Background Art When playing a game such as Mahjong, it is required that the players involved keep track of both the stage of the game and which player has the title of"Head of the Game."Such status information has previously been tracked without any aid from a non-partial control device. Rather, the players have either relied on their collective memories or utilized a token piece that could be passed around the table to indicate the status of the game. As these types of games can become quite complex, and interruptions can occur, remembering the game status can often be quite difficult to do. The actual wind location/compass direction provided from the token piece is often misaligned, causing much confusion and can lead to many disagreements, because the exact status of the Head of the Game is very essential to determining the eventual winner of the game. The fact that these types of games are played primarily for their entertainment value, whether that be seriously or just for fun, this problem leads to a lessening of the participant's enjoyment of the game.

The prior art in the field of the present invention is illustrated U. S. Pat. No 5,743,797 and U. S. Pat. No. 4,614,342. While each of these examples of prior art deal with electronic gaming devices, neither addresses the problems that are solved by the present invention. U. S. Pat. No 5,743,797 provides an electronically controlled gaming surface which is specifically designed to aid in the bidding processes involved in the game of bridge and is therefore incompatible with games where status, including who has the title of Head of the Game and what stage the game is at, is important, such as Mahjong. Similarly, U. S. Pat. No. 4,614,342 is an electronically controlled gaming device but it is designed for use in games of chance such as video poker and blackjack and is also incompatible with the games that the present invention is designed for.

In playing the game of Mahjong, stages of play are broken into multiple individual games grouped into multiple rounds, and with a complete group of multiple rounds establishing one

cycle. Each game requires that one of the players have the temporary title as"Head of the Game." Additionally, the player with the Head of the Game title is provided with a compass direction for that player, such as with a token. The compass direction displayed by the token indicates what round the players are on and the player with the token has the"Head of the Game"title. The initial compass/wind direction when beginning play is typically east wind. If the player who has the title of"Head of the Game"wins the game, that player maintains his title as"Head of the Game"and the compass position is unchanged. If the player who has the"Head of the Game"title loses the game, the"Head of the Game"title passes to the right in a counterclockwise direction. Hence, the person to the right of the previous"Head of the Game"player will become the new"Head of the Game."The new"Head of the Game"player will have the same compass direction, such as east also passed as long as the players are still on the"east"round. While initially relatively straightforward, after a number of games and/or rounds have been played and the"Head of the Game"title has passed from player to player multiple times, it becomes more difficult to accurately keep track of which player is currently the"Head of the Game"and which compass direction (indicating what round) players are at. While use of the token is helpful, the players can forget to pass it. The token does not have a convenient place to rest on the table and the token display indicating the east, south, west or north compass direction is often misaligned so a wrong wind position is shown.

From this it can be seen that it would be desirable to provide a method of electronically keeping track of play status during the play of such games. To do so would substantially eliminate any confusion created by the complexity of the game and greatly enhance the participant's enjoyment of it.

Disclosure of Invention This invention provides a four sided table or table top which includes a playing surface in the middle and has a series of lights and switches or buttons which are located in a relatively narrow strip along each of the edges of the table. Each of these strips along the edge of the table include five lights: a starter light and four round status lights including an east light, a south light, a west light and a north light in such order. Each of these compass position round status lights can either be constructed in different colors or they can all be made of the same color. A starter of the game control switch is preferably located adjacent to each light. Finally, a reverse switch and forward switch are provided in at least one of the strips to control changes in light illumination as play status changes and at least one of the strips also includes a power on/off switch which controls the electrical power to the entire board.

The power system for the lights is controlled in a very particular fashion by an appropriate arrangement of integrated circuits, microprocessors and/or electronic components and switches

located between the lights, the switches or buttons and the power supply. Of most importance is the resulting function of these components in controlling the sequence and progression of play.

The status of the play of the game is conveyed to the players through the lighting system, allowing play in the specified manner without disagreements between the players.

For a better understanding of the specific progression of light illumination provided by the present invention, reference should be made to the drawings and the description in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a top elevation view of the present invention showing the positioning of the lights and switches in relation to the table top as a whole and the playing surface at the center of the table top.

Figure 2 is a top elevation cut-away view of the present invention showing the positioning of the processor beneath the playing surface and details of the table top.

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to Figures 1 and 2, the lighting system for the electronic gaming table top 10 preferably operates as follows. A combination of two to four players are seated around the table which has a centrally located gaming surface 13. One of the players is at position A, one at position B, one at position C and one at position D as required by the rules of the specific game being played. First, the on/off switch 22 which is located in one of four game control surfaces 12 adjacent the gaming surface 13 is toggled to activate the system.

Next, the players randomly decide who will be the initial starter, such as by rolling a die.

Once these prerequisites are completed, whomever is selected to be the starter player pushes their starter switch 26 and the starter light 24 is illuminated. The starter light indicates which player will be"Head of the Game"for each new round. Most typically, the starter would additionally press the light switch 28 adjacent to the east light 30, causing the east light 30 to be illuminated. The east light indicates that the east compass/wind direction round begins to be played. If the players wish to play a shorter game than a full cycle, they can play three-fourths of a full cycle by starting with"south wind,"one-half of a full cycle by starting at"west wind"or one- fourth of a full cycle by starting at"north wind."A game can then be played, such as Mahjong, which requires that one of the players be designated as the"Head of the Game."The starter would initially have the title"Head of the Game"as indicated by the east light being illuminated on the starter's side of the table 10.

With Mahjong, the"Head of the Game"title does not move unless the player who is"Head of the Game"loses the game. If the player who is"Head of the Game"wins, the"Head of the Game"title stays with that player and another game is played. If the player who is"Head of the Game"loses to any one of the rest of three players, the title of"Head of the Game"shift to the right (i. e. counter-clockwise). The east position moves with the title. The table 10 reflects this in that when the forward switch 40 is toggled, the east light is dimmed at the initial starter's side of the table 10 and the east light of the player to the right of the starter is automatically illuminated.

The"east"round is completed when each of the players has been designated once in succession as the"Head of the Game"by having their east light 30 sequentially illuminated. It is not necessary that the game be started from position A. For example, if a random indicator such as the roll of a dice so indicates, the game could start with the starter playing from position C. In such a case, the starter switch 26 at position C is toggled and the starter light 24 at position C is illuminated. The switch 28 adjacent the east light 30 at position C would also be toggled to illuminate the east light 30 at position C. When the forward switch 40 is toggled, the east light appears to move to position D automatically, then to position A, and then to position B, which completes one round. However, if the starter, say, is in position A now, after the east position moves one round to position D, the east light 30 from position D appears to move automatically to the south light 32 at position A, indicating that a new round has just been started. The game continues to be played through the south round and A will initially be the south round"Head of the Game."This title moves from position A up through position D. Then, another new round, the "west"round, is started which moves from position A to position D. Finally, the"north"round is played from position A to position D.

A full cycle is equal to four rounds, from east to north. When one cycle is completed, a new starter of the game is selected. If the starter of the game happened to be at position C now, position C's east light 30 is turned on indicating that the player at position C is"Head of the Game"and a new cycle begins. When the first east game is over, if the person who is the"Head of the Game"wins, that person remains the"Head of the Game"and none of the lights are altered.

However, if anyone else wins the game, then the"Head of the Game"title rotates counterclockwise to the next player.

To keep track of this rotation of the"Head of the Game", the forward switch 40 is depressed by one of the players. Alternatively, the table circuitry allows only the player with the illuminated compass direction light to toggle the forward switch to move the LED to the right of the player.

When the forward switch 40 is depressed, the person who is the"Head of the Game"has their compass position light 30,32,34,36 turned off and the person to their right has their compass position light 30,32,34,36 turned on. For instance, if the person at position A is the starter and is initially the"Head of the Game", then their east light 30 is illuminated initially. When the game is over and the starter has lost and the"Head of the Game"position is to be rotated. The forward switch 40 is depressed and the east light 30 at position A is turned off and the east light 30 at

position B is turned on. Thus, as indicated by the lighting system, position B is now the"Head of the Game." When position B loses a game, the forward switch is depressed and the east light 30 at position B is turned off and the east light 30 at position C is turned on. Sequentially, when the forward switch 40 is depressed, the east light 30 at position C is turned off and the east light 30 at position D is turned on. When the forward switch 40 is depressed again, the east light 30 at position D is turned off and the south light 32 at position A is turned on. This initiates a new round. As the forward switch 40 continues to be depressed, the south light 32 will migrate clockwise from position A, to position B, to position C and finally to position D. Then the west light 34 will be illuminated at position A, then position B, then position C and finally then position D.

