Method and apparatus for fraud detection

• US 20030062243A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,736,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/328
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/041 with means, other than for testing currency, for dealing with inserted foreign matter, e.g. "stuffing", "stringing" or "salting"
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/044 Automatic detection of the flexible member

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting fraud upon a money or token accepting device is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus operates in a coin path configured to accept and direct a coin. Prior to credit being provided for a coin or other item of value, the method and apparatus detects and/or analyzes objects in the coin path. The fraud detection system may comprise a sensor mounted to monitor a coin rake or other gating device and/or one or more emitter/detector pairs located in the coin path that transmit energy across the coin path for detection by a detector. The emitter/detector pairs may utilize complex signal schemes to detect fraud perpetration devices. Upon detection of fraud, the money acceptance system will not provide credit or product and a warning or signal may be provided to authorities or to tilt the machine to prevent further attempts at fraud.

Claims

1. A system for detecting fraudulent coin or token submission to a gaming device comprising:

one or more light sources configured to generate light energy;

one or more light detectors configured to detect light energy;

one or more modulators configured to generate and provide one or more modulated signals to the one or more light sources; and

a controller connected to at least one of the one or more modulators and at least one of the one or more light detectors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light energy is selected from the group consisting of light in the ultraviolet, infrared, or visible spectrum.

3. The system of claim 1, further including one or more electro-optical convertors between the one or more light detectors and the controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller further includes compare logic configured to receive and compare the output from the one or more light detectors with output of the modulator.

5. A method for detecting the possible perpetration of fraud on a gaming machine comprising;

generating a signal that changes over time;

providing the signal to an emitter and a control module, the emitter configured to emit energy from a first side to a second side of the coin path;

receiving, at a second side, the energy emitted from the first side to the second side; and

comparing the signal provided to the emitter with the energy received at the second side.

6. The method of claim 5, further including generating a fraud indication signal if the comparing reveals that the signal provided to the emitter is not generally identical to a signal representing the energy received at the second side.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the energy is a light signal and the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal that changes over time comprises a frequency modulated signal.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal that changes over time comprises an amplitude modulated signal.

10. The method of claim 5, further including timing the blockage;

and comparing the time of the blockage to a stored value.

11. A system for a coin detector with a fraud detection capability comprising;

a coin detector having a coin rake, the coin rake being movable between a first position and range of other positions;

an emitter configured to emit light energy;

a receiver located to receive light energy from the emitter;

said receiving light energy dependant on the position of the coin rake; and

a controller configured to analyze data from the receiver and the coin detector to thereby determine the position of the coin rake.

12. The system of claim 11, further including a frequency to voltage converter configured to convert the signal having a voltage that is directly related to the frequency.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver comprises a light sensor

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

15. The system of claim 11, further including a timer and comparator configured to time the duration that the coin rake is in other than the first position and a comparator to compare the time the duration to a stored value to determine if an object is preventing the coin rake from returning to the first position.

16. A fraud prevention system including a coin detector in a coin path, the system comprising:

a coin detector having a coin rake, the coin rake having a first position when a coin is not passing through and a plurality of other positions at least one of which is entered when a coin is passing by the coin rake;

a sensor configured to provide an output regarding the position of the coin rake;

a timer configured to time duration of changes in sensor output;

a comparator configured to compare the time duration of the change in sensor output to a stored value to determine if fraud is occurring.

17. The fraud prevention system of claim 16, wherein the sensor comprises a light emitting device and an associated receiver.

18. The fraud prevention system of claim 17, wherein the light emitting device comprises a device configured to emit light, the light consisting of light in any of the visible light spectrum, the infrared spectrum, and the ultraviolet spectrum.

19. The fraud prevention system of claim 16, wherein the comparator comprises a Intel 89C51 imbedded controller.

20. The fraud prevention system of claim 16, wherein the stored value comprises a value representing a time duration required for passage through the coin rake of a valid coin or token.

21. A method for detecting an object in a coin path comprising:

monitoring a coin rake detector to determine the position of the coin rake detector, the coin rake detector movable between a first position and second position;

timing the period between when the coin rake moves from the first position to when the coin rake returns to the first position;

comparing the period to a stored value representative of a known duration for a valid coin to pass through the coin rake;

generating a signal if the comparing determines the period exceeds the known duration.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the coin rake detector comprise a emitter/receiver pair configured to monitor the position of the coin rake.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first position is the position assumed by the coin rake when a coin or token is not passing through the coin rake.

24. The method of claim 21, further including the step of actuating the coin rake.

25. A system for detecting fraudulent coin or token submission to a gaming device comprising:

one or more energy sources configured to emit energy, the energy sources receiving one or more inputs;

one or more energy detectors configured to detect energy emitted from the one or more energy sources and generate an electrical signal representative of the detected energy;

at least one frequency to voltage convertor configured to generate a signal having a voltage level dependant on the frequency of the electrical signal from the receiver;

a controller configured to receive the signal having a voltage level and to provide one or more inputs to the one or more energy sources, the controller further configured to compare the one or more inputs to the signal having a voltage level to determine if fraud is occurring.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the energy sources comprise a light source and the energy detectors comprise light detectors.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the controller comprises a comparator and a frequency generator.

28. The system of claim 25, further including a modulator configured to receive the one or more inputs from the controller to the energy sources and provide modulated inputs to the one or more energy sources.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the light energy is selected from the group consisting of light in the ultraviolet, infrared, or visible spectrum.

30. The system of claim 25, further including one or more electro-optical convertors between the one or more light detectors and the controller.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the controller further includes compare logic configured to receive and compare the output from the one or more light detectors with output of the modulator.

32. A method for detecting passage of other than a valid coin or token in a coin path comprising:

generating one or more signals;

modulating the one or more signals, wherein each signal may have a different modulation scheme;

providing the one or more modulated signals to one or more emitters;

receiving one or more signals from one or more receivers;

converting the frequency of the one or more received signals to a corresponding voltage level;

comparing the one or more modulated signals provided one or more emitters to the received one or more signals after conversion to a corresponding voltage level.

33. The method of claim 32, further including generating a fraud alert if the comparing determines that any one of the one or more modulated signals does not match a corresponding one or the received signal after conversion to a corresponding voltage level.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the modulating comprises frequency modulation.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein there are three emitters and three receivers.

36. The method of claim 32, further including randomly changing the modulation scheme of the one or more signals.

37. A fraud prevention system for inclusion in a coin path of a device configured to accept and provide credits for coins or tokens, the system comprising:

a coin path configured to direct a coin between one or more guides;

a detector located within the coin path, the detector configured to be activated by the passage of a object to thereby generate an output;

a comparator configured to compare the output of the detector to a valid detector output to determine if passage of the object was an event for which credit will be provided.

38. The fraud prevention system of claim 37, wherein the detector comprises a pizo-electric device.

39. The fraud prevention system of claim 37, wherein the valid detector output comprises a range of valid detector outputs generated by activation of the detector by the passage of a valid coin or token.

40. A method for detecting the presence of a foreign object in a coin path comprising:

monitoring a sensor, the sensor providing an output regarding the entry of an object into the coin path;

comparing the sensor output to stored parameters to determine if the sensor output falls within the stored parameters; and

generating an alert if the comparing determines that the sensor output does not fall within the stored parameters.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the sensor comprises a device configured to outwardly emit energy in the direction of a receiver.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the stored parameters comprise data regarding presence of a valid object through the coin path.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the alert comprises a signal that tilts the machine.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein a foreign object does not include a coin.