Abstract:
Provided is a darts game apparatus whereby, without making the housing of a darts game apparatus large, it is possible to display special effects with the entire device. The darts game apparatus comprises: a main body; a holding member positioned on at least a partial region of the surface of the main body and configured to retain the leading end of a dart which has hit a target; an image degeneration unit configured to generate image data, which is displayed in at least the partial region of the surface of the main body; and a projection device configured to project the image corresponding to the generated image data in at least the partial region of the surface of the main body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2013/080117, filed on Nov. 7, 2013, now pending, herein incorporated by reference. Further, this application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-247298, filed on Nov. 9, 2012 entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a darts game apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A darts game apparatus so called as a soft dart is well known, in which a dart having a tip of plastic or the like at the leading edge is thrown to a target which is formed with a plurality of holes (pits) made of a resin material such as plastic, and skills are competed by gain points set at respective target portions to which the thrown dart hits. 
         [0004]    Here, it is significant for the darts game apparatus to provide a situation where players (or competitors) of a darts game can be more enthused about the darts game by displaying a gain point corresponding to the result of throwing the dart, and displaying performance when the gain point exceeds a fixed point. 
         [0005]    A darts game apparatus corresponding the above situation is an invention described in the patent document 1, which the present applicant has previously proposed. In the game apparatus described in the patent document 1, a target is provided on the front surface of a game housing, and a display unit is provided at an upper portion of the target to display performance when gain points become more than a fixed point. 
         [0006]    Further, as another technique, displaying of performance is similarly performed on a display unit at the upper portion of the game housing as previously proposed by the applicant, and a dart target board face is divided into a plurality of target segments, each of which is illuminated with different modes so that performance effects are raised. (See patent document 2) 
         [0007]    Furthermore, in conventional darts game apparatuses, the shape of a target is formed as being divided by a plurality of concentric circles and dividing lines so that a plurality of segments are defined. 
         [0008]    Therefore, the present applicant further had proposed the configuration such that an image of a dart target is displayed on an image display device, and a transparent panel body, which can hold a tip is provided in front of the display surface of the image display device. (See patent document 3) By this configuration, various modes of the target are obtained according to changes of images displayed on the image display device. 
       PRIOR ARTS 
     Patent Documents 
       [0009]    Patent document 1: Japanese patent No. 4,674,605 
         [0010]    Patent document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-133604 
         [0011]    Patent document 3: Japanese patent No. 4,682,986 
       SUMMARY 
     Purposes of the Invention 
       [0012]    In the above conventional techniques, the position of a target is fixed, and the display unit, which displays performance is positioned at the upper portion of the target. Hence, it will be inconvenient such that a total size of the darts game apparatus becomes large, if a display size for displaying the performance is enlarged. Because of this, it is also necessary to enlarge a space for installation of the darts game apparatus. 
         [0013]    Further, performance is displayed within the size of a target board face, and the performance is inevitably limited, even if the configuration is such that the target board face is illuminated or a target image is displayed on the image display device, according to the patent documents 2, 3. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a darts game apparatus, which enables to display performance in a total of the darts game apparatus without enlarging a housing of the darts game apparatus. 
       Means for Solving the Purposes 
       [0015]    According to the invention to solve the above purpose, as a first aspect, a darts game apparatus including: a main body; a holding member positioned on at least a partial region of the surface of the main body and configured to retain the leading end of a dart which has hit a target; an image degeneration unit configured to generate image data, which is displayed in at least the partial region of the surface of the main body; and a projection device configured to project the image corresponding to the generated image data in at least the partial region of the surface of the main body. 
         [0016]    As one aspect of the invention to solve the above purpose, the projection device projects the image corresponding to the generated image data on the surface of the main body as covering at least a portion of the holding member. 
         [0017]    As one aspect of the invention to solve the above purpose, the projection device includes a plurality of projectors, which project the image corresponding to the image data from respectively different directions. 
         [0018]    As one aspect of the invention to solve the above purpose, the image data generated by the image generation unit includes at least an image of a dart, and the plurality of projectors are provided at both of upper and lower portions of the main body, and intensity of light projected respectively from the plurality of projectors becomes equal at least at the position of displaying the image of the dart. 
         [0019]    As one aspect of the invention to solve the above purpose, the darts game apparatus further includes a sensor unit provided on at least a portion of the surface of the main body, wherein a position at which the sensor is provided is displayed by the image projected by the projection device. 
