Abstract:
An apparatus for playing a plurality of bingo cards, simultaneously. Sets of numbers, stored on a plurality of bingo cards, are read by a plurality of card readers. Each number called, during the play of bingo, is input manually into storage. A comparison of each called number with the previously stored sets of numbers results in a match or no match. If a match exists, an LED located below the card number lights to indicate the number on the bingo card(s) which matches the number called.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The game of bingo has persisted through the years as a fascinating sport not only for youngsters but more particularly for adults and elderly individuals. It is easy to play, includes much suspense and excitement and is not dependent upon the preparation or skill of the player. It is a game of chance. 
     For many years, bingo has been a mainstay of fund raising for non-profit organizations such as churches and lodges. Many have entire auditoriums filled one or more nights per week with avid players who find challenge as well as entertainment in the game. 
     In recent years, with specific legislation in many states legalizing the play of games such as bingo for cash for the benefit of non-profit organizations without the guise of free but &#34;contribution&#34; type support to the sponsoring organization, bingo has further grown in popularity. 
     Although bingo is strictly a game of chance, a player may increase his chance for winning through the simultaneous playing of a number of cards in each game. This requires rapid perception of a number called, rapid eye movements over the field of up to 15 cards lying in front of the player, marking each card or paper game sheet, analyzing each card to see if the number produces a win according to the rules of the particular game, and announcing a win, if appropriate. If not, the player must be prepared for the next number to be called. Usually this must be performed within a period of seconds, the typical measurement of time between sequential calls of the numbers in a game. 
     In the past, a number of devices have been developed which attempt to aid the player or simulate play in such a way that the player becomes a somewhat passive participant in the game. Aiding without taking over the game by machine has not been accomplished. 
     Examples of several United States patents which show attempts to automate the game of bingo are: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,002, S. M. Goloborodko, Oct. 26, 1943; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,760,619, J. L. Peak, Aug. 28, 1956; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,041, Taylor, et al, June 20, 1972; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,596, Keck, et al, Mar. 21, 1978; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,810, J. Richardson, Dec. 28, 1982; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,840, Gluz, et al, Apr. 5, 1983. 
     In unrelated fields, various types of consoles have been developed for operator use as in control panels for public utilities and as computer stations. Examples of such disclosures are in the following United States patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,321, S. L. Kameny, June 1, 1965; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,283,318, J. C. Bramer, Jr., Nov. 1, 1965; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,580, R. C. Shattuck, Apr. 9, 1974. 
     In a number of other games than bingo and as aids to teaching, displays or consoles have been developed to aid the player or student. Examples of such displays and consoles are shown in the following United States patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,841, J. F. Hullman, Sept. 22, 1964; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,825, J. H. Barrett, Aug. 14, 1973. 
     All of these devices fail to provide a bingo player with the desired degree of assistance in play without overwhelming him and removing the pleasure of the game play. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bingo game which is played with bingo cards, each of which has a set of 24 numbers between 1 and 75 under its B, I, N, G and O columns, plus a free space under its N column, and where each individual number on the bingo card is covered when it is called from a random number source during the bingo game. The present invention is an apparatus for electronically assisting a player by displaying the called and covered numbers on each of a plurality of bingo cards with a single manual input of each called number, comprising (1) a microprocessor/storage means for storing and accessing all numbers called and each set of numbers on each of the plurality of bingo cards; (2) an inputting means interconnected to the microprocessor/storage means for manually inputting into storage each called number; (3) a plurality of reader means, each reader means interconnected to the microprocessor/storage means, for automatically reading each set of numbers on at least two bingo cards and inputting each set of numbers into storage; (4) a means interconnected to the microprocessor/storage means for indicating the called numbers as they exist on each of the plurality of bingo cards; and, (5) a means for manually enabling the erasing from storage of all called numbers after the end of each bingo game. 
     The apparatus of the present invention may further include means for interconnecting at least two apparatus where one such apparatus acts as a master apparatus and the others as slave apparatus so that the inputting means of the master apparatus inputs called numbers into its own storage and the storage of each of the slave apparatus, and, the player&#39;s manual input of called numbers in the master apparatus causes the master and slave apparatus to display the called numbers as they exist on all of the plurality of bingo cards read by the master and slave apparatus. 
     The apparatus of the present invention may use a plurality of dual bingo cards, each having two individual sets of markings, wherein each set of markings can be translated by each reader means into the set of numbers on each of the dual bingo cards. This dual bingo card may be read by dropping it into the reader means. 
