Display device

Abstract: Decorative or display device for game-playing, amusement or aesthetic purposes comprises a three-­ dimensional array of switchable indicators in a transparent matrix. The indicators may be light sources e.g. led's and may be used to play games such as noughts and crosses in 3-dimensions. A non-electric version has a stack of separable layers with beads insertable in recesses.

Description: This invention relates to display devices for game-playing and amusement purposes. The simple game of noughts and crosses can be played with pencil and paper, but, notionally, in three dimensions by having three 3 x 3 grids. Whilst this may be intellectually stimulating, and whilst the "equipment" cost is practically zero, there is nothing very attractive about the game, as, for example, there is, on the contrary, about chess played on a proper board with nicely-made pieces. US-A-3 224 778 discloses a three-dimensional tic-tac-toe or noughts and crosses game comprising a three-dimensional array of switchable indicators comprising nine tubular elements upstanding in 3 x 3 array from a base and each having three equally spaced sperical enlargements of translucent material with an interior light, switches for the lights being mounted in the base. The present invention provides, inter alia, a device by which such a game can be played more interestingly, but which will also, gratuitously, have other uses and applications. In the device of the invention, the matrix is a solid matrix of transparent material, the indicators are electrically switchable and the matrix supports electrical conductors thereto of either transparent film circuits or which are otherwise unobtrusive so as not to impede observation of the indicators. The indicators may be of such a size in relation to their spacing, as will permit a substantially unobstructed view of each from most viewpoints. The indicators may have two states, so that for example they may comprise an on/off device such as a light-emitting diode or a liquid crystal device. Or the indicators may have three or more states. A light-emitting diode can be of the reversible-polarity type which can display red or green, for example, or of the type which displays say red or yellow or green depending upon the voltage across it. The device may comprise a supporting pedestal (the term is used loosely to describe anything upon which the device stands or by which it is attached to a wall or ceiling) which may house power and control means for the electrically-operated indicators. Said control means may comprise program means adapted for game-playing, and said program means may be adaptable, as by selectable program modules to playing different games. Switch means for electric indicators may be actuable by "touching" coordinate sets of the array. Embodiments of decorative or display devices according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a layer of the embodiment of Figure 2, with electric indicators and showing a connection scheme therefor. The drawings illustrate display devices for game-playing and amusement purposes comprising a three-dimensional array of switchable indicators in 11 a transparent matrix 12. The indicators 11 are of such a size, in relation to their spacing, as will permit a substantially unobstructed view of each from most viewpoints. Obviously, if one is looking at one face of the array, one or more rows or columns of indicators of the array will be more or less obscured; but by shifting viewpoint slightly, the indicators of the obscured row will, provided the size and spacing are right, soon all become visible before one or more of them becomes obstructed by one or more indicators of another row or column. Figure 1 illustrates a 3 x 3 x 3 array, while Figure 2 illustrates a 5 x 5 x 5 array. The devices can be used in a multiplicity of ways. Basically, assuming for the moment that each indicator is a two state indicator, for example a lamp such as light-emitting diode (led) which can be on or off, and that there are suitable switching arrangements, a rudimentary form of three-dimensional "noughts and crosses" can be played. The object of this game is to be the first player to complete a line of three illuminated lamps. This is perhaps a trivial example on a 3 x 3 x 3 array, but is more complicated on a 4 x 4 x 4 and higher arrays. A better game of noughts and crosses can be played if the indicators are three state devices, if, for example, they can be either off, or glow green or glow red. One player may then play green, the other red, the object being to be the first to complete a line of his colour. Sufficient complication to make for interesting game possibilities can be had with cubic arrays of modest dimensions such as 3 x 3 x 3 or 5 x 5 x 5, but with an 8 x 8 x 8 or 10 x 10 x 10 array, English or Continental draughts may be played, respectively, in three dimensions. There is no need for the arrays to be cubic - they could be cuboidal, for example, and might not even be confined to rectangular coordinate arrays; arrays based on a tetrahedrom or prism or cylinder or "onion skin" arrays on concentric spherical surfaces or ellipsoidal surfaces or any other geometric arrangement can be envisaged. Figures 1 and 2 show the indicators embedded in a solid matrix of transparent material such as a plastics material, for example, an acrylic or polycarbonate material. Such an arrangement might be made by assembling the indicators such as led's, together with their wiring, in a framework and encapsulating the framework in the liquid material and setting the same solid. Or the arrangement might be built up from layers of solid material, inserting the indicators together with transparent film circuitry therefore between the