Playing card identification system

• US 8,303,404 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronicard Corporation
• Original Assignee: Electronicard Corporation
• Inventors: Kirsch, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US13/339,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20120100901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/25, 463/29, 463/46, 463/13, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A radio frequency card tracking system for a gaming table includes a system computer, a deck of playing cards, one or more table antennas, and a transceiver. Each playing card has an antenna, a card identity, and a transponder. Each table antenna has a detection zone at a dealer'"'"'s card placement position and/or at locations at a gaming table and can transmit and receive radio-frequency signals to and from a card located within the detection zone. The transceiver is coupled with the table antenna and the system computer to provide radio-frequency-energizing signals to the table antenna for transmission to the card located within the detection zone. The transceiver receives card identifying signals from the table antenna and transfers these signals to the system computer. The system computer recognizes the signal duration, receives card identifying signals; determines the card identity associated with the signal, and determines the location of the card.

Claims

1. A radio frequency card tracking system for a gaming table comprising:

a system computer;

a deck of hand held playing cards;

wherein each card in the deck of hand held playing cards comprises;

a card antenna;

a card identity; and

a radio frequency transponder configured to transmit a unique card identifying radio frequency signal associated with the card identity using the card antenna when the card antenna receives a radio-frequency-energizing signal;

a table antenna configured to;

manifest a detection zone located at and above a dealer'"'"'s card placement position at the gaming table;

transmit a plurality of radio-frequency-energizing signals and receive a plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals to and from each card located within the detection zone as each card is dealt over the table antenna from the deck of hand held playing cards, said deck being held by the dealer when the dealer is dealing; and

a transceiver operably coupled with the table antenna and the system computer, the transceiver configured to;

provide the plurality of radio-frequency-energizing signals to the table antenna for transmission to each card located within the detection zone as each card is dealt over the table antenna;

receive the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals from the table antenna; and

transfer the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals received from the table antenna to the system computer;

wherein the system computer is configured to receive the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals from the transceiver;

wherein the system computer comprises;

a processor; and

a program storage device comprising a non-transitory storage medium embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to;

register the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals received by the system computer;

determine the card identity associated with the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals;

distinguish between when any card is dealt across the detection zone or when such card has been placed flat on the table within the detection zone by a duration of the unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card when said card is within the detection zone, the signal duration determined by tabulating a number of the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals;

determine that any card has been dealt to any player'"'"'s card placement position by detection of the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card within a predetermined duration;

determine that any card has been dealt to the dealer'"'"'s card placement position by detection of the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card for more than the predetermined duration;

indicate when any card has been dealt to any player'"'"'s card placement position; and

indicate when any card has been dealt to the dealer'"'"'s card placement position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the deck of hand held playing cards comprises a top and a bottom, the system further comprising a cut card able to block radio frequency signals, the cut card placed at the bottom of the deck of hand held playing cards, wherein only a single card is read by the table antenna as the single card is dealt from the deck of hand held playing cards.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cut card is constructed from an electromagnetic field absorbing material.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the program of instructions is further executable by the processor to associate each dealt card with a specific player'"'"'s card placement position or the dealer'"'"'s card placement position based upon an order of the cards dealt as detected by the table antenna.

5. A radio frequency card tracking system for a gaming table comprising:

a system computer;

a deck of playing cards;

with each card in the deck of playing cards comprising;

a card antenna;

a card identity; and

a radio frequency transponder configured to transmit a unique card identifying radio frequency signal associated with the card identity using the card antenna when the card antenna receives a radio-frequency-energizing signal;

a plurality of table antennas, with each table antenna in the plurality of table antennas configured to;

manifest a detection zone at a table antenna location at and above the gaming table; and

transmit a plurality of radio-frequency-energizing signals and receive a plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals to and from each card located within each detection zone;

a transceiver operably coupled with the plurality of table antennas and the system computer, the transceiver configured to;

provide a plurality of radio-frequency-energizing signals to each of the plurality of table antennas for transmission to each card located within any detection zone;

receive the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from each card located within any detection zone;

transfer the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals received to the system computer;

wherein the system computer is configured to receive the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals from the transceiver;

wherein the system computer comprises;

a processor; and

a program storage device comprising a non-transitory storage medium embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to;

register the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals received by the system computer;

determine each card identity associated with the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals;

distinguish between when any card is dealt across any detection zone or when such card has been placed flat on the table within any detection zone by a duration of the unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card when said card is within the detection zone, the signal duration determined by tabulating a number of the plurality of unique card identifying radio frequency signals;

determine that any card has been dealt across any detection zone to any player'"'"'s card placement position by detection of the unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card within a predetermined duration;

determine that any card has been placed flat on the table by detection of the unique card identifying radio frequency signals transmitted from such card within any detection zone for more than the predetermined duration.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the program of instructions is further executable by the processor to associate any card with a specific player'"'"'s card placement position based upon an order of cards dealt as detected by the plurality of table antennas.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the program of instructions is further executable by the processor to determine if any card is located within any detection zone and placed flat on the table, and is one that was initially dealt to the specific player'"'"'s card placement position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the program of instructions is further executable by the processor to initiate an indicator to alert casino personnel when any card has been switched or misplayed.