RO128273B1 - Photoelectric system for monitoring value tokens in casinos - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system to be used in casinos for monitoring value tokens which do not have an identification integrated circuit embedded therein. According to the invention, the system comprises a token tray with 12 rows meant to place the value tokens therein, in the positions where the tokens are placed there being arranged some phototransistors, one for each token separately, said transistors emitting an electric signal depending on the detection or non-detection of the token in front of it, the signals from the phototransistors being processed by a specialized electronic circuit which offers at the output an analog signal taken over by the I/O modules of a programmable automaton which carries out the acquisition of data, their processing and transmission to a central server on which a special software application is installed, said application having the role of storing all the data into a central data base and allowing both the monitoring in real time of a game table and the generating of reports necessary to the casino management team.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the value chips used at gambling tables in a casino.

It is known that in most casinos the chips that are in a fleet are made of a plastic or ceramic material. This type of chips do not allow real-time and accurate monitoring of the financial situation on the gaming tables, nor does it prevent their theft for counterfeiting purposes.

For the purpose of chip monitors on gaming tables in a casino, the solution is known from US patent application 3983646 A, which includes a token that includes fluorescent paints in a groove on the edge so that when illuminated by a source external light, the dyes on the edge will respond by fluorescence. In order to respond to different wavelengths, the groove on the edge of the token may have different patterns, to increase the degree of differentiation between the types of chips and to identify the counterfeit chips from the original ones.

This solution solves the problem of identifying chips on the gaming table, but it does not solve the problem of their monitors in real time.

To remedy this drawback, from the European patent application WO 2011010795 A, a monitoring system is known which is applicable to a token in which a microchip is incorporated for identification, by means of radio frequency (RFID) means which include an integrated circuit and an antenna connected to it. The RFID antenna has a frequency that is equal to or greater than 20 MHz and is equal to or less than 25 MHz. The disadvantage of this system is that it cannot be applied to ordinary chips (without a microchip).

A solution that can be applied to chips that have no embedded chips is known from US Patent 6254002 B1, according to which security can be improved for any circular token in a casino by using magnetic readout means that can be applied to it. The token is constructed with at least one first, second and third set of magnetically readable information attached and forms a source of magnetic readable information. Each set of readable magnetic information can have magnetic elements that contain a fiber, magnetic materials, filaments or strips, which can be read both mechanically, depending on the location of the information on the token, either electrically, through an electrical circuit, the deletion of these and their transformation into a digital signal. The information is transmitted through a scanning device.

Also for the purpose of monitoring chips that have no embedded chips is known the solution in patent application GB 2227347 A, according to which a chip validation system is provided with an optical detection unit comprising a light source - phototransistor, and a lens, token-mounted and light-sensing devices associated with a microprocessor that determines whether a tested token has predetermined optical characteristics.

Both the solution in US Patent 6254002 B1 and that in patent application GB 2227347 A, even though they do not use chips with embedded chips, are nevertheless customized by magnetic and optical means, therefore not can be applied to ordinary chips.

Also known is the solution for identifying and monitoring chips on the casino gaming table, which describes a token having a disc-shaped body with a groove. In the groove are inserted the components of a light-emitting device, radio controlled, which consists of a microchip and a light source connected to the microchip through some circuits. Monitoring is performed by a remote processor that takes information from a memory block in the microchip. This solution has the disadvantage that it cannot be applied to the identification of ordinary chips.

RO 128273 Β1

A quirky solution regarding monitoring the chips of value on the table 1 of a casino, these chips having a chip with integrated circuit-chip, is known from the patent application KR 20090081140 A, which includes a tracking system 3 casino chips with RFID means, to monitor the current status of the chips in real time, thus preventing theft and or interception from inside or outside. The system uses 5 a system from the casino gambling table, which obtains real-time information issued by the casino chips and a banking system that manages the receipts and payments of chips, systems that 7 transmit the information to a central server for processing.

These solutions have the disadvantage that they cannot be applied to the identification of the usual 9 chips.

The technical problem that the system solves, according to the claimed invention, is 11 to identify the chips from a gaming table and to keep track of the amount of chips from a fleet placed on a gaming table, regardless of the type of chips used, customized or not. 13

The solution to this problem consists of a system of monitoring the tokens of value from a casino placed in a fleet, preferably having 12 rows on which 15 are placed tokens of value, which, in order to identify the tokens on each table, it also contains an electronic module with phototransistors for counting the chips and a programmable automatic 17 connected to a computer that performs the acquisition of the data from the electronic module, as well as their processing and transmission to a central server, the phototransistors 19 being arranged one for each chip separately in some holes in each row, providing an electronic signal depending on whether or not the token is detected. 21

The system according to the claimed invention solves the technical problem and by the fact that the electronic module is based on integrated circuits consisting of 4 voltage comparators, 23 each voltage comparator coupling a ground resistance at the output, if the voltage on the terminal + "is greater than that from terminal 25

The system according to the claimed invention solves the technical problem and by the fact that at the outputs of the integrated circuit comparators some resistors are placed, which will be connected 27 between the integrated circuit comparator output and the circuit output, so that at least one of the phototransistors is not illuminated. between the resistors in parallel between mass 29 and the output of the circuit.

The system according to the claimed invention solves the technical problem and the fact that 31 the number of phototransistors is identical to the number of holes in the fleet.

The advantages arising from the application of the system according to the invention are the following: 33

- constructive simplicity;

- it can also be applied to ordinary chips, which do not have a built-in chip, 35

- allows the continuous monitoring, in real time and in full, of the chips on the gaming tables throughout the casino's activity;

The following is an example of an embodiment of the system according to the invention, in connection with FIG. 1 ... 7, which represents: 39

FIG. 1, block diagram of the system for monitoring the chips of value in casinos, according to the invention;

FIG. 2, fleet view A (chip tray) of the system according to the invention;

FIG. 3, line view with chips from the fleet, of the system according to the invention; 43

FIG. 4 is a floating line view of the system of the invention;

FIG. 5, a token view of the system according to the invention;

FIG. 6, the schematic of the electronic module of the phototransistor circuit of the system according to the invention;

FIG. 7, the schematic of the integrated circuit that forms part of the electronic module with phototransistors of the system according to the invention.

RO 128273 Β1

The system for monitoring the value chips in casinos, shown in fig. 1 is composed of a fleet A with 12 rows 1 on which value chips 2, FIG. 2, an electronic module B with phototransistors T1, T2, ... Tn, for counting chips 2 and a programmable C automatic connected to a PC computer.

in the positions of the chips 2 in the fleet A, situation shown in fig. 3, the phototransistors T1, T2, ... Tn, one for each chip are arranged separately. Phototransistors Ti, T2, ... Tn provide an electronic signal depending on whether or not the axon 2 is detected in its own right. Each signal from each of the phototransistors T1, T2, ... Tn is processed by electronic mode B. in FIG. 6 and 7, is presented the variant with 5 phototransistors T1, T2, ... T5, in which the module B offers at its output an analogue electrical signal that is properly taken over by the modules I / O of the programmable automatic C. The programmable C controller performs the acquisition of the data from the electronic module B, as well as its processing and transmission to a central S server. On this programmable C is installed a specialized software application, which has the role of storing all the information in a central database and to allow both the monitoring of the game table, in real time, as well as the generation of the necessary reports to the management team. casino.

The system according to the invention works without fail in the normal lighting conditions of the area above the gaming table. The light source must be incandescent and provide optimum light intensity.

As shown in FIG. 2, fleet A represents a metal tray with a known shape itself, with the purpose of storing the chips 2 held by the dealer. Chips 2 are kept on rows 1, as shown in fig. 3, which can preferably be 12 for Black Jack, Poker and Roulette. On each row 1, only chips 2 of the same value can be placed.

Once they have been placed on the playing table, rows 1 of fleet A will be inclined, fig. 3. This Inclination is required for the 2 chips to be attached to each other and fixed securely by the A-fleet.

On each row 1 of fleet A, maximum 58 holes 3 with a diameter of 1.8 ... 2 mm were executed, as shown in fig. 4, in which the phototransistors are fixed 3. The holes 3 are located in the positions where the chips 2 come, one on a section of 3.37 ± 0.05 mm (the approximate thickness of a chip 2), so that each chip 2 is placed in the A fleet to cover one orifice.

The chips 2, shown in fig. 5, are made of plastic material with a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 4 cm, a thickness of 3.37 ± 0.05 mm and a mass of 12 ± 0.5 g. They are used as a currency exchange in the casino premises. These tokens 2 have different values inscribed on them, such as 1, 5, 10, 25, 100 etc., the color of a token 2 also varying according to value.

Electronic module B of the phototransistor circuit T1, T2, ... Tn, exemplified in fig. 6 for 5 phototransistors T1, T2, ... T5, contains phototransistors T1, T2, ... T5, each of which is an electronic device made of a semiconductor material that converts a light signal into an electric one.

The electronic module B is based on integrated circuits CI. Such an integrated circuit, shown in FIG. 7 is composed of 4 comparators C1, C2, C3, C4 of voltage, fig. 7. Each voltage comparator C1, C2, C3, C4 will output at the output a resistance R1, R2, R3, R4 at the ground, if the voltage on the terminal + "is higher than that on the terminal (reference voltage).

RO 128273 Β1

To supply the B mode a 15 Vdc (not shown) transformer is used. 1 The rectified voltage is connected to two voltage regulators 4 and 5. One provides a constant voltage of 12 Vdc, used for supplying the comparators 01, 02,03, 04 through 3 pins 1 and 4, and the other regulator 5 offers a voltage of 6 Vdc, used in the comparison process, constituting the reference voltage. 5

As can be seen in the diagram shown in FIG. 6, phototransistors T1, T2, ... T5 are connected between the terminal of the IC circuit, integrated and grounded. When at least one of the 7 phototransistors T1, T2, ... T5 is illuminated, its internal resistance decreases (<1 Kohm) resulting in a voltage lower than the reference voltage applied to one of the comparators 01, 9

02, 03, 04 of the IC integrated circuit at the + terminal, so it does not work. When at least one of the phototransistors Τ1, T2, .. .T5 is not illuminated, its internal resistance is high 11 (> 500 Kohm), resulting in a voltage higher than the reference voltage. In this case, one of the comparators 01, 02, 03,04 of the integrated circuit CI works and couples at least 13 one of the resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 and the output. At the outputs of the comparators 01, 02, 03, 04 of the IC integrated circuit, the resistors R5, R6, R7, R8 are placed, which practically will be connected between the output of each of the comparators 01,02, 03,04 of the IC integrated circuit and the output from circuit. Thus, when at least one of the phototransistors TI, T2, ... T5 is not illuminated, one of these resistors R5, R6, R7, R8 will be connected in parallel, between ground and the output of the integrated IC circuit. 19

If rows 1 are empty, the phototransistors T1, T2, ... T5 are all illuminated and thus none of the resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 are connected in parallel. When a token 2 is added, a hole 3 will be covered, the phototransistor T1, T2, ... T5 of the respective hole 3 will be "closed and one of the resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 will be connected at the output of 23 integrated CI circuit. Thus the total resistance of the CI circuit will decrease and the output voltage will be lower, in proportion to the respective resistance. Thus, the value of the 25 output voltage will vary proportionally with the number of chips 2 on a row 1. This voltage varies in the range 0 ... 10 V, so that it can be read and interpreted correctly by the automatic 27 programmable 0, between source and circuit being connected, a resistor R1, R2, R3, or R4 is connected to act as a voltage divider. 29

The system according to the invention may also contain crimping means of croupers which are also processed by the automatic 0 programmable through specialized software, which has as a function both the counting of chips 2 and the crunching function of each crimp in connection with the chips 2. from each gaming table. The following equipment, 33 known per se, is used for timekeeping:

- ordinary magnetic stripe cards; 35

- card readers of type MSR-33-RM or equivalent.

Claims (4)

claims 1. System for monitoring the tokens of value in a casino, consisting of at least one fleet (A), preferably with 12 rows (1), on which are placed some tokens of value (2), characterized in that, for identification the chips (2) on each gaming table, also contains an electronic module (B) provided with phototransistors (T1, T2, ... Tn), for counting the chips (2) and a programmable automatic (C) connected to a computer (PC) that performs the acquisition of the data from the electronic module (B), as well as its processing and transmission to a central server (S), the phototransistors (T1, T2, .. .Tn) being arranged one for each token ( 2) partly, in holes (3) of each row (1), the phototransistors (TI, T2, ... Tn) offering an electronic signal depending on whether or not the token (2) is detected in its right. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic module (B) is based on integrated circuits (CI) consisting of 4 voltage comparators (01, C2, C3, C4), each comparator (C1, C2, C3) , C4) of the voltage coupling at the output a resistance (R1, R2, R3 and R4) to the ground, if the voltage on the terminal is higher than that on the terminal II J! 3. System according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at the outputs of the comparators (C1, C2, C3 and C4) of the integrated circuits (CI), some resistors (R5, R6, R7, R8) are placed, which will be connected between the output of each of the comparators (CI, C2, C3 and C4) of the integrated circuit (CI) and its corresponding output, so that, when at least one of the phototransistors (TI, T2, ... Tn) is not illuminated, it will be connected one of the resistors (R5, R6, R7 and R8) in parallel, between ground and the output of the integrated circuit (CI). Monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of phototransistors (T1, T2, ..., Tn) is identical to the number of holes (3) in the fleet (A).