Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
  • G07D9/00—Counting coins; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • G07D9/002—Coin holding devices
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
  • G06K19/07749—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
  • G06K19/07796—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card arrangements on the record carrier to allow stacking of a plurality of similar record carriers, e.g. to avoid interference between the non-contact communication of the plurality of record carriers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F1/00—Coin inlet arrangements; Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
  • G07F1/06—Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
  • G07F17/3232—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the operator is informed
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
  • G07F17/3251—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an equipment carrying tokens carrying information including game chips for casinos and gaming rooms.
• the invention is applicable for moving the game chips from a game chip storage place, for example a vault, to a place of use of the chips, for example a gaming table.
• token any disk-shaped or plate-shaped element and representing a nominal value or not.
• tokens are made of rigid and scratch-resistant plastic. The tokens have various patterns in designs and colors to form a more or less complex decor and reduce the risk of forgery and / or fraudulent reproduction.
• some tokens carry information coded by integration into the body of the token of an electronic memory circuit in which information about the token, including its number or identification code and its numerical value.
• These tokens equipped with electronic memory circuits are also called “electronic memory chips” or “electronic circuit tokens”.
• the electronic circuits are of the simple memory type PROM, reprogrammable memory EEPROM or even microprocessors with a memory.
• tokens carry coded information, in particular optical reading, for example barcoded or color coded marked on the faces and / or the slice of the token (the slice marking allowing time saving by reading direct token chips), being noted that the coding of the RFID reading tokens and the coding of the optical reading chips do not exclude each other.
• Game chips are often stored in trays or racks that typically serve as local chips stores at currency exchange points and / or gaming tables.
• a locker contains tokens exchanged for values, for example tokens or plates of different face values, currency, etc. It is also possible to collect the chips needed to pay the bets. winners and place the chips from the losing bets. The number of chips in a locker is variable and therefore the overall value represented by these chips changes over time.
• these bins are limited by relatively low capacities (generally 100 chips maximum with 5 columns or stacks of 20 chips).
• these coin-operated token reader bins designed for localized use of memory electronic chip tokens are not suitable for secure transport, or even a closed enclosure, in casinos or gambling halls of tokens more important, for example and not limited to lots ranging from 800 to 1200 chips.
• the invention proposes an equipment for carrying coded information carrying tokens, in particular game chips, in particular between a storage place and at least one place of use, said equipment comprising a movable structure carrying stacked tokens. in columns or stacks and at least a first docking station for the supporting structure on said storage place, said station host incorporating all or part of at least one reading station of the coded information carried by the tokens of at least one stack or column to determine or check the contents of at least one batch of tokens present in the structure carrier, in particular to establish or control the inventory.
• the docking station is adapted to determine or check the contents of at least one batch of chips present in the carrier structure, in particular in order to establish or control the inventory.
• the chip transport equipment comprises on said place of use a second docking station for the carrier structure, identical or compatible with the first docking station. It is thus possible to proceed in particular to a check of the chip content of the carrier structure once arrived at the place of use of the chips, for example a gaming table.
• the chip transport equipment is particularly suitable for transport operations whose storage location is defined by the central safe reserve game chips or a vault of a casino or a games room or by a cash counter of a casino or a games room.
• the place of use is defined by a currency exchange table or a gaming table of a casino or a games room.
• the carrier structure is in the form of a closed enclosure, lockable or not.
• the invention makes it possible, by means of the carrying structure, itself portable, to ensure the secure transportation in a game room or in a casino of a large quantity of chips (in practice in connection with the possibilities of portable charge by a casino dealer of the entire carrier structure plus the tokens most often pre-arranged in simple plastic lockers), representing for example the capacity of a dozen coin lockers without having to equip in Reading means the traps carried by the carrier structure as it will appear in the following description of the invention.
• the token transport equipment is characterized in that the carrier structure comprises a flat base adapted to receive at least one token locker with parallel columns.
• the carrier structure is adapted to receive at least a plurality of token lockers with removable stacked parallel columns.
• the carrier structure is adapted to receive two stacks of token lockers disposed on either side of a partition wall secured to said flat base and provided with gripping means for the carrier croupier of the carrier structure.
