WO1998039073A1 - Electronic chess game equipped with printer and quartz clocks for printing games and times - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for automatically noting down chess games, in particular for automatically posting chess games by means of a printer incorporated in the chess board case. It consists of a case (fig 1) with an aperture (fig. 2) wherein is inserted the game sheet. The chess board can include an integrated (fig. 2) or a visible (fig. 3) timer An option can be provided for physically handicapped people. In this case, a voice synthesiser should be provided, also incorporated in the case (fig. 4) and connected to a microprocessor which will control the moving of the (magnetic) pieces by means of an electromagnetic circuit inserted in the chess board (fig. 5) An interactive connector can be provided in the event the microprocessor is overloaded. The invention is characterised in that it is particularly designed for chess players wishing to record their games, and for motor handicapped people

Description

UEU OF ELECTRONIC EOHEOS WITH A PRINTER AND THE PENDU- QUARTZ FOR PRINTING ^* PARTIES AND OADENCE.

The present invention relates to a chess game which has the advantage of being able to automatically score the games - and to keep them - whatever the time intervals allocated to the players. Indeed, until now, it was not possible for chess players, due to lack of time, to annotate their games at fast rates (BLITZ and INJES in particular). This often resulted in disputes which could not be resolved, precisely in the absence of annotations. To remedy this drawback, which all players denounce, it is advisable to create a chessboard which will henceforth be in the form of a rigid case, and no longer of a carpet, and whose approximate dimensions will be the following: fifty five centimeters aside and six centimeters deep.

On the upper part of the chessboard (the apron), the boxes will be provided with contacts (probes -and diodes) which will control the memory-server software ^" " the movements of the pieces as they move- and the course of the game.

At the end of this, the computer will command a small printer located in the case of the chessboard, to annotate the entire game.

Then simply remove the part sheet, annotated linearly, from the printer slot, located at the base to the left of the chessboard case.

The pieces will be of a standard model since the software will know, at each moment, the location of these and will check the regularity of the moves made. This amounts to saying that the device will also be an impartial arbiter for very fast games (which the players do not materially have the time to annotate) since any piece touched must be played, without the player being able to catch up. The pendulums can be integrated into the case of the chessboard. The dials, with light or liquid crystal display, can be visible or integrated in the chessboard case. The pendulum system can be linked to the software

(interactive) which can therefore memorize the times made for each move, expressed as a count of seconds and have them annotated by the printer at the end of the game.

A control screen can be placed in front of each player to verify that the movements have been recorded by the computer.

As soon as a player has placed his piece on the square he wants, and if the move is regular and possible, his pendulum will stop automatically, and that of his opponent will start.

Special programming may be requested from the software to possibly correct the parts played. Corrections will be printed in parentheses.

The parts will be printed according to the international annotation in force. The programming will provide the symbols used for each piece (King, Lady, Tower, Madman and Horseman).

It is possible to play a normal game against an opponent or against the computer. In this case the parts can also be printed and the device will become a partner and a chess teacher.

A more elaborate model may be intended for the physically handicapped.

In this case, the case of the chessboard, whose dimensions and external appearance will not be modified, must be provided with a voice synthesizer and a network of electromagnets must be inserted in the apron of the chessboard. in such a way that there will no longer be any manipulation since the command to move the parts will be carried out by voice. Thus, the instructions, phonic and acoustic, will indicate only the square of departure and that of arrival ((gl - f3 or b2 - g7 for example since the computer will know which are the pieces which will have made these moves).

The acoustic-phonetic wave generated will be transmitted to the voice synthesizer which, through the ohmic resistance, will restore it in the form of electronic pulses to the software-server.

The latter will control the part to be moved by means of electromagnetic pulses to the electromagnets concerned for said specific movement.

Each piece taken will be directed to the edge of the chessboard in a place that has been assigned to it (by server preprogramming).

Naturally, in this case, the parts will have to be provided with small magnets located at their base.

In order not to overload the server software, an interactive connector can be added to the entire proposed device.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 shows, in section, the device 1 according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the upper part of the chessboard case.

Figure 3 shows another variant of the device of the previous figure (2).

Figure 4 shows the lower part of the chessboard case.

Figure 5 shows another variant of the device of the previous figure (4).

With reference to these drawings, the device comprises a box (1), inside which software-server-computer (2) as well as a printer (3) are integrated. The two pendulums (4 and 5) with quartz and luminous display, are visible on the upper part of the case of the chessboard (Figures 1 and 3)

The touch probe contacts and diodes on each box of the buyer's shop (6 and 7) are connected to the server (2) which is itself connected to the printer (3).

The clocks (4 and 5) can be connected (8 and 9) to the server in such a way that the times used by each player and for each movement of pieces can also be printed. The printer housing (3) will be approximately 20 centimeters wide and 4 centimeters thick.

The carriage (10) on which the printing cassette (11) will be fixed will be connected to the memory cord of the printer (12). Typing will be ensured linearly by moving the carriage-cassette assembly

(10 and 11) on a slider fixed on the two opposite walls of the printer housing.

A hole at the end of the printer housing (14) will allow inserting and removing part sheets after they have been printed. Figure 2 shows the upper part of the chessboard.

The pendulum dials (1 and 2) can be integrated into the chessboard box and placed on the right at both ends so that each player can consult their own to find out their playing rate by the times displayed in seconds counting .

Two control screens (3 and 4) will be located at each end in the center and facing the players; these will display the movements and verify that they have been recorded by the microprocessor.

The hole (5) placed at the bottom right of the case of the chessboard will allow to insert in the printer (fig. 1, n ° 14), the sheets of parts and to remove them. Power can be supplied by sector, using an adapter (transformer).

FIG. 3 represents a variant of the previous device and the pendulums (1 and 2) of which are apparent to the spectators (fig. 1, numbers 4 and 5). Figure 4 shows the lower part of the chessboard case.

The contact terminals (sensing probes and diodes, 1, 2, 3, 4) will be connected to the software with integrated memory (5). Power can be supplied by three batteries charged either with cadmium-nickel or with lithium (11, 12, 13) and rechargeable from the mains (14) which will provide an autonomy of at least 50 hours.

A voice synthesizer (9) will convert the acoustic-phonetic wave into electronic pulses to the microprocessor (5), which will control the network of electromagnets concerned; (15) to ensure the automatic displacement of the part requested by electro-magnetic reconversion of the initial electronic data. This version will be optional for physically disabled people.

Figure 5 shows another variant of the device at the bottom of the chessboard case. In case of server overload (fig. 4, n ° 5), a connector (1) can be provided which will ensure the interactive role of the computer, between the various elements of the device described above.

Claims

 RESELL I OA I ONS 1) Device allowing chess players to have their games automatically annotated, characterized in that it includes a printer (3) integrated in the case of the chessboard (1) - and controlled by a microcomputer (2 , server-software-memory) memorizing the movements of the pieces by contacts (6 and 7) connected to it, the times of each player can also be annotated automatically - by means of two quartz pendulums (4 and 5), and light display (or liquid crystal display - also connected to the microprocessor (2). 2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electronic display of times, either by integrated dials (fig. 2, 1 and 2) in the case of the buyer, or by visible and raised dials on the left side of the chessboard. 3) Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a voice synthesizer (9) converting the acoustic wave (ohmic resistance) into electronic pulses to the server (2) and acting on a network of electromagnets (15), inserted in the deck of the chessboard, to ensure the movement of the stressed parts. 4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims (1 to 3), characterized in that it comprises an interactive connector in the event of overload of the microprocessor-server (2) and ensuring the connection between the various elements of said device cited above.