Electronic dart device for cricket game

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic dart device for playing a cricket game, which includes a dart panel (5) having a plurality of dart regions (501 ∼ 504), a plurality of target blocks (505 ∼ 508) respectively received in the plurality of dart regions (501 ∼ 504), a sensing matrix circuit in contact with one of the target blocks (505 ∼ 508) when the one target block (505 ∼ 508) is darted, a digital display (51 ∼ 57) mounted on the dart panel (5) for displaying a sign denoting a time the one darted block (505 ∼ 508) has been darted in a first instance and a number denoting a score the one darted block (505 ∼ 508) is programmed to have in a second instance, and a control circuit electrically connected to the matrix circuit and the digital display (51 ∼ 57) for controlling the digital display (51 ∼ 57) to display one of the sign and the number when the one darted block (505 ∼ 508) is darted. Preferably, the present electronic dart device can use the digital display (51 ∼ 57) mounted on the dart device for displaying the cricket game result so as to reduce the area of the dart panel (5) and decrease the cost.

Description: The present invention relates to an electronic dart device, and more particular to an electronic dart device for playing a cricket game and showing a play result. The cricket game is a popular entertainment having many play regulations due to the improvements of the dart devices. Earlier prior dart device includes a woody panel divided into several target blocks and a bull's-eye. The player throws metal-pointed darts to the panel and gains scores according to the darted respective blocks. But, since the dart device is made of wood and has no electronic device, the manual scoring of the cricket game becomes inconvenient and/or boresome. Another dart device is created to prevent the inconvenience of the manual scoring. This dart device includes a dart panel having target blocks and four 7-segment digital display sets. A set of electronic circuit is mounted on the back of the panel and has a function for instantaneously displaying the darted play result on the 7-segment digital display set according to the programmed scoring regulation. A third prior art of dart device includes a dart panel divided into many target blocks programmed to have different scores, four 7-segment digital display sets at the lower part of the dart panel and many indicating diodes. The 7-segment digital displays display the scoring of the darted target blocks, and the indicating diodes display the play result which the player gains during the game. The cricket game regulation is to be exemplarily illustrated with the help of the third prior dart device. Who will win or lose one game depends on the fact who first completes the required darted times of the target regions. The dart panel includes four concentric annular regions and a bull's-eye, and the four annular regions are also radially divided into many sectorial blocks. Accordingly, each of the sectorial blocks has four radially aligned sub-blocks. Take one of the block as an example, if the second or fourth sub-block (wherein the first sub-block is defined as the outmost one of the sub-blocks) is darted, then one of the three corresponding light emitting diodes (LED) will be conducted for denoting that the specific sectorial block has been darted once; if the third sub-block is darted, then all three corresponding LEDs will be conducted simultaneously for imaginarily denoting that the specific block has been darted three times; and if the first sub-block is darted, then two of the three corrsponding LEDs will be conducted for assumedly denoting that the block has been darted twice. The winner will be the first one who darts all of the blocks and the bull's-eye three times and gains the highest score. Compared with the first and the second prior dart devices, the third prior dart device provides a function for automatically recording the result of the cricket game. To achieve this function, the dart device has to be equipped with 21 LEDs for displaying the darted times of each block and the driving circuit for driving those LEDs. Consequently, though the third prior electronic dart device can provide a function for automatically recording the result of the cricket game, it requires higher cost. An electronic dart device similar to the third prior art can be referred to the US Patent No. 4,567,461. To decrease the cost and still have the function for automatically recording the result of the cricket game, the US Patent No. 5,318,319 provides a fourth prior art electronic dart device. The fourth electronic dart device includes a target panel, two 7-segment digital display sets and LED sets for recording the play result in the game wherein each of the LED sets consists of two LEDs having different colors. Take a certain target sub-block as an example, when the sub-block is darted once, the corresponding LED set having the first color will be conducted; when the sub-block is darted a second time, only the second color of the LED set will be conducted; and when the sub-block is darted a third time, then both of the LEDs of the LED set will conducted. No matter which prior dart device having a digital display is used, to record the result of a cricket game, the dart device should include LEDs and the LED driving circuit which not only occupy the area of the dart panel, but also increase the cost of producing the dart device. It is also true of the dart game scoring system disclosed in US 4,948,148. One object of the present invention is to provide an electronic dart device for playing a cricket game, of the type comprising a digital display, and showing a play result so as to decrease the area of the dart panel and reduce the manufacturing cost. In accordance with the present invention, an electronic dart device for playing a cricket game and showing a play result includes which includes a dart panel having a plurality of dart regions, a plurality of target blocks respectively received in the plurality of dart regions, a sensing matrix circuit in contact with one of the target blocks when the one target block is darted, a digital display mounted on the dart panel for displaying a sign denoting a time the one darted block has been darted in a first instance and a number denoting a score the one darted block is programmed to have in a second instance, and a control circuit electrically connected to the matrix circuit and the digital display for controlling the digital display to display one of the sign and the number when the one darted block is darted. In accordance with the present invention, the digital display is a 7-segment digital display. In accordance with the present invention, the control circuit includes a micro-controller electrically connected to the sensing matrix circuit having an output and generating a control signal for controlling the 7-segment digital display in response to the output of the sensing matrix circuit, and a driving circuit electrically connected to the micro-controller and the 7-segment digital display and driving said 7-segment digital display according to the controlling signal in order to display the display result. In accordance with the present invention, the driving circuit includes a source current transistor array and a segment driver. In accordance with the present invention, the sign is expressed by an Arabic number. In accordance with the present invention, the sign is expressed by an illuminated segment of said digital display. The present invention may best be understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of an electronic dart device for playing a cricket game and showing a play result according to the present invention; Figs. 2(a)∼2(d) are schematic views of the 7-segment digital displays showing some exemplary recording instances according to the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the controlling circuit of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, a dart device according to the present invention has a dart panel 5 axially and radially divided into several dart regions 501 ∼ 504 for respectively receiving therein a plurality of dart blocks 505 ∼ 508, 7-segtment digital displays 51 ∼ 64 and buttons 65, 66 and 67. Button 65 is a MODE selector for coosing the desired playing or scoring manner, such as successive adding scoring, successive subtracting scoring (e.g., 301 or 501), or cricket ... etc. Button 67 is an OPTION selector for choosing the desired game. Button 66 is a PLAYER CHANGE actuator for choosing one of the players 1, 2, 3 and 4 in his turn for scoring. In the preferred embodiment in Fig. 1, if the play result of the game is to be scored, then the 7-segment digital display sets 51 ~ 54, 55 ~ 57, 58 ~ 60 and 61 ~ 64 are respectively applied for recording the play results of the players 1, 2, 3 and 4. If the cricket game is desired, then the 7-segment digital displays 51 ~ 57 will respectively display the darted times of the blocks marked 20 ~ 15 and the bull's-eye that the player 1 has completed, and the 7-segment digital displays 58 ~ 64 will display the results played by the player 2. More detailed exemplary recording instanc es are to be referred to Figs. 2(a) ∼ 2(d). In Fig. 2(a), the numbers shown in the 7-segment digital displays 51 ∼ 57respectively denote the darted times of the bull's-eye, and blocks marked 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. In Fig. 2(b), the number of the three non-successive illumining parts of each of the 7-segment digital displays 51 ∼ 57 denotes the darted time of a specific block. In Fig. 2(c), the number of the three lower segments of each of the 7-segment digital displays 51~57 denotes the darted time of a specific block. In Fig. 2(d), the alphabet (e.g., "d" (double) standing for darted twice, "c" (close) for darted three times... etc.) in each of the 7-segment digital displays 51 ∼ 57 denotes the darted time of a specific block. Certainly, Figs. 2(a) ∼ 2(b) are some preferred embodiments only, they do not exclude other 7-segment digital display manner having similar characteristics as those of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows a sensing matrix circuit 71, a micro-controller 72, a driving circuit 73 and buttons 65, 66 and 67, wherein the driving circuit 73 includes a source current transistor array 731 and a segment driver 732. The sensing matrix circuit 71 is in contact with the dart panel 5 for sensing the blocks of the dart panel that are darted. Micro-controller 72 is electrically connected to and receives output signals from the sensing matrix circuit 71 and generates control signals to control circuit for controlling the 7-segment digital displays 51 ~ 64 so as to display results for all kinds of games. The present invention uses the 7-segment digital displays which originally are required elements for a dart game to alternatively display the results of the cricket game for reducing the installation cost of the light-emitting diodes. In addition, without the installation of the LEDs, the present invention also achieves the effect of decreasing the area of the dart panel.

