Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-26
2001-10-09
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
C463S013000, C463S042000, C273S292000, C273S309000, C273S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299534
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to cardroom or video gaming involving multi-tiered wagering. More particularly, it relates to a gaming apparatus with a sensing device which includes a proximity sensor for sensing the wagering or placement of a gaming token, thereby determining and automatically registering player wagers in the multi-tiered game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cardroom and video gaming involve many games, including multi-tiered wagering games. Such games provide a player with the opportunity to place a side bet on an additional game played in conjunction with a basic or underlying game. These cardroom games and video games may be located at a plurality of remote locations and be connected to each other to provide a large number of players an opportunity to play for a large common cash prize.
Prior art apparatus for automatically sensing the presence of gaming tokens used in cardroom and video gaming has several problems: (1) the indication of false positives; (2) a lack of provision for conveniently verifying that the bets have been properly registered by a computer to which the sensing apparatus is attached; and (3) the elimination of chips from circulation.
First, registering an unplaced bet costs the proprietor of the cardroom or video gaming facility money. Currently, in the cardroom and video gaming industry, some apparatus uses light sensors to detect the presence of a gaming token. When light sensors are used to detect the presence of a gaming token, the apparatus often falsely registers an unplaced bet as a placed bet because lint from the felt on the gaming table is sensed by the light sensors creating a false positive. Also, ambient light from the light sources in the facility may influence the light sensor and cause a false negative or lack of registration due to a marginal signal. Thus, an apparatus which will eliminate both false positive registrations and false negative registration failures would be very helpful in the cardroom and video gaming industry.
Second, cardroom and video gaming facilities need to verify that all wagers are properly registered by the computer. In order to have a secondary verification, a camera has been traditionally used. However, current apparatus does not provide a camera with a visual indication of whether the bet was registered. Consequently, an apparatus which allows a casino or proprietor of a cardroom and video gaming facility to be able to visually verify the registration of a properly placed bet is highly desirable.
Third, some current apparatus has a slot with a light sensor to detect the presence of a gaming token as it passes through the slot. In addition to the problems associated with the use of a light sensor described above, such apparatus takes the gaming token out of circulation. The gaming token disappears in the slot and is collected and accumulates beneath the table. This accumulation of tokens causes inefficiencies in the operation of a gaming facility because the apparatus prevents the gaming facility from immediately recirculating the gaming tokens after each bet. An apparatus that keeps gaming tokens in circulation is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is for an apparatus for detecting and registering the presence of a gaming token in a predetermined location or zone. The apparatus comprises a gaming structure such as a table having at least one predetermined location or zone for receiving a gaming token per player. At each such predetermined location or zone, a proximity sensor is mounted beneath the gaming table such that each sensor is aligned or in registration with and in sensing proximity to each predetermined location. Wagers are placed by a player placing a gaming token at the predetermined location or zone for the player. A decoder is electrically connected to each proximity sensor for determining whether a gaming token has been detected or sensed at each predetermined location. When the presence of a gaming token is sensed by the decoder, the player's bet is registered.
The present invention has a set of lighting devices which surround each predetermined location or zone. These lighting devices are turned on when the sensor detects the presence of a gaming token and registers each player's wager to (1) provide the dealer visual confirmation that the bet was registered; and (2) allow security cameras monitoring the gaming table to record the visual indication for additional recordation and verification.
One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can reliably detect the presence of a gaming token placed in a predetermined location or zone.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be easily maintained.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that provides for conveniently verifying that the bets have been registered by a computer to which the sensing apparatus is attached for each gaming token that has been placed or wagered.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus with the above automatic detection and registration features that does not take gaming tokens out of circulation.
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U.S. Copyright Registration No. Txu 538 276 dated Dec. 16, 1998, 7 pages.
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Breeding John G.
Helgesen James P.
Layno Benjamin H.
Litman Mark A.
Mark A. Litman: Assoc. PA.
Shuffle Master, Inc.
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