Mahjong scoring device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a mahjong scoring device which comprises four scoring bodies with the same structure and four player cards corresponding to different players, and the four scoring bodies communicate with one another in a wired or wireless mode. A card slot matched with a player card is formed in each scoring main body, and an identification assembly is arranged in each card slot and used for identifying which player the currently inserted player card belongs to; and the scoring main body is also provided with a display area for displaying scores of different players and a control button. The score recording device has the advantages that the risk that scores of players are misremembered due to human negligence is greatly reduced, score information of each player can be accurately associated with the corresponding score main body, and the accuracy and pertinence of score recording are guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a mahjong auxiliary device, and more particularly to a mahjong scoring device. Background Technology

[0002] Mahjong, as a widely popular form of entertainment, occupies an important place in people's leisure life. However, the traditional scoring method of mahjong has many inconveniences and problems.

[0003] In Mahjong, accurately recording each player's score is crucial for determining the winner. Traditionally, players rely on paper and pen to record scores. This method faces several challenges in practice. Firstly, manual recording is prone to errors, such as writing the wrong numbers or misremembering scoring items. These errors can lead to significant discrepancies when calculating the total score, affecting the fairness of the game. Secondly, paper records are not intuitive enough. Players need to spend time carefully checking and calculating scores, especially when frequently checking score changes during the game. This method becomes extremely cumbersome and severely impacts the smoothness of the game. Moreover, when there are many players, such as in the common four-player Mahjong, paper records are more likely to cause confusion in score recording. Different players may record scores differently, leading to disputes and conflicts.

[0004] Although electronic scoring devices exist now, seats need to be changed frequently during entertainment to ensure fairness. If an electronic scorer is used to display the player's score, the player's score must also be displayed in the new position. Changing positions using an electronic scorer requires many operations to complete, which is very inconvenient. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a mahjong scoring device that can effectively solve the problem of inconvenient scoring in existing mahjong games.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0007] A mahjong scoring device includes four identical scoring bodies and four player cards corresponding to different players. The four scoring bodies communicate with each other via wired or wireless means. Each scoring body has a card slot adapted to the player card, and the card slot has an identification component to identify which player the currently inserted player card belongs to. The scoring body also has a display area for displaying the scores of different players and control buttons.

[0008] In the aforementioned mahjong scoring device, the identification component includes an identification circuit board and a Hall switch disposed on the identification circuit board, and each player card is provided with magnets arranged in different ways.

[0009] In the aforementioned mahjong scoring device, the player card has three fixed positions, and magnets are fixed to one or two of the fixed positions on each player card.

[0010] In the aforementioned mahjong scoring device, a flange is provided on one side wall of the player card, the flange being offset from the center line of the side wall, and a groove adapted to the flange is provided on the card slot.

[0011] In the aforementioned mahjong scoring device, a stop is provided along the circumference of the player card, and the stop abuts against the scoring body around the card slot to limit the depth of the player card inserted into the card slot.

[0012] In the aforementioned mahjong scoring device, the display area is provided with four score display areas, each of which includes a player number display area and a corresponding player score display area.

[0013] In the aforementioned mahjong scoring device, the display area further includes a game count display area.

[0014] In the aforementioned mahjong scoring device, the operation buttons include a reset button, a query button, and an end button.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are:

[0016] Four dedicated scoring entities were set up for different players, and through the collaborative work of player cards, card slots, and recognition components, accurate recording and management of each player's score was achieved. Compared to traditional paper-and-pen recording methods, this significantly reduced the risk of misrecording player scores due to human error. Each player's score information was accurately associated with the corresponding scoring entity, ensuring the accuracy and relevance of score recording. The recognition component automatically identified the player to whom the player card belonged, eliminating the need for manual marking or memorization, further improving the accuracy and efficiency of identification, avoiding potential identity confusion, and laying a solid foundation for accurate scoring. The four scoring entities communicated with each other via wired or wireless means. This feature ensured that any score change on any scoring entity was synchronized to the others in real time during the game. Players did not need to worry about data inconsistencies between different scoring devices, ensuring that each player saw the latest and consistent score information on their own scoring entity, effectively improving the fairness and impartiality of the game, avoiding disputes caused by score discrepancies, and allowing players to focus more on the game itself. The display area on the scoring unit clearly shows the scores of different players, allowing them to easily see their own and their opponents' scores and grasp the game situation. This intuitive display method saves a lot of time and effort compared to the traditional method of manual calculation and paper-based recording, improving the efficiency of information acquisition during the game. The equipped control buttons provide players with a convenient human-computer interaction method. Players can easily adjust scores, check historical score records, and end the game, making the entire scoring process more efficient and smooth, reducing tedious manual calculation and recording steps, and enhancing the overall smoothness and fun of the mahjong game.

[0017] Preferably, the identification component includes an identification circuit board and a Hall switch mounted on the identification circuit board, with each player card having magnets arranged in different ways. By setting a Hall switch on the identification circuit board and setting magnets in different arrangements on the player cards, the Hall effect is used to identify the player cards. This magnetic field induction-based identification method has high accuracy and reliability. Compared with traditional mechanical contact identification or simple visual identification, it is less affected by external environmental factors, and can more stably and accurately identify the player to whom the player card belongs, effectively reducing the probability of identification errors and ensuring that the scoring device can accurately record the score information of the corresponding player. The Hall switch and the magnet do not need to make direct contact to complete the identification process, avoiding problems such as poor contact or malfunctions caused by frequent plugging and unplugging or contact wear in traditional contact identification methods. This extends the service life of the identification component, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures the long-term stability and reliability of the identification system, helping the mahjong scoring device maintain good performance under long-term and frequent use.

[0018] Preferably, the contestant card has three fixing positions, and magnets are fixed to one or two of these positions on each contestant card. This design greatly increases the number of coding combinations for the contestant cards and reduces the likelihood of duplicate contestant cards.

[0019] Preferably, one sidewall of the player card has a flange offset from the centerline of that sidewall, and the card slot has a groove that matches the flange. The flange prevents the user from inserting the player card backwards, allowing the recognition component to accurately identify the player card and confirm the player information.

[0020] Preferably, a stop is provided along the circumference of the player card, and the stop abuts against the scoring body around the card slot to limit the depth of the player card insertion into the card slot. By controlling the insertion depth of the player card through the stop, the user can clearly feel that the player card has been inserted in place.

[0021] Preferably, the display area includes four score display areas, each comprising a contestant number display area and a corresponding contestant score display area. This clearly informs each contestant of their own score and the scores of other contestants.

[0022] Preferably, the display area further includes a game count display area to inform the player of the number of games played.

[0023] Preferably, the operation buttons include a reset button, a query button, and an end button, facilitating operation of the scoring device. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a front view of a mahjong scoring device according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a mahjong scoring device according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a rear view of all the contestant cards in this utility model;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional view of the contestant card in this utility model.

[0028] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0029] Scoring unit 1, display area 10, player number display area 101, corresponding player score display area 102, game count display area 103, card slot 11, identification circuit board 110, Hall switch 1101, reset button 111, query button 112, end button 113, player card 2, magnet 3, flange 4, stop part 5. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0031] See Figures 1 to 4 This invention relates to a mahjong scoring device. The device comprises four identical scoring bodies 1 and four player cards 2 corresponding to different players. The scoring bodies 1 can be embedded in the mahjong table or set up independently. The supports of the four scoring bodies 1 can communicate with each other via wired or wireless means. This feature ensures that during the game, any score change on any scoring body 1 is synchronized in real time to the other scoring bodies 1. Players do not need to worry about inconsistencies between different scoring devices, ensuring that each player sees the latest and consistent score information on their own scoring body 1. This effectively improves the fairness and impartiality of the game, avoids disputes caused by score differences, and allows players to focus more on the game itself.

[0032] Specifically, each scoring unit 1 is provided with a card slot 11 that is adapted to the player card 2. The shape of the player card 2 is not particularly limited; it can be a cuboid or a card. The card slot 11 is made into the corresponding shape. A recognition component is provided in the card slot 11 to identify which player the currently inserted player card 2 belongs to. The scoring unit 1 is also provided with a display area 10 for displaying the scores of different players and control buttons. The display area 10 can display the scores of oneself and other players, as well as some necessary information during the mahjong game. The control buttons can control operations such as starting, scoring, and ending the mahjong game.

[0033] Specifically, the identification component includes an identification circuit board 110 and a Hall switch 1101 mounted on the identification circuit board 110. Each player card 2 has magnets 3 arranged in different ways. By setting the Hall switch 1101 on the identification circuit board 110 and setting magnets 3 arranged in different ways on the player card 2, the Hall effect is used to identify the player card 2. This magnetic field induction-based identification method has high accuracy and reliability. Compared with traditional mechanical contact identification or simple visual identification, such as barcodes and QR codes, which may be affected by dirt or obstruction, it is less affected by external environmental factors and can more stably and accurately identify the player to which the player card 2 belongs. This effectively reduces the probability of identification errors and ensures that the scoring device can accurately record the score information of the corresponding player. The Hall switch 1101 and the magnet 3 do not need to make direct contact to complete the identification process, avoiding problems such as poor contact or failure caused by frequent plugging and unplugging or contact wear in traditional contact identification methods (such as contact switches). This extends the service life of the identification component, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures the long-term stability and reliability of the identification system, helping the mahjong scoring device maintain good performance under long-term and frequent use.

[0034] Furthermore, to differentiate the arrangement of magnets 3 on different player cards 2, three fixed positions are provided on player cards 2. Each player card 2 selects one or two fixed positions to fix the magnets 3. From a combinatorial mathematics perspective, this design greatly increases the number of coding combinations for player cards 2. The rich coding combinations make each player card 2 unique, significantly reducing the probability of identification errors due to code duplication or similarity, and improving the accuracy and reliability of player card 2 identification. This ensures that each participant has a unique magnet 3 arrangement code on their player card 2 during the mahjong game.

[0035] To ensure that player card 2 can be inserted in the correct direction and that Hall switch 1101 can accurately identify the magnet 3 on player card 2, a flange 4 is provided on one side wall of player card 2. The flange 4 is offset from the center line of the side wall, and the card slot 11 has a groove that matches the flange 4. This design provides a clear guide for inserting player card 2 into the card slot 11. When inserting player card 2, the player simply aligns the flange 4 with the groove and inserts it. Compared to traditional card slot 11 designs without guidance or with simple markings, this design significantly reduces the difficulty of card insertion and improves convenience and accuracy. Even in low light or when the player is not very skilled, player card 2 can be quickly and accurately inserted into the card slot 11, saving game preparation time and enhancing the overall gaming experience. The cooperation between the flange 4 and the groove ensures that player card 2 can only be inserted into the card slot 11 in a specific direction, preventing the identification component from malfunctioning or damaging the card slot 11 and player card 2 due to incorrect insertion direction. In practical use, if the contestant card 2 is inserted incorrectly or crookedly, it may affect the relative position of the Hall switch 1101 and the magnet 3, leading to identification errors or failure to identify the contestant. This design, through mechanical structural constraints, ensures that each insertion is in the correct direction, guaranteeing the stability and reliability of the identification process, reducing the risk of equipment failure due to misoperation, and improving the lifespan and stability of the scoring device. The flange 4, during insertion into the groove, not only acts as a guide but also achieves precise horizontal positioning between the contestant card 2 and the slot 11. This precise positioning helps improve the relative positional accuracy of the contestant card 2 and the identification components within the slot 11, ensuring that the Hall switch 1101 can accurately sense changes in the magnetic field of the magnet 3 on the contestant card 2, thereby achieving reliable contestant identification. Simultaneously, the tight fit reduces the shaking of the contestant card 2 within the slot 11, avoiding problems such as poor contact or signal interference caused by shaking, further enhancing the performance and stability of the scoring device.

[0036] Based on the above embodiment, a stop 5 is provided along the circumference of the player card 2. The stop 5 abuts against the scoring body 1 around the card slot 11 to limit the insertion depth of the player card 2 into the card slot 11. The stop 5, provided along the circumference of the player card 2, abuts against the scoring body 1 around the card slot 11 when the player card 2 is inserted into the card slot 11, which can precisely limit the insertion depth of the player card 2. This is crucial because the recognition component in the card slot 11 needs to be within a specific distance range to accurately detect the magnetic field information of the magnet 3 on the player card 2. If the insertion depth is too deep or too shallow, the Hall switch 1101 may not work properly or the detection signal may be inaccurate, thus affecting the recognition accuracy of the player to which the player card 2 belongs. Through the precise control of the stop 5, the relative position between the recognition component and the player card 2 is always in the optimal state, which greatly improves the accuracy and reliability of recognition and effectively avoids recognition errors caused by improper insertion depth.

[0037] Based on the above embodiment, the display area 10 includes four score display areas 10, each comprising a player number display area 101 and a corresponding player score display area 102. This allows users to clearly see the scores of their opponent (previous player, themselves, next player, and opponent). This design separates player identity information from score information, making it clearer and more concise. When viewing scores, players can immediately identify which player corresponds to each score, avoiding misunderstandings caused by confused score information. This is especially beneficial when scores fluctuate frequently or there are many players, enabling quick and accurate access to necessary information and improving the efficiency and accuracy of information retrieval. Furthermore, the display area 10 also includes a game count display area 103, allowing players to clearly see the current game count.

[0038] The operation buttons include a reset button 111, a query button 112, and an end button 113. The reset button can reset the current score so that the player can start a new round of the game. The query button 112 can query some information, such as the score of the previous round. The end button 113 can control the end of the entire round of the game.

[0039] In use, each of the four players receives a player card 2 with a different magnet 3 in a different order. The four scoring units 1 are placed in suitable positions on the mahjong table, or pre-embedded within the table, ensuring each player can easily operate their assigned scoring unit 1. Simultaneously, the wired or wireless communication connection between the four scoring units 1 is checked. If wired, ensure the data cable is secure and undamaged; if wireless, turn on the power and check the signal strength to ensure stable data transmission and synchronization between the scoring units 1.

[0040] When the mahjong game begins, each player inserts their corresponding player card 2 into the slot 11 of the scoring unit 1 in front of them. During insertion, the flange 4 on the side wall of the player card 2 slides along the groove on the slot 11. Since the flange 4 is off-center from the center line of the side wall, this design ensures that the player card 2 can only be inserted into the slot 11 in the correct direction, serving as a guide and positioning mechanism. At the same time, the circumferential stop 5 of the player card 2 abuts against the scoring unit 1 around the slot 11 when inserted, thereby precisely limiting the insertion depth of the player card 2 and ensuring that the Hall switch 1101 inside the slot 11 can accurately detect the arrangement of the magnets 3 on the player card 2.

[0041] Once the player card 2 is inserted, the recognition component in the card slot 11 of the scoring unit 1 immediately begins to operate. The Hall switch 1101 on the recognition circuit board 110 senses changes in the magnetic field generated by the magnet 3 on the player card 2 and quickly and accurately identifies the player to whom the currently inserted player card 2 belongs, based on a pre-set correspondence between the magnet 3 arrangement and the player's identity. For example, when the Hall switch 1101 detects a specific magnetic field pattern, the control system of the scoring unit 1 associates the player's identity information with the corresponding score recording area and displays the player's number, such as "Player 1" or "Player 2," in the player number display area 101 of the display area 10, indicating that the scoring unit 1 is ready to record a score for that player.

[0042] During a mahjong game, according to the scoring rules, when a player scores or loses points, the score is recorded by operating the control buttons on the scoring unit 1. For example, when a player wins a hand, they press the corresponding bonus button based on the type and number of points awarded, and the bonus value will be updated in real time in the corresponding player's score display area 10.

[0043] Players can use the query key 112 to check their current score at any time. After pressing the query key 112, display area 10 will clearly show the score information of the four players, including each player's player number, current score, and number of games played. This helps players understand the game situation at any time, assess their own and other players' scores, and formulate appropriate game strategies.

[0044] If the entire mahjong activity ends and the player does not wish to continue playing, they can press the end button 113 again. At this time, the scoring device can store or back up the data, if it has this function, for later retrieval of historical game records. Then, turn off the power to the scoring unit 1 and properly store the player card 2 for future use.

[0045] Throughout the entire mahjong game, the four scoring entities 1 maintain a constant communication connection. Whether it's updating scores, querying operations, or processing after the game ends, any operation or data change on any scoring entity 1 will be synchronized to the other three scoring entities 1 in real time. This ensures that the score information seen by each player is completely consistent, guaranteeing the fairness and impartiality of the game. At the same time, through convenient operation buttons and an intuitive display area 10, players are provided with an efficient and accurate scoring experience.

[0046] The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present utility model, but the technical features of the present utility model are not limited thereto. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present utility model are covered by the patent scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A mahjong scoring device, characterized in that, It includes four identical scoring entities and four player cards corresponding to different players. The four scoring entities communicate with each other via wired or wireless means. Each scoring entity is provided with a card slot that is adapted to the player card. The card slot is provided with an identification component to identify which player the currently inserted player card belongs to. The scoring unit is also equipped with a display area for showing the scores of different players and control buttons.

2. The mahjong scoring device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The identification component includes an identification circuit board and a Hall switch mounted on the identification circuit board. Each contestant card has magnets arranged in a different pattern.

3. The mahjong scoring device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The contestant card has three fixed positions, and magnets can be fixed in one or two of the fixed positions on each contestant card.

4. A mahjong scoring device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The contestant card has a flange on one of its side walls, which is offset from the center line of the side wall, and the card slot has a groove that matches the flange.

5. A mahjong scoring device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A stop is provided along the circumference of the player card, and the stop abuts against the scoring body around the card slot to limit the depth of the player card inserted into the card slot.

6. A mahjong scoring device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The display area has four score display areas, each of which includes a contestant number display area and a corresponding contestant score display area.

7. A mahjong scoring device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The display area also includes a game count display area.

8. A mahjong scoring device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control buttons include a reset button, a query button, and an end button.

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