Dice scanner

• US 6,834,855 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaming Partners International USA Inc (Angel Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Gaming Partners International USA Inc (Angel Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mancuso, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Dolores R.
• Application Number:
  US09/972,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 273/146, 273/138.2
• US Class Current: 273/146
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0497 Manufacturing of dice
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0615 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/242 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0415 Details of dice, e.g. non-cuboid dice
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A coded representation of a verification number is printed in a bar code strip. The strip is embedded in a face of a die. The face is scanned by a scanner that is programmed to provide an indication that the coded representation is printed on the strip.

Claims

1. Apparatus for verifying an identification of a die, comprising:

a bar code strip with a coded representation of a verification character printed thereon, said strip being connected to a face of the die; and

a bar code scanner that is programmed to provide on indication that said coded representation is printed on said strip in response to said face being scanned by said scanner.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a lamp included in said scanner, said indication being an illumination of said lamp.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally including means for slidably mounting said scanner on a side rail of a dice table.

4. In the method of providing a translucent die with a verifiable identity to a casino, comprising the steps of:

manufacturing the die with a face connected to a bar code strip, a coded representation of a verification character being printed on said strip;

providing a wrapper with the verification character printed on its interior surface;

sealing the die in said wrapper so that only an outer surface of said wrapper is exposed to view;

shipping the sealed die to the casino;

unwrapping the die whereby the verification character becomes known in the casino; and

providing a scanner that is programmed to indicate that the coded representation is printed on the strip when the face is scanned by said scanner.

5. A gaming device for a casino, comprising:

a die; and

a bar code strip whereon a coded representation of a verification character is printed, said strip being connected to a face of said die.