Patent Publication Number: US-10307665-B2

Title: Multiply interactive game equipment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to game machines and, more particularly, to multiply interactive game equipment operable to search for certain combinations to accomplish missions. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     People are under heavier and heavier pressure because people have less and less time and space to exercise to release stress. Some people come to video games for entertainment to release stress and improve health. A game machine like a doll-clipping machine is a common choice for such entertainment. Such a game machine includes a space for containing products such as fluffy dolls and electronic products and a maneuver device operable to instruct a product-capturing device to capture one of the products and then drop the product onto a chute which in turn sends the product to a player standing in front of the game machine. Such maneuver is fun and entertaining. 
     However, such a game machine shows all of the products to people. It is not attractive if the products are cheap. It is attractive if the products are expensive. In the second case, an owner of the game machine is forced to reduce the odds to make an adequate profit from the game machine. Such low odds will drive people away from the game machine in the long run. Moreover, such a game machine is operated as a stand-alone machine that cannot be connected to a remote server. The ways of operating such a game machine are limited, and so is the fun the player can get from operating it. Furthermore, such a game machine cannot be used for desirable advertisement or marketing. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide multiply interactive game equipment for providing a new manner of playing games to increase entertaining effects. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide multiply interactive game equipment for allowing a player to search for certain targets to complete a mission in a game, thereby providing multiple effects of game. 
     To achieve the foregoing objectives, the multiply interactive game equipment includes a game machine and a control module. The game machine includes a space, an object-capturing unit, a maneuver unit and a display unit. The space includes a capture area and a scan area. The capture area contains objects each provided with an RFID tag. The scan area is in communication with the capture area. The object-capturing unit is located in an upper portion of the space of the game machine. The maneuver unit is supported on the game machine and operable to control the object-capturing unit to capture one of the objects from the capture area and then drop the object into the scan area. The display unit is supported on the game machine. The control module is located in the game machine and includes a processing unit, an initiating unit and a tag scanner. The processing unit is electrically connected to the object-capturing unit, the maneuver unit and the display unit. The initiating unit is electrically connected to the processing unit. The tag scanner is electrically connected to the processing unit, located in the scan area of the game machine, and adapted for scanning the RFID tag of the object so that a code of the RFID tag of the object can be translated and shown on the display unit. 
     Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of multiply interactive game equipment according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the multiply interactive game equipment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the multiply interactive game equipment shown in  FIG. 1  in an operative mode; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the multiply interactive game equipment in another operative mode than shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , multiply interactive game equipment includes a game machine  10  and a control module  20  according to the preferred embodiment the present invention. The game machine  10  is shaped like a telephone booth. The game machine  10  includes a space  100  for containing objects  50  in the form of balls or fluff dolls that can roll. In the preferred embodiment, each of the objects  50  is a ball that contains a product, a tag or a ticket for example. Each of the objects  50  is provided with an RFID tag  55 . The RFID tags  55  are operated at 120 to 150 KHz. Each of the RFID tags  55  can be a passive, semi-passive or active RFID tag. Each of the RFID tags  55  is a read-only or read-and-write RFID tag. The RFID tags  55  can be scanned to provide numbers, alphabets, words or graphics. 
     The game machine includes an object-capturing unit  13 , a maneuver unit  14 , a display unit  15 , an identification unit  17  and a stirrer  18 . The object-capturing unit  13 , the identification unit  17  and the stirrer  18  are inserted in the space  100 . The maneuver unit  14  and the display unit  15  are supported on the game machine  10 , out of the space  100 . 
     The space  100  can be opened to allow the objects  50  to be inserted in or taken from the space  100 . The space  100  can be closed to keep the objects  50  therein. The space  100  includes a capture area  101  and a scan area  102 . The capture area  101  contains the objects  50 . The scan area  102  includes a basket  105  and a chute  106 . A lower end of the basket  105  is in communication with an upper end of the chute  106 . A lower end of the chute  106  is in communication with the capture area  101 . Thus, the objects  50  can fall into the capture area  101  from the scan area  102  via the chute  106 . 
     The object-capturing unit  13  is inserted in an upper portion of the space  100 . The object-capturing unit  13  can include a claw or a blower to drive the objects  50 . The object-capturing unit  13  includes two tracks  131 , a bar  132  and a claw  135  in the preferred embodiment. The tracks  131  extend parallel to each other and are provided in the upper portion of the space  100  of the game machine  10 . A bar  132  is movably supported on the tracks  131 . The claw  135  is connected to and dangles from the bar  132 . The claw  135  is movable along the bar  132 . Moreover, the claw  135  is movable up and down relative to the bar  132 . For using the tracks  131  and the bar  132 , the claw  135  is movable in the space  100  in a three-dimensional manner. The claw  135  can be opened and closed to capture a selected one of the objects  50 . Thus, the claw  135  can carry the selected object  50  between the capture area  101  and the scan area  102 . 
     The maneuver unit  14  is supported on the game machine  10  and operable to control the object-capturing unit  13  to capture a selected one of the objects  50 . The maneuver unit  14  can include a joy stick and a button. The joy stick is operated to move the claw  135 . The button is operated to close the claw  135 . Alternatively, the maneuver unit  14  can include a touch panel that simulates a joy stick and a button. Alternatively, the maneuver unit  14  can include a portable device such as a smart phone. Preferably, the maneuver unit  14  includes a joy stick (not numbered) and a button (not numbered). 
     The display unit  15  is supported on the game machine  10 , out of the space  100 . The display unit  15  is preferably used for the maneuver unit  14 . Thus, the status of maneuver with the maneuver unit  14  can be shown on the display unit  15 . The display unit  15  can be used to show other data such as advertisement material. 
     The identification unit  17  is supported on the game machine  10 . The identification unit  17  is used to carry the identity and location data of the game machine. The identification unit  17  can be a sticker printed with a barcode or an image of a barcode shown on the display unit  15 . 
     The stirrer  18  is inserted in the capture area  101  of the space  100  of the game machine  10 . The stirrer  18  can include a rotational rod, a shaking mechanism or a blower for stirring the objects  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the stirrer  18  includes a rotational rod. 
     The cover  19  is located in the capture area  101  of the space  100 . The cover  19  is used to keep the objects  50  from the stirrer  18  to increase effects entertainment. 
     The control module  20  is inserted in the space  100  of the game machine  10 . The control module  20  includes a processing unit  21 , an initiating unit  22 , a web-connecting unit  25 , a tag scanner  26  and an image-capturing unit  27 . The processing unit  21  is electrically connected to the object-capturing unit  13 , the maneuver unit  14 , the display unit  15 , the stirrer  18  and the cover  19 . The processing unit  21  is used to process, send and receive commands. 
     The initiating unit  22  is electrically connected to the processing unit  21 . The initiating unit  22  is a coin-operated unit  221  provided on the game machine  10 . A player can insert at least one coin in the coin-operated unit  221  to start a round of game. Alternatively, the initiating unit  22  can be a sensor  222  provided on the game machine  10 . A player can have a deposit card scan by the sensor  222  to start a round of game. Alternatively, the initiating unit  22  can be a virtual initiating unit  223  built in the processing unit  21 . A player can has his- or herself identified by the virtual initiating unit  223  via a network such as the internet to start a round of game. The initiating unit  22  can be a combination of two or all of these elements. 
     The web-connecting unit  25  is used to communicate game data with the internet via cables or in a wireless manner. 
     The tag scanner  26  is located in the scan area  102  of the space  100  of the game machine  10 . The tag scanner  26  is electrically connected to the processing unit  21 . The tag scanner  26  is used to scan the RFID tags  55  of the objects  50 . The data obtained by the tag scanner  26  are shown on the display unit  15 . Preferably, the tag scanner  26  can be used to write in the RFID tags  55  of the objects  50 . 
     The image-capturing unit  27  is supported on the game machine  10 , out of the space  100 . The image-capturing unit  27  is electrically connected to the processing unit  21 . The image-capturing unit  27  is used to take images of the environment around the game machine  10  and players. The images of the players can be used for identification of the players. 
