Prize identifier for amusement-type prize-play collection device

Abstract

An amusement-type prize-play device includes a housing which defines a prize area for containing prizes for winning as a result of play of the device, at least one prize comprising a container and an RFID tag movably disposed in the container so as to assume a reading position within the container regardless of an orientation of the prize. The device further includes a prize collection area, a moveable prize play mechanism for use in attempting to capture at least one of the prizes and move the prize to the prize collection area, a player input device including a device for receiving input from a player to control said movable prize play mechanism, and an RFID reader configured to read the RFID tag when the prize is moved to the prize collection area and the RFID tag is in the reading position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An amusement-type prize-play device comprising:
 a housing defining a prize area for containing one or more prizes for winning as a result of the play of the amusement-type game device, at least one prize of the one or more prizes comprising a container and an RFID tag movably disposed in the container so as to assume a reading position within the container regardless of an orientation of the at least one prize;   a prize collection area;   a moveable prize play mechanism for use in attempting to capture the at least one prize and move the at least one prize to the prize collection area;   at least one player input device comprising a device for receiving input from a player to control said movable prize play mechanism; and   an RFID reader configured to read the RFID tag when the at least one prize is moved to the prize collection area and the RFID tag is in the reading position.   
     
     
         2 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein an interior of the container is spherically-shaped such that when the at least one prize is in the prize collection area, the RFID tag is disposed horizontal in the container with respect to the RFID reader, regardless of the orientation of the at least one prize with respect to the RFID reader. 
     
     
         3 . The device in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the container is spherically-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The device in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the container comprises a first container, wherein the at least one prize further comprises a second container and a prize item, and wherein the first container and the prize item are each disposed in an interior area of the second container. 
     
     
         5 . The device in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the second container comprises a body and at least one end cap coupled to the body, and wherein the body is cylindrical-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said prize collection area comprises a tray having a bottom side, and wherein the RFID reader is associated with the bottom side of the tray. 
     
     
         7 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said movable prize play mechanism comprises a crane. 
     
     
         8 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said movable prize play mechanism comprises a claw. 
     
     
         9 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader has an antenna having a radial direction, and wherein, when the RFID tag is in the reading position with respect to the RFID reader, the RFID tag is disposed perpendicular to the radial direction. 
     
     
         10 . The device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said prize collection area comprises a tray, and wherein the RFID reader is associated with a bottom side of the tray such that the radial direction of the antenna is vertical and the reading position of the RFID tag is horizontal. 
     
     
         11 . A method of generating a prize-winning outcome with an amusement-type prize-play device, comprising:
 receiving input from a player to control a movable prize play mechanism with at least one player input device;   moving said movable prize play mechanism at least in part based on said input in order to move a prize from a prize area to a prize collection area, the prize comprising a container and an RFID tag movably disposed in the container so as to assume a reading position within the container regardless of an orientation of the prize;   using an RFID reader to read the RFID tag when the prize is moved to the prize collection area and the RFID tag is in the reading position;   receiving an output of the RFID reader responsive to the RFID reader reading the RFID tag; and   generating a prize-winning outcome based on the reading of the RFID tag by the RFID reader.   
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the container has an interior area which is spherically-shaped such that when the prize is in the prize collection area, the RFID tag is disposed horizontal in the container with respect to the RFID reader. 
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the container is spherically-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the container is a first container, wherein the prize further comprises a second container and a prize item, and wherein the first container and the prize item are each disposed internal with respect to the second container. 
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the second container comprises a body and at least one end cap coupled to the body, and wherein the body is cylindrical-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said prize collection area comprises a tray having one or more sides, and wherein the RFID reader is associated with a bottom side of said tray. 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein moving said movable prize play mechanism comprises:
 grabbing the prize with said movable prize play mechanism from the prize area;   lifting the prize with said movable prize play mechanism from the prize area; and   moving the prize to the prize collection area with said movable prize play mechanism.   
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said movable prize play mechanism comprises either a claw or a crane. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the RFID reader has an antenna having a radial direction, and wherein, when the RFID tag is in the reading position with respect to the RFID reader, the RFID tag is disposed perpendicular to the radial direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said prize collection area comprises a tray, and wherein the RFID reader is associated with a bottom side of the tray such that the radial direction of the antenna is vertical and the reading position of the RFID tag is horizontal.