Abstract: A racket includes a head portion having a striking netting, a shaft portion, a throat portion connected between the head portion and the shaft portion, a grip portion formed on the shaft portion from a bottom end thereof, but excluding the uppermost part of the shaft portion, and a cushioning device provided between the head portion and the grip portion to cushion the impact force occurring when one strikes a ball with the striking netting.

Abstract: A T.V. game system for displaying a desired picture on the screen of a raster scanning type T.V. set includes a motion picture pattern generator, a still picture pattern generator, a central processing unit for controlling the overall operation of the system under the control of the operator, and a picture processing unit for combining motion and still picture patterns to form a video signal to be supplied to the T.V. set, whereby the picture processing unit includes a motion picture attribute table memory which stores information relating to motion picture pattern for the next following frame during the horizontal blanking period and a temporary memory which stores information relating to motion picture pattern to be displayed in the next following line by accessing the motion picture attribute table memory during the scanning of current line.

Abstract: In an electronic dartboard game having a visual display for providing players with game scores and the like, an apparatus for providing a customized image on the visual display when the electronic dartboard game is not in use is provided having, a processor operable in first or second modes. The first mode is responsive to game conditions for providing scoring information and the like to the visual display. The second mode is responsive to a manual input device for providing a customized image on the visual display. Additionally, there is provided an apparatus for transferring the processor from the first mode to the second and returning the processor to the first mode after the customized image has been entered.

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: Disclosed is a device for generating an analog output signal indicative of an impact to a transucer. The tranducer may be mounted on protective equipment utilized in various martial arts fields, such as headgear, hand or footgear, protective vests and the like or can be mounted on training equipment, such as a heavy bag, striking pad, etc. In a preferred embodiment the transducer is a piezoelectric film which, upon deformation, generates an electrical signal which is indicative of the amount of deformation. By placing the piezoelectric film on top of a deformable material, in a preferred embodiment sandwiching it in the deformable material, impacts to the deformable material will strain the piezoelectric film generating the signal output. In a further embodiement of the present invention, the piezoelectric transducer is mounted on a target pad and provides an analog output indicative of the characteristic of an object impacting the target pad, i.e.

Abstract: A joystick, or any other type of input device which translates motion into a related signal, provides proportional control for a variable associated with a computer program, not adapted for proportional joystick control. In one embodiment, one input to the computer causes a variable in a computer program to repeatedly increment in one direction, a second input causes the variable to repeatedly increment in the opposite direction. The first input is produced for a period of time related to a change in joystick position in a first direction and the second input is produced for a period of time corresponding to the degree the joystick is moved in a second direction. In another embodiment, the present invention produces keyboard symbol codes to simulate a keyboard. The invention repeatedly produces an appropriate code for a number of times, the number corresponding to the degree to which the joystick was moved.

Abstract: Progressively smaller pieces can be connected to the largest piece to aid in semantic mapping of an informative passage, for example. Legends can be applied to the pieces (and can be wiped off later). The pieces can be connected mechanically or magnetically. The mechanical connections can be different shapes to limit connection of a piece to the next larger piece. Similarly, the pieces can be magnetized to achieve the same end. The perimeter of each piece can be color coded to indicate the color of the proper piece to be connected to the perimeter.

Abstract: A device to aid in the teaching of a good or correct golf swing. The device is a generally wedge shaped bar which, when attached to the bottom outer edge of the shoe, causes the foot to tilt inwardly and forwardly simultaneously. The golfer thereby achieves a correct golf stance which is vital to a good golf swing. Through use of the device in practice over a period of time, the leg and foot muscles become toned or conditioned to automatically assume the correct stance when the golfer addresses the ball.

Abstract: A golf ball dispenser and tee apparatus includes a cylindrical hopper for carrying a plurality of golf balls, a rotatable disc mounted in the hopper above the floor thereof with a plurality of holes, a cover for covering one of the holes when the hole is aligned with an opening in the floor of the hopper, so that the golf balls are discharged one at a time into an inclined tube, a motor for rotating the disc in the hopper, a coin operated switch for initiating operation of the motor, a gripper mounted on a slide at the end of the inclined tube for gripping a golf ball when actuated by a switch which is operated by the head of a club, and a second motor for moving the slide with the gripper outwardly to a position where the ball is deposited on a tee, and returning the slide and gripper to the rest position for gripping another ball. The gripper is operated by a solenoid and operation of the slide motor is achieved by microswitches.

Abstract: An exercise monitoring system and method for comparing the present movement of the exercise machine caused by the physical exertion of a user with the user's past movement of the exercise machine. The system includes an exercise monitoring main unit, an exercise monitoring screen, a portable personal memory module, an exercise machine monitor, and an exercise monitoring analyzer. The exercise machine monitor measures the movement of the exercise machine and provides data representative thereof. The portable personal memory provides data representative of the user's past movement of the exercise machine. The exercise monitoring main unit compares the data and generates a pacing signal on the exercise monitoring screen for the user. The user follows the pacing signal to duplicate his previous performance. The exercise monitoring screen discipline the user's present pace compared to his past pace.

Abstract: A lottery machine comprising a display which can display combinations of indicia selected from a predetermined set of such combinations, and a control device arranged to sequentially select game results from a predetermined set of game results and to display an indicia combination corresponding to the selected result on the display. Each game on the machine is initiated by a player and can only be initiated after the player has established a credit in the machine. At the commencement of operation of the machine, or when a previous set of game results have all been used, the control device sequentially selects each possible game result for the next series of games to be played and randomly allocates the results to game numbers in the series in order to produce a new set of predetermined game results.

Abstract: A logical toy containing movable and/or rotatable elements or element groups, the path of motion or axis of rotation thereof, including sensors staying in an actuating forced connection directly or through a mechanic transmission. One or two circuit switches are suitable for closing and opening the path of electric, magnetic or optical signals, which form, individually or in groups, one or more logical nets serving as signal transmitters. The outputs thereof are connected directly through mechanic connecting elements (4, 5, 9, 11) to an electric counter (2). The sensors, i.e. the signal transmitters (1) containing the sensors, can be connected to an electronic chronometer (6). One or more axes of the toy are hollow or tubular, and the sensors and/or their leads are arranged in the inside of the tubular axes (22) and/or in the hollow of the center-plate elements (18).

Abstract: A reduced-scale racing apparatus having at least one self-powered, remotely controlled vehicle, and at least one operator's booth containing a control console for operating the vehicle, the vehicle having a wheeled body provided with a first control for controlling the vehicle, a forwardly trained video camera on the body, a rearwardly trained video camera on the body, a transmitter on the body for the wireless transmission of respective signals from the forwardly and rearwardly trained video cameras, and a receiver on the body responsive to wireless signals for operating the first control, while the operator's booth has a housing for containing a driver/operator and the control console, with a second control in the housing for generating wireless signals receivable by the receiver for operating the first control, the housing being further provided with a first video display screen responsive to the transmitted signals from the forwardly trained video camera for displaying the path in front of the vehicle, an

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated marketing and gaming wherein a player inserts an identification card into an automated remote interface device and accesses an account at a subject financial institution. The user identifier provides access to the financial account, and a user indicia is compared to a game indicia. In one form a sweepstakes processor compares the user and game indicia to determine whether a selected winning correlation is present between the game indicia and user indicia. The appartus is adapted to be used with a network of data processing machines and a transmission facilities device, which provides data processing communication among the data processing machines. The processor can alternatively be in electronic communication with a government-associated lottery system to purchase lottery chances for distribution to users of the remote interface device.

Abstract: A monitoring circuit incorporated into a video game display device is operated responsively to first and second non-overlapping clock pulses and monitors raster line status in comparison to a stored raster address and provides a high speed raster scan interrupt when that address is achieved, triggering a SPRITE or other feature(s) display.

Abstract: A television game apparatus according to this invention reads white picture data from a program ROM (6) to transfer it to a video RAM (8) and displays, on a television monitor (11), the white picture data, together with target or other data read from a character ROM (9). When a pistol (4) is leveled at a target on the screen of the television monitor (11) and the trigger is pulled, a switch (44) is closed to produce a trigger signal, on the basis of which black picture data is read from the program ROM (6) and displayed on the television monitor (11). Immediately after the black picture was displayed, the white picture is displayed in the next frame in the position where the target was displayed just before and/or around the periphery thereof. The light from this white picture is detected by a phototransistor (41), whose detection signal, when extracted by a filter (45, 46), is used as a detection signal from the target.

Abstract: A three-dimensional molecular model comprises plastic modules, each representing on atom connected to one another. Modules intended to represent atoms of cyclic compounds are polyhedrons set in the model so that adjacent polyhedrons touch faces and have a common apex. The sum total of the angles formed by the adjacent faces of polyhedrons of the modules is more than 360.degree..

Abstract: An interactive teaching apparatus comprises an actual operative piece of equipment, or a breadboard, which is the actual object of the training or study, an interface coupled to the equipment for deriving data from relevant points in the equipment, an interactive computer including a program which provides the background to the teaching exercise, monitors the progress of the trainee being taught, monitors the data supplied from the interface to the computer, and guides the trainee through the stages of the program, a reproduction medium with pre-recorded instructional sequences containing teaching information concerning the equipment and sequences showing the possible consequences of action by the trainee, and a dual-channel digital storage oscilloscope for displaying waveforms derived from the points and comparing them with stored waveforms.

Abstract: A new method of learning by use of a machine which interacts with the user to guide the user through a programmed series of questions. The system is based on finding trouble spots in the users logic or feelings by observing the users skin response to questions. The computer will ask the user a question. The machine measures the users skin resistance in response to the question and displays the response to the user. The user enters a response to the question on the computer keyboard based on the response he observes in his skin resistance which tells him how he is reacting to the question. The computer selects the next question based on his answer to the previous question and thus guides the user through a programmed series of questions. If troubled areas are uncovered the computer jumps to subroutines to help with that problem before moving on to the next step in the programmed series of questions.

Abstract: Cannon system training apparatus employs a double acting hydraulic cylinder controlled by an electrically operated directional control valve which controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to the double acting hydraulic cylinder in such a manner as to cause the gun tube to execute a recoil/counterrecoil cycle similar to that which would occur during an actual firing of the cannon system. A counterrecoil accumulator stores energy in the form of pressurized hydraulic fluid expelled from the hydraulic cylinder during recoil for counterrecoiling the gun tube. The gun tube is formed to enable dummy projectiles and simulated propellant charges to pass easily through the gun tube and to be ejected from the muzzle end by the ramming system employed.