US3735982A - Electronic card game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A card playing machine for ''''poker'''' or the like including electronic circuitry for controlling a display of card transparencies. Initially a flashing card display is provided, the flashing time of which is selectively controlled so that either random selection or skilled selection of a card hand can be made by a player. A hand is normally obtained by the sequential operation of a plurality of manually depressed pushbuttons. The control circuitry, moreover, will terminate operation and display a randomly selected hand if the player does not make his selection within a predetermined playing time. Additionally, electronic control means are also included for allowing the player to reject or ''''discard'''' one or more of the cards in the hand initially displayed and reselect or ''''draw'''' new cards in another predetermined time period in an effort to improve the card hand. Another embodiment of the invention discloses control circuitry which provides the player an option to play a game other than poker which may be, for example, ''''black-jack'''' or ''''twenty-one.

Description

United States Patent I] @{Wfifi Gerfin May 29, 1973 [54] ELECTRONIC CARD GAME MACHINE [76] Inventor: Jay N. Gerfin, 636 Jefferson Ave- [57] ABSTRACT I nlleIChelTy I 08034 A card playing machine for poker or the like in- [22] Filed:Man 29 1972 cluding electronic circuitry for controlling a display of card transparencies. Initially a flashing card display is PP 2395057 provided, the flashing time of which is selectively controlled so that either random selection or skilled selec- 52 us. Cl. ..273/1 E, 273/138 A ties of a card hand can be made y a p y A hand is 51 1111.0 ..A63f 9/00, A63f 1/00 normally obtained by the sequential Operation of a [58] Field of Search ..273/1 E, 138 A, 139, plurality of manually depressed push-buttons The 273/141 A 142 [43; 340/37 control circuitry, moreover, will terminate operation and display a randomly selected hand if the player [56] References Cit d does not make his selection within a predetermined playing time. Additionally, electronic control means UNITED STATES PATENTS are also included for allowing the player to reject or 3,041,600 6/1962 Gumpertz et al. ..340/378 R discard one of more of the cards in the hand initially 231 49 0 19 Millard" 273 143 R displayed and reselect or draw new cards in another 3,584,876 6/1971 Segers .....273/l38 A predetermined time period in an effort to improve the 3,658,340 4/1972 .Ohki s 143 R card hand. Another embodiment of the invention dis- 3,684,290 8/1972 Wayne ..273/l'43 C Primary Exa'minerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-Brady, OBoyle & Gates closes control circuitry which provides the player an option to play a game other than poker which may be, for example, black-jack or twenty-one."

19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures N R 5 i 5 ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY l DISPLAY I FF CLOCK DRIVER L UNIT 165 f [44 iT I 22 2 4 jr P t R 4 l I ADJUSTABLE M DISPLAY DISPLAY I 32 Fr CLOCK I DRIVER lil'llEiPL UNIT -l6 S '/l4 4 O v W 1 W1"NW 22 11 LL 3- b R 3 l 3 s r\ 32 ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY DlSPLAY l 5 FF CLOCK DRIVER ,IQMQDL UNIT ADJUSTABLE I DISPLAY DISPLAY cLocK DRIVER OMEADS UNlT I ADJUSTABLE A DISPLAY DISPLAY H CLOCK, DRIVER 1 l H 51 UN" sI I I5 29 I I COUNTER 3055c l. TIMER START OF POWER-UP i L l I 30 START PLAY 7 PLAY 8* PRESET 34 T as j11 46 L L Patented May 29, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 3 Patented 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 29, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 29, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. Tl

DISPLAY UNIT DISPLAY DRIVER CLOCK Patented May 29, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ELECTRONIC CARD GAME MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to gaming apparatus and more particularly electronically controlled card playing apparatus of the type where a player selects a sequence of card transparencies which are visually displayed on the front panel of the machine.

2. Description-of the Prior Art Various prior art mechanical and electrically controlled devices have already been made which make number, letter, or character choices available with the choice either being one of a random nature or in some instances, a trained or practiced selection. Mechanical devices for playing card games such as poker are also well known to those skilled in the art and normally include for example, five reels upon which indicia of cards are displayed and winning combinations determined according to random or selective stopping of the reels by the player. Typical examples of such apparatus are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,281,149 issued to A. Miller and US. Pat. No. 3,606,337 issued to LB. Larsen et al. An electronic card game device on the other hand is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,876 issued to Thomas E. Segers; however, this patent discloses a difl'erent type of device which operates to establish various probabilities between the relative values of two selected cards. The display panel therein contained a deck of six translucent playing cards and once a card becomes illuminated it flashes continuously on and off without any synchronization between the flashing of any two cards. Once a game is completed only other predetermined color will remain illuminated on the display panel.

SUMMARY Briefly, the subject invention comprises an electronically controlled card game apparatus having five-projection display units each having up to twelve playing card'transparencies contained therein which are selectively'illuminated to provide a single projected card on its face. A respective projection lamp is associated with each of the-transparencies in the units and the lamps are lighted in sequence by means of an SCR ring counter which is clocked in accordance with the output of a selectively'enabled adjustable frequency unijunction clock oscillator. A control circuit, for example a flip-flop, is coupled to each of the clock oscillators for initially enabling the respective oscillator at the beginning of play whereby the card transparencies will be illuminate'd sequentially at the operating frequency of the oscillator. Each flip-flop circuit is further operable to inhibit the operation of the respective clock oscillator in order to provide a fixed projection of a single card transparency upon player selection or after a predetermined time limit without player selection. The former condition is provided by manual push-button means coupled to each of the flip-flops while the latter is provided by means of a timer circuit operating after a predetermined time delay (30 sec. In order to insure initial operating state of the circuitry, first a power-up preset circuit couples a signal to the ring counters and flip-flops for effecting a predetermined operating state when power is first applied at. turn-on. At the start of play another circuit again applies a set signal to the cirone card of a predetermined color and one card of ancuitry and after very short time delay (1 sec.) applies a start pulse to the flip-flops which then enable the respective clock oscillators. Such apparatus is particularly adapted for the game of poker. When desirable, additional control circuitry similar to the control circuitry referred to above, can be utilized to provide a draw poker modification and also a black-jack (twenty-one) modification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally illustrative of a structural embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram illustrative of the basic embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic diagram of the preset circuit operable at power tum-on;

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of the start of play circuitry;

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic diagram of a play timer circuit for terminating play after a predetermined time period;

FIG. 6 is an electricalschematic diagram of one of five identical display circuits including a control flipflop, an adjustable clock oscillator, a ring counter driver circuit, and projection type card transparency display unit;

FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic diagram of supplemental circuitry for providing a discard" and draw mode of operation;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrative of supplemental circuitry for providing a random hand and draw mode of operation; and

FIG. 9 is an electrical schematic diagram of the supplemental circuitry for implementing a black-jack mode of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, attention is now directed to FIG. 1 which discloses a cabinet 10 for housing the electronic apparatus comprising the subject invention. A coin slot 12' appears on the outside thereof for the insertion of a coin by a player desiring to play the apparatus and acts to initiate operation at the start of play. Five pushbutton switches 1%,"145, 14 14 and 14 are selectively mounted on the front of the housing 10 such that a player can individually actuate the switches by a manual depression of push-buttons. The push-button switches 14 14,, control electronic circuitry generally designated by reference numeral 15. Such circuitry is more fully disclosed in FIG. 6 and comprises a plurality of modular packages for operating five playingcard display units 116 146,, .16 I6 and 16 Thedisplay units 116, 16 are identical in construction, being of the type disclosed in us. Pat. No. 3,041,600, entitled Character Projection Apparatus" issued .to D. G. Gumpertz, et al.

Eachdisplay unit 16, etc. includes up to twelve individually controlled electric lamps which re adapted to light a respective card transparency which is then projected by optical means to aviewing screen 18 Thus by utilizing fivesuch display units 116 16 and up to eleven lamps in each unit, all of the playing cards in a deck can be presented in groups of five on thefront face 19 of the housing 10.

While FIG. 1 generally illustrates the type of gaming apparatus involved, that is a machine for playing a card game wherein the cards are transparencies selected by means of player actuated push-buttons, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the electronic control circuitry utilized for operating or playing the machine. Each of the fivedisplay units 16 16 are controlled by a respective display driver circuit 20,, 20,, 20 20 and 20 The display drivers are all identical in circuit configuration and preferably are comprised of n-bit SCR ring counters with each bit being coupled by means of acircuit lead to a separate lamp in the display unit for illuminating a specific card transparency. Each of the display drivers 20,, 20 etc. are triggered by the clock pulse output from a respective controlled clock oscillator.

More particularly, each of the display drivers 20,, 20,, 20 20 and 20 respectively receive clock pulses fromadjustable clock oscillators 22 22,, 22 22 and 22 The display drivers 20 20 additionally receive a signal from a power-up pre-setcircuit 24 whereby a selected bit of the ring counter is triggered on at the time that power is first applied. The power-up pre-set circuit is also coupled to a start ofplay circuit 26 which has for its purpose initially setting the output state of five flip-flop circuits 28 28 28 28 and 28 which respectively operate to enable or inhibit operation of theadjustable clock oscillators 22 22 22 In FIG. 2, the start ofplay switch 13 and push-button switches 14, 14 are shown in their respective normally deactivated position. The normally closed contacts of these switches are adapted to chargerespective capacitors 30 and 32 32 to a positive potential applied topower supply terminal 34. At the start of play, theswitch 13 is activated and the normally open contacts become closed whereuponcapacitor 30 applies a positive potential to the start ofplay circuitry 26. In

the same manner, the push-button switches 14 14 when manually activated couple the respective capacitors 32, 32,, to the reset terminal of the flip-flop circuits 28, 28,, which act to inhibit further operation of therespective clock oscillator 22, 22

Prior to discussing the circuit details, a brief description of the operation of the basic embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be presented. When the machine is turned on and power is first applied, the display drivers 20 20 are set as indicated above. At the start of play an operator activates theswitch 13 by inserting a coin in the coin slot 12 (FIG. 1). Thereafter he disables theclock oscillators 22, 22 by selectively pressing the respective push-button switches 14,, 14

14,. He has a predetermined time limit (30 seconds) during which he must energize push-button switches l4 14,, before the machine automatically stops play. Also the start of play"circuit 26 is set in order to, inter alia, trigger a counter or tally means 36, when thestart switch 13 is actuated. Whenswitch 13 is activated thecircuit 26 after a short time delay of example 1 sec. triggers thetimer circuit 29 as well as the five flip-flop circuits 28, 28 The flip-flop circuits all switch a first output state which enable therespective clock oscillators 22 22, which then apply clock pulses to therespective display drivers 20, 22 .'The adjustability of theclock oscillators 22 is significant in that it is desirable in one mode of operation to make the clock frequency slow enough (4-10 pps) so that a player can distinguish the various card faces appearing on the respective display screens 18; 18 (FIG. 1 The player selectively depresses push-buttons l4 14, which will cause its respective flip-flop to switch to a second or opposite output state which then act to deactivate the respective clock oscillators. The display units will then respectively display a fixed card transparency on thefront panel 19. If the player fails to make the desired choices such as five choices for the game of poker in the alloted time limit, the push-button switches 14, 14 are disabled by thetimer circuit 29, resetting the five flip-flop circuits 28 28 Thus, a selection of a five card display is made for the player. The normal rules of poker can then be used to determine the winner. While theadjustable clock oscillators 22 22 were noted to be preferably slow enough in frequency so that a player can visually distinguish card faces, the clock frequencies when desirable can be increased requiring a greater degree of operator skill and may also be increased to the point wherein a completely random selection is made by the operator.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the electronic circuit configurations embodying the subject invention, attention is first directed to FIGS. 3-6, inclusive, which schematically represent the block diagrammatic representation shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the power-uppreset circuit 24 which is operable only for a short period of time when power is first applied thereafter becoming inoperative. Referring now to FIG. 3,capacitor 38 is initially discharged having been previously discharged throughresistor 40. Upon the application of a positive supply potential to terminal 42 from a power supply, not shown,transistor 44 being an N-P-N transistor, will be initially non-conductive or in an off state. The collector oftransistor 44 will then be high, that is, at the positive power supply potential as opposed to low which is near ground reference potential whentransistor 44 is on." Therefore, a signal corresponding to waveform A appears oncircuit lead 46 and will initially be high because of theload resistor 48 being connected form the collector oftransistor 44 to thepower supply terminal 42. This positive voltage appearing oncircuit lead 46 is simultaneously applied to the start ofplay circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4, the thirtysecond timer circuit 29 shown in FIG. 5, and the display driver circuits 20 20 one of which is shown in FIG. 6, it being understood that .all of the display driver circuits 20 20 are identical in configuration Approximately 300 milliseconds after power is applied which time is determined by the RC time constant ofcapacitor 38 andresistor 50,capacitor 38 charges throughresistor 50 to a level whereupon the base oftransistor 44 becomes sufficiently positive to saturatetransistor 44 which then acts like a closed switch. The voltage at the collector oftransistor 44 and consequently oncircuit lead 46 drops to approximately 0.3 volts above ground which is the voltage drop across the saturatedtransistor 44.

Diodes 52, 54 and 56 shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 respectively are coupled to circuit lead 46 from the collector oftransistor 44 and are so poled that when n'ansistor 44 saturates and its collector goes low, the diodes effectively disconnecttransistor 44 from thecircuit 26, thetimer circuit 29 and the display driver 20. These diodes, moreover, will continue to block the respective circuits from thetransistor 44 as long as power is applied to the machine. Therefore,circuit lead 46 provides a signal which goes high immediately upon the application of power, but after a time delay in the order of 300 milliseconds, goes low and thereafter remains low.

Referring now to FIG. 4 which discloses the start of play" circuitry,circuit 26 interfaces with thestart switch 13 associated with thecoin drop 12 shown in FIG. 1 and acounter circuit 36. Thecircuit 26 comprises a one shot delay pulse generator made up of a flip-flop circuit including transistors and 62, a driven pulse oscillator includingunijunction transistor 64 and acoupling diode 66. The momentary initial signal (waveform A) appearing oncircuit lead 46 when power is turned on causes a positive signal to be applied to the base oftransistor 62 which turns on.Circuit junction 66 immediately goes low while theopposite transistor 60 turns 011" causing the voltage atjunction 70 to go high. This is the initial power-up preset state of the flip-flop. Thediode 66 is coupled fromcircuit junction 68 to circuit junction 7'2 which is common to the emitter of theunijunction transistor 64 as well ascapacitor 74 andresistor 76. Moreover,resistor 76 is coupled to the positive supply potential applied toterminal 42. The conductive state oftransistor 62causes capacitor 74 to discharge throughdiode 66 and remain in a discharged condition thereby effectively grounding the emitter ofunijunction transistor 64, causing it to be non-conductive.

As noted earlier, in its normally closed position, as shown in FIG. 4, thestart switch 13charges capacitor 36 to a positive potential throughresistor 78. When theswitch 13 is activated to initiate operation, the positively chargedcapacitor 36 is coupled to the base oftransistor 60 throughresistor 86.Transistor 60 immediately turns on and due to the resistive coupling,transistor 62 immediately turns off." The voltage at circuit junction'68-immediately goes high which causesdiode 76 to become non-conductive, whereuponcapacitor 74 begins to charge toward the positive supply potential throughresistor 76. After an RC time delay of approximately 1.0 sec., capacitor74 charges to alevel sufficient to cause the unijunction transistor to fire, i.e. become conductive.Capacitor 74 immediately discharges through theemitter and'one base 75 ofunijunction transistor 64 causing a voltage pulse corresponding to waveform B to appear acrossresistor 62. This pulse (waveform B) is fed back to the base oftransistor 62 by means ofresistor 84 which immediately resets the flip-flop by turningtransistor 62 back on, completing a one shot cycle. This pulse (waveform B) is also simultaneously coupled to all of the flip-flops 1 28 (FIG. 2) by means ofcircuit lead 86 and also to the playlimit timer circuit 29 shown in FIG. 6.

Also whentransistor 60 is turned "on,transistor 68 which has its base connected to the collector oftransistor 66, 'turns off, allowing the positive voltage throughresistors 90 and 92 to turn transistor 9 on which is part of thecounter circuit 36. The conduction oftransistor 94 energizes aninductance 98 which is part of a tally or counter mechanism, not shown.inductance 98 remains energized until the flip-flop is reset after the 1 sec. time delay as noted. A diode 106 is connected across theinductance 98 to allow the inductor to discharge whentransistor 94 again becomes nonconductive. Thus the circuit 26 -triggers thetally counter circuit 26 and produces the pulse (waveform B) 1 sec. after initiation of play.

Referring now to FIG. 5, thetimer circuit 29 measures a 30 sec. time period to limit the active time of the machine requiring a player to make all his selections within the ified time. More particularly, thetimer circuit 29 comprises a one-shot signal generator made up of a flip-flopcircuit including transistors 162 and 1 and a driven unijunction oscillator includingunijunction transistor 166 coupled to the flip-flop by diode t The power-up preset pulse (waveform A) is coupled to the base oftransistor 166 through thediode 54 which initially makes transistor 1 conductive, thereby making the voltage atcircuit junction 116 low. Theother transistor 162 in the flip-flop circuit is nonconductive, and therefore the voltage atcircuit junction 112 is high. The emitter of unijunction transistor 1 is coupled tocircuit junction 116 by means of thediode 16. Sincetransistor 164 is conductive, thediode 16shunts capacitor 114, thereby discharging it and holdingunijunction transistor 166 non-conductive. Upon the generation of the pulse (waveform B) at the base ofunijunction transistor 64 in the start ofplay circuitry 26 shown in FIG. 4, it is applied by means ofre sistor 116 to the base oftransistor 162 which is driven conductive. The voltage at the collector oftransistor 162 immediately goes low as evidenced by the waveform C. The flip-flop action causestransistor 166 to turn 0 whereupon the blocking action of thediode 166 allowscapacitor 114 to charge through the fixedresistor 116 and thevariable resistor 126. After an RC time delay of approximately 30 sec., the voltage acrosscapacitor 114 causes theunijunction transistor 166 to fire causing a trigger pulse to be generated across resistor 122. The pulse appearing across resistor 122 is coupled back to the base oftransistor 164 by means ofresistor 124 which gain turnstransistor 164 on.Transistor 162 again becomes non-conductive and the voltage at the collector and circuit junction 1112 again goes high. This voltage which appears as waveform C is coupled to the flip-flops 28 26 (FIG. 2) by means ofcircuit lead 126. The output level of the voltage appearing oncircuit lead 126 is adapted to simultaneously reset any of the flip-flops 1 26 that have not already been reset by a player actuating pushbutton switches 14 14;.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is disclosed one of five identical circuit sections each including forexample display unit 16, itsrespective driver circuit 26, theadjustable clock oscillator 22 for the driver circuit, and the control flip-flop 26 which enables and .inhibits the operation of the clock oscillator 22.-More particularly, the flip-flop 26 is comprised oftransistors 126 and 136. At power turn-on, the voltage oncircuit lead 126 is high as evidenced by waveform C. This sigial is applied through thediode 132 to the base of transistor 136, causing it to become conductive, thereby making the voltage at circuit junction 1134 low.Junction 134 is coupled to the emitter of unijunction transistor 136 by means of the diode 1. As long as transistor 136 in the flip-flop circuit 26 is conductive, the regenerative action of thecircuit 22, will be inhibited due to-the fact thatcapacitor 146 is shunted by means of the conductive diode 1 and the conductivetransistor 136. Thus, initially the oscillator 21, is inoperative. Upon the closing of theplay switch 13 wherein the pulse (waveform B) is generated, this sipial is coupled by means of circuit lead and'resistor 142 to the base of transistor 1 which causes-the flip-flop to change state, that is the voltage atcircuit junction 144 goes low whilecircuit junction 134 goes high. The voltage appearing oncircuit lead 126, meanwhile, has gone low, being blocked by the action ofdiode 132. The high state ofcircuit junction 134 will remain until push-button switch 14, is player actuated whereupon a positive voltage accumulated on capacitor 32 is coupled to the base oftransistor 130 or the voltage oncircuit lead 126 again goes high after a 30 sec. interval.

During the time at whichcircuit junction 134 is high, thediode 138 decouples capacitor 140 from theflipflop 28,. Theoscillator 22, will become enabled and capacitor 140 charges by means of the fixed resistor 148 and the variable resistor 150. The capacitor 140 charges to the breakdown level of the unijunction transistor 136 whereupon capacitor 140 immediately discharges through the unijunction transistor 136 which turns off, whereupon the capacitor 140 again charges. A positive pulse train will appear across resistor 152. Theoscillator 22, will free run at a frequency determined by RC time constant of the capacitor 140 and the resistors 148 and 150. Thus the flip-flop circuit 28, and theunijunction clock oscillator 22, operate as previously described, with the exception that the outi put pulse developed across resistor 152 and appearing atcircuit junction 154 is not fed back to the flip-flop but is fed to the display driver circuit 20, viacircuit lead 155.

The driver circuit 20, comprises a semiconductor controlled rectifier (SCR) ring counter of n-bits. The ring counter includes a plurality ofSCRs 156,, 156,, 156,. which are equal in number to the number of lamps 158,, 158, 158, required to be sequentially lit in thedisplay unit 16,. In the subject embodiment, n is preferably equal to 1 1, so that five display units can be adapted to project 5 X 11 different characters which is sufficient to display a deck of card transparencies as five card playing hands. Taking one stage of the ring counter, for example the first stage, the lamp 158, is connected in series between a source of positive of a positive pulse to its gate electrode,SCR 156, will become conductive'to'light the lamp 158, and will remain conductive until it is turned 011 in a manner to be described. As previously indicated, the power-uppreset circuit 24 as shown in FIG. 3, is coupled to the gate ofSCR 156, by means ofcircuit lead 46 and thediode 56. Thus when power is first applied, apositive pulse is coupled to the gate ofSCR 156, which turns it on. Likewise, the identical corresponding SCR and lampin the other four display drivers circuits and display units, respectively, are also energized.

Returning to the circuitry shown in FIG. 6, all of the other lamps 158,, 158, are ofi' due to the nonconductivity of therespective SCRs 156, 156,,. WithSCR 156, being conductive, the anode is substantially at ground potential. The cathode ofdiode 162,, which is coupled to the anode ofSCR 156, by means ofresistor 164, is accordingly also near ground potential while allother diodes 162, 162,, have their cathodes near the positive potential applied toterminal 160, that is, they are reverse biased. Additionally,capacitor 166, is charged to the supply potential appearing atterminal 160 through theconductive SCR 156,. When the first clock pulse generated byunijunction clock oscillator 22, appears on thecommon circuit lead 155,diode 162, is the only diode not reverse biased. The clock pulse is therefore coupled through capacitor 170, which turnsSCR 156, on.SCR 156, becomes conductive very rapidly, lighting the lamp 158,. The nowconductive SCR 156, and the previouslyconductive SCR 156, provide a discharge path for the previously chargedcapacitor 166,. In discharging,capacitor 166, effects a reverse current flow throughSCR 156, which now turns off, leaving onlySCR 156, on. Each succeeding clock pulse will fire the succeeding SCR due to the free running capability of theunijunction oscillator 22, until such time that the player pushes a respective push-button 14, or the 30 sec. timer circuit output (waveform C) oncircuit lead 126 again goes high, at which time the flip-flop circuit 28, is reset, thereby making the voltage at circuit junction low. As indicated, whencircuit junction 134 goes low, thecoupling diode 138 inhibits or disables the operation of the charging and discharging of the capacitor 140 so that one of the lamps 158, 158,, will remain lit to project a card transparency on itsdisplay screen 18,.

Recapitulating the operating cycle for the apparatus thus described, play begins with theswitch 13 changing state thereby setting the flip-flop comprised oftransistors 60 and 62 (FIG. 4) in the start ofplay circuitry 26. Thetally counter 36 is energized and after a one second delay, theunijunction transistor 64 shown in FIG. 4, conducts and pulse waveform B is generated which then resets the above mentioned flip-flop. Additionally, the pulse (waveform B) sets the flip-flop circuit comprised oftransistors 102 and 104 of the 30 sec. timer circuit 29 (FIG. 5) and the five flip-flops 28,, 28,, 28 28, and 28,, (FIGS. 2 and 6). At this time five character displays 16,, 16,, 16 ,16 and 16,, sequentially present card faces in sets of five, changing at a rate determined by the frequency of the respectiveunijunction clock oscillators 22,, 22,, etc. The player now has 30 sec. to make his selections of five card projections by selectively depressing push-button switches 14,, 14 14,,, 14 and 14,, in any desired order. However, if the player does not make all five selections within the predetermined time limit thetimer circuit 29 produces an output signal corresponding to waveform C which resets any display control flip-flop 28, 28,, not yet manually reset by player operation.

Having thus described the basic embodiment of the subject invention, it becomes desirable to now disclose modifications of the circuitry described in order to provide a difierent mode of play or operation.

Whereas it becomes desirable in another form of poker to initially be dealt a five card hand and thereafter discard and draw new cards in order to improve the hand, it merely becomes necessary in the present invention to include another flip-flop circuit operable with each of the five flip-flop circuits 28, 28,, and five additional push-button switches for respectively controlling the additional five flip-flop circuits. To this end, attention is now directed to FIG. 7 which discloses one of the five additional flip-flops and push-buttons required to operate one display unit in order to provide a discard and draw capability. FIG. 7 discloses a discar flip-flop circuit 172, comprised oftransistors 174 and 176. Additionally, a respective push-button switch 178, shown in its normally deactivated position, is coupled between a positive source of voltage potential applied toterminal 34 and a capacitor 1. The base oftransistor 176 is coupled to circuit lead 86 by means ofresistor 182 for receiving the pulse (waveform B) generated by the start ofplay circuit 26 shown in FIG. 4. The collector oftransistor 176 atcircuit junction 184 is coupled to the base oftransistor 128 of the display control flip-flop circuit 28, by means of aresistor 186 and a differentiator circuit comprised ofcapacitor 188 andresistor 190.

in operation, the game starts as previously described. Now after the player has selected five cards by depressing the push-buttons 14, 14 or after the predetermined time limit (30 sec.), he may now choose to discard any or all cards and redraw to his hand displayed on thefront panel 19 of the machine (FIG. 1). This is accomplished by the extra set of five flip-flop circuits 172, (FIG. 7) and 172 172 (not shown) and push-buttons 178, (FIG. 7) and 170 178,, (not shown). The discard flip-flop 172, is initially set by the pulse (waveform B) 1 sec. after the beginning of play, the same as previously described with respect to flip-flops 28,, etc. If during the 30 sec. allowed time interval he chooses to discard a card he has been dealt, for example the transparency displayed by theunit 16,, it is merely necessary to push the push-button 178, which couples the charged capacitor 189, to the base oftransistor 174 which immediately turns on.Transistor 176 turns oft and the voltage atcircuit junction 184 goes high, as depicted by waveform D. The diflerentiatorcircuit comprising capacitor 186 andresistor 190 generates a positive going trigger waveform E which is coupled to the base oftransistor 128, turning it on."Transistor 130 turns off and the voltage atcircuit junction 134 goes high, allowing theunijunction clock oscillator 22, to again'become enabled, as it did when the game initially started. The player can now select a new card simply by again depressing push-button 14,. Further actuation of the additional push-button switch 178, will have no effect because the discardflipflop circuit 172 has been set and cannot be reset until a new game begins.

The foregoing configurations have allowed a player to manually select a poker hand by energizing the pushbutton switches 14, 14 The circuit configuration shown in FIG. 6 now discloses a modification of the circuitry whereby a player is supplied a random hand immediately without any manual selection, but thereafter providing a discard and draw option to improve the hand thus supplied. Considering now FIG. 6, reference numeral 26' denotes a modification of the start of play circuitry shown in FIG. 2 to a 3 sec. delay configuration as opposed to the 1 sec. delay previously used by varying the capacitance value of the capacitor 74'. Additionally, anothertransistor 194 is coupled to the collector oftransistor 60 atjunction 196 by means ofresistors 198 and 200. The collector oftransistor 194 is coupled by means ofcircuit lead 202 andresistor 204 to the base oftransistor 128 of the display control flip-flop 28', and like corresponding points of modified flip-flop circuits 28 28 (not shown). Whereas circuit lead 86 couples the pulse (waveform B) to the flip-flop in the previous configuration such as shown in FIG. 6, in the instant embodiment thecircuit lead 86 andresistor 142 is now coupled to the base oftransistor 130. Also, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 0, acircuit lead 206 is coupled toresistor 116 in FIG. 5 instead of thelead 86 as shown in FIG. 5; Furthermore, by varying 10 the value ofresistor 130 of thetimer circuitry 29 shown in FIG. 5, the pulsewidth of the waveform C is increased such that it is, for example 33 sec.

