US20070057454A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070057454A1
Application number: US11/480,275
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen Fleckenstein
Original assignee: Bally Gaming Inc
Current assignee: LNW Gaming Inc
Priority date: 2005-09-12
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: WO2007033222A3; WO2007033222A2

Abstract

A card shoe handling device includes a cover that is manually movable from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/791,549 filed Apr. 12, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This description generally relates to the field of table gaming, and more particularly to a playing card handling system to sort and/or shuffle or otherwise handle playing cards.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are numerous games played with playing cards. For example, blackjack, baccarat, various types of poker, LET IT RIDE®, and/or UNO®, to name a few. Games may be played with one or more standard decks of playing cards. A standard deck of playing cards typically comprises fifty-two playing cards, each playing card having a combination of a rank symbol and a suit symbol, selected from thirteen rank symbols (i.e., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A) and four suit symbols (i.e.,
,
, ⋄, and
). Some games may employ sets of playing cards including a fewer or a greater number of playing cards than those comprising a standard deck. Some games may include non-standard playing cards, for example playing cards with symbols other than the rank and suit symbols associated with a standard deck.
In some instances playing card games involve wagering, where money and/or prizes may be won. In other instances playing card games are played without wagering, for fun or recreation. In either case, it is typically desirable to randomize the set of playing cards before dealing the playing cards to the participants (e.g., players and/or dealer). Randomizing is typically referred to as shuffling, which describes the act of riffling or interleaving the corners of two stacks of playing cards by hand.
In other instances, it may be useful to arrange or otherwise sort playing cards into a defined order. For example, it may be desirable to form sorted packs or decks of playing cards after the playing cards are collected from one or more gaming tables in a casino. The packs or decks can then be checked for completeness, and reused, or sold.
Numerous devices and systems have been developed for automatically randomizing or sorting playing cards. One approach attempts to mechanically replicate riffling or interleaving the corners of two stacks of playing cards. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,884; 5,261,667; 5,275,411; and 5,303,921. Another approach is to separate the playing cards into two distinct stacks and randomly move playing cards from each stack into a third stack. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,695,189; 6,068,258; 6,139,014; 6,325,373; and 6,568,678. Yet another approach is to place playing cards into random positions in a stack of playing cards carried by an elevator. Such an approach typically involves a gripper mechanism to support an upper portion of the stack, while the floor of the elevator is dropped to create a space into which the playing card is inserted. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,683,085; 5,944,310; 6,651,981; and 6,651,982. A further approach is to insert playing cards into selected compartments, either randomly or in a sorted order. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,154; 6,254,096; 6,267,248; 6,588,750; 6,588,751; 6,655,684; 6,659,460; 6,676,127; and 6,889,979. Still a further approach is to withdraw or eject playing cards in a random order from an array of playing card receptacles. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,382,024; 5,584,483; 5,676,372; 6,019,368; 6,299,167; and 6,698,756.
Whether used for randomizing or sorting, card handling devices must deliver the randomized or sorted playing cards to the user (e.g., dealer). It will typically be desirable to present the playing cards in a highly aligned stack, in a manner that the playing cards are easily and quickly accessible by the user. This may be particularly desirable where the playing cards are delivered at a gaming table in a casino environment. Casinos highly value speed, which maintains customer interest, and which allows the maximum utilization of the casino facilities. Casinos also highly value security. Thus, casinos employ elaborate mechanisms and procedures to prevent players and/or casino personnel (e.g., dealers) from gaining a knowledge of a playing card value before the playing card is dealt. Consequently, devices and methods that facilitate the easy, quick and secure delivery of playing cards are desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a playing card handling system comprises: a playing card input receiver sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards to be handled by the playing card handling system; a playing card output receiver sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards handled by the playing card handling system; at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver, along which at least some of the playing cards pass from the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver; at least one intermediary playing card receiver positioned in the at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver; an elevator mechanism physically coupled to the playing card output receiver and operable to selectively move the playing card output receiver between a lowered position and a raised position, where in the lowered position the playing card output receiver is positioned below a surface of a gaming table and in the raised position at least some playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver are positioned above the surface of the gaming table; and a cover manually movable from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system.
In another embodiment, a playing card handling system comprises: a playing card input receiver positioned to receive a number of playing cards to be ordered by the playing card handling system; a playing card output receiver positioned to provide a number of playing cards ordered by the playing card handling system; ordering means for providing the playing cards received in the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver in an order, wherein the order is at least one of a sorted order or a random order; elevator means for selectively moving the playing card output receiver between a lowered position and a raised position, where in the lowered position the playing card output receiver is positioned below a surface of a gaming table and in the raised position at least some playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver are positioned above the surface of the gaming table; and a cover manually movable from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover substantially limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not substantially limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system.
In a further embodiment, a method of operating a playing card handling system comprises: placing a number of playing cards to be handled by the playing card handling system in the playing card input receiver; manually moving a cover from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system; and removing at least some of the playing cards from the playing card output receiver after the elevator mechanism moves the playing card output receiver from a lowered position to a raised position, where in the lowered position the playing card output receiver is positioned below a surface of a gaming table and in the raised position at least some playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver are positioned above the surface of the gaming table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a gaming environment having a playing card handling system in operation with a gaming table, according to one illustrated embodiment.
FIG. 1B is a flowchart showing various states of the playing cards within the gaming environment ofFIG. 1A.
FIG. 2A is a front, top, right side, isometric view of a playing card handling system, according to one illustrated embodiment.
FIG. 2B is a left, side, elevational view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C is a rear, top, right side, isometric view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A having a playing card output receiver in a lowered position.
FIG. 2D is a rear, top, right side, isometric view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A having a slideably mounted cover in an open position and a playing card output receiver in a raised or card-delivery position.
FIG. 2E is a rear, top, right side, isometric view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A having a pivotally mounted cover in an open position and a playing card output receiver in a raised or card-delivery position.
FIG. 3A is a rear, top, left side, isometric view of a storage device in the form of a carousel, according to one illustrated embodiment.
FIG. 3B is a top, plan view of the carousel ofFIG. 3A.
FIG. 3C is a side, elevational view of the carousel ofFIG. 3A.
FIG. 4 is a front, top, right side, isometric view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A.
FIG. 5 is a side, elevational, schematic view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A showing a card path having various branches.
FIG. 6 is a side, elevational, schematic view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A showing rollers for moving cards through the card path ofFIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a side, elevational, schematic view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A showing a number of card sensors.
FIG. 8 is a side, elevational, schematic view of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 2A showing a number of controllable motors.
FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a card management processing system, which controls various operating functions of the playing card handling system ofFIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of the carousel control interface system communicatively coupled to an exemplary carousel.
FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram of the card manager interface system communicatively coupled to an exemplary card management device and a card sensor interface system coupled to an exemplary cards sensor.
FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram facilitating an explanation of the generation of a virtual card sequence and the subsequent construction of a corresponding group of deliverable cards.
FIG. 13 illustrates selected alternative embodiments of card storage devices.
FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a process of the generation of a group of deliverable cards.
FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a process of the selection of the inventory cards ofFIG. 1B from the card storage devices ofFIGS. 1-12.
FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a process of the look-forward algorithm.
FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating a process of the generation of a group of deliverable cards from the inventory cards residing in the compartments of the card storage device or from the transitional cards (if inventory cards are not available).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with computers, computer networks, communications interfaces, sensors and/or transducers, mechanical drive trains, and/or optical and/or radio frequency (RF) readers may not be shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.
This description generally relates to a gaming environment having a playing card handling system to arrange, sort, and/or shuffle (e.g., randomize) or otherwise handle playing cards. Other devices or systems associated with gaming, such as those used to automate, enhance, monitor, and/or detect some aspect of a game played at a gaming table, may interface or otherwise communicate with the playing card handling system.
For purposes of clarity and brevity, the playing card handling system described and illustrated herein may reference certain card games such as blackjack, baccarat, various types of poker, LET IT RIDE®, and/or UNO®. However, it is understood and appreciated that this description is generally applicable to a variety of casino-type games and/or gaming tables, or may be generally applicable to other recreational card games. The playing card handling system described herein may be useful in wagering type card games and non-wagering type card games.
In addition, it is understood that the playing card handling system may be capable managing cards that do not necessarily correspond to the standard playing cards, for example cards that are larger or smaller, shaped differently, and/or made from something other than traditional card stock material. Playing cards may include one or more decks of standard playing cards, where each standard deck includes fifty-two (52) playing cards. Standard playing cards typically have uniform backs, and faces which each bear a respective combination of a first primary symbol and a second primary symbol. The first primary symbol may be selected from a standard set of playing card rank symbols (i.e., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A) and the second primary symbol may be selected from a standard set of playing card suit symbols (i.e.,
,
, ⋄, and
). In some embodiments, the playing cards may include playing cards other than those found in a complete standard deck, or decks with a greater or less distribution of particular playing cards, for example less face cards or more face cards. In other embodiments, the playing cards may have non-standard symbols (e.g., slot machine symbols such as bars, lemons, cherries), graphics, backings, etc. As discussed below, the symbols may even be modified to add, enhance, or alter the value or significance of the playing card. In one embodiment, the playing cards are dual sided playing cards as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/902,436, which published on Jun. 2, 2005.
Brief Overview of the Playing Card Handling System
FIG. 1A shows agaming environment100 including a gaming table102 having asurface104. Thesurface104 of the gaming table102 typically bears a number of demarcations related to the game, for example betting circles106 (only one called out in Figure) demarcating areas for placing wagers108 (only one called out in Figure) and player positions spatially associated with respective ones of the betting circles106.
Thegaming environment100 also includes a playingcard handling system110. The playingcard handling system110 can be coupled to, proximate to, or remotely located from the gaming table102. For example, the playingcard handling system110 is coupled to the gaming table102, and may be installed within the gaming table102, and/or installed partially or fully underneath thesurface104 of the gaming table102. Also for example, the playingcard handling system110 is installed remotely from the gaming table102, such as in a restricted area of a casino where decks of playing cards are received, sorted, and repacked.
The playingcard handling system110 includes a playingcard input receiver112, sized and positioned to receive collectedcards114 into the playingcard handling system110. The playingcard input receiver112 may, for example, receive collectedcards114 externally from the playingcard handling system110.
The playingcard handling system110 also includes a playingcard output receiver116 sized and positioned to deliverdeliverable cards118 from the playingcard handling system110. The playingcard output receiver116 may, for example, deliver thedeliverable cards118 externally from the playingcard handling system110.
Playing cards move between the playingcard input receiver112 and the playingcard output receiver116 along one or more playing card transport paths, illustrated byarrows120a,120b. The playingcard handling system110 typically also includes one or more intermediaryplaying card receivers122 in the playingcard transport path120a,120bbetween the playingcard input receiver112 and the playingcard output receiver116. The intermediaryplaying card receivers122 may, for example, take the form of storage devices such as carousels, arrays, racks, trays, bins or equivalent devices. The intermediaryplaying card receivers122 may temporarily holdinventory cards124 to implement or facilitate the arranging, ordering, sorting and/or shuffling of the playing cards by the playingcard handling system110. A variety of intermediaryplaying card receivers122 are discussed in detail below.
While during a game, any given playing card may move from the gaming table102, completely through the playingcard handling system110 and back onto the gaming table102, in describing the operation of the playingcard handling system110 it is convenient to refer to playing cards based on the location of the playing cards at a particular moment within thegaming environment100. Thus, for purposes of clarity, the playing cards may be referenced herein based on their location within thegaming environment100, as described below with reference toFIGS. 1A and 1B.
During a card game, at least some of the playing cards will be in-play, where the in-play cards126 are those currently in use by a gaming participant (e.g., player and/or dealer) to form a hand of playing cards according to a set of rules of the particular game being played at the gaming table102. For example, in blackjack the in-play cards126 prior to the first hit card being dealt include the cards forming the initial hands (e.g., first two cards dealt to each participant). During and after the card game, the in-play cards126 are discarded by, and/or collected from, the participants and are referred to as collectedcards114. The collectedcards114 may be returned to the inputplaying card receiver112 of the playingcard handling system110, for example by the dealer.
The collectedcards114 are successively moved into the playingcard handling system110 at which point they are referred to astransitional cards128. Thetransitional cards128 are directed along various playing card transport paths (e.g.,120a,120b) and may be placed in one or more of the intermediaryplaying card receivers122, at which point the playing cards are referred to asinventory cards124. Additionally or alternatively, as illustrated by the broken line arrows ofFIG. 1B, thetransitional cards128 may be moved directly to an arranged or ordered group referred to herein asdeliverable cards118.
From time-to-time, thedeliverable cards118 are provided to a location accessible by a participant at the gaming table, at which point the playing cards are referred to herein asdealable cards130. For example, theplaying cards130 may be positioned at least partially extending above thesurface104 of the gaming table102. In some embodiments, thedeliverable cards118 are made accessible only after a determined number ofdeliverable cards118 have been grouped together. In some embodiments, thedealable cards130 are placed in acard shoe134 before being dealt to participants. Thedeliverable cards118, and hence thedealable cards130, are arranged in a different order or sequence than the order or sequence of collectedcards114 received at the playingcard input receiver112.
In some embodiments, thedeliverable cards118 are arranged in an order that matches at least a portion of avirtual sequence136. In one embodiment, thevirtual sequence136 comprises electronic data providing an ordered sequence for thedeliverable cards118. The electronic data may, for example, take the form of an ordered list of identifiers, each identifier identifying a respective playing card. For example, the electronic data may take the form of an ordered list of playing card values that represent the rank and/or suit of the playing cards. The playing card values may, for example, take the form of the numbers 0-51, each associated with a respective rank and suit combination. Alternatively, playing card values may, for example, take the form of two numbers, a first number representing a rank (e.g., 0-12) and a second number representing a suit (e.g., 0-3). Alternatively, playing card values may, for example, take the form of numbers that are each uniquely associated with a playing card from a set of playing cards greater than a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Thus, there may be two or more playing cards of the same rank and suit, each of which is identified by a unique identifier such as a serial number. Thevirtual sequence136 may comprise a fewer or greater number of playing cards than the number of playing cards in a standard, fifty-two (52) card deck.
In some embodiments, thevirtual sequence136 may be computationally generated (e.g., via a random or pseudo random number generator (RNG)) executed by a suitable controller. Additionally or alternatively, thevirtual sequence136 may be determined from predefined data such as one or more lookup tables. For example, thevirtual sequence136 may comprise a sorted order, such as the order of playing cards in a new deck, prior to shuffling.
Once thevirtual sequence136 is at least partially determined, the playingcard handling system110 arranges or builds thedeliverable cards118 in an order according to at least a portion of thevirtual sequence136. By way of example, thedeliverable cards118 can be selected from thetransitional cards128 or may be come directly from theinventory cards124. The structural aspects, programmability, and controllability of the playingcard handling system110 is described in more detail below.
Structural Aspects of the Playing Card Handling System
FIGS. 2A-2D show a playingcard handling system200 for handling playing cards according to one illustrated embodiment.FIG. 2E shows an alternative embodiment of the playingcard handling system200.
The playingcard handling system200 includes astructural frame202, a playingcard input receiver204, a playingcard output receiver206, acard elevator mechanism208, a first intermediaryplaying card receiver210, and an optional, second intermediaryplaying card receiver212. The playingcard handling system200 may be partially or fully enclosed by a housing (not shown) and/or by the gaming table102 (FIG. 1A). The first and second intermediaryplaying card receivers210,212 may take the form of carousels, each pivotally mounted about respective vertical axes211a,211b(FIG. 2B). The vertical axes211a,211bmay advantageously be coaxial, thereby minimizing the area or “footprint” of the playingcard handling system200.
The playingcard input receiver204 is sized and positioned to receive the collectedcards114 which are to be arranged, sorted, shuffled (e.g., randomized) or otherwise handled. The collectedcards114 may be collected from the gaming table102 during play or after a card game or round has been played. The playingcard input receiver204 may be carried or formed by aplate216, which may be in turn be carried by, coupled to, or otherwise connected to the gaming table102. The playingcard input receiver204 may include acard input ramp214 on to which the collectedcards114 may be fed by a dealer or other person, as individual cards or as a group of cards. In one embodiment, thecard input ramp214 is coated with a low friction material, for example TEFLON®, to reduce friction between theramp214 and the collectedcards114 that come into contact with thecard input ramp214. Aninput passage217 extends through theplate216 and thetable surface104 to allow passage of the collectedcards114 from the playingcard input receiver204 to the playingcard transport path120a(FIG. 1A) of the playingcard handling system200.
The playingcard output receiver206 is sized to receive a plurality ofdeliverable cards118. As illustrated, the playingcard output receiver206 may take the form of a cartridge or rectangular box with a floor, and open, for example, on one or more sides to allow placement and removal of thedeliverable cards118. The playingcard output receiver206 may pass through anoutput passage219 that extends through theplate216 and the table surface104 (FIG. 1A) of the gaming table102, to allow thecard elevator mechanism208 to deliver thedeliverable cards118 to the gaming table102 asdealable cards130.
It is understood that theplate216 can be molded as a monolithic part or alternatively can be separate components that are coupled to each other and/or to thestructural frame202 by mechanical means. In one embodiment, theplate216 seats against and/or attaches to an underside of the gaming table102. In one embodiment, the playingcard handling system200 is located completely below the playingsurface104 of the gaming table102. In another embodiment, avertical sidewall218 formed around the playingcard input receiver204 and theoutput passage219 has a height “h.” The height “h” corresponds to a thickness of the gaming table top such that the top portions of the playingcard input receiver204 and theoutput passage219 may be flush with or extend just a little bit above (e.g., low profile) thesurface104 of the gaming table102 (FIG. 1A). Thesurface104 of the gaming table102 typically comprises a felt cover on top of a foam pad, both of which are positioned on top of a sheet of composite, wood, or other type of material. One type ofsuitable surface104 is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/981,132. Some embodiments may omit theplate216, and form thepassages217,219 only through thesurface104 of the gaming table102. Still other embodiments may not locate thecard handling system110 under thesurface104 of the playing table102, thus such embodiments may omit thepassages217,219 through thetable surface104.
Depending upon the embodiments and/or the type of card game, thedeliverable cards118 may be delivered individually or as a group of cards. Embodiments of the playingcard handling system200 may be user configurable to provide deliverable and/ordealable cards118,130 having any specified number of playing cards, and/or any specified suit of cards, and/or any specified rank(s) of cards, and/or other cards such as bonus cards or the like.
Acover221 may be manually moved from a closed position223 (FIGS. 2A-2C) to an opened position225 (FIGS. 2D-2E), where in theclosed position223 thecover221 is disposed over theoutput passage219 so as to limit or preclude access or a view into theoutput passage219, and where in the opened position225 thecover221 is spaced from theoutput passage219 so as to not limit nor preclude access or a view into theoutput passage219. As best illustrated inFIG. 2D, thecover221 may be slideably coupled to the frame or other portion of the playingcard handling system200 for movement between the closed and the openedpositions223,225, respectively. As best illustrated inFIG. 2E, thecover221 may be pivotally coupled to the frame or other portion of the playingcard handling system200 for movement between the closed and the openedpositions223,225, respectively. Alternatively, thecover221 may be slideably or pivotally coupled to the gaming table102.
To conserve space, in one embodiment the playingcard input receiver204 and theoutput passage219 are positioned adjacent to one another. Employing acover221 that can be opened manually may advantageously provide a security benefit since the dealer is in control of when, and if, thedeliverable cards118 are delivered to the gaming table102.
FIGS. 2C and 2D show that the playingcard output receiver206 is moveable between a raisedposition220 and a loweredposition222. In the raisedposition220, at least a portion of the playingcard output receiver206 is positioned to permit thedealable cards130 to be withdrawn from the playingcard output receiver206 by a dealer or another person at the gaming table102. For example, the raisedposition220 may, for example, be spaced sufficiently above theplate216 to expose all or some of the playing cards above thesurface104 of the gaming table102 (FIG. 1A). In the loweredposition222, the playingcard output receiver206 is positioned such that the playing cards cannot be withdrawn from the playingcard output receiver206. For example, a top of the playingcard output receiver206 may be spaced flush with, or below thesurface104 of the gaming table102 and/or below a top of theplate216.
Theelevator mechanism208 moves the playingcard output receiver206 between the raised and the loweredpositions220,222. Theelevator mechanism208 may, for example, comprise alinkage229 and anelevator motor226 coupled to drive thelinkage229. Some of the Figures employ a partially exploded view, showing the playingcard output receiver206 spaced fromlinkage229 of thecard elevator mechanism208 to better illustrate the components. In use, the playingcard output receiver206 will be physically connected or coupled to thelinkage229. In one embodiment, thefirst motor226 is a DC stepper motor. Alternatively, theelevator motor226 may take the form of a servo-motor. Theelevator mechanism208 may employ any suitable linkage, including but not limited to a belt, sprocket chain, gear, scissors linkage or the like (not shown for clarity). Activation of theelevator motor226 moves thelinkage229 and the playingcard output receiver206 relative to thestructural frame202.
After the playingcard output receiver206 delivers thedeliverable cards118 to the gaming table102, thecard elevator mechanism208 returns the playingcard output receiver206 to the loweredposition222. The loweredposition222 may be aligned with an elevator branch512 (FIG. 5).
In some embodiments, one or moreexternal switches231 are positioned to be accessible from an exterior of thecard handling system200. Theexternal switches231 may, for example, be carried by theplate216, thesurface104 of the gaming table102, or a housing (not shown) of the card handling system. Theexternal switches231 may be selectively activated to cause theelevator mechanism208 to move the playingcard output receptacle206 to the loweredposition222. Additionally, or alternatively, theexternal switches231 may be selectively activated to cause theelevator mechanism208 to move the playingcard output receptacle206 to the raisedposition220.
In some embodiments, acover switch233 is responsive to movement and/or a position of thecover221 to cause thecard elevator mechanism208 to automatically move the playingcard output receiver206 upward from the loweredposition222 to the raisedposition220. Thecover switch233 may be coupled to activate theelevator motor226 in response to movement of thecover221 from theclosed position223 toward the open position225. Alternatively, thecover switch233 may be coupled to activate theelevator motor226 in response to thecover221 being in a position other than theclosed position223, for example where thecover221 is in the opened position225 or alternatively, a position between the closed and theopen positions223,225.
Additionally or alternatively, thecover switch233 or a similar cover switch is responsive to movement and/or a position of thecover221 to cause thecard elevator mechanism208 to automatically move the playingcard output receiver206 downward from the raisedposition220 to the loweredposition222. Thecover switch233 may be coupled to activate theelevator motor226 in response to movement of thecover221 from the opened position225 toward theclosed position223. Alternatively, thecover switch233 may be coupled to activate theelevator motor226 in response to thecover221 being in a position other than the opened position225, for example where thecover221 is in theclosed position223, or alternatively, a position between the closed and theopen positions223,225.
Thecover switch233 may be employed in addition to, or in place of, theexternal switches231. Thecover switch233 may take a variety of forms. For example, thecover switch233 may be a contact switch that is physically engaged by thecover221 when thecover221 moves from theclosed position223 or when thecover221 is in a defined position, for example the opened position225. Also for example, thecover switch233 may take the form of a sensor such as a proximity sensor, light sensor, infrared sensor, pressure sensor, or magnetic sensor such as a Reed switch positioned to detect a movement or a position of thecover221. Consequently, thecover switch233 may advantageously reduce the number of manual operations by the dealer or other card handling system user.
One or more lowered position sensors235 (FIG. 2C) may detect when the playingcard output receiver206 is at the loweredposition222. The loweredposition sensors235 may be coupled to thestructural frame202. The loweredposition sensors235 may take a variety of forms including, but not limited to a proximity sensor, optical eye type sensor, and/or positional or rotational encoder. The loweredposition sensors235 may sense the position of the playingcard output receiver206, or thelinkage229 or shaft ofelevator motor226.
Some embodiments may employ an interlock or lockout feature. The lockout feature prevents theelevator mechanism208 from moving the playingcard output receptacle206 to the raisedposition220 until the playingcard output receptacle206 is loaded with a sufficient number ofdeliverable cards118. For example, the lockout feature may keep the playingcard output receptacle206 in the loweredposition222 until at least one hundred and twelve cards (e.g., two standard decks) have been loaded in the playingcard output receptacle206.
The lockout feature may be implemented in hardware, controller executable instructions, or both. For example, the lockout feature may employ a latch or other physical structure to retain the playingcard output receptacle206 in the loweredposition222 until a sufficient number ofdeliverable cards118 are loaded. Also for example, the lockout feature may employ software or firmware instructions stored in a memory or hardwired (e.g., ASIC) to prevent theelevator motor226 from moving the playingcard output receptacle206 from the loweredposition222 until sufficient number ofdeliverable cards118 are loaded.
The lockout feature may determine the number ofdeliverable cards118 in the playingcard output receptacle206 in a variety of ways. For example, a controller (discussed below) may track the number of cards that have been directed to the playingcard output receptacle206. Alternatively, a counter may track playing cards as they pass to the playingcard output receptacle206. The counter may, for example, take the form of a rotational encoder or the like. Alternatively, a load sensor227 (FIG. 2C) may be positioned to determine an approximate level of thedeliverable cards118 as they accumulate within the playingcard output receptacle206. For example, a reflective or transmissive sensor, or even a pressure transducer, is coupled to a portion of the playingcard output receptacle206. After a predetermined number ofdeliverable cards118 have accumulated within the playingcard output receptacle206, theelevator motor226 is activated to move the playingcard output receptacle206 upward until the playingcard output receptacle206 is in the raisedposition220. By way of example, if a transmissive sensor is used, movement of the playingcard output receptacle206 upward re-establishes an uninterrupted path between the light source and the light receiver of the transmissive sensor; whereas this path will eventually be interrupted again as moredeliverable cards118 are moved to the playingcard output receptacle206.
FIG. 3A is a rear, top, left side, isometric view of an intermediary card receiver orstorage device system300 comprised of thefirst carousel210 and thesecond carousel212, according to one illustrated embodiment. Thefirst carousel210 may be structurally identical or structurally distinct with respect to thesecond carousel212. In the illustrated embodiment, thefirst carousel210 is structurally identical to thesecond carousel212. It is understood, however, that although thecarousels210,212 are structurally identical, the carousels may have different purposes and controlled differently from one another. Further, althoughcarousels210,212 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, it is understood that the intermediary card receiver orstorage device system300 may be comprised of other types, sizes, and/or shapes, for example racks, trays, or arrays. Thecarousels210,212 may advantageously employ rotational motion, in contrast to racks or trays, which typically require translation. For purposes of describing the general structural features of thecarousels210,212, the structural features of thefirst carousel210 will be described in detail with the understanding that these same structural features apply to thesecond carousel212, unless specified otherwise.
Thefirst carousel210 includes a plurality of card receiving compartments302. In the illustrated embodiment, thefirst carousel210 has twenty-six (26)card receiving compartments302 and each receivingcompartment302 is capable of receiving at least twelve (12)inventory cards124, although other types of cards may be received in the receivingcompartments302 as described below. Thus, the combined capacity of thefirst carousel210 and thesecond carousel212 may hold up to twelve (12) standard decks of inventory cards124 (e.g., fifty-two (52) standard playing cards per standard deck). The number ofcard receiving compartments302, as well as the number ofinventory cards124 that can be received in eachcard receiving compartment302, can be greater or lesser than the illustrated embodiment. In addition, the number of storage devices (e.g., carousels)210,212 may be greater or lesser than the two shown in the illustrated embodiment.
In one embodiment, the number of receivingcompartments302 percarousel210,212 is at least fifty-two (52) receiving compartments302. In another embodiment, there are fifty-three (53) receivingcompartments302, where the 53^rdreceiving compartment receives a specialty-type card304, which is described in more detail below.
Referring back to the illustrated embodiment, an alternative thereof comprises first andsecond carousels210,212 each having twenty-seven (27) card receiving compartments302, wherein one of the receivingcompartments302 is reserved for the specialty-type card304, such as a bonus card or the like, which is purposefully stamped or marked, and/or an out-of-service card. An out-of service card is a playing card that may be later placed into a trash receiving compartment (e.g., the 27^thor extra receiving compartment) because the card was bent, marked, unreadable, put in-play too many times, and/or otherwise damaged or worn. A bonus card may be marked by the playingcard handling system110,200 or pre-marked. The marking may be a stamp that, in accordance with the game or casino rules, allows the participant who receives the marked card to obtain a voucher and/or coupon for dinner, a show, hotel accommodations, or a variety of other discounted and/or free products or services. A specialty-type card, on the other hand, can be a wild card, which is usable by the participant to improve the participant's card-hand for the current card game. The process of how a specialty-type card can be integrated into the play of the card game is described below. A card stamping device514 (FIG. 5) is positioned to stamp selectedtransitional cards128 before they enter the playingcard output receiver206.
In the one embodiment, eachcard receiving compartment302 is associated with or assigned a value (e.g., rank and suit) that corresponds to the type of cards used for game play. For example, the firstcard receiving compartment302 of thecarousel210 may be assigned to receive and hold the ace of clubs (A
), the secondcard receiving compartment302 may be assigned to receive and hold the king of clubs (K
), and so on, until all card values usable in the card game have been uniquely assigned to arespective receiving compartment302. In some embodiments, other card types, such as, but not limited to the specialty-type cards304 described above, may be uniquely assigned to the card receiving compartments302.
By way of example and according to the above-described embodiment wherein eachcard receiving compartment302 can hold up to twelve cards, twelve traditional card decks may be loaded into to thecarousels210,212. Onecard receiving compartment302 of thecarousel210, for example is assigned the ace of clubs (A
), and thus the onecard receiving compartment302 could receive and hold up to twelve aces of clubs.
