Abstract:
The present invention features a playing card shuffling device, which through the use of a small image capturing means, captures an image of the face value of each card and stores the image in memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bitmap image. The operator of the machine would be able to recall through the use of a key pad, the images of the cards that comprised the individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby, a quick recheck of hands before paying a winning hand is performed. The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These card values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determining the number of winning hands.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to card shuffler devices for live card games and, more particularly, to a card shuffling system controlled by a computer which is able to capture an image, store, keep track of, and deliver random playing cards and display the images of the cards. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Card shuffling machines are electromechanical devices that are designed to reorder a deck or multiple decks of playing cards for use in casino games. Recently, games have been developed that require shuffling a single deck of cards into a random order and the delivery of hands of cards to each player. These hands are removed from the machine by an operator and given to the players. Several game strategies require the hands of cards to be delivered to the players in different amounts depending on the selected game. For example, there may be 3, 5, 7, or more cards per hand in each different game. For security reasons, some shufflers count the number of cards in the deck each time a game is dealt. 
     With players at numerous remote sites for the live card games, a security problem exists that becomes critically important, as there exists a substantial risk of cheating and/or card counting. A need, therefore, exists to create a secure environment that permits the operation of live card games while providing significant security to prevent cheating and counting. 
     Pfeiffer, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,959) discloses an apparatus for storing and selecting cards. The apparatus contains a rotatably mounted carousel which dispenses playing cards with rollers to slots of an output port. Cards are pre-marked with known markings, such as bar codes, so that the apparatus can keep track of which slot holds which card. A sensor reads the identification markings on the cards. 
     Soules, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,713) teaches of coded playing cards and apparatus for dealing a set of cards. There is provided a deck of cards which is encoded with a bar code that is invisible to the human eye. The cards are coded using an essentially invisible bar code that can be read by an electro-optical reading means which uses light in the infrared or ultra-violet range. The object of this apparatus is to allow the dealer to deal coded playing cards in the essence of teaching. 
     The patent to Albrecht (U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,061) discloses a card dispensing shoe having a counting device and method of using. A system is described which uses a specially coded deck of cards indicating the value and suit of the card. The system involves using a special pack of cards encoded with information carrying two types of data: numerical digits and alphabetical characters. The numerical information corresponds to the card value, and the alphabetical information indicates the series of the pack of cards. This information is in the form of the bar code, or some other machine readable format. The sensor senses the code on each card as it is being dealt. 
     Hill, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,893) discloses a card dispensing shoe that has a card scanner. The scanner senses each card as it moves downwardly and out from the shoe. The scanner may be an infrared laser scanner capable of reading a bar code imprinted on the cards. Hill, et al., also discloses the optical scanning of the cards resulting in a high resolution array which is stored in memory for converting into word vectors. These vectors are subsequently used as input to a feed-forward neural network which is trained using error-back propagation to sense and recognize the possible card suits and card values. 
     Meissner et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,546) teaches of an automated gaming system and method of automated gaming. An automated dealing shoe automatically advances and interprets the value of a playing card and provides an interface to a computing system. Optical sensors are employed to record the number of spots and their respective spatial relations to thereby determine the card value. 
     McCrea, Jr. has a series of patents teaching of a card shuffling device having image capturing means. These U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,605,334; 5,707,287; 5,735,525; 6,093,103; and 6,117,012 disclose the need for game control via accurately collecting and storing the suit and value of each card received by each player position. The game control stores this information in a memory so that a history of each card dealt is recorded. The game control can thus detect winning progressions and automatically issue an award signal. 
     None of these patents either teaches or suggests a card shuffling device that can shuffle the playing cards in a random order, capture images of the playing cards before output, process the images of the cards, and display the images of the cards, all within the confines of the shuffler. There is no need for complicated card-recognition software, or transforming the image into word vectors, or other card value data expressions, because the images are relayed directly to a display on the shuffler device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the essence of security, this invention expands game security to a higher level. Through the use of image capturing means, e.g., a small digital camera, an image of the face value of each card is taken and stored in computer memory. This image is stored in the format of a bit map image. The operator of the machine would be able to recall, through the use of a key pad, the images of the cards that comprised the individual hands in the previous game or games. This feature would allow the verification of a winning hand after the game had been completed. 
     One of the biggest game security issues is that of two adjacent players trading cards to produce a winning hand for one of them. The present invention would allow a quick recheck of hands before paying a winning hand. These card images would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determining the number of winning hands. Such information would be very valuable in managing game play. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a card playing system which shuffles and deals playing cards, and provided with a means for capturing images of the cards being dealt for use in verification, thereby enhancing security matters regarding casino games. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a card shuffler which can selectively shuffle playing cards for different card games and/or for different shuffling modes of operation, and capable of capturing the images of the cards that are dealt. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a card shuffler capable of displaying the images of the playing cards to an operator for verification of winning hands. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide a card shuffling machine that selectively shuffles cards for at least two different card games having different shuffling requirements and between at least two selectable modes of operation which can be defined by at least the two different card games, with the added security of card image capturing and relaying of the images for each play station. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a card playing system which is simplified and inexpensive to manufacture which provides image capture and on-site image display of the cards being dealt. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when taken in conjunction with the detailed description thereof and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the components in operation. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the control panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the United States Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8). 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein is described a card shuffler machine which is capable of eliminating one of the most significant security issues, cheating by the substitution of cards. These security issues are more prevalent in specialty card games, such as, but not limited to Pai Gow Poker. The nature of these games provides possibilities of interactions between card players and/or card counters to manipulate the outcomes of the winnings. As novel means of enhancing game security are needed, the present invention addresses this need by featuring a card shuffler device  100  which can capture an image of the playing cards being dealt, as illustrated generally in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 1  generally illustrates a diagrammatic or schematic depiction of the card shuffler system  100  of the present invention. The system  100  includes six major components of operation: the controller  10 , the shuffling device  20 , image capturing means  30 , control panel  40 , a card input receptacle  50 , and card output bin  60 . 
     Preferably, the housing  15  is made of sheet metal (such as aluminum), durable plastic or other tough, durable materials. The keys  45  on keypad  44  are preferably tactile feedback keys, and include indicia thereon for identifying the command the key communicates to the microprocessor  12  (FIG.  2 ). The keys can also be made of silicon ribber-carbon as is typical for such keys, or the key pad can be a membrane keypad. Controller  10  (and ultimately microprocessor  12 ) controls the operation of the shuffler system  100  by accepting input data from control panel  40 , and displaying output data on display  42 . However, it will be understood that other display technologies known in the art, for example, vacuum flourescent, flat panel display, and segmented LED&#39;s, are within the scope of the present invention. 
     The controller  10  is a system that controls the operation of the shuffling device  20 , image capturing means  30 , and display means  40  as well as the movement of the cards through the shuffler system  100 . The contoller  10  contains a suitable microprocessor which serves to orchastrate the operation of all of the components of the shuffler system  100 . 
     This invention includes novel methods for performing automated shuffling of playing cards. The methods include shuffling the cards in a face-to-back relationship which results in a random order. The face-to-back relationship refers to the standard condition in which playing cards are sold wherein the face of one card is adjacent to the back of the next adjacent card. Herein, the present invention dismisses the need for pre-marked playing cards. Ordinary, un-marked playing cards may be used with ease. 
     The novel shuffling methods further include the ability to shuffle cards in more than one mode and for a plurality of card games as desired. In the card shuffling arts, two types of shufflers have been introduced. One is a batch mode shuffler, the other is a continuous mode shuffler. 
     The batch mode shuffler is a device that shuffles a deck or multiple decks of playing cards into a random order. The deck or decks are, at one time, loaded into the shuffler system  100 , usually into an input receptacle  50 . The cards are shuffled or re-ordered and presented to the output bin  60 . The decks are removed all at once by a person (dealer) who divides the stack of cards, records (cuts) them, and places a marked cut card in the deck in a random position. The dealer then places the cards into a dealing shoe for individual dealing to players in a card game. 
     At the conclusion of each game, the cards of the hands that have been played by the players are collected from each playing station and discarded face down by the dealer into a discard shoe (not shown). The decks are then placed into the input receptacle  50  and forwarded to the shuffling device  20  to be re-shuffled to begin a new game. This process may include two sets of decks of different color card backs. One set would be shuffling while the other is being played. This reduces the time the game is stopped for shuffling, allowing the dealer to play more hands with the players. 
     The continuous shuffler is a device that shuffles or re-orders a deck or multiple decks of playing cards into a random order. In the use of this mechanism, the cards are constantly being shuffled by the shuffler system  100 . At the end of each game, the cards are discarded directly into the input receptacle  50  of the shuffler  100 . A dealing shoe (not shown) is generally built into the output bin  60  of the shuffler  100 . The shuffling never stops as long as the game is being played or being prepared to play. 
     The process of discharging the playing cards is preferably performed by the ejection and displacing of playing cards and forcing them into an output bin  60 , for example, as described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,167, incorporated herein by reference. Extracting the cards is accomplished by engaging edges of the selected displaced card using a movable extractor. The step is more preferably accomplished by rolling the edges of the selected card using an extraction roller or rollers (not shown). The cards are further guided toward the output bin via an output roller. The image capturing means  30  may be placed between the extraction roller(s) and the output bin  60  (FIG.  1 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the image capturing means  30  may be a digital camera. A conventional digital camera employing charge-coupled device (CCD) technology to obtain the light information of the captured image may be used. The CCD&#39;s consist of a semiconducting array of tightly packed rows of light receptors that can detect variation in light intensity and frequency. 
     The controller  10  has an image processor  16 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , which digitizes the light information gathered by the camera. This information is digitized by translating the recorded images into bitmaps. The bitmaps will then make use of the digitized information by translating it into an image-representation consisting of rows and columns of dots. The present invention includes an on-site image processor  16  which further translates the bitmaps into pixels for display on the display means  42 . 
     Alternatively, the image capturing means  30  can comprise a digital camera (not shown) utilizing (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) CMOS technology. Herein, CMOS chips have the advantage of using lower power requirements than CCD&#39;s. In addition, the CMOS sensor can be loaded with a host of other tasks that can be translated to the operation of the controller, such as analogue to digital converting, load signal processing, handling white balance and more camera controls. For example, CMOS chips are high resolution sensors with space efficiency capability enabling sensor designs with the possibility of increasing density and bit depth without significant cost increases. 
     A digital video camera (DV camera) may also be employed to capture digital video images, thereby reducing steps of video microprocessing. The output of a DV camera is already in compressed format. Therefore, all that is needed is to transfer the recorded images straight from the camera for post capture processing. 
     Analog cameras (non-digital) may be used to capture the image of the cards. These may include video recording cameras. Herein, an analogue-to-digital converter may be used to simplify the image data for display output. Any suitable camera or camera-type device known in the art may be used to capture the image of the playing cards. 
     Any suitable means for capturing image data known in the art, such as, but not limited to, lenses, mirrors, fiber optics, fiber optical transmission tubes, optical sensor arrays, photosensitive diodes and/or any combinations thereof may be used to capture the photonic information and relayed to any choice of camera means to thereby obtain an image of the playing card. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a systems approach to the operation of the shuffler system  100 . A playing card is put into motion by extraction rollers after the shuffling is performed via instruction from the shuffler controller  10 . Once the leading edge of this moving card is sensed by sensor  25 , an image of the card is taken by the image capturing means  30 . This image data is relayed to the image processor  16 . The image processor  16  performs the post-capture processing steps. Herein the image data may be converted, mapped, sharpened and compressed. The controller  10  stores the image data in memory into a non-volatile RAM storage  14 . 
     This stored data may then be recalled, by way of prompt messaging from the keypad  44 , located on the control panel  40 , for display by the graphics display  42 .  FIG. 3  provides an exemplary illustration of the control panel  40  including the operations controlled by the keypad  44  and images displayed on the display  42 . 
     The microprocessor  12  controls the various functions of the shuffler system  100 , for example, without limitation, the manner of shuffling; whether the shuffling is in batch or continuous mode; the card game, or games, to be shuffled for or dealt, such as Pai-Gow poker, etc. (again, it will be understood that the type of card game is not a limitation on the present invention). The microprocessor  12  can control the output of the cards such that each player is dealt either a packet of consecutive cards from the shuffled deck or every Nth card from the shuffled deck, N being the number of players plus the dealer (if applicable) at the table. 
     The microprocessor  12  operates under instruction of programmed software. This software can either be stored as firmware in an application specific memory chip, in a solid state non-volatile memory device or on a magnetic disk from which the software is loaded into an addressable RAM in shuffler system  100  when power is turned on. When the shuffler system  100  is first powered on, the software initializes and clears the display  42 . 
     The operation of selected commands associated with the keys  45  of the control panel  40  will now be described. It will be understood that any of the keys  45  can be included anywhere on the shuffler system  100 , and not limited to the control panel  40 . In operation, when any key, switch or button is activated by depressing, switching or the like, a signal is electrically transmitted to controller  20 . A predetermined command is transmitted then from the controller  20 . A predetermined command is transmitted then from the controller  20  to the shuffler  100  via transmission means. The shuffler  100  then performs the function associated with the command. 
     The control panel  40  can also include a “GAME”. The “GAME” key (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) allows the operator to select the type of card game to be played. Different card games require different shuffling and/or dealing methods. When the “GAME” key is depressed, the name of a card game appears on the display  42 . The operator can cycle through the different games programmed into the microprocessor&#39;s memory by repeatedly pressing the “GAME” key until the desired game is selected. In an alternative embodiment, the control panel  40  can include separate keys for each different card game, or a conventional query keyboard may be used. 
     The number of players may be entered by a “NUMBER OF PLAYERS” key (also shown in FIG.  3 ), thereby instructing the microprocessor  12  to deal a desired number of hands. If there are any particular rules or other information that may alter gameplay, a “PROGRAM” key may be employed to make appropriate changes. 
     The keypad  44  can include a “VERIFY” key. The “VERIFY” key is provided so that the operator can verify the number of cards that are in the deck at a desired time. Via the microprocessor  12 , the shuffler system  100  keeps track of the number of cards that have been dealt during a dealing sequence. After a game, when the “VERIFY” key is pressed, the remaining cards are ejected out of the shuffler  100  into the output bin  60  and counted as they are ejected. This number is added to the number of cards that have been dealt to verify that there is a correct amount of cards in the deck (for example, 52, if one deck is being used). If the number of cards counted is incorrect, the dealer is notified, for example, by a phrase on the display  42 , and/or an audible sound via an internal speaker (not shown). 
     The keypad  44  can also include a key or keys, such as a “GAME” key (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) that prompts the shuffler system  100  to deal a certain number of cards, although it will be understood that any number is within the scope of the present invention. 
     Also, on the keypad  42  is a “RECALL” key that propmts the shuffler system  100  to recall the present hand or hands dealt to the playing stations. Herein, the images of the cards that are stored in memory  14  are recalled for display on the display means  42 . Along with the images of the cards being displayed, textual messages are displayed to designate the cards of each playing station, accordingly. 
     For example, the phrase “PLAYER1” may be displayed along with the images of the cards dealt to that particular player, and so forth. A “MEMORY” key may be used, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to recall the playing hands dealt for past card games. This “MEMORY” key may have subkeys to cycle through the hands, games, and/or playing stations. The images of the past games are accessed from the memory  14  and displayed on the display means  42 . 
     The keypad  44  can also include other keys such as “SHUFFLE MODE” for selecting the mode of the shuffler, namely, continuous mode, batch mode, the game or games being played, or specialty game mode. The function of the various keys, switches or buttons recited herein is intended to be merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous modifications and additions to them without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, various keys may be soft keys, the function of which is defined by the bottom line on the display  14 . The function of the soft keys may change, for example, with the type of game that is selected. This allows for a plurality of functions to be performed while minimizing the number of keys needed. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the shuffler system  100  includes an indicator for indicating an error condition. Preferably, a designated portion of the display  42  flashes to indicate an error condition. Such error conditions may include, but are not limited to, malfunction of the shuffler, such as a mis-shuffle or a jam in the shuffler, a failure in the electronics, bad deck count, i.e., too many or too few cards in the deck, etc. When the controller  10  receives an error signal, the controller  10  communicates a signal to the “ERROR” indicator, thereby activating the display  42  to indicate the error condition to the operator. Preferably, the display  42  indicates to the operator what the error condition is via an accompanying text message adjacent the “ERROR” indicator. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the shuffler system  100  includes a device for emitting an audible signal when an error condition is detected. For example, a speaker (not shown) such as an electromagnetic or piezoelectric speaker or the like that emits a beep or buzz when an error condition is detected. Preferably, the electromagnetic speaker is in communication and cooperates with the “ERROR” indicator on the display  42 . However, it may be noted that the “ERROR” indicator may be located exterior to the display  42  and may be included on any portion of the housing  15 . 
     In another embodiment, the controller  10  can be programmed to display messages on the display  42  in different languages, such as French, Spanish, Italian, etc. A key can be included for cycling through the various language choices. 
     The display may preferably be in the form of a conventional liquid crystal display format (LCD). The display means  42  can be a color or non-color LCD display panel. The display panel  42  may also display image and text data in a plurality of sections to show a plurality of playing station information simultaneously. However, the display screen may have a scroll feature to display different screens of information which cannot be contained in a single display. The subsequent screens can be prompted by a “SCREEN” key, as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents. 
     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequent appended claims.