Patent Application
20190151746
The present disclosure relates to card shufflers for use in forming randomizing groups of playing cards, such as playing card hands for use in a playing card game, to methods of manufacturing such card shufflers, and to methods of using such card shufflers.
Card shufflers are used to randomize an order of cards in a stack of cards, and are frequently used in the gaming industry for use with playing cards, such as decks of standard playing cards which include four suits (i.e., clubs, diamond, hearts, and spades) of cards, wherein each suit includes a group of thirteen (13) differently ranked cards sequentially numbered from two (2) through ten (10), as well as a Jack, a Queen, a King, and an Ace. Such a standard deck of playing cards may also include one or more additional cards, such as two additional Jokers. Thus, a complete deck may comprise, for example, fifty-two (52) or fifty-four (54) playing cards.
Card shufflers are known in the art that, in addition to shuffling cards, may be used to sort cards into a predetermined order, such as what is referred to in the art as “new deck” order. To accomplish such a sorting operation, a card shuffler must be capable of accurately identifying indicia on each card, such as the rank and suit of standard playing cards and be capable of placing cards in a desired order with accuracy. Card shufflers capable of sorting cards often include a card imaging system, which may include a camera that acquires an image of each card. An algorithm may be used to analyze the image and compare the image to images of cards of known identity. By determining to which known image the acquired image most closely corresponds, the identity of each card may be determined and used by the card shuffler to sort cards into a predetermined order.
Many previously known card shufflers are not capable of truly randomizing an order of the cards in any given set of cards due to limitations in the mechanism or system used to shuffle the cards. Thus, there remains a need in the art for card shufflers that are capable of truly randomizing an order of cards in a set of cards to a sufficient degree to be considered random in the shuffler arts. Additionally, it may be desirable to shuffle and/or sort cards using a card shuffler quickly so as to increase the amount of shuffling and/or sorting operations that may be performed by a card shuffler in any given amount of time.
The Ace® card shuffler, offered by Shuffle Master, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nev. in the past, and as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,154, is a batch-type card shuffler with a vertically moving rack comprising multiple compartments. This structure lacks card recognition. Shuffling is accomplished through random loading of the racks. Packs of cards are formed in compartments. The order in which the cards are delivered to hand-forming compartments is substantially random. However, the composition of the pack is random. Cards placed in the discard rack may not be randomly ordered. More than two cards are delivered to each compartment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,248 describes a carousel-type card shuffler that uses a card imaging system to identify cards as they move from a card infeed tray to compartments in a rotatable carousel. The card shuffler randomly loads compartments in the carousel, and sequentially unloads the compartments. More than two cards may be delivered to each compartment. U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,981 describes a flush-mounted batch card shuffler that elevates shuffled cards to the game play surface. U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,565 describes a similar card shuffler that also includes card recognition capability. These card shufflers form a single stack of a shuffled deck or multiple decks. The stack formed in the shuffler is gripped at randomly selected elevations. A section of the stack of cards at the grippers and above is gripped at a randomly selected location in the stack. Cards beneath the grippers are lowered, which creates an insertion opening into the stack into which an additional card may be inserted to shuffle the cards. Products as described in these patents have been commercialized by Shuffle Master, Inc., which has now merged into Bally Gaming, Inc., under the product names DECK MATE® and MD2® and MD3™ card shufflers.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,332 describes a hand-forming card shuffler that includes card recognition capability. The device described in this patent has been commercialized by Shuffle Master, Inc., now merged into Bally Gaming, Inc., as the I-DEAL® card shuffler.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a card shuffler that comprises a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device includes a movable wheel configured to rotate within the automatic card shuffler. The movable wheel includes a plurality of card storage compartments, at least a majority of the card storage compartments sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. The card output mechanism is configured to eject cards out from the card storage compartments and into a card output compartment such that the cards are oriented at a downward angle of between about 2° and about 15° relative to a horizontal plane at all times as the cards move from each card storage compartment and into the card output compartment.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a card shuffler comprising a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards from the card storage device. The card shuffler further includes a control system configured to control operation of the card shuffler. The control system includes a touch screen control panel configured to receive input information from an operator of the card shuffler and to output information to the operator of the card shuffler, as well as a player display mounted to the card shuffler. The control system is configured to display information to players of a playing card game in which the card shuffler is used on the player display.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a card shuffler comprising a card input receptacle, a card output receptacle, a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler from the card input receptacle, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device to the card output receptacle. The card shuffler also includes a drip pan located and configured to divert fluid spilled into at least one of the card input receptacle and the card output receptacle to an exterior of the card shuffler.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a card shuffler comprising a card input area, a card output area, a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler from the card input area, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device to the card output area. The card input mechanism includes a plurality of rollers located and configured to drive movement of cards along a card input path extending from the card input area to toward to the card storage device, and a motor configured to drive rotation of at least some rollers of the plurality of rollers. The card input mechanism further includes at least one slide bar extending continuously between the rollers of the plurality of rollers along the input path. The slide bar has an upper surface recessed from apexes of the rollers of the plurality of rollers by an average distance of about 0.07 inches or less.
In yet further embodiments, the present disclosure includes a card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game. The card shuffler includes a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray. The card storage device includes a plurality of card storage compartments, and at least a majority of the card storage compartments are sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. The card shuffler further includes a control system configured to control operation of the card shuffler in a first operational mode during use of the card shuffler in a playing card game with at least a predefined number of players, and to control operation of the card shuffler in a second operational mode during use of the card shuffler in the playing card game with less than the predefined number of players. The control system is configured under control of a program to cause the card shuffler to form playing card hands in a first number of designated adjacent card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments in the first operational mode, and the control system is configured under control of the program to form playing card hands only in a second number of designated adjacent card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments and not in any other card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments in the second operational mode. The second number is lower than the first number.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game. The card shuffler includes a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray. The card storage device includes a plurality of card storage compartments, and each card storage compartment is sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. A control system is configured to control operation of the card shuffler. The card shuffler further includes a printer operationally coupled with the control system, and the control system is configured under control of a program to cause the printer to print information onto a printable medium using the printer. The information is usable in verifying a winning playing card hand generated by the card shuffler in a round of game play.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game. The card shuffler includes a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism, and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray. The card shuffler further includes at least one light-generating device located within the card shuffler and configured to generate light within the card shuffler. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the light generated by the light-generating device is not used by any sensor of the card shuffler. In other embodiments, the light source is used by the card reading sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD sensor. The light source may be pulsed, activated during a card distribution cycle, activated in response to a triggering event such as card movement, or turned on while the machine is in operation.
In yet further embodiments, the present disclosure includes a method of using a card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game. In accordance with the method, the card shuffler is used to generate randomized playing card hands. The playing card hands are dispensed from the card shuffler, and the playing card hands are used in a playing card game. Information relating to the playing card hands or the playing card game is stored in a memory device of a control system of the card shuffler. Upon randomly dealing a winning hand of predefined composition, the information is transmitted from the card shuffler to a remote server in response to a signal generated by the control system of the card shuffler to indicate that the winning hand has been dealt to the remote server. Transmission may occur wirelessly or through hard wired transmission lines or busses.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a method of using a card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game. In accordance with the method, the card shuffler is used to generate randomized playing card hands. The playing card hands are dispensed from the card shuffler, and the playing card hands are used in a playing card game. Information relating to at least one of the playing card hands and the playing card game is stored in a memory device of a control system of the card shuffler. A modem operatively coupled with the control system of the card shuffler is used to receive information from a remote server and transmit information to the remote server. The sent and received information includes a software verification algorithm used to verify an identity of software installed in the memory device of the control system.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a method of using a card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game. In accordance with the method, a stack of unshuffled playing cards is placed into a card input area of the card shuffler. The stack of unshuffled playing cards includes at least one security card that may not be usable in the playing card game. The card shuffler is used to generate randomized playing card hands in card storage compartments within a card storage device of the card shuffler. The card shuffler is used to position the at least one security card adjacent at least one formed randomized playing card hand from one of the card storage compartments within the card storage device. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a security card is temporarily stored in a dedicated storage compartment and is transferred to the card output area prior to transferring the group of cards designated as a dealer hand. In another embodiment, a security card is positioned in a compartment and a group of cards to be designated as a dealer hand is placed over the security card in the compartment, after which the dealer hand with security card on the bottom is transferred to the card output area. The playing card hands are also dispensed from the card storage device into the card output area of the card shuffler. When the dealer hand is delivered to a position on the gaming table, the lowermost card in the hand is masked from the view of the players by the security card. More than one compartment may be designated to receive only a security card.
The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular card shuffler or component thereof, but are merely idealized representations that are used to describe embodiments of the disclosure.
As used herein, the term “shuffle,” when used with reference to cards, means to randomize an order of cards in a stack of cards.
As used herein, the term “card” means a physical playing card for use in a playing card games.
The card shuffler 100 may be capable of performing additional operations on one or more cards inserted into the card shuffler 100. For example, the card shuffler 100 may be configured to sort cards in a stack of cards inserted into the card shuffler 100 into a predefined order, although the card order within a particular compartment may not be arranged in a desired order. For example, the shuffler may be programmed to deliver random hands. The order of cards within the compartment is unimportant, as the group of cards will be rearranged by the players and/or the dealer during play. When the shuffler is configured to sort cards into a predetermined order such as pack order, only two cards may be inserted into each compartment. As will be more fully described below, when a compartment already has a card present, the device is configured to insert a next card above or below the card that is already inserted. Since a third card cannot be inserted between a first and second card already in the compartment, it is desirable to use enough compartments to enable the use of each compartment to receive only two cards. Using this method, the exact order of the cards after recombining all groups of cards in the output area is identical to the predicted order.
The card shuffler 100 may be configured to verify the presence or absence of cards in a predefined set of different cards having one or more distinguishing characteristics (e.g., rank and/or suit of standard playing cards and/or special card markings). The card shuffler 100 may be configured to detect and identify cards that are damaged to allow the entire deck to be replaced, or for damaged cards to be removed and replaced prior to use of the set of cards in a playing card game. Thus, although the card handling machine is referred to herein as a card “shuffler,” it may also be characterized as a card sorter, a card verifier, etc.
As discussed in further detail below, the card shuffler 100 includes an internal card storage device, a card input mechanism for moving cards from a card input area into the internal card storage device, and a card output mechanism for moving cards from the internal card storage device to a card output area. The card shuffler 100 also may include a card reading system for capturing data from one or more images of cards inserted into the card shuffler 100. Examples of suitable card reading systems include complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) two-dimensional (2D) imaging systems and contact image sensor (CIS), CMOS line scanners and CCD imagers. The card shuffler 100 further includes a control system for controlling the various active components of the card shuffler 100, for receiving input from a user of the card shuffler 100, and for outputting information to a user of the card shuffler 100.
Referring briefly to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the card shuffler 100 may include a locking mechanism that may be used to lock the card shuffler 100 to the playing card table 10 to prevent unauthorized removal of the card shuffler 100 from the playing card table 10. For example, as shown in
The card input mechanism 120 includes a card support 124 (
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
As with the pick-off rollers 128A-128E, two or more of the speed-up rollers 134A-134D may be driven in unison by the motor 136 using a belt 138 (
During operation of the card shuffler 100, the speed-up rollers 134A-134D may be continuously rotated at a substantially constant rotational speed. Rotation of the pick-off rollers 128A-128C, however, may be selectively started and stopped by a control system 280 (
Referring to
Referring again to
Referring to
As shown in
The card wheel 171 is configured to rotate on an axle 178 that has an axis that is oriented such that it is parallel to the gaming table surface. As shown in
The motor 174 includes an encoder, which may be used to identify relative rotational positions of the wheel 171 from a known home position. A magnet 176 may be mounted at a known location on the wheel 171 corresponding to the known home position, and a sensor (e.g., a Hall effect sensor) may be configured to detect when the magnet 176 is adjacent the sensor, which corresponds to the known home position.
