RFID SHUFFLER SYSTEM FOR GAME PIECES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a RFID shuffler system in which a radio frequency identification (RFID) is associated with each game piece. The game pieces can be, for example, revealer devices, cards, and dice or Mah Jongg tiles. A random number generator selects an identification value and sends an activation signal to the RFID tag of the game piece matching the identification value. For example, a RFID reader can read the RFID tag including the selected identification value. After the activation signal is received at the RFID tag of the game piece, the game piece can be activated, for example, by having activation of an associated light or activation of a vibration or sound. Alternatively, a housing or game board can activate received game pieces for selection of the game pieces.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for a game in which game pieces are randomly shuffled by randomly activating a radio frequency identification tag (RFID) associated with the game piece or activating a game device receiving a game piece.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional card shuffling devices are known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,167 describes a playing card shuffler for shuffling a stack of playing cards with random distribution. An infeed playing card stack holder supports an unshuffled playing card stack and discharges playing cards from incremental positions of the unshuffled playing card stack to a shuffled card receiver.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,979 disclose a card shuffler with a drivable shuffling storage means which is provided with compartments for receiving cards and which is associated with an input apparatus for inserting cards into the compartments one by one and an output storage means which is spaced from the same for the shuffled cards, with the drive of the shuffling storage means, the input apparatus and the output storage means being controlled by an electronic control system. The card shuffler is capable of continually displaying the number of playing cards situated in the card shuffler and thus of providing the operator with the opportunity to have at all times certainty about the complete number of playing cards by an input apparatus being provided with a draw-in zone whose height corresponds substantially to the thickness of a card and a first detection means and a second detection means is provided which detects the cards inserted into and removed from the shuffling storage means.

It is desirable to provide a simple device for randomly shuffling game pieces or cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a RFID shuffler system in which a radio frequency identification (RFID) is associated with each game piece. The game pieces can be, for example, revealer devices, cards, and dice or Mah Jongg tiles. A random number generator selects an identification value and sends an activation signal to the RFID tag of the game piece matching the identification value. For example, a RFID reader can read the RFID tag including the selected identification value. After the activation signal is received at the RFID tag of the game piece, the game piece can be activated, for example, by having activation of an associated light or activation of a vibration or sound. In one embodiment, the game pieces can be held in a housing moved by a mechanical arm to appear to be shuffling the game pieces. Alternatively, a housing or game board can activate received game pieces for selection of the game pieces.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a RFID shuffler system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a RFID shuffler system in an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a RFID shuffler system in an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a game piece of a revealer device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the revealer device upon movement of movable doors in a horizontal direction.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the revealer device upon movement of movable doors in a vertical direction.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a rear of the revealer device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of the revealer device upon movement of movable doors in a horizontal direction.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of the revealer device upon movement of movable doors in a vertical direction.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a rear of the revealer device shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a revealer device.

FIG. 12A is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a revealer device.

FIG. 12B is a schematic diagram of a game piece which can be used with the revealer device of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C is a schematic diagram of the revealer device and game piece during play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a RFID shuffler system 100 for game pieces in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Game pieces 14a-14n can be, for example, cards, dice, Mah Jongg tiles, or revealer devices. Any number of game pieces can be used in RFID shuffler system 100 as is appropriate for a particular game. Game pieces 14a-14n include associated radio frequency identification (RFID) tag 114. Game pieces 14a-14n can be held in container 111 or alternately can be placed directly on a gaming surface. RFID tag 114 can be attached to or integral with game pieces 14a-14n.

RFID tag 114 can be an active or passive tag or other types of sensors and reader for providing identification of a game piece. Game piece activation device 116 can be coupled to or integral with game piece 14a-14n. Game piece activation device 116 can be a visual or audio activation device for alerting a player when a particular game piece 14a-14n has been selected. For example, game piece activation device 116 can include light, vibration, or sound activation. Alternatively, game piece activation device 116 can be a mechanical arm 109 activated by motor 110 for lifting a selected game piece 14a-14n from housing 102.

Gaming module 118 activates random number generation device 120 to select one or more game pieces for a particular game. Random number generation device 120 randomly selects one or more numbers or characters associated with one REID tag 114. Upon selection of RFID tag 114, random number generation device 120 sends activation signal 122 to the selected RFID tag 114 or game piece activation device 116. Thereafter, game piece activation device 116 is activated to provide a visual or audio signal indicating that the game piece 14a-14n has been selected. In one embodiment, for example, game piece 14g is selected by random number generation device 120 and game piece activation device 116 associated with game piece 14g is activated.

In one embodiment, mechanical arm 124 is activated by motor 126 to move game pieces 14a-14n within container 111. Movement of mechanical arm 124 provides shuffling of game pieces 14a-14n within container 111.

