Abstract: An apparatus including a bowling lane, pins positioned on one end of the bowling lane, a bowling ball adapted to be launched down the bowling lane toward the bowling balls, and a spin detector for determining a spin rate of the bowling ball as the bowling ball travels down the bowling lane. An angle detector detects the angle of the spin axis of the bowling ball. The apparatus also measures and displays information relating to ball velocity, ball position, coefficient of friction, launch angle, and entry angle.

Abstract: A new bowling game has as its objective, to knock down sets of predetermined pin fall objectives. Each pin fall objective may comprise first and second pin fall counts. Score grids may be used to keep track of game objectives and results. Computer control and coordination may be used to achieve higher efficiencies and degrees of automation. The family of bowling games provided by this invention are games of skill that are fun and exciting to play, provide frequent winners, allow less experienced bowlers to win even when they play against more experienced bowlers, and provide strategic decisions and interest. The games are compatible with bowling lane equipment operating based on standard bowling 2-ball frames.

Abstract: A scoring system for a bowling center having a plurality of lanes includes scoring consoles equal in number to the number of lanes in the bowling center. Each scoring console includes a housing and an input system in the housing for receiving user input data related to the associated lane. The console includes a display device having a surface for displaying video images and a housing for the display device. The housing supports the display device and includes a flange surrounding an open area defining a quadrilateral opening in the housing for viewing the display surface. The display device attaches to the mounting portion. In this manner, the mounting assembly draws the flange toward the display surface to conform the flange to the three-dimensional surface configuration of the display surface.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pinsetting device for each lane, a pinsetter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pinsetter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane, which patterns may comprise any array of pins. The game control unit responsive to pin fall data received from the gamesetter generates scoring information which is displayed using video graphic displays on the overhead monitors. The game control program can be any one of a plurality of different game programs which may be downloaded to the memory from a memory associated with the manager's control terminal.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pinsetting device for each lane, a pinsetter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pinsetter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane, which patterns may comprise any array of pins. The game control unit responsive to pin fall data received from the gamesetter generates scoring information which is displayed using video graphic displays on the overhead monitors. The game control program can be any one of a plurality of different game programs which may be downloaded to the memory from a memory associated with the manager's control terminal.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pinsetting device for each lane, a pinsetter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pinsetter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane, which patterns may comprise any array of pins. The game control unit responsive to pin fall data received from the gamesetter generates scoring information which is displayed using video graphic displays on the overhead monitors. The game control program can be any one of a plurality of different game programs which may be downloaded to the memory from a memory associated with the manager's control terminal.

Abstract: An automated character-based bowling scoring display system provides voltage level encoding of separate red, green, and blue digital signals into a single analog signal for transmission at a standard transmission frequency or a reduced transmission frequency over a single coaxial cable stretching approximately 200 feet to a remote monitor residing in an overhead console. The system provides monitor display of various sizes and fonts of alphanumeric and graphical characters stored in hardware. The reduced transmission frequency results in a wider character when displayed. The system can store up to four additional pages of character information which can be successively and rapidly displayed on a monitor thereby mimicking the animation capability inherent in a more expensive and sophisticated bit-mapped graphics system.

Abstract: A combination bowling pinspotter and pinspotter control chassis system is disclosed which provides a bowling pinspotter having circuitry for permitting the spotting of bowling pins and an all solid state pinspotter control chassis coupled to the pinspotter for controlling the operation of the pinspotter. The all solid state pinspotter controller provides circuitry for executing a short strike cycles. In addition, the pinspotter controller secures power to a back end motor of the pinspotter in order to conserve the energy consumed by the back end motor. The pinspotter controller provides circuitry coupled to a remote control console for permitting the pinspotter to complete a current cycle prior to executing a shut down command for the pinspotter from the remote control console. In addition, the all solid state pinspotter controller retains status and position data for the pinspotter during power interrupts.

Abstract: An automatic bowling scoring system comprises the first video camera for taking an image of player's throwing form, the second video camera for taking an image of pins, display means for displaying at least the image of the player's throwing form, the image of the pins and a picture for a game, and game advancing device for advancing the game according to state of a fallen down pin. The picture is a red pin one, a slot machine one, a parcheesi one or the like. With the red pin picture, when a pin corresponding to the red pin picture is fallen down a premium is given to a player. With the slot machine picture, when specified pins are fallen down a slot machine game is started to give a premium to the player. With the parcheesi picture, the parcheesi game is performed for each throwing.

Abstract: This invention provides an interactive multifunction bowling alley system which utilizes a computer adapted to store information concerning selected bowling alley functions. A touch screen device is located at the patron area for at least selected ones of the bowling alley lanes. By permitting the user to make appropriate selections from menus appearing on a monitor of the touch screen device, such selections being made by the user touching appropriate areas on the monitor screen, functions such as automatic scoring, food or beverage ordering, entertainment such as games, problem solving, announcements, payment/charge and the like may be performed. In response to a first menu selection, menus and/or instructions may appear on the monitor relevant to the selected function which a user may utilize in performing the selected function.

Abstract: A statistical analysis package for a bowling center system provides displays used to analyze bowling ball trajectories. The bowling center system includes a central processing unit having a memory and connected to a ball trajectory unit. The ball trajectory unit generates information representing the trajectory of a bowling ball in a lane which is stored in the processing unit memory. The processing unit memory is operable in response to a user request for selecting trajectory information to develop statistical graphs illustrating historical tendencies at a select trajectory position for display on a monitor.

Abstract: A bowling center system includes a plurality of lane pair control systems each including a pin setting device for each lane, a pin setter control unit, a game control unit, a bowler input station and a pair of overhead display monitors. The game control unit is operable under the control of a game control program stored in a memory for automatically operating the pin setter control units during game play to selectively set a sequence of pin patterns on the lane. A manager's control system is coupled to each of the lane pair control systems and includes a bowler input station similar to the game control unit bowler input station.

Abstract: A coin bowling amusement game is provided having target pins shaped in the form of bowling pins along with a pivotal coin chute, sweeper arm and display operated by a computer program in which coins are inserted into the coin chute and rolled down an enclosed platform to the target pins which, when struck, activates a display means for audibly or visually displaying a strike which then dispenses prizes and/or tickets redeemable for prizes or activates the sweeper arm after a predetermined number of misses are tallied by the computer controlled coin bowling game.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating a strike at bowling alleys has a display board provided with a plurality of displays adapted to show a plurality of symbols thereon, a detector adapted to detect the occurrence of a strike, a microcomputer adapted to determine a several-digit number at random in accordance with an output from the detector, and a lighting circuit adapted to show numerals on the display board in accordance with numeric signals from the microcomputer. The microcomputer outputs random numeric signals successively to the lighting circuit with the microcomputer has received an output from the detector, to show numerals on the display board so that the numerals look as if they were rotated, and the outputting of the numeric signals to the lighting circuit is continued so as to show after the lapse of a predetermined period of time the determined numerals on the displays on the display board in order at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A multifunctional basketball monitoring unit that allows visual display and print out of a total baskets made score and the percentage of total baskets made of total baskets attempted in free throw and goal shooting either under time pressure or with no time limitation.

Abstract: A computerized bowling device includes a microprocessor, logic and memory that drives a novel display panel. The display panel has a name display region for showing a team's name or a bowler's name and a plurality of primary regions and a final frame region to display the running score of a bowler. Each of the primary regions has separate first and second ball registries, with the second ball registries having an X-shaped symbol, a subtotal region for displaying a subtotal score, a frame active indicator for indexing an addressed frame and a ball registry indicator for indexing an addressed register. The final frame region is similar to the primary frame region but includes a plurality of ball registers having numeric symbols and a plurality of registers having X-shaped symbols.

Abstract: A device for sensing and indicating movement of a golf player's head adapted to be worn upon the golfer's cap proximate the side of the head, the motion sensor adapted to sense motion of the golfer's head up and down and side to side, the motion sensor device outputting an electrical signal in accordance with movement acceleration sensed to a signal processing unit which generates a variable audio frequency electrical signal in accordance with electrical signal received from the motion sensor, and an audio output device receiving the electrical signals from the signal processing unit, the audio output device being such as an earphone worn in or near the golfer's ear to indicate to the golfer in real time motion made by his head at and during the time that he makes his golf swing.

Abstract: A sparemaker display for operation in conjunction with automatic pinspotters is provided in which control signals characteristic of particular standing pin combinations are stored in a read only memory and addressed to control a ball path display upon the occurrence of a corresponding standing pin combination on the machine table of the pinspotter. This control signal is outputted from the read only memory through a decoder/demultiplexer to drive a corresponding group of indicator lamps in defined ball path display configurations.

Abstract: An automatic bowling scoring system is disclosed including a central manager's console unit linked in parallel over a plurality of communication buses with a plurality of lane score processors having printing and CRT display monitor units. The manager's console sends commands to the score processors, and thereby gains control over the execution sequences followed by this score processor and modifies its functional sequence. In particular, the manager's console is capable of selectivity controlling the display at any lane pair processor, to cause display of locally generated game score information, or supplementary information developed at the manager's console. The manager's console can also cause the transfer of the locally generated game score information appearing on any monitor to be routed over the buses to the manager's console display monitor.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical pinball game which includes an inclined playing board sloped downwardly toward the player which provides a surface for rollingly supporting a suitable ball. A plurality of rocking wafer-type ball repelling bumpers are mounted on the playing board and simultaneously actuated when a ball rolling thereover engages any one of the bumpers. A plurality of ball repelling, slingshot type cushions are similarly mounted on the playing board and simultaneously actuated when a ball engages any of the individual cushions. A plurality of flippers are pivotally mounted on the game board and interconnected by a single drive apparatus which actuates all of the flippers when either one of two flipper control buttons are manually actuated by a player of the game. A scoring mechanism is provided and includes counting registers which are incremented by a single device which also produces an audible signal indicating that a particular score has been achieved.

Abstract: Scorekeeping means for computing bowling scores is provided having positionable input switches, one for each possible ball to be rolled, for recording ball-by-ball pinfall, strikes and spares; a computing device selectively energized to calculate individual player and team scores from information present in the input switches; a device for displaying ball and mark information and a running frame score total for each player as well as a running team score total all updated substantially concurrently with the selective energization of the computing device through the last frame completed by each player; and a printer selectively energizable and coordinated with the computing device to print out a history of the player and team games from the information present in the input switches at the completion of a game; wherein for each and every selective energization of the computing device the entire game history up to the point of the last completed frame for each and every player is completely recomputed, thereby p

Abstract: An automatic scoring system for the game of bowling utilizing 30 scratch memories arranged in 10 successive groups of three, corresponding to the three possible score additions in each of ten successive bowling frames. Input information in the form of successive ball pin scores is sequenced on a common input line to each of the scratch memories. Thirty logic gating circuits, associated with respective individual scratch memories, and operating in time synchronism with the sequenced input information, determine, from the number of ball scores presented and the values of sequential scores, into which one or ones of the scratch memories successive ball scores are entered as a score addition in that place at that time. The system collates consecutive ball scores into the scratch memories such that summation of entries into from one to three of the three scratch memories for a logically determined complete frame represents the score in that frame.

Abstract: A command signal circuit accepting switch input information from a plurality of mechanical switches introducing undesired contact bounce, and providing a single clean output command signal. The circuit accomodates the plurality of input switches with circuit sections in parallel and "OR"ing to the output resolving all switch commands to one signal. Filtering is applied at a logic receiving end of lead lines to take out noise ripple induced with long leads, and the filter output is applied to both a one-shot multivibrator and a delay circuit having outputs "OR"ed together with the one-shot taking out the contact bounce on the leading edge with switch closure and the delay circuit taking care of contact bounce on the trailing portion of the switching action with switch opening.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: A bowling score computer having either manual keyboard or automatic pinfall sensing input. The computer is operative to record mark counts, totalize and display team scores, allow entry of handicap scores and automatically record pace-setter scores. First and second pinfall values for each frame are recorded and the scoring cycle is modified in accordance with first and second ball pinfall. In a first embodiment the frame scores are printed on individual tablets which are thereafter manipulated to display positions. In a second embodiment, the scores are printed on a moveably disposed scoresheet. A device is provided for projecting the scores.