Patents by Inventor Justin G. Downs, III

Justin G. Downs, III has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7867084
    Abstract: Hardware, systems, devices, architecture and methods for a wagering game-specific platform features secure storage and verification of game code and/or other data. An external connection securely communicates with a computerized wagering gaming system. Some embodiments of the invention provide the ability to identify game program code as certified or approved. This is provided by use of various electronic devices and elements for encryption, including at least a device that is internally embedded in the gaming device that access digital signatures, encrypted files, encrypted compiled files and hash functions as well as other encryption methods. Such functions are able to be effected, and security and validation is advantageously applied to data loaded into storage media even while the gaming machine is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael G. Martinek, Mark D. Jackson, Justin G. Downs, III
  • Publication number: 20100321742
    Abstract: A data providing device associated with a trajectory sensing system has at least a frame. The frame supports at least two sensing receivers and at least one emitter for the sensing receivers. The sensors sense movement and/or position with respect to a surface. The frame supports a third sensor that senses information (e.g., image data) from the surface at least in addition to movement. There is also a communication link from the two sensing receivers to a data storage device; a communication link from the third sensor to a data storage device or to a processor and then a data storage device; and a processor that determines position of the system with respect to the surface based at least in part on data from the two sensing receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Justin G. Downs, III
  • Patent number: 7769232
    Abstract: A sensing system for determining the rank and suit of playing cards is disclosed. The system includes a sensing module capable of reading a line of data from a printed image, a position sensor and a hardware component that combines the signals from the sensing module and position sensor, converts the signal to binary values and compares the converted signal to stored signals. The comparisons are correlated to identify card rank and Suit. The system can be used in a playing card delivery shoe used to control the game of baccarat. The shoe may be a customary dealing shoe equipped with a sensing module, or may be a mechanized shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin G. Downs, III
  • Patent number: 7764836
    Abstract: A device for forming a random set of playing cards comprises a card infeed area, a shuffling system, a card removal area; and a card reading system located within the device, the card reading system employing a CMOS sensor and a hardware component, the hardware component capable of converting signals from the CMOS sensor into vector sets and comparing the vector sets to known vectors to determine rank and suit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin G. Downs, III, James R. Roberts, Kapilkumar N. Kulakkunnath, Vladislav Zvercov
  • Publication number: 20100019449
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe is used in the play of the casino table card game of baccarat or blackjack or any game where cards are pulled one at a time from the shoe. The apparatus comprises a reader or an imager that scans lines bisecting the image at spaced intervals. The scanning occurs on playing cards in at least the region where suit and rank symbols are provided. The scanner output is a series of voltages that are converted to binary information. This binary information is compared to stored binary information to determine rank and suit. The upper surface of the output end of the shoe contains a partial barrier for cards being scanned. The partial barrier has an elevated surface and limits a size of a pathway so that only one card can be removed at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Justin G. Downs, III, James R. Roberts, Sion D. Walsh
  • Patent number: 7593544
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe is used in the play of the casino table card game of baccarat or blackjack or any game where cards are pulled one at a time from the shoe. The apparatus comprises a reader or an imager that scans lines bisecting the image at spaced intervals. The scanning occurs on playing cards in at least the region where suit and rank symbols are provided. The scanner output is a series of voltages that are converted to binary information. This binary information is compared to stored binary information to determine rank and suit. The upper surface of the output end of the shoe contains a partial barrier for cards being scanned. The partial barrier has an elevated surface and limits a size of a pathway so that only one card can be removed at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin G. Downs, III, James R. Roberts, Sion D. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20090054161
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe is used in the play of the casino table card game of blackjack is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Oliver M. Schubert, Atilla Grauzer, Justin G. Downs, III, James V. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7407438
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe is used in the play of the casino table card game of blackjack is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc
    Inventors: Oliver M. Schubert, Atilla Grauzer, Justin G. Downs, III, James V. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7213812
    Abstract: A method of controlling the game of baccarat is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a card delivery shoe equipped with a sensor capable of reading at least a rank of each card; at least one first processor capable of controlling operation of the card delivery shoe; and receiving signals from the sensor and programmed to display information related to the game of baccarat, visual result information for each round of play being displayed on the card delivery shoe or on a screen provided on a casino table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver M. Schubert, Justin G. Downs, III, Joshua David Marz
  • Patent number: 7179170
    Abstract: Hardware, systems, devices, architecture and methods for a wagering game-specific platform features secure storage and verification of game code and/or other data. An external connection securely communicates with a computerized wagering gaming system. Some embodiments of the invention provide the ability to identify game program code as certified or approved. This is provided by use of various electronic devices and elements for encryption, including at least a device that is internally embedded in the gaming device that access digital signatures, encrypted files, encrypted compiled files and hash functions as well as other encryption methods. Such functions are able to be effected, and security and validation is advantageously applied to data loaded into storage media even while the gaming machine is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael G. Martinek, Mark D. Jackson, Justin G. Downs, III