HK40017103A - Darts game device - Google Patents

Description

Dart game device

Cross reference to related applications

The present application is based on japanese patent application No. 2017-148514, filed on 31.7.7.2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dart game apparatus.

Background

Conventionally, there is known a dart game apparatus in which a light-emitting sensor and a light-receiving sensor are disposed around a dart target, and the position (coordinates) of the dart is calculated by detecting the blocking of light emitted by the light-emitting sensor by the dart of the dartboard (see patent document 1).

Regarding this device, patent document 2 discloses a technique of calculating the position of a dart by triangulation from the light and shade of light by the dart (the shadow of the dart) in the light and shade of light detected by a photosensor. It is also disclosed in patent document 2 that the positions of all three darts can be calculated by using five optical sensors.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 4682986

Patent document 2: japanese Kohyo publication No. 2001-509251

Disclosure of Invention

For example, fig. 6 of the present application is a diagram illustrating an example in which, when five optical sensors S1 to S5 are provided at equal intervals on a dart target, the positions of three darts are calculated. In the case where the first projected dart D1 of the five optical sensors S1 to S5 pierces a line connecting two optical sensors S2 and S4, the second projected dart D2 pierces a line connecting two other optical sensors S3 and S5, and the third projected dart D3 pierces an intersection of these lines, the shadow of the dart can be detected by only one optical sensor S1. For triangulation, if the shadow of a dart cannot be detected by two light sensors S, the position of the dart cannot be calculated, and thus if the shadow of a dart can be detected only by one light sensor S1 as described above, the position of the dart D3 thrown third cannot be calculated.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a dart game device capable of calculating the positions of all darts.

A dart game device according to one aspect of the present invention provides a dart game in which a player throws n darts continuously toward a dart target, where n is 3 or 4, the dart game device including: a light source disposed around the dartboard and emitting light along a target surface of the dartboard; a plurality of optical sensors which are arranged around the dartboard at substantially the same height in the board thickness direction from the dartboard, and detect the brightness of the light emitted from the light source; and a processing device that calculates the position of the dart in the dartboard on the basis of the brightness of the light detected by the plurality of light sensors, the number of the light sensors being n × 2.

According to the above configuration, when a dart game is provided in which one player throws n (n ═ 3 or 4) darts continuously, the number of optical sensors is n × 2, and therefore the positions of all n darts can be calculated.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the positions of all darts can be calculated.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a dart game apparatus 10 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of dartboard 12.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of hardware of the dart game apparatus 10.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating the positions of three darts D (D1, D2, D3) when three optical sensors S (S1, S2, S3) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating the positions of three darts D (D1, D2, D3) when four optical sensors S (S1, S2, S3, S4) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating each position of the darts D (D1, D2, D3) when five photosensors S (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating each position punctured by three darts D (D1, D2, D3) when six optical sensors S (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating the positions of five darts D (D1 to D5) when ten optical sensors S (S1 to S10) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a change in the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S, fig. 9 (a) is a diagram showing an example of the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S in the case where the first dart D is thrown, fig. 9 (B) is a diagram showing an example of the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S in the case where the second dart D is thrown next to the first dart D, and fig. 9 (C) is a diagram showing an example of the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S in the case where the brightness of light is subjected to the difference processing after the second dart D is thrown.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the CPU41a based on a game program in the dart game apparatus 10 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a dart target 12A provided in the dart game apparatus of embodiment 2.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the dartboard 12A shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of shading of light detected by the photosensors SE1, SE2 in embodiment 2.

Fig. 14 is a diagram for explaining calculation of the position of a dart based on its inclination.

Fig. 15 is a graph showing the relationship between the angle of the dart D and the distance D.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a modification of the structure of the dartboard described in embodiment 1.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a modification of the structure of the dartboard described in embodiment 2.

Fig. 18 is a diagram showing the state of darts in the case where two darts gather at one point.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Embodiment 1-of

< integral formation >

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a dart game apparatus 10 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the dart game apparatus 10 is formed, for example, in a vertical cube shape. The dart game apparatus 10 provides a player with a dart game in which a player throws n darts continuously in one round or the like, for example. A plurality of game modes different in the number of darts thrown continuously by one player may also be included in the dart game according to rules. In this case, "n" is the maximum number of the number of booms continuously thrown by one player in each game mode. The dart is not particularly limited to a soft dart, a hard dart, or the like, and in embodiment 1, a case of a soft dart is explained.

The dart game apparatus 10 has a dart target 12 and a display device 30. The dartboard 12 is disposed at a substantially line-of-sight position of the player in a standing posture on the front side of the dart game apparatus 10. The display device 30 displays a still image or a moving image.

