Computer-controlled game system

Abstract

A computer-controlled game system comprising a computer unit ( 10 ) which is adapted for the generation of a game sequence from at least one computer program and from game sequence data, a playback device ( 12 ) which is adapted to play back the game sequence in a projection zone and which is connected with the computer unit ( 10 ), at least one transmitter means ( 16 ) which is adapted for emitting an electromagnetic beam (S) into a predeterminable partial section of the projection zone, a detector means ( 18 ) which is adapted for the detection of the electromagnetic beam (S) when same hits the predeterminable partial section of the projection zone, said detector means ( 18 ) being connected with the computer unit ( 10 ) and adapted to transmit a signal to the computer unit ( 10 ), which is characteristic for the respective detected beam, and an alignment device ( 20 ) which is associated with the detector means ( 18 ) and which is connected with the computer unit ( 10 ) in order to align the detector unit ( 18 ) to a predeterminable partial section of the projection zone.

1 . A computer-controlled game system comprising: 
 a computer unit ( 10 ) which is adapted for the generation of a game sequence from at least one computer program and from game sequence data,    a playback device ( 12 ) which is adapted to play back the game sequence in a projection zone and which is connected with the computer unit ( 10 ),    at least one transmitter means ( 16 ) which is adapted for emitting an electromagnetic beam (S) into a predeterminable partial section of the projection zone,    a detector means ( 18 ) which is adapted for the detection of the electromagnetic beam (S) when same hits the predeterminable partial section of the projection zone, said detector means ( 18 ) being connected with the computer unit ( 10 ) and adapted to transmit a signal to the computer unit ( 10 ), which is characteristic for the respective detected beam, and    an alignment device ( 20 ) which is associated with the detector means ( 18 ) and which is connected with the computer unit ( 10 ) in order to align the detector unit to a predeterminable partial section of the projection zone.    
     
     
         2 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer unit ( 10 ) is connected with 
 a memory means ( 14 ) for the control program and for game sequence data in the form of still or moving image sequences and symbols, and/or    an interface unit ( 28 ) for the detector means ( 18 ), and/or    a control unit ( 26 ) for the alignment device ( 20 ).    
     
     
         3 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the playback device ( 12 ) is adapted for the playback of a two-dimensional image on a projection surface, for the playback of a tree-dimensional image in a projection space, and/or tone, sound, and/or noise.  
     
     
         4 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter means ( 16 ) is adapted for emitting a directed electromagnetic beam (S), preferably a visible light beam, with the electromagnetic beam (S) being provided with an identification which is characteristic for the transmitter means ( 16 ).  
     
     
         5 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 4 , wherein the identification of the electromagnetic beam (S) is imprinted on same as modulation of the beam.  
     
     
         6 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter means ( 16 ) comprises a presettable timer ( 16   b ) in order to set a ready-to-transmit duration (T 1 ) within which the transmitter means ( 16 ) can emit the electromagnetic beam (S).  
     
     
         7 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter means ( 16 ) comprises a trigger circuit ( 16   c ) in order to emit a pulse of the electromagnetic beam (S) with a predetermined time duration (T 2 ) upon the actuation of same.  
     
     
         8 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 4 , wherein the transmitter means ( 16 ) comprises a directional indicator with a series of optical signal generators and faces in the direction of an emitted electromagnetic beam (S).  
     
     
         9 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter means ( 16 ) can be connected with the computer unit ( 10 ) for the transmission of information, in particular, of an identification, a maximum ready-to-transmit duration, a transmission pulse duration, a transmission pulse repeat rate, or a maximum pulse number by means of an interface ( 16   g ).  
     
     
         10 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the alignment device ( 20 ) is adapted to align the detector means ( 18 ) or the electromagnetic radiation which impinges on the detector means ( 18 ) under the control of the computer unit ( 10 ) in at least two coordinates (X, Y).  
     
     
         11 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector means ( 18 ) is assigned a shielding means ( 24 ) against external light influences.  
     
     
         12 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector means ( 18 ) is assigned a second detector ( 30 ) which is adapted to detect environmental radiation and a direct impingement of an electromagnetic beam (S) and to emit a signal which represents this for the computer unit ( 10 ).  
     
     
         13 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer unit ( 10 ) varies the game sequence as a function of the transmitted signal from the detector means ( 18 ).  
     
     
         14 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer unit ( 10 ) can be connected with a video camera ( 38 ) in order to detect images which are integrated into a game sequence under program control.  
     
     
         15 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 13 , wherein the images which are detected by the video camera ( 38 ) are integrated into a game sequence preferably as a function of the signals from the detector means ( 18 ).  
     
     
         16 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer unit ( 10 ) comprises a memory for detected signals from a transmitter means ( 16 ), with a predeterminable image and/or tone sequence being optically and/or acoustically representable under the control of the computer program via the playback device ( 12 ) as a function of the contents of the memory and the identification of the respective transmitter means ( 16 ).  
     
     
         17 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 2 , wherein a series of descriptors of predeterminable partial sections of the projection zone is stored in the memory means ( 14 ), which can be correlated with the game sequence by the computer program.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-controlled game system according to  claim 17 , wherein the alignment device ( 20 ) can be driven by the computer unit ( 10 ) as a function of the descriptors in such a manner that the detector means ( 18 ) is aligned to a predetermined partial section of the projection zone.  
     
     
         19 . A transmitter means ( 16 ) in particular for a computer-controlled game system according to one of the previous claims, comprising 
 a signal generator for the generation of an electrical signal which is supplied to a converter which emits an electromagnetic beam corresponding to the signal,    an identification generator ( 16   a ) which supplies the signal generator ( 16   y ) with an identification which is characteristic for the transmitter means ( 16 ),    as well as a preferably presettable timer ( 16   b ) and/or a presettable pulse counter which is connected with the signal generator in order to limit the ready-to-transmit time of the transmitter means ( 16 ).    
     
     
         20 . The transmitter means ( 16 ) according to  claim 19 , comprising a connection means ( 16   g ) in order to connect the identification generator, the timer, and/or the pulse counter with a computer unit for the purpose of reading in corresponding information from the computer unit.