Patent Grant
12307853
None.
The present invention relates to the field of gaming tables and particularly playing card gaming tables with wager sensing and information transmission capabilities.
Gaming tables with game-specific printing on their surfaces are standard systems in the gaming industry. These tables are used for many wagering systems, including playing card games, dice games, roulette systems and candy wheel games. The majority of table games are playing card games such as baccarat, blackjack (twenty-one), and poker variants. There can be significant activity and gaming element movement on the playing card gaming tables, including multiple rounds of card movement including multiple cards with each step of game play, card delivery to multiple player positions and a dealer position, wagering chip movement and additions and the like. This complex movement of gaming elements on the game table surface makes automated management and security surveillance of the gaming operation difficult.
Traditionally, betting has been done for centuries with differently colored chips representing different values of currency, typically white for a single unit, red for a five-unit (e.g., dollar) value, green for 25-unit value, etc. Part of the complexity of this wagering is that stacks and bets can be made by combinations of different values of chips and different chips being placed in different locations around a player for antes, bets, raises, side bets, jackpot wagers, and the like. Not only may dealers become confused by these placements, and actually miss seeing placements, but even players can forget to place wagers that had been intended or criminal players may late bet amounts of chips and locations of chips after receiving more advanced information on the progress and relative value of hands at the card table.
Once higher payout bets, such as side bets and jackpots and pot wagers, became more frequent, the need for more security and identification of wagers became more important to casino operators. Even with the “eye-in-the-sky’ technology present, skilled cheaters could compromise the integrity of table games. Two of the earliest forms of registering fixed amount jackpot wagers on table games with playing cards were disclosed in Kelly et al U.S. Pat. No. 9,142,084, issued Sep. 22, 2015 and titled “WAGER RECOGNITION SYSTEM,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, discloses an optical bet detection unit for a gaming table which can be used to detect a progressive participation wager, and John H. Breeding, U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,884, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, relating to a gaming apparatus having a gaming table with a gaming surface providing at least one predetermined location for receiving a gaming token. A gaming token supporter is mounted at each of the at least one predetermined location for receiving a gaming token on the gaming surface of the gaming table such that the gaming token supporter is flush with the gaming surface and forms a gaming token receiving location. A photoelectric sensor for each gaming token supporter that emits and receives modulated radiation is mounted to the gaming table such that each sensor is aligned with and in sensing proximity to a gaming token supporter.
More recent systems have attempted to use RFID chips embedded in distinct wagering chips, or high-definition imaging systems capturing images of individual chips, even when different value and different color chips are combined. Imaging has been done from above the table, on a near parallel plane with the table, or even through the table. Some examples among these types of system are shown with the following disclosures.
U.S. Pat. No. 11,049,362 (Shigeta) discloses a detection system of the present disclosure stores positions and the amount of game tokens that a game participant places on a game table based on a measurement result by a bet chip measuring device in the same persons for each game participant or player positions of the game table. A management control device compares an actual winning rate and a total return amount with figures obtained by a probability statistic calculation at the time of an end of the number of games to determine whether there is a significant difference therebetween and specifies any one of the game participant or the player position, the game table, or a room having the game table where the significant difference is occurring.
Published US Patent Document 20020042298 (Soltys) discloses a system that automatically monitors playing and wagering of a game. A card deck reader automatically reads a symbol identifying a rank and suit from each card in a deck of cards. A chip tray reader automatically images the contents of a chip tray, to periodically determine the number and value of chips in the chip tray, and to compare the change in contents of the chip tray to the outcome of game play for verifying that the proper amounts have been paid out and collected. A table monitor automatically images the activity occurring at a gaming table. Periodic comparison of the images identifies wagering, as well as the appearance, removal and position of cards and other game objects on the gaming table. The system automatically determines the outcome of games, including losses and takes.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,926,421 (Arezina) discloses a multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface. The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,067 (Paulsen) discloses a coin acceptor used in apparatus for automatically sensing the presence of gaming tokens used in cardroom gaming. The Paulsen coin acceptor is a circular disk the under-side of which is placed directly on top of the conventional felt on the table. The disk has a concentric, circular recess in its upper side that is shaped to accept the coin. The outer periphery of the disk is frustoconically shaped and extends from about the under-side of the upper side at an appropriately shallow angle of no more than 30 degrees so that players can readily slide a coin along the felt, up the frustoconical ramp of the disk, and into the recess to place a bet. A coin acceptor of the type disclosed in Paulsen has several problems: (1) inconveniences the dealer when he/she is clearing the table; (2) slows down the number games that may be played in a given period of time, thereby reducing the potential revenue at a particular table; and (3) may reduce the longevity of clay gaming tokens.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,936 (Bennett) discloses an automated gaming table tracking system for a gaming table, such as blackjack. A sensor located in the dealer's card playing area senses the start and end of each game. A unique player identity card is given to each player that contains information on the player. When a player arrives at a player position on the table, the player inserts his player identity card into a player station control at the player position. A central distribution control is connected to each player station control for determining the start and the end of each game and beginning and termination of play by each player at each position. A host computer of the present invention is then interconnected to the central distribution control for storing the player identity information and the player position for each player station control, the start and end of each of the games, and the beginning and termination of play at each player position from the central distribution control. The host computer prints a player tracking card. The floor supervisor observes the player during the game and fills out the in-session gaming information. Once the player leaves the table, the player tracking card with the in-session gaming information filled out is then placed in an automatic reader so that the read in-session gaming information is stored in a data base corresponding to the identity of the player.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,895 (Oliver) discloses an intelligent casino chip system. At least one gaming table is provided with at least one discrete player area. Each player area has a discrete betting area. Two classes of intermingled gaming chips are accepted in a stack in the discrete betting area. The gaming chip of the first class, comprising the primary wager, has a first transponder containing at least value information. The gaming chip of the second class, comprising the secondary wager, has a second transponder containing value and class information. A transceiver system located on the gaming table within the vicinity of the betting area is used to receive value signals from the first transponder and transponder value and class signals from the second transponder. These signals are conveyed to a computer system that then determines a primary wager value of the primary wager based on the value signals from the first transponder. The computer system also determines the secondary wager value as distinct from the primary wager value based on the value and class signals from the second transponder. Thus, the computer is provided with the respective wager values and the distinct class of the secondary wager when the primary wager and the secondary
Published U.S. Patent Document 20170236372 (Bulzacki) discloses systems, methods, devices, and computer readable media for monitoring card game activities at gaming tables, such as for example, counting the number of card hands at gaming tables. The devices may include a sensor array network to detect game events; a microcontroller for running logic level code for checking sensors of the sensors of the sensor array network for pre-defined thresholds defining the detected game events and in response generating game event data; and a connection cable for coupling to a server device for transmitting the game event data. Systems may connect client hardware devices with sensors for monitoring card game activities. A game monitoring server may collect, process and aggregate hand event data received from the client hardware devices to generate hand count data for gaming tables. A front-end interface device may receive notifications relating to hand count data for provision to end user systems.
All documents cited in this filing are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Each of these systems has its strengths and its weaknesses, but tend to be useful for only specific game formats and where actual values of wagers is being determined, still exhibits sufficiently high error rates as to fail to meet desired industry standards.
A bet detection system, which may be combined with other intelligent gaming table technologies and processes can reduce player or dealer error in identifying the status of bets placed on different categories of wagers on a gaming table, whether with playing card games, dice games, tile games, ball drop games or the like. At a minimum, a bet recognition system provides three separate bet status indications displayed from each single unit dedicated to a single player. The at least three indications are for 1) awaiting bet placement; 2) bet placement made; 3) no bet placed; and 4) position locked.
A bet indicating system includes:
A method of indicating a lock-in wagering status on a specific wager at a gaming table managed by a house may be performed by:
The method may have the bet-sensing elements dedicated to placement of wagers on a side bet or a progressive wager in an underlying table game. This method may have steps wherein a bet-sensing element is dedicated to a progressive wager, a signal is sent from the bet-sensing element to a central server that a progressive wager has been made a specific player position, and the central server apportions that progressive wager with at least one portion going into a progressive fund. The method and system may have all distinct colors are selected from the group consisting of red, yellow, green and blue.
Reference to the figures will further assist in an appreciation of the present technology.
Chip tray 140 is disposed opposite player positions 120. Preferably, chip tray 140 includes an integrated dealer input and display 150 which is part of the dealer terminal. Token sensor controller 160 may be disposed within the housing of the chip tray 140 or within a separate housing mounted under gaming table 102. In this example, token sensor controller 160, shown in phantom, is adjacent the integrated dealer input and display 150, which may have a button or touchscreen function to engage the bet sensing system and lock in wagers. Preferably, token sensor controller 160 includes an FPGA or ASIC, power supply and clock generator and any other desired functions added to enhance the performance of the sensor. The circuit board in each coin sensor assembly contains several simple logic gates but no software runs on the board. These logic gates determine if the assembly is reading or writing to the sensor controller 160. A memory device is also incorporated into the board that responds to a clock pulse from the clock generator. Token sensor controller 160 is electrically connected to token sensor assemblies 130 by serial wiring 135. The system further includes game controller 170 electrically connected to the integrated dealer input and display 150 and token sensor controller 160 by system wiring 185. Preferably, the system also includes card handling device 180, such as a shoe or a shuffler, which is also electrically connected to game controller 170 by system wiring 185. It is further preferred that the shoe or shuffler contain card reading functionality so that cards stored, delivered or withheld have at least one of suit and rank read and that information processed as desired.
The Bet Sensors or bet sensing systems are outfitted with a PC Board as described herein. On this PC Board are components that power the and direct the PC Board on what to do. Some components are capacitors and fuses which regulate and direct the flow of power. Other components are LED lights that are imbedded onto the PC Board and connected to the circuits on the PC Board. A small multi-function sensor in imbedded in the center of the PC Board. This sensor picks up and reads any activity such as light stream, density reading, Photo cell and other types of ways of reading when a bet has been placed on the Bet Indicator. Another component is a small computer board imbedded onto the PC Board. This PC component is a small programmable computer that computer code or software information is uploaded into this PC component to direct the bet indicator or drive the bet indicator system on what to do and how to react when calibrating for surrounding light, auto calibration, accepting and clearing bets, what “state” the bet system is in whether it be bet accepting mode, lock mode, winner mode, jackpot mode, reset mode and so on. This PC component has, by way of non-limiting example, a 4-prong connector attached to the PC Board that is also connected to the PC component that allows for the installation of code and the updating of code as well as retrieving information for diagnostic checks of the bet system and/or a specific Bet Indicator itself. This bet indicator and all others are connected by a string wire that powers the unit. A small connector from the power string wire (male) to the Bet Indicator wire (female) is how the Bet Indicator is connected to the power wire. The power wire is then connected to a power junction box that has a PC Board inside. This PC Board has connectors that the Power Wire connect into as well as a Start/Stop button connector and a Jackpot button connector. When all components are connected to the Power Junction Box, a power wire from the Power Junction Box is connected to a Power Adaptor that plugs into a power outlet. This is how the entire system gets its power. When the system received main power, all Bet indicators and both buttons, Start/Stop and Jackpot bottoms will flash on and off signifying ready to be assign. When the Bet Indicators power up they will flash GREEN then RED then DARK very quickly. This is the self-calibration process that adjusts the sensor to surrounding elements such as light, shadow and other things to perform properly. After the calibration process, the bet indicators will cycle through light colors, GREEN, RED and DARK waiting to be assigned to a specific game, table or task. A setup program built into the software will assign each bet indicator to a specific game and table by the human programmer. By simply activating the light sensor and selecting the game and table in the setup program the process is completed. When the programmer/human completes this function on all bet indicators on a game table, the game table is now ready for play.
Built In PC Board Back Power Wire and Connector is connected to a wire string that plugs into the Power Junction Box. This is how the PC Board Bet Indicator gets power to run the components. The PC Component is a small computer that is uploaded with code and information that tells the Bet Indicator what to do and how to function, what state to be in and send and receive signals and commands to the main system. This process can be completed either by wire connection or wireless connection.
BI PC Board Front LED Lights are the color changing lights imbedded onto the PC Board to signify what state the Bet system is in. Either accepting bets mode, Lock mode, Winner mode, Jackpot mode etc. System Sensor is a small sensor that reads when a bet is placed onto the bet indicator. It will either detect a bet by either light, density, shadow, photo cell or other means of detection. When this sensor is activated it sends a signal to the PC Component to alert that a bet has been made. The PC Component then sends a signal to the main system and the main system runs the correct procedure to increment a jackpot meter as well as divide the bet amount and send the appropriate amounts to each holding cell or bucket for each payouts and profits. Upload Connector Pins are where a connector is placed to upload new information to the PC Component. An upload using these pins program the individual BI with the correct program and code to function as it is supposed to.
The Power Junction Box is where the Game Button, Jackpot Button and all Bet Indicators plug into the receive power to operate. Game Buttons: Game Start/Stop Button is pressed and is lit RED to lock in game mode and lock out bets and start a round of game play. It is pressed once again and is lit GREEN to unlock game mode and allow for new bets. This also tells the main system what state the game mode is in and to do the appropriate commands to log information from one game mode to another.
The components may be provided on the game table according to
When the bet sensors are powered on, they each may automatically self-calibrate to adjust for surrounding light to appropriately illuminate and not have any interference of outside light sources. Once calibrated they may blink different colors in the “ready” mode or give some other visually specific emission patterns to be assigned to a game. Running in the game configuration mode, a bet sensor will be assigned to a specific table by simply running the configuration mode, placing a chip on the bet sensor and waiting for the system to accept the bet sensor. This will be done for each bet sensor until all sensors have been calibrated for a specific table. Once a bet sensor is activated it is ready to accept bets for game play. Once all bet sensors have been activated the table is ready for repeated or continuous game play.
Each bet sensor will have its own ID or IP address that communicates with or within the system vie wire or wireless connection. This method of bet sensor allows for unlimited numbers of bet sensors to be placed on a single table or used at the same time.
There are alternative methods and steps that may be used with the apparatus of the present invention. Not only can lights be used to show when a bet has been made or not, the sensor(s) in the bet detection system way be partnered with a LED video screen to fit inside the bet sensor housing under a translucent top to play a video and have a video screen show when there is a bet or now bet, or even provide gaming event information. The video screen can also play videos of promotions, commercials, enticement to play the game and other videos that may attract attention or boost business. An LED video screen may replace everything that the LED lights do and more to advertise at each betting sensor. The different net sensing system can all play the same video or each play different videos.
The system may also contain unique firmware, source code and code description. The firmware and/or code written for the bet sensors may include functionality as follows:
Each bet sensor is uploaded with its own firmware and code to make each BSD run as it should within the system. When a small sensor (e.g., located in the center of the PC Board of the BSD) is triggered, that triggering sets into motion the many lines of code and/or firmware in a predetermined order that deploys the BSD what to do step by step. This can include steps as follows:
The invention may be practiced using equipment and methods as generally described below:
A bet indicating system my include:
The bet sensing system may have the house control is configured to continuing power to the first color emitting element when there is no wagering element on the translucent surface and lock in power and color emission from the second color emitting element when a wagering element was sensed on the translucent surface.
A method of indicating a lock-in wagering status on a specific wager at a gaming table managed by a house may include steps such as the following:
The method may be used where the bet-sensing elements are dedicated to placement of wagers on a side bet or a progressive wager in an underlying table game.
The method may be used wherein when a bet-sensing element is dedicated to a progressive wager, a signal is sent from the bet-sensing element to a central server that a progressive wager has been made a specific player position, and the central server apportions that progressive wager with at least one portion going into a progressive fund.
The method may be practiced wherein all distinct colors are selected from the group consisting of red, yellow, green and blue or various shades thereof, along or without a white light emitting LED.
Additional steps and features can be used in the performance of the present technology without deviating from the scope of the claims provided below. For example, even though specific colors have been identified for each LED, alternative colors and sizes may be used. The bet sensing devices are typically from 1 inches to 4.0 inches in diameter, but that size may be varied as desired by the designer.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9165420 | Knust | Oct 2015 | B1 |
| 20120122559 | Kelly | May 2012 | A1 |
| 20140200071 | Czyzewski | Jul 2014 | A1 |
| 20140295948 | Helgesen | Oct 2014 | A1 |
| 20200111313 | Guldenaar | Apr 2020 | A1 |
| 20210082226 | Kroupp | Mar 2021 | A1 |
