Patent ID: 11964212
Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
Field: Furniture, games (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 8:
9. A board game device capable of identifying a plurality of game pieces that are disposed thereon and that are divided into different piece types, the board game device comprising:
a plurality of identification labels configured to be arranged respectively on the game pieces at locations accessible by a respective one of a plurality of optically identifying modules, wherein each one of the identification labels represents a piece type of the game piece;
a board having a plurality of detection regions defined on an outer surface thereof, each of the detection regions being selectively recognizable between an unoccupied mode when none of the game pieces are placed thereon and an occupied mode when one of the game pieces is placed thereon through the corresponding identification label;
a plurality of optically identifying modules facing an inner surface of the board and respectively corresponding in position to the detection regions, wherein each of the optically identifying modules includes:
a light emitter configured to emit light toward the corresponding detection region; and
a light receiver corresponding in position to the light emitter;
wherein the board allows a light emission from the light emitter of the optically identifying modules to pass through one of the corresponding detection regions;
wherein the light receiver of the corresponding optically identifying module selectively emits:
(a) an unoccupied signal when one of the detection regions is in the unoccupied mode;
(b) an unoccupied signal when a game piece without an identification label is placed on one of the detection regions; and
(c) an identification signal that corresponds in type to the corresponding identification label when one of the detection regions is in the occupied mode; and

a processing module electrically coupled to the optically identifying modules to receive the unoccupied signal or the identification signal emitted from the light receiver of each of the optically identifying modules.