Method and apparatus for monitoring casinos and gaming

• US 6,527,271 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• 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 (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US10/055,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 273/309, 273/148.R, 453/17, 453/58, 453/60, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28, 463/29, 463/46, 463/47
• US Class Current: 273/148.00R
• 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 for automatically monitoring playing and wagering of a game includes 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. A table monitor may be positioned in the chip tray to automatically image the activity occurring at a gaming table.

Claims

1. A chip tray reader for storing chips for wagering, comprising:

a chip tray having a chip carrying surface including a top side and a bottom side, the top side forming a number of wells sized to receive chips therein, a window formed in each of the wells to expose a portion of a circumference of any chips when located in the wells;

a reading head positioned beneath the bottom side of the chip carrying surface, the reading head having a field-of-view including at least a portion of at least one of the windows;

a drive mechanism coupled to drive the reading head.

2. The chip tray reader of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism coupled to drive the reading head with respect to the windows.

3. The chip tray reader of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism received in the chip tray and coupled to drive the reading head with respect to the wells.

4. The chip tray reader of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism received in the chip tray and coupled to selectively align the reading head with each of the windows.

5. The chip tray reader of claim 1 wherein the reading head is a two-dimensional array imager having an image field covering at least two of the windows.

6. The chip tray reader of claim 1 wherein each of the wells have a semi-circular cross-section.

7. The chip tray reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a tinted covering positioned over the window, the tinted covering being at least partially transparent in a selective range of light.

8. The chip tray reader of claim 1 wherein the reading head is sensitive to a non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

9. An apparatus for temporarily holding wagering pieces, comprising:

a carrying surface having a number of receptacles formed therein, each of the number of receptacles sized to receive a number of stacked wagering pieces, and each of the number of receptacles having a window formed therein; and

a reading head opposed across the carrying surface with respect to the wells, the reading head having a field-of-view including at least a portion of at least two of the windows.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a drive mechanism coupled to successively position a field of view of the reading head with respect to each of the windows.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the reading head is a two-dimensional array imager having an image field covering at least two of the windows.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one light source positioned beneath the bottom side of the chip carrying surface; and

wherein the reading head is sensitive to a non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one table imaging camera mounted in the apparatus and having a first table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from a front portion of the apparatus.

14. An apparatus for temporarily holding wagering pieces, comprising:

a carrying surface having a number of receptacles formed therein, each of the number of receptacles sized to receive a number of stacked wagering pieces, and each of the number of receptacles having a window formed therein;

a reading head opposed across the carrying surface with respect to the wells, the reading head having a field of view; and

a drive mechanism coupled to successively position the field of view of the reading head with respect to each of the windows.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the reading head is a two-dimensional array imager having an image field covering at least two of the windows.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one light source positioned beneath the bottom side of the chip carrying surface; and

wherein the reading head is sensitive to a non-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a rail extending laterally with respect to the wells wherein the reading head is mounted for movement along the rail and wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor, a pulley and a belt, the motor coupled to drive the pulley, the pulley coupled to drive the belt and the belt coupled to drive the reading head along the rail.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one table imaging camera opposed across the carrying surface with respect to the wells and having a first table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from a front portion of the apparatus.