Amusement device including means for processing electronic data in play of a game in which an outcome is dependant upon card values

• US 8,545,327 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Miller, Mark A., Alderucci, Dean P., Bradshaw, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US12/479,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463 40- 43, 463/11, 463/31, 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2419 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2454 with LED
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2455 Printers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Various card devices and methods involving card devices are described. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of card devices through which a draw poker game is played by a player, each card device of the first plurality of card devices comprising;

a respective first substrate having a front face and a back face;

a respective first display coupled to the front face of the respective first substrate; and

a respective element configured to;

receive a respective indication of a respective first card value; and

control the respective display to display the respective first card value;

in which each card device of the first set of card devices has a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card and has a combined structure that is flexible;

a second card device through which the draw poker game is played by the player, comprising;

a second substrate having a front face and a back face;

a second display coupled to the front face of the second substrate; and

a second element coupled to the second substrate and configured to;

receive an indication of a second card value;

control the second display to display the second card value with no other card values;

receive an indication of a plurality of third card values; and

control the second display to replace the display of the second card value with a simultaneous display of each of the plurality of third card values;

in which the second card device has a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card and has a combined structure that is flexible; and

a server configured to;

determine the first and second card values based on at least one random event generation;

receive an indication of a request to replace the second value; and

determine each of the third card values based on the at least one random event generation, in which each third card value includes a final card value in a respective hand of a plurality of hands of draw poker, in which each hand is made up of final card values from each of the first plurality of card devices and the second card device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which controlling the second display to replace the display of the second card value includes controlling the second display to display the third card values, such that each card value of the third card values is displayed in a respective section of the second card device that does not overlap with other such sections.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, in which each section corresponds to a respective hand of the plurality of hands.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which each final value includes a card value displayed on a respective card device at the end of the draw poker game.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the second element is configured to control the second display to identify whether each hand of the plurality of hands is a winning hand.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the server is configured to determine an outcome of a progressive game based on outcomes of the plurality of hands.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the server is configured to determine that the progressive game has been won if each of the plurality of hands includes a winning hand.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the server is configured to determine that the progressive game has been won if each of the plurality of hands includes a respective winning hand greater than a particular hand value.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, in which the server is configured to determine that the progressive game has been won based on the third card values.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the server is configured to determine that the progressive game has been won if each of the third card values include a same card value.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the server is configured to determine that the progressive game has been won if each of the third card values include a card value that is at least one of greater than a predetermined card value and equal to the predetermined card value.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the server is configured to determine the outcome of a game based on the third card values.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the server is configured to receive an indication of a number of the hands, in which the plurality of hands includes the number of hands, and the plurality of third card values includes the number of third card values.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the indication is received from at least one of the first card devices and the second card device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the indication includes an indication of a selection through an interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the indication includes an indication of a selection of the game of draw poker.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one random event generation includes at least one of a random number generation, a random event happening, and a pseudo-random number generation.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, in which each of the first displays and the second display includes a flexible organic light emitting diode display.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, in which each of the first card devices and the second card device the card device includes a respective wireless power element configured to provide power from at least one of a time varying magnetic field and an RF signal generated by a power source that is not in physical contact with the respective wireless power element.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, in which each card device of the first card devices and the second card device has a respective thickness of less than about 0.02 inches.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, in which each card device of the first card devices and the second card device has a respective thickness of less than about 0.011 inches.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, in which each substrate is bendable without interfering with operation of a respective display.