Remote controlled multiple mode and multi-game card shuffling device

• US 20020113368A1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: VendingData Corporation (Melco International Development Limited)
• Inventors: Blad, Steven J., Hessing, Lynn, Mahoney, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 6,719,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers

Abstract

The present invention features a card shuffling machine having a controller that can be operated remote from the shuffling machine. A remote control unit is provided for remotely communicating operator-selected commands to the shuffling machine. The shuffling machine is capable of shuffling and dealing various games and between different modes of operation, including batch mode and continuous mode. The remote control unit includes a housing, a controller disposed therein, a display in electrical communication with the controller, and at least one user-operated key in electrical communication with the controller for electrically communicating a shuffle command to said shuffling machine allowing the dealer to select between various modes of operation, including batch mode, continuous mode, and between various games to be played.

Claims

1. A remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus, comprising:

a) a playing card shuffling machine for selectively shuffling cards for at least two different card games having different card shuffling requirements and adapted to receive at least one deck of unshuffled playing cards at an input area and to discharge shuffled playing cards at an output area, said playing card shuffling machine having at least two selectable modes of operation, said at least two modes of operation being defined by said at least two different card games, said at least two modes of operation being selectable in response to a mode selection signal;

b) controller means disposed within and operatively connected to said playing card shuffling machine and adapted to receive at least a mode selection command and to create a mode selection signal representative thereof so as to select one of said at least two modes of operation in response thereto; and

c) command generation means disposed remotely from said playing card shuffling machine and operatively connected to said controller means, for generating at least a mode selection command, said command generation means comprising means for displaying a textual message indicative of a currently selected mode of operation disposed within said command generation means and operatively connected to said controller means.

2. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least two modes of operation further comprise at least a batch shuffling mode and a continuous shuffling mode.

3. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one test operating mode, each of said at least one test modes of operation being adapted to test at least one condition of said playing card shuffling machine.

4. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said controller means comprises a microprocessor, said microprocessor further comprising memory means adapted for storing at least one microprocessor executable instructions for allowing selection of said at least two modes of operation.

5. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said operative connection between said command generation means, said display means, and said controller means comprise an electrical cable.

6. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said operative connection between said command generation means, said display means, and said controller means comprise a two-way, wireless communication link.

7. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said memory means is further adapted to contain a list of possible game modes of operation, and said display means is adapted to display said list of possible games modes, and wherein at least one of said game modes of operation may be selected from said list of possible game modes of operation.

8. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said message comprises a textual message.

9. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said textual message comprises a menu.

10. The remotely-controlled, multi-mode playing card shuffling apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said textual message comprises a status message indicative of a condition of said playing card shuffling machine.

11. A method for switching operating modes of a playing card shuffling machine, the steps comprising:

a) providing a playing card shuffling machine adapted for selectively shuffling cards for at least two different card games having different card shuffling requirements, thereby defining at least two operating modes, said playing card shuffling machine being capable of changing operating modes upon command;

b) providing a control panel adapted for both generating at least a mode changing command and displaying a message indicative of an operating mode of said card shuffling machine and locating said control panel remotely from said card shuffling machine;

c) generating an operating mode selecting command at said control panel; and

d) displaying a message indicative of the operating mode of said card shuffling machine on said display.

12. The method for switching operating modes of a playing card shuffling machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said display comprises means for displaying a menu of operating mode selections, and said operating mode selecting command is generated utilizing said menu.

13. The method for switching operating modes of a playing card shuffling machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least two modes of operation comprise at least a batch shuffling mode and a continuous shuffling mode.

14. The method for switching operating modes of a playing card shuffling machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least two modes of operation comprise at least one test operating mode, each of said at least one test modes of operation being adapted to test at least one function of said playing card shuffling machine.

15. The method for switching operating modes of a playing card shuffling machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said card shuffling machine comprises a microprocessor, said microprocessor further comprising memory means adapted for storing microprocessor executable instructions for allowing selection of said at least two modes of operation.

16. The method for switching operating modes of a playing card shuffling machine as recited in claim 11 wherein said control panel is operatively connected to said card shuffling machine by an electrical cable.

17. The method for switching operating modes of a playing card shuffling machine as recited in claim 11 wherein said control panel is operatively connected to said card shuffling machine by a two-way wireless communications link.