Illuminated gaming tile and charging system

Abstract

An electronic gaming tile includes a lighting system so that the tile emits light which can be seen during game play in low-light conditions. The tile may be for example, a domino or other gaming tile type (for example, mahjong). The tile includes a shell with a removable rear cover, which define a shell interior cavity that houses a tile power source, a tile controller board, and a light source. Some aspects include a storage case configured with a charging system that charges the tile power source of each tile to provide power to the light source when the tile is to be used for game play.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaming tile, comprising:
 a shell comprising a shell front, a shell bottom, a shell top, and two shell sides; said shell having an open back defined by rear edges of said shell bottom, of said shell top, and of said two shell sides; said shell further comprising at least one shell front light aperture disposed on said shell front and at least one shell bottom aperture disposed on said shell bottom;   a rear cover removably attachable to said shell to close said shell open back; wherein said shell and said rear cover define a shell interior cavity;   a tile power source disposed within said shell interior cavity;   a controller board disposed within said shell interior cavity and connected to said tile power source;   a light source disposed within said shell interior cavity and connected to said controller board; wherein, when said controller board provides power to said light source, light is produced that is visible through said at least one shell front light aperture; and   at least one conductive charging node disposed within said at least one shell bottom aperture and connected to said tile power source.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises at least one multi-color LED chip configured to produce a plurality of LED colors; wherein said controller board assigns a first one of said plurality of LED colors to said at least one multi-color LED chip; and wherein said controller board reassigns a second one of said plurality of LED colors to said gaming tile. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a light leak-prevention seal disposed within said shell interior cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said light leak-prevention seal comprises a dark sheet of material disposed forward of said rear cover to minimize leaking of light at a junction of said rear cover and said shell open back. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic component disposed within a second one of said at least one shell bottom aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said magnetic component comprises a magnetic metal. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a centrally disposed groove extending laterally across a front surface of said shell front; and wherein said gaming tile is recognizable by a user as a domino. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a light sensor disposed on said shell front to sense when said gaming tile is positioned face down; wherein said controller board provides power to or withdraws power from said light source based on said sensing of said light sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one conductive charging node comprises a USB connector. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said gaming tile further comprises two communication assemblies, each of which is disposed on an opposing side of said shell interior cavity. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming tile, comprising:
 a shell comprising a shell front, a shell bottom, a shell top, and two shell sides; said shell having an open back defined by rear edges of said shell bottom, of said shell top, and of said two shell sides; said shell further comprising at least one shell front light aperture disposed on said shell front and at least two shell bottom apertures disposed on said shell bottom;   a rear cover removably attachable to said shell to close said shell open back; wherein said shell front, said shell bottom, said shell top, said shell sides, and said rear cover define a shell interior cavity;   a battery disposed within said shell interior cavity;   a controller board disposed within said shell interior cavity and connected to said battery;   a light source disposed within said shell interior cavity and connected to said controller board; wherein, when said controller board provides power to said light source, light is produced that is visible through said at least one shell front light aperture; wherein said light source comprises at least one multi-color LED chip configured to produce a plurality of LED colors; wherein said controller board assigns a first one of said plurality of LED colors to said at least one multi-color LED chip; and wherein said controller board reassigns a second one of said plurality of LED colors to said gaming tile;   a light leak-prevention seal disposed within said shell interior cavity that comprises a dark sheet of material disposed forward of said rear cover to minimize leaking of light at a junction of said rear cover and said shell open back;   a magnetic component disposed within one of said at least two shell bottom apertures disposed on said shell bottom; and   at least one conductive charging node disposed within said at least two shell bottom apertures and connected to said battery.   
     
     
         12 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a centrally disposed groove extending laterally across a front surface of said shell front; and wherein said gaming tile is recognizable by a user as a domino. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a light sensor disposed on said shell front to sense when said gaming tile is positioned face down; wherein said controller board provides power to or withdraws power from said light source based on said sensing of said light sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one conductive charging node comprises a USB connector. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming tile as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said gaming tile further comprises two communication modules, each of which is disposed on an opposing side of said shell interior cavity. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic gaming tile system, comprising:
 a plurality of electronic gaming tiles, each of said plurality of electronic gaming tiles comprising:
 a shell comprising a shell front, a shell bottom, a shell top, and two shell sides; said shell having an open back defined by rear edges of said shell bottom, of said shell top, and of said two shell sides; said shell further comprising at least one shell front light aperture disposed on said shell front and at least one shell bottom aperture disposed on said shell bottom; 
 a rear cover removably attachable to said shell to close said shell open back; wherein said shell and said rear cover define a shell interior cavity; 
 a battery disposed within said shell interior cavity; 
 a tile controller board disposed within said shell interior cavity and connected to said battery; 
 a light source disposed within said shell interior cavity and connected to said tile controller board; wherein, when said tile controller board provides power to said light source, light is produced that is visible through said at least one shell front light aperture; and 
 at least one conductive tile charging node disposed within said at least one shell bottom apertures and connected to said battery. 
   a charging case for charging said plurality of electronic gaming tiles comprising:
 a base; 
 an upper frame that is removably attachable to said base to form a lid; 
 a plurality of compartments disposed within said base; wherein each of said plurality of compartments is configured to receive one of said plurality of electronic gaming tiles; and wherein each of said plurality of compartments comprises at least one compartment contact that is functional to transfer power or power and data to said at least one conductive tile charging node; 
 a charger power source; and 
 an electrical bus system coupled to said charging power source and to each of said plurality of compartments. 
   
     
     
         17 . The electronic gaming tile system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein:
 each of said plurality of electronic gaming tiles comprises a tile magnetic component;   said charging case comprises a corresponding case magnetic component; and   when one of said plurality of electronic gaming tiles is seated in one of said plurality of compartments, said tile magnetic component and said case magnetic components are magnetically attracted to align said at least one conductive tile charging node with said at least one compartment contact.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic gaming tile system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein:
 said light source comprises at least one multi-color LED chip configured to produce a plurality of LED colors;   said charging case further comprises a user-activatable color selection button that when pressed a first time sends a first color control signal through said at least one compartment contact and through said at least one conductive tile charging node to control said at least one multi-color LED chip to display a first color; and   when said user-activatable color selection button is pressed a second time a second color control signal is sent through said at least one compartment contact and through said at least one conductive tile charging node to control said at least one multi-color LED chip to display a second color.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic gaming tile system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said gaming tile is recognizable by a user as a domino. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic gaming tile system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said light source comprises at least one multi-color LED chip configured to produce a plurality of LED colors; wherein, when one of said plurality of electronic gaming tiles is installed into one of said plurality of compartments, said tile controller board detects a battery power level of said battery and controls said at least one multi-color LED chip to display a first color to indicate a low battery power level and controls said at least one multi-color LED chip to display a second color to indicate a high battery power level.