ES2329035T3 - LETTER BARAJADOR ABLE TO CAPTURE AN IMAGE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A card shuffling apparatus (100) comprising: a housing (15), a card input receptacle (50) located on said housing adapted to receive at least one deck of unshuffled playing cards a shuffling device (20) adapted to receive the cards from said card input receptacle, a controller (10) disposed within said housing, image capturing means (30) disposed within said housing for obtaining image data of a playing card, display means (42) located on said housing for displaying images captured by said image capturing means; and a card output bin (60) adapted to discharge shuffle playing cards.

Description

Card shuffler capable of capturing a image.

The present invention relates to the shuffling machines for live card games and more particularly, with a shuffling system controlled by a computer, capable of capturing an image, of storing, monitoring and sell random letters and show the images of the letters.

Shuffling machines are devices electromechanics that are designed to reorder one or more decks, used in casino table games. Recently, it have developed games that require random shuffling of a single deck and the distribution of a certain amount to each player. These letters are removed from the machine by an operator and distributed to Players. Depending on the game chosen, certain strategies of play require that the cards be handed over to players in various quantities For example, deals can be 3, 5, 7 or more cards, depending on the game. For security reasons, some shufflers count the number of cards in the deck each Once a game starts.

With players in numerous remote sites for live card games, a security issue appears that It can become critical, as there is a substantial risk of cheating and / or counting. There is, therefore, a need to create a safe environment that allows the practice of card games in alive, and at the same time provide significant security for Avoid cheating and counting.

Pfeiffer, et al . (US Patent 4,667,959) disclose an apparatus for storing and selecting cards. The device contains a rotating carousel that dispenses letters, using rollers to the exit slots. The letters are pre-marked with known signs, such as bar codes, so that the device can monitor which slot houses which card. A sensor reads the identification marks on the letters.

Soules, et al . (US Patent 5,067,713) teach about encoded letters and an apparatus capable of delivering those letters. A deck of cards that have been encoded with a barcode, invisible to the human eye, is provided. The letters are encoded with a virtually invisible barcode that can be read electronically using an infrared or ultraviolet range light. The purpose of this device is to allow the dealer to distribute coded cards in a teaching environment.

Albrecht's patent (US 5,374,061) discloses a  card dispenser with counter device and method of use. It describes a system that uses a deck especially coded indicating the value and the suit to which the card belongs. The system has a set of special coded letters with information of two types: numeric digits and characters Alphabetic The numerical information corresponds to the value of the letter, and the alphabetic information indicates the package series of letters. This information is in the form of a barcode, or another machine readable format. The sensor detects the code in Each card while it is being dealt.

Hill, et al . (US Patent 5,722,893) disclose a card dispenser provided with a card scanner. The scanner perceives each card as it descends to the exit of the dispenser. The scanner can be an infrared laser scanner capable of reading the barcodes printed on the charts. Hill, and others, also disclose optical scanning of letters, which offers high-resolution data that is stored in memory to be converted into word vectors. These vectors are subsequently used as input to a unidirectional neural propagation network, trained using the backpropagation of errors to detect and recognize the possible suits and values of a card.

Meissner, et al . (US Patent 5,779,546) teach an automated game system and an automated game method. An automated dispenser automatically interprets and transfers the value of a letter and provides an interface to a computer system. Optical sensors are used to record the number of points and their respective spatial relationships to determine the value of the chart.

McCrea, Jr., has a series of patents that show a shuffling device provided with means to capture images. These US Patents: 5,605,334; 5,707, 287; 5,735,525; 6,093,103 and 6,117,012 disclose the need for game control through precise acquisition and storage of the stick and value of each card received for each player position. The control of  game stores this information in a memory in order to register The history of each card dealt. Game control can thus detect winning progressions and automatically publish a prize sign.

None of these patents teach or suggest a  shuffling device that can mix the game cards in a random order, capture images of the letters before dispense, process the images of the letters, and visualize the images of the cards, all within the limits of the shuffler. No need for complicated card recognition software or to transform images into vectors of words, or other forms of expression of the value data of the letter, because the images are relayed directly to the device screen shuffler.

As for security, this invention carries Game security to a higher level. Through the use of image capture media, e.g. ex. a small digital camera, An image of the nominal value of each card is captured and stored in computer memory. This image is stored in the format bitmap image. The machine operator could recover, with the use of a keyboard, the images of the participating cards in individual deals in the game or previous games. This feature would allow verification of a winning hand after the end of a game.

One of the biggest security problems of the game is that of two adjacent players who exchange cards to so that one of them gets a winning hand. This invention would allow a quick check of the hands before paying a winning hand These card images would be stored in a file memory to be used in monitoring the randomness of the game and the determination of the number of hands Winners Such information would be valuable when analyzing the game development

Therefore, an object of the invention is provide a card game system that mixes and deals letters, and that you have the means to capture images of the dealt cards, with a view to their use in verification, so such that security issues in relation to casino games They look improved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card shuffler that can selectively hand out the cards for different card games and / or for different ways of shuffling, In addition to capturing images of the cards they are dealt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shuffler capable of displaying the images of the cards in play to a Operator to verify the winning hands.

A further objective of the invention is provide a shuffler that selectively mixes the cards, by at least for two games with different distribution requirements, and that allow at least two modes of operation to be chosen distinct, defined by at least two types of card games distinct, with the added security of capturing images from the cards and their retransmission from each game table.

Another object of the invention is to provide a  Simplified and cheap card game system to manufacture, which provide live capture and reproduction of images of the Letters that are dealt.

Other objectives, characteristics and advantages of This invention will be disclosed to those skilled in the art thanks to The following detailed description. It must be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, although represent preferential configurations of this invention, they offer for illustrative purposes only and not as limitations.

You will get a complete understanding of the invention referring to the attached illustrations, together with the detailed description of them, where:

- Figure 1 is an overhead view of the preferential configuration of the invention.

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of the preferential configuration, showing the components in functioning.

- Figure 3 is an overhead view of the panel control according to the preferred configuration of the invention.

The publication of the invention is presented to protection of the constitutional purposes of the patent laws of the USA in order to "promote the progress of science and applied arts "(art. 1, para. 8).

According to a preferential configuration of the invention, here is described a card shuffler machine capable to eliminate one of the most significant security problems: Deception by replacing letters. These problems of security are more frequent in specialty card games, p. ex. Pai Gow Poker, but not limited to these. nature of These games provide interaction possibilities between players and / or card counts to manipulate the results winners Given the need to improve the security of the game with novel solutions, this invention meets this need offering a shuffled system 100 capable of capturing an image of the cards that are dealt, as seen in Fig. 1.

Figure 1 shows a diagram or scheme of the shuffling system 100, object of the present invention. The system 100 includes six important active components: controller 10, shuffling device 20, image capture 30, the control panel 40, a card input tray 50, and a card output tray 60.

Preferably, the box 15 will be manufactured in sheet metal (eg aluminum), sturdy plastic or others strong and resistant materials. The 45 keys on the keyboard numeric 44 will preferably be touch keys, and will include a Identification of the order transmitted to the microprocessor 12 (fig. 2). The keys can be manufactured in silicon carbon-rubber as is typical for this type of keys, or install a membrane keyboard. The controller 10 (and ultimately microprocessor 12) controls the 100 shuffle system operation, accepting input data of the control panel 40, or showing output data on the screen 42. However, other known technologies are contemplated of representation of images as, p. ex. fluorescent displays vacuum, flat, segmented LEDs, all suitable for the invention.

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The controller 10 is a system that controls the operation of shuffling device 20, the grabber of images 30, and screen 40, as well as the movement of the cards through shuffling system 100. Controller 10 contains a suitable microprocessor to orchestrate the operation of the ensemble of six components of shuffling system 100.

This invention includes novel methods for perform automated shuffle of game cards. Methods include shuffling of mode cards Obverse-reverse that results in a random order. The front-to-back relationship refers to the form standard in which game cards are sold, where the face of  a letter is adjacent to the back of the letter adjacent next. Thus, this invention eliminates the need for pre-marked cards. Normally, the letters do not Marked can be easily used.

New shuffling methods include the ability to mix letters in more ways than one and for a crowd of card games as desired. In the sector of shufflers of cards, two types of shufflers have been introduced. One is a batch shuffler, the other is a continuous shuffler.

The batch shuffler is a device that Mix one or more decks of cards in a random order. The o the decks are loaded at the same time in shuffling system 100, usually in an inbox 50. The letters are mixed or reorder and appear in output tray 60. The decks are removed by a person (the dealer), who divides the pile of letters, cut them and place a marked card in a position to random in the deck. Next, the dealer places the cards in the retailer for the individual distribution to players during a departure.

