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

Claim 0:
1. 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 at bottom portions of the game pieces, wherein each one of the identification labels represents a piece type of the game piece;
a board having a plurality of detection regions defining an outer surface thereof, each of the detection regions being selectively recognizable between (a) an unoccupied mode when none of the game pieces are placed thereon; (b) an unoccupied mode when a game piece without an identification label is placed on one of the detection regions; and (c) 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 is configured to allow a light emission from the light emitter of the optically identifying modules to pass through one of the corresponding detection regions;
wherein, when one of the detection regions is in the unoccupied mode, the light receiver of the corresponding optically identifying module is configured to emit an unoccupied signal; and
wherein, when one of the detection regions is in the occupied mode, the light receiver of the corresponding optically identifying module is configured to receive the light emission from the light emitter of the corresponding optically identifying module and reflected by the corresponding identification label, wherein the light receiver enables and emits an identification signal that corresponds in type to the corresponding identification label;

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; and
a plurality of indicators respectively corresponding to each of the detection regions of the board, arranged to selectively provide visual indication of the unoccupied mode and the occupied mode at the corresponding detection region.