Pinball machine having a system controlled rotating flipper
US5284342A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 4, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63F2009/2402
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A flipper in a pinball machine is rotated by a motor, permitting control of the angular position or velocity of the flipper by the pinball machine in response to player input, ball position or game sequences. The flipper is controlled internally through software of the microcomputer that keeps track of game sequences and the player's score, or externally via a switch or control manipulated by the player. Preferably the angular position of the flipper is sensed, and the motor can rotate the flipper in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. In one embodiment, the flipper is rotated by more than 360 degrees to intermittently permit a timing shot when passage of the ball is synchronized to the rotation of the flipper. For example, the flipper may intermittently open a path for a ball to a target, or may intermittently permit the ball to be deflected by the flipper to a target. In either case, a player's attention is captivated by turning the motor on and off at different times in a game sequence, and permitting the player to have a degree of control over the angular velocity of the flipper. In another embodiment, the flipper is both rotated by a motor and pivoted by a sole…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.