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DESCRIPTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a bowling center system, and more
particularly to an automated bowling center system operable to
automatically control the operation of a pinsetter under control of a
bowling game program, to play a plurality of different bowling games and
to provide bowling game instructional facilities.
2. Background of the Invention
Bowling centers have evolved from systems which required the manual setting
of ten pins on the lane and manual scoring during game play, to systems
which utilize automatic pinsetting devices, such as described in Huck, et
al U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,300, and ultimately to systems which utilize
automatic bowling scoring systems, such as described in Grosvenor et al
U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,071.
Such prior bowling center systems often included a plurality of pairs of
bowling lanes, with each lane including an automatic pinsetter. The
automatic pinsetter was operable to automatically control pinsetter cycles
within a bowling game. Particularly, under automatic control, the
pinsetter at the beginning of each frame would set ten pins on the deck.
The player would be permitted to roll a maximum of two balls to knock down
all of the pins. The frame ended after all of the pins were knocked down
or after two balls were thrown, whichever occurred first. The game
consisted of ten such frames.
Prior automatic score consoles were coupled to both pinsetters in the lane
pair for automatically processing pin fall information for the two lanes
and displaying bowler's scores on score console monitors and on overhead
CRT displays. Suitable interconnections were provided between the score
console and pinsetter so that pin fall information could be transmitted
from sensing devices associated with the pinsetter to the scoring console.
In order for such prior automatic pinsetters to be utilized in a practice
bowling mode, a selective pinsetting control mechanism, such as described
in Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,345, permitted a bowler to manually select
which pins would be set on the deck for practice bowling. With such a
mechanism, the bowler could selectively play a single ball, or two balls,
in order to try and knock down all of the selected pins. Such a mechanism
is operable to set a selected array of pins only responsive to a manual
request from the bowler.
Certain known automatic pinsetters include hard wired control circuits
designed to implement the operation of the conventional ten pin bowling
game, or provide for practice bowling. These control circuits are not
operable to selectively set different arrays of pins during the playing of
a bowling game. Therefore, such automatic pinsetters are limited in their
ability to provide variation in the method of operation of a particular
bowling game.
Prior bowling center systems also included a manager's control console in
electrical communication with the score consoles. The primary function of
the manager's control console was to provide administrative control over
the operation of the automatic pinsetters and the score consoles. For
example, the prior manager's control console was utilized to provide lane
status report information, to upload the video score display from any
score console and to provide score correction for a particular score
console. Such score correction necessitated that bowling at the particular
lane be halted until the score correction was complete and sent back to
the score console. The manager's control console also included provision
for displaying messages at a preselected score console, to transfer lane
scoring information from one score console to another, and provide for
tournament display as by displaying a pair of lane scores on any selected
number of overhead CRT's throughout the system. Additionally, the
manager's score console provided for activity and error logging related to
system operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a bowling lane
system is operable to automatically control the operation of a pinsetter
during game play to automatically set a preselected array of bowling pins
which may comprise any number less than a predetermined number of bowling
pins.
A bowling center system according to the one aspect of the invention is
operable to automatically control the operation of a bowling game, which
bowling game may use less then ten pins in any frame. The system includes
a pinsetting apparatus for setting up to ten bowling pins on a bowling
lane. Means are coupled to the pinsetting apparatus for controlling the
pinsetting apparatus to set a preselected array of bowling pins, which
preselected array may comprise less than ten bowling pins. A game control
means is coupled to the controlling means for implementing the operation
of a bowling game, the game control means including means for
automatically preselecting an array of pins to be set during operation of
the bowling game.
More specifically, a bowling center system according to the one aspect
includes an automatic pinsetter operable under the control of a programmed
pinsetter control unit to set up to ten pins on the bowling lane. The
pinsetter control unit is electrically connected to a game control unit.
The game control unit includes a central processing unit and a memory, the
central processing unit being operable to implement a bowling game
according to a bowling game program stored in the memory. The game control
unit is also electrically connected to a video display unit for displaying
bowler scoring information as determined by a pin sensing device
associated with the pinsetter control unit. A bowler input station is also
connected to the game control unit for entering bowler information. The
game control program is operable during game play to periodically command
the pinsetter control-unit to set a preselected array of pins, which array
may comprise less than ten pins, according to the logic of the particular
game being played.
Another feature of the present invention is that the game control unit is
operable to play any one of a plurality of different bowling games. Means
are included for selecting which of the bowling games are to be played at
any given time by the game control unit.