Claims: An electronic dart device adapted to be used for playing a cricket game comprising : a dart panel (5) having a plurality of dart regions (501 ∼ 504); a plurality of target blocks (505 ∼ 508) respectively received in said plurality of dart regions (501 ∼ 504); a sensing matrix circuit (71) in contact with one of said target blocks (505 ∼ 508); when said one target block (505 ∼ 508) is darted; a digital display (51 ∼ 57) mounted on said dart panel (5) for displaying; and a control circuit (72) characterized in that said control circuit is electrically connected to said matrix circuit (71) and to said digital display (51 ∼ 57), to control said digital display (51 ∼ 57) so that it displays a sign denoting a time said one darted block (505 ∼ 508) has been darted in a first instance and a number denoting a score said one darted block (505 ∼ 508) is programmed to have, in a second instance when said one darted block (51 ∼ 508) is darted. An electronic dart device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said digital display (51 ∼ 57) is a 7-segment digital display. An electronic dart device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said control circuit includes : a micro-controller (72) electrically connected to said sensing matrix circuit (71) having an output and generating a control signal for controlling said 7-segment digital display (51 ∼ 57) in response to said output of said sensing matrix circuit (71); and a driving circuit (73) electrically connected to said micro-controller (72) and said 7-segment digital display (51 ∼ 57) and driving said 7-segment digital display (51 ∼ 57) according to said controlling signal in order to display said display result. An electronic dart device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said driving circuit (73) includes a source current transistor array (731) and a segment driver (732). An electronic dart device according to any one of Claims 1∼4, characterized in that said sign is expressed by an Arabic number. An electronic dart device according to any one of Claims 1∼4, characterized in that said sign is expressed by an illuminated segment of said digital display (51 ∼ 57).

Inventors: LEE MIN-SHIUNG, LEE, MIN-SHIUNG
Applicants: HUANG CHUN MU, HUANG, CHUN-MU
Application year: 1996
Main classification: F41J3
IPC codes: F41J5, A63F9, F41J3