To identify and calibrate the home position in a set-up or a calibration operational mode of the card shuffler 100, the wheel 171 may be rotated until the sensor detects the presence of the magnet 176 adjacent the sensor, and the encoder associated with the motor 174 may be reset, or the value of the encoder at the home position may be recorded. The location of the wheel 171 at this point, as determined by the value of the encoder associated with the motor 174, may be set as the home position in the control system 280 (
As best shown in
Each card retention member 182 includes a tapered surface 190 proximate the entrance to the card storage compartment 172. By aligning the card being fed with the tapered surface 190, the card may be driven into the compartment 172 below any cards already present. For purposes of this disclosure, references to “above” and “below” relate to a position in the compartment when the compartment is aligned with the card output mechanism 220. By aligning the card being fed with the space between the elongated portion 184 of one card retention member 182 and the cantilever member 186 of the neighboring adjacent card retention member 182, the card may be driven into the compartment 172 above any cards already present. When the device is used to place cards in a pre-selected order, such as original deck order, the tapered surfaces 190 may be used to achieve a desired order by providing cards at predetermined known positions within the card storage compartments 172 in which they are disposed. It is desirable in some embodiments to use a wheel with enough compartments so that the set of cards being ordered can be distributed, two cards per compartment. Since the device is capable of inserting a second card above or below a first inserted card, the desired order of cards can be achieved when the cards from each compartment are recombined to form one ordered group.
When a random order is desired, the tapered surfaces 190 may also be used to achieve a desired random distribution. For example, the processor may select a location for each card to be fed at the beginning of a shuffling cycle. Each compartment 172 may be designated with two locations, an upper first location and a lower second location. If a first card was assigned to the first location, the second card would be driven into the compartment 172 either below the first card in in the first location or above the second card in a second location using a tapered surface.
As discussed in further detail below, the card shuffler 100 may be configured to selectively position the wheel 171 at either of two different positions for each of the card storage compartments 172 in the wheel 171 during card distribution. In particular, the card shuffler 100 may be configured to selectively position the wheel 171 such that a card being inserted into a selected card storage compartment 172 by the speed-up rollers 134A-134D is inserted above or below any cards already present in the respective card storage compartment 172.
Referring again to
Each of the ejector arms 222 may comprise an elongated and vertically oriented bar or rod. The ejector arms 222 may be structurally connected to each other by a cross bar extending between the ejector arms 222 at a location below the card storage device 170. The ejector arms 222 may be pivotally mounted to the frame 102 at lower ends thereof by pins 223. The ejector arms 222 may be configured to pivot back and forth about the pins 223 between a first retracted position and a second extended position. The card output mechanism 220 further includes an ejector motor 225 and an associated ejector belt 227 (
As previously mentioned, the wheel 171 includes card storage compartments 172 defined by card retention members 182. The wheel 171 and the ejector arms 222 may be sized and configured to allow the ejector arms 222 to move alongside the wheel 171 from the first retracted position of the ejector arms 222 to the second extended position of the ejector arms 222, which will cause the ejector arms 222 to eject any and all cards in the respective card storage compartment 172 with which ejector levers 224 (not shown) are aligned to be simultaneously ejected out from the wheel 171 and into card output rollers 230. In embodiments, the wheel 171 has 38 compartments, which exceeds the number that is sufficient to provide one compartment for each two cards in a typical 52-card deck with up to two jokers added, plus one cut card. In this example, a total of 27 compartments would be needed to resort this group of cards back into deck order. The number of compartments may be varied to accommodate different deck sizes. For example, if a game requires two intermixed decks, no jokers and no security card, and a total of 104 cards formed the set of cards to be randomized, and it was necessary to arrange the set of cards into deck order, it would be desirable to increase the number of compartments to 52.
The card output mechanism 220 may be configured to eject cards out from the card storage compartments 172 of the wheel 171 and into a card output compartment in the card output area 108 such that the cards are oriented relative to the horizontal plane at a downward angle of between 2° and about 15°, or even between about 2° and about 5°, at all times as the cards move from each card storage compartment 172 and into the card output compartment in the card output area 108. By ensuring that the cards are oriented at a downward angle at all times as the cards move from each card storage compartment 172 and into the card output compartment in the card output area 108 may ensure that players are not able to view or identify the cards as they move into the card output compartment. The cards may rest on a card support surface 110 (
With continued reference to
As shown in
Referring to
The main control module 282 may include one or more computer programs stored electronically in a memory device or devices 290 thereof, which computer programs may be configured to control operation of the various active components of the card shuffler 100.
As shown in
Each of the main control module 282, the motor/sensor control module 284, and the imaging control module 286 may include one or more electronic signal processors 288 for processing electronic signals, and one or more memory devices 290 (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), Flash memory, etc.) for storing electronic data therein. Each of the main control module 282, the motor/sensor control module 284, and the imaging control module 286 may comprise a printed circuit board 292, to which the electronic signal processors 288 and memory devices 290 may be respectively coupled.
The main control module 282, the motor/sensor control module 284, and the imaging control module 286 may be mounted within the card shuffler 100. In some embodiments, the main control module 282, the motor/sensor control module 284, and the imaging control module 286 may be mounted at separate locations within the card shuffler 100. In some embodiments, the image sensor 252 of the card imaging system 250 may be mounted directly to a printed circuit board 292 of the imaging control module 286, and the imaging control module 286 may be mounted within the card shuffler 100 at a location at which the image sensor 252, while mounted to the printed circuit board 292, may capture images of cards as the cards pass through the card input mechanism 120 between the pick-off rollers 128A-128C and the speed-up rollers 134A-134D, as previously described.
With continued reference to
The secondary control panel 298′ may not be visible or otherwise accessible to a user of the card shuffler 100 during normal operation, and the first control panel 298 may be located such that the first control panel 298 is visible and accessible to a user of the card shuffler 100 during normal operation of the card shuffler 100.
In some embodiments, the second control panel 298′ may comprise a modular display unit that may be mounted to a surface of a gaming table at a location separate from the main console of the card shuffler 100 (shown in
The first control panel 298 may be mounted directly to the printed circuit board 292 of the main control module 282 in some embodiments. The first control panel 298 may be adapted and used for installation, initial set-up, and maintenance of the card shuffler 100, while the second control panel 298′ may be adapted and used for controlling operation of the card shuffler 100 during normal use of the card shuffler 100 for shuffling, sorting, and verification of cards.
In other embodiments, however, the card shuffler 100 may include a single data input device 294 and a single data output device 296, such as a single control panel 298 comprising a touch-screen display, which may be located anywhere on the card shuffler 100 (e.g., on the inside or the outside of the card shuffler 100) or remote from the card shuffler 100.
The control system 280 may also include a player display 300 (see also
As shown in
For example, the information printed by the printer 302 may include the identities of all cards in a winning playing card hand generated by the automatic card shuffler 100 in a round of game play, the name of the player, the time, date, table identification number and the jackpot amount. Thus, in round of game play, if a player is dealt a winning card hand, or a playing card hand that entitles the player to a monetary award, such as a progressive payout or a bonus award for being dealt a playing card hand having a specific, predefined composition, the printer may create a physical record of the event. The printed medium with the identifying information thereon may be used to verify the playing card hand, and may be used to confirm a prize prior to redemption of the award by the player to which the winning hand was dealt.
The motor/sensor control module 284 may be configured to control operation of the various motors within the card shuffler 100, and to receive signals from various sensors within the card shuffler 100. The various sensors of the card shuffler 100 may be used by the control system 280 to identify current operational states of the various active components of the card shuffler 100, such as locations of the movable components of the card shuffler 100.
For example, each of the motor 129 for the pick-off rollers 128A-128C, the motor 136 for the speed-up rollers 134A-134D, the motor 146 for the card packer 144, the card weight motor 152 for the card weight device 150, the motor 174 for the wheel 171, the ejector motor 225 for the ejector arms 222, and the card output motor 232 for the card output rollers 230A, 230B may be electrically coupled with the motor/sensor control module 284 to allow the motor/sensor control module 284 to independently, selectively activate and deactivate the motors as needed to control operation of the card shuffler 100.
The card shuffler 100 may include a number of sensors, which also may be operatively coupled with the motor/sensor control module 284. The various motors and sensors are identified in the block diagram of the control system in
By way of example and not limitation, the card shuffler 100 may include a feeder card present sensor 310 configured to detect the presence of one or more cards on the card support 124 of the card input mechanism 120. A card weight sensor 315 may be located and configured to detect whether the card weight lever 151 of the card weight device 150 is in the activated and/or deactivated position. A feeder card out sensor 318 may be located and configured to detect when a card moving responsive to actuation of the pick-off rollers 128A-128E approaches the speed-up rollers 134A-134D. A camera trigger sensor 316 may be located and configured for use in triggering activation of the image sensor 252 of the card imaging system 250 to acquire one or more images of the card. Optionally, the camera trigger sensor 316 may be used by the motor/sensor control module 284 to momentarily deactivate movement of the pick-off rollers 128A-128E while the image sensor 252 of the card imaging system 250 acquires one or more images of the card, after which the motor/sensor control module 284 may reactivate movement of the pick-off rollers 128A-128E to cause the card to be engaged by the speed-up rollers 134A-134D and inserted into the card storage device 170.
A pick-off stop sensor 320 may be located and configured to detect when a card is moving responsive to activation of the speed-up rollers 134A-134D, and may be used to stop rotation of the pick-off rollers 128A-128E. A card in/out sensor 332 may be located and configured to detect the presence of cards moving into or out from the card storage device 170 by the card input mechanism 120. The card in/out sensor 332 may be capable of detecting the presence of a card proximate the card in/out sensor 332, and capable of detecting whether the card is moving into the card storage device 170 or out from the card storage device 170. The speed-up rollers 134A-134D may be capable of pushing a card toward and into the card storage device 170, and capable of pulling a card back away from the card storage device 170. For example, in the case of a card jam wherein a card being inserted into the card storage device 170 is not actually inserted into the card storage device 170 as intended, the direction of rotation of the speed-up rollers 134A-134D may be reversed to withdraw the card from the card storage device 170, after which the position of the card storage device 170 may be adjusted and the speed-up rollers 134A-134D activated to again attempt to insert the card into the card storage device 170. If the card cannot be inserted into the card storage device 170 upon a predetermined number of attempts, operation of the card shuffler 100 may be interrupted and an error message provided to a user via the data output device 296 of the control system 280.
The card shuffler 100 may further include one or more packer sensors 322 located and configured to sense a position of the card packer 144. For example, a packer sensor 322 may be located and configured to sense when the card packer 144 is in the retracted position. One or more wheel home sensors 324 may be located and configured to sense a position of the wheel 171. For example, a wheel home sensor 324 may be located and configured to sense when the wheel 171 is in a designated “home” rotational position. The card shuffler 100 may further include one or more ejector sensors 326, 327. For example, the card shuffler 100 may include an ejector home sensor 326 located and configured to sense when the ejector arms 222 are disposed in a home position in which the wheel 171 may be removed from the card shuffler 100 for maintenance or repair without interference with the ejector arms 222, and an ejector working sensor 327 may be located and configured to sense when the ejector arms 222 are disposed in the working retracted position during operation of the card shuffler 100.
A wheel card out sensor 336 may be located and configured to detect the presence of cards being ejected out from the wheel 171 by the card output mechanism 220. A wheel card present sensor 338 may be located and configured for use in detecting whether or not any cards are present in the card storage compartments 172 of the wheel 171.
The card shuffler 100 may include a platform card present sensor 328 located and configured to detect the presence of one or more cards in the card output area 108.
Some of the sensors may comprise reflective or pass-through type photoactive sensors that include an emitter for emitting radiation and one or more receivers for receiving radiation emitted by the emitter. In some embodiments, one or more of the photoactive sensors may include two radiation receivers oriented at different locations along the direction of movement of the cards, such that the photoactive sensor may determine a direction of movement of any card moving proximate the sensor by detecting which of the two radiation receivers receives radiation first as a card moves past the sensor.
The card shuffler 100 may also include one or more cover present sensors 340 located and configured to detect whether or not the cover 104 or the components of the cover 104 are in place on the card shuffler 100 so as to prevent operation in the event the cover 104 is not in place on the card shuffler 100.
