Automatic propelling feature for pinball games

Abstract

An automatic propelling feature for a pinball game having a playfield supporting a rolling ball and a plurality of targets thereon, comprises a propelling member, mounted to the playfield, for propelling the ball toward the target; a ball guide for guiding the ball to the propelling member; one or more sensors for detecting the ball along the ball guide; and processor circuitry, responsive to the sensors, for recording initial timing samples in a memory in response to the ball passing through the ball guide and being accurately propelled by the ball propelling member, operated by a player, toward one of the targets. In response to a predetermined number of the timing samples being recorded in the memory for at least one of the targets, the processor circuitry operates the propelling member based at least partially on the recorded timing samples and attempts to propel the ball toward the 'qualifying' target in response to the ball passing through the ball guide. If a predetermined number of timing samples have been recorded in the memory for multiple ones of the targets such that there is more than one 'qualifying' target toward which the processor can propel the ball, then the processor attempts to propel the ball toward the 'qualifying' target that will yield a highest benefit to the player of the pinball game at that particular time in the game.