Patents by Inventor William Piehl

William Piehl 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).

  • Gaming chips with electronic circuits scanned by antennas in gaming chip placement areas for tracking the movement of gaming chips within a casino apparatus and method
    Patent number: 5651548
    Abstract: A method of tracking movement of gaming chips in casino comprising gaming chips each having an electronic circuit which transmits information, and antennas located at gaming chip placement areas. When gaming chips are placed on a first gaming chip placement area within the casino, the antenna at that first gaming chip placement area transmits a radio beam which in effect scans the electronic circuits of the gaming chips. The electronic circuits identify the gaming chips by electronically broadcasting information. Upon moving a first of the gaming chips to a second gaming chip placement area, the antenna at the second gaming chip location transmits a radio beam which scans the electronic circuit of the first gaming chip. The electronic circuit in the first gaming chip identifies the first gaming chip on the second gaming chip placement area so that the location of the first gaming chip is tracked. The gaming chip placement areas may be at various places such as on a gaming table or a gaming chip tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Chip Track International
    Inventors: John French, William Piehl