Furthermore, thecard receiving compartments302 may be associated with other card characteristics (e.g., color, size, shape, etc.). For example, bent and/or damaged cards may identified and put into one of thecard receiving compartments302 that is associated with such card characteristics. As another example, one of thecard receiving compartments302 may be associated with “imposter” cards, such as a card added to the card game, wherein the added card did not originate from thedealable cards130. Upon detection, the imposter card can be placed into a rejectcard receiving compartment302 and removed from play.
Embodiments of the playingcard handling system110,200 may be configured to manage any type of card based upon a defined card characteristic. For example, but not limited to, the well-known game of UNO® employs a variety of cards using colors, text and/or numerals to identify cards. The various values of the UNO® brand cards can each be assigned and placed into unique card receiving compartments302.
Further, inFIG. 3A, each receivingcompartment302 comprises acard support wall304 and aguide wall306. Thecard support wall304 includes inner and outer portions according to the illustrated embodiment, but thecard support wall304 may also be a continuous wall. Theguide wall306 is spaced apart from thecard support wall304, thus forming thecard receiving compartment302.
Theguide wall306 includes alower portion308 and anupper portion310. Thelower portion308 is substantially parallel to thecard support wall304. Theupper portion310 may be bent and/or tapered and may facilitate the insertion of theinventory cards124 in the assigned receivingcompartments302, especially when a number ofinventory cards124 are already present in one of the receiving compartments302. In addition, theupper portion310 may help to guide theinventory cards124 into thereceiving compartment302 while accounting for positional discrepancies of thecarousel210. Positional discrepancies may be caused by the control system, dimensional tolerances of the carousel and/or carousel driving components, and/or other factors.
FIG. 3B shows thecard support wall304 and theguide wall306 are positioned at afirst angle312 relative to atangent line314 taken along anouter perimeter316 of thefirst carousel210. In addition,FIG. 3C shows that thecard support wall304 and theguide wall306 may be sloped, thus forming asecond angle318 with aline320 that is substantially parallel with a centerline or rotational axis322 of thefirst carousel210. Thefirst angle312 and thesecond angle318, as well as other structural aspects of thecard support wall304 and theguide wall306 are presented for illustrative and exemplary purposes. It is understood that the any of these aspects can be modified and/or adjusted and yet still fall within the scope and spirit of the described embodiments.
Still referring toFIG. 3C, thefirst carousel210 is rotationally mounted on ashaft324, which is coupled to acarousel gear326. Thecarousel gear326 is rotationally coupled to a drive gear, a toothed belt, and/or a sprocket (not shown). The rotational position, speed, acceleration, and/or direction of thecarousel210 is achieved through the operation of a motor (not shown in Figure) that is coupled to and thus determines the position of thecarousel gear326 and hence, thecarousel210. It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that there are a variety of ways to drive thecarousels210,212. Methods of controlling the rotational position, speed, acceleration, and/or direction of thecarousels210,212, as well as other operational features, are either known in the art or are described in more detail below.
Additionally or alternatively, thecarousels210,212 may be modular and/or may be removable and replaceable. A modular carousel is one that can be of a different size, have a different card-holding capacity, and/or be a different shape than thecarousels210,212 in the illustrated embodiment. Further, the modular carousel can be removable and replaceable, for example to quickly change carousels so that a different type of card game can be played at the gaming table102. In one embodiment, a plurality of carousels are vertically spaced apart from one another and generally aligned with one another along each carousel's respective axis of rotation. Such an embodiment may advantageously allow the playingcard handling system110,200 to have a more compact installation envelope or “foot print,” which means that the playingcard handling system110,200 could fit under smaller gaming tables102 and/or within compartments with space constraints.
FIG. 4 shows afirst card selector400 having acard selector body402 that is rotatable through anarc404 to removeinventory cards124 from thefirst carousel210. Thecard selector body402 is coupled to alever arm406, which allows thecard selector body402 to be moved through thearc404. The length of thelever arm406 determines the radius of thearc404.
Thecard selector400 further includes ashaft408 having a friction pad orroller410. Theshaft408 extends fromcard selector body402 and is rotationally coupled thereto. Thefriction roller410 is rotationally fixed to a portion of theshaft408, wherein rotation of theshaft408 causes the rotation of thefriction roller410. As thecard selector body402 is moved into position to select aninventory card124, theshaft408 and hence thefriction roller410 rotate in afirst direction412. As thefriction roller410 makes contact with theinventory card124, theinventory card124 is urged into a designated card path of the playingcard handling system200, in which the designated card paths are described in more detail below. During operation of the playingcard handling system110,200 thefirst card selector400 is controllable to be in contact with or spaced apart from theinventory cards124 in the receivingcompartments302 ofcarousel210. It is understood and appreciated that another card selector, similar in structural design and operation to thefirst card selector400, can be used to selectinventory cards124 from other carousels, forexample carousel212. Further, more than onecard selector400 can be used for a single carousel, for example twocard selectors400 located on opposite sides of thecarousel210.Multiple card selectors400 can augment and hasten the card selection process.
FIG. 5 generally shows a card path500 having a number branches502-512. An input branch502 receives the collectedcards114 from the playing card input receiver204 (FIG. 2A). As discussed above in relation toFIGS. 1A and 1B, once the collectedcards114 enter the input branch502, now referred to astransitional cards128. The input branch502 directs thetransitional cards128 to afirst carousel branch504 or anintermediate branch506.Transitional cards128 directed to thefirst carousel branch504 are received in thefirst carousel210, whereastransitional cards128 directed to theintermediate branch506 may be further directed to asecond carousel branch508 or to anoptional exit branch510.Transitional cards128 directed to thesecond carousel branch508 are received in thesecond carousel212, whereastransitional cards128 directed to theoptional exit branch510 may be received in thereject receiving compartment511. As an alternative to having thereject receiving compartment511 and theexit branch510, damagedtransitional cards128 can be selectively routed to other receivingcompartments302 in one of therespective carousels210,212 as described above.
The card path500 further includes anelevator branch512 arranged to receivetransitional cards128 from either thefirst carousel branch504 or thesecond carousel branch508. Thetransitional cards128 received byelevator branch512 may have originated from the collectedcards114 or theinventory cards124. In addition,transitional cards128 directed along theelevator branch512 are eventually received in the playingcard output receiver206. It is understood and appreciated that the arrangement and/or interaction between the various branches of the card path500 can be altered and/or re-configured to achieve a variety of objectives.
FIG. 6 shows a number of roller pairs600, afirst diverter602, and asecond diverter604 that direct and/or guide thetransitional cards128 through the various branches502-512 of the card path500. The roller pairs600 are positioned at various points or each respective branch502-512. For eachroller pair600, the individual rollers rotate in opposite directions and can be bi-directional. The card manager interface system910 (FIG. 9) controls the rotational speed and/or direction of the roller pairs600 as thetransitional cards128 are moved to, from, and along the various branches502-512 of the card path500. In some instances, the roller pairs600 may include a common roller606, which may occur for example, when the roller pairs600 are positioned proximate to converging/diverging branches502-512 of the card path500.
The roller pairs600 are driven by a number of motors (refer toFIG. 8 for the best view of the motors), which may take the form of direct current (DC) stepper motors and/or servo-motors. In one embodiment, the motors are coupled to at least one roller of the roller pairs600. The card manager interface system910 (FIG. 9) provides a signal, for example one DC pulse to the motor, which in turn causes theroller pair600 to rotate in a selected direction by one step. In one embodiment, one step corresponds to approximately 1.8° of rotation of the at least one roller of theroller pair600. Thus, one-hundred steps or pulses cause at least one roller to rotate a half of a turn (i.e., 180 degrees). In the above-described embodiment, the motors can be operated at about 1,800 steps per second. One skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that this rate can be adjusted to be faster or slower than 1,800 steps per second depending on where thetransitional cards128 are within the card path500, depending on the complexity and interaction of the branches502-512, and/or depending on other design or optimization factors. Accordingly, it is understood that DC stepper motors can be operated at any step rate. Alternative embodiments may employ other types of motors and/or motor control systems to drive roller pairs60.
Operating in conjunction with the roller pairs600 is thefirst diverter602 and thesecond diverter604. Thefirst diverter602 comprises a rotatable lever that is controllable to directtransitional cards128 to thefirst carousel branch504 or to theintermediate branch506. Thesecond diverter604 comprises a rotatable lever that is controllable to directtransitional cards128 to thesecond carousel branch508 or to theoptional exit branch510. Thediverters602,604 are controlled by the card manager interface system910 (FIG. 9). In one embodiment, the cardmanager interface system910 provides an electronic signal to solenoids that are respectively coupled to thediverters602,604. Each solenoid moves itsrespective diverter602,604 back and forth between two possible positions of thediverter602,604. It is understood, however, that one skilled in the art may opt to use other actuation devices in lieu of the exemplary solenoids, and that these other devices fall within the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein. Additional diverters may be included for embodiment with more than twocarousels210,212 and/or additional card branches502-512.
FIG. 7 shows a number of sensors operable to read a characteristic associated with the card and/or cards that are present in the playingcard handling system110. Afirst sensor702 is an optical reader positioned to read, scan, and/or image either a human-readable and/or a machine-readable symbol carried by thetransitional card128. Playing cards having human-readable and/or machine-readable symbols are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/934,785. In another embodiment, thefirst sensor702 electro-magnetically communicates with thetransitional card128 to determine a value (e.g., the rank and/or suit) of thetransitional card128. For example, one type of playing card that can be electro-magnetically read by thesensor110 is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/823,051.
Thesensors704 are positioned along the card path500 (FIG. 5) and cooperate with one another to determine an expected length and/or position of thetransitional card128 and/or to check whether thetransitional card128 is present in a respective card branch502-512 (FIG. 5). In one embodiment, thesensors704 are reflective sensors that send and/or receive light reflected off thetransitional card128 when thetransitional card128 is in a certain position along the card path500. In another embodiment, thesensors704 are transmissive sensors that send light across the card path500 and receive the light with a light receiver. When thetransitional card128 moves in front of the receiver, the optical signal is interrupted and the transmissive sensor can communicate the presence of thetransitional card128. Additionally or alternatively, thesensors704 may be some combination of reflective and transmissive sensors. It is understood and appreciated that in alternative embodiments, other types of sensors and/or mechanical systems, for example a touch sensitive device or a lever actuated device, may be used to detect the presence or absence of thetransitional card128.
At least some of thesensors704 are spaced from anadjacent sensor704, located either upstream or downstream along the card path500 (FIG. 5). A distance that is approximately equal to a length of onetransitional card128 separates theadjacent sensors704. Thus, if standard playing cards are used, which have a length of approximately 3.50 inches, it is understood that theadjacent sensors704 are operably positioned approximately 3.50 inches apart.
One possible advantage of spacing theadjacent sensors704 approximately one card length from each other is that the data from theadjacent sensors704, in cooperation with information from a respective drive train, can be used to check the length of theplaying card704. In one embodiment, the length of the transitional card128 (e.g., a standard playing card is 3.50 inches long) is correlated to a number of steps and/or degrees of rotation of a stepper motor and/or roller shaft. If, for example, thesensors704 are transmissive sensors, then thesetransmissive sensors704 will generate either a card-present or a card-absent signal depending on whether thetransitional card128 is or is not interrupting the light beam between the light source and the light receiver of thetransmissive sensor704.
Accordingly, theupstream sensor704 will generate a card-present signal as the leading edge of thetransitional card128 interrupts the light beam. At this time, the number of degrees of rotation of the motor shaft and/or roller shaft can be tracked. As thetransitional card128 progresses along the card path500 (FIG. 5), the leading edge is detected by thedownstream sensor704, which generates yet another card-present signal. Contemporaneously, the trailing edge of thetransitional card128 moves past theupstream sensor704, causes theupstream sensor704 to generate a card-absent signal. The time between the card-present and the card-absent signals can be compared to the number of degrees of rotation of the motor shaft and or roller shaft and the rotational speed thereof to check the length of thetransitional card128. Thus, if a situation occurs such as twotransitional cards128 overlapping one another (e.g., stuck together), the playingcard handling system110 is capable of detecting this situation at various locations along the card path500. Once such a situation is detected, the upstream and downstream rollers can be operated to separate the overlapping cards and possibly re-read one or both cards. Alternatively, the overlapping cards can be directed to thereject receiving compartment511 depending on the embodiment.
FIG. 8 shows a number of motors used to operate various components within the playingcard handling system110,200. As discussed above, the motors may be stepper motors, which can be of a variety of sizes, styles, and types, all of which are known in the art. The various motors and their functions will be briefly described herein.
A cardingress receptacle motor802 operates at least one belt positioned below the playingcard input receiver204 to move the collectedcards114 into the card path500 of the playingcard handling system110,200. Anelevator input motor806 operates a number ofrollers600 to movetransitional cards128 from the card path500 to the playingcard output receiver206. Acarousel feed motor806 operates a number ofrollers600 to move thetransitional cards128 along the card path500 and into the respective receivingcompartments302 of thecarousels210,212.Card removal motors808 thecard selector400 and various components thereof to pick, select, and/or removeinventory cards124 from the receivingcompartments302 of thecarousels210,212. Thecard removal motors808 may include both primary and secondary motors to control various operations of thecard selector400.Carousel position motors810 operate to rotate and to stop the rotation of thecarousels210,212.
Operation of the Card Management Processing System
FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a cardmanagement processing system902 which controls various operating functions of the playingcard handling system110,200. The cardmanagement processing system902 comprises aprocessing system904, amemory906, a cardsensor interface system908, a cardmanager interface system910, a carouselcontrol interface system912 and a userdevice interface system914.
For convenience,processing system904,memory906, cardsensor interface system908, cardmanager interface system910, carouselcontrol interface system912 and userdevice interface system914 are illustrated as communicatively coupled to each other viacommunication bus916, viaconnections918, thereby providing connectivity between the above-described components. Alternatively, the above-described components are convectively coupled in a different manner than illustrated inFIG. 9. For example, one or more of the above-described components may be directly coupled to each other or may be coupled to each other via intermediary components (not shown).
A plurality of logic and data modules, described in greater detail hereinbelow, reside inmemory906. Such logic and data modules are retrieved by processingsystem904 as required during the various operations.
The interface systems, described in greater detail hereinbelow, communicate information to and from theprocessing system904 in a format suitable for theprocessing system904, and communicate information to and from various external devices, also described in greater detail hereinbelow, in a format suitable for such external devices.
For convenience, the interface systems described below are illustrated by a single block. However, such interface systems may be a plurality of individual interface devices, each interface coupled to one or more related external devices. Furthermore, the interface systems are illustrated as residing within the cardmanagement processing system902. The interface systems, or individual interface devices associated with one of the described interface systems, may reside external to the cardmanagement processing system902. For example, a sensor may be configured to sense a characteristic of a card (e.g., standard or non-standard rank and/or suit markings or other identifiers, whether optical, electrical, magnetic or otherwise). Output of the sensor may be an analog signal, such as a voltage or a current, that corresponds to the detected card characteristic. A device coupled to the sensor may convert the analog signal from the sensor into a signal that is communicated directly to the cardmanagement processing system902. All such modifications and variations of sensors and/or card management devices, and modifications and variations of interface systems and/or devices, are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure and intended to be protected by the accompanying claims.
The virtualcard builder logic920 residing inmemory906 determines a plurality of virtual cards (i.e., domain or set) that are used to build a virtual sequence136 (see alsoFIGS. 1A, 1B). A random number generator (RNG)921 or the like may define a sequential order of virtual cards, wherein the virtual cards have values and/or characteristics that correspond to the resultingdealable cards130 andinventory cards124 that are used to play the card game. As used herein and in the claims, the term random number generator includes pseudo-random number generators and the like, which are capable of generating a number sufficiently random to meet an applicable criteria, for example criteria set by a governmental or quasi-governmental gambling authority. As previously discussed, playing cards can be assigned a value that is indicative of the card rank and the card suit. In one embodiment, avirtual selection pool922 is generated with values that correspond to a standard 52-card deck of playing cards. The virtual cards from thevirtual selection pool922 are generated by the virtualcard builder logic920 based upon the particulars of the algorithms used by therandom number generator921 to generate thevirtual sequence136, which may be stored inmemory906.
