WAGER RECOGNITION SYSTEM HAVING AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20140295948A1
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Helgesen, James P., Nelson, Troy D., Zvercov, Vladislav
• Granted Patent: US 9,536,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A gaming table apparatus has a gaming table with a gaming table support surface. A token sensor assembly includes a container having a height and side walls which define an inside and outside perimeter of the container, and a top surface and bottom surface, a translucent cover disposed on the top surface of the side walls, a circuit board secured to the inside perimeter of the container, a plurality of lights disposed on a top side of the circuit board, and a passive ambient light sensor disposed on the top side of the circuit board. The passive ambient light sensor and the translucent cover may operate within predetermined wavelength ranges for receiving and passing light, respectively. A condition of the passive ambient light sensor may not be polled if the plurality of lights are emitting light.

Claims

1. A gaming table apparatus, comprising:

a support surface;

a token sensor controller; and

a first token sensor assembly operably coupled to the token sensor controller, wherein the first token sensor assembly comprises;

a container having a translucent cover for supporting a token as a wager, the translucent cover configured to pass wavelengths of visible light within a predetermined wavelength range, and substantially attenuate wavelengths of visible light outside the predetermined wavelength range;

a passive ambient light sensor configured to detect a presence of the wager by;

detecting ambient light through the translucent cover if the token is not placed on the translucent cover; and

detecting a lack of ambient light through the translucent cover if the token is placed on the translucent cover, wherein the passive ambient light sensor is configured to operate within the predetermined wavelength range.

2. The gaming table apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first token sensor assembly further comprises a plurality of light sources operably coupled to the token sensor controller and the passive ambient light sensor, the plurality of light sources configured to emit light if the presence of the wager is detected.

3. The gaming table apparatus of claim 2, wherein light sources of the plurality of light sources are configured to emit light having a wavelength in the visible spectrum that is substantially the same as a peak wavelength passed by the translucent cover.

4. The gaming table apparatus of claim 2, wherein the token sensor controller is configured to control the plurality of light sources to flash on and off if the presence of the wager is detected.

5. The gaming table apparatus of claim 4, wherein the token sensor controller is configured to control the first token sensor to not poll a condition of the passive ambient light sensor when the plurality of light sources are on.

6. The gaming table apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of token sensor assemblies operably coupled in a serial string with the first token sensor assembly, each token sensor assembly of the plurality of token sensor assemblies being having the same components as the first token sensor assembly.

7. The gaming table apparatus of claim 6, wherein each token sensor assembly in the serial string includes a sensor mode controller configured to operate the corresponding token sensor assembly in one of a plurality of operational modes.

8. The gaming table apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

a first operational mode is a read mode configured to read a state of the passive ambient light sensor; and

a second operational mode is a shift mode configured to shift a saved state of the passive ambient light sensor to a next token sensor assembly in the serial string.

9. The gaming table apparatus of claim 6, further comprising another plurality of token sensor assemblies connected with the token sensor controller as another serial string of token sensor assemblies, wherein the first string of serially connected token sensor assemblies is coupled to a first port of the token sensor controller, and the second string of serially connected token sensor assemblies is coupled to a second port of the token sensor controller, wherein the token sensor controller is configured to manage the first string and the second string of token sensor assemblies.

10. A token sensor assembly, comprising:

a container having a height and side walls that define an inside perimeter and an outside perimeter of the container, and a top surface and bottom surface of the container;

a translucent cover disposed on the top surface, the translucent cover configured to filter out wavelengths in the visible spectrum that are outside a predetermined range for transmission through the translucent cover;

a circuit board secured to the inside perimeter of the container; and

a passive ambient light sensor disposed on a top side of the circuit board, the passive ambient light sensor configured to detect a presence of a wager if ambient light is blocked from entering the container when a token is placed on the translucent cover, wherein the passive ambient light sensor is configured to operate in low light conditions of 11 lux or greater.

11. The token sensor assembly of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of light sources and a light controller operably coupled with the passive light sensor, and configured to cause the plurality of light sources to flash on and off if the presence of the wager is detected.

12. The token sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the token sensor assembly is configured to alternate between polling a condition of the ambient light sensor when the plurality of light sources are off and not polling a condition of the ambient light sensor if the plurality of light sources are on.

13. The token sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the passive light sensor is configured to be disabled when the plurality of light sources are on.

14. The token sensor assembly of claim 12, wherein the light controller is configured to ignore an output of the ambient light sensor when the plurality of light sources are on.

15. The token sensor assembly of claim 11, wherein the light controller is further configured to hold the plurality of light sources on when a dealer locks the wagers during game play.

16. The token sensor assembly of claim 10, further comprising an operational amplifier operably coupled with the token sensor, and configured to operate in a high gain mode.

21. The token sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein the ambient light sensor is capable of operating in light conditions between 11 lux and 400 lux.

22. The token sensor assembly of claim 21, wherein the ambient light sensor is capable of operating in a high gain mode.

17. A token sensor assembly, comprising:

a container having a height and side walls which define an inside and outside perimeter of the container, and a top surface and bottom surface;

a translucent cover disposed on the top surface of the side walls;

a circuit board secured to the inside perimeter of the container;

a plurality of lights disposed on a top side of the circuit board;

a passive ambient light sensor disposed on the top side of the circuit board; and

a light controller operably coupled with the passive ambient light sensor and the plurality of lights, and configured to;

control the plurality of lights to emit light that passes out of the container and through the translucent cover responsive to the passive ambient light sensor detecting a presence of a wager; and

not poll a condition of the passive ambient light sensor if the plurality of lights are emitting light.

18. The token sensor assembly of claim 17, wherein the light controller is configured to control the plurality of lights to emit light by flashing the plurality of lights on and off responsive to the wager initially being placed, and holding the plurality of lights continuously on responsive to a dealer input locking the wager.

19. The token sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein the light controller is further configured to be reset responsive to a dealer input unlocking the wager.

20. A method of controlling a token sensor assembly, the method comprising:

detecting an absence of a wager on a token sensor assembly if ambient light passing through a translucent cover of the token sensor assembly is sensed by a passive ambient light sensor;

detecting a presence of the wager on the token sensor assembly if ambient light is blocked and not sensed by the passive ambient light sensor;

generating light with a plurality of light sources from within the token sensor assembly, the generated light passing through the translucent cover and out from the token sensor assembly if the presence of the wager is detected; and

ceasing to poll a condition of the ambient light sensor while the plurality of light sources are generating light.