Patent Application
20070173314
The present invention relates to a number place game device, and more particularly, relates to the game device which may determine whether a symbol place is proper by Sudoku puzzle.
Sudoku is a placement puzzle, also known as number place. Generally, the aim of the puzzle is to enter a numeral from 1 (one) through9 (nine) in each cell of a grid, most frequently a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 sub grids (called “regions”), shown in
Moreover, Sudoku will exercise the logical side of your brain, and though the puzzles are amazingly simple, solving these puzzles will definitely challenge you. As described above, every row and column contains the digits from 1 (one) through 9 (nine). Each of the nine 3×3 regions will also contain one of the digits. Knowing this, and with a few cells exposed, you can deduce the other cells until the entire grid is filled.
a˜3c shows a view of Sudoku puzzle. The object of Sudoku is to fill the other empty cells with numbers between 1 (one) through 9 (nine) (one number only in each cell) according to the following guidelines: 1. Number can appear only once on each row, shown in
Currently, the method for playing Sudoku comprises the following steps: 1. drawing nine 3×3 sub grids on a paper by a pencil and a rubber; 2. placing some digits on the sub grids; 3. entering digits from 1 (one) through 9 (nine) into all blank cells on the grid until each row, column and 3×3 box contain the digits 1 through 9 once and only once.
The aforementioned method for playing Sudoku has some drawbacks, for example wasting energy, eyesight and time owing to checking place number again and again; repeatedly trying and correcting by erasing, re-placing and checking place number continuously in the condition without meeting the requirement of the play puzzle, thereby resulting in paper broken and inconvenient to play. Moreover, the playing method of the conventional Sudoku game needs many buttons, in general above nine buttons or more, to proceed the playing, and therefore it causes to waste material made of the Sudoku device and difficultly control the buttons by the users.
Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned of the prior art, a new Sudoku device may be provided to achieve a purpose for convenient play to overcome the above drawbacks.
In view of the drawbacks of prior art, which is produced of wasting energy, eyesight and time owing to checking place number again and again; repeatedly trying and correcting by erasing, re-placing and checking place number continuously in the condition without meeting the requirement of the play puzzle, the present invention provides a new Sudoku device.
In accordance with the purpose of the present invention, the invention provides a device with a Sudoku game module comprising a microprocessor; a Sudoku conditional module coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the Sudoku conditional module has a Sudoku puzzle program for creating a Sudoku puzzle; an input module coupled to the microprocessor, wherein a symbol may be entered into a blank cell on a grid by a directional button and an input button of the input module, wherein the microprocessor check the entered symbol by the Sudoku puzzle and if the entered symbol can not fit Sudoku puzzle, then an indication may be shown on the display for re-entering another symbol into the blank cell; a display interface coupled to the microprocessor; a display coupled to the display interface, wherein the display may be shown the data of executing on the display processed by the microprocessor through the display interface coupled to the display; and a power source coupled to the microprocessor and the display interface, wherein the power source provides a power to the microprocessor, the display and the dual-buttons input module.
The Sudoku device further comprises a switch coupled to the power source and a memory coupled to the microprocessor.
When the symbols entered into all blank cells are filled, the microprocessor detects that the Sudoku is finished, followed by sending an indication of Sudoku complete signal through the display and allowable for erasing the symbols on the grid for re-starting of Sudoku.
An action of short release of the directional button represents a signal of cursor forwarding and an action of pressing of the directional button to a predetermined time represents a signal of cursor backward until an action of releasing the cursor.
An action of short release of the input button represents a signal of changing the selected symbol, and an action of pressing the input button to a predetermined time represents a signal of confirming the selected symbol.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a four-buttons input module is coupled to the microprocessor, wherein a symbol may be entered into a blank cell on a grid by two-directional buttons and two-input buttons of the four-buttons input module.
The two-directional buttons comprise a forward button for moving the cursor cell to a next forwarding cell, and a backward button for moving back the cursor to a previous cell, and wherein the two-input buttons comprises a symbol button for changing the symbol to be inserted into the cursor cell, and a confirmation button for confirming the symbol to be inserted into the cell.
The indication shown on the display and controlled by the microprocessor indicates that the repeated symbol cell on the same row, column or a region of the grid returns to the null cell.
When Sudoku begins, some of the grid cells is filled with symbols crested by a random access producer of the microprocessor by pressed the input button, thereby the microprocessor may check and command the symbols fitting the Sudoku puzzle.
The directional button and the input button are substantially simultaneously pressed to erase the symbols on the.grid such that Sudoku may be re-started. The pressed may be finished by substantially simultaneously pressing short release or pressing a predetermined time of the directional button and the input button.
The directional button and the input button are substantially simultaneously pressed to set the given symbols created by the microprocessor as a default symbols which can not be changed and erased. The pressed may be finished by substantially simultaneously pressing a forward button or a backward button of the directional button and a symbol button or a confirmation button of the input button.
The above-mentioned grid comprises m×m cells, wherein the number of m is an integer from four to nine. The sub grids of the grid are asymmetric on 5×5 cells.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the following drawings, which show the preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which:
a˜
3
c shows a view of Sudoku puzzle.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is expressly not limited expect as specified in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will immediately realize that the embodiments of the present invention described herein in the context of methods and schematics are illustrative only and are not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefits of this disclosure.
The numerals in Sudoku puzzle are used for convenience; arithmetic relationships between numerals are absolutely irrelevant. Moreover, any set of distinct symbols will do, for example numbers, letters, geometric shapes, or colors may be used without altering the puzzle.
Referring to
The microprocessor 45 is disposed into the main body 40, and coupled to the power source 49. The microprocessor 45 is coupled to the Sudoku conditional module 48. The Sudoku conditional module 48 comprises a Sudoku puzzle program for generating a Sudoku puzzle. In one embodiment, the Sudoku conditional module 48 may be embedded into the microprocessor 45. The display interface 44 is disposed into the main body 40, and coupled to the microprocessor 45, the display 41 and the power source 49. The display 41 may be shown the data of executing or completed Sudoku processed by the microprocessor 45 through the display interface 44 coupled to the display 41. The microprocessor 45 is coupled to the power source 49 and the dual button input module 46 such that the power source 49 can provide a power source to microprocessor 45 and display 41 through the display interface 44. In other words, the direction of the cursor on the display is controlled by dual button input module 46 through the directional button 42a and the input button 42b.
Sudoku may be executed by the Sudoku device made of the above-mentioned elements. Sudoku begins with some of the grid cells filled with symbols such as given numbers crested by a random access producer (not shown) of the microprocessor 45 by pressed the input button 42b of the key area 42, shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In another embodiment, the key area 42 comprises two directional buttons 42a and two input buttons 42b. The two directional buttons 42a comprise a forward button for moving the cursor cell to a next forwarding cell, and a backward button for moving back the cursor to a previous cell. Similarly, the two input buttons 42b comprises a symbol button for changing the symbol to be inserted into the cursor cell, and a confirmation button for. confirming the symbol to be inserted into the cell.
As described above, Sudoku puzzle follows guidelines that a symbol should appear only once on each row, column and a region. In other words, the same symbol can not appear on each row, column and a region. In one embodiment, the indication shown on the display 41 and controlled by the microprocessor 45 indicates that the repeated symbol cell on the same row, column or a region returns to the null cell.
As stopping Sudoku, the directional button 42a and the input button 42b may be substantially simultaneously pressed to erase the symbols on the grid (or each one of the sub grids) such that Sudoku may be re-started.
Moreover, the directional button 42a and the input button 42b may be substantially simultaneously pressed to set the given symbols created by the microprocessor 45 as a default symbols which can not be changed and erased.
The above pressing method may be determined by substantially simultaneously pressing short release or pressing a predetermined time of the directional button 42a and the input button 42b.
Besides, the above pressing method may be determined by substantially simultaneously pressing a forward button or a backward button of the directional button 42a and a symbol button or a confirmation button of the input button 42b.
In another embodiment, the device with a Sudoku game module of the present may be an electric game device, a mobile phone, a computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) . When Sudoku begins, some of the grid (or each one of the sub grids) cells is filled with symbols such as given symbols crested by a random access producer of the above device such that the microprocessor 45 may check and command the given symbols fitting the Sudoku puzzle. The given symbols may be set as default symbols.
Therefore, in contrast with the prior art having some drawbacks of wasting energy, eyesight and time owing to checking place number again and again; repeatedly trying and correcting by erasing, re-placing and checking place number continuously in the condition without meeting the requirement of the play puzzle, the present invention provides a new Sudoku device which may achieve a purpose for convenient play and overcome the above drawbacks.
As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. Having described the invention in connection with a preferred embodiment, modification will now suggest itself to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to this embodiment, but rather the invention is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