• the carrying structure comprises a removable cover disposed on said flat base and adapted to enclose the locker (s) and (their) content (s) tokens.
• the token transport equipment comprises at least one reading station and adapted to read information coded on or in each token of the same column or stack of tokens, in particular information identifying the token and / or information concerning the nominal value of the token.
• the said at least one reading station is of the type with video camera (s) oriented to read coded information on the slice of chips arranged in columns or piles.
• said at least one reading station is of RFID contactless radio frequency reception type adapted to read from the information encoded in an electronic circuit chip memory.
• said at least one reading station comprises a read or read / write unit comprising an antenna analog section (s) and a microprocessor digital processing section.
• the token transport equipment according to the invention with RFID reading station it is of the type to at least one wide loop antenna adapted to be arranged vis-à-vis heads of the columns and stacks of chips present in said carrier structure, said antenna being either fully integrated with the docking station or the carrier structure is shared between the docking station and the carrier structure.
• the wide-loop antenna comprises a plurality of elementary loops coaxial with one or more wire turns, the elementary loops having substantially identical active surfaces and being electrically connected in series.
• the RFID reading station comprises several wide-loop adjacent antennas each comprising a plurality of said coaxial elementary loops electrically connected to the read or read / write unit by multiplexing means.
• At least one elementary loop of wide-loop antenna is integrated in a wall of the cover of the carrier structure and electrically connected by contact to the docking station via the flat base in a series connection with the other elementary loops of the same antenna.
• At least one elementary loop of wide-loop antenna is integrated in the partition wall of the carrier structure and connected by contact to the docking station via the flat base in a series connection with the other elementary loops of the same antenna.
• the carrier structure integrates an electronic circuit of the read / write type, in particular without RFID contact with memory, hereinafter the tag circuit, adapted to communicate in particular without contact. with the docking station and for storing in particular the identification of the carrier structure and / or the content and / or the inventory of at least one batch of chips or all the chips present in the carrier structure.
• the tag circuit may be secured to an external face of the planar base of the carrier structure so as to be able to communicate with a docking station or an independent reading or reading / writing station that is portable or associated with a gaming table. checkout, currency exchange or to a coin sorting machine or other equipment of casinos or gambling halls.
• the invention also relates to an antenna token carrier structure (s) integrated (s) for game chips transport equipment according to the invention and defined above in its various variants.
• the invention also relates to a structure carrying label chips for game chips transport equipment according to the invention and defined above in its various variants.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the token-carrying structure (shown in open position) used in an RFID-type token-carrying equipment according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in partial section along the XOY plane of RFID-type token-carrying equipment according to the invention comprising the carrier structure of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, shown in the closed position
• FIG. 3 represents a partial schematic view with partial section (along the XOY plane) of a variant with two wide-loop antennas of the carrier structure of the type illustrated in FIG.
• the toy token bearing structure 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a flat base 12 intended to be arranged normally in a horizontal position and divided by a flat vertical vertical partition 13 securely fixed by any suitable means to the flat base 12.
• upper edge of the partition 13 is provided with gripping means for the support structure, in this case a handle 15 integral with the wall.
• Each half-base 12a and 12b is capable of accommodating bins 16 tokens (or plates) of play with parallel token columns.
• the bins 16 that can be stacked (see FIG.
• the compartments 16 comprise partition walls to define storage sections 27 for tokens or plates (not shown in the figure) and generally having a U-shaped bottom channel shape.
• These storage sections can be sections in columns when they are horizontally or almost horizontally extended, in the case of the sections 27 of the supporting structure 10 here described, (FIG. 2 shows columns 26 of IjO chips 24 (instead of 20) by the only conveniences and clarity of the drawing), or stacked sections when they are vertically extending extension in the case of vertical dispenser bins (according to another embodiment of the invention not shown).
• the carrying structure also comprises a lid 14 shown in open position in disengagement from the flat base 12.