Further, a token insertion slot, a mode selection switch, and the like, which are not shown, are provided on the front surface of the dart game apparatus 10. A player inserts medals into a medal insertion slot, presses a mode selection switch, and selects a game mode to play a dart game. In this dart game, a player stands at a predetermined position in front of the dart game apparatus 10, and throws darts while aiming at a predetermined target of the dart target 12. The front end portion of the dart reaching the dart target 12 pierces the dart target 12, the coordinate position (hereinafter simply referred to as "position") of the dart in the dart is detected, and a score is displayed on the display device 30 according to the position in the dart.

Figure 2 is a front view of dartboard 12.

The dartboard 12 has a plurality of light sources LS, a plurality of light sensors S, a target body 20, and a housing 22.

The plurality of light sources LS are respectively installed at equal intervals in the housing 22, for example. The plurality of light sources LS are arranged around the dartboard 12 at substantially the same height in the board thickness direction from the target surface 20A of the dartboard 12. The number of the light sources LS is, for example, the same as the number of the light sensors S. The light source LS emits light L toward the inside of the case 22.

The plurality of photosensors S are mounted at equal intervals in the housing 22. One of the plurality of photosensors S and one of the plurality of light sources LS are paired, and the pairs of photosensors S and light sources LS are provided adjacent to each other in the plate thickness direction. Each of the photosensors S receives light L emitted from the light source LS, and converts the received light L into an electric signal, thereby detecting the brightness of the light L at a plurality of angles. The number of the photosensors S is derived from a logical expression described later.

The target body 20 is formed of a plate having, for example, a quadrangular shape when viewed from the front. A plurality of holes, not shown, are formed in the panel surface that becomes the target surface 20A so as to engage with the darts D.

The housing 22 is held so as to surround the periphery of the target body 20. The case 22 protrudes in the plate thickness direction of the target body 20 with respect to the target surface 20A, and forms an inner wall 22A and an outer wall 22B. Thereby, the inner walls 22A of the casing 22 face each other across the target surface 20A. An opening, not shown, is provided in the inner wall 22A facing the light source LS so that the light L can pass through the housing 22.

On such an inner wall 22A, a recursive reflective material 24 is provided along the circumference of the target body 20. The retroreflective material 24 has a reflective function as if the reflective surface receives the incidence of the light L from the light source LS and causes the light L to propagate again in the direction of the light source LS (for example, the direction a in fig. 2). In other words, the retroreflective material 24 has a function of reflecting light such that the intensity of the reflected light becomes the strongest in the incident direction of light. As the recursive reflective material 24, a glass bead reflective material, a microprism reflective material, and the like are provided.

< hardware >

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of hardware of the dart game apparatus 10.

As shown in fig. 3, the dart game apparatus 10 has a control circuit 40. The control circuit 40 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, and an operation input unit 43. The control unit 41 includes a CPU41a for controlling the overall system, an image processing processor 41b for performing image processing such as the display position and size of a video to be displayed on a screen, and an audio signal processing processor 41c for generating audio.

The storage unit 42 includes a ROM42a in which programs and data used by the control unit 41 are stored, and a RAM42b in which various data in the course of a game are temporarily stored. The operation input unit 43 is connected to the control unit 41 and the storage unit 42 via an interface 43b via an operation panel 43a, and various operation signals such as a token switch for detecting a token, a selection switch for a game mode, and a start switch are input to the operation panel 43 a.

When the power is turned on, the CPU41a reads the game program in accordance with the BOOT program of the ROM42a, reads the image and audio data stored in the ROM42a, processes the data by the image processing processor 41b and the audio signal processing processor 41c, and outputs the image signal and the audio signal to the display device 30 and the audio device 44 via the interfaces 3a and 44a, respectively.

The CPU41a controls the progress of the dart game in accordance with the game program read from the ROM42a, and advances the game mode desired by the player in accordance with the bet signal from the operation input unit 43 and the input signals from the selection switch and the start switch.

The player takes a game by throwing a dart D at the target of the dart target 12 and hitting the target surface 20A of the dart target 12, while keeping a predetermined distance from the dart game apparatus 10. When a dart D thrown by a player aiming at a target of the target surface 20A hits the target surface 20A, the dart D shields the light L, whereby the brightness of the light L toward the light sensors S changes, at least two light sensors S detect the brightness of the light, these detection signals are sent to the control section 41, the CPU41a specifies the brightness of the light based on the dart D ("peak" or "shadow of the dart D") from the brightness of the light of the two light sensors S, respectively, specifies the direction of the shadow of the dart D as, for example, angles α and β, and calculates the position where the dart D hits by triangulation using the angles α and β.

The CPU41a reads out a score corresponding to the calculated position from the table stored in the ROM42a as a point, displays the change in the target video and the point on the display device 30 in the image processing processor 41b, and generates and outputs a sound with an increased score from the audio device 44 in the audio signal processing processor 41 c. In this way, the position of the puncture is calculated in the control circuit 40 based on the detection signal from the optical sensor S, and the punctuation accumulation and the sound are output.

The position and point information of the dart D being stabbed, the number of points of the dart D being stabbed, the number of rounds, and the like are sequentially stored in the RAM42b, and the game is played while outputting images and sounds based on the data. The image processing processor 41b writes image data into the RAM42b based on the calculation result of the program, and the written image data is transmitted to the display device 30 through the interface (I/F) circuit 3 a. The audio data output from the audio signal processing processor 41c is similarly transmitted to the audio device 44 through the interface (I/F) circuit 44 a.

< logical expression of the number of photosensors S >

Next, a logical expression for deriving the number of optical sensors S that can calculate the respective positions of all the darts D when n darts D are stuck on the target surface 20A of the dartboard 12 will be described. In a dart game, normally, one player throws three darts D in sequence, and after the three throws are completed, the darts D are collected and handed to another player. When the order of players who throw the dart D is determined, for example, four or more players (particularly four players) may be thrown. Therefore, "n" is 3 or more (n ≧ 3). Hereinafter, a case where one player throws three darts D in succession is described.

First, in order to calculate the position of the dart D by triangulation, the dart shadow must be detected from two optical sensors S. On this premise, it will be described whether or not the number of the optical sensors S provided in the dartboard 12 is changed to two, three, four, five, or six, and the respective positions of all the darts D can be calculated.

(case of two photosensors S)

An example of calculating each position where three darts D are stuck in the case where two optical sensors S are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12 will be described.

In these cases, when the optical sensor S is on a line connecting the second dart D and the first dart D while the second dart D is sticking, the shadow of the second dart D overlaps the shadow of the first dart D from the optical sensor S and cannot be detected.

Thus, with two light sensors S, it is only the first dart D thrown that the position of the dart D can be calculated by triangulation. Therefore, the respective positions of all the darts D cannot be calculated by the two optical sensors S.

(case of three light sensors S)

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating each position punctured by three darts D (D1, D2, D3) when three optical sensors S (S1, S2, S3) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

As in the case shown in fig. 4, when the third projected dart D3 strikes at the intersection between the line connecting the optical sensor S1 and the first projected dart D1 and the line connecting the optical sensor S2 and the second projected dart D2, the shadow of the dart D3 overlaps the shadow of the dart D1 and the shadow of the dart D2 as seen from the optical sensor S1 and the optical sensor S2, and cannot be detected, and can be detected only by the optical sensor S3. Thus, the position of the dart D3 cannot be calculated by triangulation.

When the arrangement of the dart D shown in fig. 4 is changed, for example, the first dart D1 and the second dart D2 are respectively stuck on a line connecting the optical sensor S1 and the optical sensor S2, and the shadow of the second dart D2 is detected only by the optical sensor S3. Thus, the position of the dart D2 cannot be calculated by triangulation.

Thus, in the example shown in fig. 4, only the first thrown dart D1 can be calculated by triangulation for the position of the dart D. Therefore, the respective positions of all the darts D cannot be calculated by the three optical sensors S.

(case of four photosensors S)

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating each position in the darts D (D1, D2, D3) when four optical sensors S (S1, S2, S3, S4) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

As in the case shown in fig. 5, when the first projected dart D1 sticks to a line connecting the optical sensors S2 and S4 to each other, the second projected dart D2 sticks to a line connecting the optical sensors S1 and S3 to each other, and the third projected dart D3 sticks to an intersection of the two lines, the shadow of the third projected dart D3 overlaps with the shadows of the dart D1 and the dart D2 from any of the optical sensors S1 to S4, and cannot be detected. Thus, the position of the dart D cannot be calculated by triangulation.

Thus, in the case shown in fig. 5, only the first thrown dart D1 and the second thrown dart D2 can be calculated as the positions of the darts D by triangulation. Therefore, the respective positions of all the darts D cannot be calculated by the four optical sensors S.

(case of five photosensors S)

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating each position punctured by three darts D (D1, D2, D3) when five optical sensors S (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

As in the case shown in fig. 6, when the first dart D1 sticks on a line connecting the photosensors S2 and S4 to each other, the second dart D2 sticks on a line connecting the photosensors S3 and S5 to each other, and the third dart D3 sticks on the intersection of the two lines, the shadow of the third dart D3 overlaps with the shadows of the dart D1 and dart D2 as viewed from the photosensors S2, S3, S4, and S5 and cannot be detected, and can be detected only by the photosensor S1. If the shadow of the third projected dart D3 can be detected only by the optical sensor S1, the position of the third projected dart D3 can be predicted to be within a region near the intersection between the line connecting the lines S2 and S4 and the line connecting the lines S3 and S5, but it is impossible to accurately grasp which position is located within the region. Thus, in the case shown in fig. 6, only the first thrown dart D1 and the second thrown dart D2 can calculate the position of the dart D by the triangle meter. Therefore, the respective positions of all the darts D cannot be calculated by the five optical sensors S.

(case of six photosensors S)

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating each position to be pierced by three darts D (D1, D2, D3) when six optical sensors S (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

As in the case shown in fig. 7, when the first thrown dart D1 sticks on a line connecting the photosensors S2 and S5 to each other, the second thrown dart D2 sticks on a line connecting the photosensors S3 and S6 to each other, and the third thrown dart D3 sticks on the intersection of the two lines, the shadow of the third thrown dart D3 can be detected by the two photosensors S1 and S4.

Thus, in the example shown in fig. 7, the darts D1 to D3 whose positions can be calculated from the triangle are darts D1 to D3. Therefore, the respective positions of all the darts D can be calculated by the six optical sensors S.

(conclusion)

To summarize the above, when the first projected dart D1 strikes a line connecting the optical sensors S and the second projected dart D2 strikes the same line, the shadow of the dart D2 overlaps (is blocked by) the shadow of the first projected dart D1 as viewed from the two optical sensors S located at the two ends of the line, and thus cannot be detected. That is, there is a case where the number of the optical sensors S capable of reliably detecting the shadow of the succeeding dart D is reduced by two due to the dart D thrown at one time. In order to calculate the position of one dart D, two optical sensors S are required, and thus four optical sensors S are required in order to surely detect the second shot after the optical sensors S are connected to each other on the line in the first shot. In addition, in order to reliably detect the third shot after the line connecting the photosensors S in the second shot is formed, six photosensors S are required.

In addition, although not shown, when the number n of the continuously thrown darts D is four, when three darts D closely stick on different lines connecting the optical sensors S, two optical sensors S are required in addition to the six optical sensors S in order to reliably detect the fourth throw. That is, a total of eight photosensors S is required.

That is, the number of optical sensors S derived from the logical expression of 2 × n (1 ≦ n) is required to calculate the positions of n darts D with respect to the number n of darts D continuously thrown by one player in a one-round dart game or the like.

However, if the number n of continuously thrown darts D is five, the shadow of the dart D thrown in the fifth direction may not be detected even if the number of the optical sensors S is increased. This will be described with reference to fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating the respective positions of the five darts D (D1 to D5) when ten optical sensors S (S1 to S10) are provided at equal intervals on the dartboard 12.

As in the case shown in fig. 8, when the fifth thrown dart D5 strikes the center surrounded by the four darts D1 to D4, the shadow of the dart D5 overlaps (is shaded by) any one of the darts D1 to D4 from any one of the photosensors S1 to S10, and cannot be detected. Even if the number of the photosensors S is increased to twenty, for example, the shadow of the dart D5 is overlapped with (blocked by) any one of the shadows of the darts D1 to D4 in the same manner as in the case of any one of the photosensors S, and cannot be detected. Therefore, when the number n of thrown darts D is five, the shadow of the fifth thrown dart D cannot be detected regardless of the increase in the number of optical sensors S, and the upper limit of the number of boots D at each position of the dart D that can be calculated and detected is four (n ≦ 4).

In embodiment 1, a dart game in which one or two darts are thrown in one round or the like is not assumed, and therefore, the result is that the number of the darts D thrown continuously in one round or the like is 3 or 4, and the number of the optical sensors S is six or eight based on the logical expression of 2 × n.

< Change in light and shade >

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a change in the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S, fig. 9 (a) is a diagram illustrating an example of the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S in the case where the first dart D is thrown, fig. 9 (B) is a diagram illustrating an example of the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S in the case where the second dart D is thrown next to the first dart D, and fig. 9 (C) is a diagram illustrating an example of the brightness of light detected by the light sensor S in the case where the brightness of light is subjected to the difference processing after the second dart D is thrown. Further, the photosensor S is composed of a plurality of image pickup elements of a required amount of resolving power, which photoelectrically convert light and dark of light into an amount of electric charge, and sequentially read out and converted into an electric signal. When the dart D hits the target, a part of the light L is blocked and a shadow is generated, and thus a change occurs in the electric signal. The electrical signal corresponds to the brightness of the light, that is to say the intensity of the light L. In the light shading diagrams shown in (a) to (C) of fig. 9, the vertical axis indicates the light level of the light L measured by the photosensor S, and the horizontal axis corresponds to the positions (angles) of the imaging elements sequentially read by the photosensor S, and is used to determine at which angle the shadow is generated when viewed from the photosensor S.

As shown in fig. 9 (a), when the first thrown dart D stabs, the light detected by the photosensor S also includes a peak after the decrease in light and shade. The peak represents the shadow of the dart D. The position of the dart D can be calculated by triangulation based on the angle indicated by the arrow in the figure where the center line O of the width of the peak is located.

Here, as shown in fig. 2, a case is assumed where the second thrown dart D stabs adjacent to the first thrown dart D. In this case, as shown in fig. 9 (B), the peak of the second thrown dart D is superimposed on the peak of the first thrown dart D, and only one peak having a large width is detected. If the angle indicated by the arrow in the figure where the center line O1 of the width of the crest is located is defined as the angle of the second dart D, and the position of the second dart D is calculated based on the angle, an error occurs between the calculated position and the actual position of the second dart D.

In the present embodiment, the CPU41a stores the brightness of light detected by the optical sensor S when the dart D strikes the dart target 12 in the RAM42b as a reference. Further, as shown in (C) of fig. 9, the CPU41a calculates the difference between the brightness of the light detected by the light sensor S and the brightness of the stored light in the case where the next dart D pierces the dartboard 12. Since this difference becomes a crest (shadow) belonging only to the next dart D, the CPU41a sets the angle indicated by the arrow in the figure where the center line of the width of the crest is located as the angle of the second dart D, and calculates the position where the second dart D darts based on this angle. This can suppress an error from occurring between the calculated position and the actual position of the second dart D.

< Game program-based processing >

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the CPU41a based on a game program in the dart game device 10 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

(step SP10)

The CPU41a repeats the processing of step SP12 to step SP34 by the number of players who play the dart game.

(step SP12)

The CPU41a repeatedly performs the processing of step SP14 to step SP32 by the number of n in the case where the dart game provided by the dart game apparatus 10 is a game in which n darts D are thrown in one round. In a game, when the throwing order of a player is determined before the game is started, three points become the number of persons.

(step SP14)

The CPU41a determines whether or not the swap button is pressed based on the presence or absence of a pressing signal of the swap button, not shown. Then, the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP36 in the case of an affirmative determination, and proceeds to the process of step SP16 in the case of a negative determination.

(step SP16)

The CPU41a obtains detection signals from the six photosensors S, that is, the brightness and darkness of light detected by the photosensors S. Further, the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP 18.

(step SP18)

The CPU41a determines whether the dart D is thrown based on the light and shade of the light of each light sensor S. Specifically, the CPU41a determines whether or not there is a change in the brightness of at least two of the brightness of the light of each light sensor S, and if it is determined that there is a change in the brightness of the light, it is determined with certainty that the dart D has been thrown, and if it is determined that there is no change in the brightness of the light, it is determined with certainty that the dart D has not been thrown. Further, the CPU41a proceeds to the processing of step SP20 after adding one to the total number of thrown darts D in the case of a positive determination, and returns to the processing of step SP14 in the case of a negative determination.

(step SP20)

The CPU41a determines whether the dart D is the first throw by the player. Then, the CPU41a proceeds to the processing of step SP22 in the case of a positive determination, and proceeds to the processing of step SP26 in the case of a negative determination.

(step SP22)

The CPU41a digitizes the shading of each light and stores it in the RAM42 b. Also, the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP 24.

(step SP24)

The CPU41a calculates the position of the dart D by triangulation based on the brightness of each light, particularly the brightness of the light caused by the dart D in the brightness and darkness of at least two lights with variations (the shadow of the dart D). Further, the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP 32.

(step SP26)

The CPU41a calculates differences between the light and shade of each light detected by the photosensor S this time (light and shade of light of this time) and the light and shade of each light detected by the photosensor S previous time (light and shade of light of previous time), as shown in fig. 9C, for example. Also, the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP 28.

(step SP28)

The CPU41a stores the difference values in the RAM42 b. Also, the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP 30.

(step SP30)

The CPU41a calculates the position of the dart D by triangulation based on each difference value, particularly based on the difference value of the light and shade of the light caused by the dart D in the light and shade of at least two lights having variations. Also, the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP 32.

(step SP32)

The CPU41a calculates a score based on the calculated position of the dart D, and stores the score in the RAM42b in association with the player, thereby giving the score to the player. Further, the CPU41a causes the display device 30 to play an image or causes the acoustic device 44 to output a sound based on the calculated score, thereby performing a presentation in which the score is given. And the CPU41a proceeds to the process of step SP 34.

(step SP34)

The CPU41a repeats the processing of steps SP14 to SP32 for each of n darts D and executes the processing, and then returns to the processing of step SP12, and after the repeated processing is completed, advances the processing to step SP 36.

(step SP36)

The CPU41a repeats the processing of steps SP12 to SP34 for each number of persons to execute the processing, then returns to the processing of step SP10, and after the repeated processing is completed, advances the processing to step SP 38.

(step SP38)

The CPU41a calculates the total points of the points for each player, and determines the win or loss of the player based on the calculated total points. Further, the CPU41a makes the display device 30 play an image or the audio device 44 output a sound based on the win/loss determination, thereby presenting the win/loss determination.

In the above, according to embodiment 1, when a dart game is provided in which n (n ═ 3 or 4) darts D are thrown in one round, the number of the light sensors S is n × 2, and therefore the positions of all the n darts D can be calculated.

In addition, according to embodiment 1, since the recursive reflective material 24 is provided, the light L emitted from the light source LS can be reflected in the direction of the light source LS, and the reflected light can be used for detecting the shadow of the dart D. In this way, since the recursive reflective material 24 operates as the light source LS, the number of light sources LS can be suppressed. If the number of the light sources LS can be suppressed, the manufacturing cost of the dart game device 10 can be suppressed.

In addition, according to embodiment 1, the position where the dart D stabs is calculated based on the difference between the light and shade of the light at this time and the light and shade of the light at the previous time, and therefore even in the case where two darts D stab adjacently as shown in fig. 2, the position of the dart D can be calculated more accurately.

-2 nd embodiment- -

Next, a dart game apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. In the 2 nd embodiment, the point different from the 1 st embodiment is that the inclination of the dart D with respect to the dartboard 12 is calculated, and the point of the processing of position calculation performed by the CPU41a, such as the position at which the dart D is stuck, is calculated based on the calculated inclination. The dart game apparatus according to embodiment 2 is the same as the dart game apparatus 10 according to embodiment 1, except for the configuration of the recursive reflective material 24 for performing the inclination calculation and the configuration of the optical sensor S.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a dart target 12A provided in the dart game apparatus of embodiment 2.

As shown in fig. 11, dartboard 12A has a recursive reflective material 24. The recursive reflective material 24 includes two reflective materials 24A and 24B arranged in parallel and spaced apart from the dartboard 12A in the board thickness direction.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the dartboard 12A shown in fig. 11.

As shown in fig. 12, two reflective materials 24A, 24B extend in the inner wall 22A of the housing 22 in a band shape along the circumferential direction of the target body 20 of the dartboard 12A, respectively. Optical sensors SE1, SE2 are disposed at both ends of the light source S in the thickness direction of the dartboard 12A. That is, the photosensors SE1, SE2 are arranged in two stages in the plate thickness direction. Although not shown, in this combination of the optical sensors SE1 and SE2, six sets are provided on the dartboard 12A at equal intervals, and as a result, a total of twelve optical sensors S are two-dimensionally arranged.

With the above configuration, the light emitted from the light source LS is reflected in the direction of the light source LS by the reflective materials 24A and 24B, and is separated into two lights of the light of the optical axis L1 and the light of the optical axis L2, and these lights pass along the target surface 20A of the dartboard 12A at different heights from the target surface 20A of the dartboard 12A in the board thickness direction. The light sensors SE1 and SE2 detect the light and dark of the light passing therethrough. Specifically, the photosensor SE1 detects the brightness of light on the optical axis L1, and the photosensor SE2 detects the brightness of light on the optical axis L2. Thus, for example, as shown in fig. 13, when the dart D strikes the target surface 20A, the photosensors SE1 and SE2 can detect shadows of one dart D at two positions P1 and P2 having different distances (heights) from the target surface 20A.

In embodiment 2, when the position of the dart D is calculated in the processing of step SP24 and step SP30 shown in fig. 10, the CPU41a first obtains the angles of the shadows (peaks) of the two positions P1 and P2 of the dart D based on the light and shade of the light axes L1 and L2 output from the photosensors SE1 and SE2, and calculates the two positions P1 and P2 of the dart D based on these angles. Further, the CPU41a calculates the inclination of the dart D with respect to the dartboard 12A based on the calculated two positions P1, P2 of the dart D. Next, the CPU41a calculates the position of the leading end being stuck by the dart D based on the calculated inclination. The method of calculating the position of the leading end is not particularly limited, but for example, as shown in fig. 14, the CPU41a may calculate the coordinates of the intersection point P3 between the virtual line I1 and the target surface 20A based on the calculated inclination, and determine the coordinates as the position where the dart D strikes.

However, in the case where the dart D is a soft dart, since the tip end portion thereof is made of resin, the tip end portion may be bent by the influence of impact and weight when stabbing the target surface 20A, contact between adjacent darts D, or the like. Thus, when the coordinates of the intersection point P3 between the virtual line I1 of the inclination of the dart D and the target surface 20A are determined as the position where the dart D strikes, an error may occur from the position where the dart D actually strikes. Therefore, it is preferable that the position of the rear end side of the dart D, in other words, the position close to the outgoing axes L1 and L2 is determined as the position where the dart D strikes, rather than the position of the intersection point P1 between the inclined virtual line I1 and the target surface 20A. Since the length of the tip portion of the dart D piercing a hole can be grasped in advance as a position closer to the optical axes L1 and L2, for example, the position may be a position P4 obtained by subtracting the length of the tip portion from the intersection point P3 as shown in fig. 14.

Further, the characteristics of the dart D, specifically, the curvature of the bend of the dart head portion of the dart D vary depending on the material and thickness of the tip portion of the dart, the bending rigidity of the material, and the like. The dart head of the dart D is often replaced by a player, and the dart head of the dart D has various thicknesses and bending rigidities of materials. Therefore, the CPU41a may calculate the bending based on the average thickness of the tip portion of the dart and the characteristics such as the bending rigidity of the material, and determine the position where the dart D is stuck based on the calculated bending.

The following shows an experimental example for determining the position where the dart D punctures.

A dart D is stuck to a specific part of a target surface 20A using the tip of a dart D made of a normal resin, and the dart D is inclined at 90 to 40 degrees. The inclination of the dart D is set to 90 degrees when the inclination of the dart D is perpendicular to the target surface 20A. The distance D between the position P4 where the dart D actually pierces and the intersection point P3 (see fig. 14) is measured. Table 1 shows the angle of the dart D in relation to the distance D. In addition, fig. 15 is a graph showing a relationship between the angle of the dart D and the distance D.

TABLE 1

The approximate curve shown in fig. 15 is a 2-degree curve. As shown in fig. 15, the distance D with respect to the angle of the dart D can be estimated from the 2-degree curve with the distance D as the vertical axis and the angle of the dart D as the horizontal axis. The distance D depends on the thickness and rigidity of the material of the leading end portion of the dart D to be used, and a 2-degree curve (approximate expression) is obtained in accordance with the environment to be used. Then, the position of the dart D can be determined using the obtained 2-order curve.

As described above, according to embodiment 2, since the recursive reflective material 24 includes the two reflective materials 24A and 24B arranged in parallel and apart from the dartboard 12 in the board thickness direction, two lights of the light of the optical axis L1 and the light of the optical axis L2 can be separated from the light emitted from the light source LS. By using the brightness of these two lights, shadows at positions having different distances from the target surface 20A can be obtained in the dart D.

Further, according to embodiment 2, the CPU41a calculates the inclination of the dart D with respect to the dartboard 12 based on the light and shade of the two lights, and calculates the position in which the dart D is stuck based on the calculated inclination, so the position of the dart D can be calculated more accurately than in the case where the inclination is not calculated.

In addition, in embodiment 2, the CPU41a calculates the position P4 on the rear end side of the dart D as the position at which the dart D is stuck, compared to the position of the intersection point P3 between the virtual line I1 of the inclined dart D of the dart D and the face 20A of the dartboard 12, and therefore can more accurately calculate the position of the dart D taking into account the bend of the dart D.

< modification example >

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. That is, as long as the characteristics of the present invention are provided, the scope of the present invention also includes the embodiment that is appropriately designed and modified by those skilled in the art. Further, the elements of the above embodiments may be combined as long as they are technically possible, and the combination of these elements is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it has the characteristics of the present invention.

For example, although the case where the recursive reflective material 24 is provided is described in embodiment 1, the recursive reflective material 24 may be omitted. In this case, for example, as shown in fig. 16, the position of the dart D can be detected by arranging a plurality of light sources LS in parallel around the dart target 12, as in embodiment 1.

In embodiment 2, the case where two reflecting materials 24A and 24B are provided to obtain two optical axes L1 and L2 has been described, but instead of these, for example, as shown in fig. 17, two superimposed light sources LS may be provided in the plate thickness direction.

In addition, in embodiment 2, a case where two layers of the photosensors SE1, SE2 are provided in the plate thickness direction has been described, but instead of this case, for example, as shown in fig. 17, a photosensor SE3 having a width such that the photosensor SE3 can receive the light of the optical axis L1 and the light of the optical axis L2, respectively, may be provided.

In embodiment 2, the case where the CPU41a calculates the inclination of the dart D with respect to the target 12 based on the two peaks of the dart D has been described, but further processing may be added to this calculation. As the further processing, when the newly issued dart D hits the dart target 12A and a plurality of crests (shadows of the dart D) exist in the light and shade of one light detected by the optical sensor SE1 or SE2, the CPU41a may specify the present crest of the existing dart from among the plurality of crests based on the past crests of the existing dart D stored in the RAM42b and calculate the inclination of the dart D based on the crests other than the specified present crest.

The reason for adding the above-described further processing will be described. As shown in fig. 18, in the case where the dart D concentrates on one spot in the puncture, sometimes the existing dart D10 and the dart D11 in the newly-released puncture come into contact with each other. In this case, although the front end position P10 of the existing dart D10 of the stabbing wall surface 20A is not moved, the front end portion of the existing dart D10 bends, and the rear end side positions P11 and P12 of the existing dart D10 move. Thus, even if the previous difference in light and shade is removed from the light and shade of the light on the optical axis L1 detected by the photosensor SE1, a peak generated based on the rear end side position P12 of the existing dart D10 exists in addition to a peak generated based on the position P13 of the newly issued dart D11. Similarly, in the light and shade of the light on the optical axis L2 detected by the photosensor SE2, even if the difference in light and shade of the previous light is removed, a peak generated based on the rear end side position P11 of the existing dart D10 exists in addition to a peak generated based on the position P14 of the newly issued dart D11. In this situation, if the CPU41a calculates the position of the newly issued dart D11 based on, for example, the combination of the peak at the position P13 and the peak at the position P11 or the combination of the peak at the position P12 and the peak at the position P14, the positions P16 and P17 different from the correct position P15 are calculated.

Therefore, by adding the above-described further processing, the CPU41a can calculate the accurate position P15 by specifying the crest at the position P11 and the crest at the position P12 of the existing dart D10 from among the plurality of crests based on the past crests of the existing dart D10, and calculating the inclination of the newly issued dart D based on the crests other than the specified crest, that is, the crest at the position P13 and the crest at the position P14.

Description of the reference numerals

A dart game device 10 …, dart target 12, 12A …, recursive reflective material 24 …, LS … light source, light sensor S, S1-S10, SE1, SE2, SE3 ….

Claims (4)

1. A dart game apparatus which provides a dart game in which a player throws n darts continuously toward a dart target, where n is 3 or 4, characterized by having:

a light source disposed around the dartboard and emitting light along a target surface of the dartboard, the dartboard having a thickness in a board thickness direction perpendicular to the target surface;

a plurality of optical sensors which are arranged around the dartboard at substantially the same height in the board thickness direction from the dartboard, and detect the brightness of the light emitted from the light source;

a processing device that calculates a position in the dartboard where the dart is stuck based on brightness of light detected by the plurality of light sensors; and

a recursive reflective material disposed around the dartboard, the recursive reflective material comprising two reflective materials that are parallel to each other, are separated from each other in a plate thickness direction, and extend in a circumferential direction of the dartboard,

the number of the light sensors is n x 2,

the light sensor detects light and shade of each of a plurality of optical axes passing along a target surface of the dartboard at different heights from the dartboard in a board thickness direction, the processing device detects the inclination of the dartboard with respect to the dartboard based on the light and shade of each of the plurality of optical axes, and calculates a position where the dartboard is stuck based on the calculated inclination,

in a case where a newly issued dart follows the dart target in an existing dart stick, and the light sensor detects the brightness of a plurality of lights in one optical axis based on the existing dart and the newly issued dart, the processing means specifies the brightness of the present light of the existing dart following the dart target in the newly issued dart stick from the brightness of the plurality of lights, based on the brightness of the past light of the existing dart preceding the dart target in the newly issued dart stick, and calculates the inclination of the newly issued dart based on the brightness of lights other than the brightness of the present light of the specified existing dart.

2. The dart game apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the processing device stores the brightness of the light detected by the light sensor in the case of the target in the dart-stick, calculates the difference between the brightness of the light detected by the light sensor in the case of the target in the next dart-stick and the stored brightness of the light, and calculates the position in the stick of the next dart based on the difference.

3. The dart game apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the processing device calculates a position obtained by subtracting a prescribed length from the position of the intersection between the virtual line generated based on the inclination and the dartboard as the position calculation in which the dart is struck.

4. The dart game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein,

the processing device calculates the prescribed length based on characteristics of a front end portion of the dart.