Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for playing and method of controlling a computerized dart game of simulated tug-of-war. The method generates on a display a goal graphic, at least one player graphic, and at least one challenger graphic. The goal graphic typically includes a first side on which the player graphic is initially displayed and a second side on which the challenger graphic is initially displayed. The method monitors the segments in at least one electronic dart board for hits by darts and determines at least one offset value associated with a segment hit by a dart. The offset value may represent the sum of one or more hits by a player, the sum of one or more hits by a challenger, of the difference between one or more by a player and hits by a challenger. In a single player game, the method itself may generate a random challenger value.

Abstract: An electronic devices executes from memory an advertising multimedia segment structure that includes a command segment storing multimedia commands that in turn invoke multimedia effects and that is supported by a definition segment that invokes the command segment. The definition segment also includes argument definitions for the tokenized arguments in the command segment. The command segments are protected against alteration by encryption, while the definition segments are alterable to provide locally customized advertisements in accordance with the tokenized arguments in the command segments. A library of downloadable command segments provides predefined advertisements, displays, and the like for the electronic device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus as shown for managing a plurality of computer jukeboxes at different locations from a central station. Each jukebox includes processor means for controlling the computer jukebox, storage and retrieval means for data, display means for selection menus, audio production means for playing musical records, and a user interface enabling patrons to communicate with the processor means. The central station can be used to download musical recording data to each computer jukebox, and each computer jukebox can upload usage data to the central station.

Abstract: A gaming device is shown having one printed circuit board that includes a game control processor; at least one memory storing game operation information; and a light transmitter for transmitting encoded information representing selected game operation information that is stored in the memory. The gaming device also includes a communication printed circuit board that has a light receiver for receiving light encoded information from the light transmitter; at least one memory for storing game operation information as represented by the light encoded information received by the light receiver; and a communication controller that allows communication between the gaming device and a remote station. Because the light transmitter can transmit information to the communication board but cannot receive information therefrom, communications between the gaming device and a remote station is allowed without compromising the integrity or security of the operations of the gaming device.

Abstract: A dart game apparatus adapted for play in combination with darts is provided for. The dart game apparatus comprises a backstop. The backstop includes a vertical surface adapted to intercept errant darts. The dart game also includes a rotatable target assembly. The target assembly has a hub rotatably mounted to the backstop forward of the vertical surface, one or more arms radiating outward from the hub, and a dart board mounted on each of the arms. The dart boards include a plurality of target segments adapted to capture darts striking the target segments.

Abstract: A gaming device is shown having a controller that controls the operation of the gaming device and a printer that records events on paper in response to the controller. A first magazine is provided for holding fan folded paper to be input to the feed mechanism of the printer and a second magazine is positioned relative to the paper output of the printer to receive a printed record on at least a portion of the paper output from the printer. A third magazine is provided for holding a third supply of fan folded paper wherein an end of the paper in the first magazine is attached to an end of the paper held in the second magazine so that when paper in one magazine is depleted, paper in the other magazine is automatically input to the printer's input feed mechanism.