     The database  28  is located in the game machine  10 . The database  28  is electrically connected to the processing unit  21 . The database  28  is used to record game data and image data. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , in operation, the objects  50 , which include the RFID tags  55 , are located in the capture area  101  of the space  100  of the game machine  10 . The cover  19  covers the objects  50  in the capture area  101 . The stirrer  18  is actuated to stir the objects  50  so that the player cannot know what are contained in the objects  50 . The processing unit  21  of the control module  20  gives a command for a round of game such as finding a number for a certain prize, a number for use in bingo, a puzzle, a trademark or a slogan. 
     The game machine can be used as a stand-alone machine. In such a case, for payment, the player inserts a coin in coin-operated unit  221  of the initiating unit  22  or has a card scanned by the sensor  222  of the initiating unit  22 . Thus, the player is allowed to operate the maneuver unit  14  to move the claw  135  of the object-capturing unit  13  to capture a selected one of the objects  50  in the capture area  101  of the space  100  via the processing unit  21 . Holding an object  50 , the claw  135  of the object-capturing unit  13  is operated to move the object  50  to the scan area  102  of the space  100  of the game machine  10 . Thus, the tag scanner  26 , which is located in the scan area  102 , scans the RFID tag  55  of object  50 . The processing unit  21  of the control module  20  translates the data scanned by the tag scanner  26  to numbers, alphabets, worlds or graphics that are shown on the display unit  15 . The player can continue to capture other objects  50  if the game is used for bingo or a puzzle. The result, successful or failed, is used for marketing, claiming prizes or playing other games when the game is over. The effects of entertainment are improved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the game machine  10  can be used, alone or with other game machines  10 , for on-line games that allow multiple players to play a round of game at a same time. The identification unit  17  and the web-connecting unit  25  are in communication of data with a portable device  30  such as a smart phone or a tablet computer of a player via the internet. To this end, an application program is installed in the portable device  30 . 
     In the on-line mode, the objects  50  equipped with the RFID tags  55  are located in the capture area  101  of the space  100  of the game machine  10 , concealed by the cover  19 , and stirred by the stirrer  18 . Thus, the player does not know what is in each of the objects  50 . The processing unit  21  of the control module  20  can receive a command from a remote management server about a game such as bingo, a puzzle or another on-line game. 
     The player uses the portable device  30  to scan the identification unit  17  attached to the game machine  10  or shown on the display unit  15 . The player uses the portable device  30  to connect to a remote management server via the internet. The remote server determines whether the game machine and the player are qualified. Then, the player uses the coin-operated unit  221  of the sensor  222  of the initiating unit  22  for payment. Alternatively, the player can use the portable device  30  to connect to the remote management server that in turn connects the virtual initiating unit  223  of the initiating unit  22  via the internet for on-line payment or free-of-charge rounds of game. Then, the player operates the maneuver unit  14  to move the claw  135  of the object-capturing unit  13  via the processing unit  21  to capture a selected one of the objects  50  in the capture area  101  of the space  100 . After capturing an object  50 , the claw  135  of the object-capturing unit  13  drops the object  50  into the scan area  102  of the space  100  of the game machine  10 . The tag scanner  26  of the scan area  102  scans the RFID tag  55  of the object  50 . The processing unit  21  of the control module  20  translates the RFID tag  55  to numbers, alphabets, words or graphics that are shown on the display unit  15 . The player can continue to capture other objects  50  if the game is used for bingo or a puzzle. The result, successful or failed, is used for marketing, claiming prizes or playing other games when the game is over. The effects of entertainment are improved. 
     Moreover, the display unit  15  of the game machine  10  is operable to show advertisement or marketing materials for example from the database  28  of the processing unit  21  or from the management server via the web-connecting unit  25 . The image-capturing unit  27  of the processing unit  21  studies the photograph of the player and the environment around the player to determine the sex and age of the player and people around the player, and accordingly shows a game mission, advertisement or marketing materials on the display unit  15  to satisfy needs of people around the game machine  10 . The game machine  10  uses the web-connecting unit  25  of the processing unit  21  to send transaction data of the player and the identity data of the captured product  50  to the remote management server for management in the future. 
     The present invention has been described via the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims