Gaming table having an inductive interface and/or a point optical encoder

Abstract

A gaming table includes an inductive interface and/or a point optical encoder. The inductive interface is located beneath a playing surface of the gaming table and electromagnetically communicates with devices on the gaming table, such as a card shoe. The inductive interface generates an electromagnetic field between the source and the device without these items being in physical contact. Both electrical power and data are transferable through the electromagnetic field. Both the inductive interface and the devices are programmable. The point optical encoder can be in electromagnetic communication with the inductive interface and operate to optically read cards, successively, as the cards are individually removed from the card shoe. The inductive interface generates an electromagnetic field between the source and the device without these items being in physical contact. Both electrical power and data are transferable through the electromagnetic field. Both the inductive interface and the devices are programmable.

1 . A gaming system comprising: 
 at least one device having a first inductive interface member; and    a gaming table having a second inductive interface member located beneath a table surface, the first inductive interface member of the at least one device operably responsive to the second inductive interface member, wherein at least a portion of the table surface physically separates the at least one device from the second inductive interface member of the gaming table.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one device is configured to enhance play at the gaming table.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the second inductive member of the gaming table comprises a first planar coil positioned therein.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the first inductive interface of at least one device comprises a coil operable to carry a current induced from an electromagnetic field.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the second inductive interface of the gaming table comprises a coil operable to generate an electromagnetic field when the coil is subjected to an alternating current.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the table surface is a felt cover that covers at least a portion of the gaming table.  
   
   
       7 . A gaming table configured to carry at least one device, the gaming table comprising: 
 a playing surface on which a game is played;    a first inductive member positioned beneath the playing surface; and    a second inductive member positioned within a device, the first inductive member operable to be in electromagnetic communication with the second inductive member, wherein at least a portion of the table surface physically separates the first inductive member from the second inductive member.    
   
   
       8 . The gaming table of  claim 7  wherein the first inductive member and the second inductive member exchange machine-readable data via the electromagnetic communication.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming table of  claim 7  wherein the first inductive member transfers electrical power to the second inductive member via the electromagnetic communication.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming table of  claim 7  wherein the playing surface is opposed by a bottom surface.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming table of  claim 10  wherein the first inductive member is positioned beneath the bottom surface.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming table of  claim 10  wherein the first inductive member includes at least one inductive coil positioned beneath the bottom surface.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming table of  claim 7  wherein the playing surface includes: 
 an insulator member having a top surface and a bottom surface; and    a felt cover having a top surface opposed from a bottom surface, wherein the top surface of the insulator member is coupled to the bottom surface of the felt cover.    
   
   
       14 . The gaming table of  claim 7  wherein the first inductive member includes a first coil and the device includes a second coil.  
   
   
       15 . A gaming table having a playing surface and at least one device located proximate to the gaming table, the at least one device having a device inductive member, the gaming table comprising: 
 a table inductive member positioned beneath the playing surface; and    a power source coupled to the table inductive member to induce an inductive interface between the table inductive member and the device inductive member.    
   
   
       16 . The gaming table of  claim 15  wherein the table inductive member and the device inductive member exchange machine-readable data via the inductive interface.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming table of  claim 15  wherein the table inductive member transfers electrical power to the device inductive member via the inductive interface.  
   
   
       18 . A gaming system comprising: 
 table means for supporting at least one device;    cover means for covering the table means;    first inductive means for carrying a current in the presence of an electromagnetic field, the first inductive means positioned in the at least one device; and    second inductive means for generating the electromagnetic field, wherein the second inductive means is physically separated from the first inductive means by at least a portion of the cover means.    
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 18  wherein the cover means comprises a felt cover that covers at least a portion of the table means.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 18  wherein the first inductive means comprises a coil positioned in the at least one device.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming system of  claim 18  wherein the second inductive means comprises a coil positioned below a top surface of the cover means.  
   
   
       22 . A method of communication between a device positioned near a gaming table and the gaming table, the gaming table having a first inductive member and the device having a second inductive member positioned to form or interface with the first inductive member, the method comprising: 
 energizing the first inductive interface of the gaming table to generate an electromagnetic field; and    receiving an amount of electromagnetic energy at the second inductive interface of the device from the generated electromagnetic field.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein energizing the first inductive interface of the gaming table includes supplying a plurality of electrical signals encoding information to the first inductive interface.  
   
   
       24 . A gaming table having a playing surface, the gaming table comprising: 
 a card shoe positioned on the playing surface of the gaming table, the card shoe including a housing and a chute, the housing holding a plurality of playing cards, the chute configured to permit the playing cards to be removed, one-at-a-time, from the card shoe; and    a point optical encoder positioned in the gaming table proximate the chute of the card shoe, the point optical encoder including an illumination source and a sensor, the illumination source operable to direct light onto at least a portion of at least one of the playing cards after the at least one of the playing cards is removed from the card shoe, the sensor positioned to receive at least some of the light reflected from the at least one of the playing cards.    
   
   
       25 . The gaming table of  claim 24  wherein the illumination source is an infrared light source.