Game table systems and methods

1. A game table system adapted to be used with a plurality of cups and at least one ball, comprising:

a table structure defining a game surface;

a plurality of cup areas defined on the game surface, where at least first and second cup areas overlap in part;

a sensor associated with each of the cup areas; and

at least one cup light associated with each of the cup areas; wherein

the at least cup light is energized to indicate locations of the cup areas;

each sensor is configured to detect when a cup is supported by the game surface on the cup area associated with that sensor; and

the sensors associated with first and second overlapping cup areas are arranged to distinguish between a cup placed on the first overlapping area and a cup placed on the second overlapping cup area.

2. A game table system as recited in claim 1 , in which the at least one cup light is energized in response to detection of a cup by at least one of the sensors.

3. A game table system as recited in claim 1 , in which the cup light associated with a given cup area is energized when the sensor associated with that given cup area detects the presence of a cup on that given cup area.

4. A game table system as recited in claim 1 , in which each sensor is uniquely associated with each of the cup areas.

5. A game table system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of emitters.

6. A game table system as recited in claim 5 , in which each emitter is associated with one of the sensors.

7. A game table system as recited in claim 1 , in which:

a plurality of cup lights are arranged in at least one cup array; and

each cup array is associated with one of the cup areas.

8. A game table system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a control system operatively connected to control the cup lights based on the sensors.

9. A game table system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising at least one ball support system that supports the at least one ball using a stream of pressurized air.

10. A method of playing a game using a plurality of cups and at least one ball, comprising:

defining a game surface;

defining a plurality of cup areas on the game surface, where at least first and second cup areas overlap in part;

associating a sensor with each of the cup areas; and

associating at least one cup light with each of the cup areas;

energizing the at least cup light to indicate locations of the cup areas;

configuring each sensor to detect when a cup is supported by the game surface on the cup area associated with that sensor; and

arranging the sensors associated with first and second overlapping cup areas to distinguish between a cup placed on the first overlapping cup area and a cup placed on the second overlapping cup area.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of energizing the at least one cup light in response to detection of a cup by at least one of the sensors.

12. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of energizing the cup light associated with a given cup area when the sensor associated with that given cup area detects the presence of a cup on that given cup area.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of emitters, where each emitter is associated with one of the sensors.

14. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing at least one ball support system configured to support the at least one ball using a stream of pressurized air.

15. A game table system adapted to be used with a plurality of cups and at least one ball, comprising:

a table structure defining a game surface where the game surface defines first and second set-up areas and a field area;

a plurality of cup areas defined within each of the set-up areas defined by the game surface, where at least first and second cup areas overlap in part;

a plurality of sensors supported by the table structure, where

each of the sensors is uniquely associated with one of the cup areas, and

the sensors associated with first and second overlapping cup areas are arranged to distinguish between a cup placed on the first overlapping cup area and a cup placed on the second overlapping cup area;

a plurality of cup light arrays, where

each cup light array comprises a plurality of cup lights, and

each cup light array is uniquely associated with each of the cup areas; and

a control system operatively connected to the sensors and the cup lights, where

each sensor is configured to detect when a cup is supported by the game surface on the cup area associated with that sensor, and

the control system energizes the cup lights such that the cup light arrays indicate a location of at least one of the cup areas.

16. A game table system as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of emitters, where each emitter is associated with one of the sensors.

17. A game table system as recited in claim 15 , further comprising at least one ball support system that supports the at least one ball using a stream of pressurized air.