Integrating Wave Sensing and Magnetic Induction Dartboard System

Abstract

An integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system comprises: a magnetic induction dartboard, a wave sensing device, and an electronic scoring circuit. The waving sensing device is fixed on the magnetic induction dartboard and is connected to the electronic scoring circuit. When the electronic scoring circuit receives the magnetic signal and the wave signal simultaneously, a score will be created. The abovementioned system still can produce accurate scoring data in the presence of electromagnetic interference. It can determine if the target is missed or not based on the shock or sound caused by dart’ landing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system, which uses magnetic induction to cooperate with sound wave or shock wave to produce an accurate scoring effect, and the scoring result of the present invention can be prevented from magnetic disturbance.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Dart game is one of the major sports and recreation activities, therefore, the demand for improving the technology of dart products grows increasingly. To cope with the demand for innovation and change, various target products also need to be improved in terms of accuracy, convenience and quality. And induction-scoring has long become an important selling point that the dartboard manufactures are competing for, and such a scoring function has already been used in international dart competitions. Therefore, finding an electronic dartboard scoring equipment to better meet the users' requirement has become an important issue for the manufacturers.

Conventional dartboard is normally made of sisal or fiber for easy landing of the dart, and the tip of various darts is also made of metal. When the user throws the dart, the action of the dart landing on the dartboard is very stable and the sound of the darting hitting the dartboard is muffled. Although the scoring method is difficult to implement, this conventional dartboard is still popular among users.

The electronic scoring dartboards currently on the market are generally classified into tactile type and magnetic induction type.

The tactile type product employs a porous board to trigger an electronic tactile circuit board, and the electronic tactile circuit board will create a score and display it. Since the porous board of this conventional structure is a movable structure, it will move and press the circuit board as long as a dart impacts the porous board, thus wrongly sending out a signal to start scoring. Therefore, no matter the tip of the dart is inserted into the hole of the porous board or not, the porous board will move and create a wrong score, as along as an impact occurs. And even if the tip of the dart rebound after hitting the porous board, the porous board will still move and trigger the circuit board, and start scoring. In addition, if the force when the tip of the dart is inserted into the hole of the porous board is too small to move the porous board and to make the electronic circuit to create a score, or the throwing force of the tip of the dart is so great that the porous board can't return to its original position, thus repeatedly triggering the scoring function. The abovementioned conditions will cause misjudgment and wrong score. Therefore, the electronic tactile type dartboard cannot be used in formal competition.

In recent years, magnetic induction type electronic dartboard has been improved in many aspects, one of its main characteristic structure is that induction coils wind around a high density dartboard (block). For example, a magnetic dart is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,694, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the dart 10 is made of non-magnetic material and has a strong magnetic member 11 protruding out of the front end of the dart 10 (also there is a needle-shaped magnetic member on the market). The dartboard 14 is provided with a plurality of electric induction coils 12 that cooperate with an electronic scoring system 13 to record the score of the dart automatically. The dartboard 14 can accurately sense the magnetic force of the strong magnetic member 11 and calculate the score automatically. However, it still has the following disadvantages:

First, the plurality of the electric induction coils 12 of the dartboard 14 can cooperate with the electronic scoring system 13 to accurately sense every electric magnetic signal. If, in a competition, someone is using a mobile phone or an electric magnetic equipment passes by, the electric induction coils 12 will also cooperate with the electronic scoring system 13 to wrongly create a score, causing unacceptable misgivings. Therefore, nowadays, the players in a dart game still would like to score by eye.

Second, when the force that the tip of the dart hits the dartboard is too small to keep the dart 10 on the dartboard 14, however, the dart 14 falling along the surface of the dartboard 14 still has a strong magnetic member 11 at the front end thereof. In the process of falling, the strong magnetic member 11 will be sensed constantly by a plurality of electric induction coils 12, and will make the electronic scoring system repeatedly create wrong scores. Or, if the force that the dart hits the dartboard is so small that the dart fails to land on the dartboard, but when the strong magnetic member 11 nearly touches the dartboard 14, it will also be sensed by the electric magnetic coils 12, thus causing repeated wrong scores. The abovementioned conditions will cause misjudgment, therefore, the conventional electronic dartboard cannot be used in a formal competition if it is not modified.

Third, if the dart missed the dartboard 14 (it is called target missed), no score will be created, therefore, the target missed cannot be calculated.

To solve the abovementioned disadvantages, TW Pat. No. 89208150 discloses an improved induction structure for an electronic dartboard, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the dartboard is provided with tactile and movable block 16, and induction coils 15 are wound around the movable block 16. The abovementioned structure provides both magnetic induction function and tactile induction function to the dartboard, improving the accuracy of scoring. Although this improved structure can prevent the occurrence of wrong score when the dart falls off the dartboard, it still has the following disadvantages:

First, it requires many structures to cooperate with the movable block 16, and the tactile induction equipment is complicated, therefore, the cost is definitely high.

Second, the movable block 16 must have a downward pushing force, if the tip of the dart is not thrown onto the dartboard, the body and the shaft of the dart will also push the movable block 16 to move with a great pushing force. In this way, the induction coils 15 will also sense the magnetic member, but actually, such a toss should not be scored.

Third, the tip of the dart missed the movable block 16 cannot be scored, and the target missed cannot be calculated. Therefore, this conventional product still has the defect which cannot be solved by itself.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system that can be prevented from the magnetic interference, wherein a wave sensing device is fixed on a magnetic induction dartboard and is connected to an electronic scoring circuit. The abovementioned system still can produce accurate scoring data in the presence of electromagnetic interference.

The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide an integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system that can record the target missed. The wave sensing device is fixed on the magnetic induction dartboard, the sound wave or the shock wave caused by dart's landing will be transmitted to the wave sensing device instantly (frequency and volume can be set to a predetermined value), and the wave sensing device is connected to an electronic scoring circuit and can determine if the target is missed or not, and then both the result of the target missed and the scoring result will be recorded together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a conventional dartboard system;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a second conventional dartboard;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing the arrangement of an integrating waving sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of showing the arrangement of an integrating waving sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be more clear from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and comprises: a dartboard 20, magnetic induction coils 30, an electronic scoring circuit 40, and a wave sensing device 50, which are to be used with a magnetic dart 60 to create a scoring function during a dart game.

The dartboard 20 is defined with a plurality of scoring areas 21.

The magnetic induction coils 30 act as a magnetic induction component disposed on the dartboard 20 and are located correspondingly to the respective scoring areas 21 of the dartboard 20.

The electronic scoring circuit 40 is installed on the dartboard 20 and is connected to the respective magnetic induction coils 30 and serves to receive the magnetic induction signals of the magnetic dart 60 transmitted by the magnetic induction coils 30.

The wave sensing device 50 is disposed at the periphery of the dartboard 20 and is connected to the electronic scoring circuit 40, and serves to produce wave signal at a predetermined frequency and volume, based on the sound and the shock caused by the dart's 60 landing. The electronic scoring circuit 40 synchronously integrates the magnetic signal of the magnetic induction coils 30 with the wave signal of the wave sensing device 50. If the magnetic signal and the wave signal are received simultaneously, a score will be created. If the wave sensing device 50 only receives the wave signal of the wave sensing device 50, it will be considered as a target missed. And if only the magnetic induction signal of the magnetic induction coils 30 is received, it will neither be scored nor considered as target missed. The electronic scoring circuit 40 then outputs the scoring result (the method of signal outputting and displaying is a conventional technology, so further explanations are omitted).

For a better understanding of the embodiment, its operation and function, reference should be made to FIGS. 3 and 4 again.

The dartboard 20 cooperates with the magnetic induction coils 30 and the wave sensing device 50 to sense the magnetic dart 60, and serves to implement scoring operation by integrating the magnetic induction signal of the magnetic dart 60 with the sound and the shock caused by the dart's landing.

In usual state:

The magnetic dart 60 lands on one of the scoring areas 21 of the dartboard 20, the magnetic induction coils 30 around the respective scoring areas 21 of the dartboard 20 will produce an effect of magnetic lines of force of cutting, and will produce magnetic signal when the dart 60 lands on the dartboard.

Meanwhile, it will produce a sound wave (sounds like “du”) at a certain frequency and volume, and a shock wave at a frequency when the dart 60 inserts in the dartboard 20. And the wave sensing device 50 at the periphery of the dartboard 20 will produce wave signal at a predetermined frequency and volume, based on the sound or the shock generated when the dart 60 hits the dartboard (it can also be set to receive the sound wave and the shock wave simultaneously).

After that, the electronic scoring circuit 40 synchronously integrates the magnetic signal of the magnetic induction coils 30 with the wave signal of the wave sensing device 50. If the magnetic signal and the wave signal are received simultaneously, a score will be created and will be outputted after calculation.

In an unusual state:

If, in a competition, someone is using a mobile phone or an electric magnetic equipment passes by, the magnetic induction coils 30 around the respective scoring areas 21 of the dartboard 20 will produce an effect of magnetic lines of force of cutting, and will produce magnetic signal when the dart 60 lands on the dartboard. However, the electronic scoring circuit 40 is unable to integrate the magnetic signal and the wave signal simultaneously. Therefore, the electronic scoring circuit 40 will not take the magnetic signal of a single magnetic induction coils 30 as a valid score nor take it as a target missed, and the score result will be outputted after calculation.

When the dart missed the dartboard:

When the dart missed the dartboard, the magnetic dart 60 lands on the non-scoring area (including the boundary of the scoring areas) of the dartboard 20, since there is no magnetic induction coils 30 in the non-scoring area, and no effect of magnetic lines of force will be produced, as a result, it can't produce a magnetic signal when the dart 60 missed the dartboard. The electronic scoring circuit 40 is still unable to integrate the magnetic signal and the wave signal simultaneously, it will determine if it is a target missed merely based on the wave signal of the wave sensing device 50 (the method of distinguishing the sound of the dart hitting the dartboard is a conventional technique, so further explanation is omitted), and the electronic scoring circuit 40 will record it as a target missed.

The present invention still can produce an accurate score in the presence of magnetic interference, and can set the wave sensing device to make it sense the sound wave and the shock wave simultaneously, or make it only sense the sound wave or the shock wave caused by dart's landing), allowing the target missed to be recorded by the electronic scoring circuit. Therefore, both the result of the target missed and the scoring result will be recorded together, it truly meets the requirement of the current competition.

The integrated scoring mode not only can reduce the mistakes caused by the conventional tactile type sensing system or the magnetic induction system, but also can differentiate the “target missed” and the action of pulling out of the dart. When the dart is pulled off or falls off the dartboard, the magnetic induction coils 30 will produce an effect of magnetic lines of force of cutting, it can determine the position at which the signal is produced by the electric wave cut by the reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting. At this moment, the wave sensing device 50 senses no shock wave or sound wave generated by dart landing, it can be determined as a target missed, and the previously recorded score will be deducted instantly.

In the same way, when the wave sensing device doesn't sense the dart-landing caused wave signal and the predetermined times of scoring operation has been fulfilled, it can be determined as an action of pulling out the dart. When it detects that the player has pulled out the dart for three times (formal competition stipulates that the dart can be pulled out for three times), the electronic scoring circuit 40 will send out a signal to ask the next player to get ready to throw, and the signal can be displayed on an electronic display.

It is to be noted that the dartboard of the present invention cooperates with the magnetic induction coils and the wave sensing device to sense the dart, but whether the dart has magnetic force is not the key point of the present invention. The embodiment of the dart with magnetic force is described above. As for a dart without magnetic force, the signal can be obtained by the change of the magnetic induction flux of the magnetic induction coils of the dartboard (magnetic induction method is a conventional technique, so further explanation is omitted). Therefore, both magnetic dart and non-magnetic dart are within the scope of the present invention.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system cooperating with a magnetic induction dartboard to produce magnetic induction signal after a dart lands on the dartboard, and cooperating with an electronic scoring circuit to create a score, comprising:

at least one wave sensing device fixed on the dartboard and connected to the electronic scoring circuit, after the dart lands on the dartboard, the wave sensing device produces wave signal;

the electronic scoring circuit serves to synchronously integrate the magnetic signal of magnetic induction coils with the wave signal of the wave sensing device, and to calculate the score.

2. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 1 comprising the dartboard, magnetic induction coils, the electronic scoring circuit, and the wave sensing device: wherein:

the dartboard defines a plurality of scoring areas;

the magnetic induction coils act as a magnetic induction component disposed on the dartboard and are located correspondingly to the respective scoring areas of the dartboard; and

the electronic scoring circuit is installed on the dartboard and is connected to the respective magnetic induction coils and serves to receive the magnetic induction signal of the magnetic dart transmitted by the magnetic induction coils.

3. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wave sensing device receives shock wave.

4. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wave sensing device synchronously receives sound wave and shock wave.

5. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 1, when the electronic scoring circuit receives the magnetic induction signal of the dartboard and the wave signal of the wave sensing device simultaneously, a score will be created.

6. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 2, when the electronic scoring circuit receives the magnetic induction signal of the dartboard and the wave signal of the wave sensing device simultaneously, a score will be created.

7. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 5, when the electronic scoring circuit receives the wave signal of the wave sensing device only, it will be considered as a target missed.

8. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 6, when the electronic scoring circuit receives the wave signal of the wave sensing device only, it will be considered as a target missed.

9. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 5, when the dart falls off the dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, if the wave sensing device senses no shock wave or sound wave generated by dart landing, it can be determined as a target missed, and previously recorded score will be deducted instantly.

10. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 6, when the dart falls off the dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, if the wave sensing device senses no shock wave or sound wave generated by dart landing, it can be determined as a target missed, and previously recorded score will be deducted instantly.

11. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 5, when the dart is pulled out of the dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, when the wave sensing device doesn't sense the wave signal caused by dart's landing and a predetermined times of scoring operation has been fulfilled, it can be determined as an action of pulling out the dart.

12. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 6, when the dart is pulled out of the dartboard, the magnetic induction coils will detect the magnetic signal by reverse magnetic lines of force of cutting, when the wave sensing device doesn't sense the wave signal caused by dart's landing and a predetermined times of scoring operation has been fulfilled, it can be determined as an action of pulling out the dart.

13. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 11, after the electronic scoring circuit determines that the dart has been pulled out of the dartboard, it will be prepared automatically to record the score of the next throw.

14. The integrating wave sensing and magnetic induction dartboard system as claimed in claim 12, after the electronic scoring circuit determines that the dart has been pulled out of the dartboard, it will be prepared automatically to record the score of the next throw.