Arcade machine

Abstract

An arcade machine includes a main body that includes: a cabinet that forms a gaming space, a display screen that is disposed on the cabinet and that displays a playing screen including a virtual object, and a moving object that moves within the gaming space; a sensor unit that, when activated, generates a location signal indicating a location of the moving object; and a processor that generates a contact signal when a two-dimensional (2D) location of the moving object in the gaming space corresponds with a 2D location of the with the virtual object on the display screen; calculates an accumulated score associated with a player based on the contact signal; generates a triggering signal when a preset triggering condition is met; and implements a change operation to change the playing screen based on the triggering signal, and controls the display screen to display the changed playing screen.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 114112359, filed on Mar. 31, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD

[0002] The disclosure relates to an arcade cabinet for recreational purposes, and more particularly to an arcade machine.BACKGROUND

[0003] Pinball is a wildly popular traditional game. Typically, the pinball game involves launching a ball toward the top of a cabinet that is planted with a number of obstacles (e.g., nails), and that has a plurality of retaining compartments which are located at the bottom of the cabinet, and each of which is associated with a specific score. As the ball falls down in the cabinet, a trajectory of the ball may be deflected by the obstacles, and therefore the ball may drop into one of the retaining compartments, giving a player the associated score. In some variations, special prizes may be given to the player when the ball drops into a designated one of the retaining compartments. In some variations, a plurality of holes are formed in the bottom of the cabinet, and the ball may drop into one of the holes. Currently, electronic components have been incorporated into the pinball machines.SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide an arcade machine that is configured to provide additional playing mechanisms over the conventional pinball machines.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the disclosure, an arcade machine includes a main body, a sensor unit, and a processor.

[0006] The main body includes a cabinet that is disposed on a base, that has an opening and that forms a gaming space, a display screen that is disposed on the cabinet to cover the opening, the display screen displaying a playing screen, the playing screen including a virtual object that is related to playing the arcade machine, an operating mechanism that is disposed on the cabinet and that is operable by a player, a plurality of obstacles that are disposed in the cabinet, and a moving object that is driven to move within the gaming space by operation of the player operating the operating mechanism.

[0007] The sensor unit, when activated, continuously detects a location of the moving object in the gaming space, so as to generate a location signal indicating the location of the moving object.

[0008] The processor includes a contact detection module connected to the sensor unit, a calculating module connected to the contact detection module, a triggering module connected to the contact detection module and the calculating module, and an operation module connected to the contact detection module, the triggering module and the display screen. The processor is configured for:

[0009] generating, by the contact detection module, a contact signal in the case that it is determined based on the location signal that a two-dimensional (2D) location of the moving object in the gaming space corresponds with a 2D location of the virtual object on the display screen;

[0010] in response to receipt of the contact signal, the calculating module to calculate an accumulated score associated with the player;

[0011] in response to receipt of one of the contact signal and the accumulated score, the triggering module to generate and transmit a triggering signal to the operation module in the case that it is determined that a preset triggering condition is met; and

[0012] in response to receipt of the triggering signal, the operation module to implement a change operation to change the playing screen into a changed playing screen based on the triggering signal, and control the display screen to display the changed playing screen based on the change operation.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an arcade machine according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary sensor unit according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the components of the arcade machine according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an arcade machine according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an arcade machine according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an arcade machine according to one embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

[0021] Throughout the disclosure, the term “coupled to” or “connected to” may refer to a direct connection among a plurality of electrical apparatus / devices / equipment via an electrically conductive material (e.g., an electrical wire), or an indirect connection between two electrical apparatus / devices / equipment via another one or more apparatus / devices / equipment, or wireless communication.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arcade machine 100 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the arcade machine 100 includes a main body 1, a sensor unit 2, and a processor 3 (see FIG. 3).

[0023] The main body 1 includes a base (not shown), a cabinet 12 that is disposed on the base in an inclined manner, and that forms a gaming space 120, a display screen 13 that is disposed on the cabinet 12, a plurality of obstacles 14 that are disposed in the cabinet 12, a plurality of moving objects 15 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) that are driven to move within the gaming space 120, a plurality of compartment members 17 that are disposed below the obstacles 14 in the cabinet 12, and an operating mechanism 16 that is disposed on the cabinet 12 and that is operable by a player to drive the moving object 15 to move within the gaming space 120.

[0024] In some embodiments, the main body 1 further includes an operating interface 18 that includes a set of buttons for allowing the player to implement additional operations, and a ramp 19 that is disposed at a bottom of the gaming space 120. The operating interface 18 is electrically connected to the processor 3. The configuration of the main body 1 (including a size and an appearance thereof) may be implemented according to practical needs, and is not limited to the disclosure herein.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet 12 has a top plate that has a curved inner surface, and two side plates that are interconnected by the top plate. The display screen 13 may be disposed under an inner surface of the gaming space 120, and may be controlled to display a playing screen (M) under the gaming space 120. The playing screen (M) may include one or more virtual objects (F) that are related to playing a game provided by the arcade machine 100. The virtual objects (F) may stay fixed or move at random. The plurality of obstacles 14 may be embodied using rods made of plastic, metal, glass, etc. The plurality of compartment members 17 may be embodied using rods, boards or other objects, and in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the compartment members 17 may be grouped into a plurality of vertical lines that are parallel to the side plates of the cabinet 12 and that define a number of passages 170. The passages 170 can be passed through by the moving object 15. For example, each of the vertical lines may be formed by three compartment members 17 arranged vertically. The playing screen (M) may further include a plurality of collectable objects (B) that are associated respectively with the passages 170. It is worthy of note that the obstacles 14 and the compartment members 17 may be implemented by using similar objects, and main differences thereamong are positions thereof.

[0026] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the playing screen (M) shows an aquarium or an oceanic background, the virtual objects (F) may be various kinds of fishes, and the collectable objects (B) may be in the form of gems, each having a specific color, and are respectively displayed at different locations respectively corresponding to the passages 170.

[0027] The moving object 15 may be a non-transparent ball, and the operating mechanism 16 is disposed near one of the side plate (e.g., the right side plate) of the cabinet 12, and may include a rod 162, a spring 164 sleeved on the rod 162, and a handle 166 connected to the rod 162. In this embodiment, the cabinet 12 further includes a side bar 192 that defines a tunnel 194 with the right side plate of the cabinet 12.

[0028] In use, the ramp 19 is disposed in a manner where the moving object 15 initially is in the bottom of the gaming space 120 and in contact with one end of the rod 162. Then, the player may pull the handle 166, which causes the spring 164 to be compressed, and causes the moving object 15 to roll off the ramp 19 onto the end of the rod 162. When the player releases the handle 166, the spring is released and propels the rod 162 to hit the moving object 15, and the moving object 15 is propelled upwardly, rolls on the curved inner surface of the top plate, passes through the tunnel 194, and lands onto the plurality of obstacles 14. As the moving object 15 drops into the gaming space 120, the presence of the plurality of obstacles 14 may deflect the trajectory of the moving object 15, and the moving object 15 may end up passing one of the passages 170, lands on the ramp 19, and rolls down to contact the one end of the rod 162, enabling the player to hit the moving object 15 again.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary sensor unit 2 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the sensor unit 2 includes a frame 21 disposed to surround the cabinet 12, and a plurality of optical sensors 22 disposed on the frame 21. In some embodiments, the optical sensors 22 may be infrared sensors, or other suitable optical sensors. When the sensor unit 2 is activated, the optical sensors 22 may continuously detect a current location of the moving object 15 in the gaming space 120 in real time, and generates a location signal indicating the current location of the moving object 15.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the components of the arcade machine 100 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. Specifically, the processor 3 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a single core processor, a multi-core processor, a dual-core mobile processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), etc. In this embodiment, the processor 3 includes a number of modules that may be embodied using microprocessors, firmware, software instructions that can be executed by the processor 3 to implement specific functions, etc.

[0031] The processor 3 includes a contact detection module 31, a calculating module 32 connected to the contact detection module 31, a triggering module 33 connected to the contact detection module 31 and the calculating module 32, and an operation module 34 connected to the triggering module 33 and the display screen 13.

[0032] The contact detection module 31 is connected to the sensor unit 2 and receives the location signal therefrom. By comparing a two-dimensional (2D) location of the moving object 15 in the gaming space 120 and 2D locations respectively of the virtual objects (F) on the display screen 13, the contact detection module 31 may determine whether the moving object 15 is in “contact” with any one of the virtual objects (F); that is, the contact detection module 31 determines whether the 2D location of the moving object 15 in the gaming space 120 corresponds with the 2D location of one of the virtual objects (F) on the display screen 13. It should be noted that the 2D location of the moving object 15 is derived from the location of the moving object 15 indicated by the location signal. In the case that it is determined that the moving object 15 is in “contact” with one of the virtual objects (F), the contact detection module 31 generates a contact signal and transmits the contact signal to the calculating module 32.

[0033] In response to receipt of the contact signal, the calculating module 32 calculates an accumulated score of the game. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the virtual objects (F) are different fishes, and each one of the virtual objects (F) may be associated with a contact score. At the start of a game, the accumulated score may be zero. As the player puts the moving object 15 in the gaming space 120, and the moving object 15 comes into contact with one of the virtual objects (F), the calculating module 32 may add the contact score, which is associated with the one of the virtual objects (F) in contact with the moving object 15, to the accumulated score. Additionally, each of the collectable objects (B) associated with the respective passage 170 may be associated with a bonus score, and as the moving object 15 passes one of the passages 170 and “contacts” the respective collectable object (B), the respective collectable object (B) may be deemed as collected, and the bonus score, which is associated with the respective collectable object (B), may be added to the accumulated score.

[0034] In some embodiments, the calculating module 32 may record a collection of the collectable objects (B) during the game. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, after a gem with a specific color is collected, the calculating module 32 may add an accumulated number associated with the specific color to the accumulated score.

[0035] As different contact signals are received and the accumulated score increases, one or more preset triggering conditions may be met. In some embodiments, the preset triggering conditions may include reaching a threshold of the accumulated score, collecting a set of gems with a specific combination of colors (e.g., collecting all the colors appearing on the display screen 13, collecting one specific color three times or the like), collecting a specific kind of fish, etc.

[0036] The triggering module 33 is configured to determine whether the one or more preset triggering conditions are met based on the contact signal and the accumulated score, and generates and transmits a triggering signal indicating the preset triggering condition(s) is(are) met to the operation module 34.

[0037] In response to receipt of the triggering signal, the operation module 34 is configured to implement a change operation to change the playing screen (M) based on the triggering signal, and to control the display screen 13 to display the changed playing screen (M) based on the change operation. In some embodiments, in the case that the triggering signal indicates that a preset triggering condition (e.g., the accumulated score has reached a predetermined threshold) is met, the change operation may include the playing screen (M) being changed to display another scenario (i.e., the player advancing to another level). Alternatively, a reward may be provided for meeting some of the preset triggering conditions (e.g., when all the colors appearing on the display screen 13 are collected, a number of bonus points are rewarded).

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an arcade machine 100 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the operation module 34 (not shown in FIG. 4) generates a representing object (O) and controls the display screen 13 to display the representing object (O). Specifically, a location of the representing object (O) on the display screen 13 is determined based on the location of the moving object 15 indicated by the location signal. That is to say, the representing object (O) is controlled to track the movement of the moving object 15 in real time. The representing object (O) may have an appearance of a marble, a bomb or other objects that are suitable to the game.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an arcade machine 100 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the display screen 13 further displays a secondary screen (m). In some embodiments, the secondary screen (m) may include a roulette screen. In the case that the triggering signal indicates that a preset triggering condition (e.g., the accumulated score has reached a predetermined threshold) is met, the change operation may include the operation module 34 controlling the display screen13 to display the secondary screen (m), and the player may be enabled to play a roulette game with the roulette screen by operating the operating interface 18 (e.g., pressing one of the buttons to start the roulette game). Standard rules of a roulette game may be applied, e.g., pressing a button to spin a roulette wheel and then pressing the button again to stop the roulette wheel to earn a score. Based on a result of the roulette game, various points or other rewards may be awarded to the player. Generally, in some embodiments, the secondary screen (m) may be related to a side game that enables the player to play by operating the operating interface 18.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an arcade machine 100 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the changed playing screen (M) may be related to a mission playing game, and the secondary screen (m) may include a boss to be defeated. Each of the virtual objects (F) and collectable objects (B) may be an objective item having a specific set of characteristics. For example, each of the collectable objects (B) in FIG. 6 is a specific weapon that is able to deal a specific amount of damage to the boss, with some of the collectable objects (B) being particularly effective (labeled as “W”). In the embodiment of FIG. 6, only the weapons (W) on the two passages 170 that are located at the rightmost side of the gaming space 12 are effective against the boss. To defeat the boss, the player may be required to successfully hit the moving object 15 into corresponding passages 170 a number of times. In some examples, the boss may be present for only a predetermined time period, and, if not defeated, will disappear after the predetermined time period has elapsed. In some cases, each of the virtual objects (F) may be a time extender that, when touched by the moving object 15, extends the predetermined time period.

[0041] It is noted that various aspects and adjustments may be employed in different embodiments, and the implementation of the role playing game is not limited to the embodiments as shown above. Besides the roulette game and the aforementioned boss defeating game, the secondary screen (m) may be related to a scratch-off or a slot machine.

[0042] In some embodiments, in addition to the above manners, other triggering conditions, objectives and rewards related to touching the virtual objects (F), collecting the collectable objects (B), the playing screen (M) and the secondary screen (m) may be employed. In some embodiments, the triggering conditions, objectives and rewards related to touching the virtual objects (F), collecting the collectable objects (B), the playing screen (M) and the secondary screen (m) as described in the above embodiments may be combined to offer the player additional variety. Other rewards may also include extra moving objects 15, score doubled, rewards doubled, and so on.

[0043] It is noted that in some embodiments, multiple moving objects 15 may be simultaneously present in the gaming space 120, and the sensor unit 2 may be configured to detect the location of each of the moving objects 15. In some cases, multiple representing objects (O) may also be generated and displayed on the display screen 13.

[0044] To sum up, embodiments of the disclosure provide the arcade machine 100 that includes a sensor unit 2 to continuously detect the location of the moving object 15 that is put in the gaming space 120. As such, in addition to the traditional gaming mechanism of the pinball arcade machine, the arcade machine 100 in the disclosure may further integrate more objectives and rewards by using the display screen 13 to display the virtual objects (F), the collectable objects (B), the playing screen (M) and the secondary screen (m). This results in a more playable arcade machine.

[0045] In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

[0046] While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is(are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An arcade machine comprising:a main body that includesa cabinet that is disposed on a base, that has an opening and that forms a gaming space,a display screen that is disposed on the cabinet to cover the opening, the display screen displaying a playing screen, the playing screen including a virtual object that is related to playing the arcade machine,an operating mechanism that is disposed on the cabinet and that is operable by a player,a plurality of obstacles that are disposed in the cabinet, anda moving object that is driven to move within the gaming space by operation of the player operating the operating mechanism;a sensor unit that, when activated, continuously detects a location of the moving object in the gaming space, so as to generate a location signal indicating the location of the moving object; anda processor that includes a contact detection module connected to the sensor unit, a calculating module connected to the contact detection module, a triggering module connected to the contact detection module and the calculating module, and an operation module connected to the contact detection module, the triggering module and the display screen,wherein the processor is configured for:generating, by the contact detection module, a contact signal in the case that it is determined based on the location signal that a two-dimensional (2D) location of the moving object in the gaming space corresponds with a 2D location of the virtual object on the display screen;in response to receipt of the contact signal, the calculating module to calculate an accumulated score associated with the player;in response to receipt of one of the contact signal and the accumulated score, the triggering module to generate and transmit a triggering signal to the operation module in the case that it is determined that a preset triggering condition is met; andin response to receipt of the triggering signal, the operation module to implement a change operation to change the playing screen into a changed playing screen based on the triggering signal, and control the display screen to display the changed playing screen based on the change operation.

2. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a plurality of compartment segments disposed in the cabinet at a bottom of the gaming space for defining a number of passages.

3. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein:the playing screen further includes a plurality of collectable objects each being associated with a respective one of the number of passages; andthe contact detection module generates another contact signal in the case that it is determined based on the location signal that the 2D location of the moving object in the gaming space corresponds with a 2D location of one of the plurality of collectable objects on the display screen;in response to receipt of the another contact signal, the calculating module calculates the accumulated score; andthe preset triggering condition is related to a threshold of the accumulated score.

4. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein:the changed playing screen is related to a mission playing game, andone of the virtual object and each of the plurality of collectable objects is an objective item having a specific set of characteristics.

5. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein:the playing screen further includes a plurality of collectable objects each being associated with a respective one of the number of passages;the contact detection module generates another contact signal in the case that it is determined based on the location signal that the 2D location of the moving object in the gaming space corresponds with a 2D location of one of the plurality of collectable objects on the display screen; andin response to receipt of the another contact signal, the calculating module records a collection related to one of the plurality of collectable objects associated with the player.

6. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of collectable objects has a specific color, the collection includes the specific color of the one of the plurality of collectable objects that is associated with the player, and the preset triggering condition is related to a specific combination of the specific colors of the collection recorded by the calculating module.

7. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation module implements the change operation by controlling the display screen to display a secondary screen.

8. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main body further includes an operating interface that is connected to the processor and that enables operation by the player.

9. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the secondary screen is related to a side game that enables the player to play by operating the operating interface.

10. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes a frame disposed to surround the cabinet, and a plurality of optical sensors disposed on the frame.

11. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the moving object is a non-transparent ball, the operation module generates a representing object and controls the display screen to display the representing object, and a 2D location of the representing object on the display screen is based on the 2D location of the moving object indicated by the location signal.

12. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving object is a non-transparent ball, the operation module generates a representing object and controls the display screen to display the representing object, and a 2D location of the representing object on the display screen is based on the 2D location of the moving object indicated by the location signal.

13. The arcade machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is an infrared sensor.

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