Playing card indentification system

• US 8,425,312 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• 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): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US11/762,324
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/25, 463/29, 463/46
• 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 method determines the three-dimensional position of a playing card at a distance from a gaming table. The method uses modulated signals incorporating different power levels or different frequencies and can be employed as the cards are being dealt or using cards with more than one transponder. The method includes steps of providing each card with at least one transponder that transmits a card identity signal when activated; transmitting an activating signal modulated as to frequency or energy; forming detection zones up to plurality of distances above the gaming table; receiving at a system computer the unique card identity signal; determining a three-dimensional location of the card above the gaming table; recording and displaying the card activity on a computer monitor screen.

Claims

1. A method for determining a three-dimensional location of a playing card at a distance from a gaming table, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a deck of playing cards, wherein each playing card in the deck of playing cards comprises;

a radio-frequency transponder that transmits a unique card identifying radio-frequency signal in response to receiving a radio-frequency-energizing signal, and

a card identity associated with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal;

transmitting modulated radio-frequency-energizing signals from a transceiver to a table antenna, wherein the modulated radio-frequency-energizing signals are radio-frequency-energizing signals selected from the group consisting of;

radio-frequency-energizing signals having a plurality of transmission frequencies; and

radio-frequency-energizing signals having a plurality of transmission power levels;

forming a plurality of detection zones at a plurality of distances above the gaming table by transmitting from the table antenna the modulated radio-frequency-energizing signals, each detection zone of said plurality of detection zones corresponding to a unique transmission range associated with each of the transmission frequencies in the plurality of transmission frequencies, or associated with each of the transmission power levels in the plurality of transmission power levels;

providing a system computer wherein the system computer comprises a processor, a monitor screen, and a non-transitory storage medium readable by the processor, the non-transitory storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed on the system computer cause the system computer to perform steps comprising;

receiving at the system computer the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal;

determining the card identity of the playing card associated with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal;

determining card activity, the card activity comprising a three-dimensional location of the playing card, said three-dimensional location selected from the group consisting of;

a first distance among the plurality of distances above the gaming table when the playing card responds with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal from within a first detection zone in the plurality of detection zones; and

a second distance among the plurality of distances above the gaming table when the playing card responds with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal from within a second detection zone in the plurality of detection zones;

recording in the non-transitory storage medium an indication of the card activity; and

displaying the card activity on the monitor screen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

forming a second plurality of detection zones at a second plurality of distances below the gaming table by transmitting from a second table antenna the modulated radio-frequency-energizing signals, each detection zone of said second plurality of detection zones corresponding to a second unique transmission range associated with each of the transmission frequencies in the plurality of transmission frequencies, or associated with each of the transmission power levels in the plurality of transmission power levels;

wherein in the step of determining card activity, the card activity comprising the three-dimensional location of the playing card, said three-dimensional location is further selected from the group consisting of;

a third distance among the second plurality of distances below the gaming table when the playing card responds with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal from within a third detection zone in the second plurality of detection zones; and

a fourth distance among the second plurality of distances below the gaming table when the playing card responds with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal from within a fourth detection zone in the second plurality of detection zones.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of segregating the first detection zone and the second detection zone from the third detection zone and the fourth detection zone using a barrier.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein there is a plurality of participants at the gaming table;

and

wherein the instructions when executed on the system computer further cause the system computer to perform the step of associating the playing card with a specific participant in the plurality of participants, said associating enabled by determining the three-dimensional location of the playing card.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of card detection areas at unique heights above the gaming table within the first detection zone among the plurality of detection zones, said plurality of card detection areas comprising a first card detection area and a second card detection area, said forming action implemented by steps comprising;

adding a second radio-frequency transponder to each playing card in the deck of playing cards such that each playing card comprises a first radio-frequency transponder and a second radio-frequency transponder;

wherein the second radio-frequency transponder requires more or less electrical energy to begin functioning than the first radio-frequency transponder;

wherein the first radio-frequency transponder responds with a first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when the playing card is located within the first detection zone and within the first card detection area; and

wherein the second radio-frequency transponder responds with a second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when the playing card is located within the first detection zone and within the second card detection area;

wherein in the step of determining card activity, the card activity comprising a three-dimensional location of the playing card, said three-dimensional location is further selected from the group consisting of;

a first unique height above the gaming table when the playing card responds with the first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal from within the first card detection area; and

a second unique height above the gaming table when the playing card responds with the second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal from within the second card detection area.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second table antenna wherein the table antenna and the second table antenna comprise a plurality of table antennas;

using a multiplexer to relay the modulated radio-frequency-energizing signals received from the transceiver to the plurality of table antennas, and to relay the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal received from the plurality of table antennas to the transceiver; and

transmitting from the multiplexer in a repeating sequential order the plurality of modulated radio-frequency-energizing signals to each one of the plurality of table antennas.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the gaming table is defined by a perimeter; and

the instructions when executed on the system computer further cause the system computer to perform steps comprising;

detecting the playing card being held by a participant around the perimeter of the gaming table; and

determining the three-dimensional location of the playing card around the perimeter of the gaming table.

8. A method for monitoring a card game by determining a three-dimensional location of a playing card on or at a distance above a gaming table, the method comprising the steps of:

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

a radio-frequency transponder that transmits a unique card identifying radio-frequency signal in response to receiving a radio-frequency-energizing signal, and

a card identity associated with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal;

providing a table antenna location comprising at least one table antenna;

transmitting radio-frequency-energizing signals from the table antenna location;

forming a plurality of detection zones from the radio-frequency-energizing signals transmitted from the table antenna location;

wherein a first detection zone in the plurality of detection zones is formed within a first distance above the gaming table, said first detection zone associated with a first range within which the playing card can be detected;

wherein a second detection zone is formed on a flat plane of the gaming table located at a dealer position, said dealer position consisting of the location where the dealer places dealer'"'"'s playing cards on the gaming table that have been dealt from the hand-held deck of playing cards, and said second detection zone associated with a second range within which the playing card can be detected;

providing a system computer wherein the system computer comprises a processor, a monitor screen, and a non-transitory storage medium readable by the processor, the non-transitory storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed on the system computer cause the system computer to perform steps comprising;

receiving at the system computer the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when the playing card is located within the first or second detection zone;

determining the card identity of the playing card associated with the unique card identifying radio-frequency signal;

identifying when the playing card is in the process of being dealt to either a player position or the dealer position by detecting the playing card within the first detection zone;

identifying when the playing card has been dealt to the dealer position by detecting the playing card within the second detection zone;

determining card activity, the card activity comprising a three-dimensional location of the playing card, and associating the playing card with either the player position or the dealer position;

recording in the non-transitory storage medium an indication of the card activity; and

displaying the card activity on the monitor screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hand held deck of playing cards comprises a top and a bottom, the method further comprising the step of placing a cut card at the bottom, said cut card capable of preventing the radio-frequency-energizing signals from energizing the playing card when the playing card is within the hand held deck of playing cards;

and wherein the instructions when executed on the system computer further cause the system computer to perform the step of detecting the playing card as the playing card is being dealt from the hand held deck of playing cards.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of using the cut card having an electromagnetic field suppressor.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

providing a plurality of player antennas, wherein each player antenna in the plurality of player antennas is associated with at least one player position in the plurality of player positions;

transmitting from the plurality of player antennas the radio-frequency-energizing signals;

forming a plurality of player detection zones for a first player antenna among the plurality of player antennas from the radio-frequency-energizing signals transmitted from the first player antenna;

wherein a first player detection zone among the plurality of player detection zones is formed at a first distance above the gaming table, said first player detection zone associated with a first transmission range within which the playing card can be detected;

wherein a second player detection zone among the plurality of player detection zones is formed on the flat plane of the gaming table located at a position where a player places the playing card dealt to said player, on the gaming table, and said second player detection zone associated with a second transmission range within which the playing card can be detected; and

the instructions when executed on the system computer further cause the system computer to perform the steps of;

identifying when the playing card is being dealt across the gaming table from the hand held deck of playing cards by detecting the playing card within the first player detection zone; and

identifying when the playing card has been placed on the flat plane of the gaming table by detecting the playing card within the second player detection zone.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

wherein the instructions when executed on the system computer further cause the system computer to perform the step of associating the playing card with one player position among the plurality of player positions or with the dealer position based upon an order of each playing card that has been dealt.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the instructions when executed on the system computer further cause the system computer to perform the step of associating the playing card with one player position among the plurality of player positions based upon an order of each playing card that has been dealt.

14. A method for determining a three-dimensional location of a playing card at a distance from a gaming table, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a deck of playing cards, wherein each playing card in the deck of playing cards comprises;

a plurality of radio-frequency transponders;

wherein

each radio-frequency transponder among the plurality of radio-frequency transponders requires more or less electrical energy to begin functioning than another radio-frequency transponder among the plurality of radio-frequency transponders;

wherein a first radio-frequency transponder in the plurality of radio-frequency transponders transmits a first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when;

said first radio-frequency transponder is within a first distance from the gaming table, and

said first radio-frequency transponder receives a radio-frequency energizing signal sent from an antenna associated with the gaming table; and

wherein a second radio-frequency transponder in the plurality of radio-frequency transponders transmits a second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when;

said second radio-frequency transponder is within a second distance from the gaming table; and

said second radio-frequency transponder receives the radio-frequency energizing signal sent from the antenna;

a card identity associated with the first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal and the second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal;

transmitting radio-frequency-energizing signals from the antenna; and

providing a system computer wherein the system computer comprises a processor, a monitor screen, and a non-transitory storage medium readable by the processor, the non-transitory storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed on the system computer cause the system computer to perform steps comprising;

receiving at the system computer the first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when the playing card is within the first distance from the gaming table;

receiving at the system computer the second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when the playing card is within the second distance from the gaming table;

determining the card identity of the playing card associated with the first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when the first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal is received;

determining the card identity of the playing card associated with the second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal when the second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal is received;

determining card activity, the card activity comprising the three-dimensional location of the playing card, said three-dimensional location selected from the group consisting of;

the first distance from the gaming table when the playing card responds with the first unique card identifying radio-frequency signal; and

the second distance from the gaming table when the playing card responds with the second unique card identifying radio-frequency signal;

recording in the non-transitory storage medium an indication of the card activity; and

displaying the card activity on the monitor screen.