Gaming apparatus with proximity switch

• US 6,299,534 B1
• Filed: 12/26/1997
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Breeding, John G., Helgesen, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/998,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 273/309, 273/274, 273/292, 463/13, 463/25, 463/42, 463/12
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00167 with a jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00662 with an electric sensor for playing pieces A63F2009/2444 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

The present invention is for an apparatus for detecting the presence of a gaming token. This apparatus comprises a gaming structure having at least one predetermined location for receiving a gaming token. In a casino, this gaming structure can be a gaming table. At each predetermined location for receiving a gaming token designated on the gaming table, a proximity sensor is mounted to the gaming table such that each sensor is aligned with one predetermined location. A decoder is electrically connected to each proximity sensor for determining whether a gaming token is present at each predetermined location. When the presence of a gaming token is sensed by the decoder, the player'"'"'s bet is registered.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a gaming token, comprising:

(a) a gaming structure having a continuous top surface, a portion of the continuous top surface defining at least one predetermined location for receiving a non-electric gaming token placed thereon, the portion of the continuous top surface defining the at least one predetermined location being non-apertured;

(b) a non-photoelectric proximity sensor for each of the at least one predetermined locations, each proximity sensor mounted directly below the non-apertured continuous top surface where the at least one predetermined location is defined such that each sensor is aligned with and in sensing proximity to one of the at least one predetermined location to sense the presence of a non-electronic gaming token through the non-apertured continuous top surface; and

(c) a decoder electrically connected to each proximity sensor for determining whether a non-electric gaming token is present on the at least one predetermined location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the gaming structure is a gaming table with a gaming surface having at least one predetermined location for receiving a gaming token.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing for receiving the proximity sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a first board having a outer edge and at least one continuous inner edge, said inner edge forming a proximity sensor holder, the proximity sensor holder having dimensions such that the proximity sensor can be received by the proximity sensor holder.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first board comprises a plurality of continuous inner edges forming a plurality of holders, wherein a plurality of lighting devices may be received by the holders.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lighting devices are connected to the decoder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the decoder is a microcontroller.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the decoder is a hard wired circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gaming structure is a video gaming machine having a predetermined location for receiving a gaming token.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one lighting device is present at each of the at least one predetermined location to visually indicate the presence or absence of a gaming token at a corresponding predetermined location.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of lighting devices at each of the at least one predetermined location, the plurality of lighting devices operably connected to the decoder for indicating the presence or absence of a gaming token at the corresponding predetermined location.

12. An apparatus for playing a wagering game with a single, typical fifty-two card poker deck or an electronically generated representation thereof, the cards having standard rank and value, said game involving generally well recognized and accepted five-card poker wager-resolving hand ranking outcomes, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a gaming structure having a continuous top surface, a portion of the continuous top surface defining at least one player position, with each player position having a card area for receiving three cards, a plurality of wagering areas for placing a three-part wager to participate in the game and for placing a non-electronic gaming token representing a one-part wager to participate in an additional game the portion of the continuous flat top surface defining the placement of the one-part wager being non-apertured and non-recessed, wherein a portion of the three-part wager is withdrawable based on the three cards in the card area provided to a player at the at least one player position;

(b) a non-photoelectric proximity sensor for each wagering area related to the additional game, each non-photoelectric proximity sensor mounted directly below the non-apertured continuous top surface where the wagering area for placing the one-part wager is located such that each sensor is aligned with and in sensing proximity to one wagering area related to the additional game to sense the presence of a non-electronic gaming token through the non-apertured continuous top surface; and

(c) a decoder electrically connected to each non-photoelectric proximity sensor for determining whether a gaming token is present at a wagering area related to the additional game.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a housing for receiving the proximity sensor, wherein the housing comprises a first board having a outer edge and at least one continuous inner edge, said inner edge forming a proximity sensor holder, the proximity sensor holder having dimensions such that the proximity sensor can be received by the proximity sensor holder.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of lighting devices, wherein the first board comprises a plurality of continuous inner edges forming a plurality of holders, for receiving the plurality of lighting devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lighting devices are connected to the decoder and are responsive to a signal from the decoder that indicates the presence or absence of a gaming token at a wagering area for participation in the additional game.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the decoder is a microcontroller.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gaming structure is a gaming table.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gaming structure is a video gaming machine.

19. An apparatus for playing an additional game in conjunction with a wagering game with a single, typical fifty-two card poker deck, the cards having standard rank and value, said game involving generally well recognized and accepted five-card poker wager-resolving hand ranking outcomes, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a gaming table having a continuous top surface, a portion of the continuous top surface defining a plurality player positions, with each player position having a plurality of wagering areas for placing a wager to participate in the game and for placing a non-electronic gaming token representing a wager to participate in the additional game, the portion of the continuous top surface defining the wagering area to participate in the additional game being non-apertured;

(b) a non-photoelectric proximity sensor for each wagering area related to the additional game, each non-photoelectric proximity sensor mounted directly below the non-apertured continuous top surface where the wager to participate in the additional game is located such that each sensor is aligned with and in sensing proximity to one wagering area related to the additional game to sense the presence of a non-electronic gaming token through the non-apertured continuous top surface; and

(c) a microcontroller electrically connected to each non-photoelectric proximity sensor for encoding betting information related to the additional game from each non-photoelectric proximity sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a housing for receiving the proximity sensor, wherein the housing comprises a first board having a outer edge and at least one continuous inner edge, said inner edge forming a proximity sensor holder, the proximity sensor holder having dimensions such that the proximity sensor can be received by the proximity sensor holder.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of lighting devices, wherein the first board comprises a plurality of continuous inner edges forming a plurality of holders, for receiving the plurality of lighting devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the lighting devices are connected to the microcontroller and are responsive to a signal from the decoder that indicates the presence or absence of a gaming token at a wagering area for participation in the additional game.