US3889956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic amusement machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-01-16
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-01-16
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses an electronic amusement game that is adapted to play a form of card game. The machine has a face bearing card representations capable of illumination during use of the machine. Illumination of the card representations is achieved by a function control circuit causing a memory, containing bits corresponding to each card representation to be scanned and a memory bit set when a vacant address in the memory is sensed. The machine has a display cancellation facility which is operable to cancel a display of the last memory bit set at the discretion of the player within a predetermined time and furthermore includes circuitry for detecting display of certain combinations of card representations for providing a free game or actuation of a disc pay-out facility. In an alternative form the memory is addressed by means of a programmed read only memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Trevor William Castle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:46
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F1/00; A63F2001/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
An electronically controlled amusement apparatus adapted to play card games comprising: a face having a number of electronically controlled lamps producing a number of displays each bearing a card representation and being capable of illumination to provide a visual card representation, circuit driver means connected to each of said lamps for effecting illumination and extinguishment of the connected lamp, means for connecting each of said circuit driver means to memory so that, when a bit in said memory is in said set condition, at least one driver circuit is electronically operated to cause display of a card representation associated with that bit, said memory having a plurality of storage bits, each bit corresponding to one of said lamps of said card representations and each bit having at least a set condition associated with display of the corresponding card representation and a reset condition associated with an extinguished display of the corresponding card representation, manually operable first means for player operation to electronically set following manual operation thereof, one at a time, a plurality of bits in said memory, means connected to said memory and to said first means for setting, one at a time and at least pseudorandomly, a plurality of said bits following manual operation of said first means, a single player operated cancel means capable of being manually operable for a predetermined time immediately following setting of each bit for operation to cause that bit to return to its reset condition, and further circuit means connected to said memory and said cancel means for causing a set bit to return to its reset condition and said setting means to electronically set another bit following manual operation of said cancel switch means within said predetermined time, means for counting the number of manual operations of said single cancel means and disabling said further circuit means when the count reaches a preset plurality, and means for preventing setting of further memory bits after a predetermined number thereof have been set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
An electronically controlled amusement apparatus adapted to play card games comprising: a face having a number of electronically controlled lamps producing a number of displays each bearing a card representation and being capable of illumination to provide a visual card representation, circuit driver means connected to each of said lamps for effecting illumination and extinguishment of the connected lamp, means for connecting each of said circuit driver means to memory so that, when a bit in said memory is in said set condition, at least one driver circuit is electronically operated to cause display of a card representation associated with that bit, said memory having a plurality of storage bits, each bit corresponding to one of said lamps of said card representations and each bit having at least a set condition associated with display of the corresponding card representation and a reset condition associated with an extinguished display of the corresponding card representation, manually operable first means for player operation to electronically set following manual operation thereof, one at a time, a plurality of bits in said memory, means connected to said memory and to said first means for setting, one at a time and at least pseudorandomly, a plurality of said bits following manual operation of said first means, a single player operated cancel means capable of being manually operable for a predetermined time immediately following setting of each bit for operation to cause that bit to return to its reset condition, and further circuit means connected to said memory and said cancel means for causing a set bit to return to its reset condition and said setting means to electronically set another bit following manual operation of said cancel switch means within said predetermined time, means for counting the number of manual operations of said single cancel means and disabling said further circuit means when the count reaches a preset plurality, and means for preventing setting of further memory bits after a predetermined number thereof have been set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said bits setting means includes: a first pulse generator for producing a pulse train at a given frequency, addressing means connected to said memory and said first pulse generator for receiving said pulse train from said first generator and addressing, one at a time, said bits in said memory, a second pulse generator for producing a pulse train at a frequency less than said given frequency, and logic means connected to said addressing means and to said second pulse generator for setting the first bit which is not set and which is addressed following production of a pulse by said second pulse generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said logic means includes: a first flip-flop connected to the output of said second pulse generator for shifting from a first to second output condition when