At the end of each game, the cards used by players are picked up at each table and saved face down by the dealer in the tray of discarded cards (no shown). Then, the decks are placed in the input tray 50 to be introduced in shuffling device 20 and mixed again for a new game. This process can include two decks with different colored backs. A Deck would be mixing while another would be played. This reduces the time the game stops to shuffle, allowing Let the dealer play more hands with the players.

The continuous shuffler is a device that randomly mix or rearrange one or more decks. Through this mechanism, the letters are constantly being mixed by the shuffler system 100. At the end of each game, the cards are remove and place directly in the input tray 50 of the shuffler 100. Normally, a card dispenser is attached (no shown) to output tray 60 of shuffler 100. never for while playing or preparing a new one departure.

The process of ejecting the cards is performed preferably by ejection and displacement of cards, by inserting them in an output tray 60, p. e.g. as described in detail in US Patent 6,299,167. The extraction of the cards are achieved by capturing the card selected by their edges using a movable extractor. This step is done in a way enhanced by rolling the edges of the selected card over one or more extraction rollers (not shown). Then the cards are led to the output tray through a exit roller Image capture 30 could be installed between the extraction roller (s) and the output tray 60 (Fig. one).

In a preferential configuration of the invention, the imager 30 would be a camera digital. It is possible to use a conventional digital camera provided of interconnected load device (CCD) technology for Obtain the light information of the captured image. A CCD It consists of a dense semiconductor receptor lattice lights that can detect the variation in intensity and light frequency

The controller 10 has a processor images 16, see fig. 2, which digitizes the information light obtained by the camera. This information is converted to digital converting the registered images to bitmaps. TO then the bitmaps will make use of the information digitized translating it into graphic representation composed of rows and columns of points. The invention includes a processor of internal images 16 that finishes translating bitmaps into pixels to be represented on screen 42.

Alternatively, image capturer 30 you can use a digital camera (not shown) that you use CMOS technology (Complementary Semiconductor Metal Oxide). The CMOS chips have the advantage of lower electrical requirements than the CCD. In addition, the CMOS sensor can handle multitude of other tasks that can be transferred to the controller, such as analog-digital conversion, signal processing, white balance control and others camera controls For example, CMOS chips are sensors High resolution with greater space efficiency, allowing sensor designs with possibilities of increasing density and Bit depth without significant additional costs.

You can also use a video camera digital (DV camera) to capture digital video images, thus reducing the tasks of video microprocessing. The DV camera output is already in compressed format. For the therefore, it is only necessary to transfer the registered images of the camera for further processing.

Analog cameras (not digital) can be Use to capture the image of the cards. The video recording cameras. In such a case, a analog-digital converter to simplify Image data for screen output. In short, any camera or equivalent device offered by the industry can be Used to capture images of the cards.

Any compatible capture form of images offered by the industry, including but not limited to to them, lenses, mirrors, optical fibers, fiber wiring optical, optical sensor reticles, photosensitive diodes and / or any combination thereof, may be used to capture photonic information and retransmit it to any camera in order to get a picture of the letter.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram that shows an approach to the system that operates in the device shuffled 100. A card is set in motion by the rollers of extraction after the mixing of letters at the request of the controller 10. When the leading edge of this letter in movement is detected by sensor 25, the card is photographed by image capture 30. This image data is relay to image processor 16. Image processor 16 It is responsible for post-capture processing. During the same, image data can be converted, mapped, Profiles and tablets. The controller 10 stores the data of image stored in non-volatile RAM storage 14.

This stored data, using commands with the keyboard 44, located in the control panel 40, can be recovered to be displayed on screen 42. Figure 3 provide an example of control panel 40 including operations controlled by the keyboard 44 and of images shown in screen 42. Microprocessor 12 controls the various functions of shuffling system 100, including, but not limited to  these, the way of shuffling; if done in batches or so continuous; the type of game or games that require mixing and card distribution, p. ex. Pai-Gow poker, etc. (again, it is clarified that the type of card game does not represent a limitation of the invention). The microprocessor 12 can control the output of the cards so that each player receives a pack of consecutive cards from the retailer or it gives you a card every n cards, n being the number of players (plus the dealer in certain cases) at the table.

Microprocessor 12 operates under the Programmed software instructions. This software can be store either as firmware in a specific memory module, in a solid-state non-volatile memory device or in a magnetic disk from which the software is loaded into a RAM addressable of shuffling system 100 when it is turned on. When shuffling system 100 is turned on, the software will Initialize and clear screen 42.

The operation of certain commands associated with keys 45 on the control panel 40. It will be understood that keys 45 may be installed in any part of shuffling system 100, and not only in the panel of control 40. Its operation is such that, when any key, switch or button is pressed, alternated or similarly triggered, a signal is transmitted electrically to controller 20. A default command is then transmitted from the controller 20 to shuffler 100. Shuffler 100 then performs the function associated with the command.

The control panel 40 may also include a "GAME". The "GAME" key (as shown in fig. 3) allows the operator to select the type of card game that It will be played. Different card games require different shuffling and / or distribution methods. When the key is pressed "GAME", the name of a card game appears in the screen 42. The operator can scroll through the various games programmed in the microprocessor memory by pressing repeatedly the "GAME" key until the desired game. In an alternative configuration, the panel control 40 may include specific keys for each set of letters, or use a conventional keyboard to search for games.

The number of players can be entered using the "NUMBER OF PLAYERS" key (also shown in fig. 3), thus ordering microprocessor 12 to perform the distribution according to the desired number of hands. If there are certain particular rules or other information that may alter the game, the "PROGRAM" key can be used to make changes appropriate.

The keyboard 44 may include a key called "CHECK". The "VERIFY" key is provided so that the operator can verify the number of cards that are in the tray at a certain time. Thanks to microprocessor 12, the shuffled system 100 monitors the number of cards that have been distributed during a cast sequence. After a game, when the "VERIFY" key is pressed, the remaining cards are they eject from shuffler 100 towards the output tray 60 and they count while they are expelled. This number is added to the number of cards that have been dealt to verify that there is an amount correct cards in the deck (eg 52, if it is being used a deck). If the number of cards counted is incorrect, one phrase on screen 42 and / or an audible alarm via a speaker Internal (not shown) inform the dealer.

The keyboard 44 may also include a key or keys, p. ex. of "GAME" (as seen in fig. 3), which indicate to shuffle system 100 to distribute a certain number of letters; although it is understood that any number is within the scope of the invention.

In addition, on the keyboard 42 there is a key "SEARCH" that orders the shuffling system 100 to search for the current hand or hands spread to the game tables. From this way, the images of the cards stored in memory 14 they open to be shown on screen 42. Together with the images of the letters, text messages are displayed that identify the corresponding cards of each table of game.

For example, the phrase "PLAYER1" can be show along with the images of the cards dealt to that particular player, and so on. One key "MEMORY" can be used, as shown in fig. 3, for Recover hands spread during the last games. This "MEMORY" key may have sub-keys to navigate through the hands, games and / or game tables. The images of the last games are consulted in memory 14 and are displayed on the screen 42

The keyboard 44 may also include other keys, such as "DRAWING MODE", to select the shuffle mode, namely continuous mode, batch mode, or the games played, or special game modes. The role of various keys, switches or buttons mentioned here are intended to be Simply examples, and industry experts can incorporate numerous modifications and additions without abandoning the spirit of the current invention. Moreover, some keys they can be programmable, and their function will be defined in the part bottom of screen 14. The function of these softkeys can change, p. ex. according to the type of game that is selected. This allows a multitude of possible functions at the same time to achieve the minimizing the number of keys needed.

In a preferential configuration, the system Shuffled 100 includes an indicator to signal errors. Preferably, a specific portion of the screen 42 flashes to indicate an error situation. Error situations may include, but not limited to, the malfunction of the shuffler, a shuffle error or a jam in the mechanism, a electronics failure, card counting error, p. ex. Too many or too few cards in the deck, etc. When he controller 10 receives an error signal, controller 10 communicates a signal to the "ERROR" indicator, activating the screen 42 to indicate the error condition to the operator. Preferably, screen 42 tells the operator what the error situation by means of a text message next to the indicator of mistake".

In a preferential configuration, the system shuffled 100 includes a device to emit an audible signal when an error condition is detected. For example, a speaker (not shown) electromagnetic or piezo emitting a signal sound or a hum when an error condition is detected. Preferably, the electromagnetic speaker is in communication and cooperates with the "ERROR" indicator on screen 42. Without However, keep in mind that the "ERROR" indicator can be located outside of screen 42 and anywhere in the box 15.

