US 12,434,131 B2
Gaming hardware device, a board game kit and related control method
Stefano Curatti, Settimo San Pietro (IT); and Daniele Muntoni, Sarroch (IT)
Assigned to SPRAMA GAME LABS S.R.L., Cagliari (IT)
Appl. No. 18/578,193
Filed by SPRAMA GAME LABS S.R.L., Cagliari (IT)
PCT Filed Jul. 5, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/056192
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 10, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/012545, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 9, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000020747 (IT), filed on Aug. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0374986 A1, Nov. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. A63F 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC A63F 3/00643 (2013.01) [A63F 3/0023 (2013.01); A63F 2003/00258 (2013.01); A63F 2003/00662 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gaming hardware device, comprising a central console and at least one interactive platform removably connectable to said central console, wherein said at least one interactive platform comprises:
a game board apparatus, comprising:
a flat bottom support,
a layer containing a plurality of sensors, said layer being arranged above said flat bottom support, each sensor of said plurality of sensors being individually accessible through a respective electrical line which leads to a respective electrical terminal of an array of electrical terminals of the game board apparatus,
a game board arranged above the layer containing said plurality of sensors and configured so as to cover and to sandwich the plurality of sensors together with said flat bottom support, leaving uncovered said array of electrical terminals of the game board apparatus,
wherein said plurality of sensors comprises at least one antenna-configured to read a RFID TAG placed on the game board above said antenna generating a corresponding response signal made available on a respective electrical terminal of said array of electrical terminals of the game board apparatus;
an interface functionally connected to the game board apparatus, said interface comprising:
a first electrical connector connected to the array of electrical terminals of the game board apparatus,
a memory containing information which: identifies a game that can be played on the game board apparatus, identifies a related software downloadable on an external microprocessor device, and identifies said plurality of sensors connected to the respective electrical terminals said array of electrical terminals of the game board apparatus;
a second electrical connector having a standard number of electrical input/output terminals functionally connected to said memory and to said first electrical connector, said second electrical connector being configured to be electrically connected to a central console and to allow said central console to read the information contained in said memory, to send/receive signals to/from said array of electrical terminals of the game board apparatus;
wherein said central console comprises:
a third electrical connector having said standard number of electrical input/output terminals, wherein said third electrical connector is configured to be removably connected to said second electrical connector of the interface,
at least one multiplexer and a RFID reader, functionally connected to said third electrical connector to receive/transmit signals from/to each single sensor of said plurality of sensors when said third electrical connector is connected to said second electrical connector,
a wireless connection circuit, configured to receive/transmit signals from/to said external microprocessor device,
a microprocessor unit configured to read the memory of said interface when said third electrical connector is connected to said second electrical connector, to control said at least one multiplexer and said RFID reader to control said plurality of sensors as a function of the information read from said memory and to receive/transmit signals from/to said external microprocessor device through the wireless connection circuit.