Abstract: The speed of the wind during operation of a UAV is estimated. In one example the speed of the wind is estimated by modeling an acceleration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a measured ground speed of the UAV, determining an actual acceleration of the UAV with one or more sensors, and estimating the speed of the wind as an integral of a difference between the modeled acceleration and the actual acceleration.

Abstract: The speed of the wind during operation of a UAV is estimated. In one example the speed of the wind is estimated by modeling an acceleration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a measured ground speed of the UAV, determining an actual acceleration of the UAV with one or more sensors, and estimating the speed of the wind as an integral of a difference between the modeled acceleration and the actual acceleration.

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; a first processor capable of controlling operation of the card delivery shoe; and a second processor capable of receiving signals from the sensor and programmed to display information related to the game of baccarat.

Abstract: A discard rack moves and reads suit and rank of individual cards. The cards are provided to a card infeed area and moved to a card collection area. Both suit and rank of each card is read in the card infeed area or between the card infeed area and the card collection area. The discard rack comprises a) a card infeed area with card moving elements that move only a bottom card from a set of cards in the card infeed area, b) a card collection area that receives cards from the card moving area in the same sense as cards are received in the card infeed area, c) an image capture device that captures data from a card while the card is between the card infeed area and the card collection area, d) preferably a communication port to send out captured data to a processor, and e) an elevator that lowers to maintain a level at which cards are received in the card collection area.

Abstract: A card verification station moves and reads suit and rank of individual cards. The cards are provided to a card in-feed area and moved individually to a card collection area. A device may comprise a) a card in-feed area with card moving elements that move only a bottom card from a set of cards in the card in-feed area, b) a card collection area that receives cards from the card moving area in the same order as cards are received in the card in-feed area, c) an image capture device that captures data from a card while the card is between the card in-feed area and the card collection area, d) a processor capable of controlling the operation of the card verification station, and e) an elevator that lowers to maintain a level at which cards are received in the card collection area. A method of verifying a group of playing cards is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus to collect data from a casino table game of baccarat for wagering pattern analysis. The data includes at least player identification (e.g., player position and/or individual player complete identification), game event history (e.g., Dealer and Player hand statistics and wins on each hand; and hand values; and first card dealt values), and wagering history associated with the identified player (e.g., how much was wagered on each hand). The data is at least temporarily stored and an analysis of the betting patterns is made based on whether the patterns may indicate wagering variance based upon apparent knowledge or correlating to coincidence of valued first cards dealt from the baccarat shoe.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determines an identity of at least each card in a card hand at a casino table card game. The method is performed automatically by a computer-based system that reads the rank and suit of each card that leaves a dealing shoe and then uses a smart discard tray that reads the discards as they are taken from the table. Play is practiced by dealing a hand to a player and dealing either a hand to a dealer or common cards to the table. It is optional and preferred to provide a signal to the computer of the presence of at least one card in the dealer's hand. Additional cards are dealt to hands (if required according to rules of the casino table card game. Exhausted hands are removed from the table and placed into a discard rack. Each card in each exhausted hand is read when placed in the discard rack to determine rank and suit of each placed card, and the computer reconciles cards placed in the discard rack with cards that left the dealing shoe.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method enabled by the apparatus perform a method of measuring wagering activity on a gaming table. The method comprises providing at least one grid of sensors positioned over an area defined by the surface of a gaming table to sense the presence or absence of gaming elements on the gaming table surface. The sensors sense gaming elements (e.g., playing cards, gaming chips, tokens, player cards, etc.) on the gaming table surface. Signals are sent from the sensors (preferably to a logic control device) indicating the presence or absence of the gaming elements. The logic control device sends signals to a processor in response to receiving the signals from the sensors, and the processor storing information from said signals from the logic control system indicating the presence or absence of gaming elements on the casino table surface.

Abstract: A casino table card gaming system in which messages are communicated from at least two or three distinct sensors without date stamping to a first intelligent microprocessor component that at least date stamps the signal and forwards the date stamped signal to a distal memory component that stores the date stamped signal. The system may comprise the at least two signals originating from at least one dealer card sensor and at least one discard rack sensor. The system with at least three signal sources may comprise a casino table, at least three distinct sensors that send an undated signal, and a first intelligent microprocessor component, wherein the at least three distinct sensors comprise at least one bet sensor, at least one dealer card sensor, and at least one card sensor in a discard rack.

Abstract: An access system enables casino personnel to access casino information from a casino computer through a network accessible display device that contains a web browser. The access system comprises a thin client user interface server. Information provided to the casino computer can be requested from multiple files and provided in customized formats or from among numerous available formats at the request of the casino personnel. The request can be configured and responded to according to such diverse information requests as data/records specific to personnel (e.g., dealers, pit bosses, croupier, security guards, etc.), specific tables, specific games, specific classes of games, pits, wagering limits, shufflers, roulette wheels, and the like, and the requests can define bases of information such as performance, down time, volume, frequency, and individual round events (e.g.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the play of baccarat is disclosed, comprising: a card delivery shoe, the shoe comprising a logic module, a card rank and suit sensor, a player display and a player display processor. The logic module includes a microprocessor comprising a card identification module, a game control module and a configuration module. The logic module further comprises a hardware component capable of interpreting signals from the card rank and suit sensor; and a network communication port. The card rank and suit sensor is located within the card delivery shoe. The sensor is capable of sending signals to the hardware component, wherein the hardware component generates a signal representative of rank and/or suit. The system further includes a player display and a computer associated with the player display, wherein the computer has a network communication port.

Abstract: A distinct dealing shoe having no shuffling functionality receives shuffled, randomized or ordered group of cards. The cards may be mechanically moved one at a time from a receiving area for the deck to a buffer area where more than one card is temporarily stored. The cards in the buffer area are then mechanically moved to a card delivery area where the cards may be manually removed, one-at-a-time, by a dealer. The cards are read one-at-a-time inside of the dealing shoe, either before the buffer area or after leaving the buffer area, but preferably before the cards are being manually removed from the card delivery area. The information from the card reading may be used for game tracking, hand tracking, player information, and other security issues at casino table card games.

Abstract: A distinct dealing shoe having no shuffling functionality receives shuffled, randomized or ordered group of cards. The cards may be mechanically moved one at a time from a receiving area for the deck to a buffer area where more than one card is temporarily stored. The cards in the buffer area are then mechanically moved to a card delivery area where the cards may be manually removed, one-at-a-time, by a dealer. The cards are read one-at-a-time inside of the dealing shoe, either before the buffer area or after leaving the buffer area, but preferably before the cards are being manually removed from the card delivery area. The information from the card reading may be used for game tracking, hand tracking, player information, and other security issues at casino table card games.

Abstract: A gaming table with multiple sensing devices on or proximate the table. Each sensing device or groups of devices has a separate intelligent module that senses changes in the sensing devices, as through a state change signal from the sensor. The module date stamps and transmits the data over a network to an external database. The modules broadcast information over a network, such as an Ethernet.

Abstract: Casino table card games are provided with sensors or readers for detection of information or a signal identifying a crew member (e.g., dealer, croupier, pit worker, etc.) at a specific casino table. The table has a component that reads information or receives a first signal from the card. The first signal is received or read from a card (e.g., by swiping the card, or receiving an RF or responsive signal) by a table subcomponent that has a time or time/dating capability. The first signal is time/date stamped (referred to herein as “Date Stamping” or “date stamping” for simplicity) when sent, when read or when received. The date stamped signal is then transmitted from the subcomponent to a processor (e.g., gaming table processor or pit processor or main casino processor and/or central processor for multiple casinos).

Abstract: Casino table card games are provided with sensors for detection of an indicator initiated by a dealer to indicate approximate beginning of or final completion of a round of play of a casino table card game. The signal is read by a table subcomponent that has a time or time/dating capability. The signal is time/date stamped (referred to herein as “Date Stamping” or “date stamping” for simplicity. The date stamped signal is then transmitted from the subcomponent to a processor (e.g., gaming table processor or pit processor or main casino processor and/or central processor for multiple casinos). The data retains its date stamping at least through storage, analysis, data entry or other treatment of the data after transmission away from the table, and the date stamping may or may not be provided by the sensor itself. The system also allows for the date stamping or other status information to be sent to a data bank or repository of information (e.g.

Abstract: A card verification station moves and reads suit and rank of individual cards. The cards are provided to a card in-feed area and moved individually to a card collection area. A device may comprise a) a card in-feed area with card moving elements that move only a bottom card from a set of cards in the card in-feed area, b) a card collection area that receives cards from the card moving area in the same order as cards are received in the card in-feed area, c) an image capture device that captures data from a card while the card is between the card in-feed area and the card collection area, d) a processor capable of controlling the operation of the card verification station, and e) an elevator that lowers to maintain a level at which cards are received in the card collection area. A method of verifying a group of playing cards is also disclosed.

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 collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the 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 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 feeder, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.

Abstract: A casino table card gaming system comprises: at least one gaming table; and at least one playing card shuffler on or proximate to the gaming table. The shuffler provides a status signal associated with a specific stage of use of the shuffler in a casino table card game. The status signal is forwarded to a database that uses the signal as a basis for registering that a round of play of a casino table card game using playing cards from that shuffler is to be counted in a record of game usage for at least one of that shuffler or that casino table.