layers, and bonding the layers together. The usual arrangements will be made in either case to terminate the wiring at a connector 13 which can be encapsulated or embedded in the base to mate with another in the pedestal 14. A typical wiring arrangement for a single layer of a 5 x 5 x 5 arrangement is shown in Figure 3. For simplicity, two-state, i.e. off/on indicators 11 are shown, which are operated by "touch" switches 15a,15b along adjacent side faces a,b, of the layer. Each device 11 has two leads 11a,11b. Each switch 15a connects by a connector 16 all the leads 11a in its row to one pole of an operating voltage source, each switch 15b connects all the leads 11b in its row. Touching simultaneously any one of the five switches 15a and any one of the five switches 15b will operate the indicator uniquely in the row of that switch 15a and the transverse row of that switch 15b. The operating voltage thus applied switches on the indicator; it is necessary to latch this indicator on, thereby freeing the touch switches 15a,15b for switching on other indicators in this layer. This can clearly be done electronically in any one of a number of different ways. Thus, for example, the connectors 16 may carry permanently a sustaining potential, each indicator having circuitry such that a change in that potential fires the indicator on and it is sustained on after the potential reverts to the sustaining potential. Or the touch switches might be wired not directly to the indicators but via additional connectors to a control unit in the pedestal which effects the latching. For the more complicated, three (and more) state indicators, the circuitry would be more complex, but still readily capable of being realised in film technology and operated by a microprocessor arrangement in ways that will be readily apparent. For a two-player game, involving each indicator being off, glowing red or glowing green, one player would play red and the other green, taking turns. The control arrangement could be programmed to respond to the first indicator selection by switching it on red, the next green and so on alternatively. It could also be programmed to respond to a win - which might for example be defined as the completion of a straight line of five indicators all in one colour, by flashing that line. Of course, different games may be played, for example, one in which the aim is to be first to form a cube instead of a line. A microprocessor control arrangement may be programmed to act as a player, programmed with instructions or algorithms enabling it to select the best next move, as is common, for example, nowadays with electronic chess-playing machines. Instead of touch switches, of course, a joystick or a keyboard input or a computer "mouse" or any other conventional type of input may be used - even a voice-activated input. More complicated games still, possibly involving more than two players, may be possible using multi-state indicators, for example led's the colour of which depends on the voltage - such can be obtained displaying three or four different colours. Any or all of these electrically-operated arrangements may of course be programmed using a microprocessor to act as a dynamic display, for example for aesthetic purposes, the indicators being switched in programmed or random or quasi-random sequences to produce changing light patterns. The device may be made quite small - centimetre dimensions for example - for a table game-playing arrangement, or as large as may be desired, for example, metre dimensions, for an out-door dynamic sculpture. It will be appreciated that many different games can be played with any one embodiment, and many different embodiments can be envisaged involving shape and size of the array, number of states of the indicators and constraints on operating the indicators (such for example as restricting the number of "reds" or "greens" in a row, or not allowing an indicator to be operated immediately adjacent an opponent's indicator).

Claims: Display device for game-playing and amusement purposes, comprising a three-dimensional array of switchable indicators in a transparent matrix, characterised in that the matrix is a solid matrix of a transparent material, the indicators are electrically switchable and the matrix supports electrical conductors thereto of either transparent film circuits or which are otherwise unobtrusive so as not to impede observation of the indicators. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the indicators have two states. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the indicators have three or more states. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the indicators comprise light emitting diodes. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the indicators comprise light emitting diodes capable of emitting at least two colours. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by having a supporting pedestal housing power and control means for the indicators. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by having control means comprising program means adapted for game playing. Device according to claim 7, characterised by said control means being adaptable as by selectable program modules to playing different games. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised by having switch means for the indicators. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the switch means are actuable by "touching" coordinate sets of the array.

Inventors: KLEIN BENJAMINO PETER LUCIUS J, KLEIN, BENJAMINO PETER LUCIUS JOZEF
Applicants: KLEIN BENJAMINO PETER LUCIUS J, KLEIN, BENJAMINO PETER LUCIUS JOZEF
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A63F3
IPC codes: A63F9, G02B6, A63F3, G02B27, H01L33, H04N13, H01L25