Virtual Bowling with a Bowling Ball Having an RTID Tag

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/748,976, filed December 9, 2005, and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/487,056, filed June 18, 2002, which is a U.S. national phase application based on International Application No. PCT/SE02/01171, filed June 18, 2002. Each of those documents is hereby incorporated by reference.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an arrangement for a bowling simulator comprising a bowling lane, a lane approach, a ball stop system, a pin pit, a lateral gutter and a ball return system.

Background

Bowling lanes in accordance with the regulations require a lot of space because the length dimension for a lane is ca. 5 metres for a lane approach, ca. 20 metres for the bowling lane itself with the pin table, plus a couple of metres for the pin pit at the far end of the lane. The width of the lane including gutters is ca 1.5 metres. Thus, if it is wished to arrange several lanes next to one another, a large hall will be required for this. Premises in densely built-up areas and in commercial and office areas command a high property value with resulting high rents. It is not possible for this reason to establish bowling lanes in all areas, and it is necessary to consider remote areas if it is not possible to expect to achieve a very good turnover in order to meet the rental costs and, of course, other costs incurred in conjunction with bowling, so that the bowling alley at least breaks even financially and preferably makes a profit.

TV and computer games are available for various sports such as golf, tennis, football, ice hockey, etc., in which it is possible to play the game in front of a computer screen or with other apparatuses which have buttons or levers. However, such console

games do not give a realistic sensation of and for the branch of sport in question. It is more like sitting and typing, except in the case of motor sport where a steering wheel and pedals can be used to control the car.

There are also other larger arrangements, in which it is possible to simulate the sensation of engaging in the sport, such as skiing booths, punch-balls and a football that is attached to a cord to allow the ball to be kicked towards a goal. This "involvement in the sport" does not provide a realistic sensation, either, although it resembles reality more closely.

Although a miniature form of bowling exists, this does not give a realistic sensation of the sport and attracts no more than a few new participants to the established bowling alleys.

JP 11114221A (Abstract and Figures) shows a bowling facility which shares certain common features with the invention in accordance with the present application, although the differences are still considerable. The largest and most significant difference is the actual lane approach.

The illustrated previously disclosed bowling facility is of the kind that is suitable for use at Tivoli and similar amusement parks. There is, in fact, no lane approach in this previously disclosed bowling facility, and the player is expected to stand still and make sure that the ball (1) is deposited on the bowling lane (2) that is raised to the height of to the bowler's knees, which lane is inclined upwards at its far end. After impact, the ball (1) is returned in a channel that is situated under the actual bowling lane (2). The previously disclosed lane thus precludes the possibility of missing, as the lateral edges of the surrounding lane box keep the ball on the lane at all times, provided that the ball does not find its way into the pit (8) that is present in front of the bowling lane (2).

The present bowling simulator is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an arrangement for a bowling game viewed from the side;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the arrangement from above;

FIG. 3 shows a view from above in the area of a pin table and a pin pit viewed from above;

FIG. 4 shows a profile of the so-called oil graph for a bowling lane;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a bowling ball of an embodiment with a radio- frequency identification ("RFID") tag;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a bowling ball mold of an embodiment for inserting an RFID tag during the bowling ball molding process;

FIG. 7 is an illustration block diagram of a system of an embodiment that uses an RFID tag in a bowling ball;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an embodiment showing grooving for an embedded RFID antenna under a top surface of a lane panel of a bowling lane; and

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment showing the lane panel of FIG. 8 with a top lane surface installed over the embedded RFED antenna.

Detailed Description of the Presently Preferred Embodiments

The underlying idea of the embodiments in parent U.S. patent application serial no. 10/487,056 is to be able to engage in real bowling including in premises with limited dimensions, i.e. real bowling balls and real lane approaches of ca. 5 metres in length are used, although the actual bowling lanes are of restricted length and no difference must be perceived from the familiar "long bowling" game. It is, in fact, important to be able to visit a bowling alley in accordance with those embodiments and for the player to use the right lane approach with the right number of steps and the right bowling balls in accordance with the regulations.