Finally, after fifteen depressions of the forward switch 40, the north light 36 at position D will be illuminated. If the forward switch 40 is depressed a sixteenth time, the north light 36 will be turned off at the position D and the east light 30 will be turned on at position A. This completes a full cycle of the use of the forward switch 40.

At any time, the reverse switch 38 can be pushed if the forward switch 40 was accidentally pushed more then once to undo any inadvertent changing of the lights. The forward switch 40 and reverse switch 38 are located spaced from each other laterally in the direction that the"Head of the Game"light moves, to provide intuitive confirmation to the player that the"Head of the Game"title is shifting. The switches can additionally be shaped as arrows to reinforce this intuitive configuration of the switches 38,40. While the table 10 preferably includes a forward switch 40 and a reverse switch 38 at each side 14,16,18,20 of the table 10, it is acceptable that the table 10 have only one set of switches 38,40 and that one player be designated as controlling migration of the"Head of the Game"title. It is also possible that the table 10 have only a forward switch 40 without a reverse switch. It also is possible that table 10 has no forward/reverse switches. In this case, the Head of the Game player himself/herself must turn on the light. This configuration does not have the automatic light progression feature.

When the players wish to start a totally new cycle with a new starter, they can again randomly select a starter and once that person, say in position C, is selected, the starter depresses the starter switch 26 along the game control surface 12 of the table adjacent to position C. The starter light 24 at position C is then illuminated. Whenever the starter switch 26 is depressed, the prior cycle is terminated and the new cycle is begun. Finally, if the players wish to play only two rounds, they start the game from west instead of east so that when the"Head of the Game"reaches from west to north to complete two rounds, the game for the day is finished with a similar method being employed for a three player game. To play only two rounds, the switch 28 next to the west light 34 on the starter's side of the table would be depressed and the west light illuminated, instead of the switch 28 next to the east light 30 as when a full cycle is to be played. If a previous game was interrupted mid-round and players must recall who the starter was, what round the play was at and who was"Head of the Game."The appropriate starter switch would be first toggled to reset the

table 10 and select the starter. Next, the switch 28 on the side of the table 10 corresponding to who is the"Head of the Game"and adjacent the compass direction light indicating the correct round, is depressed. The previous game can then be resumed.

The location and method of control of the electronic processor 42 of the present invention is also illustrated in Figure 2. The electronic processor 42 is preferably located on the bottom side of the gaming surface 13 which is the area of the invention inside of the game control surfaces 12.

The electronic processor 42 is connected to the game control surfaces 12 by the use of the signal wires 44 which transmit the appropriate electric signals between the processor 42 and the game control surfaces 12.

While the electronic processor 42 could take on a variety of different configurations, electronic processor 42 is preferably in the form of a programmable read only memory device which has an electric power supply and has the ability to send electronic signals out to the various lights 24,30, 32,34,36 and to receive input signals from the switches 26,28,38,40. Preferably, the lights are in the form of LEDs and the light emitting signals emanating from the programmable read only memory are within the voltage and current ranges required to cause the appropriate light to be illuminated when a current is supplied and to be dimmed when the current is not supplied. The switches 26,28,38,40 can be configured as open circuits routing back to the programmable read only memory pins designated for the switches 26,28,38,40 on the appropriate side of the table 10 so that when one of the switches 26,28,38,40 is toggled, a signal is received by corresponding pins on the programmable read only memory.

If desired, some of the switches 26,28,38,40 and lights 24,30,32,34,36 can be integrated together in the form of toggleable buttons with a translucent actuating cover having an LED built into the interior of the button. Alternatively, the switch corresponding to each light can be placed adjacent to each light or otherwise provided with indicia indicating which switch corresponds to which light. Additionally, the switches 38,40 which preferably do not include lights corresponding thereto are provided with appropriate circuitry routing back to the programmable read only memory so that when the switches 38,40 are depressed, an appropriate signal is received at the pins on the programmable read only memory which are coupled to the switches 38, 40.

The programmable read only memory is programmed using known techniques so that when a sequence of buttons are depressed corresponding appropriate series of lights are illuminated and dimmed in accordance with the desired pattern of light illumination identified above. Specifically, when the starter button is depressed, the light adjacent that starter button is caused to be illuminated. When the button adjacent the east light on the same side of the table which has the starter light illuminated is depressed, the east light on that side of the table is illuminated. When the forward switch is toggled, the east light on the same side of the table as where the starter light is illuminated is dimmed and the east light on the side of the table to the right of the starter side of the table is illuminated. When the reverse button is toggled, the reverse succession of lights

occurs. If other additional sequences of buttons are depressed, a different succession of light illumination will occur when the forward and reverse buttons 38,40 are depressed.