• the lid 14 of the general shape of a parallelepiped open at its lower part comprises four lateral faces, 18a, 18b, 20a and 20b, and an upper face 22 provided with a through opening 23 intended to allow the handle 15 to project out of the cover 14 when it covers the base 12 and the token lockers 16 which are stacked therein, the carrier structure then being in the closed position, as illustrated in Figure 2 (the lower edges of the lateral faces then bearing on top of the flat base 12).
• the carrier structure 10 defines a closed enclosure for the game chips transported, optionally closed as an optional variant for any appropriate locking means (not shown).
• the support structure 10 is made of a non-metallic material, for example a rigid plastic material, most often transparent for the cover 14.
• the chip transport transport equipment comprises at least one docking station 28 integrating all or part of a reading station 30 adapted to read the coded information carried by the chips 26.
• Figure 2 schematically represents such a docking station 28 located for example on the plate 31 of a table of cash, exchange or game or a counter of the central reserve of chips (for example a vault of the casino), equipped of the support structure 10 in the closed position, all shown partly in section along the vertical plane XOY median and perpendicular to the partition 13.
• the reading station 30 comprises antenna means 32, possibly associated with an antenna selection or multiplexing interface (not shown) and an electronic read / write unit 34 comprising reading means in the memory of the tokens. one hand and means of writing in the memory of the chips on the other hand.
• the electronic dialogue unit in a simplified version comprises only reading means in the token memory, its structure and operation being similar to those described below for the unit of read / write 34.
• each token 24 comprises an electronic circuit 36 whose memory contains coded information specific to the token so as to allow its identification and authentication with the aid of an appropriate reading unit (read-only unit or read / write operating in read mode).
• the electronic circuits (not shown) of the chips are of the microcircuit type and equipped with a non-reprogrammable memory (for example of the PROM type) with a unique identification code of 32 or 64 bits comprising in the serial number of the token or lot of token (its face value and other information concerning the token such as the name of the casino, etc., possibly being able to be stored in a database external to the chips with access from the token serial number or batch number).
• the electronic identification circuit 36 of the token furthermore, whatever the type of memory used in the token, a circular coil peripheral antenna transmitter / receiver also implanted in the heart of the chip and adapted to be powered by inductive coupling.
• the tokens are upgradeable and equipped with reprogrammable memory (for example EEPROM type) for reading and writing.
• EEPROM reprogrammable memory
• This possibility of modifying the information contained in the memory increases the degree of security of the electronic token, in particular by making it possible to change the authentication parameters in time.
• the token is optionally equipped with a microprocessor capable of complex processing and transactions, such as, for example, the control of the dialogue between the post reading or the reading station electronic writing and the token, according to which this dialogue is authorized only after a mutual authentication, with introduction of codes of the type of password and / or key cryptography in the token and the electronic unit (in particular to encrypt the data during their transfer between the electronic unit and the token and vice versa).
• a microprocessor capable of complex processing and transactions, such as, for example, the control of the dialogue between the post reading or the reading station electronic writing and the token, according to which this dialogue is authorized only after a mutual authentication, with introduction of codes of the type of password and / or key cryptography in the token and the electronic unit (in particular to encrypt the data during their transfer between the electronic unit and the token and vice versa).
• the electronic circuit 36 of the chips 26 is adapted to allow either the reading and / or the simultaneous writing of several tokens or the discrimination between the chips, so as to work on tokens or stacked game boards.
• the dialogue unit integrating the discrimination function is adapted to capture the identity of a first token in a batch of chips 24 located in the radiated field of the invention. antenna, in this case a row of chips placed in a column 24 of a bin 16. It is then possible to interact with this first token and to perform the desired reading and / or writing operations and then disable the token seized by sending him a blackout command.
• the dialogue unit continues its queries in search of other tokens in the work area of the antenna to successively enter all the chips present. After entering and / or processing the last token, the dialog unit sends a command to reactivate all the tokens in the column.
• This token discrimination function is also called an anti-collision function.
• the reading station 34 of the tokens 26 has an antenna analog section 50 and a microprocessor digital processing section 52.