     The apparatus may further include means for verifying the correctness of the set of numbers read from each bingo card. In addition, the apparatus may further include means for indicating that a number manually inputted by the player as a called number had already been inputted during a particular bingo game. A means for displaying each of the called numbers inputted by the player may also be included in the present apparatus. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the bingo player apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1b is a block diagram of the interconnection of master and slave bingo player apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is an electronic block diagram of the electronics of the bingo player apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3a is a graphical depiction of how to arrange FIGS. 3b through 3n; 
     FIGS. 3b and 3n compose a detailed electronic schematic diagram of the electronics of the bingo player apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the dual bingo card of the present invention; and, 
     FIGS. 5a through 5n are a flow diagram of the logic of the programming of the main processor. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for electronically assisting a bingo player. Bingo is a game which is played with bingo cards, each of which has a set of 24 numbers between 1 and 75 under its B, I, N, G and O columns, plus a free space under its N column. Each individual number on the bingo card is covered when it is called from a random number source during each bingo game. There are many types of bingo games from those which require an entire &#34;blackout&#34; of all numbers on a card to covering only the four corner numbers on the card to win. 
     From the beginnings of the game of bingo, bingo players have attempted to increase the number of cards that they will play on a particular occasion in order to increase their chances of winning. However, since (1) the numbers called come every 3 to 5 seconds, (2) each called number must be covered or marked on each individual card and (3) each card must be monitored for a winning arrangement of covered numbers, there is a practical limit to the number of cards an individual player can competently play. 
     The present invention allows the player to competently play a greatly increased number of bingo cards by, among other things, displaying each called number as they exist on each played bingo card with a single manual input of each of the called numbers. This enables the player to simply enter the called number and peruse each of the played bingo cards to see if one or more of them have won the game. 
     Referring to FIG. 1a, the preferred embodiment of the electronic assisted bingo playing machine 10 (hereinafter &#34;bingo player 10&#34;) is shown. Preferably, the bingo player 10 will use dual bingo cards 11 which have two separate bingo cards imprinted on them. These dual bingo cards 11 are dropped into the bingo player 10 and each set of 24 numbers on each of the individual bingo cards are read by the bingo player 10. The preferred embodiment of the bingo player 10 can assist in the playing of 10 dual bingo cards 11 (20 individual bingo cards). 
     Both the dual bingo card 11 and the process of reading the set of numbers on each bingo card will be discussed in detail later. Suffice it to say at this point that the sets of 24 numbers from each individual bingo card played are read by the bingo player 10 and are stored. These stored sets of bingo card numbers are then compared with the called numbers which are manually inputted by the player via keyboard 12. The called numbers are also stored by the bingo player 10 but only until the player tells bingo player 10 (via keyboard 12) that the game is over. When a called number exists on one or more of the bingo cards in the bingo player 10, the bingo player 10 typically causes an LED in a 5×5 LED matrix 14 to light under the number(s) on the card(s) which has (have) been called and exist(s) on the card(s). Preferably, the bingo player 10 will display the called number inputted by the player on display 13 before the number is allowed to be stored in order to avoid any mistakes in inputting the number actually called. 
     Referring to FIG. 1b, numerous bingo players 10 can be cascaded together so that a single player can play 20 bingo cards on each of the chosen number of bingo players 10 employed. In order to prevent the player from having to input the called numbers in each of the cascaded bingo players 10, the cascaded bingo players 10 are interconnected so that one is a master 10 and the others 15 through 18 are slaves. Thus, the player must simply input the called numbers via the keyboard 12 of the master bingo player 10 in order to cause the slave bingo players 15 through 18 to display the called numbers as they exist on their bingo cards. 
     Referring momentarily to FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment of the dual bingo card 11 is shown. The dual bingo card 11 is preferably constructed of a clear semi-rigid plastic with opaque markings for the two sets of 24 numbers and the two free spaces 46 and 48. In addition, the markings will preferably include two barcodes 42 and 44, each barcode containing information representing the set of 24 numbers for each bingo card and two verification numbers (discussed later). 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of the electronics of the preferred embodiment of the bingo player 10 is shown. The heart of the electronics is the main processor circuit 20 which controls the other components of the electronics and stores the called numbers and each set of 24 numbers on each bingo card played. In a card display panel circuit 40 there are preferably 10 barcode sensor assemblies (42 of FIGS. 3i and 3j), with each barcode sensor assembly 42 being responsible for reading the barcodes (42 and 44 of FIG. 4) of one of the dual bingo cards 11 (FIG. 4). The barcode sensor assemblies 42 are enabled by the main processor 20 via row decode circuit 100, barcode enable decode circuit 70, and barcode sensor interface circuit 120. The player simply drops the dual bingo card 11 (FIG. 4) into a slot 19 (shown only in FIG. 1a) and before any data is transmitted, a signal is sent to the main processor 20 indicating that a dual bingo card 11 is to be read via barcode sensor interface circuit 120. 
