This invention relates to time registering and scoring apparatus for use in playing games on a billiards table or the like.

Hereinafter, in this description and in the appended claims, the expression "billiards table or the like" is abbreviated to "billiards table", and embraces billiards tables, snooker tables, pool tables and other tables or boards for games with balls or sliding pieces to be used by two players or sides alternately.

According to the present invention, there is provided time registering and scoring apparatus for use in the course of playing a game on a billiards table, comprising a game time indicating means for indicating a game time common to all players in the course of playing a game, first and second player time indicating means for indicating time used by respective players or sides, switching means connected to the said first and second player time indicating means and operable to cause one of the player time indicating means to run with the game time indicating means and to stop the other player time indicating means, first and second score store means for holding scores for the respective players or sides, input means for entering score data and for setting starting time values, and processing means connected to all of the

said time indicating means the switching means the score store means and the input means and provided with instructions to subtract from the score store means according to an amount by which a player's time used exceeds a predetermined share of a total game time.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided time registering apparatus for use in the course of playing a game on a billiards table, comprising a game time indicating means for indicating a game time common to all players in the course of playing a game, first and second player time indicating means for indicating time used by respective ones of two players or sides, and switching means connected to the said first and second player time indicating means and operable to cause one of these time indicating means to run with the game time indicating means and to stop the other of the first and second player time indicating means.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a game played on a billiards table, wherein a game time is a predetermined time value which is divided between two players or sides as allocated playing time to be counted only whilst a player is at the table, and a player's or side's score is reduced according to an amount by which actual playing time overruns allocated playing time during the game time.

The aforesaid time registering and scoring apparatus, the aforesaid time registering apparatus and the aforesaid

game may be applied to snooker or pool so that a snooker match or a pool match is no longer determined by the number of frames or games won, but by the number of points scored. Thus, the match can be played to specific time limits and a conventional snooker frame or conventional pool game may not be completed. This is of advantage in the context of time constraints such as arise in broadcasting and hiring; and new elements of interest and appeal are provided both for players and for observers.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of time registering apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation illustrating the general appearance of time registering and scoring apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and embodying modifications and/or improvements over the apparatus of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram representing the apparatus of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an interface for use between the apparatus of Fig. 2 and a pool table rack mechanism.

With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a snooker

match is played on the basis of four games each having a game time of 15 minutes. Thus, the duration of the match will be 60 minutes and the progress of this time from the start of the match will be indicated on a game time indicating means in the form of a master clock 10 set up to be clearly visible to all players and observers and driven by means of a clock pulse making means or clock pulse generator 11 in known manner.

Also set up and visible clearly to all players and observers are first and second player time indicating means in the form of a player No. 1 clock 12 and a player No. 2 clock 13, each of these player clocks being of the digital display kind and each also being driven by the clock pulse generator 11, but by way of a switching means 14 operable to run one player clock whilst stopping the other so that the running player clock runs in synchronisation with the master clock 10.

With the roaster clock 10 set for the beginning of the match, the first game will be timed to last for 15 minutes which game time is divided between the two player clocks 12, 13 which are set initially to indicate 7.5 minutes, thus initially dividing the game time equally between the two players (or sides) . In the case where the master clock is of an analogue configuration, as in Fig. 1, the starting time may be "15" and not zero as shown in Fig. 1. A digital master clock would preferably start at twice the player time (2 x 7.5 = 15) and so count the game time

down to zero .

On commencement of the game, the master clock 10 and the first player clock only begin to run and the latter clock counts down from 7.5 minutes whilst the first player is at the table. On completion of the first player's visit to the table, the player clocks 12, 13 are switched over by means of the switching means 14 and the second player proceeds with the game. The actual times of each player at the table will likely not be equal; and in the event that either player's total time at the table exceeds 7.5 minutes, then that player's time will become "negative" and begin to count up negatively.

The first game ceases, whatever the state of play, at 15 minutes. The normal snooker scoring is modified by a deduction or subtraction of points at a predetermined rate according to the amount by which either player's actual playing time has overrun the 7.5 minutes.

It is envisaged that the apparatus and game described above may be adapted for pool.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, time registering and scoring apparatus consists of a display panel 15, a lighting panel 16 and a control panel or "player bar" 17. The approximate overall dimensions of the assembly of these three panels is 78 cm high X 80 cm wide X 17 cm deep. The display panel 15 is disposed upright and its casing (not shown) is provided with means for attachment of the apparatus to an upright fixture such as a wall.

The panel 16 is angled to face downwardly and contains three openings 18 for directing illumination from within onto the control panel 17 which is angled, facing upwardly, for convenient access by players to keypads 19, 20 and a large switch 21 designed for rapid and easy operation by the players. Electrical components (not shown) in Fig. 2 are incorporated within the apparatus in the vicinity of panel 17, for example a power supply unit, a micro processor and associated electronic components. Also, the panel 17 may incorporate a coin-freed mechanism (not shown) operable to initialize the apparatus.

The panel 15 incorporates a game time indicating means firstly in the form of a digital clock 22, and secondly in the form of a triangular array 23 of multi-colour light emitting diodes of which there are fifteen each representing one minute of a total game time of 15 minutes. In the course of a game, the light emitting diodes of the array 23 progressively change colour to provide an analogue time-display.

