Rfid shuffler system for game pieces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a RFID shuffler system in which a radio frequency identification (RFID) is associated with each game piece. The game pieces can be, for example, revealer devices, cards, and dice or Mah Jongg tiles. A random number generator selects an identification value and sends an activation signal to the RFID tag of the game piece matching the identification value. For example, a RFID reader can read the RFID tag including the selected identification value. After the activation signal is received at the RFID tag of the game piece, the game piece can be activated, for example, by having activation of an associated light or activation of a vibration or sound. Alternatively, a housing or game board can activate received game pieces for selection of the game pieces.

1 . A shuffler system comprising:
 a plurality of game pieces;   a RFID tag coupled to each of said game pieces;   random selection means for randomly selecting one of said game pieces and forwarding an activation signal to said RFID tag associated with said selected game piece; and   activation means associated with each of said game pieces for receiving said activation signal and providing activation of said activation means upon receipt of said activation signal.   
   
   
       2 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein said random selection means comprises:
 a random number generator for randomly selecting an identification of one of said RFID tags coupled to said game piece.   
   
   
       3 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein said activation means provides a light. 
   
   
       4 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein said activation means provides a vibration or sound. 
   
   
       5 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a housing for holding said game pieces.   
   
   
       6 . The shuffler system of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a mechanical arm for moving said game pieces within said housing.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a game piece placement activation device associated with a game surface;   said game piece placement activation device being activated after the game piece is selected for indicating placement of the game piece on the game surface.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said RFID tag sends information of the RFID tag associated with the selected game piece to the game piece placement activation device; said game piece placement activation device verifies that the selected game piece is placed on the game surface. 
   
   
       9 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein the game piece is a revealer device, said revealer device comprises:
 a housing for receiving a game piece, said housing including an opaque portion for covering at least a portion of said game piece, said opaque portion being movable for gradually revealing at least one marking on said at least one portion of said game piece.   
   
   
       10 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein said opaque portion comprises:
 a pair of movable doors, said movable doors being movable toward one another into an open position for revealing said at least one marking on one or more outer portions of said game pieces.   
   
   
       11 . The shuffler system of  claim 10  wherein upon movement of said movable doors towards one another said movable doors can be moved in a vertical direction for revealing said at least one marking on an inner portion of said game piece. 
   
   
       12 . The shuffler system of  claim 9  wherein said game piece is a card and said at least one marking is a representative of a suit. 
   
   
       12 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein the revealer device comprises:
 a housing including an opaque portion for covering an inner portion of said housing, at least on marking being marked on said inner housing, said opaque portion being movable for gradually revealing said at least one marking.   
   
   
       14 . The shuffler system of  claim 12  wherein said opaque portion comprises:
 a pair of movable doors, said movable doors being movable toward one another into an open position for revealing said at least one marking on one or more outer portions of said inner housing.   
   
   
       15 . The shuffler system of  claim 14  wherein upon movement of said movable doors towards one another said movable doors can be moved in a vertical direction for revealing said at least one marking on an inner portion of said inner housing. 
   
   
       16 . The shuffler system of  claim 12  wherein said at least one marking is a representative of a suit. 
   
   
       17 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein the revealer device comprises:
 a housing receiving or being placed over a game piece, said housing having one or more opaque portions positioned over one or more portions of said game piece, each of said opaque portions being individually rotated or slid to subsequently reveal corresponding one or more transparent portions positioned beneath said one or more opaque portions, said one or more transparent portions revealing corresponding one or more portions of said game piece.   
   
   
       18 . The shuffler system of  claim 17  wherein said opaque portion is a disc formed of an opaque material. 
   
   
       19 . The shuffler system of  claim 1  wherein the revealer device comprises:
 a circular housing including a slot extending radially from an edge of said circular housing to a center of said circular housing; and   a circular game piece including a slot extending radially from an edge of said circular game piece to a center of said circular game piece, said game piece including one or more values, said slot of said circular housing being placed adjacent said slot of said game piece wherein said circular housing is rotated to reveal said one or more values of said game piece.   
   
   
       20 . A shuffler system comprising:
 a housing for receiving a plurality of game pieces;   one or more sensors associated with said housing for sensing said game pieces;   random selection means for randomly selecting one of said sensors; and   activation means associated with the sensor said activation means providing an indication that said sensor was selected by the random selection means.   
   
   
       21 . The shuffler system of  claim 20  providing said random selection means comprises:
 a random number generator for randomly selecting one of said sensors.   
   
   
       22 . The shuffler system of  claim 20  wherein said activation means provides a light. 
   
   
       23 . The shuffler system of  claim 20  wherein said activation means provides a vibration or sound. 
   
   
       24 . A shuffler system comprising a housing, said housing having a plurality of slots for receiving a game piece;
 random selection means for randomly selecting one of said slots; and   activation means for activating the slot selected by the random selection means.   
   
   
       25 . The shuffler system of  claim 24  wherein said random selection means comprises:
 a random number generator for randomly selecting an identification of one of said RFID tags coupled to said game piece   
   
   
       26 . The shuffler system of  claim 24  wherein said activation means provides a light. 
   
   
       27 . The shuffler system of  claim 24  wherein said activation means provides a vibration or sound.