• the analog section comprises a single antenna 32 for reading the chips 24 present in the carrier structure 10, the antenna 32 being of the wide-loop type (of active surface at least equal to several the facial surface of a token 24 whose diameter is substantially between 40 and 50 mm) and comprising a plurality of coaxial elementary loops of equivalent active surface, electrically connected in series to define a single equivalent antenna, in this case the three elementary loops 41, 42 and 43 with one or more copper wire turns about 0.5 mm in diameter.
• the elementary loops 41 and 43 are integrated in the lateral faces 18a and 18b and the elementary loop 42 is integrated in the partition 13, the generally circular or polygonal turns covering substantially the entire inner surface of the faces 18a and 18b and the partition 13 so as to read all the columns 26 of tokens 24 present in carrier structure 10 (the elementary loops 41, 42 and 43 of the antenna 32 facing the heads of the columns of chips stored in lockers 16).
• These turns of copper wire, the electrical wire connection portions 45 and 46 between elementary loops and the wire line 47 being placed and glued in corresponding grooves or grooves (not shown) made in the faces 18a and 18b, the partition 13 and the flat base 12.
• the read / write unit 34 of the "non-contact" type consists of the analog section 38 and a digital processing section 52.
• the digital section 52 comprises a microcontroller which generates, interprets and processes the signals exchanged with the tokens with electronic memory.
• the digital section 52 also controls a sequential selection interface of antenna (s) for reading the tokens (Not shown) for example multiplexing type when the unit 28 is used with several antennas (case illustrated in Figure 3 and described below).
• It also comprises an oscillator that generates the carrier frequency (for example 125 kHertz) of the radio-frequency signal transmitted to the antennas, a time stamp circuit capable of giving the date and time of each event, PROM memories for storing the sequences of processing of the microcontroller, EEPROMs for storing the processed data and exchanging data with the electronic tokens and a RS232 / 485 type serial interface for connection to a server computer (not shown) either in point-to-point mode or in network.
• the digital section is capable of reading and / or memorizing and / or checking the token content of the carrier structure in read-only or read / write mode and to make or control the bulk inventory in separate batches.
• the digital section 52 is connected to input devices (for example a keyboard 54) and / or output (for example a visual display 56 and / or a printer and / or a buzzer).
• the keyboard 54 makes it possible, for example, to enter in the system information on the carrier structure 10 present on the docking station 28 or on the chipset (s) contained, the identity of the reception structure used, indications on the planned transport, in particular the place of departure (for example the place of storage) and the place of destination (for example the place of use such as a gaming table, change of currency or cash register), the identity of the operator at the loading or the unloading of the supporting structure, information on the corresponding accounting transaction, etc.
• input devices for example a keyboard 54
• / or output for example a visual display 56 and / or a printer and / or a buzzer.
• the keyboard 54 makes it possible, for example, to enter in the system information on the carrier structure 10 present on the docking station 28 or on the chipset (s) contained, the identity of the
• the display may display (or print) all or part of the following information specific to the inventory of chips in the carrier structure: total number of chips in the carrier structure, number of tokens per denomination and / or in batches, the global value contained in the carrying structure, the indications of transport etc.
• the analog section 38 contains an Analog / Digital (A / D) converter, a modulator and an amplifier. From the signals, commands and information from the digital part 52, it generates an amplitude modulated radio frequency analog signal which, via the selected antenna, conveys energy, data and a synchronization signal to the electronic memory tokens. .
• the electronic tokens 24 are of the passive type (without internal energy storage) for reading or reading / writing.
• the antenna 32 must thus provide the energy necessary for the operation of the electronic chip circuit and must ensure the transmission of data.
• the working distances between the antenna (elementary loop) and the chips are defined as a function of the magnetic flux necessary for the proper functioning of the token electronic circuit and therefore depend on the inductance, the geometry of the antenna and the current. 'antenna.
• the faces of the chips 24 integrating the coils of the electronic circuits 36 are parallel to the elementary loops 41, 42, 43, 60 and 62 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• FIG. 3 shows a variant of the carrier structure of FIG. 2 in which the antenna 32 is replaced by two antennas 58 and 59 electrically connected in parallel, each having three elementary loops, of which only the loops 60 and 62 integrated in the face 18a of the cover 14, the loops 60 and 62 being arranged almost contiguous one above the other to cover the entire inner surface of the face 18a.