Avirtual sequence criteria924 is used to define parameters that the virtualcard builder logic920 uses to generate thevirtual sequence136. An exemplary parameter may be a specified number of standard 52-card decks that are to be used to construct thevirtual sequence136. Individual, virtual cards are removed from thevirtual selection pool922 and arranged according to a sequence, computationally generated with arandom number generator921.
By way of example, thevirtual sequence criteria924 may specify that eight (8) standard 52-card decks comprise thevirtual selection pool922. Accordingly, the virtualcard builder logic920 uses thevirtual selection pool922 of four-hundred-sixteen virtual cards (corresponding to 8 decks of 52 physical cards each), where there are eight virtual cards of each particular value (e.g., rank/suit combination). Accordingly, in this example, there are initially eight aces-of-spade values (A
), eight kings-of-spade values (K
), eight queens-of-spade values (Q
), and so on.
As thevirtual sequence136 is generated, the number of available virtual cards in thevirtual selection pool922 is accordingly reduced. In the example above, if the first virtual card is the A
, then the total population of available virtual cards in thevirtual selection pool922 decreases from 416 to 415. The next virtual card is then selected from the remaining 415 cards, of which there are only seven A
remaining (along with eight each of the other values available in eight (8) standard 52-card decks). It is appreciated that subsequent virtual card selections will be made from only those virtual cards presently available in thevirtual selection pool922. Consequently, thevirtual sequence136 is generated and stored inmemory904. Thisvirtual sequence136 may be viewed to correspond to a randomly shuffled, actual group of playing cards. Returning to the above example, thevirtual sequence136 would correspond to eight standard 52-card decks that are physically shuffled together.
In another embodiment, the size of thevirtual selection pool922 is not reduced as virtual cards are selected during generation of thevirtual sequence136. That is, for each selection of a virtual card, the probability of a particular card value being selected remains constant. For example, if a group ofdeliverable cards118 is to be constructed from a standard 52-card playing deck, the probability of the first card having a value of the A
is 1/52. When the second virtual card (and subsequent virtual cards) is selected for thevirtual sequence136, the probability of the second virtual card (and virtual subsequent cards) having a value of the A
remains at 1/52. That is, the selection of virtual cards from the selection sequence orpool132 is operating similar to the manner in which an electronic slot machine is operating (wherein the probability of a symbol occurrence on the payout line remains constant as reel spins are simulated). In this situation, thevirtual selection pool922 could be simplified to correspond to one of each of the values of cards in the game. (For example, the virtual selection pool for a standard 52-card playing deck would be 52 virtual cards, wherein each virtual card uniquely corresponds to a unique rank and suit combination.)
Thevirtual sequence criteria924 may also define other parameters that the virtualcard builder logic920 uses to add, delete, or modify the value of at least one of the virtual cards in thevirtual selection pool922. For example, one of the parameters may set a specified number of “wild” cards that are to be added into thevirtual selection pool922. The “wild” cards could be the two Joker cards that typically accompany the standard 52-card deck. The wild cards may be used by the participants to augment or enhance their hand of cards.
In the above example where the initialvirtual selection pool922 of virtual cards is based upon eight card decks, the sixteen Jokers (e.g., 2 Jokers per deck times8 decks of cards) could be added to thevirtual selection pool922 to increase the total population of initially-available virtual cards to432. Alternatively, any desired number of Jokers, or other specialty-type cards, could be added to thevirtual selection pool922 in accordance with the rules (parameters) of the particular card game and/or casino rules. Specialty-type cards may be redeemable for prizes or bonuses, and may or many not have the identity of the prize displayed on the card. Such cards may also include unique identifiers to assist in redemption.
Other types of parameters may be specified in thevirtual sequence criteria924. For example, different types of card games may be defined in the optional game type/rules table926. For example, rules for the card game UNO® may reside in the game type/rules table926. UNO® cards are defined by colors, text and/or numerals and do not resemble the cards of a standard 52-card deck. If the cardmanagement processing system902 is instructed to build avirtual sequence136 for the card game of UNO®, information defining the UNO® cards can be retrieved from the optional game type/rules table926. This information may then be used to modify one or more of the parameters in thevirtual sequence criteria924. For example, the characterization of a card may be changed from rank and suit to the colors, text and/or numerals of UNO® cards. Accordingly, thevirtual selection pool922 would be constructed from the specified number of UNO® decks using UNO® virtual cards.
Userdevice interface system914 provides an interface means to one or moreexternal user devices928 configured to receive input or instructions from an individual such as a dealer, pit boss, or other casino employee. Anysuitable user device928 may be configured to communicate with the cardmanagement processing system902, viaconnection930. Non-limiting examples ofexternal user devices930 include key boards, memory media devices (such as flash cards, floppy disks, compact disks (CDs), micro disks, or the like), touch sensitive visual screens, or another processing system. Furthermore,connection930 is illustrated for convenience as a hardwire connection to the userdevice interface system914. In other embodiments,connection930 may be replaced with another suitable media, such as, but not limited to, a radio frequency media, an infrared media, or other wireless media. If another media is employed by alternative embodiments, the userdevice interface system914 could be configured to receive information from theexternal user device928 via the other media. The userdevice interface system914 would then reconfigure the information to a medium suitable for communication overcommunication bus916. Additionally, the userdevice interface system914 may be configured to receive information from a plurality ofuser devices928 in other embodiments. In yet other embodiments, the playingcard handling system110,200 may output information of interest to various external devices, via the userdevice interface system914.
Cardsensor interface system908 is configured to receive information from the various sensors of the playingcard handling system110,200. For convenience, cardsensor interface system908 is illustrated as being coupled to a plurality ofcard sensors932, viaconnections934. The cardsensor interface system908 may be configured to receive information from other types of sensors. Such card sensors and other types of sensors are described in greater detail above. Thus, the cardsensor interface system908 is configured to receive information fromcard sensors932, and then reconfigure the received information into a medium suitable for communication over thecommunication bus916. Furthermore,connections934 are illustrated for convenience as a hardwire connection to the cardsensor interface system908. In other embodiments, one or more of theconnections934 may be replaced with another suitable media, such as, but not limited to, a radio frequency media, an infrared media, or other wireless media.
Cardmanager interface system910 is configured to provide control signals or information to various devices or subsystems of the playingcard handling system110,200. For example, theelevator motor226, described above, is operated to raises the playing card output receiver206 (FIGS. 2A-2E) such that the dealer or a card player may access thedealable cards130. Theelevator motor226 then lowers the playingcard output receiver206 after thedealable cards130 are removed so that the card management process may continue to build another group ofdeliverable cards118. The cardmanager interface system910 provides signals to theelevator motor226 to cause movement of the playingcard output receiver206 relative to thestructure202.
For convenience, the cardmanager interface system910 is illustrated as being communicatively coupled to a plurality ofcard management devices936, viaconnections938. Thecard management devices936 are generally electromechanical devices that are actuatable by an electrical signal. The cardmanager interface system910 is configured to receive instructions for thecard management devices936 fromprocessing system904, and is configured to generate and communicate the electrical signal to acard management device936 using a suitable signal format. In some situations, the electrical signal may directly control an electromechanical devices, such as when a suitable operating voltage and/or current is provided. In other situations, the electrical signal may be a digital or analog control signal communicated to another controller which actuates the electromechanical device. Furthermore,connections938 are illustrated for convenience as a hardwire connection to the cardmanager interface system910. In other embodiments, one or more of theconnections938 may be replaced with another suitable media, such as, but not limited to, a radio frequency media, an infrared media, or other wireless media.
Storage devicecontrol interface system912 is configured to receive information from the variousstorage device sensors942 and to provide electrical signals to thevarious controllers944, viaconnections946, residing in the plurality ofcarousels940. In one embodiment,carousels940 correspond to the twocarousels210,212 (FIGS.2A-D) or another suitable storage device.Sensors942 andcontrollers944 are described in greater detail below (see, for example,FIG. 12).Connections946 are illustrated for convenience as a hardwire connection to the cardmanager interface system910. In other embodiments, one or more of theconnections946 may be replaced with another suitable media, such as, but not limited to, a radio frequency media, an infrared media, or other wireless media.
In accordance with the various embodiments described herein, sensor devices are employed to determine the characteristics and/or value of an individual card. For example, in the game that employs a standard 52-card deck, each card is uniquely identifiable by a unique value, its rank and suit symbols. Sensor means are employed to detect information from each card that may be used to identify the card. For example, one embodiment employs machine-readable symbol reader systems such as a bar code reader system to read machine-readable symbols such as bar code information printed on each card (typically using a non-visible medium such as ultraviolet sensitive ink or the like). Alternatively, or additionally, machine-readable symbol reader systems may read standard markings from the cards, such as rank symbols, suit symbols and/or pips. As the card passes in proximity to the sensor configured to detect the information on the card, the sensor communicates the information corresponding to the detected bar code to the above-described cardsensor interface system908. The cardsensor interface system908 then formats and communicates the information toprocessing system904.
Processing system904 retrieves and executes the cardcharacteristic determination logic948 to analyze the detected attributes and/or characteristics of the sensed card. Accordingly, the physical card is uniquely identifiable. For example, if a bar code reader system is employed to read barcode information on a sensed card, the cardcharacteristic determination logic948 can determine the unique character of the card. Thus, if a traditional 52-card deck is being used for a card game, the sensed physical card can then be uniquely identified by its rank and suit symbols (for example, the A
card is uniquely identifiable by the letter “A” and the symbol “
” and have a machine-readable symbol residing thereon indicating this value). Alternatively, each playing card may carry an identifier that is unique over more than fifty-two cards.
Other types of sensors may be used to sense attributes and/or characteristics of a sensed physical card. For example, a sensor sensitive to color may be used to determine the color of the playing surface of the sensed cars, such as a color-coded UNO® card. A character recognition sensor such as, but not limited to a charge coupled device (CCD) array, may be used to sense information corresponding to characters on the playing surface of the card. The cardcharacteristic determination logic948 may then interpret the sensed information using one or more character recognition algorithms to determine a text and/or character attribute of the sensed card. For example, if a traditional 52-card deck is being used for a card game, the sensed text and/or character attribute of the sensed card can then be uniquely identified by its rank and suit symbols (for example, the A
card is identifiable by the letter “A” and the symbol “
”). Or, if a color-coded UNO® card with text is sensed, the UNO® card can be uniquely identified through a combination of text recognition and color recognition (for example, a yellow colored “Skip” card is identifiable by its yellow color and the printed text “Skip”).
As noted above, the dealer or other player returns collected cards114 (FIG. 1A) to the playingcard handling system110,200. As a collectedcard114 passes in proximity to and is sensed by the above-described sensors such that the cardcharacteristic determination logic948 determines the unique identifier of the sensedcollected card114, the identifying information for the sensedcollected card114 is stored in the returned cards table950. Accordingly, a log of the sequence of collectedcards114 is generated and stored in the returned cards table950. Such information may be useful for security purposes, player tracking, card usage data, etc.
For example, the identity and location of each card in the deliverable cards118 (FIG. 1B) are known. As in-play cards126 are placed in play, the processing system904 (FIG. 9) may anticipate which cards are expected to be in play at the gaming table102. Accordingly, theprocessing system906 may execute logic to anticipate what playing cards may be expected to be discarded during the current card game. If a player mistakenly or purposefully retains one of the in-play cards126, the retained card will not end up in the group of collectedcards114. Theprocessing system906 may then recognize that one of the in-play cards126 was not returned, which may result in some form of communication to the dealer or another authority. Similarly, an imposter card inserted during or after the card game can also be recognized by theprocessing system904. Theprocessing system906 may then generate and communicate an appropriate signal to the dealer or another authority indicating the presence of the imposter card.
As noted herein, the plurality ofcard receiving compartments302 of thecarousels210,212 (FIG. 2) are uniquely associated with a card value. For example, one of thecard receiving compartments302 may be uniquely associated with the A
. Such association may be formed during operation, either just prior to, during, or shortly following placement of the particular card into aparticular receiving compartment302. The advantageously allows the placement of the card in the nearest empty compartment increasing operational speed. Allowing bidirectional movement of thecarousels210,212 (e.g., rotation in clockwise and counterclockwise direction), also increases operational speed. When the A
is returned to the playingcard handling system110,200 as acollected card114, theprocessing system904 executes the cardcharacteristic determination logic948 to identify the collectedcard114. For example, if the A
card is the collectedcard114 and is identified accordingly, the A
card is returned to the appropriately assignedcard receiving compartment302. After the A
card is returned to the appropriatecard receiving compartment302, that A
card is now referred to as an inventory A
card112. Thus, the card receiving compartment attribute table952 is a definable table wherein card receiving compartments302 (FIG. 3) are uniquely assigned a particular card type or card value. It is appreciated that any characteristic of a card may be used to associate a card and its assignedcard receiving compartment302. Since the information corresponding to the associated card characteristic and thecard receiving compartment302 is stored in the card receiving compartment attribute table952, any card may be identified and stored and/or retrieved from its assignedcard receiving compartment302 by the various embodiments as described herein. If not allcard receiving compartments302 are assigned in a game, thosecard receiving compartments302 may be later defined as needed and/or not used during game play.
As noted above, embodiments of the playingcard handling system110 perform various operations on the physical cards using a variety of electro-mechanical devices. Also, various sensors provide information to the cardmanagement processing system902. The various logical processes, comprising software and/or executable code, are generally represented by thecard management logic954. Thecard management logic954 may be comprised of a plurality of unique logic segments or programs, and/or may be comprised of a multi-function, integrated logic segment or program, as described herein.
Whenlogic908 is implemented as software and stored inmemory906, one skilled in the art will appreciate thatlogic920,948,954 and/or956, or that the information of922,924,926,950 and or952, can be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any computer and/or processor related system or method. In the context of this document, amemory906 is a computer-readable medium that is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other another physical device or means that contains or stores a computer and/or processor program.Logic920,948,954, and/or956, and/or the information of922,924,926,950 and or952 can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions associated withlogic920,948,954, and/or956, and/or the information of922,924,926,950 and or952. In the context of this specification, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program associated withlogic920,948,954, and/or956, and/or the information of922,924,926,950 and or952 for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, and/or device. The computer-readable medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic, compact flash card, secure digital, or the like), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM). Note that the computer-readable medium, could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program associated withlogic920,948 and/or954, and/or the information of922,924,926,950 and or952 is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via for instance optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored inmemory906.
The above-described cardprocessing management system902 may, in one embodiment, reside within the playingcard handling system110,200 as an internal, integrated component. In another embodiment, the cardprocessing management system902 may be external to the playingcard handling system110,200 as a stand alone device. Or, if external, the cardprocessing management system902 may be part of another system having other functionality. In such embodiments, the934,934,938 and/or946 could include suitable convenient plug-in connector devices to facilitate coupling between the external cardprocessing management system902 and the playingcard handling system110,200.
