Game apparatus for trying coincidence between randomly selected characters

Claim 2

An electronic game apparatus comprising: means for initiating game operation; a plurality of timers responsive to said game initiating means for providing electrical signals having predetermined different time durations; means also responsive to said game initiating means for providing an output signal consisting of a series of pulses; a plurality of gate circuits, each responsive to a different timer signal and to said pulse signal, for passing said pulses when said timer signals are present; a plurality of counter circuits, each coupled to a respective gate circuit, for counting the pulses delivered from each of said gate circuits respectively; a plurality of display sections, including respective driver circuits, each display section responsive to a corresponding counter circuit respectively, each display section including means for exhibiting a character randomly selected from a closed set of different characters and dependent upon the termination of a corresponding timer signal, said driver circuits being so connected to said exhibiting means that the probability of selection of each of the characters differs; a coincidence circuit for sensing the characters exhibited by said display sections and for producing a plurality of outputs corresponding to said characters being in predetermined patterns of coincidence, and probability of occurrence of said coincidence patterns differing; prize chip dispensing means having a reservoir of prize chips and responsive to the outputs of said coincidence circuit for dispensing a predetermined amount of prize chips corresponding to each of said outputs of said coincidence circuit; and a plurality of selector means adapted to be set prior to game operation being connected between said driver circuits and said display sections for changing the connections between driver circuits and exhibiting means so that the probability of selection of each of the characters is changed resulting in a corresponding change in the probability of occurrence of said coincidence patterns and, correspondingly, the amount of prize chip dispensation.

Claim 3

An electronic game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said driver circuits have a number of outputs which exceed the number in the set of characters to be exhibited, each driver output being adapted to excite a character, and wherein certain driver outputs are connected together, and connected to a corresponding display character exhibit means, the number of outputs being so connected together and being connected to a display character determining the probability of selection of that character.

Claim 4

An electronic game apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said selector means includes a plurality of individual switches between respective driveR circuits and display sections for changing the connections between said driver circuits and corresponding display characters so as to change the probability of selection of that character, said selector switches being ganged together to move as a single switching unit.

Claim 5

An electronic game apparatus, said apparatus being in normal operation when substantially motionless and being in abnormal operation when a predetermined condition such as a substantial shock, force or motion is imparted to said apparatus, comprising: means for initiating game operation; a plurality of timers responsive to said game initiating means for providing electrical signals having predetermined different time durations; means also responsive to said game initiation means for providing an output signal consisting of a series of pulses; a plurality of gate circuits, each responsive to a different timer signal and to said pulse signal, for passing said pulses when said timer signals are present; a plurality of counter circuits, each coupled to a respective gate circuit, for counting the pulses delivered from each of said gate circuits respectively; a plurality of display sections, including respective driver circuits, each display section responsive to a corresponding counter circuit respectively, each display section including means for exhibiting a character randomly selected from a closed set of different characters and depending upon the termination of a corresponding timer signal, said driver circuits being so connected to said exhibiting means that the probability of selection of each of the characters differs; a coincidence circuit for sensing the characters exhibited by said display sections and for producing a plurality of outputs corresponding to said characters being in predetermined patterns of coincidence, the probability of occurrence of said coincidence patterns differing; prize chip dispensing means havng a reservoir of prize chips and responsive to the outputs of said coincidence circuit for dispensing a predetermined amount of prize chips corresponding to each of said outputs of said coincidence circuit; and sound generator means for generating a sound during normal operation of said game apparatus, said sound generating means including a switching circuit to which a signal is supplied only during normal operation of said game apparatus, an oscillator circuit being driven by said switching circuit and a sound source being driven by said oscillator circuit, said sound generator means including alarm means for causing said sound source to provide a loud noise when the game apparatus is in abnormal operation, said alarm means including sensing means responsive to said predetermined condition causing abnormal operation, and a second switching circuit actuated by said sensing means for causing said oscillator circuit to cause said sound source to generate said loud noise.

Claim 6

An electronic game apparatus, said apparatus being in normal operation when substantially motionless and being in abnormal operation when a predetermined condition such as a substantial shock, force or motion is imparted to said apparatus, comprising: means for initiating game operation; a plurality of timers responsive to said game initiating means for providing electrical signals having predetermined different time durations; means also responsive to said game initiation means for providing an output signal consisting of a series of pulses; a plurality of gate circuits, each responsive to a different timer signal and to said pulse signal, for passing said pulses when said timer signals are present; a plurality of counter circuits, each coupled to a respective gate circuit, for counting the pulses delivered from each of said gate circuits respectively; a plurality of display sections, including respective driver circuits, each display section responsive to a corresponding counter circuit respectively, each display section including means for exhibiting a character randomly selected from a closed set of different characters and depending upon the termination of a corresponding timer signal, said driver circuits being so connected to said exhibiting means that the probability of selection of each of the characters differs; a coincidence circuit for sensing the characters exhibited by said display sections and for producing a plurality of outputs corresponding to said characters being in predetermined patterns of coincidence, the probability of occurrence of said coincidence patterns differing; prize chip dispensing means havng a reservoir of prize chips and responsive to the outputs of said coincidence circuit for dispensing a predetermined amount of prize chips corresponding to each of said outputs of said coincidence circuit; and sound generator means for generating a sound during normal operation of said game apparatus, said sound generating means including a switching circuit to which a signal is supplied only during normal operation of said game apparatus, an oscillator circuit being driven by said switching circuit and a sound source being driven by said oscillator circuit, said sound generator means including alarm means for causing said sound source to provide a loud noise when the game apparatus is in abnormal operation, said alarm means including sensing means responsive to said predetermined condition causing abnormal operation, and a second switching circuit actuated by said sensing means for causing said oscillator circuit to cause said sound source to generate said loud noise.

Claim 7

The game apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sensing means includes a first sensor for actuating said second switching circuit when said game apparatus is tilted, and a second sensor for actuating said second switching circuit when the game apparatus is raised and wherein said counter circuits are reset by the sensor means.

Claim 8

The game apparatus of claim 4 wherein said counter circuits are reset by a signal delivered from an OR circuit to which is supplied an output from said sensing means and an output from said coincidence circuit.

Claim 9

The game apparatus as recited in claim 4, comprising means for changing the frequency of said oscillator circuit from one frequency corresponding to normal operation to another frequency corresponding to abnormal operation.

Claim 10

The game apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for frequency changing comprises a resistor and capacitor connected together for changing the repetition rate of said oscillator.