Referring again to
Referring again to
The card shuffler 100 may be used to shuffle cards and form randomized playing card hands, to sort cards, and/or to verify cards or sets of cards. For example, the card shuffler 100 may be used to perform a shuffling operation on a stack of cards and form and deal randomized playing cards hands, as described below with reference to
Referring to
As previously mentioned, the card shuffler 100 may be configured for use in shuffling and forming randomized sets of playing cards, such as hands, partial hands, common card sets, etc., from a single fifty-two (52) card deck of standard playing cards, which may optionally include one or two additional cards, such as Jokers, for a total of fifty-four (54) cards to be shuffled. The wheel 171 may include as many as thirty-eight (38) card storage compartments 172 or more (
To shuffle cards or “randomize” the deck, as indicated at action 402 in
The control system 280 sequentially numbers the cards from the bottom card in the stack of cards 114 toward the top of the stack of cards 114 by sequentially assigning an integer to each card. The control system 280 also sequentially numbers the card storage compartments 172 in the wheel 171. For example, the card storage compartment 172 in the wheel 171 that is aligned with the card input mechanism 120 when the wheel 171 is in the home position may be designated as card storage compartment “1.” The card storage compartments 172 are then assigned sequentially increasing integers (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.) moving circumferentially around the wheel 171.
Thus, the control system 280 may randomly assign and correlate cards in the stack of cards 114 resting on the card support 124 in the card input area 106 to card storage compartments 172 in the wheel 171. For example, the control system 280 may include a random number generator, which may be used to randomly assign and correlate cards in the stack of cards 114 resting to the card storage positions 172 in the wheel 171, but designating the number of cards in each playing card hand to be formed for insertion into each of the designated card storage compartments 172 in which playing card hands are to be formed (e.g., card storage compartments “1” through “6”). Since a standard deck of playing cards may include approximately fifty-two (52) to fifty-four (54) playing cards, and each of the card storage compartments 172 may hold as many as ten (10) cards, less than all of the card storage compartments 172 may be employed by the control system 280 in a shuffling mode. For example, if six (6) playing card hands are to be formed in each round of game play using a standard playing card deck, and each playing card hand is to include three (3) cards, eighteen (18) cards may be used in forming the playing card hands, and the remaining thirty-four (34) to thirty-six (36) are not used in the round of game play. Thus, six (6) card storage compartments 172 may be designated for forming playing card hands therein, and four (4) card storage compartments may be designated for holding the remaining playing cards therein that are not used in the round of game play. In this example, only ten (10) card storage compartments 172 are used by the control system 280 during use of the card shuffler 100 in shuffling and forming randomized playing card hands during game play. For example, card storage compartments “1” through “6” may be used for forming playing card hands therein, and card storage compartments “7” through “10” may be used for storing the remaining playing cards therein that are not used in the round of game play.
The control system 280 may generate a Card Position Table, such as Table 1 below, which includes the randomly assigned card storage compartments 172 for each sequential card in the stack of cards 114 on the card support 124 in the card input area 106. The Card Position Table may be stored in a memory device 290 of the control system 280 (
After forming randomized playing card hands by randomly assigning cards from the stack of cards 114 on the card support 124 to the card storage compartments 172 in which the playing card hands are to be formed, the card shuffler 100 may move the card weight lever 151 of the card weight device 150 down onto the stack of cards 114 to apply a downward force on the stack of cards 114, as indicated at action 404 in
The control system 280 may selectively control movement of the various components of the card input mechanism 120 and the card storage device 170 to cause the cards in the stack of cards 114 to be inserted into the wheel 171 and positioned in their randomly assigned card storage compartments 172. To accomplish insertion of the cards into the wheel 171, the card shuffler 100 may actuate rotation of the pick-off rollers 128A-128E, as indicated at action 406 in
The acquired card images may not be employed during normal operation of the card shuffler 100 in a shuffling mode during game play. The acquired card images may be used, however, to verify the cards in a playing card hand (e.g., a winning hand) by recalling the images from memory device 290 of the control system 280 of the card shuffler 100 after a round of game play, and may be used in a sorting operational mode or a card verification operational mode of the card shuffler 100. Optionally, upon moving all cards 114 into the card storage device 170, the control system 280 may compare the actual identity of each card in the set of cards in the wheel 171 (determined using the card imaging system 250) to identities of an expected set of cards, so as to verify that cards that should not be present in the set are not included (e.g., duplicate cards of any particular rank and suit), and that cards that should be present are not absent. Thus, the accuracy and completeness of a set of cards being shuffled by the card shuffler 100 (e.g., a single deck of standard playing cards) may be automatically verified by the control system 280 of the card shuffler 100 with each shuffling operation performed by the card shuffler 100. The card shuffler 100 may be configured to dispense cards from the wheel 171 only if the verification process determines the accuracy and completeness of the set of cards. In the event the verification process determines that the set of cards is incomplete or otherwise inaccurate, the card shuffler 100 may be configured not to dispense the shuffled cards and to display an error message or other signal to a user using the data output device 296 of the control system 280.
After acquiring one or more images of the card 114, the card 114 may be moved into the wheel 171 using the speed-up rollers 134A-134D and the card packer arm 144 of the card packing device 142. In action 410 of
The control system 280 then determines in action 422 whether or not the number of cards that have been inserted into the wheel 171 is equal to the expected number of cards 114 to be in the initial stack of cards 114 on the card support 124. If not, the control system 280 determines in action 424 whether additional cards 114 are present in the card input area 106. If not, an error message is displayed in action 426, because less than the expected number of cards 114 have been inserted and there are no more cards 114 for insertion in the card input area 106. If yes, the control system 280 repeats actions 406 through 420 until all cards 114 have been inserted into the wheel 171, as shown in
In dealing a hand in accordance with action 430 of
The control system 280 may detect when a user removes the group of randomized cards 114 from the card output area 108 using the platform card present sensor 328, as indicated in action 434 of
In some embodiments, the control system 280 may be configured under control of the program to unload the playing card hands sequentially from neighboring adjacent card storage compartments 172. For example, the card storage compartment “1” may be unloaded first, then card storage compartment “2,” then card storage compartment “3,” etc. In other embodiments, however, the control system 280 may be configured under control of the program to unload the playing card hands from the card storage compartments 172 holding playing card hands in a randomly selected sequence. For example, the card storage compartment “8” may be unloaded first, then card storage compartment “2,” then card storage compartment “6,” etc.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the control system 280 may be configured to control operation of the automatic card shuffler 100 in a first operational mode during use of the automatic card shuffler 100 in a playing card game with at least a predefined number of players (e.g., four (4) or more players), and to control operation of the automatic card shuffler 100 in a second operational mode during use of the automatic card shuffler 100 in the playing card game with less than the predefined number of players (e.g., three (3) or less players). The shuffling process may be performed more rapidly when less playing card hands need to be formed in separate card storage compartments 172 of the wheel 171. In other words, a time required to input a number of playing cards into the card storage device 172 in the second operational mode may be less than a time required to input the same number of playing cards into the card storage device 172 in the first operational mode. Thus, the second operational mode may be characterized as a “quick” mode. Thus, when the control system 280 is in the first operational mode, the control system 280 may be configured under control of a program to cause the automatic card shuffler 100 to form playing card hands in a first number (e.g., four (4) or more) of designated adjacent card storage compartments 172 in the wheel 171. When the control system 280 is in the second operational mode (i.e., the quick mode), the control system 280 may be configured under control of the program to form playing card hands only in a second number (e.g., three (3) or less) of designated adjacent card storage compartments 172 in the wheel 171 and not in any other card storage compartments 172. In some embodiments, the user may be able to input the number of players playing the playing card game into the control system 280, and the card shuffler 100 then may only form the required number of playing card hands in a corresponding number of card storage compartments 172.
