Patents by Inventor James V. Kelly

James V. Kelly 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: 9687727
    Abstract: Card-reading shoes may include an input area configured to support cards therein. A card-reading system may be located within the card-reading shoe, the card-reading system including at least one sensor configured to detect at least a rank and suit of each card processed by the card-reading shoe. A toggle weight may be pivotally mounted proximate an output end of the shoe. The toggle weight may be configured to selectively rotate to enable cards to be removed from the card-reading shoe via the output end and to selectively remain stationary to prevent removed cards from being reinserted into the card-reading shoe via the output end. The card-reading shoes may optionally include a removable cartridge including a delivery end configured to enable manual removal of cards from the removable cartridge when the removable cartridge is removed from the input area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Attila Grauzer, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson
  • Publication number: 20170173449
    Abstract: A method of automatically generating a calibration file for a card handling device comprises automatically generating a calibration file stored in memory of a main control system for a card handling device. Automatically generating the calibration file comprises identifying at least one parameter associated with a rank area around a rank of at least a portion of the card, identifying at least one parameter associated with a suit area around a suit of the at least a portion of the card, and storing the at least one parameter associated with the rank area and the at least one parameter associated with the suit area in the calibration file. Additionally, a method of automatically generating deck libraries for one or more decks of cards comprises automatically generating a plurality of master images for the cards of the first deck type using the parameters from the calibration file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Vladislav Zvercov, Brian Miller
  • Patent number: 9679603
    Abstract: A card recognition system comprises an imaging device configured to capture a raw image of at least a portion of a card, and a processor operably coupled with the imaging device. The processor is configured to perform an image processing analysis of the raw image to identify measurements of at least one of a rank area around a rank of the card, and a suit area around a suit of the card, and automatically generate a calibration file based, at least in part, on the image processing analysis. A card handling device comprises a card infeed, a card output, and a card recognition system. A method for tuning a card handling device comprises capturing a plurality of images from a deck of cards, storing the images in memory, analyzing the plurality of images for card identification information, and generating a calibration file including parameters associated with the card identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Vladislav Zvercov, Brian Miller
  • Publication number: 20170113126
    Abstract: Card-reading shoes may include an input area configured to support cards therein. A card-reading system may be located within the card-reading shoe, the card-reading system including at least one sensor configured to detect at least a rank and suit of each card processed by the card-reading shoe. A toggle weight may be pivotally mounted proximate an output end of the shoe. The toggle weight may be configured to selectively rotate to enable cards to be removed from the card-reading shoe via the output end and to selectively remain stationary to prevent removed cards from being reinserted into the card-reading shoe via the output end. The card-reading shoes may optionally include a removable cartridge including a delivery end configured to enable manual removal of cards from the removable cartridge when the removable cartridge is removed from the input area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Attila Grauzer, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson
  • Patent number: 9623317
    Abstract: A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Attila Grauzer, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, David B. Lopez, Mark L. Yoseloff, R. Brooke Dunn, Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
  • Patent number: 9613488
    Abstract: A gaming table apparatus has a gaming table with a gaming table support surface. At least two token sensors are provided, which are electrically connected in series to a token sensor controller. The at least two token sensor units are physically restrained by the table support surface. The game controller is in communication with the token sensor controller, wherein the game controller is configured to associate player position data with transmitted wager data received from the token sensor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Troy D. Nelson, Vladislav Zvercov, Attila Grauzer
  • Publication number: 20170072293
    Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insertion location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insertion locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, James P. Helgesen, Vladislav Zvercov, Feraidoon Bourbour, Robert J. Rynda
  • Patent number: 9539495
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe has a cartridge for receiving a first set of shuffled playing cards useful in the play of the casino table card game, the cartridge having a back end and front card delivery end. An automated motor-driven playing card delivery shoe has a cartridge receiving area. The card delivery shoe has a pick-off roller that moves playing cards from the front card delivery end of the cartridge. An image capture system captures image data of at least one of card value and card rank. A motor drives at least one set of rollers. A card delivery chute receives playing cards one at a time from the set of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Attila Grauzer, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson
  • Patent number: 9511274
    Abstract: A method of automatically generating a calibration file for a card handling device comprises automatically generating a calibration file stored in memory of a main control system for a card handling device. Automatically generating the calibration file comprises identifying at least one parameter associated with a rank area around a rank of the at least a portion of the card, identifying at least one parameter associated with a suit area around a suit of the at least a portion of the card, and storing the at least one parameter associated with the rank area and the at least one parameter associated with the suit area in the calibration file. Additionally, a method of automatically generating deck libraries for one or more decks of cards comprises automatically generate a plurality of master images for the cards of the first deck type using the parameters from the calibration file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING INC.