         [0020]    As one aspect of the invention to solve the above purpose, the holding member, which retains the leading end of a dart which has hit a target comprises a plurality of target segments, and each of the plurality of target segments forms a same shape, which includes a plurality of reception holes to retain dart tip, and is replaceable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1A  is a conceptual diagram indicating a front view of a darts game apparatus. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1B  is a conceptual diagram indicating a side view of the darts game apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2A  is a diagram indicating an example of that the darts game apparatus displays an advertising screen. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2B  is a diagram indicating an example of a projection image when the player&#39;s data are read and the darts game is moved to a start mode. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2C  is a diagram indicating an example displaying a performance image, when a predetermined score is achieved in the darts game. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3A  is a diagram indicating a diagram showing the outline of the front and side sectional view of the first embodiment of a main body. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3B  is a diagram indicating a diagram showing the outline of the front and second sectional view of the second embodiment of the main body. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a diagram indicating a configuration example of a target unit. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5A  is a diagram indicating a receiving hole of the target segment, and the state immediately before a dart hits the target segment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5B  is a diagram indicating the state such that the dart is stuck in the target segment. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5C  is a diagram indicating the state such that the target segment returns from the state of  FIG. 5B . 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a diagram indicating a diagram showing an embodiment of a control circuit, which controls the darts game apparatus. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a diagram explaining distortion of a projection image depending on the shape of a projection plane. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a conceptual diagram of a darts game apparatus configured by a plurality of darts game terminals. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a diagram indicating modes that displaying performance by a total system is controlled by a server SV in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    The embodiments will be explained below according to drawings. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic diagrams indicating an outer shape of an embodiment of the darts game apparatus.  FIG. 1A  is a front view of the darts game apparatus, and  FIG. 1B  is a side view of the darts game apparatus. 
         [0038]    The darts game apparatus comprises a tabular main body  1  of an apparatus housing, and at least one projector, which projects an image on the surface of the main body  1 . In the example indicated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , projectors  2 ,  3  are provided on both upper and lower portions of the main body  1 , but it may be possible to include at least one projector. 
         [0039]    It is possible to prevent a shadow of a dart, which hits a target and is retained from elongating in one direction by adjusting intensity of lights from the projectors  2 , 3 , as explained in detailed later, by providing the projectors  2 ,  3  on the both of the upper and lower portions of the main body  1 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C are examples of a performance image projected on the surface of the main body  1  by the projector  2 ,  3 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 2A  is an example of that the darts game apparatus displays an advertising screen. An advertising image is projected on the surface of the main body  1  from the projectors  2 ,  3 . As an example, a video indicating results in past darts games is displayed in the areas  4 ,  5  of the projected image, or performance images telling attraction of the darts game are displayed to attract players during the darts game being not performed. 
         [0042]    Further, in  FIG. 2B , when a darts game is started, a projection image  6  is displayed to indicate an area position for detecting data of a card held up, so that game fees are received by a card settlement. 
         [0043]    The card is held up on the projected image  6 , which indicates the detection position of the card data, as indicated in  FIG. 2A , and player&#39;s data (data recorded on a credit card or member&#39;s card and the like) are read. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2B  is an example of a projection image when the player&#39;s data are read and the darts game is moved to a start mode. A target image  7  for darts, a score board  8  and a plurality of selection button (touch sensor) positions  9  are displayed. 
         [0045]    Further,  FIG. 2C  is an example displaying a performance image, when a predetermined score is achieved during the darts game. The target image  7  performs the performance, which celebrates the score achievement by varying display of a plurality of colors. A score of competition results or other messages are displayed on the score board  8 . Performance messages are also displayed by an image  10 . 
         [0046]    It should be noted that the target image  7  is not limited as a round shape which used to be standard in conventional darts game apparatuses, but is possible to be freely modified such as a square shape or the like. 
         [0047]    Here, displaying images projected by the above projectors  2 ,  3  are performed by employing a projection mapping, which is a well-known technique. 
         [0048]    The projection mapping is a technology such that unevenness of a building or the like is converted to three dimensional digitized data in advance, and a three dimensional video is projected on the building by a projector. Hence, even the surface of the main body  1  has unevenness, projection is possible in consideration of the unevenness. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams explaining the structure of the main body  1 , which is a housing of the darts game apparatus. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 3A , ( 1   a ) and ( 1   b ) are diagrams showing the outline of front and side sectional views of the first embodiment of the main body  1 . In  FIG. 3B , ( 2   a ) and ( 2   b ) are diagrams showing the outline of front and side sectional views of the second embodiment of the main body  1 . 