Now whenswitch 13 is enerp'zed by dropping a' coin in theslot 12, (FIG. 1) the transistor in the flip-flop associated with the 3 sec. delay pulse generator circuitry is turned on." This turnstransistor 62 off whereupon after a 3 see. timedelay unijunction transistor 64 fires generating the pulse (waveform B). Meanwhile, the flip-flop circuit associated with thetimer circuit 29 shown in FIG. 5, has been set by means of the connection ofcircuit lead 206 to begin generation of waveform C. The turning on oftransistor 60 by the closing of theswitch 13, moreover, causes the voltage atjunction 196 to go low, which turnstransistor 194 off. In turning 011, the collector oftransistor 194 goes high, as shown by waveform D and is coupled by means ofcircuit lead 202 andresistor 204 to the base oftransistor 126 of the modified display control flipflops etc. Waveform D turnstransistor 128 on andtransistor 130 0E. This action allows the freerunning clock oscillators 22, 22,, to again become enabled. Due to the fact that the voltage waveform D is high for a period of 3 sec., it will override the player push-button 14, during the 3 sec. it is high. During this time the SCR ring counters 20, 20 continually vary the presentation of therespective display units 16, 16,. At the end of the 3 sec. period, pulse (waveform B) is now applied to the base oftransistor 130, which turns it on and has the effect of deactivating therespective clock oscillator 22,, etc. Also at this time waveform D again goes low. The player now has a randomly selected hand of five cards chosen by action of the machine itself. The control flip-flop 28, is also coupled to the discard flip-flop circuitry 172,, shown in FIG. 7 so that the player has the further option of discarding one or more cares selected by the machine and drawing new cards by subsequent manual operation of the push-button switches 14, 14,, during the remaining 30 sec. interval after the hand has been displayed 3 sec. after start of play.

The apparatus as heretofore described, has for its purpose primarily the playing of a five card hand required for playing the game of poker. While not immediately recognizable, the circuitry heretofore described with respect to the subject invention, can also be modified to operate so as to allow the operator to play the game of black-jack or twenty one. Such a game would be played wherein the dealer, i.e., the machine is assumed to have 18 points at all times. It is well known that in order to win at black-jack, it is necessary to beat the dealer by having a point count greater than that of the dealer, but in any event equal to or less than twenty-one. The player can also win if he hits and receives five cards which total 21 or less. Also, in this type of game, an ace counts as either one or eleven plished by the circuit means described in FIG. 6 with the exception that only the last twounits 16, and 16,, of the five display units stop after the 3 second interval and thereafter the player, if he desires a hit, now is dealt one or more additional cards by selective actuation ofpushbuttons 14,, 14 and 14 At the end of the predetermined time limit of play, e.g. 30 sec., the player may or may not have selected additional cards by means of manual actuation ofpushbuttons 14,, 14 or 14,, (FIG. 2) in attempting to beat eighteen points, but not exceed twenty-one points. However, after the 30 sec. playing time interval, the remainder of the displays stop as a result of thetimer circuit 29. The only difierence in circuitry required from the poker game configuration previously described in the provision of a visual indication of which cards the player has selected and which cards are unselected at the end of the 30 see. time limit. This is easily accomplished by the apparatus thus described because eachdisplay unit 16, 16,, includes 12 display lamps; however, only 11 lamps in each unit are required for displaying transparencies of a deck of playing cards. If the twelfth display lamp ofdisplay units 16, 16,, is suitably lighted at the end of the playing time period in the event that the respective push-button switch 14,, 14-, or 14 has not been activated by the player, the twelfth lamp can project, the example, a transparency of an X on the screen to indicate that it was not chosen by the player.

Apparatus for providing such a modification is shown by the circuitry displayed in FIG. 9. Again, only one of the first three identical circuit sections fordisplay unit 16,, 16,, and 16, are shown. The additional circuitry required includes, inter alia, flip-flop 208, coupled to diode 210,. Adiode 212, is coupled forcircuit lead 126 to circuit junction 214, and carries waveform C from thetiming circuitry 29 shown in FIG. 2. Aresistor 216, is coupled from thepositive supply terminal 42 to the anode electrodes ofdiodes 210, 91 and 212,. Circuit junction 214, couples anotherdiode 218, to the base of transistor 220,. The collector of transistor 220, is connected to the base of asecond transistor 222, of opposite conductivity and the twotransistors 220, and 222, operate in a complementary transistor configuration from'the positive supply source connected toterminal 42. The collector oftransistor 222, is connected to the12th lamp 224, in thedisplay unit 16,.Diodes 210, and 212, in combination with theresistor 216, form a coincidence or AND logic gate that requires two high signals to appear at their cathode electrodes simultaneously in order to provide a high signal at junction 214, which is also common to the anode ofdiode 218,. This condition exists at the collector oftransistor 130 of flip-flop 28, (FIG. 6) when play begins due totransistor 128 being triggered on by the pulse (waveform B). In the present embodiment, waveform B is coupled to the set S input of flip-flop 208, by means ofresistor 226, which sets the flip-flop output appearing oncircuit 228, to a high state. This supplies the AND gate with one high input. The other input of the AND gate is waveform C which is low during the 30 sec. time of play interval only. If during play the player does not depresspushbutton switch 14, which coupled to the reset R input of the flip-flop 208, by means ofresistor 230,, the flip-flop is not reset so that at the end of 30 seconds the AND gate including diodes-210, and 212, has two high inputs,whichtumon transistors 220, and 222, and thelight lamp 224,. 4

To further describe the circuit operation, assume that play begins and waveform C from thetimer circuit 29 goes low for a 30 sec. period. The cathode ofdiode 212, meanwhile, is at ground and its anode will be at .7 volts, which is an insuficient voltage to drive transistor 220, into conduction throughdiode 218,. When transistor 220, is non-conductive, so will betransistor 222, and thelamp 224, will remain deenergized. If after thirty seconds pass the player does not energize the push-button 14,, the cathode ofdiode 212, again goes high. Since flip-flop 208, was never reset, the cathode of diode 210, remains high and thus provides the logic condition under which thelamp 224, will light. With both diodes high, the anode ofdiode 218, goes high and current throughresistor 216, turns transistor 220, on. Transistor 220, will saturate, causingtransistor 222, to turn on and thereafter energize the light 224,.

While there has been shown and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of an improved electronically controlled gaming apparatus, modifications thereto will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired, therefore, that the invention be limited to the specific circuit configurations shown and described, but it is to be understood that all equivalents, alterations and modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention are herein meant to be included.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electronically controlled game apparatus particularly adapted to play card games such as poker,

black-jack and the like, comprising in combination:

a plurality of electrically controlled character projection display units, each including a selected number of individual character bearing means adapted to be illuminated by respective electric lamp means which when energized projects a character such as a card face on a display screen located on one face of said display unit;

a housing wherein each of said plurality of display units are mounted such that said plurality of display screens are adapted to be viewed as a group;

an electronic display driver circuit coupled to each of said plurality of display units, said driver circuit being operable to energize said electric lamps one at a time in said display unit to provide both a flashing display of a sequence of different characters as well as a steady state display of a single character;

an electronic clock oscillator coupled to each display driver circuit, said oscillator being selectively rendered operative and inoperative in accordance with the output state of a respective control circuit to generate a pulse output, said driver circuit being responsive to the pulse output of said clock oscillator tocontrol the energization of said electric lamps in the respective display unit;

an electronic binary control circuit coupled to each clock oscillator, being operable to have a first and second output state and including input means responsive to a first and second type input signal to switch to said first and second output state respectively and including output means coupled to said clock oscillator wherein said clock oscillator becomes operative when said control circuit switches to said first output state and thereby generate a pulse train, said input means being further responsive to at least one additional second type input signal whereby said control circuit switches to said second output state to render said clock oscillator inoperative;

first circuit means, including starting means, coupled to said input means of each said control circuits circuits for generating and coupling said first type input signal thereto when said starting means is activated by a player; and

second circuit means coupled to said input means of said control circuit generating and coupling said second type input signal to said control circuit for terminating operation of said game apparatus.

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said second circuit means includes player operated switch means and a signal source coupled to said switch means, said switch means upon actuation by said player operates to couple said signal source to said input means of said control circuit, whereupon said control circuit switches to said second output state.

3. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said second circuit means comprises player operated means coupled to each control circuit for individually switching said control circuits to said second output state deliberately and instantaneously, and atimer circuit coupled to all of said control circuits for switching said binary control circuits to said second' output state after a predetermined period of time without the operation of said player operated means.

4. The apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said control circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.

5. The invention as defined by claim 3 wherein said timer circuit is comprised of a time delay pulse generator triggered into operation by said first circuit means.

6. The invention as defined by claim 3 wherein said player operated means comprises manually actuated electrical switch means.

7. The apparatus as defined by claim 3 and additionally including:

at least one AND logic gate having first and second input means and output means; at least one respective lamp energization circuit means coupled between said output means'of said AND gate and a selected display unit of said plurality of display units for operating another lamp in i said selected display unit;

at least one other electronic control circuit having an output coupled to said first input means of said AND logic gate and being operable to produce a first and a second output state at said output and including input means responsive to said first and second type input signal to switch to said first and second output state respectively;

said AND logic gate having said second input means coupled to said timer circuit, said AND gate being responsive to the voltage output level of said timer circuit after'said predetermined time period and said first output state of said one other electronic control after said predetermined time period to energize said another lamp and thereby provide an indication that the respective player operator means had not been activated during said predetermined time period.

8. The apparatus as defined by claim 7 wherein said at least one other electronic control circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.

9. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said starting means includes switch means and said first ciri cuit means additionally includes a one-shot pulse generator generating a start of play pulse upon actuation of said starting switch means, said start of play pulse comprising said first type input sigial coupled to said control circuit.

MD. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said one shot pulse generator comprises a flip-flop circuit and a transistor multivibrator having its operation enabled and inhibited by the output state of said flipd'lop circuit, and additionally including semiconductor diode means coupling said flip-flop circuit to said multivibrator whereby the output state of said flip-flop enables said multivibrator to generate a pulse after a predetermined delay when said starting means is activated and circuit means coupling said multivibrator pulse back to said flip-flop causing said flip-flop to switch states whereupon the opposite output state of said flip-flop inhibits further operation of said multivibrator.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said second circuit means additionally includes an electronic timing circuit coupled to said one shot pulse generator and being responsive to said start of play pulse generated thereby to produce an output signal after a second predetermined time delay comprising another second type input signal, said input signal being applied to all said control circuits for rendering said respective clock oscillators inoperative after a predetermined time interval in the event said respective player operated switch means have not been actuated.

12. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein said timing circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit and a transistor multivibrator having its operation enabled and inhibited by the output state of said flip-flop circuit and additionally including feedback means coupled from said multivibrator back to the input of said flipflop circuit, said flip-flop circuit additionally including input circuit means coupled to said one shot pulse generator being responsive to the start of play pulse generated thereby to become set to a first'output state and enabling said multivibrator which after said second predetermined time interval generates an output pulse signal which is fed back to' the input of said multivibrator, causing said flip-flop to switch to the opposite output state and inhibiting further operation of said multivibrator.

13. The apparatus as defined byclaim 12 wherein said variable frequency oscillator comprises a unijunction transistor oscillator having frequency adjusting circuit means coupled thereto.

M. The apparatus defined by claim 11 wherein each said electronic clock oscillator comprises a variable frequency oscillator.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each said control circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.

16. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein each said display driver circuit comprises an electronic ring counter including a plurality of electronically controlled switches respectively connected to a selected lamp in said display unit, said controlled switches being operable to sequentially become conductive in response to the pulsed output of said clock oscillator to energize said lamps in said display units.

17. The apparatus as defined by claim l and additionally including circuit means initially setting said control circuit to said first output state, a timer circuit coupled to said control circuits for individually switching said control circuits to" said second output state after a predetermined time period without the operation of a player;

first player operated circuit means coupled to each said control circuit for switching the respective control circuit to said first output state after said predetermined time period; and

second player operated circuit means coupled to each said control circuit for switching the respective control circuit to said second output state after tionally including a second timer for individually switching said binary control circuits to said first output state after a second predetermined time period without the operation of said first and second player operated means.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and additionally including third circuit means coupled to said first and second circuit means and each driver circuit means said respective first player operated circuit means for establishing an initial opefafing state of said circuits is activated. 18. The apparatus as defined by claim 17 and addit i I

Claims (19)

1. An electronically controlled game apparatus particularly adapted to play card games such as poker, black-jack and the like, comprising in combination: a plurality of electrically controlled character projection display units, each including a selected number of individual character bearing means adapted to be illuminated by respective electric lamp means which when energized projects a character such as a card face on a display screen located on one face of said display unit; a housing wherein each of said plurality of display units are mounted such that said plurality of display screens are adapted to be viewed as a group; an electronic display driver circuit coupled to each of said plurality of display units, said driver circuit being operable to energize said electric lamps one at a time in said display unit to provide both a flashing display of a sequence of different characters as well as a steady state display of a single character; an electronic clock oscillator coupled to each display driver circuit, said oscillator being selectively rendered operative and inoperative in accordance with the output state of a respective control circuit to generate a pulse output, said driver circuit being responsive to the pulse output of said clock oscillator to control the energization of said electric lamps in the respective display unit; an electronic binary control circuit coupled to each clock oscillator, being operable to have a first and second output state and including input means responsive to a first and second type input signal to switch to said first and second output state respectively and including output means coupled to said clock oscillator wherein said clock oscillator becomes operative when said control circuit switches to said first output state and thereby generate a pulse train, said input means being further responsive to at least one additional second type input signal whereby said control circuit switches to said second output state to render said clock oscillator inoperative; first circuit means, including starting means, coupled to said input means of each said control circuits circuits for generating and coupling said first type input signal thereto when said starting means is activated by a player; and second circuit means coupled to said input means of said control circuit generating and coupling said second type input signal to said control circuit for terminating operation of said game apparatus.

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said second circuit means includes player operated switch means and a signal source coupled to said switch means, said switch means upon actuation by said player operates to couple said signal source to said input means of said control circuit, whereupon said control circuit switches to said second output state.

3. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said second circuit means comprises player operated means coupled to each control circuit for individuAlly switching said control circuits to said second output state deliberately and instantaneously, and a timer circuit coupled to all of said control circuits for switching said binary control circuits to said second output state after a predetermined period of time without the operation of said player operated means.

4. The apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein said control circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.

5. The invention as defined by claim 3 wherein said timer circuit is comprised of a time delay pulse generator triggered into operation by said first circuit means.

6. The invention as defined by claim 3 wherein said player operated means comprises manually actuated electrical switch means.

7. The apparatus as defined by claim 3 and additionally including: at least one AND logic gate having first and second input means and output means; at least one respective lamp energization circuit means coupled between said output means of said AND gate and a selected display unit of said plurality of display units for operating another lamp in said selected display unit; at least one other electronic control circuit having an output coupled to said first input means of said AND logic gate and being operable to produce a first and a second output state at said output and including input means responsive to said first and second type input signal to switch to said first and second output state respectively; said AND logic gate having said second input means coupled to said timer circuit, said AND gate being responsive to the voltage output level of said timer circuit after said predetermined time period and said first output state of said one other electronic control after said predetermined time period to energize said another lamp and thereby provide an indication that the respective player operator means had not been activated during said predetermined time period.

8. The apparatus as defined by claim 7 wherein said at least one other electronic control circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.

9. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said starting means includes switch means and said first circuit means additionally includes a one-shot pulse generator generating a start of play pulse upon actuation of said starting switch means, said start of play pulse comprising said first type input signal coupled to said control circuit.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said one shot pulse generator comprises a flip-flop circuit and a transistor multivibrator having its operation enabled and inhibited by the output state of said flip-flop circuit, and additionally including semiconductor diode means coupling said flip-flop circuit to said multivibrator whereby the output state of said flip-flop enables said multivibrator to generate a pulse after a predetermined delay when said starting means is activated and circuit means coupling said multivibrator pulse back to said flip-flop causing said flip-flop to switch states whereupon the opposite output state of said flip-flop inhibits further operation of said multivibrator.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said second circuit means additionally includes an electronic timing circuit coupled to said one shot pulse generator and being responsive to said start of play pulse generated thereby to produce an output signal after a second predetermined time delay comprising another second type input signal, said input signal being applied to all said control circuits for rendering said respective clock oscillators inoperative after a predetermined time interval in the event said respective player operated switch means have not been actuated.

12. The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein said timing circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit and a transistor multivibrator having its operation enabled and inhibited by the output state of said flip-flop circuit and additionally including feedback means coupled from said multivibrator back to the input of saiD flip-flop circuit, said flip-flop circuit additionally including input circuit means coupled to said one shot pulse generator being responsive to the start of play pulse generated thereby to become set to a first output state and enabling said multivibrator which after said second predetermined time interval generates an output pulse signal which is fed back to the input of said multivibrator, causing said flip-flop to switch to the opposite output state and inhibiting further operation of said multivibrator.

13. The apparatus as defined by claim 12 wherein said variable frequency oscillator comprises a unijunction transistor oscillator having frequency adjusting circuit means coupled thereto.

14. The apparatus defined by claim 11 wherein each said electronic clock oscillator comprises a variable frequency oscillator.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each said control circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit.

16. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein each said display driver circuit comprises an electronic ring counter including a plurality of electronically controlled switches respectively connected to a selected lamp in said display unit, said controlled switches being operable to sequentially become conductive in response to the pulsed output of said clock oscillator to energize said lamps in said display units.

17. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 and additionally including circuit means initially setting said control circuit to said first output state, a timer circuit coupled to said control circuits for individually switching said control circuits to said second output state after a predetermined time period without the operation of a player; first player operated circuit means coupled to each said control circuit for switching the respective control circuit to said first output state after said predetermined time period; and second player operated circuit means coupled to each said control circuit for switching the respective control circuit to said second output state after said respective first player operated circuit means is activated.

18. The apparatus as defined by claim 17 and additionally including a second timer for individually switching said binary control circuits to said first output state after a second predetermined time period without the operation of said first and second player operated means.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and additionally including third circuit means coupled to said first and second circuit means and each driver circuit means for establishing an initial operating state of said circuits when power is first applied.

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