Game table

• US 10,258,868 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Shinsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Application Number:
  US15/111,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20160346669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

Provided is a game table which allows maintenance to be facilitated. The game table includes: a game board having arranged thereon antennas for reading identification information stored in game chips through wireless communication; and a game board mounting table top having mounted thereon the game board so as to allow the game board to be opened and closed.

Claims

1. A game table comprising:

a game board having a front-side corresponding to a player position and a rearward side corresponding to a dealer position, the game board being raiseable and lowerable, and

a registration antenna and an erasure antenna, wherein,

each of the registration and erasure antennas are in electronic communication with a database that stores game chip identification information, wherein,

the registration antenna reads game chip identification information stored on one or more game chips via wireless communications means, the chip identification information is electronically transmitted to the database, the database associates the chip identification information with a game player to thereby validate the one or more game chips, and wherein,

the erasure antenna reads game chip identification information stored on the one or more game chips via wireless communications means, the chip identification information is electronically transmitted to the database, the database disassociates the chip identification information associated with the game player to thereby invalidate the one or more game chips.

2. The game table according to claim 1, wherein the game board includes a plurality of predefined player gameplay positions on a top surface thereof and a plurality of player position antennas disposed on a bottom surface thereof, each of the plurality of the predefined player positions being disposed on the top surface so as to maintain substantial registration with a respective player position antenna of the plurality of player position antennas.

3. The game table according to claim 1, further comprising a hinge mechanism disposed toward the rearward side of the game board such that the front side of the game board is raiseable and lowerable.

4. The game table according to claim 1, further comprising an opening auxiliary device that, when operated when the game board is in a closed position, partially raises the game board relative to a game table surface so as to form a space between the game board and an upper stage portion of the game table.

5. The game table according to claim 1, further comprising a braking device that applies a biasing force that assists with for braking an opening and closing operation of the game board.

14. The game table according to claim 1, further including a game table control apparatus in communication with a server including the database, wherein,

the game chip information read by the registration antenna and the erasure antenna is transmitted to and from the server via the game table control apparatus.

6. A game table, comprising

a registration antenna that reads game chip identification information stored on one or more game chips, the game chip identification information transmitted to a database that validates the one or more chips;

an erasure antenna that reads game chip identification information stored on the one or more game chips, the game chip information transmitted to a database that invalidates the one or more game chips; and

,

a player position antenna module including;

a plurality of antennas that read identification information stored in the one or more game chips via wireless communication and a housing for housing the plurality of antennas.

7. The game table according to claim 6, further comprising

a game board including a plurality of predefined player gameplay positions on a top surface thereof and a plurality of player position antenna modules detachably securably disposed on a bottom surface thereof, each of the plurality of the predefined player positions being disposed on the top surface so as to maintain substantial registration with a respective player position antenna module of the plurality of player position antennas.

8. The game table according to claim 6, wherein the player position antenna module includes:

an adjusting part for adjusting electromagnetic waves outputted from each of the antennas; and

a through hole formed at a position corresponding to a position of the adjusting part.

9. The game table according to claim 7, wherein the game board has a front-side corresponding to a player position and a rearward side corresponding to a dealer position, wherein the game board is raiseable and lowerable at the front side of the game board.

15. The game table according to claim 6, further including a game table control apparatus in communication with a server including a database, wherein,

the game chip information read by the registration antenna and the erasure antenna is transmitted to and from the server via the game table control apparatus.

10. A game table, comprising:

a registration antenna; and

,

an erasure antenna, wherein,

each of the registration and erasure antennas are in electronic communication with a database that stores game chip identification information, wherein,

the registration antenna reads game chip identification information stored on one or more game chips, the chip identification information is electronically transmitted to the database, the database associates the chip identification information with a game player to thereby validate the one or more game chips, and wherein,

the erasure antenna reads game chip identification information stored on the one or more game chips, the chip identification information is electronically transmitted to the database, the database disassociates the chip identification information associated with the game player to thereby invalidate the one or more game chips.

11. The game table according to claim 10, further comprising a reference antenna that reads the chip identification information stored on the one or more game chips,

the registration antenna and the erasure antenna being arranged so as to sandwich the reference antenna between the registration antenna and the erasure antenna.

12. The game table according to claim 11, further comprising an operation switch for setting the reference antenna in an operating state.

13. The game table according to claim 11, further comprising a chip tray that stores the one or more game chips,

the reference antenna being arranged so as to be sandwiched between the chip tray and player bet regions.

16. The game table according to claim 10, further including a game table control apparatus in communication with a server including the database, wherein,

the game chip information read by the registration antenna and the erasure antenna is transmitted to and from the server via the game table control apparatus.