As previously mentioned, the card shuffler 100 also may be used to sort cards in a stack of cards placed on the card support 124 in the card input area 106 into a predefined order, such as a sequential “new deck” order for a standard deck of playing cards. The card shuffler 100 may be placed in a sort mode of operation (and/or a shuffle mode of operation) using the data input device 294 of the control system 280 (
To sort cards into a desired order, the control system 280 of the card shuffler 100 may reference a Sort Table, which may be stored in a memory device 290 of the control system 280. The Sort Table correlates the identity of specific cards in a predefined set of cards (e.g., a deck of standard playing cards) to one of the fifty-four (54) card storage positions in the wheel 171 in the predefined order (e.g., new deck order). Each card storage compartment 172 in the wheel 171 may be designated with two (2) card storage positions. In some modes, only two cards are inserted into each compartment, and the second card inserted may be positioned above or below the first inserted card in order to achieve a predetermined sequence of cards. There is a limit of two cards per compartment for sorting into a predetermined order because the structure will not allow a third card to be inserted between the first two inserted cards without modification. When any card is inserted into a card storage compartment 172 in the wheel 171, there are two states that may exist. The first possible state is the state wherein no other card is present in the respective card storage compartment 172, and the second possible state is the state wherein one card is already present in the respective card storage compartment 172. The control system 280 may include a first wheel position for each compartment for a first state, and a second wheel position for the same compartment in a second state.
A wheel home sensor 324 and the encoder of the wheel motor 174 may be used in embodiments to determine a reference position of the wheel. Locations of the first and second wheel positions for each compartment may be stored in memory. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the second wheel position is a predetermined number of stepper steps above the first wheel position, for instance, 120 steps. The location of the home position of the wheel 171 may be periodically identified by the control system 280 in a calibration process.
In the sorting and/or verification mode of operation, the control system 280 may use two card positions (two card positions per card storage compartment 172), rather than only one card position during random card group formation.
Using the Card Position Table and the location information stored in memory, the control system 280 controls operation of the card input mechanism 120 and the card storage device 170 to sequentially position each card into the appropriate card storage compartment 172 (and appropriate upper or lower card storage position therein) so as to selectively order the cards in the wheel 171 in a predetermined order. As a particular card is inserted into the wheel 171, the control system 280 references the Card Position Table to determine in which of the seventy-six (76) card storage positions the card is to be positioned. The control system 280 determines whether there is already a card located in the respective card storage compartment 172 in which the card storage position is located. If there is not a card already present in the card storage compartment 172, the control system 280 selects a first card position stored in memory to determine where to position the wheel 171 such that, when the first card is inserted into an empty compartment of the wheel 171 by the speed-up rollers 134A-134D, the card will be inserted into the center of the card storage compartment 172.
If there is a card already present in the card storage compartment 172, the control system 280 will continue to insert cards beneath the first card when the shuffler is in the shuffling mode. When the shuffler is in the sorting mode, or in a shuffled deck forming mode and there is already at least one card in the compartment, the processor will cause the next card to be loaded either on top of the card or cards already in the compartment, or beneath the cards already in the compartment, by selecting a first or second storage location stored in memory.
Thus, after selectively inserting the second card into any given card storage compartment 172 above or below the first card inserted into the card storage compartment 172, the two cards in the card storage compartment 172 will be appropriately positioned in the upper card storage position and the lower card storage position, respectively, in that card storage compartment 172, depending upon the mode of operation selected. For example, the shuffler may be configured to deliver randomly formed hands of cards or partial hands in a first mode, may be configured to combine and form a deck of a predetermined order in the output tray, or may be configured to combine and form a randomly ordered deck of cards in the output tray.
After placing the cards in the wheel 171 such that the cards are in the predetermined, selected order within the wheel 171, the cards may be ejected out from the wheel 171 from sequential card storage compartments 172, as previously discussed, to place the stack of sorted cards into the card output area 108 in the predetermined order. The control system 280 then may detect when a user has removed the stack of sorted cards from the card output area 108, at which time the control system 280 may await insertion of an additional stack of cards into the card input area 106 or other data input provided by the user using the data input device 294.
In embodiments of the disclosure, the automatic card shuffler 00 is configured to sort special decks of cards into an original pack order, to randomize special decks, for example when the total card count differs from the usual 52-54 cards. For example, the shuffler 100 may be used to shuffle a Canasta deck, or other decks with cards of a certain rank removed, or when additional cards are added. Non-limiting examples of additional cards include extra suits, bonus indicator cards for a mystery prize, promotional cards offering free goods and services, or giving the player other comps and player rewards, security cards such as a cut card and the like. The card sensing system in these embodiments is adapted to read the special cards such that the position of the special cards in the wheel and eventually in the groups of cards being delivered into play is known by the system.
Referring again to
In some embodiments, the control system 280 may be configured to store information in the memory device 290, such as historical game play information, current operational status or mode of the card shuffler 100, playing card hand compositions, error logs, etc. Such information may be transmitted to a remote server by the modem 306 so as to allow remote, system level monitoring of the card shuffler 100 and/or playing card games being played using the card shuffler 100. For example, upon randomly dealing a winning hand of predefined composition, information may be wirelessly (or by hard wired connection) transmitted from the automatic card shuffler 100 to a remote server using the modem 306 to indicate that the winning hand has been dealt by the card shuffler 100 to the remote server. The information transmitted may also identify the composition of the winning hand, so as to allow verification of the winning hand.
