KR100994556B1 - Slot machine with casino chip identify module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A slot machine including a casino chip discrimination module is provided, which can play a game using a casino chip in which an RFID tag is included. CONSTITUTION: A slot machine including a casino chip discrimination module comprises: a casino chip feed hopper(3a) into which a casino chip with an RFID tag including the amount information is inserted; a guide channel(1a) into which the inserted casino chip is guided; a return passage(1b) returning the casino chip to the outside; a storage passage(1c) which stores the casino chip within the slot machine; an RFID antenna(4) which is offered in order to surround a hole; and an RFID reader(4a) connected to the RFID antenna.

Description

Slot machine with casino chip identify module

The present invention relates to a slot machine including a casino chip identification module, and more particularly, to a slot including a casino chip identification module configured to play a game using a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag rather than a banknote or coin. It's about machines.

Casino chips are used in casinos to distinguish between amounts or players, and are largely divided into value chips and non value chips.

Value chips are chips that can be cashed, with the face value and the casino logo on the surface of the chip, which can be cashed at any time in the casino. The amount varies from casino to casino, but most casinos use chips worth $ 1, $ 5, $ 10, $ 100, $ 1, $ 5, and $ 10.

Non-value chips are non-monetizable chips that are typically color-coded to distinguish players in games such as Roulette or Tai-Sai. The color of the

Since these casino chips are very expensive cash substitutes, it is necessary to make efforts to prevent exportation, forgery, and alteration to the outside. Methods for this include holograms, UV inks, watermarks, magnetic strips, bar codes, and RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification). Among them, RFID is a magnetic strip (magnetic strip). Compared with the strip and bar code method, the service life is semi-permanent, and it is impossible to modulate or manage.

Therefore, recently, many methods of managing casino chips using RFID have been introduced. RFID technology refers to a technology that recognizes information over long distances using radio waves. This requires an RFID tag and an RFID reader. The tag consists of an antenna and an integrated circuit, which records information in the integrated circuit and transmits the information to the reader through the antenna. This information is used to identify the tagged object.

On the other hand, the slot machine is widely used as a commercial entertainment facility that is one of the leisure industry to satisfy the leisure needs in the leisure activities consisting of rest and entertainment activities.

A slot machine is a game device that uses coins or its substitutes.It depends on the type of device, but when the lever is pulled by constructing mechanical elements such as levers and cog wheels inside the slot machine, several types of patterns appear in several places. If two or more of the same pattern is lined up, or a certain combination of patterns is lined up, it has a configuration that is several times the coin put. In addition, with the development of semiconductor technology, electronic slot machines, which are equipped with a microcomputer in a slot machine, run a program that generates random results on the microcomputer, and enjoy a game for gamers, are widely used. .

However, in such a slot machine using a coin or its substitute, the coin or its substitute can be detected by metal content and size, and identified through a magnet and an optical sensor, so that the coin or its substitute can be forged or tampered with. There is a problem. This is not only socially illegal, but also has the problem that it can cause enormous financial loss for the operators who operate the slot machines.

In addition, if you want to use a slot machine in a casino, the slot machine if the customers who use the casino have exchanged all of their cash for casino chips or have only casino chips instead of coins or substitutes used in the slot machines. If you want to use even if you will not be able to use.

As a result, in order to use the slot machine, a user may have to exchange his or her casino chip with cash or a coin or substitute again, and this hassle causes a problem of low utilization of the slot machine. Can be.

Accordingly, the present inventors have recognized that a slot machine that can be operated even by inserting a casino chip having a low possibility of counterfeiting or tampering is needed. Invented a slot machine including a casino chip identification module.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, the object of the present invention is casino chip identification module configured to be able to proceed using the casino chip embedded RFID tag, not bills, coins, coins or its substitutes It is to provide a slot machine comprising a.

In addition, an object of the present invention by using a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag using a specific range of frequencies, it is possible to accurately recognize a large number of casino chips at the same time and to reduce the interference distance with the surrounding reading area, the casino The present invention provides a slot machine including a casino chip identification module capable of more accurately recognizing chip amount information and ejected casino chip amount information.

The slot machine including the casino chip identification module according to the above object comprises the casino chip identification module, the casino chip identification module casino chip slot that can be inserted casino chip embedded RFID tag including the amount information ; A guide passage through which the casino chip is introduced; A return passage configured to return the casino chip to the outside; A storage passage configured to store the casino chip in the slot machine; An RFID antenna attached to an outer surface of the guide passage; And an RFID reader connected to the RFID antenna, wherein the casino chip identification module can identify the casino chip by reading an RFID tag of the casino chip.

Preferably, at least one hole having a smaller size than the casino chip is provided at both sides of the guide passage, and the RFID antenna is provided to surround the at least one hole.

Preferably, the slot machine further comprises a control unit for controlling the casino chip identification module, the control unit, the casino chip is inserted when the casino chip identification module does not read the RFID tag of the casino chip The casino chip identification module is controlled to be returned to the outside through the return passage.

Preferably, when the casino chip identification module reads the RFID tag of the casino chip, the controller displays the value information of the casino chip on a display unit, and the casino chip is inserted into the casino chip through the storage passage. And controlling the casino chip identification module to be stored inside a slot machine.

Preferably, the slot machine further comprises a data storage unit capable of storing money information in the RFID tag read by the casino chip identification module, and

The control unit receives and processes the money information stored in the data storage unit, and displays a calculation processing value on the display unit.

Preferably, the slot machine, characterized in that it further comprises a casino chip stocker that can be stored in the casino chip is injected through the casino chip input unit.

Preferably, a shielding sheet for shielding the radio waves is provided between the casino chip stocker and the casino chip identification module.

Preferably, a shielding sheet surrounding the casino chip identification module is provided.

Preferably, the slot machine further comprises a user input unit connected to the control unit and capable of inputting information according to a user's operation, and wherein the control unit is a game executed on a display according to the information from the user input unit. It is characterized by controlling the progress of.

Slot machine according to the present invention as described above can be clearly seen through the following effects.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that a slot machine can be used by inserting a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag rather than a bill, a coin, a coin, or a substitute thereof.

As a result, counterfeiting or tampering with the coin or its substitutes can be more reliably prevented, and also, the effect is that customers with casino chips can use slot machines without the hassle of exchanging them for coins or their substitutes.

In addition, according to the present invention, by using a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag using a specific range of frequencies, it is possible to accurately recognize a plurality of casino chips at the same time and to reduce the interference distance with the surrounding reading area, the casino There is an effect that it is possible to more accurately recognize the amount information of the chip and the amount information of the casino chip discharged.

As a result, various types of errors that may occur during operation of the slot machine to which RFID technology is applied can be prevented in advance.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a casino chip identification module 10 of a slot machine 100 including a casino chip identification module according to the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing some components of the inside of the slot machine 100 including the casino chip identification module according to the present invention,
Figure 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag used in the slot machine according to the present invention,
4 is a view showing a casino chip reader separate from an embodiment of a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag used in a slot machine according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a slot machine including a casino chip identification module according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or convention of a user or an operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

<Examples>

1 is a view schematically illustrating a casino chip identification module 10 of a slot machine 100 including a casino chip identification module according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the casino chip identification module 10 has one side plate 1 having a guide passage 1a bent downward and a return passage 1b and a storage passage 1c branched in the middle of the guide passage. , The other side plate 2 having a shape corresponding to that of the one side plate 1 and assembled to the one side plate, and assembled at the tip of the one side plate 1 and the other side plate 2, and the casino chip inlet 3a. And a front plate 3 on which a casino chip return slot 3b is formed.

Casino chip inlet (3a) is formed so that the casino chip embedded with the RFID tag containing the price information can be inserted. Casino chip inlet (3a) is formed similar to the coin inlet of the vending machine is not particularly limited in size and shape as long as the casino chip can be easily inserted into the slot machine (100). On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, the casino chip inlet (3a) may be present in the upper side of the side plate 1 and the other side plate 2 as well as the front plate (3) (see Fig. 1). It is noted that the casino chip inlet 3a existing at the upper side of the one side plate 1 and the other side plate 2 is provided in consideration of the case where the casino chip inserted from the upper side is introduced into the slot machine 100.

The casino chip passing through the casino chip inlet 3a is first spread over the guide passage 1a before entering the return passage 1b or the storage passage 1c and configured to identify the authenticity thereof. .

The casino chip identification module 10 further includes an RFID antenna 4 attached to the outside of the guide passage 1a and an RFID reader 4a connected to the RFID antenna 4. In more detail, holes on both sides of the guide passage 1a are provided with holes smaller than the size of the inserted casino chips, and the RFID antenna 4 may be arranged to surround these holes. Note that the RFID reader 4a may be disposed at any position in the slot machine according to the intention of the user.

Due to this configuration, the casino chip identification module 10 more accurately reads the RFID tag of the casino chip passed through the casino chip inlet 3a through the RFID antenna 4 and the RFID reader 4a to identify the casino chip. You can do it. That is, the RFID tag embedded in the casino chip may communicate with the RFID antenna 4 to transmit the information stored in the RFID tag to the RFID antenna 4, and the RFID reader 4a reads the information stored in the RFID tag. Can be updated or updated.

In particular, the integrated circuit of the RFID tag may store information of the casino chip, for example, a unique ID number, amount information, etc. of the casino chip, and the antenna of the RFID tag transmits the information stored in the integrated circuit to the RFID antenna 4. It is possible to receive a constant signal from the RFID antenna (4).

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention has been described assuming that there is one hole, a plurality of holes having a smaller size than the casino chips to be introduced may be provided on both sides of the guide passage (1a). In this case, a plurality of RFID antennas may be arranged to surround each of the plurality of holes. At this time, it is noted that the position and arrangement of the plurality of holes can be appropriately disposed on both sides of the guide passage (1a) according to the user's intention. Due to this configuration, the casino chip identification module 10 reads RFID tags of a plurality of casino chips without affecting each other's radio waves through a plurality of RFID antennas and a plurality of RFID readers even when a plurality of casino chips are continuously inserted. Accurate readings can identify casino chips.

The casino chip identification module 10 further includes an actuating tool 5, which acts on the solenoid 5a at the point where the guide passage 1a and the return passage 1b of the other side plate 2 meet. Installed so that the bad casino chips or the counterfeit casino chips are directed toward the return passage 1b side and only the normal casino chips are directed toward the storage passage 1c side.

Looking at the operation principle of the casino chip identification module 10, if the casino chip is inserted into the casino chip inlet (3a) of the front panel (3) is moved along the guide passage (1a) to the first casino chip RFID It is read by the antenna 4 and the RFID reader 4a.

If the casino chip identification module 10 fails to read the RFID tag of the casino chip, that is, when the bad casino chip or the counterfeit casino chip is inserted into the casino chip inlet 3a, the bad casino chip or the counterfeit casino chip is operated. The ball 5 is discharged to the casino chip return port 3b of the front plate 3, with the return passage 1b side facing the return passage 1b. When the RFID tag of the casino chip is read, that is, when the normal casino chip is inserted into the casino chip inlet 3a, the casino chip is directed to the storage passage 1c side by the operating port 5, and the slot machine ( 100). The operation of the casino chip identification module 10 proceeds at a very high speed, and by using the RFID recognition technology, even if a plurality of casino chips are introduced at a time, the above-described functions can be performed smoothly.

On the other hand, the casino chip identification module 10 is configured to be easily mounted without modifying and repairing a slot machine using an existing coin or coin separately. That is, by separating the coin or coin inlet of the existing slot machine and equipped with the casino chip identification module 10, it can be easily converted into a slot machine that can proceed the game using the casino chip.

2 is a perspective view illustrating some components of the inside of the slot machine 100 including the casino chip identification module according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the slot machine 100 including the casino chip identification module may further include a display unit 20 and a controller 30.

The display unit displays a price information in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 4a. Therefore, the display unit 20 can display the price information corresponding to the amount of the casino chip inserted into the slot machine 100 by the customer who uses the slot machine 100 so that they can be visually recognized from the outside.

In addition, the display unit 20 may display game information of a slot machine, which is a combination of characters, figures, and the like, which can be displayed in a slot machine, in addition to the price information in the RFID tag. In addition, the display unit 20 may further display various types of money information such as, for example, a current bet amount, a winning amount, and a holding amount. Since the configuration of the display unit 20 for displaying such game information uses a known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, the above-described display unit 20 is preferably configured to be used as it is the display unit used in a general slot machine. For this purpose, it is noted that the price information in the RFID tag can be stored and dataized to be compatible with the data of the data unit for storing various information that can be displayed on the display unit of a general slot machine.

The controller 30 not only controls the operation of the operation tool 5 described above, but also controls the display of the amount of money information of the display unit 20. More specifically, the amount information in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 4a flows into the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 based on the amount information of the casino chip from the RFID reader 4a. The display unit 20 is controlled to display corresponding price information on the screen.

The controller 30 may include components such as a microprocessor, a program memory, and a RAM memory backed up by a battery, and by providing such components, the controller 30 may not only perform real-time display processing of the inserted casino chip, but also use a general slot. Various operations or operations required for the operation of the machine can be performed. Meanwhile, since the components of the controller 30 are well-known technical elements, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Preferably, the slot machine 100 including the casino chip identification module according to the present invention may further include a user input unit (not shown), a casino chip stocker 40, and a data storage unit 50.

The user input unit is connected to the control unit 30 and performs a role of inputting information according to a user's operation to the control unit 30. For example, the user input unit may include input means such as a COLLECT button, a GAMBLE button, a SPIN button, and a TAKE WIN button, and when the user inputs the input means, the controller 30 displays the input based on the input of the user. The progress of the game executed in the unit 20 is controlled.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, the user input unit has been described as including four types of buttons, but the types of buttons to be included are not limited thereto, and may include any kind of buttons required for game progression of the slot machine. Note that.

The casino chip stocker 40 stores a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag. At this time, the manner in which the casino chip stocker 40 stores the casino chips is not particularly limited. All casino chips may be stored in one casino chip stocker, and different casino chips may be stored in a plurality of casino chip stockers divided by types.

It is preferable that a shielding sheet for shielding radio waves is provided between the casino chip stocker 40 and the casino chip identification module. As the shielding sheet, various kinds of shielding sheets such as a sheet coated with a ferrite component or a sheet containing a ferrite component may be used, and RFID tags of casino chips stored in the casino chip stocker 40 may be used by the shielding sheet. Reading by the chip identification module 10 can be prevented.

In addition, it is more preferable that a shielding sheet surrounding the casino chip identification module itself is provided. In this case, the shielding sheet may surround one side plate 1 and the other side plate 2 of the casino chip identification module 10, or may surround all of the one side plate 1, the other side plate 2, and the front plate 3. It is configured to be. By this shielding sheet, it is possible to prevent the RFID tag of the casino chips that can be located on the operation panel on which the user input unit is formed is read by the casino chip identification module 10.

The data storage unit 50 stores the price information in the RFID tag read by the RFID reader 4a. The data storage unit 50 allows the slot machine 100 to perform real-time storage and calculation processing of the amount of casino chip input and discharge information.

When the data storage unit 50 is present, the controller 30 receives arithmetic processing information received in the data storage unit 50, and displays arithmetic processing values on the display unit 20. Such arithmetic processing includes all kinds of arithmetic processing used in general slot machine equipment. Therefore, various types of money information such as the current bet amount, winning amount, and holding amount can be displayed more accurately on the display unit 20 based on the calculation process in the control unit 30.

3 and 4, the casino chip embedded with the RFID tag used in the slot machine will be described in detail.

3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag used in the slot machine according to the present invention, Figure 4 is an embodiment of a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag used in the slot machine according to the present invention A diagram showing an example and a separate casino chip reader.

The casino chip that can be used in the slot machine 100 according to the present invention includes an RFID tag, and the RFID tag 360 includes an integrated circuit 350 and an antenna 370.

The integrated circuit 350 is a complex electronic device or system in which many electronic circuit devices are combined on a substrate or in a state in which the electronic device is not detachable, and stores various information on casino chips. For example, the unique ID of the casino chip, the allocated amount information, and the like are stored in the integrated circuit.

The antenna 370 is connected to the integrated circuit 350 and is preferably made of a winding wound several times outside the integrated circuit 350. The antenna 370 may communicate using RFID tags having various frequencies, thereby transmitting information stored in an integrated circuit and receiving updated information from the outside. That is, when the casino chip is inserted into the casino chip inlet (3a) of the slot machine 100, the RFID tag communicates with the RFID antenna 4, the RFID reader (using the radio wave amount information stored in the RFID tag) 4a), the RFID reader 4a can read or update the amount of money information stored in the RFID tag using radio waves.

On the other hand, the RFID technology that can be used in the slot machine 100 according to the present invention can use both passive, semi-passive, active RFID, low frequency band of 120 ~ 140 KHz, intermediate frequency band of 13.56 MHz, 868-956 MHz The frequencies of various bands can be used, such as the high frequency band of 2.45 GHz microwave band. That is, the RFID technology that can be used in the slot machine 100 according to the present invention is not particularly limited to any one.

On the other hand, the windings of the integrated circuit and the antenna may be preferably configured to use an RFID propagation frequency of 20 MHz or more and 25 MHz or less, preferably 21 MHz or more and 24 MHz or less. As RFID tags and RFID readers having a specific range of frequencies perform RFID communication, the RFID readers are stored in the integrated circuits of the casino chips even if 20 to 25 casino chips are stacked as shown in Table 1 below. It is possible to accurately recognize the information of. Due to this feature, even if a large number of casino chips are introduced, the information of each casino chip can be accurately recognized.

RFID tag frequency (MHz) 13. 96 19 20 21 . . . 24 25 26 Number of casino chips in a pile that the reader can read 12-13 18 20 23 . . . 22 20 18 stability Instability Instability stability stability . . . stability stability Instability

In this case, when the casino chip and the RFID reader perform RFID communication, communication is performed using an RFID radio frequency of 20 MHz or more and 25 MHz or less, preferably 21 MHz or more and 24 MHz or less, which is an inherent frequency of the RFID tag embedded in the casino chip. However, stacking a plurality of casino chips, the casino chip pile 400 and the RFID reader has a frequency in communication with the communication, the actual communication frequency may be out of the frequency range of 20MHz or more and 25MHz or less. However, even if the RFID communication is performed outside the inherent frequency range of the RFID tag embedded in the casino chip used in the present invention, the reader can accurately read the information of the casino chip.

In addition, by performing the RFID communication using the frequency of the casino chip of 20MHz or more and 25MHz or less, preferably 21MHz or more and 24MHz or less, the interference distance with the surrounding reading area can be reduced to 3cm or less. The interference distance at this time means the interference distance generated when 20 or more casino chips are stacked.When 10 casino chips are stacked as shown in Table 2 below, the interference distance can be reduced to 2.5cm or less, The time can be reduced below that. Hereinafter, the 'interference distance' refers to the distance at which interference occurs when 20 or more casino chips are stacked.

Number of casino chips in one pile 25 20 15 10 things 5 Interference distance 3. 2cm 3 cm 2. 8cm 2.5cm 1.8cm

Therefore, when there are a plurality of casino chip piles 400 stacking a plurality of casino chips, if the distance between the adjacent casino chip piles 400 is more than 3cm apart, the RFID reader accurately stores the information stored in the integrated circuit of the casino chip without interference. I can read it.

That is, as described above, by configuring the slot machine 100 using a casino chip embedded with an RFID tag using a specific range of frequencies, it is possible to accurately recognize a plurality of casino chips at the same time and the interference distance with the surrounding reading area Since it is possible to reduce the amount, the amount of casino chip information input is more accurate.

As mentioned above, although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the following claims are not limited to the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It can be easily understood by those skilled in the art that can be modified and modified.

Claims (9)

In the slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module,
The casino chip identification module,
Casino chip slot that can be inserted casino chip embedded RFID tag including the amount information;
A guide passage through which the casino chip is introduced; A return passage configured to return the casino chip to the outside; A storage passage configured to store the casino chip in the slot machine;
RFID antennas provided on both side surfaces of the guide passage, the one or more holes having a smaller size than the casino chip, and surrounding the one or more holes; And
Including an RFID reader connected to the RFID antenna,
The casino chip identification module may be able to identify the amount of information of the casino chip by reading the RFID tag of the inserted casino chip,
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method of claim 1,
The slot machine further includes a control unit for controlling the casino chip identification module,
The controller may control the casino chip identification module so that the casino chip is returned to the outside through the return passage when the casino chip identification module fails to read the RFID tag of the casino chip.
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method of claim 2,
When the casino chip identification module reads the RFID tag of the casino chip, the controller displays the value information of the casino chip on a display unit, and the inserted casino chip is inserted into the slot machine through the storage passage. Characterized in that for controlling the casino chip identification module to be stored,
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method of claim 1,
The RFID tag is
Integrated circuits; And
An antenna connected to the integrated circuit;
The RFID tag has a frequency of 20MHz or more and 25MHz or less,
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method of claim 3,
The slot machine,
And a data storage unit capable of storing money information in the RFID tag read by the casino chip identification module, and
The control unit receives and processes the money information stored in the data storage unit, and displays a calculation processing value on a display unit.
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The slot machine,
Characterized in that the casino chip further comprises a casino chip stocker that can be stored passing through the casino chip input unit,
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method of claim 6,
Between the casino chip stocker and the casino chip identification module, a shielding sheet for shielding the radio waves is provided,
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method of claim 6,
A shielding sheet surrounding the casino chip identification module is provided.
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.
The method of claim 3,
The slot machine,
A user input unit connected to the control unit and configured to input information according to a user's operation, and
The control unit is characterized in that for controlling the progress of the game to be executed on the display in accordance with the information from the user input unit,
Slot machine comprising a casino chip identification module.

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