Gaming table activity sensing and communication matrix

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.

1 . A method of detecting gaming activity on a gaming table, the method comprising: 
 providing at least one grid of sensors positioned over an area defined by at least a portion of the surface of a gaming table to sense the presence or absence of gaming elements on the gaming table surface;    sensing with said sensors gaming elements on the gaming table surface;    sending signals from the sensors to a logic control device indicating the presence or absence of the gaming elements;    the logic control device sending 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.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sensors comprise optical sensors.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the grid of sensors is an array of uniformly distributed phototransistors.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the optical sensors detect the presence of at least one of wagering chips and cards on the gaming table surface.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the logic control device does not process the signals from the sensors before forwarding signals to the processor.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the logic control device is selected from an FPGA and an ASIC.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  of measuring wagering activity on a gaming table wherein at least some sensors comprise RF antennae and emitters, the method comprising: 
 providing a first antenna positioned to measure a first quantity or value of RF responsive gaming chips on a gaming table surface;    providing at least one additional sensor as an additional antenna sensitive to an RF responsive component within an area defined by the first antenna;    reading chips wagered within the area defined by the first antenna and reading all chips within the area defined by the at least one additional antenna; and    automatically determining the type of wagers made.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the type of wagers made is selected from the group consisting of a primary bet, a side bet, a play wager, a double down wager and an insurance wager.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein signals are provided by antennae, the signals provided by the antennae are sent to a logic control system, and the logic control systems sends signals to a data storage base.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising sending data relating to the wagers made to a data receiver.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the signals are data generated by the logic control system from the signals provided by the antennae.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the grid of sensors send signals to at least a first level of multiplexers to combine signals so that signals from multiple sensors can be sent to a logic control system contemporaneously.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the grid of RF sensors send signals to at least a first level of multiplexers to combine signals so that signals from multiple sensors can be sent to a logic control system contemporaneously.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for playing a wagering game comprising: 
 a grid of multiple sensors for sensing gaming elements distributed within an area of an upper surface of a gaming table;    a logic control system in communication with the grid of multiple sensors to receive signals from the multiple sensors indicating the presence and absence of gaming elements; and    the logic control system in communication connection with a processor to send signals from the logic control system to the processor so that the signals are at least stored by the processor.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of optical sensors and RF sensors.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the sensors comprise phototransistors.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the phototransistors are in communication with at least a first level of multiplexers in a communication path before signals from the phototransistors are sent to the logic control system.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the logic control system comprises at least one FPGA or ASIC.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the logic control system is incapable of executing code on the signals from the phototransistors before sending signals to the processor.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  for measuring activity on a gaming table wherein: 
 at least some phototransistors are provided as circuit boards bearing a plurality of phototransistors, and there are a multiplicity of the circuit boards comprising at least a first and second circuit board spaced on an area used for sensing a position of gaming objects on a gaming table; and    a third circuit board bearing at least one RFID antenna, wherein the third circuit board comprises apertures indexed to the optical sensors in the first and second circuit boards, such that when the third circuit board is positioned over the first and second circuit boards, the phototransistors can sense activity on the gaming table.    
     
     
         21 . A method of monitoring game play activity on a gaming table, including the steps of: 
 providing a matrix of gaming object presence sensors on a gaming surface, at least two object presence sensors within the matrix for sensing at least two separate gaming objects;    placing gaming objects on the gaming surface;    sensing the gaming objects on the gaming surface;    characterizing at least one of a shape, a size, a location of each gaming object based on the sensed information; and    using the characterization to determine game play activity.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the gaming objects are selected from the group consisting of: a card, a wager, a die, a marker and currency.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the object presence sensors are selected from the group comprising optical sensors and RF sensors.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  and further comprising providing a card handling device capable of reading rank and suit, selected from the group consisting of a card shuffler, a card reading shoe and a discard rack.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the game play activity determined is selected from the group consisting of: determining a location of a dealt card, determining that a wager has been made, distinguishing between a primary bet and a side bet, determining if a player split a pair, determining if a player doubled down, determining if a player placed an insurance bet, determining if a player increased a bet, determining if a player withdrew a bet, determining if the player took one or more hit cards and determining if the player busted.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the game play activity determined is selected from the group consisting of: the rank and/or suit of each card in a player's initial hand and the rank and/or suit of additional cards dealt to a player's initial hand.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  and further comprising the step of providing a plurality of RFID antennas capable of reading the value of wagers placed within an area defined by an antenna.  
     
     
         28 . A method of measuring wagers on a gaming table surface comprising: 
 providing at least one RFID antenna and RFID transmitter on a gaming table for sensing wagers made with RFID chips, the transmitter capable of sending signals to a RFID chip to alter the RF activity state of the chip;    sensing a value of the wagers by reading information on the RFID chips with the antenna; and    altering the activity state of the chip.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the activity states of the chip are selected from the group consisting of an active mode and a sleep mode.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for reading RF gaming chips on a gaming table, comprising: 
 A gaming table surface;    A first and second RF antenna on the gaming table surface, each with an area defined by the antenna, wherein the area of the first antenna is located within the area of the second antenna.