Processing system904 (FIG. 9) is illustrated for convenience as residing in the various embodiments of the cardmanagement processing system902. It is understood that anysuitable processor system904 may be employed.Processing system904 may be a specially designed and/or fabricated processing system, or a commercially available processor system. Non-limiting examples of commercially available processor systems include, but are not limited to, an 80×86 or Pentium series microprocessor from Intel Corporation, U.S.A., a PowerPC microprocessor from IBM, a Sparc microprocessor from Sun Microsystems, Inc., a PA-RISC series microprocessor from Hewlett-Packard Company, or a 68xxx series microprocessor from Motorola Corporation.
FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of the carouselcontrol interface system912 communicatively coupled to anexemplary carousel940.Carousel940 may correspond to the above-describedcarousels210,212 (FIGS. 2A-2E). As noted herein, inventory cards124 (FIG. 1B) are drawn from the card receiving compartments302 (FIG. 3) by the card selector400 (see also FIG.4) to construct thedeliverable cards118. Similarly, collectedcards114, which are then referred to as transitional cards128 (as they travel through the above described card paths) are inserted to their associated card receiving compartment302 (now referred to as transitional inventory cards128) such that thecard receiving compartments302 are restocked.
To selectinventory cards124 from an appropriatecard receiving compartment302, thecarousel940 is rotated into alignment with thecard selector400.Carousel position sensor1002 detects position of thecarousel940. In another embodiment, upon initialization of the playingcard handling system102 or at another suitable time,carousel position sensor1002 detects at least one fixed point on thecarousel940. As the carousel subsequently rotates, the position of anycard receiving compartment302 relative to thecarousel position sensor1002 is computationally determinable (in accordance with code instructions or logical instructions of thecard management logic954,FIG. 9).
To select anyparticular inventory card124, thatparticular inventory card124 is determined based upon the current virtual card of thevirtual sequence136 that is to be constructed. Once identified, theinventory card124 needs to be selected from its correspondingcard receiving compartment302. Thecard management logic954, using information in the card receiving compartment attribute table952, determines the relative location ofcard receiving compartment302 associated with the desiredinventory card124. Carousel position controller1004 (which may correspond to the above-described motor coupled to thecarousel gear326 in one exemplary embodiment) is configured to rotate thecarousel940 such that the appropriatecard receiving compartment302 is moved into alignment with thecard selector400. Then,card selector400 may select the desiredinventory card124 from thecard receiving compartment302. (One exemplary above-described embodiment employs afriction roller410, residing in theselector body402 and which is rotationally fixed to a portion of theshaft408.Friction roller410 is rotated by theshaft408, wherein the rotation of thefriction roller410 selects the desiredinventory card124 from thecard receiving compartment302. Other suitable card selecting devices, system or means may be used by other embodiments.)
In some situations, a desiredinventory card124 may not reside in the correspondingcard receiving compartment302.Card sensor1006 senses at least the presence or absence of aninventory card124 in its correspondingcard receiving compartment302. Information corresponding to the presence or absence of theinventory card124 in its respectivecard receiving compartment302 is communicated to the cardmanagement processing system902, via the carouselcontrol interface system912. As described in greater detail hereinbelow, the playingcard handling system110,200 must then wait for the desired card to be returned into the system as acollected card114.
To deliver atransitional card128 into the appropriatecard receiving compartment302 thecarousel940 is rotated into alignment with the carousel branch1008 (which corresponds to the above-described first andsecond carousel branches504,508). The currenttransitional card128 is identified based upon detected characteristics of thetransitional card128. Once identified, thetransitional card128 needs to be inserted into its correspondingcard receiving compartment302. Thecard management logic954, using information in the card receiving compartment attribute table952, determines the relative location ofcard receiving compartment302 associated with the incomingtransitional card128. Carousel position controller10204 (which may correspond to the above-described motor coupled to thecarousel gear326 in one exemplary embodiment) is configured to rotate thecarousel940 such that the appropriatecard receiving compartment302 is moved into alignment with thecarousel branch1008 which will deliver thetransitional card128 into the appropriatecard receiving compartment302.
In one embodiment, thecarousel position controller1004 is a motor or the like configured to rotate thecarousel940, where a suitable electrical signal such as a voltage or a current is received from the carouselcontrol interface system912. In another embodiment, thecarousel position controller1004 is a motor and a controller, where a suitable control signal is received from the carouselcontrol interface system912. A gear, chain or belt system may be used to couple thecarousel position controller1004 to thecarousel940 in some embodiments. On other embodiments a shaft of a motor of thecarousel position controller1004 is coupled to a shaft of the carousel940 (or may be the same shaft). Any suitable coupling means, system or method may be used to couple thecarousel position controller1004 with thecarousel940 to effect rotation of thecarousel940.
It is appreciated that with embodiments having a plurality ofcard carousels940, each of the plurality ofcard carousels940 are simultaneously and independently controllable by the look-forward algorithm956. For example, a “next”inventory card124 to be retrieved from a first carousel may be retrieved by adjusting the position of thecarousel940 such that thecard selector400 is in proximity to thecard receiving compartment302 wherein the “next”inventory card124 resides. Concurrently, anothercarousel940 may have the “next+1”inventory card124 in one of its card receiving compartments302, wherein the “next+1”inventory card124 is to be selected after the above-described “next”inventory card124 is selected and transported to the group ofdeliverable cards118. While the position of the carousel having the “next”inventory card124 is adjusted, the playingcard handling system902 may concurrently and/or independently cause the position of the other carousel having the “next+1”inventory card124 to be adjusted. Then, shortly after the “next”inventory card124 is selected, the “next+1”inventory card124 can be selected since theother carousel940 having that card is already in position for selection of the “next+1”inventory card124.
Alternatively, a collected card114 (now a transitional card128), that is being transported to its designatedcard receiving compartment302, has its value read by one of thecard sensors932. Upon identification of the value, the position of thedestination carousel940 may be adjusted so that itscard receiving compartment302 is in proper position so that the collectedcard114 may be deposited into its receiving compartment302 (now referred to as an inventory card124). Concurrently, anothercarousel940 may have its position adjusted for operation on aninventory card124 in one of its receivingcompartments302, or may have its position adjusted to receive another identified transitional card128 (previously a collected card114).
Summarizing, the look-forward algorithm956 (FIG. 9) is configured to monitor physical cards in the various stages of transport over branches502-515 (FIG. 5), and coordinate the transport of physical cards with positioning of carousels and/or with construction of thedeliverable cards118. That is, when atransitional card128 is available for redirecting to the playingcard output receiver206 for inclusion as a member of thedeliverable cards118, thetransitional card128 may be said to be in a “window of opportunity” for diversion from its destination carousel940 (where it would otherwise be an inventory card124) to the playingcard output receiver206.
FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram of the cardmanager interface system912 communicatively coupled to an exemplarycard management device936 and a cardsensor interface system908 coupled to anexemplary cards sensor932. As noted herein, collected cards114 (FIG. 1B) are received after they have been played, and are transported (now referred to as transitional cards128) along various carousel branches (seeFIG. 5) to be inserted to their associated card receiving compartment302 (thereby referred to as inventory cards124) such that thecard receiving compartments302 are restocked. (In some situations, thetransitional card128 may be redirected directly to the group ofdeliverable cards118 if that value of that particulartransitional card128 corresponds to the value of the next card to be added into the group ofdeliverable cards118.)
Card sensor932 detects attributes and/or characteristics of the sensed physicaltransitional card128 as it moves along intermediate branch506 (or another branch). Information corresponding to the detected attributes and/or characteristics is communicated to the cardmanagement processing system902, via the card sensor interface system, such that the unique identity of the currenttransitional card128 is determined.
Card management device936 is illustrated as a roller device for convenience. Tworollers1102 control movement of thetransitional card128 along various carousel branches (seeFIG. 5). Movement of therollers1102 are controlled bymotors1104, by electrical signals from the cardmanagement processing system902, via the cardmanager interface system910. Thus, thetransitional card128 may be moved along thecard sensor932 such that information may be read from thetransitional card128. If the information is not correctly read and/or interpreted, thecard management device936 may draw back thetransitional card128 across thecard sensor932 for another sensing of the attributes and/or characteristics of thetransitional card128.
In other embodiments, thecard management device936 may be any suitable device, system or means that controls movement of atransitional card128 such thatcard sensor932 sensed the attributes and/or characteristics of thetransitional card128. For example, asingle roller1102 andmotor1104 could be employed in another embodiment. Another embodiment may use a conveyor system or the like.
FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram facilitating an explanation of the generation of avirtual sequence136 and the subsequent construction of a corresponding group ofdeliverable cards118. Processing system904 (see alsoFIG. 9) retrieves and executes the virtualcard builder logic920 to first generate or determine avirtual selection pool922 based upon parameters in the virtualsequence build criteria924.
Other parameters may be used to generate thevirtual selection pool922. For example, the game rules table may specify the type of card game that is to be played using the group ofdeliverable cards118. The selected game may influence the types and/or number ofvirtual cards1204 used in thevirtual selection pool922.
Then, in one embodiment,processing system904 uses arandom number generator921 or the like to randomly selectvirtual cards1204 in a serial fashion. These selectedvirtual cards1204 are serially organized into thevirtual sequence136.
In another embodiment, processing system uses arandom number generator921 to sequentially ordervirtual cards1204 by generating a series of random numbers, the largest random number corresponding to the number ofvirtual cards1204 in thevirtual selection pool922, each number corresponding to the value of a virtual card. A data table or the like uniquely associating eachvirtual card1204 with one of the numbers enables theprocessing system904 to sequence thevirtual cards1204 intovirtual sequence136.
In yet another embodiment, virtual cards are selected from an unmodifiedvirtual selection pool922 each time a virtual card is selected. Similar to an electronic slot machine, the probability of any particular value being selected for a virtual card remains constant for each selection.
In some embodiments, a portion of the virtual sequence136 (referred to as the virtual sequence portion1202) may be selected from thevirtual sequence136. Thevirtual sequence portion1202 is used to identifyphysical cards1206 that will be selected from theinventory cards124 and/or the transitional cards117 (FIG. 1B) as the group ofdeliverable cards118 are constructed.
For example, but not limited to, one of the parameters used to generate thevirtual selection pool922 may specify that eight (8) standard 52-card decks are to be used to create avirtual selection pool922, Accordingly, the generatedvirtual selection pool922 will initially comprises 416virtual cards1204.
Another parameter may, in this example, specify that thedeliverable cards118 contain a total of 208 physical cards1206 (corresponding to four standard 52-card decks). Thus,208virtual cards1204 from thevirtual selection pool922 will be used to generate thevirtual sequence portion1202. The generatedvirtual sequence portion1202 will then be used to construct the group ofdeliverable cards118.
In some embodiments, the number ofvirtual cards1204 of thevirtual sequence portion1202 may be the same as the number ofvirtual cards1204 of thevirtual sequence136. This may occur if the parameter defining the number of card decks used to construct thevirtual selection pool922 is the same as the number of decks specified for thevirtual sequence portion1202. Casino rules, governmental regulatory rules and/or game rules may stipulate this condition.
In yet other embodiments, thevirtual selection pool122 is based upon virtual cards identified by value or another indicator. Asvirtual cards1204 are sequentially selected during generation of thevirtual sequence136, the likelihood or probability of selecting one of a particular virtual card from the virtual selection pool remains constant. For example, if a group ofdeliverable cards118 is to be constructed from a standard 52-card playing deck, the probability of the first card having a value of the A
is 1/52. When the second virtual card (and subsequent virtual cards) is selected for thevirtual sequence136, the probability of the second virtual card (and virtual subsequent cards) having a value of the A
remains at 1/52.
Alternatively,processing system904 may generate thevirtual selection pool922 using a first parameter (corresponding to a first number of virtual cards902) and then generate another number of virtual cards1204 (from thevirtual cards1204 of the virtual selection pool922) to construct thevirtual sequence136, stopping the construction of thevirtual sequence136 when the number ofvirtual cards1204 specified for the group ofdeliverable cards118 equals the number of selectedvirtual cards1204.
After generation of thevirtual sequence portion1202,physical cards1206 are retrieved from theinventory cards124 residing in acarousel940 and/or from an identified collected card114 (FIG. 1B). Each of the sequentially retrievedphysical cards1206 correspond to a respective one of thevirtual cards1204 in thevirtual sequence portion1202. The retrievedphysical cards1206 are transported (generally denoted by the line1214) in serial fashion to construct the group ofdeliverable cards118.
For example, inFIG. 12 the first card of thevirtual sequence portion1202 is illustrated as the Ace of Diamonds (A⋄). The virtual A⋄card1204 is used to define the firstphysical card1206 of the group ofdeliverable cards118. Accordingly, one of the available physical A⋄ cards is selected from thecarousel receiving compartments302 and placed in a suitable receptacle, such as the playingcard output receiver206, as the firstphysical card1206. The process of sequentially retrievingphysical cards1206 based upon a specifiedvirtual card1204 of thevirtual sequence portion1202 continues until the group ofdeliverable cards118 has been constructed. Then, the group ofdeliverable cards118 are transported to a location where the dealer or another participant or casino employee may access the group ofdeliverable cards118.
In some situations, after generation of thevirtual sequence portion1202, thevirtual cards1204 may be additionally processed again in accordance with another parameter. In one exemplary embodiment, an optionalcard stamping device1208 is configured to intercept (generally denoted by the dashed-line1212) aphysical card1210 that is being transported to the group ofdeliverable cards118. Instructions for printing a message and/or symbol on the interceptedphysical card1210 are communicated from the processing system904 (generally denoted by the dashed-line1212) to thecard stamping device1208. Then, after stamping or otherwise marking the interceptedphysical card1210 with an ink or the like, the interceptedcard1210 can be returned to thecard path1214 for insertion into the group ofdeliverable cards118 in its proper sequenced location.
For example, one of the parameters of the virtualcard builder logic920 or the virtual sequence build criteria924 (or another parameter residing elsewhere) may specify that one or more of the physical cards are to be made a “bonus” card. The bonus card may reward a player with a desirable gift or the like (e.g., a free hotel room, a complimentary dinner, etc.) Accordingly, information indicating to the player receiving the bonus card is stamped onto the bonus card. The information may be in any suitable format, including textual information and/or a special symbol. It is appreciated that the number of, and types of, rewards gifted to a player(s) receiving a bonus card are unlimited. All such variations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.
Thephysical cards1206, that are to referred to as bonus cards (and marked by the card stamping device1208), may be identified by specifying avirtual card1204 in the generatedvirtual sequence portion1202 and/or the generatedvirtual selection pool922 based upon a specified criteria or based upon a random criteria. Or,physical cards1206 may be selected as they are being transported to the group ofdeliverable cards118 based upon a specified criteria or based upon a random criteria. It is appreciated the number of possible methods of identifying and selecting aphysical card1206 for stamping is limitless. All such variations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.
Furthermore, selection ofvirtual cards1204 and/orphysical cards1206 may be comprised of one or more sub-portions of generatedvirtual sequence portion1202 and/or the group ofdeliverable cards118, respectively. For example, a last sub-portion of the generatedvirtual sequence portion1202 and/or the group ofdeliverable cards118 may have selectedvirtual cards1204 or selectedphysical cards1206, respectively, to entice a player(s) to continue playing in hopes of receiving one of the bonus cards.
In some embodiments, during generation of thevirtual sequence portion1202 and/or the generatedvirtual selection pool922, parameters which establish the selection criteria used by the random number generator921 (or the like) of the virtualcard builder logic920 are changed during the generation process. That is, parameters impacting the probability of card selection, and thus affecting game odds, may be modified. For example, in a game played by a plurality of players, one of the players may optionally select to receive cards having a higher or lower odds of winning than the odds for the other players. (Of course, payout would likely be adjusted accordingly.) For example, Player A may wish to play a hand and/or a game based upon avirtual selection pool922 constructed under a criteria of eight (8) traditional 52-card desks. Player B may wish to play a hand and/or a game based upon avirtual selection pool922 constructed under a criteria of one (1) traditional 52-card desk. As another example, Player C may wish to have the opportunity to have wild cards introduced into his hand. Accordingly, various embodiments of the playingcard handling system110 are configured to accommodate special parameters during the above-described processes that result in a constructed group ofdeliverable cards118.
