Patent Application
20150283454
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game machine and, more particularly, to a game machine that includes target objects to be hit by a gamer and that can generate continuous musical scales to form a tune.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitting type game machines, such as Whack-A-Mole game machines, have been one of the most popular game machines for a long time.
However, the game machine 9 only provides the target objects 92 to be hit by users for entertainment purposes. It is difficult to add any change to the game content of the game machine 9 except changing the outlines of the target objects 92. Thus, the gamer playing the game machine 9 can only feel carefree during the game by hitting. Neither the sense of achievement of clearing a stage nor other entertaining feelings are provided, causing limitation to the entertaining effect of the game machine 9 and, hence, creating a bar to the market value.
Furthermore, although the manufacturers can change the number of the target objects 92 or adjust the frequency of each target object 92 popping out of the cabinet 91 to increase the difficulty of the game for the purposes of attracting the gamers to keep playing by providing different challenges, the game content of the game machine 9 is still hitting. It is boring without other game factors. Thus, the gamers are less interested in playing the game machine 9 again. As a result, the game machine 9 gets old really fast.
In view of the limited entertaining effect and fast getting old of the game machine 9, a need exists for a novel game machine including target objects to be hit by gainers and having enhanced market value by providing increased gaming effect.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a game machine including a plurality of lifting devices, a loudspeaker, and a control device. The control device can send an ascending signal to each lifting device 2 according to each note in a preset tune. The loudspeaker can continuously generate musical signals to form the tune when a target object of each lifting device is hit, increasing the entertaining effect of the game machine and avoiding the game machine from getting old fast.
The present invention fulfills the above objective by providing a game machine including a base having a panel with a plurality of through-holes. The game machine further includes a plurality of lifting devices. Each lifting device includes a link, a driving device, a target object, and a sensor unit. Each link includes two ends respectively connected to a corresponding driving device and a corresponding target object. Each target object is aligned with one of the plurality of through-holes of the panel. Each driving device drives a corresponding link upward or downward to move the corresponding target object through one of the plurality of through-holes to an extended position extending out of an outer surface of the panel or a retracted position below the outer surface of the panel. Each sensor unit is located adjacent to the corresponding link to detect whether the corresponding target object is hit. A loudspeaker is mounted to the base. A control device is mounted to the base, is coupled to the driving device and the sensor unit of each lifting device, and is coupled to the loudspeaker.
When the sensor unit detects the corresponding target object is hit, the sensor unit generates a hit signal indicative of hitting and sends the hit signal to the control device, and the control device receives the hit signal and controls the loudspeaker to generate a musical scale.
In an embodiment, the control device sends an ascending signal to the driving device of each lifting device, and the driving device of each lifting device receives the ascending signal and drives the corresponding link to move upward, causing upward movement of the corresponding target object to extend out of the panel via a corresponding one of the plurality of through-holes aligned with the corresponding lifting device.
In the embodiment, the control device includes a tune stored therein. The tune includes a plurality of notes corresponding to a plurality of ascending signals. The control device continuously sends the plurality of ascending signals according to the plurality of notes of the tune.
In the embodiment, each sensor unit is pressed and generates the hit signal when the corresponding target object extends out of the panel is hit, and the hit signal is transmitted back to the control device.
In the embodiment, the control device receives the hit signals generated by the sensor units of the plurality of lifting devices and controls the loudspeaker to generate musical signals having different vibrating frequencies.
In the embodiment, the link of each of the plurality of lifting devices extends in a first direction. The target object of each of the plurality of lifting devices is aligned with one of the plurality of through-holes of the panel in the first direction. Each target object extends out of the panel to the extended position beyond the outer surface of the panel or retracts to the retraced position below the outer surface of the panel via one of the plurality of through-holes when the corresponding driving device drives a corresponding link to move upward or downward in the first direction.
In the embodiment, each of the plurality of lifting devices further includes a lighting element coupled to the control device. The lighting element emits light beams when the corresponding target object is hit.
In the embodiment, the base further includes a cabinet. The panel and the cabinet together define a receiving space. Each of the plurality of through-holes extends through the panel and intercommunicates with the receiving space. Each of the plurality of lifting devices is received in the receiving space defined by the panel and the cabinet.
In the embodiment, the cabinet further includes a side having a coin slot and a coin ejector. A coin box is mounted in the receiving space. The coin slot extends through the cabinet and intercommunicates with the coin box.
In the embodiment, the base further includes a backboard connected to a side of the panel distant to the cabinet. A display is mounted to the backboard and coupled to the control device.
In the embodiment, the base includes a surface having a plurality of indication marks in the form of a plurality of lines. Each of the plurality of lines extends from an edge of the display along the backboard and the panel and leading to one of the plurality of lifting devices.
In the embodiment, the frequencies of the musical scales generated by the loudspeaker are preferably in a range between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:
The term “coupling” referred to hereinafter means connection between two devices by a wire or wireless medium or a combination thereof (such as a heterogeneous network) such that the two devices can transfer data to each other, which can be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art.
The term “hit” referred to hereinafter means a gamer applying a force to a target object with bare hands or with a mallet to force the target object to move in the forcing applying direction, which can be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art.
A game machine of an embodiment according to the present invention is shown in
The base 1 includes a panel 11 and a cabinet 12. The panel 11 and the cabinet 12 together define a receiving space R The panel 11 includes a plurality of through-holes 111. Each through-hole 111 extends through the panel 11 and intercommunicates with the receiving space R. The cabinet 12 includes a side having a coin slot 121a and a coin ejector 121. A coin box 122 is mounted in the receiving space R. The coin slot 121 extends through the cabinet 12 and intercommunicates with the coin box 122. A gamer can insert a coin or a token to activate the game machine of the embodiment according to the present invention.
The lifting devices 2 are received in the receiving space R defined by the panel 11 and the cabinet 12. Each lifting device 2 includes a link 21, a driving device 22, a target object 23, and a sensor unit 24. Preferably, each link 21 extends in a first direction X. Each link 21 includes two ends respectively connected to a corresponding driving device 22 and a corresponding target object 23. Each driving device 22 is coupled to the control device 4. Each driving device 22 can be a power output device, such as a telescopic cylinder (e.g., a hydraulic or pneumatic telescopic cylinder), a motor, or an electromagnetic valve, to provide power for moving the corresponding link 21 upward or downward in the first direction X. Each target object 23 is aligned with one of the through-holes 111 of the panel 11 in the first direction. Each target object 23 extends out of the panel 11 to an extended position beyond an outer surface of the panel 11 or retracts to a retracted position below the outer surface of the panel 11 via one of the through-holes 111 when the corresponding driving device 22 drives the corresponding link 21 to move upward or downward in the first direction X. Each sensor unit 24 can be a sensor such as a proximity switch, an electric eye, or a micro switch. Furthermore, each sensor unit 24 is located adjacent to the corresponding link 21 for detecting whether the corresponding target object 23 is hit.
Specifically, each target object 23 is preferably a doll or model easily catching garners. When a driving device 22 drives a corresponding link 21 upward in the first direction X, the corresponding target object 23 extends out of the panel 11 via a corresponding through-hole 111. On the other hand, when a target object 23 is hit by the gamer, or a driving device 22 drives the corresponding link 21 to move downward in the first direction X, the target object 23 retracts to the retracted position below the outer surface of the panel 11. At the same time, the corresponding sensor unit 24 detects whether the target object 23 is hit and generates a hit signal if the target object 23 is hit.
The loudspeaker 3 can be an active speaker or a passive speaker. In the form shown, the base 1 further includes a backboard 13 connected to a side of the panel 11 distant to the cabinet 12. The loudspeaker 3 is mounted to the backboard 13. Nevertheless, the loudspeaker 3 can be mounted to the panel 11 or the cabinet 12 of the base 1. The control device 4 can be an operating device such as a control circuit board or a microcontroller unit (MCU). The control device 4 can be mounted to in the cabinet 12 or the backboard 13. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The control device 4 is coupled to the driving device 22 and the sensor unit 24 of each lifting device 2. Furthermore, the control device 4 is coupled to the loudspeaker 3.
With reference to
With reference to
On the other hand, if the gamer fails to hit the target object 23 in time, the control device 4 can send a descending signal to the corresponding driving device 22. After receiving of the ascending signal, the corresponding driving device 22 drives the corresponding link 21 to move downward in the first direction X such that the target object 23 of the lifting device 2a retracts to the retracted position below the outer surface the panel 11. In this case, the corresponding sensor unit 24 will not generate the hit signal, and the control device 4 will not control the loudspeaker 3 to generate the musical scale.
With reference to
Note that when the control device 4 receives the hit signals generated by the sensor units 24 of the lifting devices 2, the control device 4 can control the loudspeaker 3 to generate musical signals having different vibrating frequencies. Furthermore, when the control device 4 receives the hit signals from the sensor unit 24 of the same lifting device 2, the control device 4 can generate musical signals having the same vibrating frequency or different vibrating frequencies. The present invention is not limited in this regard. However the frequencies of the musical scales generated by the loudspeaker 3 are preferably in a range between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz audible to the human ear.
Thus, a tune can be stored in the control device 4 in advance. The tune includes a plurality of notes corresponding to a plurality of ascending signals. The control device 4 continuously sends the ascending signals according to the notes of the tune. If the target object 23 of each lifting device 2 extending beyond the outer surface of the panel 11 is actually hit by the gamer, the loudspeaker 3 can generate musical scales in accordance with the notes of the tune under the same frequency. The gamer can hear the tune via the loudspeaker 3 to achieve a sense of great achievement while playing the game machine according to the present invention. Compared to the conventional game machine 9 providing a simple entertaining effect by hitting target objects 92, the game machine according to the present invention combines the movement of the target objects 23 with the musical scales such that the gamer can finish a tune by hitting the target objects 23, which is more entertaining and variable. Thus, the entertaining effect of game machines is increased.
Furthermore, if the gamer hits the target object 23 of each lifting device 2 at the right timing, the temple of the musical scales continuously generated by the loudspeaker 3 matches the tune such that the loudspeaker 3 can exactly play the tune. On the other hand, if the gamer hits the target object 23 of each lifting device 2 too late or too early, the temple of the musical scales continuously generated by the loudspeaker 3 could not match the tune. Thus, the gamer can judge his or her performance during the game by the similarity between the musical scales generated by the loudspeaker 3 and the tune. This would interest the gamer in playing the game machine according to the present invention again and again. Furthermore, the control device 4 can store many tunes and can send ascending signals to each lifting device 2 according to the notes in different tunes. These tunes form different stages providing different challenges to the gamer, effectively avoiding the gamer of feeling boring during the game and effectively avoiding the game machine from getting old fast.
With reference to
Furthermore, the game machine of the embodiment according to the present invention can further include a display 5 mounted to the backboard 13 and coupled to the control device 4. The control device 4 can generate a score based on the success rate of hitting the target objects 23 of the lifting devices 2 and the accuracy of the hitting timing. The display 5 can include seven display sections to display the score, which can be easily appreciated and implemented by one having ordinary skill in the art. The display 5 is preferably a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid display, or light-emitting diodes. The display 5 can remind the gamer the target object 23 has extended beyond the outer surface of the panel 11 by presenting a message S, assisting the gamer in hitting the target object 23.
With reference to
With reference to
In view of the foregoing, by providing the loudspeaker 3 continuously generating musical scales when the gamer hits the target object 23 of each lifting device 2 to form a tune, the game machine according to the present invention provides increased entertaining effect and avoids the game machine from getting old fast.
Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