Most importantly, the programmable read only memory must be programmed to determine which side of the table has had the starter switch 26 toggled so that the programmable read only memory can appropriately indicate when a round has been completed and a new round is starting.

Additionally, the programmable read only memory must appropriately detect whether the cycle is beginning with the east light or is a shortened round or a round with a fewer number of players and so is starting with the south light, the west light or the north light.

While a programmable read only memory device is most preferred for the electronic processor 42, the progression of light illumination for the table 10 could similarly be provided by a series of appropriately connected switches or other logic devices or other illumination means could be utilized with appropriate programming to cause the progression of lights to occur in the manner desired as indicated above.

A full featured form of the table 10 can provide additional information to the players to assist in the players fully understanding the status of play of the game, and to enhance the enjoyment of players of the game. For instance, a sound speaker can be included within the table 10 that is driven by signals emanating from the processor 42 which provides audible information about the status of the game. For instance, when the power is first supplied to the table 10, the table 10 can provide a greeting to the players which could be tied to the date maintained by a clock chip associated with the processor 42 or some otherwise interesting and enjoyable greeting. When the players decide, such as by rolling a die, who will be the first player to be"Head of the Game"and the starter, and when the starter switch 26 is depressed and the starter light 24 is illuminated, another audible statement can be provided. For instance, when the starter button 26 is depressed the speaker would declare"I am the Head of the Game." The speaker could additionally state the phrase"The east round is beginning,"or other similar phrase when the east light 30 is depressed by the player who was selected to be the starter. If a shortened cycle is to be played and a round other than the east round will be utilized to start play, then the player who is the starter would depress a switch adjacent one of the other compass direction lights, other than the east light 30, such as the west light 34. When the west light 34 is depressed, the speaker would proclaim"The west round is beginning."As play continues and the "Head of the Game"rotates around the table 10 so that one round is completed and a new round is starting, the speaker would proclaim"The south round is beginning,"or other appropriate phrase to instruct the players as to which round is now beginning. Additionally, when a complete cycle is finished and a new cycle has begun, the table 10 could proclaim"Happy New Year!" In a most deluxe version of the game, buttons could be provided which would give some control over what statements would be proclaimed by the table 10 to the player who is pushing the buttons. For instance, a"Happy Birthday!" greeting could be programmed into the table 10 so that a player could push the"Happy Birthday!" button and the table 10 would proclaim"Happy

Birthday!" Of course other different sayings could additionally be programmed into the table 10 either to be stated by the speaker when the player depresses an appropriate button or could be caused to occur when the forward or reverse switches 38,40 are depressed and the status of the game changes in a way which triggers the speaker to make the desired proclamation.

It is also desirable that a clock with a visible display be included in the table 10 to display to the players the current time and potentially the amount of time that has elapsed during play of different stages of the game. This clock could additionally include a date tracking ability and the speaker can be utilized to proclaim the current date and greetings associated with special dates, such as holidays and to include chimes such as every hour. The language in which words would be emitted from the speaker would correspond to the languages most commonly spoken in the countries where the table is sold. To stimulate interest in the product even more, it can be configured with a recording device so that one can record any special occasion wordings at any time. For example, at east wind round, after the east wind has been announced, one can add to the recording media, such as to make it say:"east wind is for everyone's longevity." The power required to run the processor 42, the lights 24,28,30,32,34,36 and various other accessories included with the table 10 can be provided in a DC manner from an onboard power supply, such as batteries, or through a DC converter coupled to an AC power outlet such as that which is provided in residential buildings. Alternatively, certain portions of the table could be powered directly in an AC manner.

This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified.

Industrial Applicability This invention exhibits industrial applicability in that it provides a board upon which specific types of games can be played in which the status of the game being played changes and knowing the play status is important to the nature and outcome of the game.

It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide such a game board that employs sets of switches and lights that are used to indicate the status of play of the game.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a game board that employs the use of an electronic processor that controls the lights which indicate to the players the current status of play of the game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a table top which tracks play status in the form of which player currently has the title"Head of the Game"and what stage/round the players are at.