WO2009115072A2

WO2009115072A2 - Control unit and arrangement for carrying out a digital game

Info

Publication number: WO2009115072A2
Application number: PCT/DE2009/000300
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sebastian Wiese; Tim Höchel
Original assignee: Full Moon Factory Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-03-09
Publication date: 2009-09-24
Also published as: WO2009115072A3; DE102008015361A1

Abstract

A control unit (1) for a digital game, particularly a football game or the like, is provided. The control unit comprises a bar (2), which is supported such that it can be rotated 360º and displaced. Electronic sensors (4, 5) are provided for detecting rotary motions and push motions of the bar (2). The control unit (1) is characterized in that a lever system (6, 31, 32, 33, 34) is provided for converting the push motions into rotary motions, and at least two magnets (21, 36) and at least two Hall sensors (4, 5) are provided for detecting the rotary motions.

Description

Operating device and arrangement for carrying out a digital game

The present invention relates to an operating device for a digital game, in particular for a table football game or the like, with a rotatably and slidably mounted rod, wherein electronic sensors for detecting a rotational movement and a pushing movement of the rod are provided. Moreover, the invention relates to an arrangement for performing a digital game comprising a corresponding operating device.

Conventional table football is played on a gaming table equipped with football player figures representing the two opposing teams. These figures are attached to handlebars and rotatable about the center. These handles are operated from the outside of the field with the hands, which can be moved by pulling, pushing and turning the handle bars the game pieces and can shoot a ball, if necessary, into the opponent's goal. The game pieces of a team are usually arranged in several position rows. All players in a position series are attached to a sliding and rotating bar. There are already various computer-simulated table football games or other digital team games known in which a playing field, the players and a ball are displayed on a screen. For example, European Patent Application EP 1 072 296 A2 discloses a video game in which a table football game is displayed on a monitor. The game is operated via laterally arranged control panels. However, the player of such a game does not have the opportunity to move the game pieces via a rotation and a displacement of rods, as provided in a conventional table football game.

In contrast, international patent application WO 2005/005005 A1 proposes to provide a housing with a plurality of rods, which are displaceably and rotatably mounted. The movement of the bars, which is effected by a player, is detected by a plurality of sensors and these signals are passed on to a computer, so that on a screen a table football game with a playing field, corresponding game pieces and a ball can be simulated.

The object of the invention is to provide an operating device for a digital game, in particular for a table football game or other team games with ball, which enables an improved and more realistic digital game in comparison with already known arrangements. At the same time, the advantages of a digital game, such as adjustability of game conditions, storage of game data, play against virtual opponents or within computer networks, etc. with the operating device or with a corresponding arrangement for performing a digital game can be exploited.

This object is achieved by an operating device for a digital game, in particular for a table football game or the like, as described in claim 1. The further independent claim relates to a corresponding arrangement for carrying out a digital game. loading Preferred embodiments of these objects are set forth in the dependent claims.

The operating device according to the invention for a digital game has a 360 ° rotatably and slidably mounted rod. This rod is provided for the arrangement of the game pieces, which are placed in particular in the form of position rows. For detecting rotational movements and pushing movements of the rod electronic sensors are provided. This operating device is characterized in that a lever system for converting the thrust movement of the rod is provided in a rotational movement. For detecting this rotational movement and the rotational movement by the actual rotation of the rod by an operator or a player at least two magnets and at least two Hall sensors are provided. The conversion of the thrust movement into a rotary motion by a suitable lever system has the advantage that ultimately only rotational movements must be sensory, although the user both rotational movements and thrust movements of the rod are effected. These differently caused rotational movements can be detected by a sensor type. According to the invention, Hall sensors are provided in cooperation with magnets for this purpose. With this sensor, the various rotational movements can be detected without contact. Hall sensors are wear-resistant and soiling-proof. They are insensitive and have a long life, so that they are used with particular advantage for the control device according to the invention. In addition, Hall sensors are relatively inexpensive components which also enable a cost-effective production of the operating device according to the invention overall.

Hall sensors are based on the so-called Hall effect. The reverberant effect can be evaluated above all by means of thin semiconductor chips. If such a current-carrying plate is interspersed perpendicularly by a magnetic induction, a direction proportional to the field can be obtained transversely to the current direction. Ie voltage can be tapped as a so-called Hall voltage, while at the same time increases the plate resistance after an approximately parabolic characteristic. When using, for example, silicon as a base material, it is possible to simultaneously integrate a signal conditioning circuit on the plate. This makes it possible to provide very small and cheap sensors. With particular advantage, it is therefore intended to use several Hall sensors on a microchip as a Hall sensor array according to the invention. The arrangement of several Hall sensors on a microchip, the detection of rotational movements with high precision in a particularly advantageous manner possible.

