Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid, more especially a biological fluid and in particular the urinary flow, the device including a rod which, in the rest condition, is sealingly clamped, by any appropriate clamping mechanism, inside a connecting tube, and which is made from a flexible plastic material presenting shrinkage on polymerization, and a mechanism which is adapted to prevent the axial movement of the valve rod along the connecting tube under the effect of the pressure of a fluid filling two flexible activating bags connected through the connecting tube, which may be incorporated with a third flexible bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in playing a game, comprises a ball and a target. The target has on its surface objective areas to be struck by the ball. The target is in the form of an upstanding post and the objective areas are of equal size and disposed on opposite faces of the target.The target includes indicator lights for denoting when an objective area has been struck by the ball. Each objective area is connected with a respective indicator light so that the objective area struck may be easily identified.The objective areas each have a pressure-sensitive actuator, which operates the corresponding indicator light.

Abstract: A golf playing arrangement which includes a fairway, a tee area at one end of the fairway, a plurality of radar ground surveillance units located on the fairway at successively greater distance from the tee area, a central processing unit and a video display terminal and putting green adjacent the tee area. Each of the ground surveillance units detects golf balls moving on the ground in a predetermined circular area containing the unit. The central processing unit calculates and the computer terminal visually displays the distance of the unit furthest from the tee area which detects a golf ball moving therethrough, and the sum of a succession of such distances. This arrangement permits a golfer to play a golf-like game without the need to follow a ball from tee to green.

Abstract: An electrical device capable of indicating the force and/or location of an impact or other applied force, such as a weight, comprises three or more layers including a continuously-conductive electrode layer, a selectively-conductive electrode layer, and a pressure-sensitive impedance layer between the two electrode layers and forming electrode impedances between them, such that when the force is applied, the electrical impedances are changed in value to provide an indication of the magnitude and/or location of the force.

Abstract: An improved bingo display for use in manual or video electronic games. In the manual version, a bingo card contains permanently written numbers in the N-column and the third row. The remaining sixteen squares define four discrete groups of four squares each and there is a disk secured to and on top of each discrete group. The disks with unique symbols thereon can be rotated by a player so that the numbers or symbols thereon can be positioned in their traditional position or rotated during play so that the number or symbols on one square can be moved to another square and a bingo may be obtained. In the electronic embodiment, numbers in the N-column and third row through the free space are a first color at the start of the game. The remaining sixteen squares of groups of four are of a second color but are continuously changing color in a random pattern. After a predetermined period of time, certain of the sixteen squares take on the first color while others remain the same.

Abstract: An electronic strategy game featuring playing fields comprising two chess-like boards each of which may contain 64 squares and be separated from each other by a partition of suitable size to conceal the moves made by each player and two sets of chessmen positioned on each board. Each square has a sensor embedded in its base arranged to transmit to an electronic processing unit the location of all chessmen on the game boards. The electronic processing unit determines the game status, controls announcements to the players, and includes logic whereby the position of all chessmen are maintained in a memory and moves are regulated in accordance with predetermined rules such as the rules of chess. Requests for additional status information and the selection of optional game features are transmitted to the electronic processing unit via two control panels located one on each game board. The electronic game includes features not normally available to players utilizing a human referee.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a video game in which a player controllable video player image positions video dominos at predetermined positions along a continuous line while one or more machine controlled video intruder images attempt to interfere. Manual player controls move the player image to place the domino images and to protect against interference by the intruder images which could result in a chain reaction of falling dominos. The player manually selects either a place mode allowing the player image to place additional dominos or a protect mode for protecting itself or the dominos from an intruder. In an alternative embodiment, the player image also knocks over dominos while in the place mode. Duration of play is timed by a machine controlled image proceeding in a peripheral path to knock over the initial domino. Difficulty is increased by the complexity of the domino pattern, the timed duration, and the intruder images.

Abstract: A competitive game is disclosed in which the competitors spray each other with water, and which is therefore well suited for outdoor recreational activity in hot weather. The players operate switches to attack each other by means of spray nozzles, and also to defend themselves against such attacks. The defender, if his or her reaction to a warning light is quick enough, can abort the attack entirely. He or she can also divert it to another player. The game accommodates four players who can team up in various combinations to attack and defend in concert, the combinations being determined by a sophisticated Boolean function which is programmed into the game's logic. The game is also playable in a rotated mode which rescrambles the Boolean function to present a different set of strategy considerations.

