Illuminated player tracking card for a gaming apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a gaming apparatus and a player tracking card;
said gaming apparatus comprising a housing, a display unit associated with said housing and capable of generating video images, a value input device, a card reader, and a controller;
said card reader comprising a first light generating source, a second light generating source, and a data reading apparatus, said first light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light corresponding to a first visible color, and said second light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light corresponding to a second visible color, said controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, and said card reader, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo, said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker, said video image is an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots, said video image is an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack, said video image is an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno, said video image is an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo, said controller being programmed to determine an outcome of said game represented by said video image and a value payout associated with said outcome of said game;
said player tracking card disposed in said card reader, said player tracking card comprising a data storage device, a first card surface, a second card surface, and a light transmissive body portion, said data storage device adapted to store data representing the identification of a player, and said light transmissive body portion extending between said first card surface and said second card surface;
said player tracking card being positioned in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed in said card reader so that said first card surface is positioned adjacent said first and second light generating sources associated with said card reader, and said second card surface of said player tracking card remains visible outside said card reader; and
when said player tracking card is in said card illumination position, lights generated by said first and second light generating sources are transmitted into said first card surface of said player tracking card and are transmitted through said light transmissive body portion of said player tracking card so that said lights are visible to said user through said second card surface.
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Abstract
A gaming apparatus is provided which includes a display unit, a value input device, and a card reader having a light generating source and a data reading apparatus. The gaming apparatus also includes a controller having a processor and a memory that is programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image representing a casino game to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the game represented by the video image, to determine a value payout associated with the outcome of the game, and also including a player tracking card disposed in the card reader and having a data storage device; a plurality of card surfaces; and a light transmissive body portion.
58 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a gaming apparatus and a player tracking card;
said gaming apparatus comprising a housing, a display unit associated with said housing and capable of generating video images, a value input device, a card reader, and a controller;
said card reader comprising a first light generating source, a second light generating source, and a data reading apparatus, said first light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light corresponding to a first visible color, and said second light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light corresponding to a second visible color, said controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, and said card reader, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo, said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker, said video image is an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots, said video image is an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack, said video image is an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno, said video image is an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo, said controller being programmed to determine an outcome of said game represented by said video image and a value payout associated with said outcome of said game;
said player tracking card disposed in said card reader, said player tracking card comprising a data storage device, a first card surface, a second card surface, and a light transmissive body portion, said data storage device adapted to store data representing the identification of a player, and said light transmissive body portion extending between said first card surface and said second card surface;
said player tracking card being positioned in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed in said card reader so that said first card surface is positioned adjacent said first and second light generating sources associated with said card reader, and said second card surface of said player tracking card remains visible outside said card reader; and
when said player tracking card is in said card illumination position, lights generated by said first and second light generating sources are transmitted into said first card surface of said player tracking card and are transmitted through said light transmissive body portion of said player tracking card so that said lights are visible to said user through said second card surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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a gaming apparatus and a player tracking card;
said gaming apparatus comprising a housing, a display unit associated with said housing and capable of generating video images, a value input device, a card reader, and a controller;
said card reader comprising a visible light generating source and a data reading apparatus, said visible light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light having a wavelength visible to a player, and said controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, and said card reader, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a casino game, said controller being programmed to determine, after said video image has been displayed, an outcome of said casino game represented by said video image and to determine a value payout associated with said outcome of said casino game; and
said player tracking card disposed in said gaming apparatus comprising a data storage device, a first card surface, a second card surface, and a light transmissive body portion, said data storage device adapted to store data representative of the identification of a player;
said light transmissive body portion extending between said first card surface and said second card surface;
said player tracking card being positioned in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed in said card reader so that said first card surface is positioned adjacent said visible light generating source associated with said card reader, and said second card surface of said player tracking card remains visible outside said card reader; and
when said player tracking card is in said card illumination position, visible light generated by said visible light generating source is transmitted into said first card surface of said player tracking card and is transmitted through said light transmissive body portion or said player tracking card so that said visible light is visible to said user through said second card surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a gaming apparatus and a player tracking card;
said gaming apparatus comprising a housing, a display unit associated with said housing and capable of generating video images, a value input device, a card reader, and a controller;
said card reader comprising a visible light generating source and a data reading apparatus, said visible light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light in the visible spectrum;
said controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, and said card reader, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a payline selection, said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols, said controller being programmed to determine an outcome of said slots game represented by said video image and a value payout associated with said outcome of said slots game, said controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols; and
said player tracking card disposed in said card reader, said player tracking card comprising a data storage device, a first card surface, a second card surface, and a light transmissive body portion, said data storage device adapted to store data representative of the identification of a player, and said light transmissive body portion forming a light pipe; and
said first card surface disposed in said card reader so that at least a portion of said second card surface of said player tacking card remains exposed from said card reader. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An apparatus, comprising:
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a gaming apparatus and a player tracking card;
said gaming apparatus comprising a housing, a display unit associated with said housing and capable of generating video images, a value input device, a card reader, and a controller;
said card reader comprising a data reading apparatus and an energy transfer apparatus;
said controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, said card reader, said card reader'"'"'s data reading apparatus, and said card reader'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo, said video image is an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker, said video image is an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots, said video image is an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack, said video image is an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno, said video image is an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo, said controller being programmed to determine an outcome of said game represented by said video image and a value payout associated with said outcome of said game;
said player tracking card disposed in said card reader, said player tracking card comprising a data storage device, a first card surface, a second card surface, an energy transfer apparatus, and a light generating source, said data storage device adapted to store data representing the identification of a player;
said player tracking card being positionable in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed in said card reader and said second card surface remains visible outside said card reader;
said player tracking card'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus positioned to receive energy from said card reader'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus when said player tracking card is in said card illumination position; and
said light generating source connected to receive energy from said player tracking card'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus, wherein light generated by said light generating source is visible through said second card surface when said player tracking card is in said card illumination position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus, comprising:
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a gaming apparatus and a player tracking card;
said gaming apparatus comprising a housing, a display unit associated with said housing and capable of generating video images, a value input device, a card reader, and a controller;
said card reader comprising a data reading apparatus and an energy transfer apparatus;
said controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, said card reader, said card reader'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a payline selection, said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols, and said controller being programmed to determine an outcome of said slots game represented by said video image and a value payout associated with said outcome of said slots game, said controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols; and
said player tracking card disposed in said card reader, said player tracking card comprising a data storage device, a first card surface, a second card surface, an energy transfer apparatus, and a light generating source, said data storage device adapted to store data representing the identification of a player;
said player tracking card being positionable in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed in said card reader and said second card surface remains visible outside said card reader;
said player tracking card'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus positioned to receive energy from said card reader'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus when said player tracking card is in said card illumination position; and
said light generating source connected to receive energy from said player tracking card'"'"'s energy transfer apparatus, wherein light generated by said light generating source is visible through said second card surface when said player tracking card is in said card illumination position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A player tracking card for use in a gaming apparatus programmed to play a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo, the gaming apparatus including a housing, a display unit associated with said housing, a value input device, a card reader having a data reading apparatus, an energy transfer apparatus to transmit energy, a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, said card reader, said first energy transfer apparatus, and said controller, including a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said player tracking card comprising:
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an on-card energy transfer apparatus;
a data storage device that stores gaming data and data representative of an identification of a player;
a first card surface;
a second card surface spaced apart from and generally parallel to said first card surface; and
a light generating source;
said player tracking card being positionable in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed so that said on-card energy transfer apparatus is positioned to receive transmitted energy; and
said light generating source connected to receive energy from said on-card energy transfer apparatus, wherein light generated by said light generating source is visible through said second card surface. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A player tracking card for use in a gaming apparatus programmed to play a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo, the gaming apparatus including a housing, a display unit associated with said housing, a value input device, a card reader having a data reading apparatus, an energy transfer apparatus to transmit energy, a first light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light corresponding to a first visible color, a second light generating source associated with said card reader and adapted to generate light corresponding to a second visible color, a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, said card reader, said first energy transfer apparatus, and said controller, including a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said player tracking card comprising:
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a data storage device that stores gaming data and data representative of an identification of a player;
a first card surface;
a second card surface spaced apart from and generally parallel to said first card surface;
a light transmissive body portion comprised of a transparent material;
a third card surface, a fourth card surface, a fifth card surface, and a sixth card surface comprising a lower index of refraction than said light transmissive body portion to enhance light transmission from said first card surface to said second card surface; and
said player tracking card being positionable in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed so that when said lights are applied to said first card surface, both of said lights are visible through said second card surface. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A player tracking card for use in a gaming apparatus programmed to play a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo, the gaming apparatus including a housing, a display unit associated with said housing, a value;
- input device, a card reader having a data reading apparatus, a first energy transfer apparatus to transmit energy, a visible light generating source to generate visible light, a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, said card reader, said first energy transfer apparatus, and said visible light generating source, and said controller, including a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said player tracking card comprising;
a data storage device that stores gaming data and data representative of an identification of a player;
a first card surface;
a second card surface spaced apart from and generally parallel to said first card surface;
a body portion comprising a plurality of embedded optic fibers extending between said first card surface and said second card surface; and
said player tracking card being adapted to be positioned in a card illumination position wherein said first card surface is disposed so that when visible light is applied to said first card surface, the visible light is selectively transmitted through at least one of said plurality of embedded optic fibers and is visible through said second card surface. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
- input device, a card reader having a data reading apparatus, a first energy transfer apparatus to transmit energy, a visible light generating source to generate visible light, a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said value input device, said card reader, said first energy transfer apparatus, and said visible light generating source, and said controller, including a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said player tracking card comprising;
Specification