Those embodiments thus are not intended to be a toy bowling lane, as is the case with the previously disclosed lane referred to here, and the principal object of those embodiments is that a player must be able to play his/her customary game with a lane approach of three to four steps and executing a full swing with the bowling arm, that a physical effort must be exerted in playing the game, and that it must also be possible to

bowl and stand as usual. There must accordingly be a realistic transition from this to the realistic impact of the ball and the result of the onward travel of the ball along the lane, for example a displayed strike, spare or even a total miss after the ball ends up in the gutter. An entire library of conceivable bowling events is thus contained in the computer program, for example in the same way as in TV and computer games.

The embodiments, thus, enable the sensation of the game of bowling to be replicated, although with a lane that does not require to be constructed in accordance with the regulations. It is also necessary to be able to play as in conventional lane bowling with real balls, shoes and lane approach, and even with a ball return channel.

This is achieved by means of an arrangement, which is characterized essentially in that the effective length of the bowling lane constitutes only a proportion of the length of a bowling lane of normal length, in that the lane approach and the ball are the same as in conventional lane bowling, in that the bowling lane constitutes an extension of the lane approach and in that they are situated at a common level, in that a projection screen is arranged in the area in front of the pin pit, in that a projector or some other similar image display apparatus is so arranged as to display intended images on the aforementioned projection screen, in that the projector is in the form of a film projector that is so arranged as to display moving images of pins and balls on the projection screen, in that sensors are provided along the bowling lane and are so arranged as to sense the direction of impact, speed and force of the bowling ball, and in that a computer unit is connected to the aforementioned projector and sensors for the purpose of calculating the onward travel of the ball towards the pins and of projecting onto the projection screen a realistic image of the pins as they are knocked over by the ball.

Turning now to FIG. 1, an arrangement 1 for a bowling simulator 2 comprising a bowling lane 3, a lane approach 4, a pin pit 9, a ball stop system 5, a lane gutter 6 and a ball return system 7 has a projection screen 8 erected in the area 10 in front of the pin pit 9. A projector 11 or some other similar image display apparatus is so arranged as to display intended images 12 on the aforementioned projection screen 8.

Also arranged along the bowling lane 3 are sensors 13, 14, 15, which are so arranged as to sense the direction of impact of a bowling ball 16 in question, the speed of

the ball and the force of the ball. A computer unit 17 is connected to the aforementioned projector 11 and sensors 13-15 for the purpose of calculating the onward travel of the ball towards the pins 18 and of projecting onto the screen 8 a realistic image 12 of the pins as they are knocked over, etc., by the ball 16.

The effective length L of the bowling lane in this case is only a proportion of the length of a bowling lane of normal length. A stop cushion 19 for the ball 16 is arranged beyond the projection screen 8 to stop the ball from continuing to roll behind the projection screen 8 and to reduce the force of impact of the ball against the cushion 19.

Several sensors 13 are situated in the longitudinal extent of the aforementioned bowling lane and in front of the projection screen 8. The aforementioned sensors 13 are so arranged as to determine the direction of the ball and its speed.

The aforementioned sensors 13-15 can be in the form of either mechanical sensors, laser sensors, ultrasound sensors or ultralight sensors.

The actual bowling lane 3, on which the bowl 16 is intended to roll, is situated at the same level as the lane approach 4, i.e. as in a normal bowling lane, although the length B of the lane 3 is significantly shorter than in a normal bowling lane.

The aforementioned projector 11 is in the form of a film projector that is so arranged as to display moving images 12 of pins 18 and balls, so that a realistic film clip, which has been calculated in the computer 17 after gathering and processing all the information from the sensors 13-15 relating to the impact of the ball so that, when the ball 16 disappears under the screen 8, images are displayed of what happens to the pins 18, which, until that point, had been displayed on the screen 8, when the ball 16 hits or misses the pins 18, which are displayed on the screen set up ready to be hit.

It is thus necessary to provide a realistic transition from this point until the realistic impact and the result of the onward travel of the ball on the lane 3, for example a displayed strike, spare or even a total miss after the ball ends up in the gutter 6. An entire library of conceivable bowling events is thus contained in the computer program, for example in the same way as in TV and computer games.

The aforementioned projection screen 8 is situated at a height above the lane 3, such that the distance H between the lane 3 and the bottom edge 21 of the screen permits the ball 16 to pass the screen 8 on its underside 31 rolling on the bowling lane 3.

The readings from the position sensors 13 and the speed indicators 15 are thus so arranged, together with the force sensor 14, as to provide the input to the computer 17, which is so arranged as to calculate the onward travel of the ball 16 along the lane 3 and to calculate the impact force of the ball 16 against the pins 18.

Loudspeakers 20 can also be provided on the aforementioned bowling simulator 2, which are so arranged inter alia as to be capable of broadcasting realistic sound effects deriving from a bowling environment and which thus harmonize with the images that are displayed at the same time, for instance a delightful clatter of the pins when the ball 16 is estimated to have struck the pins 18.

The aforementioned computer unit 17 is appropriately so arranged as to be capable of being reset in accordance with special circumstances, for instance for adaptation to the premises and/or to the size of the ball. It is possible in this way to select a shorter and/or narrower lane approach 4 and/or bowling lane 3 and also to use different sizes of balls 16, etc., i.e. the concept is miniaturized.

Automatic counting of points can be so arranged as to take place via previously disclosed result indication systems, either integrated in the projected image 12 on the screen 8 or displayed on a separate monitor in the premises 23 where the lane is situated.

The aforementioned pin pit 9 can comprise an inclined bottom part 9A, with the help of which the ball 16 is caused to roll out to the correct side of the lane 3 to arrive in the ball return channel 24 after the ball 16 has first hit the stop cushion 19, which completely arrests the ball from rolling onwards in the direction of bowling 28, and where the force sensor 14 senses the force with which the ball 16 hits the stop cushion 19.

The invention thus permits "real" bowling to be played in a realistic fashion on a small lane, so that there is space for the lane in question in small premises and so that there is accordingly space for several small lanes in the space previously occupied by an actual lane. It is also possible to simulate the type of lanes, impacts and other parameters

that it is wished to be able to vary in order to be able to train real bowling on a mini- format lane.

With the help of advanced software, the intention is for the active player to be able to indicate and determine for himself/herself the type of surface on which he/she wishes to play, the type of ball that it is proposed to use, and the hook that it is proposed to impart to the ball on the actual lane.

The nature of the ball is critical for the extent to which the ball will hook, i.e. the number of boards, the hook and its characteristics are determined by a number of parameters, such as friction, top weight, side weight, finger/thumb weight, size and total weight.

The nature of the surface, i.e. the lane, is directly dependent on how much oil is applied to the lane and where the oil is applied to the lane. This can be established from graphs of the kind illustrated in FIG. 4, where the oil is shown to have been applied in a larger quantity in the central area of the lane than at the lateral edges of the lane. It is possible to see the true nature of the lane from graphs of this kind, or it is possible to select the type of lane on which it is wished to play and train with reference to a number of graphs with varying oil profiles.

The variations in the nature of an oil profile are countless, although they are always constructed according to the same principle, i.e. the Y-axis denotes the quantity of oil applied to the lane, and the X-axis denotes the board on which the oil is present.

Competition organizers measure the quantity of oil (units/sq inch) with a so-called spectrometer, with which readings are taken on a strip of tape that is attached across the entire width of the lane.

The advanced version of the present invention is intended to offer players the opportunity to select between a number of pre-programmed oil profiles, for example 6-10 different profiles, as well as the opportunity to design their own oil profile.

The majority of active players have access to two or more different balls depending on the surface, whereas elite players are able to choose between up to ten different balls ahead of tournaments, etc.

The player must accordingly be able to utilize the arrangement as a training tool by simulating different lane surfaces (oil profiles) and simulating the behaviour of different balls on the surface. The aforementioned values can be real or imaginary.

The equivalent is also true of where on the lane the ball must be played in order to obtain the desired direction of impact, including any hook, i.e. a number of markings and boards on the lane from the right or from the left viewed from the point of deflection and where the lane approach begins, as well as markings on the lane itself after the foul line.

With the data entered correctly in the computer, it is thus possible to simulate the game on the displayed lane.

To generate a more accurate calculation of the onward travel of the ball toward the pins and to present a more accurate image of the bowling ball on the screen 8, a bowling ball can be tagged with a radio-frequency identification ("RFID") tag that provides information about the bowling ball to the computer 17. In one embodiment, the RFID tag contained in the bowling ball has a unique identifier within it, and the computer 17 receives the unique identifier as the bowling ball is rolled down the bowling lane 3. For purposes of illustration, the following discussion assumes that the unique identifier identifies the bowling ball's color and weight. It should be noted that instead of identifying both color and weight, ball color but not weight can be identified, and vice versa. Further, the unique identifier can identify other information about the ball.

A bowling ball can be tagged with an RFID tag in any suitable way. For example, an opening can be created in an off-the-shelf bowling ball by plunging the tip of a chainsaw (or other tool) into the ball, thereby creating a grove to the center. With reference to FIG. 5, an RFID tag 100 (e.g., a nominal 3" X 4" tag) can be placed and glued in the opening in the bowling ball 105. Filler material 110 can then be placed in the opening, followed by resin 1 15, which is allowed to cure so that is conforms to the surface of the ball 105. (Section 120 of the ball 105 is the ball core.) Alternatively, an RFID tag can be inserted during the ball molding process. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an RFED tag 125 can be placed inside a ball mold 130 so that it is encased with resin 135 as the bowling ball is being manufactured. Other ways of tagging a bowling ball with an RFID tag can be used.

Turning again to the drawings, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system of this embodiment. This system comprises an antenna 200 embedded in the bowling lane 3, an antenna tuning module 210 coupled with the antenna 200, and an RFID reader 220 coupled with the antenna tuning module 210 and the computer 17. (Like components from FIG. 2 are not described. It should be noted that the additional components used for this RFID embodiment can be used separately from the components shown in FIG. 2.) It should be noted that, instead of being two separate components, the antenna tuning module and the RFID reader can be part of the same component.

The antenna 200 can be embedded in the bowling lane 3 in any suitable way. For example, FIG. 8 shows grooving 300 for the embedded RFID antenna 200 under a top surface of a lane panel 310 of the bowling lane 3 (a top surface 315 of another lane panel 320 is shown installed), and FIG. 9 shows the lane panel 310 of FIG. 8 with a top lane surface 330 installed over the embedded RFID antenna 200.

During operation, the antenna tuning module 210 powers the antenna 200 embedded in the bowling lane 3 to generate a field at a preset frequency. As the bowling ball is rolled down the lane 3, the RFID tag in the bowling ball responds to the field generated by the energized antenna coil 200 by producing a coded signal representing its unique identifier. That coded signal is sent to the RFID reader 220 which decodes the signal, and it, in turn, sends that unique identifier to the computer 17. The computer 17 uses the unique identifier to look-up characteristics about the ball (in this example, ball weight and color) that are stored in a database in the computer 17. (It should be noted that the RFID information can be sent to a separate computer that communicates with computer 17).

The computer 17 uses the unique identifier along with the information about the ball speed, direction of travel, and location (from sensors 13-15) to simulate the ball going down the lane 3. The ball weight that was looked-up in the database can be used to generate the proper ball path and speed. The weight can also be used to very accurately determine the bowling pin action resulting from the impact of the ball with the pins. The weight of the ball is desired in the simulation since the ball energy and momentum directly affect the amount of energy imparted into the pins and their resultant actions. In

addition, the more energy that a ball carries into the pins, the less its velocity and path will be affected by its contact with each of the pins. As the ball weight can vary from six pounds up to 16 pounds and each of the ten pins weighs up to three pounds ten ounces, accurate determination of ball weight is a desired element of accurately simulating the resultant pin action. The display is preferably presented in 1280X1024 resolution to accurately show the ball and pin action.

Once pin action has been accurately determined, the system can project the results of that simulation on the projection screen 8. That display includes the accurate presentation of the ball rolling down the lane 3, in the proper color as determined from looking-up its unique identifier in the database. It then proceeds to accurately display the reaction of each individual pin resulting from the ball impact.

The invention is naturally not restricted to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, especially with regard to the nature of the different component parts, or by the use of equivalent technology, without departing from the area of protection afforded to the invention as defined in the Patent Claims.