Patents by Inventor Michael D. Minkoff

Michael D. Minkoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4582323
    Abstract: An electronic football game includes an insulating housing supporting a microprocessor control circuit, a plurality of user-operable keys, and a display. The user operable keys facilitate information input to the microprocessor system. The display includes a perspective view of a portion of a football field as it would be seen by a ball-carrier including a pair of merging sideline markers, an end zone, a goal standard, and several yardage markers. A plurality of illuminatable defensive player characters are arranged in three rows facing a stationary ball-carrier positioned in the center foreground of the display. Consistant with the perspective view, the defensive players in the second and third rows are progressively smaller than those of the first row. Under the control of the microprocessor, apparent movement of the stationary ball-carrier is depicted by moving the entire defensive player character illumination pattern in the direction opposite to the intended ball-carrier motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Minkoff, Peter A. Oliphant
  • Patent number: 4380334
    Abstract: A portable electronic card game simulator having a housing mounting a display and input keys and containing electronic data processing circuitry organized to provide the automatic play of a hand of Gin Rummy in opposition to an operator. The simulator deals a hand to the operator and to the electronic opponent. The play of the electronic opponent is controlled by circuitry to simulate the play of a human in accordance with the rules of the game. The simulator includes circuitry for determining the presence of runs, of cards of the same value, and of the value of cards left in a hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Minkoff, Raymond W. Kaestner
  • Patent number: 4372556
    Abstract: A portable electronic game for simulating the play of the game of soccer including a housing mounting a display and containing circuitry for controlling the play of the game in accordance with the rules of the game of soccer. The housing also mounts a number of input keys for providing input signals for controlling the movement of the ball and one of more offensive players shown on the display. In the preferred embodiment, a goalkeeper and five defenders are operated by the control circuitry and formations are provided for kickoffs, throw-ins, corner kicks, and goal kicks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Minkoff, Richard S. Chang