OVERLAPPING ANTENNA ARRAYS FOR GAMING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for locating gaming tokens on a gaming table, comprising:
- a first set of antennas oriented in a first direction, wherein the first set of antennas defines a betting area of the gaming table, and wherein the first set includes a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, wherein the first subset and the second subset are overlapping;
a second set of antennas oriented in a second direction that differs from the first direction, wherein the first set and the second set are overlapping, wherein the second set includes a third subset of antennas and a fourth subset of antennas, wherein the third subset and the fourth subset are overlapping; and
a control circuit, coupled to the first and second sets, that is configured to selectively energize the first and second sets, that is configured to receive a first plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) gaming token in the betting area according to the first set being selectively energized, that is configured to receive a second plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading the RFID gaming token in the betting area according to the second set being selectively energized, and that is configured to determine a location of the RFID gaming token in the betting area by comparing the first plurality of signal strengths and the second plurality of signal strengths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of locating gaming tokens on a gaming table. Two sets of overlapping antennas are arranged in intersecting directions. The system uses the data from intersecting antennas to determine the positions of the gaming tokens. Having overlapping antennas reduces dead spots.
49 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for locating gaming tokens on a gaming table, comprising:
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a first set of antennas oriented in a first direction, wherein the first set of antennas defines a betting area of the gaming table, and wherein the first set includes a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, wherein the first subset and the second subset are overlapping; a second set of antennas oriented in a second direction that differs from the first direction, wherein the first set and the second set are overlapping, wherein the second set includes a third subset of antennas and a fourth subset of antennas, wherein the third subset and the fourth subset are overlapping; and a control circuit, coupled to the first and second sets, that is configured to selectively energize the first and second sets, that is configured to receive a first plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) gaming token in the betting area according to the first set being selectively energized, that is configured to receive a second plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading the RFID gaming token in the betting area according to the second set being selectively energized, and that is configured to determine a location of the RFID gaming token in the betting area by comparing the first plurality of signal strengths and the second plurality of signal strengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of locating gaming tokens on a gaming table, comprising:
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providing a first set of antennas oriented in a first direction, wherein the first set of antennas defines a betting area of the gaming table, and wherein the first set includes a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, wherein the first subset and the second subset are overlapping; providing a second set of antennas oriented in a second direction that differs from the first direction, wherein the first set and the second set are overlapping, wherein the second set includes a third subset of antennas and a fourth subset of antennas, wherein the third subset and the fourth subset are overlapping; selectively energizing the first and second sets; receiving a first plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) gaming token in the betting area according to the first set being selectively energized; receiving a second plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading the RFID gaming token in the betting area according to the second set being selectively energized; and determining a location of the RFID gaming token in the betting area by comparing the first plurality of signal strengths and the second plurality of signal strengths.
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16. A system for locating gaming tokens on a gaming table, comprising:
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a first set of antennas oriented in a first direction, wherein the first set of antennas defines a betting area of the gaming table, and wherein the first set includes a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, wherein the first subset and the second subset are overlapping; and a control circuit, coupled to the first set, that is configured to selectively energize the first and second subsets, that is configured to receive a first signal strength resulting from reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) gaming token in the betting area according to the first subset being selectively energized, that is configured to receive a second signal strength resulting from reading the RFID gaming token in the betting area according to the second subset being selectively energized, and that is configured to determine a location of the RFID gaming token in the betting area by interpolating between the first signal strength and the second signal strength.
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17. A method of locating gaming tokens on a gaming table, comprising:
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providing a first set of antennas oriented in a first direction, wherein the first set of antennas defines a betting area of the gaming table, and wherein the first set includes a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, wherein the first subset and the second subset are overlapping; selectively energizing the first and second subsets; receiving a first signal strength resulting from reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) gaming token in the betting area according to the first subset being selectively energized; receiving a second signal strength resulting from reading the RFID gaming token in the betting area according to the second subset being selectively energized; and determining a location of the RFID gaming token in the betting area by interpolating between the first signal strength and the second signal strength.
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18. A system for locating gaming tokens on a gaming table, comprising:
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a first set of antennas oriented in a first direction, wherein the first set of antennas defines a betting area of the gaming table, and wherein the first set includes a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, wherein the first subset and the second subset are overlapping; a second set of antennas oriented in a second direction that differs from the first direction, wherein the first set and the second set are overlapping; and a control circuit, coupled to the first and second sets, that is configured to selectively energize the first and second sets, that is configured to receive a first plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) gaming token in the betting area according to the first set being selectively energized, that is configured to receive a second plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading the RFID gaming token in the betting area according to the second set being selectively energized, and that is configured to determine a location of the RFID gaming token in the betting area by comparing the first plurality of signal strengths and the second plurality of signal strengths.
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19. A method of locating gaming tokens on a gaming table, comprising:
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providing a first set of antennas oriented in a first direction, wherein the first set of antennas defines a betting area of the gaming table, and wherein the first set includes a first subset of antennas and a second subset of antennas, wherein the first subset and the second subset are overlapping; providing a second set of antennas oriented in a second direction that differs from the first direction, wherein the first set and the second set are overlapping; selectively energizing the first and second sets; receiving a first plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) gaming token in the betting area according to the first set being selectively energized; receiving a second plurality of signal strengths resulting from reading the RFID gaming token in the betting area according to the second set being selectively energized; and determining a location of the RFID gaming token in the betting area by comparing the first plurality of signal strengths and the second plurality of signal strengths.
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Specification