US6514140B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for machine reading and processing information from gaming chips
Assignee: LNW Gaming Inc
•
Filing: 1999-06-17
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Granted: 2003-02-04
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Expires: 2019-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A fully automatic table game player tracking system for Blackjack and other casino games wherein players have individual betting positions on the table is disclosed. An individual B&W CCD chip reading turret is placed inches in front of each player's betting position to scan wagered chips using ambient casino lighting. The turret also has a "comp" light to indicate to the player at the beginning of every hand that his bet was read credited for his complimentaries (meals, room, entertainment, etc.), thus delivering to the player extra gaming satisfaction every hand. Patterns of repeated coding around the playing chips' peripheral surface represent with light and dark contrasting colors the dollar value and particular casino issuer of the chips. The aesthetically pleasing chip identifying coding patterns are comprised of unique referenceless error controlled self-clocking (n,k) code words, which are repeated around the chip's periphery without space therebetween, for improved efficiency and accuracy no matter the orientation of the wagered chip placed on the table.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Storch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:38
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F1/00; G07F1/06; G07F17/3202; G07F17/3216; G07F17/322; G07F17/3225; G07F17/3232; G07F17/3237; G07F17/3239; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3248; G07F17/3255; A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2411; A63F2009/2419
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on gambling chips, comprising: a gaming table having a plurality of player stations each associated with a chip location on the table within which one or more chips to be bet can be placed; an optical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated facing to receive light reflected from one or more gambling chips at the respective chip location and not facing to receive light from the associated player station; at least one opto-electrical device coupled to the optical devices, the at least one opto-electrical device receiving light provided by the optical devices and providing electrical signals related thereto; and a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device, the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and thereby process information represented optically on the gambling chips.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on gambling chips, comprising: a gaming table having a plurality of player stations each associated with a chip location on the table within which one or more chips to be bet can be placed; an optical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated facing to receive light reflected from one or more gambling chips at the respective chip location and not facing to receive light from the associated player station; at least one opto-electrical device coupled to the optical devices, the at least one opto-electrical device receiving light provided by the optical devices and providing electrical signals related thereto; and a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device, the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and thereby process information represented optically on the gambling chips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each optical device is positioned to receive light reflected from the peripheral edge of one chip, or the peripheral edges of a plurality of stacked chips, at each chip location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each optical device is positioned between each chip location and a respective player station associated therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each optical device comprises a lens, and wherein the at least one opto-electrical device comprises a video camera.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 comprising an opto-electrical device coupled to each optical device, each optical device comprising a lens and each opto-electrical device comprising a video camera.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 1 comprising a sensor positioned to provide a signal in response to an object used to play a game on the table in cooperation with chips placed at the chip locations, the sensor being coupled to the processor and the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals with a game cycle related to the signal provided by the sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 6 comprising at least one indicator device associated with each chip location, each indicator device being coupled to the processor, and the processor being caused by programming to control each indicator device in response to the signal input by the sensor and processing by the processor of electrical signals associated with respective optical devices that provided light to which the respective electrical signals are related.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system of claim 6 comprising at least one input device coupled to the processor by which information is input to the processor, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the at least one input device, whereby information carried by the electrical signals is associated with a game cycle in response to information input by the at least one input device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals with respective optical devices that provided light to which the respective electrical signals are related.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 9 comprising a sensor positioned to provide a signal in response to an object used to play a game on the table in cooperation with chips placed at the chip locations, the sensor being coupled to the processor and the processor being caused by programming to also associate information carried by the electrical signals with a game cycle related to the signal provided by the sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 9 comprising at least one input device coupled to the processor by which information is input to the processor, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the at least one input device, whereby information is associated with respective optical devices in response to the information input by the at least one input device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
The system of claim 9 comprising at least one input device coupled to the processor by which first and second information is input to the processor, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to the first and second information input to the processor by the at least one input device, whereby information carried by the electrical signals is associated with respective optical devices between inputting of the first and second information by the at least one input device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the information represented optically on each of the plurality of chips represents the denomination of the respective chip, and wherein the processor is caused by programming to associate a sum of all of the denominations of chips at a respective location with the respective optical device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 13 comprising a sensor positioned to provide a signal in response to an object used to play a game on the table in cooperation with chips placed at the chip locations, the sensor being coupled to the processor and the processor being caused by programming to also associate denomination information carried by the electrical signals with a game cycle related to the signal provided by the sensor, whereby denomination information is associated with chip locations for each game cycle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 14 comprising at least one input device coupled to the processor by which information is input to the processor, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to first and second information input to the processor by the at least one input device, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with chip locations for each game cycle between inputting of the first and second information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 14 comprising an input device coupled to the processor for each optical device by which information is input to the processor associated with each optical device, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the input devices, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices for each game cycle in response to information input by the respective input device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 13 comprising at least one input device coupled to the processor by which first and second information is input to the processor, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to the first and second information input to the processor by the at least one input device, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated between inputting of the first and second information by the at least one input device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 13 comprising an input device coupled to the processor for each optical device by which information is input to the processor associated with each optical device, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the input devices, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices in response to information input by the respective input device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 comprising at least one input device coupled to the processor by which information is input to the processor, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by at least one input device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1 comprising an input device coupled to the processor for each optical device by which information is input to the processor associated with each optical device, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the input devices.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for processing information represented optically on gambling chips, comprising: a gaming table having a plurality of player stations each associated with a chip location on the table within which one or more chips to be bet can be placed; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of locations, each opto-electrical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the location with which it is associated facing to receive light reflected from one or more gambling chips at the respective chip location and not facing to receive light from the associated player station, each opto-electrical device providing electrical signals related to the light received thereby; and a programmed processor coupled to the opto-electrical devices, the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the opto-electrical devices, and thereby process information related to the information represented optically on the gambling chips.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for processing information represented optically on gambling chips, comprising: a gaming table having a plurality of player stations each associated with a chip location on the table within which one or more chips to be bet can be placed; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of locations, each opto-electrical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the location with which it is associated facing to receive light reflected from one or more gambling chips at the respective chip location and not facing to receive light from the associated player station, each opto-electrical device providing electrical signals related to the light received thereby; and a programmed processor coupled to the opto-electrical devices, the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the opto-electrical devices, and thereby process information related to the information represented optically on the gambling chips.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
209 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on each of a plurality of gambling chips from a plurality of chip locations on a gaming table, comprising: the gaming table; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated to receive light reflected from gambling chips at the respective chip location and providing electrical signals related thereto; a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device; at least one indicator device associated with each chip location, each indicator device being coupled to the processor; at least one input device coupled to the processor; the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and to control each indicator device in response to the signal input by the at least one input device and processing of the electrical signals, and to associate information carried by electrical signals with respective optical devices that provided light to which the respective electrical signals are related in response to information input by the at least one input device, thereby processing and associating information represented optically on the gambling chips.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
209 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on each of a plurality of gambling chips from a plurality of chip locations on a gaming table, comprising: the gaming table; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated to receive light reflected from gambling chips at the respective chip location and providing electrical signals related thereto; a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device; at least one indicator device associated with each chip location, each indicator device being coupled to the processor; at least one input device coupled to the processor; the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and to control each indicator device in response to the signal input by the at least one input device and processing of the electrical signals, and to associate information carried by electrical signals with respective optical devices that provided light to which the respective electrical signals are related in response to information input by the at least one input device, thereby processing and associating information represented optically on the gambling chips.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the information represented optically on each of the plurality of chips represents the denomination of the respective chip, and wherein the processor is caused by programming to associate a sum of all of the denominations of chips at a respective location with the respective optical device, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices in response to information input by the input device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 22 comprising an input device coupled to the processor for each optical device by which information is input to the processor associated with each optical device, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the input devices, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices in response to information input by the respective input device.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on each of a plurality of gambling chips from a plurality of chip locations on a gaming table, and other information, comprising: the gaming table; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated to receive light reflected from gambling chips at the respective chip location and providing electrical signals related thereto; a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device; at least one indicator device associated with each chip location, each indicator device being coupled to the processor; at least one input device coupled to the processor; the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and to control each indicator device in response to the signal input by the at least one input device and processing of the electrical signals, and to associate information carried by electrical signals with respective optical devices that provided light to which the respective electrical signals are related in response to information input by the at least one input device, thereby processing and associating information represented optically on the gambling chips; wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one of a comp card reader and a playing card sensor.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on each of a plurality of gambling chips from a plurality of chip locations on a gaming table, and other information, comprising: the gaming table; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated to receive light reflected from gambling chips at the respective chip location and providing electrical signals related thereto; a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device; at least one indicator device associated with each chip location, each indicator device being coupled to the processor; at least one input device coupled to the processor; the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and to control each indicator device in response to the signal input by the at least one input device and processing of the electrical signals, and to associate information carried by electrical signals with respective optical devices that provided light to which the respective electrical signals are related in response to information input by the at least one input device, thereby processing and associating information represented optically on the gambling chips; wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one of a comp card reader and a playing card sensor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 25 wherein the information represented optically on each of the plurality of chips represents the denomination of the respective chip, and wherein the processor is caused by programming to associate a sum of all of the denominations of chips at a respective location with the respective optical device, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices in response to information input by the at least one input device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 25 comprising an input device coupled to the processor for each optical device by which information is input to the processor associated with each optical device, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the input devices, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices in response to information input by the respective input device.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
177 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on each of a plurality of gambling chips from a plurality of chip locations on a gaming table, and other information, comprising: the gaming table; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated to receive light reflected from gambling chips at the respective chip location and providing electrical signals related thereto; a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device; at least one indicator device associated with each chip location, each indicator device being coupled to the processor; at least one input device coupled to the processor; the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and to activate the at least one indicator device to selectively indicate one of a plurality of conditions related to the signal input by the at least one input device and processing of the electrical signals.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
177 words
A system for processing information which is represented optically on each of a plurality of gambling chips from a plurality of chip locations on a gaming table, and other information, comprising: the gaming table; an opto-electrical device associated with each of the plurality of chip locations, each optical device being mounted to the table in the vicinity of the chip location with which it is associated to receive light reflected from gambling chips at the respective chip location and providing electrical signals related thereto; a programmed processor coupled to the at least one opto-electrical device; at least one indicator device associated with each chip location, each indicator device being coupled to the processor; at least one input device coupled to the processor; the processor being caused by programming to process the electrical signals provided by the at least one opto-electrical device, and to activate the at least one indicator device to selectively indicate one of a plurality of conditions related to the signal input by the at least one input device and processing of the electrical signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 28 wherein the information represented optically on each of the plurality of chips represents the denomination of the respective chip, and wherein the processor is caused by programming to associate a sum of all of the denominations of chips at a respective location with the respective at least one optical device, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices in response to information input by the at least one input device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 28 comprising an input device coupled to the processor for each optical device by which information is input to the processor associated with each optical device, the processor being caused by programming to associate information carried by the electrical signals responsive to information input to the processor by the input devices, whereby the sum of all denomination information is associated with respective optical devices in response to information input by the respective input device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-03 | 2006-08-05 | 2007-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-03 | 2010-08-05 | 2011-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-03 | 2014-08-05 | 2015-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |