GB2207608A

GB2207608A - Electronic action game

Info

Publication number: GB2207608A
Application number: GB08717704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Po Pui-Kau
Original assignee: PUI KAU
Current assignee: PUI KAU
Priority date: 1987-07-27
Filing date: 1987-07-27
Publication date: 1989-02-08
Also published as: GB8717704D0

Abstract

An electronic game device comprises a hammer (H1) and a game surface bearing a plurality of LEDs and a plurality of microswitches (SW1-5). A microcomputer illuminates selectively single one's of the LEDs, records the number of correct hits and the elapsed time. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRONIC 'WHACK A MOLE' GAME DEVICE This invention relates to an electronic 'Whack a Mole' game device.

The traditional "Whack a Mole' game device is an electromechanical equipment installed in most children's recreation playgrounds. The essential components consist of several moles moving up at random from holes and the player can use a hammer to whack at them and score points at a preset time interval.

This electronic counterpprt of the electromechanical game device is space-saving, portable, with low construction and running cost. It can become a home game device.

In the present invention, the vertical movement of the moles is simulated by the random lighting up of LEDs. When the IEDs are lit and the adjacent microswitch is hit by the toy hanker, score will be gained. The total score is registered in the two digit 7-Eegment counter within a preset time interval of one minute.

The external components of the electronic 'Whack a Mole' game device are shown in Fig.1. SW7 is the on-off switch, SW6 is the reset switch.

31 is the buzzer giving audio tone each time score is gained. SW1 to SW5 are five microswitches for the player to hit with the toy hammer HI. LED1 to LED5 are five randomly lit light emitting diodes. SD is the score display and CH is the drum-shaped chassis.

Fig.2 shows the block diagram of the functioning of the game device.

The clock CK is generated by IC2 shown in Pig. 3a and is redused to low speed through frequency divider composed of IC3, IC4 and 105 shown in Pig. 3a. The outputs QA, QB, QC, , QD from IC3 are used to generate T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 through the pseudo random pulse generators comprising IC6, 107 and IC8 as shown in Fig.3b.The Te are enabled or disabled through the 5-channel 'and' gates comprising 1018 and 1012 shown in Fig. 3c by TM which is the timer output generated in Ici shown in Fig.3a. The gated output each undergoes a differentiating network to emerge as OS1 to OS5 in Fig.3c.

These are fed to 5-channel X second one shot comprising IC19, IC20 and IC21 in Pig. 3e0 The outputs L1 to L5 are fed to 5-channel 'and' gates comprising IC11 and IC12 and at the same time are used to light up the LED1 to IED5 as shown in Fig.3d and Fig.3c.The 5-channel and gates in Fig.3d and Fig. 3c are enabled by S1 to S5 which are generated by activating of switches SW1 to SW5 through debouncing circuits comprising IC9 and IC10 as shown in Fig.3e. The outputs P1 to P5 of the 5-channel 'and' gates shown in Fig.3d and Fig.3c are fed to 'or' gates comprising 1017 and 1010 as shown in Pig. 3d to produce the score count signal SC. One branch of this SC signal is fed to the score counter comprising IC13, IC14, 1015 and IC16 as shown in Fig.3f. The current score is registered in the score display SD comprising IC22 and IC23. The other branch of the SC signal is inverted through 102 to produceOS6 in Fig.3d. This signal is then fed to a 1/10 sec. one shot comprising IC21 to drive a buzzer giving the audio score tone as shown in Fig.3a.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. An electronic "Whack a Mole' game device comprising a toy hammer H1, a drum-shaped chassis Ch on which are five randomly lit LEDs each with an adjacent microswitch to be hit by the player using the said hammer at the right time to score points registered in the score display 5D during a prest time interval of one minute.

2. An electronic "Whack a Mole' game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lighting up of a light emitting diode LED1 to LED5 simulates the mechanical movement of a mole in a conventional electromechanical machine.

3. An electronic "Whack a Mole' game device as claimed in claim wherein the five microswitches SWI to SW5 simulates the moles to be hit by the said hammer.

4. An electronic "Whack a Mole' game device as claimed in claim 2 & 3 wherein a lighted microswitch assembly can simulate a moving mole.

5. An electronic "Whack a Mole' game device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said LEDs are randomly lit by a pseudo-random pulse generator comprising IC6, IC7 and IC8.

6. An electronic "Whack a Mole' game device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said LEDs are driven and lit by 1/2 second one shot comprising IC19, IC20 and IC21.

7. An electronic "Whack a Mole' game device substantially as described herein with reference to Fig.1 to Pig. 3f of the accompanying drawings.