After game piece 14a-14n is selected by random number generation device 120, gaming module 118 activates spot 130 on gaming table 135 to indicate where the selected game piece should be placed by the dealer. Game spot 130 can be activated by game piece placement activation device 132. Game piece placement activation device 132 can be a visual or audio activation device for alerting a player where a selected game piece 14a-14n should be placed on gaming table 135. For example, game piece placement activation device 132 can include light, vibration, or sound activation. For example, a light can be shone on the selected game piece 14a-14n or the game piece activation device 308 can include a light source.

In one embodiment, selected RFID tag 114 sends information of the selected game piece to game module 118. Thereafter, when a game piece 14 is placed in game spot 130, game piece placement activation device 132 sends information to gaming module 118 to verify that selected game piece 14a-14n is put in correct spot 130.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a shuffler system for game pieces 200 in which housing 202 receives game pieces 14a-14n. For example, housing 202 can be tray 201 including lips 203. One or more sensors 204 within or adjacent housing 202 are used for sensing game pieces 14a-14n. One of one or more sensor 204 can be activated by gaming module 205. In one embodiment, gaming module 205 can include a random number generator 206 for randomly selecting one of sensors 204. When sensor 204 is selected game piece 14a-14n adjacent the sensor is selected. In one embodiment, gaming module 205 can include wireless signaling means for sending signal 207 to activate the sensor 204 selected by random number generator 206. In one embodiment, sensor 204 can be a RFID tag. Game piece activation device 208 can be associated or integral with sensor 204. Game piece activation device 208 can be a visual or audio activation device for alerting a player when a particular game piece 14a-14n has been selected. For example, game piece activation device 208 can include light, vibration, or sound activation. Alternatively, game piece activation device 208 can be a mechanical arm 109 for lifting a selected game piece 14a-14n from housing 202.

In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3, housing 300 includes slots 310 for receiving game pieces 14a-14n. The number of slots 310 can be selected to be the number of game pieces 14a-14n used in the game. Gaming module 305 activates one of slots 310. In one embodiment, gaming module 305 can include a random number generator 306 for randomly selecting one of slots 310. In one embodiment, gaming module 305 can include wireless signaling means for sending signal 307 to activate the slot selected by random number generator 306. Game activation device 308 is associated with each of slots 310. Game activation device 308 can be a visual or audio activation device for alerting a player when a particular game piece 14a-14n has been selected. For example, game activation device 308 can include light, vibration, or sound activation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a game piece comprising revealer device 10 for gradually revealing values of a game piece in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. A revealer device is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/190,294, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated into this application. Housing 12 includes slot 13 for receiving game piece 14. Housing 12 can have a thickness which is slightly thicker than game piece 12. For example, housing 12 can have a thickness in the range of about 0.05 inches to about 0.25 inches. In one embodiment, one or more conventional decks of 52 cards can be used as game pieces. In an alternate embodiment, an Ace is used in addition to the numeric cards 2 through 10. In an alternate embodiment, only numeric cards 2 through 10 are used as game pieces. In an alternate embodiment, Mah Jongg tiles can be used as game pieces. A number of Mah Jongg tiles are dealt to a player. Each of the Mah Jongg tiles is assigned the same point value as the values on the face of the Mah Jongg tiles.

Housing 12 can have a shape matching game piece 14. For example, housing 12 can be rectangular, square, round or oval. Alternatively, housing 12 can have a shape which is different from game piece 14. Housing 12 can include opaque corners 16a and 16b. Opaque corners 16a and 16b are used to cover respective corners 15a and 15b of game piece 14, such as a conventional card. Corners 15a and 15b of game piece 14 typically include a representation of the value of the card 17 and a representation of a suit 18.

For example, game pieces 14 can be a conventional deck of cards or ten cards or subset thereof, such as an ace, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten. Each game piece 14 can have a representative of a suit 18 located in one or more of outer columns 19a, 19c or inner column 19b of game piece 14. Alternatively, game piece 14 can include other types of markings located in one or more outer columns 19a-19c or inner column 19b.

Housing 12 includes opaque center section 21. Opaque center section 21 covers center section 22 of game piece 14 for covering all representatives of a suit 18 of game piece 14. Opaque center section 21 can include a pair of movable doors 24a, 24b. Movable doors 24a, 24b can be retained within tracks 25a and 25b. For example, the distance between track 25a and track 25b has a length L₁ which is the same as the length L2 of opaque center section 21.

Protrusion 26 can extend from movable doors 24a, 24b. Protrusion 26 can be pressed against by a user's finger for moving movable doors 24a, 24b towards one another in a lateral direction of arrows A₁ and A₂. Upon moving of movable doors 24a, 24b toward one another, one of movable doors 24a, 24b can slide under the other one of movable doors 24a, 24b and outer columns 19a and 19c of game piece 14 are revealed, as shown in FIG. 5.

Housing 12 includes pins 27a, 27b adjacent top portion 28 of movable doors 24a, 24b and pins 29a, 29b adjacent bottom portion 30 of movable doors 24a, 24b. Pins 27a, 27b are received in slot 31 of housing 12. Pins 29a, 29b are received in slot 32 of housing 12. Pins 27a, 27b and pins 29a, 29b retain movable doors 24a, 24b in the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 6, during playing of a game, upon movement of movable doors 24a, 24b toward one another in the lateral direction, pins 27a, 27b and pins 29a, 29b are released from respective slots 31 and 32 to allow movable doors 24a, 24b to slide in a vertical direction of arrow A₃ for gradually revealing representatives of a suit 18 located in inner column 19b of game piece 14. Movable doors 24a, 24b can slide vertically within track 35 positioned at bottom 34 of housing 12. Stops 340a, 340b are positioned at top portion of movable doors 24a, 24b. Upon movement of movable doors 24a, 24b in the vertical direction to bottom 34 of housing 12, stops 340a, 340b contact edge 36a, 36b of track 35 to prevent movable doors 24a, 24b from being removed from housing 12.

In one embodiment, a pair of game pieces 14 having the same value can be received in slot 13. Game pieces 14 are placed back to back to show representatives of a suit 18 on either side of revealer device 10, as shown in FIG. 7. Rear housing 37 is transparent for showing the value of the one of game pieces 18 through rear housing 37. Accordingly, if a player does not want to gradually reveal game piece 14, the user can flip over revealer device 10 for revealing game piece 14.

In an alternate embodiment, representative of a suit 18 or markings related to game piece 14 are marked on inner housing 38. For example, representatives of a suit 18 can be imprinted or stamped on inner housing 38 in columns 39a-39c, as shown in FIGS. 8-9. In this embodiment, game piece 14 is not received in housing 12. Upon moving of movable doors 24a, 24b toward one another, one of movable doors 24a, 24b slides under the other one of movable doors 24a, 24b and outer columns 39a-39c of inner housing 38 are revealed as shown in FIG. 8. Movable doors 24a, 24b can slide vertically within track 35 positioned at bottom 34 of housing 12 for gradually revealing representatives of a suit 18 located in inner column 39b of inner housing 38 as shown in FIG. 10. The same representatives of a suit 18 which are coupled to inner housing 38 can be coupled to rear housing 37 as shown in FIG. 11. In an alternate embodiment, revealed device includes representative of a suit 18 integral with rear housing 37.

In an alternate embodiment, revealer device 40 can be used with game pieces 14 as shown in FIG. 11. For example, game pieces 14 can be cards 2 through 10 and an Ace. During playing of a game, game piece 14 slides into or is placed under revealer device 40. For example, a dealer can slide game piece 14 into revealer device 40 or place game piece 14 under revealer device 40.

Revealer device 40 can include one or more of opaque portions 45a-1 positioned relative to columns 19a-19c to cover the representation of a suit or markings of game piece 18. Referring to FIG. 11, opaque portions 45a-1 can be individually rotated or slid to reveal transparent portions 46a-1 positioned respectively directed beneath opaque portions 45a-1. Upon revealing of each transparent portion 46, the corresponding representative of a suit 18 or marking underneath each transparent portion 46 is shown. The number of opaque portions 45a-1 corresponds to the highest number of representative of a suit 18 or markings on the game piece. For example, there can be ten opaque portions 45 to cover ten representative markings of a suit on a game piece having a value of ten. In one embodiment, revealer device 40 can be formed of plastic including opaque plastic discs to form opaque portions 45 which are hinged to transparent plastic portions to form transparent portions 46.

The selection of the order for revealing opaque portions 45a-1 can be selected by the player or can be a predetermined order. For example, during play, if opaque portion 45a is selected, revealing of transparent portion 46a shows whether or not a representative of a suit 18 is shown in column 19a underneath transparent portion 46a at upper portion 47 of game piece 14.

In an alternate embodiment, revealer device 50 comprises circular housing 52 as shown in FIG. 12A. Circular housing 52 includes slot 53. Slot 53 extends radially from edge 51 to center 54 of circular housing 52. Circular game piece 55 comprises circular body 56, as shown in FIG. 12B. Values 57 are formed on circular game piece 55. Circular game piece 55 includes slot 58. Slot 58 extends radially from edge 59 to center 60 of circular game piece 55. During playing, slot 53 of circular housing 52 is received in slot 58 of circular game piece 55 such that circular housing 52 covers circular game piece 55. Circular housing 52 is rotated to gradually uncover values 57 of circular game piece 55, as shown in FIG. 12C. Indentation 61 can be formed in circular housing 52 for receiving a digit or thumb to push against circular housing 52 for rotation of circular housing 52 over circular game piece 55.

