4,436,308
1 2
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bingo display in BINGO GAME DISPLAY accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram form the control
The present invention relates to the game or bingo and display circuitry of the present invention, and, in particular, to a display of a particular pattern or 5 Referring now to the drawings wherein like refera pattern of a series of patterns required to be achieved ence numerals are utilized to designate like parts for winning the game. throughout the several views, there is shown a control
As is well-known, in the game of bingo, a win is unit or box 1 connected by cable to a display board 2 obtained by filling a preselected pattern in a 5 X 5 matrix which is arranged for connection with a conventional of squares. In addition to the normal patterns, a type of 10 AC source. By use of the control unit 1, the operator bingo game requires a preselected pattern to be ob- can turn on any one of, for example, 200 preprotained for winning such game. The preselected pattern grammed patterns of the twenty-five lights 9 arranged game is generally called a "special" game and since in a 5 X 5 matrix in the display board 2 by use of a single many patterns are available for special games, the pat- selector switch 3. The desired pattern is also displayed tern being played must be displayed. When the game is 15 by means of &n LED display 4 on the control unit, played in large groups such as by church organizations, Further, with a second selector switch 5, the operator clubs and parties, a special game's board is used to dis- can cause the patterns to repeatedly cycle through a play the pattern being played as well as the groups of sequence of consecutive patterns stored in the memory, patterns, for which a winning bingo can be achieved. e-&'110 8 consecutive patterns, so as to display a predeThe special game's board for displaying the various 20 termined Pa"ern in different positions. The switches 3 patterns have generally been in the form of large picture and 5 mav be conventional thumbwheel switches, cards; as illuminated board with twenty-five switches, ^ contro.1 .unlt 18 ^f0 Provided with a switch such one for each of the twenty-five lights which required a.s a tw0 Posltl?n t0#|le swltch 6Jor controlling the setting of a switch for each light in the pattern; and an „ *me of sequencing of the patterns That is, the switch 6 illuminated board with a combination of switches for 25 » PrTMded WIth \ fast. ,or ,slow P08"10" and ,n each pattern and using solenoids wired with parts of tff**TM* upon the position of the switch, the length patterns for display of a single pattern by closing of an °f tlmf.that,a P**TM «> the sequence will remain disappropriate switch, the latter arrangement being de- 18 dete»TMned- F°r examP^'lf ,thte wmnmg sPel scribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,596 to Keck et al. Such w "al fme Pat erns * a T. <the letter T m one of . , / . , , .... 30 the four positions T, —, -L, (—), the operator would arrangements, however, have required a plurality of ^ th/ ttem number on Selector switch correcards the manual setting of individual switches for each di £ ^ T m ^ rf fat hion The of desired pattern or a complex structure with individual CQuld th*n set the consec^*e switch t0 „4>, th£ other patterns wired differently. three itions of the T bei stored in consecutive
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to 35 me iocations after the upright T. The switch 6 is provide an electronic bingo game display capable of then set for a fast or slow d and when the di lay displaymg a desired pattern of a plurality of stored switch 14 such
as a two position toggle switch, is
patterns by means of a smgle selector switch. tumed t0 the ON position) the electronics of the present
Another object of the present invention is to provide invention will cause cycling through the consecutive a bingo game display which enables display of a pattern 40 mem0ry locations to enable continuous display of the m different positions in sequence (i.e., different pat- «crazy T» in the various positions in sequence at the terns), any of the positions being suitable for winning speed selected.
the game. FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram form the electron
In accordance with the present invention, there is ics arrangement of the control unit and display board, provided a bingo game display including a control unit 45 As shown, the pattern selector switch 3 provides an with a memory device having stored therein a plurality output to a memory 8 via the digital adder 7. The operaof patterns desired to be displayed and a selector switch tor selects a number from "0" to "199" with the pattern for enabling recall and display of any complete pattern selector switch 3 which number corresponds to one of from the memory, and a display board coupled to the the preprogrammed patterns stored in the memory 8 control unit having twenty-five lights arranged in a 50 desired to be illuminated by selected patterns of lights 5X5 matrix, the lights being lighted in accordance with 0n the display board 2. The outputs from the selector the pattern selected by the selector switch from the switch are connected to the "A" input of the digital memory. adder 7 which in turn supplies a memory address to the
According to another feature of the present inven- memory 8. Assuming that the "B" input to the adder is tion, a single pattern which may take various positions 55 "0," the output of the adder will be identical to the "A" (i.e., different patterns) for winning a game is stored in input as determined by the pattern selector switch 3. the memory in sequence, and a sequencing arrangement The memory 8 may be a preprogrammed digital inteis provided for sequencing the patterns to enable display grated circuit memory such as a read only memory of the pattern in the different positions, the lights of the (ROM) or a user programmable memory such as a randisplay board being lighted in accordance with the 60 dom access memory (RAM). Although the present pattern and position determined by the selector switch invention is described with reference to a ROM having and sequencing arrangement. Additionally, by use of a 200 preprogrammed patterns stored therein, it is readily speed selector arrangement, the sequencing can be at- apparent that a larger amount of patterns may be stored tained at a fast or slow speed. or that a RAM may be utilized. The memory 8 in re
These and other objects, features and advantages of 65 sponse to the memory address outputted by the adder 7 the present invention will become more apparent from selects the pattern corresponding to the memory adthe following description when taken in conjunction dress. The memory 8 provides a twenty-five bit word with the accompanying drawings wherein: output for the desired pattern which is a set of twenty
