GAMING TABLE HAVING AN INDUCTIVE INTERFACE AND/OR A POINT OPTICAL ENCODER
First Claim
1. A gaming system comprising:
- at least one device having a first inductive interface member; and
a gaming table having a second inductive interface member located beneath a table surface, the first inductive interface member of the at least one device operably responsive to the second inductive interface member, wherein at least a portion of the table surface physically separates the at least one device from the second inductive interface member of the gaming table.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming table includes an inductive interface and/or a point optical encoder. The inductive interface is located beneath a playing surface of the gaming table and electromagnetically communicates with devices on the gaming table, such as a card shoe. The inductive interface generates an electromagnetic field between the source and the device without these items being in physical contact. Both electrical power and data are transferable through the electromagnetic field. Both the inductive interface and the devices are programmable. The point optical encoder can be in electromagnetic communication with the inductive interface and operate to optically read cards, successively, as the cards are individually removed from the card shoe. The inductive interface generates an electromagnetic field between the source and the device without these items being in physical contact. Both electrical power and data are transferable through the electromagnetic field. Both the inductive interface and the devices are programmable.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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at least one device having a first inductive interface member; and
a gaming table having a second inductive interface member located beneath a table surface, the first inductive interface member of the at least one device operably responsive to the second inductive interface member, wherein at least a portion of the table surface physically separates the at least one device from the second inductive interface member of the gaming table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A gaming table configured to carry at least one device, the gaming table comprising:
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a playing surface on which a game is played;
a first inductive member positioned beneath the playing surface; and
a second inductive member positioned within a device, the first inductive member operable to be in electromagnetic communication with the second inductive member, wherein at least a portion of the table surface physically separates the first inductive member from the second inductive member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A gaming table having a playing surface and at least one device located proximate to the gaming table, the at least one device having a device inductive member, the gaming table comprising:
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a table inductive member positioned beneath the playing surface; and
a power source coupled to the table inductive member to induce an inductive interface between the table inductive member and the device inductive member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A gaming system comprising:
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table means for supporting at least one device;
cover means for covering the table means;
first inductive means for carrying a current in the presence of an electromagnetic field, the first inductive means positioned in the at least one device; and
second inductive means for generating the electromagnetic field, wherein the second inductive means is physically separated from the first inductive means by at least a portion of the cover means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of communication between a device positioned near a gaming table and the gaming table, the gaming table having a first inductive member and the device having a second inductive member positioned to form or interface with the first inductive member, the method comprising:
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energizing the first inductive interface of the gaming table to generate an electromagnetic field; and
receiving an amount of electromagnetic energy at the second inductive interface of the device from the generated electromagnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A gaming table having a playing surface, the gaming table comprising:
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a card shoe positioned on the playing surface of the gaming table, the card shoe including a housing and a chute, the housing holding a plurality of playing cards, the chute configured to permit the playing cards to be removed, one-at-a-time, from the card shoe; and
a point optical encoder positioned in the gaming table proximate the chute of the card shoe, the point optical encoder including an illumination source and a sensor, the illumination source operable to direct light onto at least a portion of at least one of the playing cards after the at least one of the playing cards is removed from the card shoe, the sensor positioned to receive at least some of the light reflected from the at least one of the playing cards. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification