JP7254175B2 - Chips, gaming tables and gaming systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to chips, gaming tables and gaming systems.

Regarding chips used in amusement facilities such as casinos, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose that identification information stored in a memory of a chip using optical communication is transferred to a discriminating device using optical communication. A method for transmitting and authenticating a chip is disclosed.

JP 2006-238899 A JP-A-8-19409

By the way, in card games and roulette that are played using a gaming table, there are many cases where a plurality of chips are stacked and used. However, the prior art described above detects the position of a single chip or determines the authenticity of a chip, and accurately detects the number and identification information of chips stacked on a gaming table. I had a problem that I couldn't do it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of accurately detecting the number of chips stacked on a gaming table and identification information. .

A chip according to an aspect of the present invention is a chip driven by receiving wireless power supply, and is emitted from a plurality of light emitting elements arranged on a gaming table so as to enable specification of a betting position of the chip. The gist of the present invention is to include a light receiving unit that receives a light emission signal including position information, and a transmission unit that transmits the position information included in the received light emission signal together with its own identification information as bet chip information.
A gaming table according to one aspect of the present invention is a gaming table for placing the chips according to one aspect of the present invention described above, and is capable of specifying a power supply unit that wirelessly powers the chips and a betting position of the chips. and a receiver for receiving bet chip information from chips bet on the gaming table. The gist is to

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the number of chips stacked on the gaming table and the identification information.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the chip|tip which concerns on this embodiment. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of a chip; FIG. It is the figure which illustrated the positional relationship of a chip|tip and a game table. It is the figure which illustrated the table surface of the game table. It is the schematic diagram which illustrated the inside of the game table. It is the figure which illustrated the memory content of memory. It is the figure which illustrated the memory content of memory. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing operations of chips and a game table; It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a management system. It is a schematic diagram which shows the internal structure of the chip|tip which concerns on a modification. It is the figure which illustrated the positional relationship of a chip|tip and a game table. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing operations of chips and a game table;

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in each figure, the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations.

A. Present Embodiment [Chip Configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of the chip T, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the chip T. As shown in FIG.
The chip T is a medium used for various games (roulette, card games, etc.) performed at the game table. Note that the shape and size of the chip T are arbitrary.

The chip T has a body portion 101 formed in a substantially disk shape (coin shape), and a light guide portion 102, a light receiving portion 103, a power receiving antenna 104, a communication antenna 105, and a processing portion 106 having a memory M therein. , are provided (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, a sticker S indicating the game value (for example, $10) of the chip T is attached to the surface of the chip T (the portion corresponding to the light guide section 102). This sticker S is formed of an infrared transmissive film or the like.

Light guide portion 102 includes a light guide plate that transmits infrared rays used for data communication, and is arranged in the central portion so as to include the central axis of body portion 101 . The light guide plate internally transmits and diffuses infrared rays. In addition, in this embodiment, infrared communication is exemplified as an example of data communication, but it is also applicable to ultraviolet communication and visible light communication.

The light receiving unit 103 includes an infrared LED sensor, for example, and is provided at one or more locations facing the outer peripheral surface of the light guide unit 102 . The light receiving unit 103 receives infrared light (light emission signal) emitted from each infrared light emitting element (described later) provided on the game table. A plurality of infrared light emitting elements are arranged at positions where the chip T is desired to be read.

The power receiving antenna 104 is an antenna for receiving power supply (so-called wireless power supply) from the gaming table in a non-contact manner, and in this embodiment, receives power from the gaming table using long waves in the LF (Low Frequency) band. . Power received via the power receiving antenna 104 is supplied to each unit by the processing unit 106 .

The communication antenna (transmitting unit) 105 is an antenna for non-contact data communication with a reader/writer (described later) provided on the game table 300, and in the present embodiment, HF (High Frequency) band. use the shortwave of In this embodiment, both the power receiving antenna 104 and the communication antenna 105 employ an electromagnetic induction system, but may employ a radio wave system.

The processing unit (transmitting unit) 106 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. The CPU reads control programs and data stored in the ROM and RAM, thereby centrally controlling each unit of the chip T. The details of the processing unit 106 will be described later, and the configuration of the game table will be described.

[Configuration of game table]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the chips T and the gaming table 300. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, on the gaming table 300, n chips T1, T2, . . . Tn are stacked.

At the bottom layer of the game table 300, a power supply unit 301 that performs non-contact wireless power supply to each chip T is provided. The power feeding unit 301 is provided with an LF band power transmitting antenna (not shown) corresponding to the power receiving antenna 104 of the chip T. FIG.

An R/W antenna 303 for a reader/writer 302 that reads data from and writes data to the chip T is provided on the upper layer of the power supply unit 301 . The R/W antenna 303 is an HF band antenna corresponding to the communication antenna 105 of the chip T. FIG. The game table 300 can perform data communication with the chip T through the R/W antenna 303 .

Above the R/W antenna 303, a table surface is formed by laminating a glass plate 304, a light-transmitting cushioning material 305, and an acrylic plate 306 with a predetermined spacing. A plurality of infrared light emitting elements 307 are provided between the glass plate 304 and the R/W antenna 303 to emit light emission signals containing position data. Each infrared light emitting element 307 is composed of, for example, an infrared LED. The infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 307 is diffused in the light guide plate while passing through the light guide portions 102 of the stacked chips T1 to Tn, guides the infrared light to the light receiving portion 103 of each chip, and transmits the signal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the table surface of the gaming table 300, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the inside of the gaming table 300. As shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as an example of the game table 300, a game table 300 used for roulette is assumed. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of infrared light emitting elements 307 are arranged at positions where chips T are desired to be read so that the player can specify the betting position of chips T. FIG. Each infrared light emitting element 307 is assigned in advance a unique address for specifying its position on the gaming table 300 . Each infrared light emitting element 307 emits a light emission signal including position data indicating an address assigned to itself. A light emission signal emitted from the infrared light emitting element 307 is received by the light receiving unit 103 of the chip T, and the position data included in the light emission signal is written in the memory M by the processing unit 106 of the chip T.

6 and 7 are diagrams exemplifying the contents stored in the memory M. FIG.
In the initial state, the memory M of the processing unit 106 of the chip T stores a chip ID for identifying its own chip T and a user ID for identifying a user to whom its own chip T is lent ( See Figure 6).

On the other hand, when a player places a chip T on any bet position on the gaming table 300, the position data included in the light emission signal emitted from the infrared light emitting element 307 arranged below the bet position is It is stored in the memory M (see FIG. 7). For convenience of explanation, the chip ID and the user ID are called "initial chip information", and the initial chip information to which the position data is added is called "bet chip information".

Thereafter, when a bet chip information acquisition request is sent from the reader/writer 302 via the R/W antenna 303, the processor 106 of the chip T reads the bet chip information stored in the memory M, and 105 to the reader/writer 302 .

Hereinafter, the operation of the gaming system using the chips T and the gaming table 300 will be described with an example.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the chip T and the game table 300. As shown in FIG.
The power supply unit 301 of the game table 300 performs non-contact wireless power supply to each chip T stacked on the game table 300 via an LF band power transmission antenna (not shown) (step S1).

When the processing unit 106 of each chip T receives power supply via the power receiving antenna 104, it starts driving (step S2).

Each infrared light emitting element 307 of the game table 300 emits a light emission signal including position data (step S3). When the processing unit 106 of each chip T stacked on the game table 300 receives the light emission signal including the position data via the light receiving unit 103, it writes the position data included in the light emission signal to the memory M (step S4).

After that, the power supply unit 301 of the game table 300 stops wireless power supply to each chip T (step S5). On the other hand, the reader/writer 302 of the gaming table 300 requests each chip T to acquire bet chip information via the HF band R/W antenna 303 (step S6). Upon receiving a bet chip information acquisition request via the communication antenna 105, the processing unit 106 of each chip T reads the bet chip information stored in the memory M and transmits the bet chip information to the reader/writer 302 via the communication antenna 105. (step S7). The series of processes described above are repeatedly executed during game play.

<System configuration>
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a management system 500 according to this embodiment.
The management system 500 includes a plurality of chips T, a plurality of game tables 300 and a management device 400. FIG. In FIG. 9, one chip T and one gaming table 300 are shown for convenience of explanation.

The management device 400 is a device for managing the chips T used in the game facility, and is composed of a server computer having a CPU, ROM, and RAM, for example. The management device 400 is communicably connected to the game table 300 via a wired line or a wireless line.

The management device 400 includes an acquisition unit 401, an identification unit 402, an output unit 403, a position database DB1, and a management database DB2.

The acquisition unit 401 acquires bet chip information (see FIG. 7) transmitted from the reader/writer 302 of the gaming table 300 .

The identifying unit 402 identifies the betting position of the chips, the number and amount of chips bet, and the bet user by analyzing the acquired bet chip information. Specifically, the specifying unit 402 specifies the address of the infrared light emitting element 307 (ie, the chip bet position) based on the position data included in the bet chip information. A position management table TA1 is registered in the position database DB1, in which the address of the infrared light emitting element 307 is associated with position information specifying the betting position of the corresponding chip. When acquiring the address of the infrared light emitting element 307, the specifying unit 402 specifies the bet position of the chip by referring to the position management table TA1.

Furthermore, the specifying unit 402 specifies the number of chips and the amount of money based on the chip ID included in the bet chip information. The management database DB2 stores a tip management table TA2 showing the relationship between the tip ID and the amount associated with the tip. After obtaining the chip ID, the identification unit 402 identifies the number of chips and the amount of money by referring to the chip management table TA2. The term "tip amount" as used herein includes not only the amount for each chip, but also the total amount of a plurality of stacked chips. Further, the identifying unit 402 identifies the betting user based on the user ID included in the bet chip information.

The output unit 403 includes, for example, a display panel, and displays the information specified by the specifying unit 402 on the display panel of the amusement facility. By checking the information displayed on the display panel, users, dealers, etc. can quickly and accurately grasp which user has bet on which betting position and how much chips they have bet. It becomes possible.

Thus, according to this embodiment, each chip T stacked in the height direction of the game table 300 receives a light emission signal including position data from each infrared light emitting element 307 built in the game table 300. . Then, each chip T includes the received position data, the chip ID for identifying the chip T, and the user ID for identifying the user to whom the chip T is lent, as bet chip information to the reader/writer 302. Send to This makes it possible to identify the chip T even when the chips T are stacked.

Furthermore, it is possible to specify the chip T placed at the end of the bet, and to display an error when the chip T is placed after the result of the game is obtained. For example, the management device 400 detects the reception timing of bet chip information transmitted from the gaming table 300 . Based on the reception timing of the bet chip information, the management device 400 determines whether the chip T is correctly placed within the betting period or the chip T is incorrectly placed after the betting period ends and the result of the game is announced. to determine whether When the management device 400 determines that the chip T is placed illegally, it outputs an error message to the output unit 403 and performs processing to invalidate the bet operation. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress an illegal betting operation such as placing chips T after the result of the game is obtained.

B. Modifications In the present embodiment described above, even when a large number (20 to 30 chips, etc.) of chips T are stacked in the height direction of the game table 300, wireless power supply can be reliably performed. Although the frequency of the LF band is used for communication and the frequency of the HF band is used for data communication, it is not intended to be limited to this. Wireless power supply and data communication may be realized using a common frequency band (HF band is assumed below) as long as wireless power supply can be reliably performed.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the chip T according to the modification, and FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the chip T and the gaming table 300 according to the modification. As is clear from comparison between FIGS. 2 and 10, and between FIGS. 3 and 11, the chip T and the gaming table 300 according to the modification do not have the power receiving antenna 104 and the power feeding section 301, respectively. Since other configurations are the same as those of the chip T and the game table 300 according to the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding portions, and the description thereof is omitted.

The communication antenna (transmitting unit) 105 of the chip T is an HF band antenna, receives wireless power supply from the gaming table 300 in a non-contact manner, and communicates with the reader/writer 302 provided on the gaming table 300 in a non-contact manner. An antenna for data communication.

The R/W antenna (feeding unit, receiving unit) 303 of the game table 300 is an HF band antenna, and wirelessly feeds power to each chip T stacked on the game table 300, It is an antenna for data communication in In this case, the reader/writer 302 functions as an energy supply source for wireless power supply.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the chip T and the game table 300 according to the modification.

The reader/writer 302 of the gaming table 300 performs wireless power feeding via the R/W antenna 303 (step SA1).
When the processing unit 106 of each chip T receives power supply via the communication antenna 104, it starts driving (step SA2).

Each infrared light emitting element 307 of the game table 300 emits a light emission signal including position data (step SA3). When the processing unit 106 of each chip T receives the light emission signal including the position data via the light receiving unit 103, it writes the position data included in the light emission signal to the memory M (step SA4).

On the other hand, the reader/writer 302 of the gaming table 300 requests each chip T to acquire bet chip information via the HF band R/W antenna 303 (step SA5). Upon receiving a bet chip information acquisition request via the communication antenna 105, the processing unit 106 of each chip T reads the bet chip information stored in the memory M and transmits the bet chip information to the reader/writer 302 via the communication antenna 105. (step SA6). The series of processes described above are repeatedly executed during game play.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to construct a system more easily and at a lower cost than in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the management device 400 and the game table 300 are configured separately, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the game table 300 may be provided with the functions of the management device 400 to form an integrated structure. Also, part of the functions of the management device 400 (for example, the acquisition unit 401 and the identification unit 402) may be provided in the game table 300. On the contrary, part of the game table 300 (for example, the reader/writer 302 ) may be provided in the management device 400 .

In the present embodiment, the light guide portion 102 is provided in the central portion of the chip T, but the light guide portion 102 may be provided concentrically on the outer peripheral side of the chip T. FIG. When the light guide portion 102 is provided on the outer peripheral side, there is an advantage that light can be easily guided between the upper and lower chips even if a plurality of chips T are stacked at random. Also, the chip T may have a shape other than a substantially disc shape (coin shape) such as a polygon.

In the present embodiment, the chip information (see FIGS. 6 and 7) including the chip ID and user ID of the own chip T is exemplified, but the configuration of the chip information is not limited to this. For example, if the user who uses the tip has already been identified, the tip information does not need to include the user ID. In addition to the tip ID and the user ID, the tip information may include information representing the amount of money associated with the tip (for example, 10 dollars).
Furthermore, in addition to the position data, for example, table information indicating the ID number of the game table 300 or a time stamp as time information at the time of winning may be sent as the light emission signal from the infrared light emitting element 307 . The table information may be set in advance in a memory (not shown) of each infrared light emitting element 307, for example. The time stamp may be acquired using a timer (not shown) of the game table 300, for example. By sending the table information, when there are a plurality of game tables 300, the management device 400 can grasp which position of which game table 300 has won. Furthermore, by sending a time stamp from the infrared light emitting element 307 corresponding to the winning position, the winning time can be left on the chip T as a winning result, and the illegality of adding the chip T after the end of the game can be dealt with.

C. Others The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, each element described above and its arrangement, materials, conditions, shape, size, etc. are not limited to those illustrated and can be changed as appropriate. Also, it is possible to partially replace or combine the configurations shown in different embodiments. Furthermore, each processing step described above can be arbitrarily changed in order or executed in parallel as long as the content of processing is not inconsistent.

Further, in this specification, the term "unit" does not simply mean a physical configuration, but also includes the case where the processing executed by the "unit" is implemented by software. In addition, even if the processing executed by one "section" is realized by two or more physical configurations or devices, the processing executed by two or more "sections" may not be realized by one physical means or device. good too.

A program for executing each process described in this specification may be stored in a recording medium. By using this recording medium, the above program can be installed in the chip T, the game table 300, and the management device 400. FIG. Here, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

T chip 101 main unit 102 light guide unit 103 light receiving unit 104 power receiving antenna 105 communication antenna 106 processing unit 300 game table 301 feeding unit 302 reader/writer , 303... R/W antenna, 307... Infrared light emitting element, 400... Management device, 401... Acquisition unit, 402... Identification unit, 403... Output unit, DB1... Position database, DB2... Management database.

Claims (3)

A chip driven by receiving wireless power supply,
a light-receiving unit for receiving a light-emitting signal containing position information emitted from a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged on a gaming table so as to enable specification of the betting position of chips;
a transmission unit that transmits, as bet chip information, position information included in the received light emission signal together with its own identification information;
a light guide formed to include the central axis of the main body of the chip;
a non-light guiding portion formed to surround the light guiding portion;
The light guide part transmits and diffuses the light emission signal,
The light-receiving part is installed in the non-light-guiding part so as to be able to receive the light emission signal,
In a state where the second chip is superimposed on the first chip, when the light emission signal is emitted from the light emitting element from below the first chip, the light emitting device of the second chip is applied. A chip that allows the light emission signal to pass through the light section . A game table for placing the chips according to claim 1,
a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to the chip;
a plurality of light-emitting elements that are arranged so as to identify the betting position of the chip and that emit a light-emitting signal including position information for identifying the position on the gaming table;
and a receiving unit for receiving the bet chip information from the chips bet on the gaming table. 3. The game table according to claim 2 , wherein said light emission signal includes at least either table information for identifying said game table or time information at the time of winning, in addition to said position information.

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