GB2428980A

GB2428980A - Virtual scratch card

Info

Publication number: GB2428980A
Application number: GB0516553A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-12
Filing date: 2005-08-12
Publication date: 2007-02-14
Also published as: GB0516553D0

Abstract

A computer generated virtual scratch card playable on a computer screen using a finger or other object to rub away a virtual (computer generated) film or overlay covering a graphical element seen to be below the overlay thereby revealing the character or symbol beneath. Thereby mimicking a real scratch card made from paper or cardboard. The input device may be in the form of a touch screen.

Description

I

This invention relates to a computer generated Virtual Scratch Card.

Touch screen technologies have been in existence for many years and are widely used throughout the world. There are several different types such as capacitance, saw, resistive, vibration. Scratch cards are also commonplace used by many charities to raise funds and gaming institutions to make profits. Herein is described a virtual scratch card or cards being displayed on a VDU, PLASMA or TFT screen fitted with a touch screen input device.

According to the present invention there is provided a scratch card playable on a computer screen using a finger or other object to rub away a virtual (computer generated) film or overlay covering another graphical element seen to be underneath the overlay thereby revealing the character or symbol beneath mimicking a real scratch card made of paper or cardboard.

It can be seen that this mimics the way in which people scratch the obscuring film off real scratch cards There are many applications for the virtual scratch card invention.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1 shows in perspective the touch screen input device, a TFT display device with layered computer generated video graphics constructing eight virtual scratch cards.

Figure 2 shows in perspective the touch screen input device, a TFT display device with layered computer generated video graphics constructing twenty virtual scratch cards installed in a coin operated floor standing machine or terminal.

Figure 3 shows in perspective the touch screen input device, a TFT display device with layered computer generated video graphics constructing twenty virtual scratch cards installed in coin operated floor standing vending machine which can dispense a physical prize such as a toy teddy bear.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1, the virtual scratch card comprises of a touch sensitive device able to transmit the x,y and or z where z is the pressure applied. Position of the touch of a finger or other object. (C). fixed to a video display device, in this example a TFT panel (J).

A computer generates a background video graphic layer (A) which is displayed on the TFT (J), this layer would consist of a basic colour red (dashed area) with eight green (dotted area) rectangles in two coulombs of four. Within each of these rectangles would be another graphical element or symbol, in this example there are two possible, the first (D) being a gold coin with a sign on it depicting a prize winning symbol. The second (E) being a grey coin with an X' depicting a no prize win' symbol. The computer also generates a second foreground graphics layer (B) which displays eight blue (shaded) rectangular areas. These graphic areas appear in front of and in line with the rectangular graphic areas on the background layer (A) these graphic rectangles by means of there video display priority obscure the graphic rectangles on layer 1. This property is commonly referred to as video display priority where the last pixel/colour displayed in a given x/y coordinate overwrites any existing pixel/colour in that same x/y position. In this example the player would see the eight blue rectangles on the foreground layer (B) with the spaces between these rectangles being the colour of the spaces between the

rectangles on the background layer (A).

The touch screen (C) is placed between the player and the display screen (TFT) the touch screen is calibrated and aligned with the TFT so when the player touches or rubs the touch screen at a position covering the area of any of the blue rectangles on the foreground layer(B) the computer will remove the blue pixels from the rectangle at the coordinates touched replacing these pixels with transparency allowing the graphic symbol underneath on the background layer (A) to be revealed, the more the touch screen is rubbed the more the symbol beneath is revealed, and of course one touch reveal all. If the touch screen is pressure sensitive then this property can be taken into account when deciding the quantity of blue pixels to be removed.

Figure 2, shows in perspective a coin operated machine incorporating a game using twenty virtual scratch cards.

Referring to the drawing Figure 2.

There can be seen in this example a floor standing cabinet (A) in which is housed a TFT panel (B) a touch screen input device (C) displaying twenty virtual scratch cards (D)in five horizontal rows of four. A card that has been scratched (E) a coin acceptor (F) a payout tray(G) were cash prizes are collected and a computer control system (H) Referring to the drawing Figure 3.

There can be seen in this example a floor standing cabinet (A) in which is housed a TFT panel (B) a touch screen input device (C) displaying twenty virtual scratch cards in five horizontal rows of four with three of the cards scratched. A coin acceptor (H) prizes (E) a dispensing tray (F) were prizes are collected and a computer control system (G) and a prize dispensing system (D).

There could be many different element designs depending on the scratch card game. There could be many different rectangles. scratch card games could be designed with as few as three or four virtual scratch cards or as many as can be reasonably displayed given the display properties of the VDU, plasma, TFT and computer hardware. (c;,

Claims

-CLAIMS-

1. A virtual scratch card or multiples thereof.

2. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of an amusement machine.

3. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of an amusement machine that is token or coin operated

4. A virtual scratch card as in claim 1 that is part of an amusement machine that is token or coin operated that awards cash prizes.

5. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is feature in an amusement machine that is token or coin operated that awards cash prizes.

6. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of an amusement machine that is based on a game of skill is token or coin operated that awards cash prizes.

7. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is a feature in an amusement machine that is based on a game of skill is token or coin operated that awards cash prizes.

8. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of an amusement machine that is token or coin operated that is part of a national tournament.

9. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of machine or terminal that is token or coin operated that is part of a multi-national tournament.

10. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of an online terminal that is note/bill, coin or token operated that is part of a national lottery.

11. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of an amusement machine that is token or coin operated that is part of a multi-national lottery.

12. A virtual scratch card as in claim I that is part of a vending machine that is cash, token or coin operated that dispenses a physical prize.