         [0051]    In  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a target unit  20  has a front surface, which can hold tips of darts, and a rear side, on which sensors are provided to detect hit darts. In the case of  FIG. 3A , the target unit  20  has a size as positioned about the center area of the main body  1 , while in the case of  FIG. 3B , the target unit  20  has a size as same as the entire of the front surface of the main body  1 . 
         [0052]    It should be noted that a front surface color of the target unit  20  is desired as mono-chromatic color such as light-colored, not affecting on the projected image. 
         [0053]    A structural example of the target unit  20  is depicted in  FIG. 4 . The structural example is shown in the case of  FIG. 3A , but is the same even in the case of  FIG. 3B . 
         [0054]    The target unit  20  comprises a plurality of target segments  21  of the same shape as indicated in (1) of  FIG. 4 . Each of the plurality of target segments  21  comprises a plurality of receiving holes  22 , which receive and hold tips of darts as shown in (2) of  FIG. 4 . The target unit  20  is replaceable for each target segment  21 . The receiving hole  22  is easy to be deformed and degraded due to plural time collisions by tips of darts, and thus it is important that the target unit  20  is replaceable for each target segment  21 . It should be noted that the target unit  20  is configured by a plurality of same shape target segments  21 , so that easiness of replacement of the target segment  21  is improved, and loads of an administrator for a darts game apparatus can be reduced, compared with the case of using target segments having different shapes. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C are diagrams explaining a receiving hole  22  of the target segment  21 , and the explanation will be made by indicating the sectional view of one target segment  21 , as easily understood. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5A  indicates the state immediately before the dart hits the target segment  21 , and  FIG. 5B  indicates the state such that the dart  100  is stuck in the target segment  21 , and due to the impact thereof, the target segment  21  is displaced toward the rear. Further,  FIG. 5C  indicates the state such that the target segment  21  returns from the state of  FIG. 5B  to the position shown in  FIG. 5C , in the state of the dart  100  being stuck in the target segment  21 . 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 5A , an elastic body  21   b  fixed to a projection  21   a  at the rear side of the target segment  21  does not give any pushing force to a sensor sheet  21   c , when the dart  100  is not stuck, and thus, not shown membrane switch provided inside of the sensor sheet  21   c  is kept off. 
         [0058]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the dart tip is received in the receiving hole  22  of the target segment  21 , when the dart  100  hits the target segment  21 , and at the same time, the target segment  21  is displaced to the rear so that the elastic body  21   c  strongly pushes the sensor sheet  21   c  to turn on contacts of the membrane switch and output a hitting detection signal from the sensor sheet  21   c.    
         [0059]    Moreover, the segment  21  is returned to an original position by the elastic force of the elastic body  21   b , in the state such that the dart tip, which is the distal portion of the dart  100 , is kept in the receiving hole  22 , as shown in  FIG. 5C . 
         [0060]    Here, a method for detecting the state of the dart hitting the target segment  21  is not limited to the way of employing the sensor sheet  21   c  as indicated in  FIGS. 5A through 5C . For example, the hitting can be determined according to whether or not the tip of the dart  100  obstructs a light from a light emitting device by using light emitting and receiving devices, or a camera is provided which shoots the target segment  100 , and a shot image is processed to determine the hitting. 
         [0061]    In addition, as another method, it is possible to use a distance sensor, which employs a technique similar to “Kinect” (registered trademark) equipment of Microsoft Corporation, USA. Namely, the distant sensor includes a camera which shoots the target segment  21 , a radiant section which radiates infrared rays, and a detection section which detects the infrared rays reflected from the target segment  21  and the dart  100 . 
         [0062]    A virtual three dimensional space is generated based on the captured image data from the camera and the reflected infrared rays detected by the detection section, and distant (depth) information (largeness of Z axis direction) is generated for each pixel of the virtual three dimensional space image in an image angle of view at each certain cycle (one frame). 
         [0063]    As a result, it is possible to recognize the tip of the dart  100  by connecting coordinate points, sizes of which are small in the Z axis direction, when compared with the distance to the target segment  21 . Accordingly, the point at which the largeness of the tip in Z axis direction is consistence with the target segment  21  is the leading end of the tip, and the point to which the dart  100  hits can be obtained from the coordinate of the leading end. 
         [0064]    In this way, internal switches are unnecessary, when the sensor sheet  21   c  shown in  FIGS. 5A through 5C  is not used as a method to detect the state of hitting. Hence, freedom of performance is improved, and selection of the target segment  21  becomes free in largeness. Further, it is possible to simplify the structure of the apparatus. Hence, the cost for device components are also reduced. 