For example, circular housing 52 and circular game piece 55 can be formed of plastic, cardboard, laminated cardboard or paper, such as a material used in a conventional card.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A shuffler system comprising:

a plurality of game pieces;

a RFID tag coupled to each of said game pieces;

random selection means for randomly selecting one of said game pieces and forwarding an activation signal to said RFID tag associated with said selected game piece; and

activation means associated with each of said game pieces for receiving said activation signal and providing activation of said activation means upon receipt of said activation signal.

2. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein said random selection means comprises:

a random number generator for randomly selecting an identification of one of said RFID tags coupled to said game piece.

3. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein said activation means provides a light.

4. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein said activation means provides a vibration or sound.

5. The shuffler system of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing for holding said game pieces.

6. The shuffler system of claim 5 further comprising:

a mechanical arm for moving said game pieces within said housing.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a game piece placement activation device associated with a game surface;

said game piece placement activation device being activated after the game piece is selected for indicating placement of the game piece on the game surface.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said RFID tag sends information of the RFID tag associated with the selected game piece to the game piece placement activation device; said game piece placement activation device verifies that the selected game piece is placed on the game surface.

9. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein the game piece is a revealer device, said revealer device comprises:

a housing for receiving a game piece, said housing including an opaque portion for covering at least a portion of said game piece, said opaque portion being movable for gradually revealing at least one marking on said at least one portion of said game piece.

10. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein said opaque portion comprises:

a pair of movable doors, said movable doors being movable toward one another into an open position for revealing said at least one marking on one or more outer portions of said game pieces.

11. The shuffler system of claim 10 wherein upon movement of said movable doors towards one another said movable doors can be moved in a vertical direction for revealing said at least one marking on an inner portion of said game piece.

12. The shuffler system of claim 9 wherein said game piece is a card and said at least one marking is a representative of a suit.

12. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein the revealer device comprises:

a housing including an opaque portion for covering an inner portion of said housing, at least on marking being marked on said inner housing, said opaque portion being movable for gradually revealing said at least one marking.

14. The shuffler system of claim 12 wherein said opaque portion comprises:

a pair of movable doors, said movable doors being movable toward one another into an open position for revealing said at least one marking on one or more outer portions of said inner housing.

15. The shuffler system of claim 14 wherein upon movement of said movable doors towards one another said movable doors can be moved in a vertical direction for revealing said at least one marking on an inner portion of said inner housing.

16. The shuffler system of claim 12 wherein said at least one marking is a representative of a suit.

17. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein the revealer device comprises:

a housing receiving or being placed over a game piece, said housing having one or more opaque portions positioned over one or more portions of said game piece, each of said opaque portions being individually rotated or slid to subsequently reveal corresponding one or more transparent portions positioned beneath said one or more opaque portions, said one or more transparent portions revealing corresponding one or more portions of said game piece.

18. The shuffler system of claim 17 wherein said opaque portion is a disc formed of an opaque material.

19. The shuffler system of claim 1 wherein the revealer device comprises:

a circular housing including a slot extending radially from an edge of said circular housing to a center of said circular housing; and

a circular game piece including a slot extending radially from an edge of said circular game piece to a center of said circular game piece, said game piece including one or more values, said slot of said circular housing being placed adjacent said slot of said game piece wherein said circular housing is rotated to reveal said one or more values of said game piece.

20. A shuffler system comprising:

a housing for receiving a plurality of game pieces;

one or more sensors associated with said housing for sensing said game pieces;

random selection means for randomly selecting one of said sensors; and

activation means associated with the sensor said activation means providing an indication that said sensor was selected by the random selection means.

21. The shuffler system of claim 20 providing said random selection means comprises:

a random number generator for randomly selecting one of said sensors.

22. The shuffler system of claim 20 wherein said activation means provides a light.

23. The shuffler system of claim 20 wherein said activation means provides a vibration or sound.

24. A shuffler system comprising a housing, said housing having a plurality of slots for receiving a game piece;

random selection means for randomly selecting one of said slots; and

activation means for activating the slot selected by the random selection means.

25. The shuffler system of claim 24 wherein said random selection means comprises:

a random number generator for randomly selecting an identification of one of said RFID tags coupled to said game piece

26. The shuffler system of claim 24 wherein said activation means provides a light.

27. The shuffler system of claim 24 wherein said activation means provides a vibration or sound.