Multi-Sensor System for Counting and Identifying Objects in Close Proximity

Abstract

A system for counting and identifying a plurality of gaming chips having a programmable RFID device embedded therein. The programmable RFID device having unique authentication data disposed therein. The system includes a tray structure defining a plurality of predetermined chip positions within a multi-dimensional grid. The tray structure is configured to carry the plurality of gaming chips such that each of the plurality of gaming chips are substantially disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined chip positions within the multi-dimensional grid. An optical sensing assembly is configured to optically scan each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions to detect the presence of a gaming chip in each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions if present therein and generate a count corresponding to a number of detected gaming chips. An RFID reader assembly is configured to interrogate the plurality of gaming chips disposed in the tray structure and generate a list of authenticated gaming chips, the RFID reader assembly further generating a system status based on a comparison of the list of authenticated gaming chips relative to the number of detected gaming chips counted by the optical sensing assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sensor cradle;

FIG. 2A is a top view of a chip tray;

FIG. 2B is a cross section of a chip tray;

FIG. 2C is a cross section of a tray designed to hold both jetons (chips) and plaques;

FIG. 3A is a cross section of an optical sensor strip;

FIG. 3B is a top view of an optical sensor strip;

FIG. 3C is a side view of an optical sensor strip;

FIG. 4A is a top view of a gaming chip;

FIG. 4B is a side view of a gaming chip;

FIG. 5A is a schematic view of a coupler board;

FIG. 5B is a schematic view of an alternate coupler board;

FIG. 6A is a side view of a gaming table; and

FIG. 6B is a side view of a pit workstation.

Claims

1. A system for counting and identifying a plurality of gaming chips having a programmable RFID device embedded therein, the programmable RFID device having unique authentication data disposed therein, the system comprising: a tray structure defining a plurality of predetermined chip positions within a multi-dimensional grid, the tray structure being configured to carry the plurality of gaming chips such that each of the plurality of gaming chips are substantially disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined chip positions within the multi-dimensional grid;an optical sensing assembly configured to optically scan each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions to detect the presence of a gaming chip in each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions if present therein and generate a count corresponding to a number of detected gaming chips; andan RFID reader assembly configured to interrogate the plurality of gaming chips disposed in the tray stricture and generate a list of authenticated gaming chips, the RFID reader assembly further generating a system status based on a comparison of the list of authenticated gaming chips relative to the number of detected gaming chips counted by the optical sensing assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tray structure is configured to accommodate twelve rows of gaming chips therein.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the tray structure is configured to accommodate 60 rows of gaming chips per column.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tray structure is configured to accommodate American style gaming chips, European style jeton gaming chips and/or rectangular plaques.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions within the tray structure further comprises: a slot having a shape and size conforming to a gaming chip disposed on its parametric edge;a window disposed in the slot and configured to abut at least a portion of the perimetric edge of the gaming chip; andan optical sensor configured to direct a first optical signal to the portion of the perimetric edge and detect a second optical signal diffusely reflected from a surface of the perimetric edge, the optical sensor being disposed approximately 1.0 mm from the perimetric edge of the gaming chip.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the slot is arcuate and the perimetric edge of the gaming chip is substantially circular.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the slot is rectangular and the perimetric edge of the gaming chip is substantially rectangular.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the optical sensor further comprises an optical emitter and a diode detector working in tandem.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the optical emitter operates at a center frequency in near infrared wavelengths.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the optical emitter operates at a center frequency in ultraviolet wavelengths.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the optical emitter is comprised of an emitter diode or a phototransistor.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the window includes an optical filter substantially matched to an operating wavelength of the optical sensor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the optical filter is configured to pass infrared light.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the optical sensor is disposed approximately 0.7 mm from the perimetric edge of the gaming chip.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the optical sensor operates in a frequency range between approximately 10 KHz and 200 KHz.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein the optical sensor employs ON-OFF modulation.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical sensing assembly further comprises: a plurality of optical sensors disposed within the multi-dimensional grid, each of the plurality of optical sensors being disposed proximate to a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined chip positions, each optical sensor being configured to direct a first optical signal to at least a portion of a perimetric edge of a gaming chip and detect a second optical signal diffusely reflected from a surface of the perimetric edge, the optical sensor being disposed approximately less than or equal to 1.0 mm from the perimetric edge of the gaming chip; andan optical sensing assembly processor coupled to the plurality of optical sensors, the processor being configured to sequentially scan the plurality of optical sensors within a predetermined period of time, the processor being programmed to determine that a gaming chip is present in a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined chip positions if an optical sensor detects the second optical signal or determine that a gaming chip is not present in the corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined chip positions if the second optical signal is not detected.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the optical sensing assembly processor is programmed to generate the count corresponding to the number of detected gaming chips by summing the number of gaming chips determined to be present.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than approximately 0.5 seconds.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions within the tray structure includes a slot having a shape and size conforming to a gaming chip disposed on its parametric edge.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the slot is arcuate and the perimetric edge of the gaming chip is substantially circular, and/or the slot is rectangular and the perimetric edge of the gaming chip is substantially rectangular.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a window disposed in each slot, the window being configured to abut at least a portion of the perimetric edge of the gaming chip.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the optical sensor further comprises a diode emitter and a diode detector in optical communication with the perimetric edge via the window.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader assembly further comprises: a HF RFID coupler array disposed proximate the tray stricture, the HF RFID coupler assembly including a plurality of coupler loops configured to perform an HF scan of the plurality of gaming chips within the multi-dimensional grid, the HF scan providing HF authentication signals;an HF RFID reader coupled to the HF RFID coupler array, the HF RFID reader being configured to derive authentication data from the HF authentication signals for each gaming chip disposed in the tray structure; anda controller coupled to the HF RFID coupler array and the HFID reader, the controller being configured to generate the list of authenticated gaming chips from the authentication data.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is programmed to: count the authenticated gaming chips to determine an authenticated number of gaming chips in the tray structure;receive the count from the optical sensing assembly; andcompare the count from the optical sensing assembly to the authenticated number to derive the system status.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the system status indicates a presence of a non-authenticated gaming chip if the count from the optical sensing assembly is greater than the authenticated number.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the system status indicates an improperly seated gaming chip if the count from the optical sensing assembly is less than the authenticated number.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller retrieves a monetary value for each of the gaming chips in the list of authenticated gaming chips and calculates a total value for all of the gaming chips disposed in the tray structure.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the controller retrieves the monetary value from a database.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the database is resident on a remote host computer, a local host computer or on a data structure coupled to the controller.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the data structure is a flash drive.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to provide the HF RFID coupler array with timing signals to thereby control the sequence of the HF scan.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the tray structure accommodates a plurality of columns of gaming chips, and wherein the plurality of coupler loops includes at least one RFID loop configuration for each of the plurality of columns.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one RFID loop configuration includes a left hand loop configuration and a right hand loop configuration for each of the plurality of columns.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one RFID loop configuration is configured in a saw-tooth pattern such that only gaming chips disposed in a single column are sensed.

36. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of coupler loops includes a plurality of overlapping RFID loop configuration to sense the gaming chips disposed in the tray structure.

37. The system of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of coupler loops is coupled to a switch actuated by the controller, the controller actuating the each of the switches in a predetermined sequence to prevent detuning of adjacent coupler loops.

38. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is coupled to the optical sensing assembly, the optical sensing assembly providing a location of empty portions of the tray structure, the controller being programmed to direct coupler loops corresponding to the empty portions not to perform the HF scan.

39. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is coupled to the optical sensing assembly, the controller being programmed to direct the HF RFID coupler array not to perform the HF scan unless the optical sensing assembly detects a change in the count corresponding to the number of detected gaming chips.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to provide a warning when the count of authenticated objects is different from the number of detected objects counted by the optical sensing assembly.

41. A system for identifying a plurality of objects in close proximity, each of the plurality of objects having a programmable RFID device embedded therein, the programmable RFID device having unique authentication data disposed therein, the system comprising: a structure defining a plurality of predetermined spatial positions, the structure being configured to support the plurality of objects, each of the plurality of objects being disposed in corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined spatial positions;an optical sensing assembly configured to optically scan each of the plurality of predetermined spatial positions to thereby detect the presence of an object in each of the plurality of predetermined spatial positions if present therein and generate a list of optically detected objects; andan RFID reader assembly configured to interrogate the plurality of objects disposed in the structure and generate a list of authenticated objects, the RFID reader assembly further generating a system status based on a comparison of the list and count of authenticated objects relative to the number of detected objects counted by the optical sensing assembly.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the structure is a tray and the objects are gaming chips.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the structure is a retail display structure.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the stricture is a rack and the objects are bottles.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the structure is a rack and the objects are test tubes or other biological sample holders.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the structure is a chess board and the objects are chess pieces.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the objects are jewelry.

48. A system for counting and identifying a plurality of gaming chips having a programmable RFID device embedded therein, the programmable RFID device having unique authentication data disposed therein, the system comprising: a tray structure defining a plurality of predetermined chip positions within a multi-dimensional grid, the tray structure being configured to carry the plurality of gaming chips such that each of the plurality of gaming chips are substantially disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined chip positions within the multi-dimensional grid, the plurality of gaming chips including American style gaming chips, European style jetons, and/or rectangular European style plaques;an optical sensing assembly configured to optically scan each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions to detect the presence of a gaming chip in each of the plurality of predetermined chip positions if present therein and generate a count corresponding to a number of detected gaming chips; andan RFID reader assembly configured to interrogate the plurality of gaming chips disposed in the tray structure and generate a list of authenticated gaming chips, the RFID reader assembly further generating a system status based on a comparison of the list of authenticated gaining chips relative to the number of detected gaming chips counted by the optical sensing assembly.