Card reading shoe with card stop feature and systems utilizing the same

• US 20090140492A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Wadds, Nathan J., Grauzer, Attila, Yoseloff, Mark L., Jackson, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,490,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2419 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A semi-automatic gaming table system is disclosed, comprising; a gaming table surface; at least one playing card delivery device, the playing card delivery device comprising a card storage area, an internal processor, a card moving system, a delivery end and a card imaging system; a plurality of electronic player interfaces mounted in the gaming table surface that communicate with a game controller; a game controller, the game controller programmed to communicate with the internal processor and the player interfaces, to detect at least one condition and respond by instructing the card handling system to stop delivering cards to the delivery end. A method of monitoring play of a casino card game is disclosed, the method comprising: a player electronically making a wager on a semi-automatic gaming system; a dealer dealing physical cards to each player from a card handling device; automatically sensing a rank and/or suit of cards being delivered; automatically determining a number of cards dealt to each player; and when a predetermined condition is sensed, directing a card handling device to cease moving cards to a delivery end, wherein one card is available for removal until the condition is cleared.

Claims

1. A semi automatic gaming table system comprising;

a gaming table surface;

at least one playing card delivery device, the playing card delivery device comprising a card storage area, an internal processor, a card moving system, a delivery end and a card imaging system;

a plurality of electronic player interfaces mounted in the gaming table surface that communicate with a game controller; and

a game controller, the game controller programmed to communicate with the internal processor and the player interfaces, to detect at least one condition and respond by instructing the card handling system to stop delivering cards to the delivery end.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the game controller and the player interfaces is bi-directional.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the game controller and the shoe'"'"'s internal processor is bi-directional.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein when the condition is a misdeal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the misdeal comprises removing a card from the shoe without the system directing a dealer to remove and deliver a card.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to a condition, the system generates an alert signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the alert signal is selected from the group consisting of an audible alarm and a visual alarm.

8. The system of claim 6, and in response to the alert signal, a player and/or dealer is required to input a “

clear”

command before the playing card delivery device resumes card movement.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the playing card delivery device further comprises:

a first card moving system for moving cards from the card storage area to a card imaging area;

a card imaging area; and

a second card moving system for moving cards from the card imaging area to the delivery end, wherein the delivery end comprises a slot for the manual removal of individual cards, and wherein the second card moving system is disabled when a condition is detected.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the condition is a misdeal.

11. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a dealer interface for clearing the at least one condition.

12. The system of claim 1, and further comprising at least one of a user interface, a dealer interface and a dealer swipe for clearing the at least one condition.

13. The system of claim 1, and further comprising an overhead camera imaging system for identifying rank and/or suit of cards, wherein a signal from the imaging system is generated and sent to the game controller.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic player interfaces enable electronic wagering.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic player interfaces enable input of game play decisions.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein game play decisions are selected from the group consisting of:

making a game wager, making a side bet wager, determining wager amount, calling for a hit card, discarding a card, standing, using at least one common card, switching cards, determining a rank and/or suit of a wild card, setting a hand, folding, taking insurance, splitting pairs, doubling down, checking, raising, rolling dice, replacing a hand, completing a partial hand and surrendering cards.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of dealing a playing card erroneously face up, dealing a playing card to a wrong player position, and dealing a wrong number of playing cards.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein physical cards are used in the card handling device.

36. The game play monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor comprises a processor internal to the card handling device and the processor is programmed with the game rules of baccarat.

19. A method of monitoring play of a casino card game, comprising:

a player electronically making a wager on a semi-automatic gaming system;

a dealer dealing physical cards to each player from a card handling device;

automatically sensing a rank and/or suit of cards being delivered; and

automatically determining a number of cards dealt to each player, and when a predetermined condition is sensed, directing a card handling device to cease moving cards to a delivery end, wherein one card is available for removal until the predetermined condition is cleared.

20. The method of claim 19, and further comprising the step of clearing the predetermined condition.

21. A game play monitoring system, comprising:

a card dispensing shoe, wherein the shoe comprises a storage area for holding a group of cards, a card reading system, a card moving system, a card output end, and at least one processor, wherein the card output end is configured for manual removal of individual cards; and

wherein the processor is programmed to recognize and respond to at least one predetermined condition, and when a signal is received indicative of the at least one predetermined condition, the processor instructs the card moving system to stop moving cards to the card output end.

22. The game play monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the at least one predetermined condition is selected from the group consisting of:

a back door of the shoe is open, an inaccurate card count, excess cards dealt, a deficiency of cards found, an unrecognized card and a misdeal.

23. The game play monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the programming that responds to the at least one predetermined condition is capable of being disabled during initial configuration.

24. The game play monitoring system of claim 21, wherein in response to sensing the at least one predetermined condition, a signal indicative of an alert is generated.

25. The game play monitoring system of claim 24, wherein the signal indicative of an alert generates a sound.

26. The game play monitoring system of claim 24, wherein the signal indicative of an alert generates a visual alert.

27. The game play monitoring system of claim 21, wherein after the at least one predetermined condition is sensed, the condition is cleared by a user action.

28. The game play monitoring system of claim 27, wherein the user action is selected from the group consisting of:

the player pressing a continue button, the dealer pressing a continue button, the dealer swiping an authorization card, and combinations thereof.

29. The game play monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the shoe comprises a door, and when the at least one predetermined condition relates to the door being open, providing a magnetic sensor that senses when the door is open.

30. The game play monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the shoe comprises a door, and further comprising a programmable key to access the door.

31. The game play monitoring system of claim 21, wherein a signal indicative of a condition is transmitted to an external processor.

32. The system of claim 31, and further comprising an external processor, and wherein in response to receiving a signal from the external processor, the shoe processor instructs the card moving system to stop moving cards.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is internal to the shoe.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is external to the shoe.

35. A game play monitoring system, comprising:

a card handling device, comprising a storage area for holding a group of cards, a card reading system, a card moving system, a card output end, a display, a user interface associated with the display and at least one processor, wherein the card output end is configured for manual removal of individual cards; and

wherein the processor is programmed to display at least a “

burn”

card selection on the display and wherein the processor responds to a burn command inputted on the user interface by disregarding the burn card in determining game outcome.

37. The game play monitoring system of claim 35, wherein the card handling device is selected from the group consisting of a shoe and a shuffler.

38. The game play monitoring system of claim 35, wherein the processor is programmed to display a “

play”

card command, and the user interface provides a selection between “

burn” and

“

play”

.