Mobile playing card devices

• US 8,419,535 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• 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:
  US12/479,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 463/11, 463 16- 20, 463 22- 25, 463/37, 463 40- 43, 463/46, 463/31, 235/375, 235/380, 235/439, 235/492
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 flexible substrate having a front face and a back face,

a flexible organic light emitting diode display coupled to the front side of the flexible substrate;

a flexible communication element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible communication element is configured to receive an indication of gaming information from an external system, and in which the flexible communication element is configured to provide information to the external system;

a flexible processor element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible processor element is configured to control the flexible organic light emitting diode display to display the gaming information;

a flexible touch input element coupled to the front side of the flexible substrate, in which the flexible touch input element is configured to determine a location on the front side of the substrate that is touched by a user of the apparatus, in which the flexible touch element is configured to provide an indication of the location to at least one of the external system and the flexible processor element; and

a flexible power element coupled to the flexible substrate and configured to provide power to the flexible organic light emitting diode display, the flexible processor element, the flexible communication element, and the flexible touch input element;

in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card and have a combined structure that is flexible;

in which the flexible processor element is configured to control the flexible organic light emitting diode display to provide a display of a card value in a game and an interface that includes a plurality of actions that may be taken in the game;

in which the flexible touch input element is configured to detect a touch from a user corresponding to a selection of a location that corresponds to an action of the plurality of actions displayed in the interface and provide an indication of the location to the flexible processor element;

in which the flexible processor element is configured to determine the action based on the indication of the location, and provide an indication of the action to the external system;

in which the flexible communication element is configured to transmit the indication of the action to the external system, receive information from the external system after transmitting the indication of the action to the external system, and in which the communication element is configured to provide the information to the flexible processor element; and

in which the flexible processor element is configured to alter the display of at least one of the card value and the interface based on the received information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the flexible power element includes at least one of an induction element configured to provide power through magnetic induction from a power source that is not in physical contact with the flexible power element and an RF power element configured to provide power from an RF signal generated by a power source that is not in physical contact with the flexible power element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the flexible power element includes a flexible battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the flexible touch input element includes at least one of a resistive touch screen, a capacitive touch screen, a surface acoustic wave touch screen, a projected capacitance touch screen, an optical/IR touch screen, a strain gauge touch screen, an optical imaging touch screen, a dispersive signal technology touch screen, an acoustic pulse recognition touch screen, an inductive touch screen.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the flexible touch input element includes the inductive touch screen with a thin film plastic backpanel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second flexible organic light emitting diode display coupled to the back face of the flexible substrate;

in which the flexible communication element is configured to receive an indication of second information from the external system;

in which the flexible processor element is configured to control the second flexible organic light emitting diode display to display the second information;

in which the flexible power element is configured to provide power to the second flexible organic light emitting diode display; and

in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, second flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have combined dimensions substantially similar to a poker card and have a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card and have a combined structure that is flexible.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have a combined thickness less than about 0.02 inches.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have a combined thickness of about 0.011 inches.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the flexible substrate is bendable without interference to operation of the flexible organic light emitting diode display.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible location element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible location element is configured to determine a location of the apparatus and to provide an indication of the location to the external system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible element is configured to determine at least one of a movement and an orientation of the apparatus and to communicate the at least one of the movement and the orientation of the apparatus to the flexible communication element for communication to the external system.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the flexible touch input element in configured to provide the indication of the location to the flexible processor element, the flexible processor element is configured to determine an action corresponding to the location, and the flexible processor element is configured to provide an indication of the action to the external system.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible substrate having a front face and a back face,

a flexible organic light emitting diode display coupled to the front side of the flexible substrate;

a flexible communication element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible communication element is configured to receive an indication of gaming information from an external system, and in which the flexible communication element is configured to provide information to the external system;

a flexible processor element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible processor element is configured to control the flexible organic light emitting diode display to display the gaming information;

a flexible touch input element coupled to the front side of the flexible substrate, in which the flexible touch input element is configured to determine a location on the front side of the substrate that is touched by a user of the apparatus, in which the flexible touch element is configured to provide an indication of the location to at least one of the external system and the flexible processor element; and

a flexible power element coupled to the flexible substrate and configured to provide power to the flexible organic light emitting diode display, the flexible processor element, the flexible communication element, and the flexible touch input element;

in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card and have a combined structure that is flexible;

in which the flexible processor element is configured to control the flexible organic light emitting diode display to provide a display of a card value in a game and an interface that includes a plurality of actions that may be taken in the game;

in which the flexible touch input element is configured to detect a touch from a user corresponding to a selection of a location that corresponds to an action of the plurality of actions displayed in the interface and provide an indication of the location to the external system;

in which the flexible communication element is configured to transmit the indication of the location to the external system, receive information from the external system after transmitting the indication of the location to the external system, and in which the communication element is configured to provide the information to the flexible processor element; and

in which the flexible processor element is configured to alter the display of at least one of the card value and the interface based on the received information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the flexible power element includes at least one of an induction element configured to provide power through magnetic induction from a power source that is not in physical contact with the flexible power element and an RF power element configured to provide power from an RF signal generated by a power source that is not in physical contact with the flexible power element.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the flexible power element includes a flexible battery.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the flexible touch input element includes at least one of a resistive touch screen, a capacitive touch screen, a surface acoustic wave touch screen, a projected capacitance touch screen, an optical/IR touch screen, a strain gauge touch screen, an optical imaging touch screen, a dispersive signal technology touch screen, an acoustic pulse recognition touch screen, an inductive touch screen.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the flexible touch input element includes the inductive touch screen with a thin film plastic backpanel.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a second flexible organic light emitting diode display coupled to the back face of the flexible substrate;