In another configuration, controller 10 is you can program to display messages on screen 42 in various languages, such as French, Spanish, Italian, etc. May include a key to change language options.

The screen will preferably be of the type conventional liquid crystal (LCD). Screen 42 may be a LCD color screen or not. Screen 42 can also play images and texts in several sections at once to show simultaneously a plurality of information from the game table. However, if you cannot display all the information in one screen, it is possible to equip it with a scrolling function to display different subsequent information screens. The Subsequent screens can be controlled with a key "DISPLAY", as shown in figure 3.

Since other modifications and various changes to meet performance requirements and environments individuals will be deducted by experts in the sector, This invention is not considered limited by the examples chosen. for the purpose of this publication, but covers all changes and modifications that do not imply transcending the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

According to the statute, the invention has been described in a more or less specific language in terms of structural and methodical characteristics. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific characteristics demonstrated and described, since the media disclosed here they represent only preferred ways of executing the invention. The invention, therefore, is claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the appropriate framework of the claims annexes, correctly interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalent.

Having therefore described the invention, in the claims that follow are presented the ends whose Patent protection is begged.

Claims (15)

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1. A card shuffler machine that incorporates: a box, a letter inbox located in said box, adapted to receive at least one deck of cards without shuffle, a shuffled device adapted to receive the letters from said inbox and selectively capable mix the cards for at least two card games with different shuffling requirements, and a controller inside of said box, an image capture inside said box, intended to capture graphic data from the chart after that the cards have been shuffled and before the cards Individuals leave by an output tray prepared for receive shuffled cards, and a screen located outside of said box to visualize the images captured with said one image capture, and an output tray prepared for Eject shuffled cards. 2. The card shuffler machine cited in the Claim 1 further includes: a control panel located in the outside of the aforementioned box, which has connected keys Operationally to the referred controller whose purpose is to select the operational functions of the card shuffler. 3. The card shuffler machine cited in the claim 2 whose aforementioned screen is located on the referred control panel. 4. The card shuffler machine referred to in any of claims 1 to 3, whose reference has already been made controller includes: a microprocessor, a storage of non-volatile memory for card images, a processor of images to process graphic data acquired by the referred captor. 5. The shuffling machine of claim 4, whose aforementioned non-volatile memory storage system It has the ability to store multiple image data playing cards, for a plurality of game tables, for a plurality of games. 6. Any card shuffler machine of claims 1 to 5, whose controller already referred to contains software adapted to control the operation of the Image capture 7. Any card shuffler machine of claims 1 to 6, whose controller already referred to contains software adapted to control the aforementioned screen; said screen is adapted to display multiple images cards for a plurality of game tables, as you order 8. Any card shuffler machine of claims 1 to 7, whose aforementioned screen is a liquid crystal display capable of displaying card images set with text messages. 9. Any card shuffler machine of claims 1 to 8, whose aforementioned capture of Images consists of a camera. 10. The card shuffler machine of the claim 9, whose aforementioned camera can be: a digital camera; A digital video camera. 11. A method to mix and distribute decks of card games, said method consisting of Next steps:

to)

do that the non shuffled cards are placed in a tray of entry of a card shuffler machine;

b)

do that the card shuffler machine is activated so that the letters blend

C)

transport the cards individually shuffled to the output tray;

d)

capture an image of each of those cards before each card reaches the output tray of the aforementioned card shuffler machine;

and)

store images captured;

F)

process said captured images; Y

g)

view these captured images and processed on a screen built into the shuffler machine letters.

12. The method of shuffling cards, cited in the claim 11, whose aforementioned processing phase in addition Includes: analog to digital image conversion, mapping of conversion data in bitmap format, and compression of said image.

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13. The method of shuffling cards, cited in the claims 11 or 12, also includes the association of letters to multiple game tables, through the aforementioned processing that This also includes the storage of graphic data from multiple game tables, for a plurality of games played, in the form of bitmap images. 14. The method for shuffling cards, cited in the claim 13, whose aforementioned display phase also Includes multi-card image display, for multiple game tables, for a plurality of games played, and this with a view to the verification of the winning hands. 15. The method for shuffling cards, cited in the claims 12 to 14, whose aforementioned display phase It also includes the display of these bitmap images in a LCD.