Sudoku device with the function to input pussle and verify the puzzle

Abstract

The present invention provides a device with a Sudoku verify module, comprising: a microprocessor and a Sudoku verify module coupled to the microprocessor for determining whether a customized puzzle is proper or not. An input module IS coupled to the microprocessor, a symbol may be entered into a blank space on a grid displayed on a display coupled to the microprocessor. A power source IS coupled to the microprocessor and the display.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a number place game device, and more particularly, relates to the device which may determine whether customized puzzle is singular solution, multiple solutions or no solution.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Sudoku is a placement puzzle, also known as number place. Generally, the aim of the puzzle is to enter a numeral from 1 (one) through 9 (nine) in each cell of a grid, most frequently a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (called “regions”), shown in FIG. 1. Sudoku begins with some of the grid cells filled with numbers (the “givens”), shown in FIG. 2. Each row, column and region must contain only one instance of each number. Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability.

Moreover, Sudoku will exercise the logical side of your brain, and though the puzzles are amazingly simple, solving these puzzles will definitely challenge you. As described above, every row and column contains the digits from one through nine. Each of the nine 3×3 regions will also contain one of the digits. Knowing this, and with a few cells exposed, you can deduce the other cells until the entire grid is filled.

FIG. 3a˜3c shows a view of Sudoku puzzle. The object of Sudoku is to fill the other empty cells with numbers between one through nine (one number only in each cell) according to the following guidelines: 1. Number can appear only once on each row, shown in FIG. 3a; 2. Number can appear only once on each column, shown in FIG. 3b; and 3. Number can appear only once on each region, shown in FIG. 3c. The summary of these guidelines would be, that a number should appear only once on each row, column and a region.

Currently, the method for playing Sudoku comprises the following steps: 1. drawing nine 3×3 subgrids on a paper by a pencil and a rubber; 2. placing some digits on the subgrids; 3. entering digits from 1 through 9 into all blank spaces on the grid until each row, column and 3×3 box contain the digits 1 through 9 once and only once.

If a user would like to set a customize puzzle for playing. The customized puzzle refers to that the user may set desired symbol in a desired cell to generate a new puzzle for fun. The proper puzzle has only one solution, otherwise, it is an improper puzzle. Currently, there is no any portable device may determine whether the set puzzle is proper or not. Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned issue, a new Sudoku device may be provided to achieve a purpose for convenient play to overcome the above drawbacks. What is required is a portable device which may determine whether the customized puzzle is singular solution, multiple solutions or no solution for determining the set puzzle is proper or not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the drawbacks of prior art and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, the present invention provides a device with a Sudoku verify module, comprising: a microprocessor and a Sudoku verify module coupled to the microprocessor for determining whether a customized puzzle is proper or not. An input module IS coupled to the microprocessor, a symbol may be entered into a blank space on a grid displayed on a display coupled to the microprocessor. A power source IS coupled to the microprocessor and the display.

The device further comprises a set board mode coupled to the microprocessor to generate the customized puzzle. The set board mode could be an independent module or a part of a mode within a Sudoku conditional module coupled to the microprocessor. The set board mode is used to generate the customized puzzle. The device comprises an electronic game device, a mobile phone, a computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Preferably, the grid displayed on the display comprises m×m cells, wherein the m is an integer from four to nine. The Sudoku conditional module has a Sudoku puzzle program for creating a Sudoku puzzle on the display.

After the verify module processes the testing algorithm, the result will be multiple results, inconsistence or single result. Therefore, the verify module will verify whether the customized puzzle is proper or not. As we know, the single result is the proper one.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a device with a set board module, comprising: a microprocessor and a set board module coupled to the microprocessor to generate the customized puzzle. An input module is coupled to the microprocessor, wherein a symbol may be entered into a blank space on a grid displayed on a display coupled to the microprocessor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the following drawings, which show the preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view of a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids.

FIG. 2 shows a view of Sudoku beginning with some of the grid cells filled with numbers.

FIG. 3a˜3c shows a view of Sudoku puzzle.

FIG. 4 shows a Sudoku device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a functional diagram of Sudoku device according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is expressly not limited expect as specified in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will immediately realize that the embodiments of the present invention described herein in the context of methods and schematics are illustrative only and are not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefits of this disclosure.

The numerals in Sudoku puzzle are used for convenience; arithmetic relationships between numerals are absolutely irrelevant. Moreover, any set of distinct symbols will do, for example numbers, letters, geometric shapes, or colors may be used without altering the puzzle.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it shows a Sudoku device according to the present invention. The device comprises a main body 40, a display 41, a key area 42, a switch 43, a display interface 44, a microprocessor 45, an input module 46, a memory 47, a Sudoku conditional module 48, a Sudoku verify module 50, a set board mode 52 and a power source 49. The display 41 is disposed on the main body 40. For example, the display 41 is a LCD display. The display 41 is set to a grid comprised of m×m cells, wherein the number of m is an integer from four to nine. For example, m is nine, and the grid comprises nine 3×3 subgrids as shown in FIG. 2. The symbols comprise but not limited numbers, letters, geometric shapes or colors, as described above. In other words, the symbols may be inputted by the keys 42a and 42b. The switch 43 may be disposed on the side of the main body 40, and coupled to the power source 49 for switching the status of the Sudoku device on or off. The display interface 44 is disposed into the main body 40 and coupled to the microprocessor 45, the display 41 and the power source 49, respectively. The display 41 may be shown the data of executing through the display interface.

The microprocessor 45 is disposed into the main body 40 and coupled to the Sudoku conditional module 48 and Sudoku verify module 50. The Sudoku conditional module 48 comprises a Sudoku puzzle program for generating a Sudoku puzzle. In one embodiment, the Sudoku conditional module 48 may be embedded into the microprocessor 45. The Sudoku conditional module 48 may includes a set-board mode for a user to set a customized puzzle. The customized puzzle refers to that the user may set desired symbol in a desired cell to generate a new puzzle. The set-board mode module 52 could be a separated module in another embodiment. One aspect of the present invention is that the device includes the Sudoku verify module 50 to verify whether the customized puzzle is singular solution, multiple solutions or no solution for determining the set puzzle is proper or not.

When Sudoku begins, some of the grid cells are filled with symbols such as given symbols crested by a random access producer of the above device. The given symbols may be set as default symbols. The verify method includes the following steps. Initially, when the verify module knows the value of a square it will adjust the ‘possible values’ grid for all other relevant squares. For example, if the value ‘1’ is placed in grid position column 5, row 1 then all other squares in column 5, row 1 and the 3×3 block this square belongs to can no longer possibly contain the value ‘1’. So the verify module updates the ‘possible values’ grid with this information. SuDoku verify module checks to see if any of the squares have only one possible value. If any are found then the value is entered for this square as mentioned above and the above step is repeated until all remaining unsolved squares contain multiple possible values (or the SuDoku is completely solved!).

If the above step fails to solve the puzzle then next step is tested. Each row/line/block is checked to see if any of the values (1-9) that have yet to be found for that row/column/block can only be placed in a single square. If so that value is entered and the algorithm returns to first step.

Another method, if a column/row/block has two values which both only have two allowed possible squares, and these two squares are the same for both values then this pair of values must be in these two squares. All other values therefore can not be placed in these squares. The above is repeated.

Another method for the verify module could be introduced. The first step is to write out all the possible answers and next step is to eliminate those that are incompatible with the numbers published in the puzzle. The starting position is that every cell can contain any of the numbers 1-9. The verify module write all the possible values into each cell. In the example above, the first step is to apply the numbers to the grid and eliminate all the values that are inconsistent with numbers published in the puzzle. After verify module used up all the given numbers (and the one found), verify module moves onto subsequent process in nest step. The step involves counting how often the undecided numbers appear in a set of cells (row, column or 3×3 super-cell). If verify module starts with the first column, the undecided cells are the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th. The verify module counts how often each undecided number appears (the known ones are excluded from this process) in the step. The next step involves making guesses and seeing the consequences.

There are three possible outcomes:

• 1. the search runs to completion with a solution
• 2. the search leads to a contradiction
• 3. the search is inconclusive

This first outcome at first glance appears to be ideal. This part of the algorithm involves making that guess and then applying the three previous steps.

After the verify module processes the aforementioned algorithm, the result will be multiple results, inconsistence or single result. Therefore, the verify module will verify whether the customized puzzle is proper or not. As we know, the single result is the proper one.

In one embodiment, the symbols may be numbers such as one, two, three and four; characters such as A, B, C and D. As described above, Sudoku puzzle follows guidelines that a symbol should appear only once on each row, column and a region. In other words, the same symbol can not appear on each row, column and a region. In another embodiment, the device with a Sudoku game module of the present may be an electric game device, a mobile phone, a computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. Having described the invention in connection with a preferred embodiment, modification will now suggest itself to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to this embodiment, but rather the invention is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device with a Sudoku verify module, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a Sudoku verify module coupled to said microprocessor for determining whether a customized puzzle is proper or not;

an input module coupled to said microprocessor, wherein a symbol may be entered into a blank space on a grid displayed on a display coupled to said microprocessor; and

a power source coupled to said microprocessor and said display.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein further comprises a set board mode coupled to said microprocessor to generate said customized puzzle.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a Sudoku conditional module coupled to said microprocessor to generate a Sudoku puzzle.

4. The device as in claim 3, wherein said Sudoku conditional module includes a set board mode to generate said customized puzzle.

5. The device as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises an electronic game device, a mobile phone, a computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

6. The device as in claim 1, wherein the grid displayed on said display comprises m×m cells, wherein said m is an integer from four to nine.

7. The device as in claim 1, wherein said Sudoku conditional module has a Sudoku puzzle program for creating a Sudoku puzzle on said display.

8. A device with a set board module, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a set board module coupled to said microprocessor to generate said customized puzzle;

an input module coupled to said microprocessor, wherein a symbol may be entered into a blank space on a grid displayed on a display coupled to said microprocessor; and

a power source coupled to said microprocessor and said display.

9. The device as in claim 8, further comprises a Sudoku verify module coupled to said microprocessor for determining whether said customized puzzle is proper or not.

10. The device as in claim 8, wherein said device further comprises a Sudoku conditional module coupled to said microprocessor to generate a Sudoku puzzle.

11. The device as in claim 8, wherein said device comprises an electronic game device, a mobile phone, a computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

12. The device as in claim 18 wherein the grid displayed on said display comprises m×m cells, wherein said m is an integer from four to nine.

13. The device as in claim 10, wherein said Sudoku conditional module has a Sudoku puzzle program for creating a Sudoku puzzle on said display.