         [0065]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an embodiment of a control circuit, which controls the darts game apparatus as explained above. 
         [0066]    This circuit is provided in the back side space of the main body  1  or in the spaces where the projector  2  is located at an upper position and the projector  3  is located at a lower position. 
         [0067]    In  FIG. 6 , the control block  200  is a circuit structure to control performance, and the control block  300  is a circuit structure to control sensors. 
         [0068]    In  FIG. 6  the control block  200  includes projectors  2 ,  3  provided in the upper and lower portions of the main body  1 . 
         [0069]    The operation in the block  200  is performed by the CPU ( 1 )  202 , which executes a control program installed in the ROM  201 . The image data to be projected on the main body  1  as explained in  FIGS. 2A through 2C  are written in the RAM  203 . 
         [0070]    The image data read out by the CPU (I)  202  from the RAM  203  according to the control program are converted and drawn as video data in the video RAM  204 . The video data drawn in the video RAM  204  are sequentially read out and projected by the projectors  2 ,  3 . 
         [0071]    Here, it is well known that a projected image is distorted when projected by the projectors  2 ,  3 , according to shapes of projection plane. 
         [0072]      FIG. 7  is a diagram explaining the distortion of projected image according to the shape of the projection plane. 
         [0073]    For example, the video on the projection plane is distorted as shown in (b) of  FIG. 7 , when an image as shown in (a) of  FIG. 7  is projected on a spherical surface. Thus, it is possible to make the distortion of the video on the projected plane small, when a distortion compensation process is performed which gives a reverse distortion corresponding to such the distortion on the projected image in advance. Namely, in  FIG. 7 , an image data is given with a pre-distortion reverse to the distortion of the video on the projected plane (b) of  FIG. 7  as shown in (c) of  FIG. 7 , and thereafter, is projected. Hence, a video on the projection plane is given as less distorted video corresponding to (a) of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0074]    In fact, when a projection image is generated by a projection mapping, a viewing point and a view screen are supposed, and points, which are lined with equal intervals on the view screen are defined as projection points viewed from the viewing point. Then, an intersecting point at which straight lines connecting the projection points and the viewing point intersects with a screen, that is, the front surface of the main body  1  is considered as projection points projected by the projectors  2 ,  3 . In this way, a projection image without distortion can be obtained by tracing from the viewing point and projecting the projection points by the projectors. 
         [0075]    Accordingly, as returning to  FIG. 6 , distortion compensation control circuits  205 ,  206  are provided correspondingly at the input sites of the projectors  2 ,  3 . In the distortion compensation control circuits  205 ,  206 , viewing points are traced by the projection mapping technique so that the output image data are compensated as corresponding to determined points to be projected, and are input correspondingly to the projectors  2 ,  3 . 
         [0076]    Here, projection areas by the projectors  2 ,  3  are not necessary to be fixed. Namely, a target image may be projected on either of areas of the main body  1 , if the target unit  20  is provided on the whole surface of the main body  1  as shown in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0077]    Namely, it is considered as one production effect that a target image is shifted in a timely fashion, and displayed on different positions of the main body  1 . 
         [0078]    Hence, in some cases, positions of the projected target image are biased to the upper portion or lower portion of the main body  1 . In these cases, a distortion of a target image projected by one projector becomes larger than a distortion of the target image projected by the other projector. 
         [0079]    To avoid this inconvenience, in  FIG. 6 , CPU (I)  202  adaptively controls the amount of distortion compensation correspondingly to the image data in the distortion compensation control circuits  205 ,  206  corresponding to projectors  2 ,  3 . 
         [0080]    Now, in the case that a plurality of projectors are used as the present embodiment, it is preferable to provide respective projectors, which respectively project images on the surface of the main body  1  from different directions. Namely, a shadow of the dart  100  is generated and is elongated in one direction, when the dart hits the target segment  21  and is held by the receiving hole  22 , if the image is projected on the surface of the main body  1  from the same direction, even in the case of using one projector or a plurality of projectors is employed. That is, there is generated an area where a projected image cannot be displayed. Hence, a game is obstructed, so that a player lacks the ability to concentrate. Accordingly, it is preferable to provide respective projectors, as explained above. 
         [0081]    Further, in order to make a shadow hardly be generated, it is preferable that projection lights from plural projectors are of almost same strength in respective opposed directions at the position of the target image to be projected. 