• the antenna 32 is replaced by two antennas 58 and 59 electrically connected in parallel, each having three elementary loops, of which only the loops 60 and 62 integrated in the face 18a of the cover 14, the loops 60 and 62 being arranged almost contiguous one above the other to cover the entire inner surface of the face 18a.
• each antenna 58 and 59 is connected to the analog section 38 by an electrical connection line respectively 61 and 63 through appropriate electrical contacts in a manner similar to that already described in connection with Figure 2 (the analog section 38 being further provided with multiplexing antenna selection means).
• the carrier structure 10 integrates an electronic circuit of read / write type without contact RFID memory, hereinafter the tag circuit 64, adapted to communicate without contact with the docking station (via a loop antenna 66 suitably connected to the analog section 38 by the connecting line 67 shown in dashed lines) and to store in particular the identification of the carrier structure 10 and / or the content and / or the inventory of minus a batch of chips or all chips present in the carrier structure 10.
• the tag circuit 64 adapted to communicate without contact with the docking station (via a loop antenna 66 suitably connected to the analog section 38 by the connecting line 67 shown in dashed lines) and to store in particular the identification of the carrier structure 10 and / or the content and / or the inventory of minus a batch of chips or all chips present in the carrier structure 10.
• the label circuit 64 is secured to the outer face of the base plate 12 of the carrier structure 10 to be susceptible to communicate with the docking station through the antenna 66 integrated in the plate 31 (the loop of the antenna 66 being perpendicular to the elementary loops 41, 42, 43 of the antenna 32 so as to avoid any interference reading or read / write between the tag circuit and the chips 24.
• this arrangement of the tag circuit 64 allows reading or reading / writing of the memory of the tag circuit outside the docking stations, for example by a portable reading or reading / writing station or associated with a gaming table, cash register, currency exchange or to a coin sorter or other equipment of casinos or gambling halls.
• the shape, the number, the arrangement and the location of the antennas and / or their elementary loops of the carrier structure and of the interface with the docking station are adaptable according to the constraints of manufacture and / or the various specifications given by the casino operators while remaining within the scope of the present invention.
• the invention is not also limited to a carrier structure token-carrying equipment incorporating all the wide-loop antenna elementary loops, the latter being, in non-represented variants of the invention, all or part of integrated at the docking station suitably arranged in parallel planes in case of plurality of elementary loops for the same antenna, for example in parallel vertical panels integral with the plate 31 and adjacent faces 18a and 18b (not shown) with the maintenance of the elementary loop integrated in the middle partition 13.
• the invention is also not limited to a transport equipment tokens carrier structure stacked removable racks and / or middle partition.
• the supporting structure carries a storage shelf in columns or in parallel stacks of tokens on several horizontal levels or in several vertical planes and one or antennas with wide loop suitably arranged (s) or distributed (s) to be able to read all the chips contained in the carrier structure.
• the invention is not limited to the geometrical shape of the carrier structure 10 described above but covers other types of structures.
• portable tokens transport, preferably forming a closed enclosure, and likely to accommodate a large amount of game chips arranged in columns or stacks, possibly equipped with wide-loop RFID antennas, such as boxes, suitcases, boxes etc. ..
• the invention is also not limited to the RFID reading of the coded information carried by the tokens.
• coded information is carried by the edge of the chips (for example in the form of barcode or color code) is read by video cameras arranged on the docking station on either side the carrier structure with transparent walls, the cameras being arranged to be able to read both a column or a whole stack, possibly at an angle with respect to this column or this stack.
• this type of equipment with optical chip reading can be equipped with an RFID read tag circuit similar to the circuit 64 described above or a tag reading circuit by electrical connection.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Near-Field Transmission Systems (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-07-28 WO PCT/FR2005/001973 patent/WO2007012702A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2005-07-28 EP EP05793393A patent/EP1815384A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-07-28 CA CA002553914A patent/CA2553914A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-07-28 US US10/547,501 patent/US20070026949A1/en not_active Abandoned

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