In additional embodiments, the card shuffler 100 may receive information from a remote server via the modem 306 (or by hard wired connection), and the received information may be used to update or verify operational software in the memory device 290 of the control system 280. For example, in some embodiments, the modem 306 may be used to receive information including a software verification algorithm from a remote server. The control system 280 may execute the software verification algorithm, and transmit information including data acquired upon execution of the software verification algorithm to the remote server using the modem 306. The information transmitted to the remote server may be used to identity operational software installed in the memory device 290 of the control system 280, so as to allow verification that the operational software installed is the intended operational software.
As previously discussed herein, embodiments of the automatic card shuffler 100 disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with specialized playing card games in which playing card hands are formed and dealt to players playing the specialized playing card games. In many such games, a dealer is a participant in the playing card games. Players are incentivized to illicitly identify cards in the dealer's playing card hand prior to placing wagers so as to attain an unfair advantage in the playing card game. The automatic card shuffler 100 disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with a so-called “security card,” which may be used by the dealer to obscure the identity of one or more cards in the dealers playing card hand as it is dispensed from the automatic card shuffler 100.
The security card may be any card that is not used as a card in a playing card hand of the playing card game. For example, cut cards that are used by dealers in playing card games, in which the cards are manually shuffled by the dealer, to allow players to randomly “cut” the deck to assist in randomizing the shuffling process. Such cut cards are not used in forming playing card hands in the playing card game, and may be used as a security card in accordance with methods as disclosed herein.
Referring again to
In some embodiments, the control system 280 may be configured to identify the security card as it is inserted into the card storage device 170 using the card imaging system 250. In such embodiments, the security card may be placed anywhere in the stack of unshuffled cards placed in the card input area 106, and the card shuffler 100 will identify the security card as it is inserted and place it in a designated security card compartment so that it can be dispensed immediately prior to dispensing the dealer's playing card hand into the card output area 108.
In other embodiments, the control system 280 may be configured to assume that either the top or bottom card in the stack of unshuffled cards placed in the card input area 106 will be the security card, and, accordingly, the dealer may consistently place the security card on either the top or bottom card in the stack of unshuffled cards placed in the card input area 106 after each round of game play. The control system 280 will then always place the security card (which will be either the top or bottom card in the stack of unshuffled cards in the card input area 106) in the designated security card compartment within the card storage device 170 so as to obscure the dealer's playing card hand. More than one security card may be used during card distribution. In that instance, multiple security card compartments, one per card is used to store the security cards. Security card compartments in forms of the invention may be adapted to hold only one card. In other embodiments, every compartment in the wheel is adapted to hold more than one card, and at least two cards.
As playing card hands are dispensed face-down into the card output area 108, the security card may be positioned at the bottom of the group of cards in the output area 108. In some embodiments, designated security card compartments are configured to accept only one security card each. This configuration saves space that can be reallocated to the other compartments that require multiple cards. The card storage device 170 may include one or multiple designated security.
In some embodiments, designated security card compartments are configured to accept only one security card each. This configuration saves space that can be reallocated to the other compartments that require multiple cards. The card storage device 170 may include one or multiple designated security.
Additional non-limiting example embodiments are disclosed below.
An automatic card shuffler, comprising: a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the automatic card shuffler; a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the automatic card shuffler, the card storage device comprising a movable wheel configured to rotate within the automatic card shuffler, the movable wheel comprising a plurality of card storage compartments, at least a majority of the card storage compartment sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein; and a card output mechanism for outputting cards from the automatic card shuffler; wherein the card output mechanism is configured to eject cards out from the card storage compartments and into a card output compartment such that the cards are oriented at a downward angle of between about 2° and about 15° relative to a horizontal plane at all times as the cards move from each card storage compartment and into the card output compartment.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 1, wherein the card output compartment is configured such that cards held therein are oriented at an angle of between about 2° and about 15° relative to the horizontal plane.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the card output mechanism is configured to eject cards out from the card storage compartments and into a card output compartment such that the cards are oriented at a downward angle of between about 2° and about 5° relative to a horizontal plane at all times as the cards move from each card storage compartment and into the card output tray.
The automatic card shuffler of any one of Embodiments 1 through 3, further comprising a card reading system configured to acquire data from one or more images of cards moving through the card input mechanism and toward the card storage device and to identify one or more distinguishing characteristics of the cards comprising at least one of rank and suit using the one or more images.
An automatic card shuffler, comprising: a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the automatic card shuffler; a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the automatic card shuffler; and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards from the card storage device; and a control system configured to control operation of the automatic card shuffler, the control system including: a touch screen control panel configured to receive input information from an operator of the automatic card shuffler and to output information to the operator of the automatic card shuffler; and a player display mounted to the automatic card shuffler, the control system configured to display information to players of a playing card game in which the automatic card shuffler is used on the player display.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 5, wherein the control system is configured to display information to players of a playing card game in which the automatic card shuffler is used on the player display relating to at least one of minimum or maximum bet quantities, an indication of a winning hand, a recommended player card hand, game advice, game rules, a casino identity, and identification of a game being played in conjunction with the automatic card shuffler.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 5 or Embodiment 6, wherein the touch screen control panel is oriented for viewing from a first side of the automatic card shuffler, and the player display is oriented for viewing from an opposing second side of the automatic card shuffler.
An automatic card shuffler, comprising: a card input receptacle; a card output receptacle; a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the automatic card shuffler from the card input receptacle; a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the automatic card shuffler; a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device to the card output receptacle; and a drip pan located and configured to divert fluid spilled into at least one of the card input receptacle and the card output receptacle to an exterior of the automatic card shuffler.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 8, further comprising at least one outer cover including at least one aperture extending therethrough, the at least one aperture located and configured to allow spilled fluid diverted by the drip pan to pass out from the automatic card shuffler through the aperture in the at least one outer cover.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 9, wherein the drip pan extends at least partially through the at least one aperture extending through the at least one outer cover.
The automatic card shuffler of any one of Embodiments 8 through 10, wherein the drip pan is located vertically below at least one of the card input receptacle and the card output receptacle.
The automatic card shuffler of any one of Embodiments 8 through 11, wherein the drip pan comprises a generally planar base member oriented generally horizontally within the automatic card shuffler, the drip plan including one or more lateral sidewalls extending vertically from the base member so as to laterally confine fluid spilled on the generally planar base member.
An automatic card shuffler, comprising: a card input area; a card output area; a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the automatic card shuffler from the card input area; a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the automatic card shuffler; a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device to the card output area; wherein the card input mechanism comprises: a plurality of rollers located and configured to drive movement of cards along a card input path extending from the card input area to toward to the card storage device; a motor configured to drive rotation of at least some rollers of the plurality of rollers; and at least one slide bar extending continuously between the rollers of the plurality of rollers along the input path, the slide bar having an upper surface recessed from apexes of the rollers of the plurality of rollers by an average distance of about 0.07 inches or less.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 13, wherein the at least one slide bar is located and configured to reduce operational noise generated by cards moving along the input path responsive to operation of the card input mechanism.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 13 or Embodiment 14, wherein the at least one slide bar comprises two slide bars oriented at least substantially parallel to one another.
An automatic card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, comprising: a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the automatic card shuffler; a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the automatic card shuffler, the card storage device comprising a plurality of card storage compartments, at least a majority of the card storage compartments sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein; and a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray; and a control system configured to control operation of the automatic card shuffler in a first operational mode during use of the automatic card shuffler in a playing card game with at least a predefined number of players, and to control operation of the automatic card shuffler in a second operational mode during use of the automatic card shuffler in the playing card game with less than the predefined number of players; wherein the control system is configured under control of a program to cause the automatic card shuffler to form playing card hands in a first number of designated adjacent card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments in the first operational mode, and the control system is configured under control of the program to form playing card hands only in a second number of designated adjacent card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments and not in any other card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments in the second operational mode, the second number being lower than the first number.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 16, wherein the second number is equal to one less than the predefined number of players.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 16 or Embodiment 17, wherein the predefined number of players is four (4).
The automatic card shuffler of any one of Embodiments 16 through 18, wherein the control system is configured under control of a program to cause the automatic card shuffler to form a first number of playing card hands in respective designated adjacent card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments in the first operational mode, and the control system is configured under control of the program to form a second number of playing card hands in respective designated adjacent card storage compartments of the plurality of card storage compartments in the second operational mode, the second number of playing card hands being less than the first number of playing card hands.
The automatic card shuffler of any one of Embodiments 16 through 19, wherein a time required to input a number of playing cards into the card storage device in the second operational mode is less than a time required to input the same number of playing cards into the card storage device in the first operational mode.
An automatic card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, comprising: a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the automatic card shuffler; a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the automatic card shuffler, the card storage device comprising a plurality of card storage compartments, at least a majority of the card storage compartments sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein; a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray; and a control system configured to control operation of the automatic card shuffler; a printer operationally coupled with the control system, the control system configured under control of a program to cause the printer to print information onto a printable medium using the printer, the information usable in verifying a winning playing card hand generated by the automatic card shuffler in a round of game play.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 21, wherein the printable medium comprises paper.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 21 or Embodiment 22, wherein the control system is configured under control of the program to print information onto the printable medium using the printer including identifies of all cards in a winning playing card hand generated by the automatic card shuffler in a round of game play.
An automatic card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, comprising: a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the automatic card shuffler; a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism; a card output mechanism for moving shuffled cards from the card storage device and outputting the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray; and at least one light-generating device located within the automatic card shuffler and configured to generate light within the automatic card shuffler, the light not used by any sensor of the automatic card shuffler.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 24, wherein the at least one light-generating device is located and configured to interfere with any imaging device located within the automatic card shuffler and not by the automatic card shuffler for operation thereof.
The automatic card shuffler of Embodiment 24 or Embodiment 25, wherein the at least one light-generating device comprises a strobe light configured to intermittently generate flashes of light.
A method of using an automatic card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, the method comprising: using the automatic card shuffler to generate randomized playing card hands; dispensing the playing card hands from the automatic card shuffler and using the playing card hands in a playing card game; storing information relating to the playing card hands or the playing card game in a memory device of a control system of the automatic card shuffler; and upon randomly dealing a winning hand of predefined composition, transmitting the information from the automatic card shuffler to a remote server in response to a signal generated by the control system to indicate that the winning hand has been dealt to the remote server.
A method of using an automatic card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, the method comprising: using the automatic card shuffler to generate randomized playing card hands; dispensing the playing card hands from the automatic card shuffler and using the playing card hands in a playing card game; storing information relating to at least one of the playing card hands and the playing card game in a memory device of a control system of the automatic card shuffler; and using a modem operatively coupled with the control system of the automatic card shuffler to receive information from a remote server and transmit information to the remote server, the sent and received information comprising a software verification algorithm used to verify an identity of software installed in the memory device of the control system.
The method of Embodiment 28, wherein using a modem comprises using a cellular modem.
A method of using an automatic card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, the method comprising: placing a stack of unshuffled playing cards into a card input area of the automatic card shuffler, the stack of unshuffled playing cards including at least one security card not usable in the playing card game; using the automatic card shuffler to generate randomized playing card hands in card storage compartments within a card storage device of the automatic card shuffler; using the automatic card shuffler to position at least one dispensed randomized group of cards and the at least one security card at the bottom of the at least one dispensed randomized group in the card output area of the automatic card shuffler; and obscuring a bottom card in the group of using the at least one security card.
The example embodiments of the disclosure described above do not limit the scope of the invention, since these embodiments are merely examples of embodiments of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the disclosure, in addition to those shown and described herein, such as alternate useful combinations of the elements described, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Such modifications and embodiments also fall within the scope of the appended claims, including legal equivalents.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,573, filed Dec. 13, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/450,008, filed Aug. 1, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,566,501, issued Feb. 14, 2017, on behalf of Stasson et al., the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15377573 | Dec 2016 | US |
| Child | 16256919 | US | |
| Parent | 14450008 | Aug 2014 | US |
| Child | 15377573 | US |