Another feature of the present invention is that the game control unit
automatically determines the score of a bowling game dependent on a
scoring algorithm for the selected bowling game being played.
According to another aspect of the invention, a bowling center system is
provided which is operable to download any one of a plurality of different
bowling game programs from a manager's control terminal to a game control
unit.
More specifically, the bowling center system includes a plurality of
bowling lanes and an electrically controlled pinsetting device for each
lane. A plurality of game control units are provided, each electrically
connected to one or more of the pinsetting devices. Each game control unit
includes a central processing unit, a display device, an operator input
station and a memory for storing a game control program. A manager's
control terminal unit includes a programmed central processing unit
connected to a memory, the memory storing one or more game control
programs. Communication means are provided for electrically connecting the
processing unit of the manager's control terminal with the processing
units for each of the game control units. Means are included electrically
connected to the communication means for requesting the manager's terminal
processing unit to transfer one of the game control programs stored in the
memory thereof over the communication means to the memory coupled to one
of the game control units so that the game control unit operates the
pinsetter connected thereto to play the one game.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a bowling
center system is provided including a manager's control terminal having an
input terminal connected thereto which is operable to interact directly
with any game control unit.
More specifically, the bowling center system includes a plurality of
bowling lanes, each having a pinsetting device associated therewith. A
plurality of game control units, each connected to one or more of the
pinsetting devices, include a central processing unit coupled to a display
device and a bowler input device for providing bowler interaction with the
game control unit operation. A manager's control terminal includes a
central processing unit coupled to a display device and an operator input
terminal. Communication means are provided for electrically connecting the
central processing unit of the manager's control terminal with the central
processing unit for each of the game control units. Switching means are
provided coupled to the game control units and the display devices for
selectively coupling the manager's input terminal and display device to a
selected one of said game control units so that said manager's control
terminal input device interacts directly with the bowling game for the
selected game control unit.
It is still another feature of the present invention that a bowling game
can continue to be played even after the manager's control input terminal
is operable to interact directly with the operation of the selected
bowling lane.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a bowling center system
includes a manager's control device which is operable to control the
transmission of video display signals from a plurality of video display
sources over a communication network to any one of a plurality of video
display terminals.
Broadly, according to this aspect of the invention, there is disclosed
herein a manager's control terminal for operating a video display system
including means for generating a plurality of video display signals each
representing a dynamic video display. A plurality of video display
terminals remotely located from the manager's control terminal are
operable to display dynamic video displays responsive to a received video
signal. Means are included for selecting one of the dynamic video displays
to be displayed on one of the display terminals. A video communication
network is coupled to the manager's control terminal, the selecting means
and the display terminals. The manager's control terminal includes means
responsive to the selecting means for commanding the generating means to
transmit over the network the video signal representing the selected one
of the displays. Switching means coupled in the communication network are
provided for switching the communication network to cause a selected one
of the display terminals to receive the selected transmitted video signal
in order to display the selected video display.
More specifically, the video display system includes a memory device for
storing data which represents a plurality of dynamic video displays. Such
memory means may include video disks. The video source, such as a disk
player converts the data on the memory means to a video signal
representative thereof. The manager's control terminal is in electrical
communication with the video source devices and includes commands for
instructing the sources to generate a display signal representing a
selected dynamic video display. One or more video switches are connected
to the video sources using a plurality of video communication lines. Each
switch is also connected to one or more video display monitors. Operator
input means are provided for selecting a video display to be displayed on
a selected video monitor. The video switches are in communication with the
manager's control terminal and are operable to selectively connect a video
source to a video monitor so that the selected video monitor can display a
selected video display responsive to a received video signal from the
video source.
Another feature of this aspect of the invention is that the video display
system is utilized in a bowling center system wherein a plurality of
automatic scoring terminals are connected to the manager's control
terminal. A plurality of video display terminals associated with each
scoring terminal are connected to a video switch. The video switch is
operable under the command of manager's control terminal to display a
selected video display at any video display terminal in the bowling center
system.
According to a yet another aspect of the invention, a bowling center system
is provided including a plurality of bowling lane pairs and a score
control unit for each lane pair having a score display device. A manager's
control terminal has a central controller device, a display device and a
memory storage device. The manager's control terminal is connected with
each of the score units for transferring data therebetween. A plurality of
display terminals are remotely located relative to the manager's control
terminal and the score control unit, and are connected to the transferring
means to display information representing data received from the
transferring means. A plurality of operator input means, one for each of
the display terminals, is coupled to the transferring means for
transmitting requests to the manager's control terminal or the scoring
terminals. A switching means is coupled to the transferring means for
transmitting data from the transferring means to one of the display
terminals responsive to a request from the one display terminals
associated operator input means.
Further features and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent
from the specification and from the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a generalized block diagram representing an overview of a bowling
center system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram representation for the manager's
control system and the video/audio control system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of the lane pair control system of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view, with parts removed for clarity, of an
automatic pinsetting apparatus;
FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to that of FIG. 4 taken from an
opposite side of the pinsetting apparatus;
FIG. 6 is a generalized block diagram representation of a gamesetter
electrical control for controlling a pair of pinsetters;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram for the common box of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram for the gamesetter CPU board of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the gamesetter I/O board of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the high voltage interface box of FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a pinsetting operation performed by the
gamesetter of FIG. 6;
FIGS. 12A-12D comprise a detailed block diagram for a gamemaker game
control unit and manager's computer according to the invention;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram representation of a communications interface
circuit;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram representation of a bowler input station;
FIG. 15 illustrates a bowler input station keyboard overlay;
FIG. 16 is a block diagram representation of a video switch according to
the invention;
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a circuit for the video input switch block,
the video output switch block and the audio switch block of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a circuit for the monitor switch blocks of
FIG. 16;
FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a circuit for the control decoder block of
FIG. 16;
FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a remote area terminal; FIG. 21 is a ball
trajectory data management schematic diagram;
FIG. 22 illustrates the data fields for an information frame for
transferring data on a communication line;
FIG. 23 illustrates the data fields for the transfer of data between the
main central processing unit and the communications central processing
units;
FIGS. 24A-24C comprise a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the
operating system for the gamemaker;
FIGS. 25A-25H comprise a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a
program for a simulated golf game;
FIG. 26 illustrates a graphic display format for the simulated golf game
for display on the overhead monitor;
FIG. 27 illustrates a graphic display format utilized in conjunction with
an alternative golf game program;
FIG. 28 is a block diagram representation of a process overview for
software operations of the manager's computer;
FIG. 29 illustrates a graphic display format for a ball trajectory display;
FIG. 30 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a video subsystem
according to the invention;
FIG. 31 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a ball trajectory
management subsystem according to the invention;
FIG. 32 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a game file
downloading procedure according to the present invention; and
FIG. 33 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a remote score
correction operation according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
General Description
The game of bowling is played on a bowling lane which typically includes an
automatic pinsetter operable for setting ten pins on the lane at the start
of a game. In a conventional ten pin bowling game, each bowler is allowed
to roll two balls in an attempt to knock all of the pins down. The
throwing of two balls constitutes what is known as a frame, except that
three balls may be permitted in the tenth frame, and the completion of ten
frames comprises one game. The player's score is determined according to
the number of pins which are knocked down in each frame. The scoring may
be accomplished by manually counting the number of pins which have been
knocked down. In a bowling center including an automatic scoring system,
the score is automatically computed and displayed on a suitable displaying
screen or printed out using a printing device.
A bowling center system according to the present invention includes
provisions for playing numerous different bowling games utilizing an
automatic pinsetter and automatic scoring system wherein each frame may
permit the throwing of more or less than two balls, and may utilize any
number less than or equal to ten bowling pins comprising any pattern that
the pinsetter is capable of setting. Also, the system is provided with an
interactive display system which enables dynamic video graphics to be
selectively displayed on various system display monitors for training
purposes and the like.
Overview
General System Overview
With reference to FIG. 1, a generalized blocked diagram represents an
overview of a bowling center system 10 according to the present invention.
The bowling center system 10 includes a plurality of bowling lanes 12,
each having a conventional approach 13. Particularly, a total of N+1 lanes
are provided, wherein lanes are grouped in pairs. Particularly, lanes 1
and 2 comprise a lane pair, lanes 3 and 4 comprise a lane pair, lanes 5
and 6 comprise a lane pair, etc., etc., and lanes N and N+1 comprise a
lane pair.
Associated with each lane is an automatic pinsetter 14. The two pinsetters
14 of each lane pair are electrically connected to a lane pair control
system 16. The lane pair control system 16 operates both pinsetters 14 to
set a desired array of pins according to the bowling game being played,
and to provide automatic scoring for the bowling game being played. Also
connected to each lane pair control system 16 is a bowler input station 18
which is used by a bowler to enter information to be transmitted to the
lane pair control 16. The bowler input station 18 is physically located
near a bowler staging area 19 immediately adjacent the associated approach
13. Conventionally, this is the area occupied by the bowlers as they await
their turn to bowl, keep score, etc. A respective overhead display monitor
20L and 20R is provided for the left and right lanes of each lane pair to
display scoring and other types of information. Additionally, a remote, or
social area, terminal 21 including a display monitor 22 and an associated
keyboard 24 are electrically connected to the lane pair control 16 but are
remotely located relative to the bowling lane 12. The remote terminal 21
may be utilized, as discussed more specifically below, to permit
nonbowlers to be provided with training or other information relative to
bowling in general or to a particular bowling game. Such remote terminals
21 might be located anywhere in a bowling center, including possibly
social areas 25. Social areas 25 may be provided for all or less than all
of the lane pairs as desired, but generally, each will include both a
remote monitor 22 and a keyboard 24. Each social area 25 is a less active
area than a bowler staging area 19 in the sense that occupants of the
social area may be there for any of a variety of purposes including
bowling and nonbowling purposes. For example, for bowling purposes, they
may receive game information, instructional information or even video
information depicting a game being played elsewhere in the bowling
establishment on the monitor 22. Alternatively, other video information,
such as TV or cable TV programs may be displayed on the monitor 22. As
still a further alternative, the social areas 25 may be utilized solely
for relaxation, the consumption of food or beverages, conversation or the
like.
Generally speaking, a social area 25 is more remote from the associated
lane pair than is the corresponding staging area 19. This is due to the
nature of a number of the uses mentioned above. At the same time, it is
frequently desirable that a social area 15 be in fairly close proximity to
at least the associated staging area so that a person receiving
instruction in a social area 25 may readily move to the associated staging
area 19 and begin to make use of that instruction on one or both of the
lanes of the lane pair.
Frequently, but not always, a social area 25 may be disposed in an area of
a bowling establishment conventionally utilized to house spectators, i.e.,
immediately adjacent a staging area 19 on the side thereof that is remote
from the lane pair.
To the extent that a social area 25 is utilized in such a way as to require
interaction with the automatic bowling center system of the present
invention, the associated keyboard 24 is utilized for that purpose.
A manager's control system 26 communicates with each of the lane pair
control systems 16 over a global communication line, or COM line, 27. The
manager's control system 26 is typically located at a bowling center
manager's control desk, or MCD, and provides accounting control of the
bowling lanes as well as the ability to download game information to the
lane pair control system 16. The manager's control system 26 communicates
over a manager's local communication line, or COM line, 29 to a
video/audio control system 28. The video/audio control system 28 is
connected over a global video/audio distribution bus 30 to each of the
lane pair control systems 16. The video/audio control system 28 is
controlled responsive to commands from the manager's control system 26 to
transmit video/audio information to the lane pair control system 16 for
subsequent display on the monitors 20L, 20R or 22.
Various of the devices, components, circuits or the like described herein
are utilized in the bowling center system associated with the left lane
and the right lane of each lane pair, and the remote or social area.
Accordingly, any similar elements are referenced using identical reference
numerals including the respective suffixes L, R or S when associated with
the left lane, right lane or remote or social area. For simplicity of
discussion, the suffixes may be omitted in the specification wherein the
particular discussion relates equally to any of the like devices.
Similarly, the manager's control system 26 includes devices, components,
circuits or the like corresponding to those at lane pair control 16.
Although the manager's control system 26 is not broken down as is the lane
control unit 16, i.e., left, right or social area, similar suffixes are
utilized relative thereto to maintain consistency between any discussion
relating to a lane pair control system 16 and the manager's control system
26.
Manager's Control/Video Control
With reference to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a more detailed block
diagram representation for the manager's control system 26 and the
video/audio control system 28.
A programmed manager's computer 32 is connected to the global COM line 27,
as discussed above, to communicate with up to sixty-four lane pair control
systems 16, for a total of one hundred twenty eight lanes of bowling.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a maximum of
sixty-four lane pair control systems 16 are utilized. However, the COM
line 27 can support up to two hundred and fifty lane pair control systems,
as is discussed more specifically below. The peripheral devices connected
to the manager's computer 32 include a league record service, or LRS,
computer 34 and a modem 36. The league record service computer 34 provides
the ability to transfer scoring information which is utilized for
operating a bowling league. The modem 36 permits a remotely located
service facility to diagnose and correct problems in the manager's
computer 32. A detailed description of the manager's computer 32 is
provided below.
A plurality of RS232 type communication interface units 38 and up to three
bowler input stations 42 are connected to the manager's local COM line 29.
Electrically connected to the interface units 38 are up to three keyboards
44, a video switch 40, up to ten score sheet and/or ten coupon printers
46, a DTS interface board 48 and multiple DTS cash registers 50 coupled
thereto, and up to seven video source devices 52, such as video disk or
tape players. Score sheet printers are used to print bowler score sheets
in a graphic format. Coupon printers are used to provide coupons or prize
awards according to, for example, a bowler's performance. Illustratively,
a bowler may be awarded a free soft drink for exceeding a preselected
score.
Each of the video source devices 52 transmits a composite video signal on a
conventional video transmission line 53 and an audio output signal on a
conventional audio line 54. The video lines 53 for three of the video
devices 52 are connected to SCORE IN terminals of the video switch 40. The
video lines 53 of the remaining video sources 52 are connected to input
ports of a video driver 56. Also connected to input ports of the video
driver 56 over a line 60 are three SCORE OUT ports of the video switch 40.
The video driver 56 includes seven output ports connected to a video
transmission line 61 of the global video/audio bus 30. Four of the video
driver output ports are also connected to four VIDEO IN ports of the video
switch 40. An audio driver 62 includes seven input ports connected to the
video source audio lines 54. The audio driver 62 includes seven output
ports connected to an audio transmission line 68 for transmitting audio
information over the global video/audio bus 30. The video switch 40
includes three additional VIDEO IN ports connected to a score video
transmission line 70, also part of the global video/audio bus
The manager's computer 32 develops RGB video signals over video lines 58L,
58R and 58S which are connected to the video switch 40. Also connected to
the video switch 40 over video lines 59L, 59R and 59S are respective RGB
monitors 72L, 72R and 72S.
The manager's computer 32 controls switching of the video switch 40 and
operation of the video sources 52, as is discussed more specifically
below, responsive to requests from lane pair control systems 16 to
allocate the transmission of audio and video signals to selected monitors
20L, 20R, 22 or 72 in the system.
Associated with each monitor 72 is a keyboard 44 and a remote bowler input
station 42. The monitor 72 can be used in conjunction therewith for
displaying such information as the status at any or all lanes at any given
time. For example, an overview display indicates the status of the current
game being played at all lanes. Also, the keyboard is utilized to enter
commands to download game software from the manager's computer 32 to a
lane pair control system 16, and also to start, stop or continue operation
of a game. The monitors 72 are also utilized to display scoring
information which is transmitted from a lane pair control system 16, and
provide for correction of the scoring information. Particularly, the
keyboard 44 or bowler input station 42 may be utilized to enter corrected
data which can then be transmitted back to the particular lane pair
control system 16.
Lane Pair Control
With reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a more detailed block
diagram representation for the lane pair control system 16 of FIG. 1.
The lane pair control system 16 is operable for each lane pair to
automatically control the operation of the pinsetters 14 in accordance
with commands and software received from the manager's computer 32 over
the global COM line 27 and operator input requests made at the bowler
input station 18. Particularly, the lane pair control system 16 operates
the pinsetter 14 for each lane independently to play any one of a
plurality of different bowling games. Although the lane pair control
system 16 is described herein as controlling two pinsetters 14, the lane
pair control system 16 could be used to control any number of pinsetters
14.
Each lane pair control system 16 includes a video switch 73 which is
similar to the video switch 40 at the manager's control desk. The video
switch 73 is connected to and is controlled by a game and scoring control
unit 74, referred to hereinafter as a gamemaker, and includes seven VIDEO
IN ports connected in series with seven VIDEO OUT ports to the global
video transmission line 61. Similarly, seven AUDIO IN ports and series
connected AUDIO OUT ports are connected to the global audio transmission
line 68. Accordingly, the video and the audio signals from the manager's
control desk video driver 56 and audio driver 62 are transmitted over the
respective global video and audio lines 61 and 68 to the video switch 73
at each lane pair, in a multidrop configuration. The score transmission
line 70 is also connected to three SCORE IN and three SCORE OUT ports on
the video switch 73. The score video transmission line 70 is used to
transmit display information from any lane pair control system 16 to the
manager's computer 32 for display on the monitors 72 and for
retransmission to other lane pair control systems 16 in tournament
bowling.
The global COM line 27 from the manager's computer 32 is electrically
connected to the gamemaker 74 of each lane pair control system 16. The
gamemaker 74 is a computing device similar to the manager's computer 32.
The gamemaker 74 acts as a master station on a gamemaker local COM line 75
which is connected to a pinsetter control unit 76, referred to hereinafter
as a gamesetter, for the two lane pair pinsetters 14. The gamemaker 74 and
gamesetter 76 together control automatic operation of the pinsetters 14,
as is discussed in greater detail below, to implement operation of any one
of a plurality of different bowling games and to provide scoring
information for the particular game.
The gamemaker local COM line 75 is connected to the bowler input station
18, a ball trajectory unit 80 and to an RS 232 communication interface
circuit 78 which is connected to the remote keyboard 24. The ball
trajectory unit 80 tracks the passage of the ball as it moves down the
lane and provides ball tracking data to the gamemaker 74.
The remote monitor 22 associated with the remote keyboard 24 is connected
to AUDIO OUT and VIDEO OUT ports on the video switch 73 for receiving
respective audio and video signals therefrom. Additional VIDEO OUT ports
from the video switch 73 are connected to the left and right lane overhead
monitors 20L and 20R through conventional video buffer circuits 82, if
necessary, or desired. The lane overhead monitors 20L and 20R are utilized
to display scoring and other information relative to a bowling game being
played on its associated lane. The remote monitor 22 may be utilized in
conjunction with its keyboard 24 for training purposes or for providing
information relative to a bowling game being played at either its
associated left or right lane.
The gamesetter 76 receives commands from the gamemaker 74 to operate the
automatic pinsetters 14 in accordance with a bowling game program.
Particularly, the gamesetter 76 is connected to the pinsetters 14 through
high voltage converting circuits 84. Also connected to the gamesetter 76
are a pin scanner 86, a ball trigger sensor 88, a foul detector 92, a
player control station 93 and a common box 96. The pin scanner 86 is an
optical type scanner of known form which senses the pins standing on the
deck at any given time. The foul detector 92, which may be an optical
sensor of known form, provides an indication when a bowler has stepped
over the foul line while throwing a ball. The ball trigger sensor 88
triggers when the bowling ball has been played by the blower. The common
box 96 is connected to a main power source for providing power to the
video switch 73, the gamemaker 74, the gamemaker 76 and the high voltage
converters 84.
System Description--Lane Pair
Pinsetter
The pinsetter 14 for each lane is an automatic bowling pin handling
apparatus. The pinsetter 14 is operable to set up to a maximum a maximum
of ten pins in the conventional bowling triangular configuration or array.
In the preferred embodiment, the pinsetter 14 comprises the Brunswick
Model GS10 pinsetter. The machine operation of the GS10 pinsetter is
described in the Brunswick GS10 Operation and Service Manual dated July
1986, Part No. 47-902705, which is incorporated by reference herein.
However, the electronic control system of the GS10 pinsetter is replaced
by the gamesetter 76 described in detail herein.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, selected portions of the Brunswick Model
GS10 pinsetter are illustrated in order to describe operation thereof
which may be necessary to the understanding of the operation of the
bowling center system according to the present invention.
The pinsetter 14 includes a pin elevator 100 which receives pins randomly
from a conventional pit conveyor (not shown) and elevates them to a pin
turn 102 which orients the pins base first and deposits them into a pin
chute 104 which, in turn, delivers them into a distributor 106. The
distributor 106 delivers the pins to ten pin stations for eventual
unloading to a setting table 108. The setting table 108 includes ten
tipping baskets, one for each pin, for holding bowling pins which are to
be set on the lane. Such a tipping basket is described in Schmid et al,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,398, the specification of which is hereby incorporated
by reference herein. Each tipping basket includes a switch operable to
sense the presence of a pin P, and a solenoid which operates a pair of
flaps which controllably engage the neck of a pin P prior to setting it on
the deck. A scissors is used to lift a standing pin when the deck is to be
swept and to release a pin for respotting.
The setting table 108 is movably mounted so that it may be lowered to
detect a strike or standing pin condition, to pick up and then respot
standing pins after a rake 110 has removed fallen pins, or to set new
pins. Accordingly, the setting table 108 moves in a controlled short
stroke for detecting, picking up and resetting standing pins, and moves in
a longer stroke for setting new pins.
After a ball B has been played, a ball cushion 112 stops forward motion of
the ball and subsequently passes the ball B to a ball accelerator 114,
common to both lanes in a pair, which propels the ball down the track to a
ball lift (not shown) at the bowler staging area 19 or approach 13.
A gear train assembly 116 positioned above the distributor 106 is provided
as a drive mechanism responsible for operating moving parts on the
pinsetter 14. The gear train assembly 116 includes a distributor motor, a
sweep motor, a setting table motor, and associated shafts, gears, belts,
chains, etc. Also, the gear train includes a switch cam cluster assembly
115 which includes four setting table position normally open contact
switches (not shown), Switches A, B, C and D which are attached to sense
four preselected setting table positions. Specifically, Switch A
represents the highest table position, Switch B the middle table position,
Switch C the lowest table position, and Switch D also the middle table
position. The switches are operated by a cam shaft driven by the setting
table motor. Two middle position switches are provided, Switch B and
Switch D, in order to determine the direction of rotation of the setting
table motor which is dependent on the particular cycle being performed.
Particularly, when the setting table motor is moving "left" the order of
switch closures is A-B-C-D-A. Conversely, when the setting table motor is
moving "right" the order of switch closures is A-D-C-B-A.
Gamesetter
With reference to FIG. 6 there is illustrated a generalized block diagram
representation of the electrical and electronic components utilized in
conjunction with the gamesetter 76 for controlling two pinsetters 14 for a
left lane and a right lane in a lane pair. Since the specific components
related to either lane are identical, only those for one lane are
discussed in detail herein.
As discussed above, the gamesetter 76 communicates data to and from the
gamemaker 74 over the local COM line 75. The gamesetter 76 is also
connected to the pin detecting optical scanner 86, the foul detector 92,
the player control station 93, the high voltage box 84 and the common box
118. The high voltage box 84 acts as a high voltage interface between the
gamesetter 76 and input and output devices associated with the pinsetter
14.
With reference also to FIG. 7, the common box 118 includes suitable
provisions for coupling to a source 119 of three phase line power. A
single phase of the power is supplied to the gamemaker 74. The three phase
power is supplied directly therefrom to the high voltage boxes 84 over
conventional power lines 120. The common box 118 includes conventional DC
power converter circuits 121 for providing regulated DC power to the
gamesetter 76 over a power line 122 and AC power to the optical scanner 86
over a power line 123. A plurality of conventional optical coupler
circuits 124 are connected to a gamesetter I/O board 142, See FIG. 9, and
receive control signals therefrom. The optical coupler circuits 124 are
connected to conventional relay driver circuits 125. Certain of the relay
driver circuits are connected to peripheral output devices 127, such as a
foul detector unit 92. The foul detector unit 92 provides an indication
when a bowler has stepped over the foul line. Conventional interface
circuits 128 are connected to the relay driver circuits 125 for converting
control signals to suitable voltage levels for operating a conventional
ball lift device 126 and the ball accelerator 114.
With reference also to FIG. 8, a block diagram for a gamesetter CPU board
130 is illustrated. Particularly, the CPU board 130 includes an Intel 8344
CPU 131 connected to a watchdog timer circuit 132 and to a bus 133. The
bus 133 transmits both address and data information. Connected to the bus
133 is a read only memory, or ROM, 134, a random access memory, or RAM,
135, a multiple universal asynchronous receiver transmitter, or MUART,
136, respective write and read latch circuits 137 and 138, and a
programmable communications interface, or PCI, circuit 139.
The Intel type 8344 CPU is a remote universal interface processor which
includes a type 8051 CPU incorporated therein. The 8344 CPU 131 is
connected through a COM line buffer circuit 145 to the gamesetter I/O
board 142 for connection to the gamemaker local COM line 75. As such, the
CPU 131 serves as a communication sub-system controller on the local COM
line 75. Also, the CPU 131 operates in accordance with a control program,
described in greater detail below, for implementing control of the
pinsetter 14.
The ROM 134 stores the CPU program which controls pinsetter operations in
any one of five modes. A normal mode of operation requires communications
between the CPU 131 and the gamemaker 74. In the remaining four modes the
gamesetter 76 operates the pinsetter 14 as a stand-alone system for
playing a bowling game without the use of the feature associated with the
gamemaker 74. The RAM 1 | | |
