A light guide plate formed from a panel transparent to visible light has a first incidence surface provided to form a sidewall of the light guide plate that faces a light source configured to emit visible light, and a plurality of prisms provided in a predetermined region on one surface of the light guide plate. The prisms include a reflection surface that reflects the visible light emitted from the light source and entering the light guide plate from the first incidence surface toward another surface of the light guide plate. The predetermined region is divided into a plurality of local regions corresponding to a plurality of tones in the predetermined region when seen from a predetermined viewpoint, and in each local region, the orientation of the reflection surface of the prisms distributed in the local region is established in accordance with the tone corresponding to that local region.

A later generation display device may be connected to the video output port of an older electronic device which utilized an earlier generation display such as a dot matrix display. The early generation display is replaced with the later generation display. The display device includes software which receives graphic data through the video output port and identifies which frame is currently being streamed. The display device matches the frame being streamed to a stored graphic frame having a higher resolution and/or color. The matched frame is delivered to the later generation device so that the user can experience a higher quality visual effect by retrofitting the older electronic device with the later generation display.

The present invention is directed at enhancing pinball gameplay through non-synchronous multiplayer competitive and cooperative play. In the primary embodiment this is achieved by treating the logic and circuitry of an individual pinball machine as a Client, that is connected to a server or Host. The Host is in bidirectional communication with the individual pinball machines or Clients. The status of the Client, such as score, progress on completing features and other game metrics may be communicated to the Host at predetermined intervals. These game metrics may be communicated by the Host to all Clients. When a gameplay objective is completed on a client, the player is presented with a gameplay choice. This choice may be to change the status of his Client or change the status of another player's Client.

Pinball machines are described. A method includes detecting an event during a game played at least in part over a surface of a playfield in a pinball machine. The playfield has first and second playfield portions. In response to the event, a playfield reducer located between the first and second portions is electronically activated in a manner sufficient to prevent a pinball from traveling between the first and second playfield portions. A pinball machine includes a playfield reducer that is operable to be in and transition between first and second positions during normal gameplay. When the playfield reducer is in the first position, the pinball is capable of rolling into and out of a portion of the playfield surface, and when the playfield reducer is in the second position, the playfield reducer prevents the pinball from accessing or from leaving the portion of the playfield surface.

A modular pinball game truss system provides for lighting and other pinball game features, such as targets, ramps, ball pathways, bumpers, and ball-reactive game or decorative elements, features that move, make sounds, flash, display score, register points, illuminate, or otherwise react to a given pinball movement, to be easily added to existing games and changed at any time by individual game owners.

A target assembly for an amusement device includes a switch stack comprising a target leaf spring, a contact leaf spring, and a spacer electrically isolating the target leaf spring from the contact leaf spring. An anti-rotation shell is mounted to the switch stack and at least partially surrounds one end of the target leaf spring and the contact leaf spring. The anti-rotation shell is sized and configured to substantially prevent relative movement between the target leaf spring and the contact leaf spring. In some examples, a switch mount bracket includes slot to receive side walls of the anti-rotation shell.

A magnet assembly for an amusement device, such as a pinball machine includes a permanent magnet coupled to a play surface of the device. The permanent magnet is movable between a first position, where the permanent magnet is proximate the play surface and a second position, where the permanent magnet is distally located from the play surface. The permanent magnet is movable by an actuator coupled to a linkage assembly to move the permanent magnet between the first position and the second position.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of desktop pinball, and relates to a desktop pinball interaction device, including: a base, a surface of the base being provided with a table top for placing a pinball, and an edge of the table top being provided with two or more goals; ball striking devices, the ball striking devices being slidably mounted on the base through driving devices, and the two or more of the ball striking devices being respectively mounted at different goals; goal sensors, positions of the goal sensors corresponding to positions of the goals and being used for detecting the pinball; and remote control handles, the two or more of the remote control handles being used for respectively controlling different driving devices and ball striking devices.

The invention relates to a machine (1) for pinball-type recreational games, characterized in that it comprises a module for the monitoring and storage (2) of operative variables of the machine (1), comprising means for communication with remote storage and control equipment (9), where said monitoring and storage module (2) also comprises the following elements: at least one CPU (4) connected to a plurality of sensor elements; at least one data-receiving and data-encoding device (3) connected to said CPU (4); at least one multimedia support unit (5); at least one electronic purse (6); and an electromechanical counting device (7) for counting the number and amplitude of the electric pulses received from said electronic purse (6).

A rollover switch has a housing carrying a depressible cover coupled to a switch whereby a depression of the cover in response to contact being made between the cover and an object movable across a first surface of a playfield of an amusement game functions to activate the switch. A mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening formed in the playfield wherein the opening extends between a second surface of the playfield and the first surface of the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the switch assembly have cooperating features that allow the switch assembly to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield.