US12366435 - Dart game apparatus and dart game system comprising illumination unit
The patent describes a dart game apparatus that features a dart target with score areas, a sensing unit to detect dart hits, and a display area that surrounds the target to show variable images and event effects based on the hit location. Additionally, it includes a protective cover for the display area and a processor that controls the visual effects displayed in response to the game’s progress and outcomes.
Claim 1
- A dart game apparatus comprising: a dart target having a plurality of score areas; a sensor configured to sense a hit location of a dart pin in the dart target; at least one display unit providing a display area surrounding an outline of the dart target, the display area disposed to provide a variable image to a location adjacent to at least a part of the outline of the dart target and outside of the dart target, and outputting an event effect based at least partially on the hit location of the dart pin in the dart target, the at least one display unit comprising at least one display panel, wherein the display area and the dart target occupy an entire front surface of the dart game apparatus; a cover located in front of the at least one display unit to cover and protect the display area of the at least one display unit from the thrown dart pins, the cover comprising an opening or a receiving groove to where the dart target is seated and unobstructed by the cover, the cover being at least in part transparent to permit the optical transmittance from the display area outside of the opening and surrounding the dart target of at least one of the variable image and event effect; and a processor determining a location of the event effect to be displayed on the display area based on the hit location of the dart pin in the dart target, the event effect comprising a visual effect displayed over the entire front surface of the display area of the dart game apparatus and being determined based on a dart game result occurred at least partially based on the sensed hit location of the dart pin and indicating the occurred dart game result, and controlling the display unit output of the event effect at a time subsequent to the sensing unit sensing the hit location of the dart pin in the dart target, a pre-event generation determination unit determining whether a predetermined event occurs at least partially based on progress information of a dart game which is currently in progress before the dart pin is thrown; and a pre-event effect determination unit determining a location to which a pre-event effect displayed in the display area is output based on an event which occurs when the predetermined event occurs. a dart target having a plurality of score areas; a sensor configured to sense a hit location of a dart pin in the dart target; at least one display unit providing a display area surrounding an outline of the dart target, the display area disposed to provide a variable image to a location adjacent to at least a part of the outline of the dart target and outside of the dart target, and outputting an event effect based at least partially on the hit location of the dart pin in the dart target, the at least one display unit comprising at least one display panel, wherein the display area and the dart target occupy an entire front surface of the dart game apparatus; a cover located in front of the at least one display unit to cover and protect the display area of the at least one display unit from the thrown dart pins, the cover comprising an opening or a receiving groove to where the dart target is seated and unobstructed by the cover, the cover being at least in part transparent to permit the optical transmittance from the display area outside of the opening and surrounding the dart target of at least one of the variable image and event effect; and a processor determining a location of the event effect to be displayed on the display area based on the hit location of the dart pin in the dart target, the event effect comprising a visual effect displayed over the entire front surface of the display area of the dart game apparatus and being determined based on a dart game result occurred at least partially based on the sensed hit location of the dart pin and indicating the occurred dart game result, and controlling the display unit output of the event effect at a time subsequent to the sensing unit sensing the hit location of the dart pin in the dart target, a pre-event generation determination unit determining whether a predetermined event occurs at least partially based on progress information of a dart game which is currently in progress before the dart pin is thrown; and a pre-event effect determination unit determining a location to which a pre-event effect displayed in the display area is output based on an event which occurs when the predetermined event occurs.
Google Patents
https://patents.google.com/patent/US12366435
USPTO PDF
https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12366435