in which the flexible communication element is configured to receive an indication of second information from the external system;

in which the flexible processor element is configured to control the second flexible organic light emitting diode display to display the second information;

in which the flexible power element is configured to provide power to the second flexible organic light emitting diode display; and

in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, second flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have combined dimensions substantially similar to a poker card and have a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card and have a combined structure that is flexible.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have a combined thickness less than about 0.02 inches.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, in which the flexible substrate, flexible organic light emitting diode display, flexible processor element, flexible communication element, flexible touch input element, and flexible power element have a combined thickness of about 0.011 inches.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the flexible substrate is bendable without interference to operation of the flexible organic light emitting diode display.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a flexible location element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible location element is configured to determine a location of the apparatus and to provide an indication of the location to the external system.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a flexible element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the flexible element is configured to determine at least one of a movement and an orientation of the apparatus and to communicate the at least one of the movement and the orientation of the apparatus to the flexible communication element for communication to the external system.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the flexible touch input element in configured to provide the indication of the location to the flexible processor element, the flexible processor element is configured to determine an action corresponding to the location, and the flexible processor element is configured to provide an indication of the action to the external system.

25. An apparatus comprising:

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

a display coupled to the front side of the flexible substrate;

a communication element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the communication element is configured to receive an indication of gaming information from an external system and provide the indication to the processor element;

a processor element coupled to the flexible substrate, in which the processor element is configured to control the display to display the gaming information; and

a power element coupled to the flexible substrate and configured to provide power to the display, the processor element, and the communication element;

in which the flexible substrate, display, processor element, communication element, and power element have a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card and have a combined structure that is flexible

in which the communication element is configured to receive a first card value from the external system;

in which the processor element is configured to control the display to provide a display of the first card value,

in which the communication element is configured to receive first gaming information from the external system; and

in which the processor element is configured to alter the display of the first card value based on the first gaming information.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, in which the first gaming information includes a second card value, and in which altering the display includes controlling the display to provide a display of the second card value.

27. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate having a front face and a back face;

a display coupled to the front face of the substrate;

a communication element coupled to the substrate, in which the communication element is configured to receive an indication of gaming information from the external system and provide the indication to the processor element;

a processor element coupled to the substrate, in which the processor element is configured to control the display to display the gaming information; and

a power element coupled to the substrate and configured to provide power to the display, the processor element, and the communication element;

in which the substrate, display, processor element, communication element, and power element have a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card;

in which the communication element is configured to receive a first card value from the external system;

in which the processor element is configured to control the display to provide a display of the first card value;

in which the communication element is configured to receive first gaming information from the external system; and

in which the processor element is configured to alter the display of the first card value based on the first gaming information.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the first gaming information includes a second card value, and in which altering the display includes controlling the display to provide a display of the second card value.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the display includes a flexible organic light emitting diode display.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the power element includes at least one of an induction element configured to provide power through magnetic induction from a power source that is not in physical contact with the power element and an RF power element configured to provide power from an RF signal generated by a power source that is not in physical contact with the power element..

31. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the power element includes a flexible battery.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a touch input element coupled to the front side of the substrate, in which the touch input element is configured to determine a location on the front side of the substrate that is touched by a user of the apparatus, in which the touch element is configured to provide an indication of the location to at least one of the external system and the processor element.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, in which the touch input element includes a flexible touch input element.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, in which the flexible touch input element includes the inductive touch screen with a thin film plastic backpanel.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, in which the touch input element in configured to provide the indication of the location to the processor element, the processor element is configured to determine an action corresponding to the location, and the processor element is configured to provide an indication of the action to the external system.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a second display coupled to the back face of the substrate;

in which the communication element is configured to receive an indication of second information from the external system and provide the indication to the processor element;

in which the processor element is configured to control the second display to display the second information;

in which the power element is configured to provide power to the second display; and

in which the substrate, display, second display, processor element, communication element, touch input element, and power element have a combined length, width, and height substantially similar to a playing card.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, in which each of the processor element, and the communication element are comprised of flexible circuitry.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the substrate includes a flexible substrate.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, in which the flexible substrate is bendable without interference to operation of the display.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, in which the flexible substrate, display, processor element, communication element, and power element have a combined structure that is flexible.

41. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the substrate, display, processor element, communication element, and power element have a combined thickness less than about 0.02 inches.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, in which the substrate, display, processor element, communication element, and power element have a combined thickness of about 0.011 inches.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, in which the playing card includes a poker card, and in which the substrate, display, processor element, communication element, and power element have combined dimensions of about 2.5 inches wide and about 3.5 inches tall.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, in which the playing card includes a bridge card, and in which the substrate, display, processor element, communication element, and power element have combined dimensions of about 2.25 inches wide and about 3.5 inches tall.

45. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a location element coupled to the substrate, in which the location element is configured to determine a location of the apparatus and to provide an indication of the location to the external system.

46. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising an element coupled to the substrate, in which the element is configured to determine at least one of a movement and an orientation of the apparatus and to communicate the at least one of the movement and the orientation of the apparatus to the external system.