Token counting using scanner

• US 6,425,817 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blash Momemy
• Original Assignee: Blash Momemy
• Inventors: Momemy, Blash
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/548,521
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 453/17, 453/58, 453/60, 377/7, 377/14
• US Class Current: 453/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/06 Devices for stacking or otherwise arranging coins on a support, e.g. apertured plate for use in counting coins

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a technique is provided to count tokens on a gaming table. A sensor senses a characteristic of each token in a plurality of tokens in a token holder on the gaming table. The characteristic represents a valuation of each token. A token processing unit coupled to the sensor to process the sensed characteristic to determine a count of the plurality of tokens.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor to sense a characteristic of each token of a plurality of tokens in a token holder on a gaming table, the characteristic representing a valuation of each token, the sensor comprising an image scanner mounted below the token holder to generate an image of the tokens, the image containing an identifying feature and a counting feature, the identifying feature corresponding to the characteristic of the plurality of tokens; and

a token processing unit coupled to the sensor to process the sensed characteristic to determine a count of the plurality of tokens, the token processing unit comprising an image analyzer to analyze the image of the tokens to extract the identifying and counting features, and a counter coupled to the image analyzer to generate the count of the plurality of tokens according to the extracted identifying and counting features, the counter dividing the counting feature of the plurality of tokens having similar identifying feature by a corresponding predetermined counting unit to generate a quotient, the quotient corresponding to the count of the plurality of tokens.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identifying feature is one of a size, a color, and an image density.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the counting feature is one of an aggregate thickness of the plurality of tokens and an aggregate size of the plurality of tokens.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the token processing unit further comprises:

a recorder to record the count in a storage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the token processing unit further comprises:

a display controller to display the count on a display.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprises:

a network interface coupled to the token processing unit and a network to allow exchange information between the token processing unit with a remote server, the information including the recorded count.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the remote server sends a command to the token processing unit, the command controlling exchanging the information.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the remote server sends a command to the token processing unit, the command controlling exchanging the information.

9. A method comprising:

sensing a characteristic of each token of a plurality of tokens in a token holder on a gaming table, the characteristic representing a valuation of each token, the sensing comprising generating an image of the tokens, the image containing an identifying feature and a counting feature, the identifying feature corresponding to the characteristic of the plurality of tokens; and

processing the sensed characteristic to determine a count of the plurality of tokens based on the sensed characteristic, the processing comprising analyzing the image of the tokens to extract the identifying and counting features, and generating the count of the plurality of tokens according to the extracted identifying and counting features, generating the count comprising dividing the counting feature of the plurality of tokens having similar identifying feature by a corresponding predetermined counting unit to generate a quotient, the quotient corresponding to the count of the plurality of tokens.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the identifying feature is one of a size, a color, and an image density.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the counting feature is one of an aggregate thickness of the plurality of tokens and an aggregate size of the plurality of tokens.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein processing further comprises:

recording the count in astorage.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein processing further comprises:

displaying the count on a display.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprises:

exchanging information between the token processing unit with a remote server via a network interface, the information including the recorded count.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein exchanging information comprises sending a command from the server to the token processing unit, the command controlling exchanging the information.

16. A system comprising:

a gaming table;

a token holder located on the gaming table to hold a plurality of tokens; and

a table control unit comprising;

a sensor to sense a characteristic of each token of a plurality of tokens in a token holder on a gaming table;

the characteristic representing a valuation of each token, the sensor comprising an image scanner mounted below the token holder to generate an image of the tokens, the image containing an identifying feature and a counting feature, the identifying feature corresponding to the characteristic of the plurality of tokens, and

a token processing unit coupled to the sensor to process the sensed characteristic to determine a count of the plurality of tokens, the token processing unit comprising an image analyzer to analyze the image of the tokens to extract the identifying and counting features, and

a counter coupled to the image analyzer to generate the count of the plurality of tokens according to the extracted identifying and counting features, the counter dividing the counting feature of the plurality of tokens having similar identifying feature by a corresponding predetermined counting unit to generate a quotient, the quotient corresponding to the count of the plurality of tokens.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the identifying feature is one of a size, a color, and an image density.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the counting feature is one of an aggregate thickness of the plurality of tokens and an aggregate size of the plurality of tokens.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the token processing unit further comprises:

a recorder to record the count in a storage.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the token processing unit further comprises:

a display controller to display the count on a display.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the table control unit further comprises:

a network interface coupled to the token processing unit and a network to allow exchange information between the token processing unit with a remote server, the information including the recorded count.