Abstract: A CRT beam control apparatus wherein a microprocessor drives the CRT beam for controlling the beam characteristics, including writing speed, slope, position and intensity. The apparatus includes a single digital-to-analog converter supplying sample-and-hold circuitry through a selector and further includes a pair of active integrator circuits switchable to connect the output of the digital-to-analog converter or sample-and-hold circuits. The microprocessor is operative to provide digital words to the DAC representative of the differential X and Y values of a line segment to be drawn. The analog representations of these digital words are coupled to the integrators. The outputs of the active integrators provide the deflection signals causing deflection of the CRT beam. The apparatus is particularly adapted to drawing a series of connected line segments, due to the integrator operation.

Abstract: A game machine has a plurality of targets which unpredictably come out and disappear from their corresponding holes at the surface of a table on a game stand. A player can only strike targets which are positioned above the surface thereof. A main shaft is provided with the target on its upper end and is supported by bearings in such a manner that it can rotate and move up and down. A plunger disposed at the periphery of the main shaft is magnetically attracted by an electromagnetic solenoid. When raised, the main shaft always faces a predetermined direction due to an action of permanent magnets. Hitting of the target can be detected by monitoring abrupt large fluctuations in current flowing through the solenoid during a period of time that the target is caused to appear above the table.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for improving the performance of a batter. The apparatus includes sequencing lights (38) which are representative of a ball moving toward an impact zone. Further included are light indicia (46 and 48) which inform a batter that the pitched ball will either be a ball or a strike so that the batter may determine whether or not he should swing the bat. Also included are means to generate an electrical signal to indicate that the strike light (46) is illuminated. First and second light beams (18 and 20) are provided which pass through the ball/bat impact zone and are located at selected and known distances apart such that the bat swing through the impact zone will sequentially interrupt both first and second beams (20 and 18). First and second sensors (22 and 24) are also located for receiving and sensing the presence of the first and second beams and provide second and third electrical signals, respectively, if the beams are interrupted.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical display including a rotating focusing device and at least one light source. The position of the focusing device is monitored and the light source turned on under computer control to produce at a viewing position a plurality of light indications from a single source.

Abstract: A gaming machine of the type utilizing rotating reels (16) which carry on the periphery a plurality of indicia, a brake (19) to stop the reels at a selected position and a random number generator for selecting the reel stopping position. Numbers are assigned to the reel stopping positions and entered into the random number generator (41) with each number being entered one or more times to control the payout odds of each particular stopping position being selected thereby enabling any odds to be set without changing the physical characteristics of the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for simulating the playing of golf includes a tee area from which a player may drive a golf ball toward a curved target screen in front of the tee area. Optical sensing devices are positioned to gather data as to the speed and distance of travel of a ball driven from the tee area. With the data from the sensing devices, computer apparatus produces an estimate for display of the distance of travel and ultimate resting position the driven ball would have if allowed free flight. Sensing devices also allow the computer apparatus to determine when a ball falls into a cup located in front of the target screen. If a ball enters the cup, and if the computer apparatus determines that the ball would have landed within a prescribed distance from the location of a target hole towards which the ball is driven, a "holed out" condition is presumed.

Abstract: A bingo game display including a display unit having a plurality of lights arranged in a matrix form corresponding to a bingo card, and a control unit coupled to the display unit. The control includes a memory storing information corresponding to a plurality of patterns desired to be displayed, and a pattern selector switch for providing an output for application to the memory corresponding to a desired pattern to be displayed. The memory is responsive at least to the output of the pattern selector switch for supplying an output to the lights in accordance with the pattern selected for enabling energization of the lights according to the pattern selected.

Abstract: An electronic game utilizing a phototransducer and a plurality of input switches as inputs to a microprocessor for actuating a display and speaker for providing visual and audible clues to a user in accordance with internally generated signals. The processor estabilishes light sensitivity levels for comparison with incident light levels on the phototransducer for processing by the processor in accordance with the timing and duration of actuation of the input switches.

Abstract: An electronic boxing game provides a display panel of LEDs arranged in two rows of body symbols and three rows of arm symbols. A body-symbol LED can be actuated to represent the position of a simulated boxer, and arm-symbol LEDs can be activated individually to represent blocks or in sequence to represent punches. A punch stopped by a block is prevented from having its full effect, and a successful punch results in simulated staggering, knockdowns, and knockouts.

Abstract: An electronic game apparatus comprising both video game play and pinball game play. Operation of the video game play is enabled by game play conditions of the pinball game play and visa versa. Video game play is implemented using a CRT supported by a housing common to the pinball game.

Abstract: An electronic boxing game provides a display panel of LEDs arranged in two rows of body symbols and three rows of arm symbols. A body-symbol LED can be actuated to represent the position of a simulated boxer, and arm-symbol LEDs can be activated individually to represent blocks or in sequence to represent punches. A punch stopped by a block is prevented from having its full effect, and a successful punch results in simulated staggering, knockdowns, and knockouts.