Method and apparatus for monitoring casinos and gaming

• US 6,517,436 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital Table Systems LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: MindPlay LLC (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US10/015,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 348/143, 348/151, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/159
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/242 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A system automatically monitors playing and wagering of a game. A table monitor in a chip tray automatically images the activity occurring at a gaming table. Periodic comparison of the images identify wagering, as well as the appearance, removal and position of cards and other game objects on the gaming table. The chip tray may also include a chip tray reader that automatically images the contents of a chip tray, to periodically determine the number and value of chips in the chip tray, and to compare the change in contents of the chip tray to the outcome of game play for verifying that the proper amounts have been paid out and collected. The system can produce measurements relevant to providing automated security, real-time accounting and a basis for automatically allocating complimentary player benefits.

Claims

1. A gaming table monitor, comprising:

a chip tray having a base including a front portion, and a chip carrying surface supported by the base, the chip carrying surface including a number of wells sized to receive chips therein; and

a first table imaging camera mounted in the chip tray, the first table imaging camera having a first table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from the front portion of the base.

2. The game table monitor of claim 1 wherein the base includes a rear portion opposed to the front potion, the front portion being taller than the rear portion such that the carrying surface is sloped with respect to a playing surface of a gaming table when the base is located on the playing surface.

3. The game table monitor of claim 1 wherein the first table imaging camera is mounted in the front portion of the side wall.

4. The game table monitor of claim 1 wherein the front portion of the side wall includes at least a first aperture aligned with the first table imaging field-of-view of the first table imaging camera.

5. The game table monitor of claim 1, further comprising:

a second table imaging camera mounted in the chip tray and having a second table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from the front portion of the base, the second table imaging field-of-view different from and the first table imaging field-of-view.

6. The game table monitor of claim 1 wherein each of the wells includes a window positioned in the well to expose a portion of a circumference of any chips in the wells, and further comprising:

a chip reading head coupled to the chip tray having a field-of-view alignable with at least one of the windows.

7. The game table monitor of claim 1, further comprising:

a second table imaging camera mounted in the chip tray and having a second table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from the front portion of the base, the second table imaging field-of-view different from and the first table imaging field-of-view; and

a digital signal processing circuit coupled to receive input signals at an input from the first and the second table imaging cameras and coupled to produce video output signals at an output.

8. A gaming table monitor, comprising:

a chip tray having a base, a chip carrying surface spaced from the base, and a sidewall extending between the chip carrying surface and the base; and

a first table imager mounted in the chip tray and having a field-of-view extending outwardly from the sidewall.

9. The gaming table monitor of claim 8, further comprising:

at least a second table imager mounted in the chip tray and having a field-of-view extending outwardly from the sidewall.

10. The gaming table monitor of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of additional table imagers mounted in the chip tray, each of the table imagers having a respective field-of-view, the imagers positioned in the chip tray to provide at least an 180 degree accumulated field-of-view.

11. The gaming table monitor of claim 8 wherein the first imager is a complimentary-metal oxide semiconductor color sensor.

12. The gaming table monitor of claim 8, further comprising:

eight additional imagers mounted in the chip tray, each of the imagers being a complimentary-metal oxide semiconductor color sensor having a respective field-of-view, the imagers positioned in the chip tray with partially overlapping fields-of-view to provide an approximately 180 degree accumulated field-of-view of the surface of the gaming table.

13. The gaming table monitor of claim 8 wherein the side wall includes a rear portion and front potion opposed to the rear portion, the front portion being taller than the rear portion with respect to the base, the front portion of the side wall including at least a first aperture, and wherein the field-of-view of the first imager is aligned with the first aperture.

14. The gaming table monitor of claim 8 wherein the side wall includes a rear portion and front potion opposed to the rear portion, the front portion being taller than the rear portion with respect to the base, the front portion of the side wall including at least a first aperture, and wherein the first imager is mounted in the first aperture.

15. A gaming table monitor, comprising:

a chip tray having a base including a front portion, and a chip carrying surface supported by the base, the chip carrying surface including a number of wells sized to receive chips therein; and

means for table imaging mounted in the chip tray and having a first table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from the front portion of the base.

16. The gaming table monitor of claim 15, wherein the table imaging means includes a plurality of complimentary-metal oxide semiconductor color sensors positioned in the chip tray to have partially overlapping fields-of-view to provide an approximately 180 degree accumulated field-of-view of the surface of the gaming table.

17. The gaming table monitor of claim 15 wherein the imaging means includes a nine complimentary-metal oxide semiconductor color sensors positioned in the chip tray to have partially overlapping fields-of-view to provide an approximately 180 degree accumulated field-of-view of the surface of the gaming table.

18. The gaming table monitor of claim 15 wherein the imaging means has at least an 180 degree accumulated field-of-view of the playing surface of the gaming table.