Scratch-off material sensor system for lottery game tickets

Abstract

The present invention relates to lottery game tickets and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, a wavelength-sensitive addition is incorporation in game ticket play area. In another embodiment, reflectance characteristics of a game ticket play area are controlled.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket of the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off material comprised of light blocking material formed thereon when said game ticket is manufactured, said apparatus comprising: 
 a housing;    a feed path defining a first area of said apparatus delimited by said housing and said feed path, and a second area delimited by said feed path and said housing;    a light source disposed in said first area selected so that light rays emanating from said source transmit substantially through all material present in said at least one play area of said game ticket except for areas of said at least one play area covered by said light blocking material;    an image sensor assembly for generating image signals corresponding to said at least one play area, said image sensor assembly including an image sensor and imaging optic for imaging said play area onto said image sensor means said image sensor and said imaging optics, disposed in said second area, and a controller in communication with said imaging assembly adapted to capture an image representation of said at least one play area which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material; and    means for positioning said ticket in an optical path between said light source and said image sensor.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to sense the presence of a radiation-wavelength sensitive additive on said game ticket when said game ticket is of a type having a wavelength sensitive additive incorporated therein.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a brander for causing an indicator to be formed on said game ticket that indicates that said ticket has been processed.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is further adapted to capture an image representation corresponding substantially to an entire surface of said game ticket.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to determine whether said ticket has been played by analyzing image data of said play area image representation.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to determine whether said ticket has been played based on a percentage of non scratch-off material indicating pixels of said play area image representation.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to determine whether said ticket has been tampered with by analyzing image data of said play area image representation.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus id adapted to determine whether said ticket has been tampered with based on a percentage of non scratch-off material indicating image data of said play area image representation.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to capture image data corresponding to said image signals and is further adapted to determine a present identification code for each ticket received in said apparatus by searching for, and decoding bar code symbols which may be included in said captured image data, said controller operating in accordance with at least one potential processing subroutine for processing said ticket or said image data which may or may not be executed by said controller, said main program further adapting said apparatus to execute at least one decision stage in which said controller determines whether or not said controller will execute said at least one potential processing subroutine, said controller including a memory having a and lookup table stored in said memory correlating ticket identification codes with at least one control flag indicator indicating whether or not said controller should execute said at least one processing subroutine, wherein said controller, at said at least one decision stage accesses said lookup table in order to poll a control flag indicator which corresponds to said present identification code so that whether or not said controller executes said at least one potential processing subroutine is dependent on said identification code.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is adapted to execute an authentication subroutine, wherein said apparatus detects for a radiation sensitive additive which has been incorporated into a game ticket by analyzing image data captured from said at least one image sensor, wherein said at least one control flag indicator indicates whether said controller should execute said authentication subroutine so that whether or not said controller executes said authentication subroutine is dependent on said identification code.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is further adapted to determine a present identification code for each ticket received in said apparatus by searching for, and decoding bar code symbols which may be included in said captured image data, wherein said controller is further adapted to execute at least one processing subroutine which will vary depending on physical characteristics of the game ticket presently being read, said apparatus further including a memory having a lookup table stored in said memory correlating ticket identification codes with physical characteristic data, wherein said controller, when executing said at least one processing subroutine, reads from said lookup table physical characteristic data corresponding to an identification code of a ticket presently being read.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein physical characteristic data includes data pertaining to dimensions and location of said play area.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lottery game ticket includes a light sensitive additive incorporated therein, and wherein said physical characteristic data indicates characteristics of said light sensitive additive.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lottery ticket is manufactured to exhibit predetermined reflectance characteristics, and wherein said physical characteristic data indicates said predetermined reflectance characteristics.  
     
     
         15 . A system for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket of the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off material formed thereon, said system comprising: 
 a game ticket having scratch-off material formed on a play area, wherein said play area, in a layer exposed by removal of said scratch-off material has a light sensitive additive incorporated therein, and wherein said additive is a material that emits light in a second band of wavelengths when illuminated by light in a first band of wavelengths.    imaging means including imaging optic means responsive to said light in said second wavelength band for imaging said game ticket to capture image data representing said at least one play area, wherein said image data indicates contrast between areas of said play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said controller is further adapted to capture an image representation corresponding substantially to an entire surface of said game ticket.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to determine whether said ticket has been played by analyzing image data of said play area image representation.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to determine whether said ticket has been played based on a percentage of non scratch-off material indicating pixels of said play area image representation.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to determine whether said ticket has been tampered with by analyzing image data of said play area image representation.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to determine whether said ticket has been tampered with based on a percentage of non scratch-off material indicating image data of said play area image representation.