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Vladislav Zvercov, Brian Miller
  • Patent number: 9504905
    Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insertion location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insertion locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, James P. Helgesen, Vladislav Zvercov, Feraidoon Bourbour, Robert J. Rynda
  • Patent number: 9452349
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe used in the play of the casino table card game of blackjack. The shoe may include an area for receiving a first set of playing cards, a first card mover that moves playing cards from the first set of playing cards to a playing card staging area, a second playing card mover that moves playing cards from the playing card staging area to a delivery area, and playing card-reading sensors that read at least one playing card value of each playing card separately after each playing card has been removed from the area for receiving the first set of playing cards and before removal from the playing card delivery area. A processor analyzes the data and displays certain game-related data on a display device. Methods of providing cards to a dealer in a casino table card game of blackjack are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver M. Schubert, Attila Grauzer, Justin G. Downs, III, James V. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9378766
    Abstract: A card recognition system comprises an imaging device configured to capture a raw image of at least a portion of a card, and a processor operably coupled with the imaging device. The processor is configured to perform an image processing analysis of the raw image to identify measurements of at least one of a rank area around a rank of the card, and a suit area around a suit of the card, and automatically generate a calibration file based, at least in part, on the image processing analysis. A card handling device comprises a card infeed, a card output, and a card recognition system. A method for tuning a card handling device comprises capturing a plurality of images from a deck of cards, storing the images in memory, analyzing the plurality of images for card identification information, and generating a calibration file including parameters associated with the card identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Vladislav Zvercov, Brian E. Miller
  • Publication number: 20160107071
    Abstract: A multiple-mode card shuffling and/or card verification device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards that can be disabled, a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the card collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, a card imaging system and an elevator for raising the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. The processor is programmed such that cards can be verified without changing an order of cards present in the card receiving area, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Oliver M. Schubert, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Paul K. Scheper, Troy D. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20160082344
    Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insert location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insert locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, James P. Helgesen, Vladislav Zvercov, Feraidoon Bourbour, Robert J. Rynda
  • Patent number: 9289677
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe used in the play of the casino table card game of blackjack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver M. Schubert, Attila Grauzer, Justin G. Downs, III, James V. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9220972
    Abstract: A multiple-mode card shuffling and/or card verification device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards that can be disabled, a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the card collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, a card imaging system and an elevator for raising the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. The processor is programmed such that cards can be verified without changing an order of cards present in the card receiving area, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Oliver M. Schubert, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Paul K. Scheper, Troy D. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20150356810
    Abstract: A gaming table apparatus has a gaming table with a gaming table support surface. At least two token sensors are provided, which are electrically connected in series to a token sensor controller. The at least two token sensor units are physically restrained by the table support surface. The game controller is in communication with the token sensor controller, wherein the game controller is configured to associate player position data with transmitted wager data received from the token sensor controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Troy D. Nelson, Vladislav Zvercov, Attila Grauzer
  • Publication number: 20150265909
    Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe used in the play of the casino table card game of blackjack. The shoe may include an area for receiving a first set of playing cards, a first card mover that moves playing cards from the first set of playing cards to a playing card staging area, a second playing card mover that moves playing cards from the playing card staging area to a delivery area, and playing card-reading sensors that read at least one playing card value of each playing card separately after each playing card has been removed from the area for receiving the first set of playing cards and before removal from the playing card delivery area. A processor analyzes the data and displays certain game-related data on a display device. Methods of providing cards to a dealer in a casino table card game of blackjack are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Oliver M. SCHUBERT, Attila GRAUZER, Justin G. DOWNS, III, James V. KELLY
  • Patent number: 9142084
    Abstract: A gaming table apparatus has a gaming table with a gaming table support surface. At least two token sensors are provided, which are electrically connected in series to a token sensor controller. The at least two token sensor units are physically restrained by the table support surface. The game controller is in communication with the token sensor controller, wherein the game controller is configured to associate player position data with transmitted wager data received from the token sensor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Troy D. Nelson, Vladislav Zvercov, Attila Grauzer
  • Publication number: 20150199993
    Abstract: A card recognition system comprises an imaging device configured to capture a raw image of at least a portion of a card, and a processor operably coupled with the imaging device. The processor is configured to perform an image processing analysis of the raw image to identify measurements of at least one of a rank area around a rank of the card, and a suit area around a suit of the card, and automatically generate a calibration file based, at least in part, on the image processing analysis. A card handling device comprises a card infeed, a card output, and a card recognition system. A method for tuning a card handling device comprises capturing a plurality of images from a deck of cards, storing the images in memory, analyzing the plurality of images for card identification information, and generating a calibration file including parameters associated with the card identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: James V. Kelly, Vladislav Zvercov, Brian Miller