Further, the panel 15, for each of two players (or sides) features digital displays for first and second player time indicating means in the form of player clocks 24, 25; first and second score indicators 26, 27; and first and second "break" indicators 28, 29. The clocks 24, 25 and the score indicators 26, 27 can indicate negative values.

In Fig. 4, parts corresponding with those in Fig. 2

are given the reference numerals in Fig. 2. Thus, a micro processor 30 is connected to and controls the operating items which appear in Fig. 2. The micro processor 30 comprises a digital processor, known per se, and memory means (ROM) for holding program or instruction code. The relevant technology is known and the construction or manufacture of the electronics uses proprietary or "standard" components which the skilled technician can assemble and make operative given the functions described herein. In Fig. 4, the blocks 30, 26 and 27 incorporate first and second score store means for holding score values for the respective players or sides; and the processor 30 incorporates instructions to enable score values to be reduced according to the amount by which a player clock 24 or 25 registers "negative" time.

Further facilities and instruction-sets incorporated in the processor 30 will be understood by those skilled in the art and with reference to the following description of the keypads 19, 20 which are mutually identical. Keys 0 to 9 are provided simply for numerical input. An "ENTER" key is provided for acceptance of an entry in conventional manner, and a "CE" key is provided for clearing an entry to enable re-entry for error correction. A "-" key is provided for deduction of score points as may be required for correction of players' scores. A "RE-RACK" key has a dual function as follows. Firstly, during re-racking of the snooker balls on completion of a snooker frame, the

RE-RACK key is used to run both player clocks simultaneously at half the running speed of the master clock; and secondly, prior to the start of a game, the RE-RACK key enables the player clock 24 to be used for the purpose of entering a penalty setting which determines the rate at which penalty points are deducted from the scores during "negative" time. An "M" (Mode) key is provided to toggle between two different scoring modes, namely a first scoring mode in which a ball-by-ball score entry is made, and during which the numeric keys 8, 9 and 0 are disabled. In the alternative mode, a total "break" entry is made. An "H" (Handicap) key is provided for entering a handicap value by which a player can be given a score advantage at the outset of a game. Each keypad 19, 20 incorporates a seven-segment single character display 31 to provide confirmation of numerical input. The "M" and "H" keys become inoperative on starting a game.

In a hiring context, the time registering and scoring apparatus of Fig. 2 is initialized by means of the mentioned coin-freed mechanism (not shown) operation of which also marks the start of a game. In the case of snooker hire, the balls will usually be set up or racked prior to start of timing and actual play. In the case of pool hire, the pool table ball-retaining mechanism (also called "rack") must be released upon operation of the coin-freed mechanism. The interface of Fig. 5 accomplishes such release as follows. An infra-red pulse

transmitter 32 is incorporated within the Fig. 2 apparatus for example in the vicinity of the underside of panel 17, so that infra-red pulses can be ouptut towards the body of an adjacent pool table (not shown) which incorporates an infra-red receiver 33 and the associated modules shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the transmitter 32 is activated upon operation of the mentioned coin-freed mechanism and, in turn, a transmitted signal received by the receiver 33 causes operation of the pool table rack mechanism represented by motor "M" Fig. 5. Usually, in a hire context, there will be several pool tables each associated with its own time registering and scoring apparatus. Thus, to make the Fig. 5 interface "universal", the infra-red transmitter 32 incorporates coding means 34 for setting a digital code for output by the transmitter 32; and the modules following the infra-red receiver 33 include a decoder 35. Thus, each pool table/scoring apparatus combination can be accorded its own particular digital code. More particularly, the transmitter 32 and receiver 33 are coded by means of respective 8-way dual-in-line switches 34, 35 which can be set in many combinations. Transmitted signals are validated by the receiver decoder 36 which then triggers a 40 second non-retriggerable monostable multivibrator/latch 37. This means that, after the monostable 37 has triggered, the input signal is ignored for the duration of the monostable period and, if there is a signal present after the

monostable "time out", it too will be ignored until the signal first goes off then on again. This prevents unwanted signals interfering with the circuit causing false re-racks. The monostable 37, itself, triggers another timer 38, the period of which is controlled by a 4-way dual in line switch 39, giving 16 time settings between 2 and 30 seconds, which drives the existing pool table motor M or an add-on unit (not shown) .

Enabling the drive M also switches on a sensor 40 which detects the "rest" position of the rack mechanism and "holds on" the drive M after the motor drive timer 38 has switched off until the rack mechanism regains the rest position. The sensor 40 then disables the drive circuit and applies an electronic brake 41 to stop the motor M accurately at the "rest" position.

The Fig. 5 modules incorporated in the pool table are powered by a battery 42. A "battery low"/"on charge" indicator 43 uses flashing light-emitting diodes 43A and 43B. The battery 42 is charged by means of an on-board constant current charger 44 suitable for connection to 240/220 and 110 volts mains electrical supply by means of a flexible lead 45. An electronic switch 46 normally keeps the battery 42 connected to the Fig. 5 modules. On connecting the lead 45 to the charger 44, a detector 47 activates the switch 46 to connect the barry 42 to the charger 44 and vice versa.