     Before the data is transmitted by the barcode sensor assemblies 42, the main processor 20 opens its data lines to receive the barcode information from each of the barcodes 42 and 44 via barcode enable decode 70 and barcode sensor interface 120 circuits. The main processor 20 stores each individual number of the two sets of 24 numbers in each dual bingo card 11 and the position of each number. 
     The card display panel 40 also preferably contains 20 5×5 matrix LED&#39;s (14 of FIGS. 1a, 3i and 3j). Each of the individual LED&#39;s in each 5×5 matrix LED&#39;s 14 is individually controllable by the main processor 20 via card display decode 80, card display column drivers 90, row decode 100 and card display row drivers 110 circuits. After the player inputs a called number via keyboard 12 (FIG. 1a), the main processor 20 compares the inputted called number with the numbers stored for each of the bingo cards on the dual bingo cards 11 played. If any one or more of the bingo cards has this called number on it, the main processor 20 causes the LED of the 5×5 matrix LED&#39;s 14 which is located under the number on the dual bingo card 11 to light, indicating that that number has been called. Thus, a single entry of one called number will display all of the called numbers as they exist on each of the bingo cards on the ten dual bingo cards 11 in the bingo player 10. In addition, the free spaces 46 and 48 (FIG. 4) can be made to light continuously if the the set of 24 numbers has been properly verified by the main processor 20. More regarding the process of verification will be discussed under the description of the basic operation of the bingo  player 10. 
     When there are one or more slave bingo players (15 through 18 of FIG. 1b), then serial interface circuit 150 will cause the slave bingo player(s) (15 through 18 of FIG. 1b) to display the called number entered in the master bingo player (10 of FIG. 1b) as that number may exist on each of the bingo cards on the dual bingo cards 11 played on the slave bingo players (15 through 18). Thus, where there are slave bingo players (15 through 18) employed, the player must only enter each called number once to achieve the display of called numbers as they exist on all bingo cards on all dual bingo cards 11 whether on the master 10 or slave (15 through 18) bingo players. 
     The keyboard 12 and display 13 (of FIG. 1a) are accessible to the main processor 20 via keypad/display interface 60 and operator panel circuit 50. Thus, through these circuits the player may enter the called numbers and confirm the called number as it is displayed on display 13 (FIG. 1a) before it is entered into the main processor 20 storage. 
     The electronics of the bingo player 10 is preferably powered by power supply 140 which includes a circuit to reset the main processor 20 in the event of a power failure. This power failure reset feature will be discussed more fully when the electronics of the bingo player 10 is discussed in detail. 
     The bingo player 10 may also have an auxiliary connector 160 which is connected in parallel to the main processor&#39;s 20 data, control and address lines to enable the main processor 20 to be connected to a all possible numbers display (unshown) which can display all of the possible numbers from 1 through 75, inclusive, that have been called. The auxiliary connector 160 can also be used to allow the main processor 20 to communicate with other devices (unshown). 
     The electronics of the bingo player 10 also preferably contains an option switch interface circuit 130 which has as it purpose to inform the main processor 20 that an external device (unshown) is interconnected to the auxiliary connector 160. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3a, the manner by which FIGS. 3b through 3j should be arranged is shown. Now referring to FIGS. 3b through 3j, the detailed electronic schematic diagram of the electronics of the preferred embodiment of the bingo player 10 is shown. The main processor 20 is preferably composed of an 8085 microprocessor U1, 5517 RAM U5 and U6 and 5533 RAM U7, a 2674 PROM U8 and associated components. Power supply 140 uses operational amplifier U34, high impedance driver U35 and inverting Schmitt triggers U36a and U36b to cause the microprocessor U1 to become reset in the event of a power failure. The power supply 140 also delivers a 5 volt source and a 10.5 volts source to the electronics of the bingo player 10. 
     Card display decode circuit 80 is typically composed of BCD to decimal decoders U17 through U19. Card display column driver circuit 90 typically is composed of five 74HC174 Hex &#34;D&#34; flip-flops U25 through U29. Card display row driver circuit 110 is typically composed of three 4028 BCD to Decimal decoders. 
     Barcode sensor interface circuit 120 is typically composed of five 74HC244 tri-state octal line drivers U20 through U24 and associated components. Option switch interface circuit 130 is typically composed of a single 74HC244 tri-state octal line driver U13 and associated components. Row decode circuit 100 is typically composed of a single 74HC174 Hex &#34;D&#34; flip-flop U16. Barcode enable decode circuit 70 is typically composed of two 74HC138 3 to 8 line decoder/demultiplexers U3 and U4. Keypad/display interface circuit 60 is typically composed of a single 8279 programmable keyboard/display interface U14. Serial interface circuit 150 is typically composed of a 4040 12 stage binary/ripple counter U12, a 8251 BCD to decimal decoder U11 and associated components. The serial interface circuit 150 offers a bidirectional serial communications link to allow any bingo player 10 to be either a master 10 or slave (15-18 of FIG. 1b) bingo player. 
     Operator panel circuit 50 is composed of a 4028 BCD to decimal decoder U31, displays drivers U30 (ULN2803) and U32 (ULN2982), 74HC74 dual &#34;D&#34; flip-flop U33, speaker 53, new game switch 52, keyboard 12, display 13 and associated components. The operator panel circuit 50 provides key inputs of digits 0 to 9, a clear entry switch, an &#34;enter&#34; switch, a &#34;BINGO&#34; switch (within keyboard 12) and the new game switch 52. The player can input the called number via the digit switches and can clear an improper entry with the clear entry switch on keyboard 12. Once the player is sure that he has punched in the proper called number (which is simultaneously displayed on display 13), the player presses the &#34;enter&#34; switch and the called number is entered in the main processor 20 memory as a called number. If the player sees that one or more bingo cards have won a game, he may punch the &#34;BINGO&#34; switch and a light 22 (only seen in FIG. 1a) will light showing other players that there is a winning bingo card in existence. Once a game of bingo is finished, the player must push the new game switch 52 to clear the called numbers from the main processor 20 memory. Each keypress on keyboard 12 can be made to make an audible &#34;beep&#34; via the main processor 20, the 74HC74 dual &#34;D&#34; flip-flop U33, speaker 53 and associated components. 
     The card display panel circuit 40 is composed of ten BC sensor assemblies 42. A typical circuit for each of the BC sensor assemblies 42 is shown in FIG. 3i and is composed of two TIL 158 opto-coupled interrupter modules which sense the barcodes 42 and 44 from each of the dual bingo cards 11 and send this information to one of two LM393 voltage comparators which, in turn, send their signals over their A and B lines. The card display panel circuit 40 is also composed of twenty 5×5 matrix LED&#39;s 14, each of which typically consist of the lamp driver circuit shown in FIG. 3j. The column driver consists of a 2N2222 and a TIP 32A transistor and associated components. The row driver typically consists of a 15N05 FET. The row driver and column driver drive dual LED&#39;s for each of the 5×5 matrix LED&#39;s 14. 
     All of the values of resistors shown in FIGS. 3b through 3j are in kiloohms unless otherwise specified. All of the values of capacitors shown in FIGS. 3b through 3j are in microfarads unless otherwise specified. 
     BASIC OPERATION OF BINGO PLAYER 
     Referring to FIGS. 5a through 5c, the flow diagrams for the basic logic of the programming for the main processor 20 (FIG. 3b) is shown. Referring specifically to FIG. 5a, the basic start-up sequence is shown. If the bingo player 10 has just been turned on, then the main processor 20 is put through a cold start sequence basically described in FIGS. 5b and 5c. If the bingo player 10 has begun a new game, then the logic puts the main processor 20 into its main loop operation shown more particularly in FIGS. 5d through 5f. The card data input routine, keypad entry routine and serial number handler routines which are inputs to the main loop operation are basically described in FIGS. 5g through 5m. 
     Of particular note but only generally described in the flow diagrams of FIGS. 5a through 5n is the process of verification of the correctness of the 24 numbers inputted from each bingo card. This process begins by adding together all of the 24 numbers actually read by the bingo player 10 and creating a check sum. The verification number (also read from each bingo card) is set so that if the main processor 20 has the proper check sum, the subtracting of the verification number and the check sum will equal zero. If the difference is other than zero, the card data entry routine will start the LED under the free space of the affected bingo card to begin to flash until the player removes the card. If the difference is zero, then the LED in the free space is turned on continuously. 
     Also of note but not specifically described in the flow diagrams of FIGS. 5a through 5n is the process of indicating that an inputted called number had already been inputted by the player during a particular bingo game. This process is begun by having in permanent memory an array of all possible numbers between 1 and 75, inclusive. Next, each inputted called number in memory is checked off this array of all possible bingo numbers. If the main processor 20 is given the same called number twice in the same game, it will indicate an error condition in display 13 and refuse to accept this same called number a second time. Thus, an obviously erroneous called number is prevented from being added to memory. 
     Referring specifically to FIG. 5n, shown therein are the basic flow charts for the four interrupts of the preferred embodiment of the bingo player 10, namely (1) the timer interrupt, (2) power failure interrupt, (3) keypad interrupt, and (4) serial input interrupt. 
     Attached hereto as an appendix is a listing of the progamming for the preferred embodiment of the bingo player 10, which appendix consists of 64 pages. 
     The above described preferred embodiment of the present invention is merely descriptive of its principles and is not to be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention shall instead be determined from the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. ##SPC1##