Poker chips and methods of reading the same

• US 9,477,918 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dominic Kotab
• Original Assignee: Dominic Kotab
• Inventors: Stewart, Roger Green
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US14/053,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 235/439, 463/25, 273/309
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/047 the record carrier being shaped as a coin or a gambling token
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal

Abstract

A casino chip according to one embodiment includes an RFID circuit on or within a substrate; and an antenna coupled to the RFID circuit; wherein the casino chip is configured such that a signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by at least one RF reader. An RFID system according to one embodiment includes at least one RF reader; and a plurality of casino chips. Each of the plurality of casino chips includes an RFID circuit on or within a substrate; and an antenna coupled to the RFID circuit. Each of the plurality of casino chips are configured such that a signal associated with each of the casino chips is capable of being read by the at least one RF reader.

Claims

1. A casino chip, comprising:

an RFID circuit on or within a substrate; and

an antenna coupled to the RFID circuit;

wherein the casino chip is configured such that a signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by at least one RF reader,

wherein the antenna has a sheet resistivity of at least about 1 Ω

/sq.

2. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by an RF reader associated with a table.

3. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by an RF reader associated with a chip tray.

4. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by an RF reader integrated in a chip tray.

5. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by an RF reader associated with a cage.

6. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by an RF reader associated with an exit.

7. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal is associated with a value of the casino chip.

8. The casino chip of claim 7, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the value of the casino chip is capable of being determined by the at least one RF reader.

9. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by the at least one RF reader while the casino chip is in a vicinity of a plurality of other casino chips.

10. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by the at least one RF reader while the casino chip is in a stack with a plurality of other casino chips.

11. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured such that the signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by the at least one RF reader while the casino chip is in a tray with a plurality of other casino chips.

12. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip is configured to:

receive an interrogation signal from the at least one RF reader; and

send at least one response to the at least one RF reader in response to the interrogation signal.

13. The casino chip of claim 12, wherein the at least one RF reader is capable of determining a value of the casino chip from which the response is received.

14. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the RFID circuit includes a passive RF device.

15. The casino chip of claim 1, wherein the casino chip further comprises a battery coupled to the RFID circuit.

16. An RFID system, comprising:

at least one RF reader; and

a plurality of casino chips, each of the plurality of casino chips including;

an RFID circuit on or within a substrate; and

an antenna coupled to the RFID circuit,

wherein the RFID circuit has an input impedance greater than an impedance of the antenna;

wherein each of the plurality of casino chips are configured such that a signal associated with each of the casino chips is capable of being read by the at least one RF reader.

17. A casino chip, comprising:

an RFID circuit; and

an antenna coupled to the RFID circuit;

wherein the casino chip is configured such that a signal associated with the casino chip is capable of being read by at least one RF reader,

wherein the casino chip is configured such that the antenna minimally affects electromagnetic RF fields in a vicinity of the antenna.

18. The casino chip of claim 17, wherein the antenna of each casino chip has a sheet resistivity of at least about 1 Ω

/sq.

19. The casino chip of claim 17, wherein a total impedance of each casino chip presented to a RF wave is greater than about 1000 Ω

.

20. The casino chip of claim 19, wherein the antenna has a sheet resistivity of at least about 1 Ω

/sq.