said second pulse generator produces a pulse, second logic means connected to said first flip-flop and to said addressing means for providing an enable output when said first fliP-flop is in said second condition and said addressing means is addressing a bit which is not set, a second flip-flop connected to said second logic means, to said first flip-flop and to said first pulse generator for shifting from a first to second condition when said second logic means provides an enable signal to disable said first pulse generator and for shifting from said second to said first condition when said first flip-flop shifts from said second to first condition, and a delay timer connected to said first and second flip-flops for producing an output signal causing said first flip-flop to shift from said second to said first condition a given time following shifting of said second flip-flop from said first to second condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said addressing means includes: counter means for counting pulses received from said first pulse generator and providing an output indicating the count, and decoding means connected to said counter means, to said memory and to said second flip-flop for setting an addressed bit in said memory in response to shifting of said second flip-flop to said second condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said further circuit means includes: counter means connected to said cancel means for counting the number of manual operations of said cancel means and providing a block signal when said count exceeds said preset plurality, decoding means connected to said addressing means and to said memory for resetting an addressed bit when a strobe signal is applied, logic means connected to said cancel means, said second flip-flop, said counter means and said decoding means for applying said strobe signal to said decoding means when said cancel means is manually operated, only if said second flip-flop is in said second condition and said counter means is not providing said block signal, and means connecting said logic means to said first flip-flop for shifting said first flip-flop from said second to first condition when said strobe signal is produced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as in claim 5 further including: a cancel lamp, and logic means connected to said second flip-flop and to said counter means for causing said cancel lamp to be illuminated when said second flip-flop is in said second condition and said counter means is not producing said block signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said bits setting means includes: a first start flip-flop connected to said first means for shifting from a first to second output condition when said first means is manually operated, a second start flip-flop connected to said first start flip-flop and to said second pulse generator for shifting from a first to second output condition, when said first start flip-flop shifts to said second condition, to enable said second pulse generator, and a timer delay circuit connected to said first start flip-flop for shifting said first start flip-flop from said second to first condition a predetermined time following shifting of said first start flip-flop from said first to second condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 further including: means for counting the numbere of set bits and producing a given signal when the count reaches said predetermined number, and logic means connecting to said set bits counting means and to said second start flip-flop for shifting said second start flip-flop from said second to said first condition when said set bits counting means produces said given signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 further including: means for detecting insertion of a disc, a disc flip-flop connected to said detecting means for shifting from a first to second condition in response to detection of a disc insertion, logic means connected to said first start flip-flop, to said first means and to said disc flip-flop for preventing said first start flip-flop from shifting to said first to second condition in response to operation of said firsT means, unless said disc flip-flop is in said second condition, means connected to said memory for providing a win output signal when any of a plurality of predetermined set bit combinations exist, means connected to said set bit counting means and to said disc flip-flop for shifting said disc flip-flop from said second to said first condition upon production of said given signal by said set bit counting means, logic means connected to said win signal providing means and to said disc flip-flop for preventing said disc flip-flop from shifting from said second to said first condition when a win signal is produced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 further including: an audio generator, and means connecting said audio generator to said first start flip-flop for enabling said audio generator when said first start flip-flop is in said second condition so as to simulate the shuffling of cards.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 further including means connected to said lamps for sequentially illuminating said lamps when said first start flip-flop is in said second condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an audio tone generator circuit which is actuated for a predetermined period after the game is started, said generator circuit comprising an audio tone generator and an audio amplifier for driving a loudspeaker, said tone generator including an oscillator whose output is varied by switching different values of resistance to earth into said oscillator circuit by means of a multivibrator circuit running at a preset frequency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 further including: a power supply, and said displays each include a lamp connected to said power supply and wherein said addressing means further includes means connecting said power supply and lamps to said first and second pulse generators so that the voltage supplied to said generators varies as a function of the number of illuminated lamps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory comprises a plurality of pairs of cross-coupled gates each of which form a flip flop constituting a bit of said memory.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |