GB2222372A - Modified game board - Google Patents

Abstract

A game board 1 has sandwiched between its top and bottom surfaces a printed circuit board 7 supporting magnetic reed switches 13 carrying and switching an electric current. Such reed switches are operated intermittently and unwittingly by the movement of players magnetised counters 2 over the game board surface 9. The output from the switches can be used to drive a display 18 which would appear to vary in a near-random manner according to the relative positions of the playing pieces. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: An electronic interfaced board game The invention relates to an electronic interfaced board game. A board game of the kind that provides "a contest for amusement" and which is normally played within a home enviroment as an entertaining pastime.

Other known and commercially available board games are generally made from compressed cardboard and are detailed with line or graphics in one or more colours to direct players through a course of action or routes towards the objectives of play.

The motivation of players over such courses or routes is in general initiated by the throw of a dice or by pre-worded instructions and is indicated by a counter to mark their progress.

Such games are based primarily upon the element of chance but dependent upon the objectives of play do often require lesser elements of player participation in the form of skill, strategy or intellectual profess.

Thus the game play on normal board games is governed by the limitations and confines of the board's design, the game's rules and objectives of play. Such games soon become predictable and leave little scope for player innovation or manipulation and therefore lack spontaneity.

According to the presented invention there is provided a game board which has concealed and sandwiched between its top and bottom surfaces a pre-wired printed circuit board.

A printed circuit board capable of supporting aiw number and type of components more particularly but not exclusively sensors or detectors in the form of magnetically operated reed switches, such reed switches being capable of providing one or more normally open and normally closed contacts for the purpose of switching an electric current. Such reed switches thus embedded within the game board become activated and bring about a change of state when a magnetised disc being moved over the game board surface is placed within close proximity to any one or more of tie said switches, resulting in numerous configurations of intermittent switching possibility.

Thus such reed switches being by design connected to the wired circuitry of the circuit board can via an interconnecting multicore cable from within the game board expose the resultant switching effects of the reed switches to any remote coupled equipment for example, a television monitor, illuminated display panel or any other compatible ancillery equipment.

Thus the identification counters used to indicate players positions on and around the game board being by design magnetised creates, whilst play is in progress1 an ever changing range of switched information which by design can be translated as desired on a remotely coupled visual display equipment.

In effect the game board becomes an interface between the players activity on the board and the translation of this activity as information on the coupled visual display equipment.

For example by particularly but not exclusively designing the game board to represent the interior of a money market the objectives of the game could evolve around the buying and selling of international currencies in competition with other players and the accumulation of wealth.

The movement of the players identification counters over the game board would thus unwittingly provide the necessary automatic switching to operate a remotely connected visual display terminal which by design showed the ever changing comparisons in value of the different currencies in play as they rise and fall in relationship to each other.

Thus concentration of play becomes divided between the circumstantial and spontaneous changes in visually displayed information on the terminal and the relative objectives of play upon the game board.

The presented invention therefore adds a further dimension to the scope of board gare play and design and by so doing increases the potential for deeper player involvement and participation.

The invention is diagramaWically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, sheets 1/2, 2/2 in which figure 1 is a perspective view of an interface game board constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of magnetised identification counters used by players to locate their position on the interface game board figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a terminal lighting panel with indicators 18 being by example one type of visual display terminal capable of being connected to the interface game board figure 1 via an interconnecting cable and multiplug 16.

Figure 4 is a rear end cut-away elevation view of the interface game board figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a base board and by duplication a top play board 9 both being components of the interface game board figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a perimeter board this being a component of the interface game board figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board with edge termination socket attached this being a component of the interface game board figure 1.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a base board figure 5 a perimeter board figure 6 sealed together to house a printed circuit board figure 7 and covered by a top playboard 9. The top playboard 9 being a duplication of the base board figure 5 but with pressure pads 17 applied to its underside. All uniting to form the interface game board figure lo In the drawings sheets 1/2 and 2/2 there is shoa an electronically interfaced board game comprising of three parts namely an unmarked interface game board.1, magnetised indentification counters 2 and a compatable visual display terminal 3. The three parts with graphics applied combining to complete a game of the kind that provides a contest for amusement as an entertaining pastime.

The visual display terminal 3 is by example a terminal in the form of a lighting panel with indicators 18,but alternatively could be any audible or visual display terminal,for example a television monitor, a sound or tone generator or other ancillery equipment providing it is, or can be made compatible to interface game board 1 and its associated objectives of play.

The magnetised identification counters 2 by example being cylindrical in shape could be of any shape or form providing such shape and form allows the counters to be permanently magnetised sufficient to activate the magnetic reed switches sandwiched within the interface game board 1. 3y an alternative example indentification counters 2 could be of a non magnetic type if their movement on the interface game board 1 was to be detected by some other method for example electrical capacitance.

The unmarked interface game board 1 comprises of four components namely a base board 5, a perimeter board 6, a printed circuit board 7 and a duplication of base board 5 as a top playboard 9.

Essentially base board 5, perimeter board 6 and top playboard 9 should be of an electrically non conductive material for example cardboard or plastic. The boards 5-6-9 are by example rectangular in outline shape but can be of any shape or form to conform with any required board game designs.

The perimeter board 6 being flat is adhered to the flat surface 10 of base board 5 with adequate depth 11 to establish a well into which the printed circuit board 7 locates 12 to prevent horizontal movement. The top playboard 9 being flat and having pressure pads applied to its underside 17 is sealed to the upper surface of the joined perimeter and base boards 5 and 6 the pressure pads 17 seating on to the surface of printed circuit board 7 thereby sandwiching and securing it within the interface game board 1.

The inner contours of the parameter board 6 are shaped 14 to coincide with that of the printed circuit board 7, which by example is particularly but not exclusively rectangular in shape but could by other examples be circular or triangular.

The printed circuit board 7 shows by example it supporting randomly arranged magnetic reed switches capable of switching an electric current 13 and which by pre-arrangement of the circuitry, not shown on the printed circuit board, are wired together by design in an appropriate configuration and terminated at the multi socket 15.

The interface game board 1 by design houses on its top playboard surface 9 one or more touch switches 20 which when touched by a player operates by example an electric or electronic locater 19 on the visual display terminal 3. Operating the locator 19 directs players forward and obviates the need for a dice to motivate them over the game board surface when a game is in play.

The presented invention relates directly to a way of changing and expanding the scope of board games and board game play therefore the principle of the presented invention can be applied to more than one type of game. Thus the number of magnetic reed switches applied to the printed circuit board 7, the wired connections and arrangement thereof, the pictorial or graphic design of the top playboard surface 9 are by design dependent upon the objectives and rules of a games requirements. They are thus together or in isolation a part of another art and are not by design claimed as a part of the presented invention other than their presence in one form or another being essential to the presented invention as a whole.

The visual display terminal 3 being by example a lighting indicator panel with connecting cable and multi plug 16 is connected to the interface game board 1 by way of the edge terminating socket 15. The pictorial or graphic design, circuitry1 power source components and the manner in which the visual display unit 3 operates and translates the switching arrangements provided by play on the interface game board 1 into relevant game play information is by design dependent upon the objectives and rules of a game's requirements.

They are thus together or in isolation a part of another art and are not by design claimed as a part of the presented invention other than their presence in one form or another being essential to the presented invention as a whole.

Claims (1)

1. CLt

   (1) An electronic interfaced board game of the kind that provides a contest for amusement played within a home enviroment as an entertaining pastime. A board game characterised by a visual display terminal 3 with indicators 18 a number of magnetised counters 2 and an interface game board 1. The interface game board 1 consisting of a base board 5 supporting and adhered to a perimeter board 6 thus establishing a well 11 to house printed circuit board 7 this being concealed and sandwiched within the interface game board 1 q by the adhered top playboariqvith pressure pads 17.

   (2) An electronic interfaced board game according to claim 1 characterised in that the interface game board 1 has upon its surface touch switches 20 and to one end edge a cut-away exposing the face of edge terminating multi socket 15 this being a part of the printed circuit board 7 sandwiched within the interface game board 1.

   (3) An electronic interfaced board game according to claims 1 and 2 characterised in that the printed circuit board 7 supports a number of magnetic reed switches capable of switching an electric current 13 and which by any desired arrangement relays the switching facilities of the magnetic reed switches 13 via the printed circuitry to terminate in the edge terminating multi socket 15.

   (4) An electronic interfaced board game according to claims 1-2-3 characterised in that the visual display terminal 3 being of the kind that provides a desired circuitry arrangement, a power source, an electrical or electronic locator 19 and being electronically and visually compatible is connected to the interface game board 1 by way of cable and multi plug 16 and multi socket 15.

   (5) An electronic interfaced board game according to claims 1-2-3-4 characterised in that the magnetic identification counters 2 being placed on the top playboard surface 9 in the vicinity of oze or more connected magnetic reed switches 13 within the interface game board 1, operate such switches to provide an intermittently variable configuration of switching facilities for the visual display terminal 3 to translate into relevant game play terms and objectives.