The operating device according to the invention can be used with particular advantage for a digital game to digitally simulate by turning, pushing and pulling the rod of the operating device a game, in particular a team game with game characters that move a ball. Games are in principle all team games with ball suitable, such as table football, American football, rugby, ice hockey, handball or volleyball. Also for ball games that are not played in teams, e.g. Tennis, the control device according to the invention can be used in a corresponding digital design. In all these games at least two players are used, which move a ball by appropriate movement and which can be positioned, for example, in attack and defense rows. These various rows of players or game characters are placed on a pole in conventional table games and set in motion by appropriate rotation and movement of the rod. This movement of the players arranged on a pole is simulated by the operating device according to the invention.

In a preferred Ausfühmngsform the operating device according to the invention, a first magnet, in particular a permanent magnet is arranged at the end of the rod, which faces away from the user, so the player. Upon rotation of the rod by the user becomes the magnet rotated. This is inventively detected by a corresponding Hall sensor or a Hall sensor array. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a second magnet, in particular a permanent magnet, is arranged at a pivot point of the lever system. The lever system converts the user-induced pushing motion of the rod into a rotary motion. By suitable arrangement of the magnet at a pivot point of the lever system, this thrust movement converted into a rotational movement is tapped by means of a further Hall sensor or a Hall sensor array provided according to the invention. With particular advantage, the magnet is located in the pivot point of the front lever, so that the corresponding rotational movement of the lever system can be detected optimally and accurately. The lever system can be formed, for example, in the manner of a pair of scissors, in particular in the form of a scissor lever. For this purpose, a first lever, a second lever and a fixed transverse connection to a third lever may be provided. In the pivot point of the third lever arm of the magnet is arranged, whose rotational movement is detected by the Hall sensor array. The Hall sensor array is always assigned by appropriate arrangement of the magnet regardless of the thrust position of the rod.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the operating device according to the invention, the rod has no rotation stop. As a result, an endless rotation of the rod as in a conventional table football game or other table games with ball is possible.

Advantageously, the thrust movement of the rod is limited by a stop. The limitation of the thrust movement, for example, reflect the possible thrust movement of a conventional table football game or the like. For example, the stop to limit the thrust may allow a thrust of about 10 cm. The invention further comprises an arrangement for carrying out a digital game, in particular a table football game or the like. This arrangement includes a horizontally arranged screen. Operating devices are provided on one side or on two opposite sides of the arrangement. These operating devices each have a rod which is rotatable and displaceable by 360 °. For detecting rotational movements and pushing movements of the rod electronic sensors are provided. Furthermore, a lever system is provided which causes a transformation of the thrust movements of the rod in rotational movements. For detecting the various rotational movements at least two magnets and at least two Hall sensors are provided. With regard to further features of these operating devices, reference is made to the above description.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. In this case, the various features can be implemented individually or in combination with each other. In the drawings show:

1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the operating device according to the invention in an oblique view;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the sensor arrangement for detecting the

Rotational movements;

3 shows a further detail view of the sensor arrangement;

4 is an isometric view of the operating device according to the invention in the retracted position in an oblique view; Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the operating device of FIG

4 in pulled-out position;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of an inventive arrangement for performing a table football game or the like with a plurality of operating devices obliquely from above on a technical level and

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of an inventive arrangement for performing a table football game.

The control device 1 for a digital game shown in FIG. 1 comprises a rotatable and displaceably mounted rod 2. The rod 2 is guided in a cage 3. For detecting rotational movements and pushing movements of the rod 2, electronic sensors 4 and 5 are provided. These sensors 4 and 5 are an arrangement of Hall sensors which, in interaction with magnets, make it possible to detect the position of the rod 2 or the rotational and pushing movements of the rod 2. A bilateral lever system 6 in the form of a half-shear converts the thrust movements of the rod 2 in rotational movements, which are tapped with the sensor 5. The actual rotational movements of the rod 2 are detected by the sensor 4. The sensors 4 and 5 are arranged as semiconductor sensor arrays on microchips or sensor boards 7 and 8. The Hall sensor arrays allow a detection of 360 ° rotational movements. About the sensor boards or microchips 7 and 8, the information recorded with the Hailsensoren information via appropriate interfaces (not shown) forwarded.

The pushing movement of the rod 2 is limited by a stop 9. The end of the bar 2 facing the user or player is equipped with a handle 10 for operating the bar, which is of the type and / or material as in a conventional table football game or the like can be designed. The limitation of the thrust path through the stop 9 is modeled on the length of the push stroke in conventional table football games or the like with advantage, in particular a thrust stroke of approximately 100 mm is provided. The rod 2 can be rotated all around without limiting the rotation.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the sensor system of the operating device 1 according to the invention of Figure 1. At the end of the rod 2, which faces away from the user or the player, a permanent magnet 21 is inserted. The permanent magnet 21 is arranged opposite a Hall sensor array 4 with several Hall sensors. The Hall sensors 4 are arranged on a microchip 7 and detect the position of the magnet 21. The microchip 7 provides this information digitally. With the microchip 7 or the corresponding Hall sensors 4, the rotational movements of the rod 2 can thus be tapped.

FIG. 3 shows a further detail view of the sensor system. Pushing movements of the rod 2 are converted into rotational movements of the front lever 34 via a lever system comprising a first lever 31, a second lever 32, two transverse connecting pins 33 and a third lever arm 34. At the pivot point 35 of the front lever 34, a permanent magnet 36 is arranged. The rotational movements of the magnet 36 are detected by means of a Hall sensor array 5 on a microchip 8 and the information is provided digitally via the microchip 8. With a thrust stroke of 100 mm, the magnet 36 rotates, for example, by approximately 150 °. At a resolution of 10 bits, this results in an accuracy of approximately 0.25 mm per digit.

From Figures 4 and 5, the function of the lever system 31, 32, 33, 34 for the conversion of the pushing movement of the rod 2 emerges. By extending and retracting the rod 2, the front lever 34 is rotated. The magnet at the front end of the lever 34, which is located in each case below the microchip 8, is detected in its position by the Hall sensor array 5. The on this Mode in a rotational movement converted thrust movement of the rod 2 can thus be provided as digital information via the microchip 8.

FIG. 6 shows the technical components of an arrangement for carrying out a digital game, in particular a table football game or the like. The components shown are provided for placement below a flat screen (not shown). On two opposite sides each four operating devices 1 are provided. These operating devices 1 are each equipped with a rod rotatably mounted and displaceable by 360 ° and an electronic sensor for detecting rotational movements and pushing movements of the rod, as has been explained, for example, with regard to FIG. The push movements of the rod are converted into rotational movements by means of a half-scissors lever system.

The operating devices 1 each comprise two microchips, each with a Hall sensor array for detecting the rotational movements. This can all tapping and pushing movements of the rods of the control devices 1 tapped and this information is provided digitally. The microchips are connected to a central controller 61 via, for example, serial interfaces. For example, differential transceivers (RS-485) can be used for this purpose. From the central controller 61, the data is transmitted, for example via a universal serial bus (USB) to a computer (not shown). On this computer, the digital game, in particular the table football game or the like, deposited or programmed.

Via the central control 61, the position data of the operating devices 1 or the position data of the corresponding rods are transferred at high speed to a PC software, in order to enable a delay-free visualization there. The cycle time can be 100 Hz, whereby all positions can be updated up to 100 times per second. With particular advantage, the position data after device start without calibration run are immediately available with their absolute values.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary external design of a corresponding digital game. The playing field 71 with players and goals is displayed on a horizontally arranged screen, for example a conventional liquid crystal screen. For example, for this purpose, so-called active matrix displays can be used, which contain a matrix of thin-film transistors for driving purposes (TFT monitors). The handles of the controls 1 are arranged on one or both sides of the game table. In the embodiment shown here four operating devices 1 are provided on each side of the game table. Here, two players, or possibly four players, can play in two teams against each other. In other embodiments, it may be provided that operating devices are provided only on one side of the playing field. In this embodiment, the player (s) may, for example, compete against a virtual opponent that can be simulated by the computer, or the opponent is played by networking the arrangement with other computers by another player at another location.

Claims

claims

1. operating device (1) for a digital game, in particular for a table football game or the like, with a 360 ° rotatably and slidably mounted rod (2), wherein electronic sensors (4, 5) for detecting a rotational movement and a pushing movement of the rod ( 2) are provided, characterized in that a lever system (6, 31, 32, 33, 34) is provided for converting the thrust movement in a rotational movement and at least two magnets (21, 36) and at least two Hall sensors (4, 5) for Detecting the rotational movements are provided.

2. Operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two microchips (7, 8) each having a plurality of Hall sensors (4, 5) are provided.

3. Operating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that at the end facing away from the user of the rod (2), a first magnet (21), in particular a permanent magnet, is arranged.

4. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at a pivot point (35) of the lever system (31, 32, 33, 34), a second magnet (36), in particular a permanent magnet, is arranged.

5. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rod (2) has no rotation stop.

6. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thrust movement of the rod (2) by a stop (9) is limited.

7. Arrangement for carrying out a digital game, in particular a table football game or the like, with a horizontally arranged screen (71) and arranged on one side or on two opposite sides of the arrangement operating devices (1), characterized in that the operating devices (1 ) having a 360 ° rotatably and slidably mounted rod (2), wherein electronic sensors (4, 5) for detecting a rotational movement and a pushing movement of the rod (2) are provided, and wherein a lever system (6, 31, 32, 33 , 34) is provided for converting the thrust movement into a rotational movement and at least two magnets (21, 36) and at least two Hall sensors (4, 5) are provided for detecting the rotational movements.

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the operating devices have at least one of the features according to one of claims 1 to 6.