         [0082]    Accordingly, the CPU (I)  202  controls distortion amounts as corresponding to positions of projected target images, and controls projection lights projected by the projector  2  and the projector  3  to be the same strength at target image positions. 
         [0083]    Next, the control block  300 , which controls sensors will be explained in  FIG. 6 . A card sensor  301 , a touch sensor  302 , and a sensor sheet  303  are provided as various sensors. 
         [0084]    The card sensor  301  corresponding to cards such as a magnetic sensor or an RFID sensor is embedded on the surface panel of the main body  1  correspondingly to a position indicated by the projection image  6 , shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0085]    Similarly, the touch sensor  302  is formed on the surface panel of the main body  1  correspondingly to the selection button position  9  indicated by the projection image  6 , shown in  FIG. 2B . 
         [0086]    The sensor sheet  303  corresponds to the sensor sheet  21   c  previously explained in  FIGS. 5A through 5C . 
         [0087]    Returning to  FIG. 6 , sensor outputs obtained by the card sensor  301 , the touch sensor  302  and the sensor sheet  303  are input to I/O control board  304 . 
         [0088]    A CPU (II)  305  provided in the control block  300  processes sensor outputs, which are input to the I/O control board  304 , according to a control program stored in the ROM  306 . 
         [0089]    Namely, the card sensor  301  recognizes a card held by a player in the state of projecting images in  FIG. 2A , and the CPU (II)  305  controls a CPU (I)  202  to generate and project a start image ( FIG. 2B ) of the darts game. 
         [0090]    When the touch sensor  302  detects that either touch sensor is touched, the CPU (II)  305  notifies the CPU (I)  202  to generate and project a corresponding production image. 
         [0091]    Further, when the CPU (II)  305  detects the output of the sensor sheet  303 , the CPU (II)  305  records, accumulates, and notifies the result thereof to the CPU (II)  305  to generate and project a corresponding production image. 
         [0092]    In the above explanation, the sensor, which detects a position of a hit dart is explained as present in the main body  1 , but the present invention is not restricted to this. For example, it is possible to project the projection light from the projector as sequentially scanned on the surface of the main body  1 , and a sensor, which detects a reflection light corresponding to the projection light is provided at the projector, side. 
         [0093]    Namely, it is possible to detect whether or not a dart is present according to the strength of a reflection light to the projection light. 
         [0094]    Now, the structure of the darts game apparatus is explained as a single device in  FIG. 6 , but is not limited this. There is a case wherein skills are competed between plural darts game players. 
         [0095]      FIG. 8  depicts a conceptual diagram of a darts game apparatus, which is comprised of a plurality of game terminals T 1 -Tn, having the same configuration as the darts game apparatus as explained in  FIG. 6 , and being connected to a server SV through a network NW such as an internet or LAN. 
         [0096]    Each configuration of the plurality of darts game terminals T 1 -Tn is basically the same as that explained in  FIG. 6 . Each of the darts game terminals T 1 -Tn is connected to the network NW via the NW port  308 . 
         [0097]    In the case of such the configuration, it is possible that the plurality of darts game terminals T 1 -Tn are not controlled to execute by respective CPUs, but the server SV collectively controls game progresses in the plurality of darts game terminals T 1 -Tn. 
         [0098]    Further, an effect display for a total system is controlled by the server SV as shown in  FIG. 9 . For example, in  FIG. 9 , all surfaces of the plurality of darts game terminals T 1 -Tn are supposed as one display area to produce a display of a large image  500 . In this case, the server SV sends each of corresponding part images to the respective darts game terminals T 1 -Tn, which respectively display a part of the large image  500 . 
         [0099]    Each of the darts game terminals T 1 -Tn synchronizes with clocks controlled by the server SV to project image data sent from the server SV by the projectors  2 ,  3  as explained in  FIG. 6 , so that a production image generated as a total system is displayed as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0100]    As explained above, in the present invention, a large performance display can be possible without enlarging the housing of the darts game apparatus, by entire of the main body  1  of the darts game apparatus being functioned as a display. 
         [0101]    That is, an effective display was restricted only in a particular portion (for example, upper portion of the housing) in conventional apparatuses, but an entire surface of the housing can be used, so that it is possible to enhance the freedom of effective production by the apparatus according to the present invention. 
         [0102]    Furthermore, it is not necessary to limit the target of the darts game apparatus to a specific portion, and the shape of the target can be made without limiting to a round shape. 
         [0103]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.