US3874669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic device for the simulation of an animated game, in particular the game of football
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-03-26
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract An electronic device is disclosed which can simulate any animated game between two single players or two teams. Said device can be preselected for three types of game; manual with the direct piloting by two rival operators; semiautomatic wherein only one operator pilots his player or team against the automatically piloted adversaries; automatic wherein the game has no intervention from man. OR circuits, logic and memory blocks, through suitable decoding and amplification circuits set the zone of the playground wherein play will take place at a given moment and the relevant signals are represented on a visualization plane by distinct luminous points or on a television cinescope by a continuous display, preferably in a polychromatic manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Rosalba Ariano
- 👤 Bartolomea Fontanella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:25
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/40; A63F13/42; A63F13/426; A63F13/80; A63F13/812; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An electronic device for the simulation of an animated game between two teams moving a ball or other projectile across a playing field, said device comprising: a. a display plane representing the playing field; b. means for displaying at any time on said display plane the position of each of said team members; c. means for representing on said display plane at any time the position of said ball; d. means for comparing the position of said ball with the positions of the closest players of each team and for deriving signals representing the direction of each of said closest players therefrom; e. means for changing the positions of said closest players toward the position of said ball, said comparing means indicating when the position of one of said closest players and said ball coincides; f. and means for automatically causing said ball to move to a new position, said new position being dependent upon which of said closest players reached said ball and the probable direction in which said ball would be projected by said player.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An electronic device for the simulation of an animated game between two teams moving a ball or other projectile across a playing field, said device comprising: a. a display plane representing the playing field; b. means for displaying at any time on said display plane the position of each of said team members; c. means for representing on said display plane at any time the position of said ball; d. means for comparing the position of said ball with the positions of the closest players of each team and for deriving signals representing the direction of each of said closest players therefrom; e. means for changing the positions of said closest players toward the position of said ball, said comparing means indicating when the position of one of said closest players and said ball coincides; f. and means for automatically causing said ball to move to a new position, said new position being dependent upon which of said closest players reached said ball and the probable direction in which said ball would be projected by said player.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said display plane is divided into zones, one zone for each player position on said teams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device defined in claim 2 wherein said means for indicating player and ball positions includes means for illuminating said display at said positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The device defined in claim 3 wherein said means for indicating the positions of said players comprises for each player a pair of counters, each of said counters representing one coordinate axis of a pair of axes and the value in said counters at any time representing a coordinate of the player position at that time, means for stepping said counters, and control means for causing said counters to step and to select the direction in which each steps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device defined in claim 4 wherein said stepping means includes a source of electrical pulses, and wherein said control means includes gating means having as one input the output of said pulse source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The device defined in claim 5 wherein said comparing means includes at least one comparator for each coordinate axis, each of said comparators having at least two outputs, one of said outputs becoming energized when the coordinate value of the ball''s position is greater than the coordinate value of the player''s position and the other of said outputs being energized when the coordinate value of the player''s position is greater than that of the ball''s.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device defined in claim 6 further including means for connecting one output of said comparator to said gating means to cause said counters to count in a first direction, and means for connecting the other output of said comparator to said gating means to cause said counters to count in the other direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device defined in claim 7 wherein each of said comparators also includes a third output which is energized when the coordinates of said ball and player coincide, and means for connecting said third output to said gating means to halt further stepping of said counters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device defined in claim 4 wherein said means for causing said ball to move to a new position includes at least a ball counter for each coordinate axis, the value of the contents of each said ball counter representing the coordinate position of said ball, means to step said ball counter, and ball gating means connected between said ball stepping means and said ball counter to control the stepping of said ball counter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
The device defined in claim 9 further including a weighting counter, means to step said counter to cause said counter to produce a sequentially changing number of output pulses, a decoder having inputs, means for applying the output pulses from said weighting counter and the output from said comparator to the inputs of said decoder to produce a decoded output therefrom, and means for applying the output from said decoder to said ball counters to step said counter and determine a new position for said ball.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said display plane comprises the face of a cathode ray tube and wherein said means for indicating the positions of said players and said ball comprises the cathode ray of said cathode ray tube, a video generator circuit, and means for connecting said means for changing the positions of said players and said means for causing said ball to move to said video generating circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device defined in claim 11 wherein said connecting means includes digital-to-analog converters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |