US20110204564A1 - Electronic game board - Google Patents
Electronic game board Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110204564A1 US20110204564A1 US12/713,157 US71315710A US2011204564A1 US 20110204564 A1 US20110204564 A1 US 20110204564A1 US 71315710 A US71315710 A US 71315710A US 2011204564 A1 US2011204564 A1 US 2011204564A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- game
- display panel
- touch
- board
- game board
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
- A63F3/00643—Electric board games; Electric features of board games
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
- A63F9/24—Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
- A63F2009/2401—Detail of input, input devices
- A63F2009/2402—Input by manual operation
- A63F2009/241—Touch screen
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
- A63F9/24—Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
- A63F2009/2448—Output devices
- A63F2009/245—Output devices visual
- A63F2009/2457—Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
- A63F2009/2458—LCD's
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
- A63F9/24—Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
- A63F2009/2448—Output devices
- A63F2009/245—Output devices visual
- A63F2009/2457—Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
- A63F2009/246—Computer generated or synthesized image
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
- A63F2300/1043—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals being characterized by constructional details
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
- A63F2300/1068—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
Abstract
An electronic game board contains a casing; a display panel in the casing exposed from a top side of the casing; a touch-sensitive module on the top side of the casing against the display panel; and a control device in the casing with a built-in game program. The electronic game board is able to provide multiple board games without acquiring sets of different game boards and game pieces. The electronic game board uses the display panel to present the grid and game pieces of a board game. A player is able to interact with the game board and plays a board game by moving the displayed virtual pieces through the touch-sensitive module. In addition, as the game pieces are actually displayed images, there is no need to worry that any game piece would be missing.
Description
- The present invention generally relates to an electronic game board, and more particular to an electronic game board having a display panel for showing the grids and game pieces of various board games, and a touch-sensitive module for interacting with players.
- Various board games such as chess, Go, checker, etc., all involve a number of game pieces manually placed, removed, or moved on a premarked game board according to a set of rules.
- Different board games usually have different game boards and different game pieces and cannot share a same game board or a same set of game pieces. In order to play more than one board game, each board game's specific game board and game pieces have to be prepared.
- In addition, one common problem to all board game players is that it is not uncommon that some game piece is missing when trying to play a board game.
- Therefore, a novel electronic game board is provided herein capable of providing multiple board games of different grids and game pieces, and without worrying that any game piece would be missing.
- The electronic game board has a display panel to present the grid and game pieces of a board game. A player is able to interact with the game board and plays a board game by moving displayed virtual pieces through a touch-sensitive manner.
- The electronic game board contains
- a casing;
- a display panel in the casing exposed from a top side of the casing;
- a touch-sensitive module on the top side of the casing against the display panel; and
- a control device in the casing with a built-in game program capable of conducting one or more board games.
- The electronic game board is able to provide multiple board games without acquiring sets of different game boards and game pieces. In addition, as the game pieces are actually displayed images, there is no need to worry that any game piece would be missing.
- The control device contains a microprocessor, a memory, and a power module. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the display panel and the touch-sensitive module. The memory is electrically connected to the microprocessor and stores the game program.
- The power module is electrically connected to the microprocessor and a power switch is configured on the casing and is electrically connected to the power module.
- The control device operates according to the following steps after the electronic game board is started.
- First, the touch-sensitive module is monitored to see if it is touched. If yes, the display panel is refreshed to show a new status of the game conducted and the touch-sensitive module is monitored again. If no, the next step is executed.
- Then, the control device checks to see how long the game board has been idle. If the idle time is still within a limit, the control device returns to monitor the touch-sensitive module; otherwise, the next step is executed.
- Then, the control device turns off the display panel, and stores the current game status.
- Finally, the power module is shut down to save power.
- The display panel contains a circuit board and a large number of light emitting elements configured on the circuit board. By controlling the on and off of the light emitting elements, a grid and game pieces for a specific board game are displayed.
- The light emitting elements could be light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes.
- The game program is capable of conducting at least a board game such as chess, Go, checker, Chinese chess.
- The touch-sensitive module could be of a resistive type, a capacitive type, a surface acoustic wave type, or an infrared type.
- The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
- Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing an electronic game board running a board game according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing the electronic game board ofFIG. 1 running a different board game. -
FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram showing the electronic game board ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a top-view diagram showing the electronic game board ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing various functional blocks of the electronic game board of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a flow chart diagram showing the steps performed by a control device of the electronic game board according to the present invention. - The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
- As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 3 , an electronic game board according to an embodiment of the present invention contains acasing 10, adisplay panel 20, a touch-sensitive module 50, and acontrol device 30. - The
casing 10 usually has a rectangular shape for easy transportation and viewing. There is no specific requirement to thecasing 10's dimension. Thecasing 10 could be small for hand holding, or thecasing 10 could be of the size of a notebook computer. - As further shown in
FIG. 4 , thedisplay panel 20 is housed in thecasing 10 and is exposed from a top side of thecasing 10. Thedisplay panel 20 contains a circuit board and a large number oflight emitting elements 21 configured on the circuit board. By controlling the on and off of thelight emitting elements 21, agrid 24 andgame pieces 25 for a specific board game are displayed. As such, for example, the stones of the game of Go (as shown inFIG. 1 ) or game pieces of more complex shapes (as shown inFIG. 2 ) could be presented. Thelight emitting elements 21 could be light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LED (OLED), or similar devices of high photoelectric conversion efficiency. - The touch-
sensitive module 50 is placed on the top side of thecasing 10, right against thedisplay panel 20. The touch-sensitive module 50 is also electrically connected to thedisplay panel 20. - The
control device 30 is housed inside thecasing 10, and is electrically connected to thedisplay panel 20 and the touch-sensitive module 50. Thecontrol device 30 has a build-ingame program 321 capable of conducting at least a board game such as chess, Go, checker, Chinese chess, or any similar game requiring a game board and game pieces. - When the
game program 321 is executed, based on a chosen board game, thecontrol device 30 is able to showappropriate grid 24 andgame pieces 25 on thedisplay panel 20 and a player is able to move thegame pieces 25 by the touch-sensitive module 50. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , thecontrol device 30 contains amicroprocessor 31, amemory 32, and apower module 33. Themicroprocessor 31, usually a low-powered, highly efficient processor, is electrically connected to thedisplay panel 20 and the touch-sensitive module 50. Thememory 32, usually a low-powered, highly efficient memory, is electrically connected to themicroprocessor 31 and stores thegame program 321. Thepower module 33 is electrically connected to themicroprocessor 31 and is usually a replaceable battery. Apower switch 11 is configured on thecasing 10 and is electrically connected to thepower module 33. - As further shown in
FIG. 6 , thecontrol device 30 operates according to the following steps after the electronic game board is started by pressing thepower switch 11. - First, the touch-
sensitive module 50 is monitored to see if it is touched. If yes, thedisplay panel 20 is refreshed to show a new status of the game conducted and the touch-sensitive module 50 is monitored again. If no, the next step is executed. - Then, the
control device 30 checks to see how long the game board has been idle (i.e., not been touched). If the idle time is still within a limit, thecontrol device 30 returns to monitor the touch-sensitive module 50; otherwise, the next step is executed. - Then, the
control device 30 turns off thedisplay panel 20, and stores the current game status. - Finally, the
power module 33 is shut down to save power. - The touch-
sensitive module 50 could be of a resistive type, a capacitive type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared type, or other types. Generally, a resistive touch-sensitive module contains a glass panel covered with a conductive layer and a resistive metallic layer with spacers sandwiched between the two layers. Then, an anti-scratch layer is further coated. When a user touches the module, the conductive layer and the resistive metallic layer are made to contact with each other and this change of electrical field could be detected as a touch signal. The touch signal is then delivered to the microprocessor for processing. On the other hand, capacitive touch-sensitive module uses capacitive sensors. When the module is touched, continuous current is conducted through the sensors and the sensors are able to store electrons along the vertical and lateral directions, forming a precisely controlled capacitive field. When a sensor's default capacitive field is altered by another capacitive field, implying the user has touched a separate location, the circuit of the touch-sensitive module then is able to calculate how much the capacitive field has changed and reports a touch signal to the microprocessor for processing. - With the above described means, the electronic game board of the present invention is able to provide multiple board games without acquiring sets of different game boards and game pieces. In addition, as the game pieces are actually displayed images, there is no need to worry that any game piece would be missing.
- While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims (8)
1. An electronic game board, comprising:
a casing;
a display panel in said casing exposed from a top side of said casing;
a touch-sensitive module on said top side of said casing against said display panel, said touch-sensitive module electrically connected to said display panel;
a control device in said casing with a built-in game program capable of conducting at least a board game, said control device electrically connected to said display panel and said touch-sensitive module;
wherein, based on a chosen board game, said control device shows appropriate grid and game pieces of said board game on said display panel; and a player manipulates said game pieces and interacts with said game board through said touch-sensitive module.
2. The electronic game board according to claim 1 , wherein said control device contains a microprocessor and a memory; said microprocessor is electrically connected to said display panel and said touch-sensitive module; and said memory is electrically connected to said microprocessor and stores said game program.
3. The electronic game board according to claim 2 , wherein said control device further contains a power module electrically connected to said microprocessor; a power switch is provided on said casing; and said power switch is electrically connected to said power module.
4. The electronic game board according to claim 3 , wherein said control device operates according to the following steps after said electronic game board is started:
monitoring said touch-sensitive module to see if said touch-sensitive module is touched; if yes, refreshing said display panel and repeat this step;
checking if said electronic game board has been idle longer than a limit; if not, returning to the previous step;
turning off said display panel;
storing a current game status; and
shutting down said power module.
5. The electronic game board according to claim 4 , wherein said display panel contains a circuit board and a plurality of light emitting elements configured on said circuit board; and, by controlling the on and off of said light emitting elements, a grid and game pieces for a specific board game are displayed.
6. The electronic game board according to claim 5 , wherein each light emitting element is one of a light emitting diode and an organic light emitting diode.
7. The electronic game board according to claim 6 , wherein said game program is capable of conducting at least one of chess, Go, checker, and Chinese chess.
8. The electronic game board according to claim 7 , wherein said touch-sensitive module is one of a resistive type, a capacitive type, a surface acoustic wave type, and an infrared type.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/713,157 US20110204564A1 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2010-02-25 | Electronic game board |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/713,157 US20110204564A1 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2010-02-25 | Electronic game board |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110204564A1 true US20110204564A1 (en) | 2011-08-25 |
Family
ID=44475834
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/713,157 Abandoned US20110204564A1 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2010-02-25 | Electronic game board |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110204564A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105056517A (en) * | 2015-09-07 | 2015-11-18 | 河池学院 | Electronic chess |
JP2018530431A (en) * | 2015-09-15 | 2018-10-18 | ポスコPosco | Product forming method and apparatus, and product |
US20200391095A1 (en) * | 2019-06-13 | 2020-12-17 | Bradley Steven Michael | Addressable Lighting and Scorekeeping System |
US20210286474A1 (en) * | 2020-03-11 | 2021-09-16 | KEFI Holdings, Inc. | Capacitive touch surface |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6231441B1 (en) * | 1996-11-01 | 2001-05-15 | Adar Golad | Computer game device |
US6568683B1 (en) * | 1999-03-29 | 2003-05-27 | Yehouda Harpaz | Games grid board-life games |
US20040248650A1 (en) * | 2003-03-25 | 2004-12-09 | Colbert Savalas O. | Programmable electronic game apparatus |
US7147555B1 (en) * | 1999-08-19 | 2006-12-12 | Yehouda Harpaz | Games grid board |
US7147556B1 (en) * | 1999-08-19 | 2006-12-12 | Yehouda Harpaz | Games grid board |
US20100062846A1 (en) * | 2008-09-05 | 2010-03-11 | Eric Gustav Orlinsky | Method and System for Multiplayer Multifunctional Electronic Surface Gaming Apparatus |
-
2010
- 2010-02-25 US US12/713,157 patent/US20110204564A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6231441B1 (en) * | 1996-11-01 | 2001-05-15 | Adar Golad | Computer game device |
US6568683B1 (en) * | 1999-03-29 | 2003-05-27 | Yehouda Harpaz | Games grid board-life games |
US7147555B1 (en) * | 1999-08-19 | 2006-12-12 | Yehouda Harpaz | Games grid board |
US7147556B1 (en) * | 1999-08-19 | 2006-12-12 | Yehouda Harpaz | Games grid board |
US20040248650A1 (en) * | 2003-03-25 | 2004-12-09 | Colbert Savalas O. | Programmable electronic game apparatus |
US20100062846A1 (en) * | 2008-09-05 | 2010-03-11 | Eric Gustav Orlinsky | Method and System for Multiplayer Multifunctional Electronic Surface Gaming Apparatus |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105056517A (en) * | 2015-09-07 | 2015-11-18 | 河池学院 | Electronic chess |
JP2018530431A (en) * | 2015-09-15 | 2018-10-18 | ポスコPosco | Product forming method and apparatus, and product |
US20200391095A1 (en) * | 2019-06-13 | 2020-12-17 | Bradley Steven Michael | Addressable Lighting and Scorekeeping System |
US11648453B2 (en) * | 2019-06-13 | 2023-05-16 | Bradley Steven Michael | Addressable lighting and scorekeeping system |
US20210286474A1 (en) * | 2020-03-11 | 2021-09-16 | KEFI Holdings, Inc. | Capacitive touch surface |
US11755158B2 (en) * | 2020-03-11 | 2023-09-12 | Cfa Properties, Inc. | Capacitive touch surface |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
KR102388722B1 (en) | Display apparatus and organic light-emitting display apparatus | |
KR101719208B1 (en) | Touch pressure detectable touch input device including display module | |
CN103748538B (en) | touch-sensitive display | |
JP5800373B2 (en) | Transparent touch panel | |
JP3185747U (en) | Partially laser ablation sensor processing device and touch sensitive device | |
KR102245680B1 (en) | Touch input device capable of detecting pressure with display noise compensation applied | |
US10180761B2 (en) | Touch-panel-equipped display device including side surface electrodes | |
US20120262414A1 (en) | Layout structure of capacitive touch panel | |
CN103164153A (en) | Multi-surface touch sensor device with mode of operation selection | |
US20130342494A1 (en) | Auxiliary input device, and electronic device and electronic system including the auxiliary input device | |
US20110204564A1 (en) | Electronic game board | |
US10481742B2 (en) | Multi-phase touch-sensing electronic device | |
JP2012027892A (en) | Touch screen panel and its manufacturing method | |
KR20180136031A (en) | Display apparatus | |
KR101838569B1 (en) | Touch input device | |
CN102411449B (en) | Touch control display panel | |
GB2494740A (en) | Keyboard cover for virtual keyboard of touch screen tablet computers | |
TWI606377B (en) | Touch panel | |
US9188803B2 (en) | Touch panel | |
US20130265275A1 (en) | Electronic device and touch device having three-dimensional virtual control | |
JP2017068819A (en) | Touch panel | |
TWI720496B (en) | Display module with touch function | |
TW201504906A (en) | Touch-control type protective device | |
TW201127464A (en) | Electronic chessboard | |
KR20110011402U (en) | mutual capacitance touch panel |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |