and
all numbers of bingo card 30 or 30A read by photo-sensors
40. Software programs, represented by the flow charts from
Figure 6a to Figure 6j, are stored into the EPROM or the
MASK ROM. Part of the software programs can also be stored
into the RAM. CPU 50 can select the keyboard 12 sean, the
display 20 sean or the data reading of punch code/bar eode
in bingo eard 30/30A, via the selector 74LS138. Keyboard
20 20, photo-sensor 40, display 20, sound generator 60 and
other peripheral equipment are eonneeted to the
mieroproeessor/storage means via two input-output (hereafter
I/O) integrated eircuits, hereafter (IC) 8255. Traditional
intereonnection among various microprocessor/storage means
of the present invention can directly communicate via I/O IC
- 8255, via software. Therefore, the manufacturing eost is
drastically reduced. The present invention ean further
incorporate a rechargeable battery to maintain the related
data for three months if power is interrupted.
~2~i735
Referring to Figure 3 of Figure 8, the display 20 is
controlled by the software program represented in the flow
charts of Figures 6a-6j. To complete the displaying
procedures, the display is scanned by a multiplexor IC,
amplified and driven by a driver IC ULN2003 and transmitted
via a shift register. If the background is not too bright,
~he LED of the display 20 can light u~ the numbers of the
bingo card very clearly. But if the background is too
bright, the numbers of the bingo card would not be lit up
very clearly. To avoid this defect, a perfect LED
brightness adjustment circuit including a photo sensitive
resistor CDS is incorporated into the present invention.
When the background is too bright, the LED input current is
increased to raise the brightness of the LED. A variable
resistor VR can further be added to the circuit to adjust
the LED brightness to the best level.
Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 13, the keyboard input
means, connected to bingo-chain game 10, is constituted by a
MYLAR film. The keyboard input means is interconnected to
the CPU 50 via an I/O IC 8255. The keyboard 12 of the input
keyboard means is composed of number keys and function keys
- such as erase key, bingo key, new game key... etc. Such
functions as selecting bingo game topic, lnputting the
called numbers to the microprocessor/storage means, erasing
the called numbers from the microprocessor/storage means or
starting the game can be done through the input of the
number keys and function keys.
Referring to Figure 9a, 9b and 10, the photo-sensor 40
of the signal reading means is shown to be comprised of an
infrared LED 41 and a photo-coupled receiver 42, which are
11
.
~ ~ 7 57~ S
respectively set in an upper frame 43 and a lower frame 44,
made by tooling. The male V-type jut 441 of the lower frame
44 is intimately fitted into the female V-type rail 431 of
the upper frame 43. Therefore, the gap between the right
arm 432 and the upper frame 43 and the right arm 442 of the
lower frame 44 can be kept very even and stable. The
infrared LED 41 and the photo-coupled receiver 42 are stuck
into the upper right arm 432 and lower right arm 442,
respectively. Therefore, bingo card 30 can pass through the
gap between upper right arm 432 and lower right arm 442, and
at the same time can precisely coincide with infrared LED 41
and photo-coupled receiver 42. A person skilled in the
infrared LED 41 and photo-coupled receiver 42 art can easily
appreciate that the construction of the present invention is
very excellent, so as to make the bingo card insertion
oper~tion fast and correct`.
To increase the sensitivity of the photo sensor 40, a
DARLINTON's power amplifying transistor circuit has been
included into the photo-coupled receiver 42, as shown in
Figure 9. When the bingo card 30/30A passes through the
photo sensor 40 in the slot 11 of the bingo-chain game 10,
the slgnal in bingo card 30/30~ is easily read.;
To add fun to the game, a music generator means
composed of a melody IC and an audio generating software
program is included in the circuit. The melody IC is
connected to the I/O IC. The sound volume of the music
generator means can be adjusted through a variable resistor
VR.
In addition to the above description, the present
invention also includes interconnection means which can send
~5735
signal bi-directionally through an IC I/O GTPR. The
interconnection means can connect a master machine to a
plurality of slave machines, affording the latter with the
same game functions of the said master machine. There is no
limit for the number of the slave machines. It is not
necessary for any interface circuit between the
interconnection means and the CPU 50. Therefore,
unnecessary means can be reduced so as to lower the
manufacturing and maintenance cost.
When the present invention is in game operation, the
first step is to turn on the power supply. Thereafter all
the LEDs in the display 20 will light to le~ the player
inspect the status of every LED. Then the display will show
"BINGO UP GOOD LUCK" characters. The kind of characters are
designed by software program and stored into the bingo-chain
game 10. Then player can insert bingo cards 30/30A into
every slot 11. If the number matrix, represented by the
clock code 34 and data code 33 of the bingo card 30/30A, is
correctly read by photo-sensor 40, the LED behind the bingo
card 30/30A will be lit. If a reading error occurs, no LED
will li~ht at all. Ater all the bingo cards 30/30A are
correctly read, the pla~er can key-in the called numbers
through the keyboard 12 and press the enter key. Then, the
LED behind the same number of the called number on the bingo
cards 30/30A will be lit.
The game will continue until one player completes the
traditional bingo pattern, which may be all the numbers on
the bingo card or all the numbers without the four corners.
Then the winniny player presses the bingo key, thè bingo
12757;~5
-chain game 10 will play congratulation music and make the
LEDs blink.
The present invention can also store a number of
character patterns into the EPROM or MASK ROM by software
program. To play these new character patterns, the players
can read all bingo cards 30/30A and then press the "NEW
GAME" key, a specified number key, and the "ENTER" key.
Thereafter the display 20 will show a specified character
pattern. If the special numbers within the specified
character pattern are the same as the called number inputted
from keyboard 12, the LEDs at the back of the called numbers
will light. Otherwise, the LEDs will not light. The player
who first completes the specified character pattern will win
the game. This special design prevents ch~ating`
during the game.
When the game is over, all the key-in called numbers
can be erased after the "NEW GAME" key and the "ERASE" key
are pressed. If the called number is incorrect during the
game, the incorrect called number can be erased by pressing
the same called number again and then pressing the "ERASE"
key. The bingo-chain gamè 10 will then be ready for the
next step of the game.
The various preferred embodiments o the present
invention described in the above paragraphs are just for
illustrating the technologies of the present invention only
and are not meant to limit the present invention, as
equivalents of the present invention would be obvious to one
skilled in the art, in view of the above discussion. The
enclosed program listing is a further example implementation
of the present invention.
14