In some situations, thevirtual sequence136 may have a limited number of a particular value of a virtual card. For example, but not limited to, thevirtual sequence136 may be limited to having only eight A
card values, even if thevirtual selection pool922 was based upon ten standard 52-card playing decks. Or, thevirtual sequence136 may be limited to having only a particular rank or suit. For example, but not limited to, thevirtual sequence136 may be limited to having only eight A card values (of the four suits). Or,virtual sequence136 may be limited to having at most one half of the virtual cards having the
suit.
In some of the above-described embodiments, theprocessing system904, may selectively modify selected ones of the above-described parameters as a plurality of virtualcard sequence portions1202 are generated. The plurality of virtualcard sequence portions1202, one designated for each different player, may be joined, thereby creating a sequence ofvirtual cards1204 that is used to construct a group ofdeliverable cards118. The group ofdeliverable cards118 would then have a plurality of sub-groups therein, each sub-group designated for a particular player based upon the selected modified parameter. In some embodiments, a divider card (such as, but not limited to, an unmarked and/or colored card) may be selected from acard receiving compartment302 and placed between successive sub-groupings of physical cards to ensure that players receive hands based upon the selected modified parameter.
The above-described process of building a group of deliverable cards118 (FIG. 1B) [which may be generally described as generating avirtual sequence136 from thevirtual selection pool922, defining avirtual sequence portion1202 from thevirtual sequence136, and then retrievinginventory cards124 and/ortransitional cards128 to construct the deliverable cards118], and the above-described process of returning collectedcards114 to thecarousel receiving compartments302 of the carousels940 (FIGS. 9 and 12), were described as separate processes for convenience. In most embodiments, the processes of building a group ofdeliverable cards118 and transporting collectedcards114 to thecompartments302 of thecarousels940 operate concurrently. That is, the cardmanagement processing system902 is configured to control flow of a plurality of physical cards along the branches502-515 (FIG. 5) in an integrated manner. Thus, embodiments may be configured to simultaneously build groups ofdeliverable cards118, restockcarousels940 withinventory cards124, receive collectedcards114, sense and/or evaluatetransitional cards128, operate ontransitional cards128, etc. Such operational flexibility is enabled because the transport of physical cards over the various branches502-515, and/or card transport at individual points along the branches502-515, and/or control of the carousel(s)940, are independently controllable. Accordingly,processing system904, when executing thevarious logic920,948,954, and/or956, and/or operating on the information of922,924,926,950 and or952, may concurrently perform a plurality of different operations.
For example, a collectedcard114 may be input into the input branch506 (thereby becoming a transitional card128). Concurrently, a selected inventory card124 (referred to now as a transitional card128) may be in transport along one of thecarousel branches504 or508 as it is being selected (removed from its card receiving compartment302) from the carousel940 (FIG. 10) by that receiving compartment'scard selector400. Thus, two physical cards are being transported concurrently in this simplified example. Various card sensors932 (FIG. 9) communicate information to the cardmanagement processing system902 such that theprocessing system904 tracks location of the two physical cards on a real-time (or near real-time) basis.
In other embodiments, a plurality of physical cards may be concurrently tracked and/or transported along the various the branches502-515. For example, a third physical card may concurrently be transported in theexit branch510 for deposit into a trash receiving compartment or the like. Or, another physical card may concurrently be transported in theintermediate branch506 havingcards sensors932 andcard management devices936 configured to detect that two or moretransitional cards128 are in contact with each other (i.e., stuck together) and need separation from each other so that further processing of thetransitional cards128 may occur. Or, atransitional card128 may be in proximity to one of the above-describeddiverters602,604 (FIG. 6), wherein actuation of adiverter602,604 may divert thetransitional card128 from going into is assignedcard receiving compartment302 such that the transitional card is transported to, for example, the group ofdeliverable cards118. In various embodiments, these above-described scenarios, and other card tracking and/or transport scenarios, may all occur concurrently.
As another example of concurrently managing transportation of physical cards over the various branches502-515, a “look-forward”algorithm950 may be included in memory906 (FIG. 9).Processing system904 determines a “next” virtual card of the virtual sequence portion1202 (FIG. 12), which defines the “next”physical card1206 that is to be added to the group ofdeliverable cards118. As noted herein, the “next”physical card1206 may be retrieved from one of thecard receiving compartments302, or may be atransitional card128 that may be diverted. During transport of atransitional card128 to its assignedcard receiving compartment302, when the transitional card is in proximity to one of the above-describeddiverters602,604 (FIG. 6), thetransitional card128 may be considered to be within a “window of opportunity” such that thetransitional card128 may be successfully diverted to the group ofdeliverable cards118 being constructed.
Diverting thetransitional card128 directly to the group ofdeliverable cards118 may be done more quickly than retrieving the “next” physical card from one of thecarousel receiving compartments302 because the divertedtransitional card128 is readily available and may have a relatively short distance to travel to playingcard output receiver206. In comparison, if aninventory card124 is retrieved from acard receiving compartment302, it is likely that the position of the receiving compartment must be changed to bring the card selector (FIGS. 4 and 10) into position such that theinventory card124 can be selected out of thecard receiving compartment302. Then, the selected inventory card124 (now referred to as a transitional card128) must be transported all the way to the playing card output receiver206 (FIGS. 2A-2E). Thus, the process of retrieving aninventory card124 may take longer that diverting a suitabletransitional card128. By diverting thetransitional card128 to the playingcard output receiver206 so that thetransitional card128 may be used as the “next” card of thedeliverable cards118, the overall process of managing cards by the playingcard handling system110,200 may be quickened.
Additionally, virtual card operations may be concurrently performed by various embodiments. For example, one or more virtual selection pools922 (FIG. 9) may be concurrently generated based upon different parameters. Or,processing system904 may be operating in a parallel mode wherein one or morevirtual sequences132 are being constructed from one or more one or more virtual selection pools922.Processing system904 may be generating a plurality ofvirtual sequence portions1202 from one or morevirtual sequences132. Or, all of, or some of, the above-described virtual card operations may be occurring concurrently.
It is appreciated that the various possibilities of concurrently managing, tracking or transporting physical cards through the playingcard handling system110, and/or concurrently performing virtual card operations, are too numerous to describe in detail herein. Such embodiments performing a plurality functions are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure and be protected by any accompanying claims.
As noted herein, carousels or storage devices having card compartments may be interchangeable. Thus, the playingcard handling system110,200 may be adding physical cards to and/or removing physical cards from some of the carousels or storage devices, which other carousels or storage devices are being removed and/or replaced with other carousels or storage devices.
The above-described “random number generator” which constructs thevirtual sequence136 may be implemented by a variety of algorithms. In one embodiment, the random number generator921 (FIG. 9) may computationally generate virtual cards of thevirtual sequence136 or the virtual sequence portion1202 (FIG. 12). That is, a number associated with a value of a physical card may be directly generated in a random manner. In another embodiment, therandom number generator921 may generate a random series of numbers, wherein the range of numbers that may be generated may correspond to the total number of virtual cards of the virtual selection pool. Such virtual cards could be associated with the generated numbers through the use of a look-up table or the like. In another embodiment, arandom number generator921 could generate values corresponding to characteristics which identify a physical card. For example, in the case of a standard 52-card deck, a first value corresponding to a card suit, and another value corresponding to card rank could be separately generated, thereby defining a card having a particular value. It is appreciated that other algorithms, commonly referred herein as “random number generator” algorithms for convenience, may be used to generate, process and/or definevirtual cards1204 as described herein, and that such algorithms are too numerous and/or too complex to describe in detail herein. All such algorithms are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure and to be protected by any accompanying claims. While referred to herein and in the claims as being a random number or random number generator, such terms encompass numbers and generators that are not truly random in the mathematical sense, such as those often referred to as being pseudo-random.
Other embodiments of a playingcard handling system110 are configured to operate on physical cards1206 (FIG. 12) without the use of the random number generator921 (FIG. 9). For example, one or more predefinedvirtual sequences132 and/orvirtual sequence portions1202 may be used to construct a group ofdeliverable cards118. Thus, predefinedvirtual sequences132 and/or virtualcard sequence portions1202 can be specified so that a corresponding group ofdeliverable cards118 may be constructed at will. The predefined sequence may be stored in a look-up table or the like. Also, the group ofdeliverable cards118 may be constructed repetitively.
For example, in certain types of card tournaments, such as in a duplicate bridge tournament, players at a gaming table102 play predefined hands. As that game is completed, the players move to the next gaming table102 and each player plays the same respective hand that was previously played at that gaming table102. That is, all gaming tables102 at the duplicate bridge tournament have a unique set of hands (groups of cards) that all of the tournament players and/or teams play. Accordingly, embodiments of the playingcard handling system110 may repeatedly construct and deliver the necessary hands which must be identical from game to game. The definition of the hands (corresponding to four virtual card sequence portions1202) may be determined as virtual cards by a remote device. The information determined by the remote device would provided to one or more of the cardmanagement processing systems902, via the user device interface912 (FIG. 9). Alternatively, the hands may be defined and/or generated by themanagement processing systems902 such that the unique hands are repetitively constructed for tournament play.
As another hypothetical example wherein a playingcard handling system110,200 may be configured to operate on physical cards1206 (FIG. 12) without the use of the random number generator921 (FIG. 9), the playingcard handling system110 may be used to create sorted groups of playing cards. That is, the physical cards may be directly sorted in a predefined manner. For example, one or more sorted standard 52-card decks may be created from a plurality of collectedcards114. Consider a hypothetical scenario wherein 520 mixed playing cards are input to the playingcard handling system110. Up to ten sorted groups ofdeliverable cards118 corresponding to sorted standard 52-card decks could then be created from the 520 mixed playing cards.
As another hypothetical example wherein a playingcard handling system110,200 may be configured to operate on physical cards1206 (FIG. 12) without the use of the random number generator921 (FIG. 9), the playingcard handling system110,200 may be used to inspect groups of physical cards. For example, a standard 52-card deck could be provided to embodiments of the playingcard handling system110,200 such that various card sensors400 (FIG. 4) sense physical characteristics of the cards. Non-limiting examples of physical characteristics include, but are not limited to, card appearance, card quality and/or card value. As physical cards are individually inspected, the card may then be transported directly to the playing card output receiver206 (FIGS.2A-D). If the assembled and inspected group ofdeliverable cards118 created from the inspected cards is acceptable, the playingcard output receiver206 could return the group ofdeliverable cards118 to the user. In other embodiments, problem cards could be identified and/or removed, and if removed, replaced by anacceptable inventory card124. Reports providing information relating to the inspected physical cards may be output to a user device928 (FIG. 9) by some embodiments. It is appreciated that such an inspection process may be completed relatively quickly since in some embodiments thecarousels940 or other card compartment structures may not be in use.
It is appreciated that the various types of scenarios wherein a playingcard handling system110,200 is configured to operate on physical cards1206 (FIG. 12) without the use of therandom number generator921 will be apparent in light of the teachings herein. Any such scenarios, methods and or systems are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure and to be protected by any accompanying claims.
As noted herein, the term “carousel” as used herein is intended to be a generic term for a structure that comprises an endless plurality of physical playing card receptacles, referred to as card receiving compartments for convenience, particularly suited for rotational movement.FIG. 13 illustrates selected alternative embodiments of card storage devices.Rack1302 is a rectangular structure having a plurality ofcard receiving compartments302 disposed therein suitable for translation.Rack1304 is a another type of rectangular structure having a matrix ofcard receiving compartments302 disposed therein suitable for translation.Storage device1306 is an arc-like structure having a plurality ofcard receiving compartments302 disposed therein suitable for pivoting.Rack1308 is a conveyor type structure having a plurality ofcard receiving compartments302 disposed thereon suitable for translation.Rack1310 is a vertically-oriented rectangular structure having a plurality ofcard receiving compartments302 disposed therein. It is appreciated that the various types of structures and/or orientations employingcard receiving compartments302 are too numerous to describe in detail herein. Furthermore, if such structures are moved to orient a selectedcard receiving compartment302 with a card selector400 (FIG. 4), the structure may be moved in any suitable direction, orientation and/or manner. Any such structure and/or orientation comprising a plurality ofcard receiving compartments302 configured to be a repository forinventory cards124 are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.
As noted herein, the bonus cards and/or specialty cards may be defined and/or selected after generation of thevirtual sequence136. In alternative embodiments, bonus cards and/or specialty cards may be defined concurrently with other parameters or criteria used to build thevirtual selection pool122. Accordingly, such bonus cards and/or specialty cards would be selected with the same probability as any other virtual card in the virtual selection pool. Furthermore, in other embodiments, additional bonus cards and/or specialty cards could be later added after generation of thevirtual sequence136 as described herein.
FIGS. 14, 15,16 and17 areflow charts1400,15001600, and1700, respectively, illustrating possible operation of thelogic modules920,948 and/or954 ofFIG. 9 as related to the various functions relating to card management. Theflow charts1400,1500,1600 and1700 show the architecture, functionality, and operation of a possible implementation of the software for implementing thelogic modules920,948,954, and/or956. In this regard, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted inFIGS. 14-17 or may include additional functions. For example, two blocks shown in succession inFIGS. 16-17 may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, or some of the blocks may not be executed in all instances, depending upon the functionality involved, as will be further clarified hereinbelow. Furthermore, some blocks of one of theflow charts1400,15001600, and1700 may be interchanged with the blocks of one of the other flow charts and/or may be added to one of the other flow charts. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure.
Furthermore, it is appreciated that the simplifiedillustrative flow charts1400,1500,1600 and1700 ofFIGS. 14-17, respectively, describe only selected ones of the many above-described processes for card management. Because of the numerous variations described herein, specific flow charts are not provided for each of the various alternative embodiments and methods described herein.
FIG. 14 is aflow chart1400 illustrating a process of the above-described generation of a group ofdeliverable cards118. The process starts atblock1402. Atblock1404, the card management logic954 (FIG. 9) receives specifications corresponding to the virtualsequence build criteria924. Such criteria and/or parameters are described hereinabove.
Atblock1406 therandom number generator921 generates a first virtual card of thevirtual sequence136 in accordance with the virtual sequence build criteria. This first virtual card is selected from one of the virtual cards available from the above-describedvirtual selection pool922. Any of the above-described randomnumber generator algorithms921 may be used by various embodiments. Alternatively, the virtual sequence may not be random, but rather may be a sorted sequence, for example one from a look-up table.
Atblock1408 therandom number generator921 generates the next virtual card of thevirtual sequence136 in accordance with the virtualsequence build criteria924. This next virtual card is selected from one of the remaining virtual cards available from the above-describedvirtual selection pool922. Thus, the first virtual card selected atblock1406 is not available for selection atblock1408.
Atblock1410, a determination is made whether the generated next virtual card is the last card of thevirtual sequence136. If not (the NO condition), the process loops back and selects another “next” card. This looping continues until the last card of thevirtual sequence136 has been generated. As noted above, the last virtual card may correspond to a selected size (total number of virtual cards) of thevirtual sequence136. The size of the virtual sequence may be equal to the total number of virtual cards available form thevirtual selection pool922, or may be a lesser number of virtual cards.
If, atblock1410, the last card of thevirtual sequence136 has been generated (the YES condition), the process continues to block1412. Atblock1412 the virtual sequence portion1202 (FIG. 12) is selected from thevirtual sequence136. As noted above, thevirtual sequence portion1202 may correspond to all of thevirtual sequence136, or a selected portion of thevirtual sequence136. If a portion is selected, the portion may be drawn from anywhere in thevirtual sequence136 at random or based upon some specified parameter. Furthermore, a plurality ofvirtual sequence portions1202 may be selected from thevirtual sequence136. In some situations, the plurality of selected portions may overlap virtual cards of thevirtual sequence136, or may be contiguous with virtual cards of thevirtual sequence136, and/or may be separated by unselected virtual cards of thevirtual sequence136. In some embodiments, blocks1410 and1412 may be combined so that thevirtual sequence portion1202 is directly selected from thevirtual selection pool922.
After the virtual sequence portion(s)1202 have been determined, the process may end in some embodiments. In such embodiments, the process proceeds to block1418, described below.
In other embodiments, it may be desirable to perform other operations on the determined virtual sequence portion(s)1202. Thus, the process continues to block1414 where a determination is made whether one or more of the virtual cards of thevirtual sequence portion1202 are to be modified (the YES condition).
For example, but not limited to, bonus cards may be selected to be marked as described above. In some embodiments, such operations may be performed at a virtual level. If a virtual card of the virtual sequence pool is to be modified, the correspondingphysical card1206 may be modified as the group of deliverable cards are being constructed. Accordingly, the process continues to block1414.
Atblock1414, a determination is made whether one or more of the virtual cards of thevirtual sequence portion1202 are to be modified in accordance with at least one criteria and/or parameter. For convenience, the process then returns to block1414 in the event that additional modifications are desired.
The process continues to block1418 when the determination is made that one or more of the virtual cards of thevirtual sequence portion1202 are not to be modified (the NO condition), or if it is determined that no other modifications are to be performed. Based upon the modified virtual sequence portion (or the unmodified virtual sequence portion if no modifications are performed), the playingcard handling system110,200 constructs the group ofdeliverable cards118. The group ofdeliverable cards118 is constructed by selectingphysical inventory cards124 and/or transitional cards as described hereinabove. The process then ends atblock1420.
It is appreciated that the logic ofblocks1414 and1416 may be performed separately as a separate process to modify physical cards. For example, rather than selecting a virtual card for modification atblock1416, a physical card may be modified atblock1416 in accordance withblocks1414 and1416, or another suitable logical process.
FIG. 15 is aflow chart1500 illustrating a process of the above-described selection of inventory cards124 (FIG. 1B) from carousels940 (FIG. 9). The process starts atblock1502. Atblock1504, the card management logic954 (FIG. 9) specifies a “next” card of the currentvirtual sequence portion1202. At block1508 a determination is made whether the specified “next” card can be selected from acard receiving compartment302 of acarousel940 as described hereinabove (see alsoFIGS. 10 and 11). That is, can the “next” card be aninventory card124?
If not (the NO condition), the process continues to block1508 wherein the “next” card is, at some point, selected from atransitional card128 as described hereinabove (see alsoFIGS. 10 and 11). If atransitional card128 is selected, the process proceeds back to block1504 where the “next+1” card is specified.
Atblock1506, if a determination is made that the specified “next” card may be selected from aninventory card124 residing in acard receiving compartment302 of a carousel940 (the YES condition), the process proceeds to block1510. Atblock1510, the cardmanagement processing system902 determines the location of the specified “next” card. If a plurality ofcarousels940 are employed, thecarousel940 having thecard receiving compartment302 assigned to the specified “next” card is identified. Also, the location of thecard receiving compartment302 in the identifiedcarousel904 is identified.
Then, atblock1512 the identified location of thecard receiving compartment302 associated with the specified “next” card is compared with the relative location of the card selector400 (FIGS. 4 and 10) that will select the specified “next” card. Atblock1414 the shortest path for the card selector to access the identifiedcard receiving compartment302 is determined.
Atblock1516, inembodiments employing carousels940, thecarousel940 is rotated in a counter-clockwise (CCW) or a clockwise (CW) direction such that thecarousel940 movement is minimized. Accordingly, the selection of the shortest path results in the fastest alignment of thecard selector400 and the card receiving compartment having theinventory card124 associated with the specified “next” card. In other embodiments employing racks, the rack may be translated in an appropriate direction (e.g., left, right, up, down, or forward, back).
As discussed herein, a variety of other card storage devices1302-1310 (FIG. 3), for example, may be used for retaininginventory cards124 in their specified card receiving compartments302. In such embodiments, the above-described blocks1510-1516 would be modified as necessary to accommodate the particular structures of that embodiment. Furthermore, in some embodiments wherein the carousel940 (or card storage devices1302-1310) remain stationary and thecard selector400 moves to the identifiedcard receiving compartment302 holding the identifiedinventory card124, the above-described blocks1510-1516 would be modified as necessary.
Once thecard selector400 is in alignment with the identifiedcard receiving compartment302 holding the identified inventory card124 (the “next” card), theinventory card124 is selected atblock1518 and is added (transported to) the group ofdeliverable cards118. The process then proceeds to block1520 where a determination is made whether the selected “next” card is the last card of thevirtual sequence portion1202. That is, the selected “next” card is the last card to be added to the group ofdeliverable cards118. If so (the YES condition), the process proceeds to block1522 and ends. If another card is to be identified and selected (the NO condition), the process returns to block1504 for the “next+1” card.
It is appreciated that the above-described process of selecting aninventory card124 from a receiving compartment in accordance with theflow chart1400 may be modified to be applicable with the above described process offlow chart1600 wherein the embodiment is using the look-forward algorithm950 to determine if the “next” card can more quickly be selected from atransitional card128.
FIG. 16 is aflow chart1600 illustrating a process of the above-described look-forward algorithm950 (FIG. 9). The process starts atblock1602. Atblock1604, thecard management logic954 receives a specification for a “next” card of a deliverable card sequence. The specification may be based on the corresponding “next” card of thevirtual sequence portion1202 that is being used as the basis for the construction of the group ofdeliverable cards118. At block1606 a determination is made whether the look-forward algorithm950 is enabled. If not (the NO condition), the process proceeds to block1608 where a determination is made whether the “next” card is available from thecard inventory112 residing in the carousel(s)940.
If aninventory card124 is available (the YES condition at block1608), the “next” physical card is retrieved atblock1610 from thecard receiving compartment302 having the requested inventory card124 (and is transported to and added to the group of deliverable cards118).
Then, the process proceeds to block1612 where a determination is made whether the retrieved “next” card is the last card of the virtual build sequence. If so (the YES condition), the process ends atblock1614 since the construction of the group ofdeliverable cards118 has been completed. However, if ablock1612 the retrieved “next” card is not the last card of the virtual build sequence, the process returns to block1604 wherein the “next+1” card is specified.
Returning now to block1608, if a determination is made that the desired “next” card is not available as aninventory card124, the process proceeds to block1616 to read a returning collectedcard114, which may now, alternatively, be referred to as atransitional card128. Then, atblock1618, thetransitional card128 is read (sensed by a sensor and the information is analyzed by the card management processing system902) to determine the value of the sensedtransitional card128. Atblock1618, a determination is made whether the currenttransitional card128 is the desired “next” card. If not (the NO condition), the process continuously loops back to block1616 until a readtransitional card128 corresponds to the desired “next” card (the YES condition). Then, atblock1620 thetransitional card128 corresponding to the desired “next” card is transported to and added to the group ofdeliverable cards118. The process then proceeds to block1612 and continues as described above.
If atblock1606 the look-forward algorithm950 is enabled (the YES condition), the process proceeds to block1622. Atblock1622, thetransitional card128 is read (sensed by acard sensor932 so that the information may be analyzed by the card management processing system902) to determine the value of the sensedtransitional card128. Atblock1624, a determination is made whether the value of the currenttransitional card128 corresponds to the value of the desired “next” card. If not (the NO condition), the process proceeds to block1608 and continues as described above.
If atblock1624 the value of the readtransitional card128 corresponds to the value of the desired “next” card (the YES condition), the process proceeds to block1626 where thetransitional card128 corresponding to the desired “next” card is transported to and added to the group ofdeliverable cards118. The process then proceeds to block1612 and continues as described above.
FIG. 17 is aflow chart1700 illustrating a process of the above-described generation of a group of deliverable cards118 (FIG. 9) from theinventory cards124 residing incarousels940 or from transitional cards128 (ifinventory cards124 are not available). This exemplary process is used by embodiments wherein the above-described look-forward algorithm950 is omitted.
The process starts atblock1702. Atblock1704, the card management logic954 (FIG. 9) generates avirtual sequence portion1202 under any of the above-described processes, parameters and/or criteria. After thevirtual sequence portion132 has been defined, atblock1706, the value of the first virtual card of the specified virtual sequence is identified. For convenience, this first card is referred to as a “next” card onFlow chart1700. (As the process loops back to block1706, as described in greater detail below, subsequently retrieved cards are then the “next” cards in the virtual sequence portion1202).
Atblock1708, a determination is made whether the value of the identified “next” card corresponds to the value of aninventory card124 that is available from acard receiving compartment302. If aninventory card124 is available (the YES condition), the process proceeds to block1710, wherein the inventory card124 (corresponding to the “next” card) is selected from itscard receiving compartment302.
Atblock1712, the selectedinventory card124 is added to the group ofdeliverable cards118 by transporting the selectedinventory card124 to the playingcard output receiver206 where the group ofdeliverable cards118 is being constructed. (The selectedinventory card124, after it has been selected from itscard receiving compartment302, may be referred to as atransitional card128 since the selectedinventory card124 is now being transported to the playingcard output receiver206.)
Atblock1714, a determination is made whether construction of the group ofdeliverable cards118 has been completed. If so (the YES condition), the process proceeds to block1718 and ends. If additional cards are to be added to the group of deliverable cards118 (the NO condition), the process returns to block1706 wherein the “next” card is identified in accordance with thevirtual sequence portion1202. Thus, as long asinventory cards124 are available to construct the group ofdeliverable cards118, the above-described process loops throughblocks1706,1708,1710,1712 and1714 until the construction of the group ofdeliverable cards118 has been completed.
However, if atblock1708, a determination is made that the value of the identified “next” card does not correspond to the value of an available inventory card124 (the NO condition), the process proceeds to block1720. That is, a determination is made that there is noinventory card124 available. Accordingly, atblock1720, characteristics of atransitional card128 are detected. Atblock1722, based upon the detected characteristics, the value of thetransitional card128 is determined. Atblock1724, a determination is made whether the value of thetransitional card128 corresponds to the value of the “next” card (as identified in accordance with thevirtual sequence portion1202 at block1706).
If the value of thetransitional card128 does not correspond to the value of the “next” card (the NO condition), the process proceeds to block1726 wherein thetransitional card128 is transported to the appropriatecard receiving compartment302. The process loops throughblocks1720,1722,1724 and1726 until the value of thetransitional card128 corresponds to the value of the “next” card (the YES condition).
Transitional cards128 are evaluated until the value of thetransitional card128 corresponds to the value of the “next” card (the YES condition of block1724). As noted above, these evaluatedtransitional cards128 correspond to an incoming stream of collectedcards114. Then, thetransitional card128 is selected atblock1728. The process then proceeds to block1712. That is, when a collectedcard114 is finally collected from the gaming table102 that matches the identified “next” card in accordance with thevirtual sequence portion1202 atblock1706, that collected card114 (now referred to as a transitional card128) is selected for transportation to the playingcard output receiver206 so that the card can be added to the group ofdeliverable cards118.
In some situations, such as at the end of a series of games or if construction of the group ofdeliverable cards118 has been completed, collectedcards114 may be returned to the playingcard handling system110 such that the collectedcards114 are transported to their appropriatecard receiving compartment302, thereby restocking thecarousels940 withinventory cards124. That is, the supply ofavailable inventory cards124 may be restocked from collectedcards114 by independently looping through thesteps1720,1722,1724 and1726.
As noted above, as long asinventory cards124 are available to construct the group ofdeliverable cards118, the above-described process loops throughblocks1706,1708,1710,1712 and1714 until the construction of the group ofdeliverable cards118 has been completed. The process of the restocking the supply ofavailable inventory cords112 from collected cards114 (by looping through thesteps1720,1722,1724 and1726) may occur concurrently with the process of selectinginventory cards124 to construct the group ofdeliverable cards118. That is, the two above-described processes may occur independently and/or concurrently (or serially, depending upon the embodiment). Then, if aninventory card124 is not available when needed, the playingcard handling system110 evaluates collectedcards114 until the needed collectedcard114 is identified.
Advantages of the Playing Card Handling System
It is appreciated that construction of the group ofdeliverable cards118, processing of virtual cards1204 (of thevirtual selection pool922, thevirtual sequence136, and/or the virtual sequence portion1202) concurrently with the transportation of collectedcards114 tocarousel receiving compartments302 allows a series of card games to progress in an uninterrupted, or nearly uninterrupted, manner. That is, when one or more game of cards is completed such that the supply of in-play cards126 are exhausted, a group ofdeliverable cards118 are readily available so that game play may continue. Furthermore, various embodiments may be configured to optimize or minimize the total number of individualphysical cards1206 at a gaming table102.
The playingcard handling system110,200 may advantageously permit a theoretical hold to be set for a gaming table102. The theoretical hold represents the advantage of the house (e.g., casino) for a particular game. The theoretical hold is typically based on the combination of the card game rules, the casino rules, if any, and assumes that the participants play with perfect strategy. Because participants rarely play with perfect strategy, hence the term “theoretical hold.”
It is customary in most casinos to set a theoretical hold of at least 0.5%, which may be referred to as a “positive hold” and means that the house would earn 0.5% of every dollar wagered for the particular game. For some games, like Let-It-Ride® for example, the theoretical hold can be as high as 30%.
According to at least one embodiment described herein, the playingcard handling system110,200 can be used to advantageously set or “dial-in” the theoretical hold at a particular gaming table102. One way of dialing in the theoretical hold is to create thevirtual sequence136 based on a large number of cards, for example 100,000 decks (i.e., 5,200,000 cards). This generatedvirtual sequence136 can be computationally evaluated to locate subsets therein that have the requisite theoretical hold. The computational evaluation would locate groupings of cards that had a plurality of certain card values, like a larger number of twos and threes, and/or that had a sequence that favored the house. Accordingly, the casino could entice players to play at a table with a larger than customary theoretical hold by providing large incentives for participants that did well against the house on such a table.
By way of another non-limiting example, the casino could set the theoretical hold to favor the participants, instead of the house. This type of gaming table102 would have a “negative theoretical hold.” One reason for having a negative theoretical hold would be to attract beginner players that may not want to wager a lot, but are also not willing to lose a lot either. Thus, the gaming table102 with thenegative hold102 would provide beginning players a chance to play the game for awhile, learn the game, and hopefully walk away feeling successful and possibly ready to play at more challenging tables. Based on the foregoing, the playingcard handling system110 could advantageously be used to set the theoretical hold within a range of −10% to 40%, for example. The negative percentages represent theoretical holds that favor the participants, while the positive percentages represent theoretical holds that favor the house. It is appreciated that aforementioned theoretical hold range is not meant to limit the scope of this application and it is understood that the value of the theoretical hold for a particular gaming table102 is solely within the discretion of the house.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above U.S. patents, patent applications, provisional patent applications and publications referred to in this specification, to include, but not limited to commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/791,549 filed Apr. 12, 2006; and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/902,436, 10/981,132, 10/934,785, 10/823,051; and 60/716,538 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ various systems, devices and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all card manipulation devices and systems and the operational aspects that operate in accordance with the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims.

Claims

1. A playing card handling system, comprising:

a playing card input receiver sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards to be handled by the playing card handling system;

a playing card output receiver sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards handled by the playing card handling system;

at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver, along which at least some of the playing cards pass from the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver;

at least one intermediary playing card receiver positioned in the at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver;

an elevator mechanism physically coupled to the playing card output receiver and operable to selectively move the playing card output receiver between a lowered position and a raised position, where in the lowered position the playing card output receiver is positioned below a surface of a gaming table and in the raised position at least some playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver are positioned above the surface of the gaming table; and

a cover manually movable from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system.

2. The playing card handling system ofclaim 1 wherein the cover is mounted for sliding movement between the opened and the closed positions.

3. The playing card handling system ofclaim 1 wherein the cover is mounted for pivotal movement between the opened and the closed positions.

4. The playing card handling system ofclaim 1 wherein the cover is mounted to another portion of the playing card handling system for pivotal movement between the opened and the closed positions.

5. The playing card handling system ofclaim 1, further comprising:

at least one spring physically coupled to bias the cover into the closed position.

6. The playing card handling system ofclaim 1 wherein in the opened position the cover forms an acute angle with respect to a gravitational vector, such that a gravitational force biases the cover into the closed position.

7. The playing card handling system ofclaim 1 wherein the cover in the opened position is not biased toward the closed position.

8. The playing card handling system ofclaim 1 wherein the playing card handling system is operable to provide playing cards to the playing card output receiver in an order, wherein the order is at least one of a sorted order or a random order.

9. A playing card handling system, comprising:

a playing card input receiver positioned to receive a number of playing cards to be ordered by the playing card handling system;

a playing card output receiver positioned to provide a number of playing cards ordered by the playing card handling system;

ordering means for providing the playing cards received in the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver in an order, wherein the order is at least one of a sorted order or a random order;

elevator means for selectively moving the playing card output receiver between a lowered position and a raised position, where in the lowered position the playing card output receiver is positioned below a surface of a gaming table and in the raised position at least some playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver are positioned above the surface of the gaming table; and

a cover manually movable from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover substantially limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not substantially limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system.

10. The playing card handling system ofclaim 9 wherein the ordering means comprises at least one intermediary playing card receiver positioned in a at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver.

11. The playing card handling system ofclaim 9, further comprising:

cover biasing means for biasing the cover into the closed position.

12. A method of operating a playing card handling system that comprises a playing card input receiver, a playing card output receiver, at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver, along which at least some of the playing cards pass from the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver, and an elevator mechanism physically coupled to the playing card output receiver and operable to selectively move the playing card output receiver, the method comprising:

placing a number of playing cards to be handled by the playing card handling system in the playing card input receiver;

manually moving a cover from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system; and

removing at least some of the playing cards from the playing card output receiver after the elevator mechanism moves the playing card output receiver from a lowered position to a raised position, where in the lowered position the playing card output receiver is positioned below a surface of a gaming table and in the raised position at least some playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver are positioned above the surface of the gaming table.

13. The method ofclaim 12 wherein comprises sliding the cover from the closed to the opened position.

14. The method ofclaim 12 wherein comprises pivoting the cover from the closed to the opened position.

15. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising:

causing the elevator mechanism to move the playing card output receiver from the raised position to the lowered position after removing at least some of the playing cards from the playing card output receiver.

16. The method ofclaim 15 wherein causing the elevator mechanism to lower the playing card output receiver from the raised position to the lowered position comprises activating a switch that is accessible from an exterior of the playing card handling device.

17. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising:

moving the cover to the closed position from the open position after the elevator mechanism moves the playing card output receiver from the raised position to the lowered position.

18. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising:

allowing the cover to return to the closed position from the open position under a biasing force after the elevator mechanism moves the playing card output receiver from the raised position to the lowered position.

19. The method ofclaim 15 wherein causing the elevator mechanism to lower the playing card output receiver from the raised position to the lowered position comprises moving the cover toward the closed position from the opened position to activate a switch that is communicatively coupled to the elevator mechanism.

20. The method ofclaim 15 wherein causing the elevator mechanism to lower the playing card output receiver from the raised position to the lowered position comprises moving the cover to engage a switch that is communicatively coupled to at least partially control the elevator mechanism.