Patents Assigned to Arachnid, Inc.
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Patent number: 8342925Abstract: A virtual shuffleboard table gaming apparatus including a housing having a playing field, a game acquisition circuit, and a display. As a puck is propelled towards a puck return at the distal end of the playing field, the puck temporarily obstructs at least two beams from transmitters. Sensors that receive the transmitted beams provide information to the game acquisition circuit indicative of the time when the beams were blocked and unblocked. The duration of time the beams are block are used by a game controller to calculate the angle of travel, location, and velocity of the puck. This information is then used by the game controller to determine the travel path and resting place of a virtual puck on a virtual playing field, as well as determine whether the virtual puck rests in a scoring zone and maintain a game score.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice
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Patent number: 8118696Abstract: A virtual shuffleboard table gaming apparatus including a housing having a playing field, a game acquisition circuit, and a display. As a puck is propelled towards a puck return at the distal end of the playing field, the puck temporarily obstructs at least two beams from transmitters. Sensors that receive the transmitted beams provide information to the game acquisition circuit indicative of the time when the beams were blocked and unblocked. The duration of time the beams are block are used by a game controller to calculate the angle of travel, location, and velocity of the puck. This information is then used by the game controller to determine the travel path and resting place of a virtual puck on a virtual playing field, as well as determine whether the virtual puck rests in a scoring zone and maintain a game score.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Arachnid Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice, Matthew S. Malmberg, Richard F. Jones
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Patent number: 8016687Abstract: A method for play of a parlor entertainment unit including a remote activation assembly and an activation-sensing unit. The activation-sensing unit, which may be battery operated and housed in the entertainment unit, may be in an energy-conserving sleep mode until the activation-sensing unit receives a wake-up signal. In one embodiment, the wake-up signal may be generated by the engagement of an activation mechanism, such as a coin slide. After being awoken, the activation-sensing unit may transmit an inquiry to the remote activation assembly as to whether the associated entertainment unit has been selected for play and/or whether there is a sufficient number of credits available for play. If that entertainment unit has not been selected for play, the activation-sensing unit may return to a sleep mode. However, if sufficient play credits are available for the entertainment unit, play may commence.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Arachnid Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice, Thomas P. Myers, Richard F. Jones
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Publication number: 20100279804Abstract: A virtual shuffleboard table gaming apparatus including a housing having a playing field, a game acquisition circuit, and a display. As a puck is propelled towards a puck return at the distal end of the playing field, the puck temporarily obstructs at least two beams from transmitters. Sensors that receive the transmitted beams provide information to the game acquisition circuit indicative of the time when the beams were blocked and unblocked. The duration of time the beams are block are used by a game controller to calculate the angle of travel, location, and velocity of the puck. This information is then used by the game controller to determine the travel path and resting place of a virtual puck on a virtual playing field, as well as determine whether the virtual puck rests in a scoring zone and maintain a game score.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patric G. Rice, Matthew Samuel Malmberg, Richard F. Jones
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Publication number: 20100113197Abstract: A virtual shuffleboard table gaming apparatus including a housing having a playing field, a game acquisition circuit, and a display. As a puck is propelled towards a puck return at the distal end of the playing field, the puck temporarily obstructs at least two beams from transmitters. Sensors that receive the transmitted beams provide information to the game acquisition circuit indicative of the time when the beams were blocked and unblocked. The duration of time the beams are block are used by a game controller to calculate the angle of travel, location, and velocity of the puck. This information is then used by the game controller to determine the travel path and resting place of a virtual puck on a virtual playing field, as well as determine whether the virtual puck rests in a scoring zone and maintain a game score.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice
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Publication number: 20090170602Abstract: A system and method for controlling game play at a pay-for-play entertainment system. The entertainment system may include an entertainment unit, a remote activation unit, and at least one game play light source. The remote activation unit may be configured to have the game play light source be in an on condition during purchased game play and in an off condition when purchased game play time or credits have expired. The present invention may also include a game play detection apparatus that may detect game play activity. The detection of game play may be communicated to the remote activation unit to determine if the detected game play activity is associated with purchased game play. If the detected game play activity is unauthorized, i.e. the game play has not been purchased, the remote activation unit may communicate an “on” signal to an auxiliary light and/or speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2007Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: ARACHNID INC.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice
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Publication number: 20090149262Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to entertainment systems, and more particularly to a system and method for, inputting and compiling information relating to game play at one or more game units. Game play information may be inputted into a communicator through the use of a user interface. According to some embodiments, a game play template may be used to input the game play information in the communicator. A variety of different methodologies, depending on the type of communicator utilized, may be used to communicate the inputted game play information to a host game server, including, but not limited to, MMS, SMS texting, WAP, or any other such portable text messaging or worldwide web accessible functionality. Opponents may have an opportunity to edit and validate the inputted game play information. Recorded game play information or league reports may be communicated to the communicator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: ARACHNID INC.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice
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Publication number: 20090131186Abstract: A method for play of a parlor entertainment unit including a remote activation assembly and an activation-sensing unit. The activation-sensing unit, which may be battery operated and housed in the entertainment unit, may be in an energy-conserving sleep mode until the activation-sensing unit receives a wake-up signal. In one embodiment, the wake-up signal may be generated by the engagement of an activation mechanism, such as a coin slide. After being awoken, the activation-sensing unit may transmit an inquiry to the remote activation assembly as to whether the associated entertainment unit has been selected for play and/or whether there is a sufficient number of credits available for play. If that entertainment unit has not been selected for play, the activation-sensing unit may return to a sleep mode. However, if sufficient play credits are available for the entertainment unit, play may commence.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: ARACHNID INC.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice, Thomas P. Myers, Richard F. Jones
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Patent number: 7402793Abstract: A system for transferring power between components includes a first object having a light emitter operatively connected to a power source, and a second object having a light receiver operatively connected to a power storage unit. The light receiver receives light emitted from the light emitter and converts the received light into electricity that is stored in the power storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Thomas Myers, Patrick G. Rice
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Patent number: 7384341Abstract: A method is disclosed for initiating game play on a pay-for-play parlor game, such as a pool table having a playing surface, rails, pockets, a ball holding rack that retains pool balls, and an internal activation-sensing unit. The method includes depositing a game play fee into a remote activation assembly, remotely transmitting an activation signal once the game play fee is deposited, receiving the activation signal at the internal activation-sensing unit, and providing access to the pool balls upon said receiving step. A method is also disclosed for automatically scoring a pool-based game including detecting detectable devices embedded within the pool balls.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2003Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Arachnid Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Patrick G. Rice, Thomas Myers, Richard F. Jones
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Patent number: 7102500Abstract: A system for automatically deactivating a turn signal displayed on a vehicle, the system including a sensor configured to measure a vehicle turn attribute, and a processing unit in communication with the sensor, wherein the processing unit deactivates the turn signal based on a comparison between the vehicle turn attribute and a predetermined data point referenced by the processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Thomas P. Myers
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Patent number: 6974133Abstract: A system for a dart-based golf game on an electronic dart game machine has been developed that includes at least one electronic dart board having distinct scoring segments, a CPU electrically connected to the electronic dart board, and a video display electrically connected to the CPU. The CPU displays game mode graphics on the video display, including a golf course hole graphic having a virtual ball and a hole, and a power meter having a moving element. The CPU correlates an instantaneous movement of said moving element at an instant of the dart contact with a movement of the virtual ball on the golf course hole graphic.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Ryan C. Jones, Patrick G. Rice, Christopher M. Walker, Timothy J. Ward
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Patent number: 6970834Abstract: A computer jukebox capable of receiving and storing advertisement data representing a plurality of advertisement from a remote central management system by way of a transmission link between the computer jukebox and the central management system, comprising a communication interface, a programmable computer memory and a processor. The computer jukebox downloads advertisement data. The communication interface receives advertisement data from the remote central management system by way of the transmission link. The advertisement data represents an identity of each of the plurality of advertisements, and data representing times for each of the advertisements to be run. The programmable computer memory stores the advertisement data. The processor runs the plurality of advertisements according to the advertisement data.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2002Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Michael L. Tillery, Samuel N. Zammuto
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Patent number: 6805354Abstract: A system for a dart-based golf game on an electronic dart game machine has been developed that includes at least one electronic dart board having distinct scoring segments, a CPU electrically connected to the electronic dart board, and a video display electrically connected to the CPU. The CPU displays game mode graphics on the video display, including a golf course hole graphic having a virtual ball and a hole, and a power meter having a moving element. The CPU correlates an instantaneous movement of said moving element at an instant of the dart contact with a movement of the virtual ball on the golf course hole graphic.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Ryan C. Jones, Patrick G. Rice, Christopher M. Walker, Timothy J. Ward
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Patent number: 6397189Abstract: A central management system manages a plurality of computer jukeboxes and communicates compressed digital data with each jukebox via a transmission link. The management system also includes a host computer that maintains a master set of compressed digital data representing a plurality of songs, song associated graphics, and song identity information. Each jukebox includes a storage unit that is capable of storing a subset of the master set and a processing circuit having a decompression circuit. The processing circuit controls the operation and flow of digital data into and out of the jukebox through the transmission link as well as a visual song information display, user song selection keys, a money detector, and an audio reproduction circuit coupled to a speaker system so as to provide audio output to users of the jukebox.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1998Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Michael L. Tillery, Samuel N. Zammuto
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Patent number: 6381575Abstract: A central management system manages a plurality of computer jukeboxes and communicates compressed digital data with each jukebox via a transmission link. The management system also includes a host computer that maintains a master set of compressed digital data representing a plurality of songs, song associated graphics, and song identity information. Each jukebox includes a storage unit that is capable of storing a subset of the master set and a processing circuit having a decompression circuit. The processing circuit controls the operation and flow of digital data into and out of the jukebox through the transmission link as well as a visual song information display, user song selection keys, a money detector, and an audio reproduction circuit coupled to a speaker system so as to provide audio output to users of the jukebox.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventors: John R. Martin, Michael L. Tillery
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Patent number: D505281Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventor: John R. Martin
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Patent number: D506330Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventor: John R. Martin
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Patent number: D448809Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2000Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventor: Richard F. Jones
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Patent number: D468368Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Arachnid, Inc.Inventor: Richard F. Jones