GB2275357A - Anticounterfeiting device for gaming chips - Google Patents

Abstract

An interchip (11) for implantation into a gaming chip or token (27) provides a circular array of light-receiving faces (19) arrayed about the circumference of the chip or token. Light received by one face (19) is conducted to the remainder of the faces (19) by a number of internal fingers (17) which communicate light to and from a central portion. The number of fingers and, hence, faces is selected to reflect the value and, hence, authenticity of the chip or token. Racks of such chips may be scanned or illuminated to detect their value or authenticity. <IMAGE>

Description

ANTICOUNTERFEITING DEVICE POR GABG CHIPS The subject invention relates to gaming devices and, more particularly, to an anticounterfeiting device for gaming chips. typically used in casinos.

The use of counterfeit chips to defraud gaming establishments is a continuing problem. In a typical scheme, a counterfeit chip is exchanged for an authentic chip of high value, for example, $10,000, S20.000, or even $50,000, and the authentic chip cashed in. Because of the simple nature of typical gaming chips, they are relatively easily counterfeited. Various efforts to combat counterfeiting have been einployed. These have included the use of chips of specially-selected colors, application of universal product codes or bar codes to the chips, holographic designs, and the employment of special computer chips embedded in the gaming chips.A universal problem with these various techniques is that only one chip at a time can be examined to discern whether it is authentic. Various methods are also expensive or impractical to implement. For example, the impleentation of relatively inexpensive and small computer chips in gaming chips is impractical because the computer chips are destroyed by the high temperatures used in forming typical plastic gaming chips, According to one aspect of the invention, an anticounterfeiting device for implantation within a chip or token comprises: a generally planar central light-conducting portion; and a plurality of fingers extending from said central light-conducting portion in a generally planar relation to said central portion, each finger terminating in a respective face, such that light received by a face of one of said fingers is transmitted to the faces of each of the remaining fingers.

When light is shined at one point on the edge of the chip, the remaining fingers light up, and their number is an indication of the type and, therefore, the authenticity of the chip.

The invention provides an anticounterfeiting device which may be embedded in plastic gaming chips or tokens during fabrication to permit examination of a group of gaming chips en masse to discern their authenticity and which is readily and inexpensively manufactured.

Some examples of devices and chips incorporating devices according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of an interchip according to the preferred embodiment; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating implantation of an interchip according to the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment.

Figure 4 illustrates a stack of chips or tokens employing the preferred embodiment; and Figures 5A-5D illustrate further configurations of interchip devices according to the preferred embodiment.

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contentplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specs cally to provide a particularly useful and readily nanufacturabl interchip embodiment.

Figure 1 illustrates an interchip including a centroid portion 16 and a number of rectangular fingers or spokes 17 extending therefrom. The centroid 16 shown in Figure 1 is generally circular, and the fingers or pokes 17 extend radially from the periphery or circumfer- once of the centroid 16. The centroid 16 could, of course, be various other geonetrical shapes consistent with the desired function: hereafter described in more detail.

The interchip 11 ii preferably planar and of a uniform thickness, for example, .010-inch thick. Its outside diameter may be, for example, 1.590 inches, the diameter of a typical casino chip Th interchip may be manufactured from Mylar", made by DuPont, any Mylar"-based resin, a plexiglas resin, a phenolic resin, glass, or any other translucent wateri21 which will distribute light received by one finger 17 to the other fingers 17, as described in more detail hereafter.

As shown in Figure 2, the interchip 11 is implanted within a conventional chip or token 27. In Figure 2, the chip or token 27 has been split into two halves, 23, 25, to illustrate the placement of the interchip 11. Once implanted, only the faces 19 of the fingers 17 of the interchip 11 are visible, distributed around the edge of the chip or token 27. The faces 19 may, in fact, lie slightly beneath a very thin layer of the conventional chip material.

When implanted, the interchip 11 tends to take on the color of the chip or token 27. Thio factor, together with its thin cros ection of, e.g., .olO-inch, makes th. interchip 11 "ery difficult to detect when in place.

In basic operation, when light shins on one of the faces 19 of the interchip 11, it illuminates all the interchip faces 19 distributed along the edge of the chip 27. The number of faces 19 can than be counted and used as an identifier of the type or dollar amount of the chip or token. By using a different number of fingers having different widths, the nd user is able to deterznine the specific value of an individual chip or token 27. The number of fingers 17 may be viewed as a simple binary code that can be read by an electronic reading device.

The interchips 11 themselves may be readily menufactured by various Xnown techniques, such as laser cutting or, sor- preferably, by being punched out by a punch press. This latter technique provide a roughened edge which enhances the visibility of the interchip pattern. The interchip 11 can be readily incorporated into the standard procedures for manufacturing casino chips or tokens out of plastic. Such techniques include injection molding or molding between two thixotropic plastic sheets. After the chips are fabricated with the interchip installed, the outside edge is preferably ground, again to provide greater visibility of the faces 19 of the. fingers 17.

In a casino, chips 27 are typically contained in a rack, e.g., 33, as shown in Figure 4. According to the embodiment of Figure 4, a light source 35, such as a light box, may underlie a rack of horizontally-dispc > sed chips 27. The denomination or authenticity of the chips 27 may then be readily ascertained by viewing the faces 19. In the embodiment of Figure 4, light enters the interchip 11 of each chip through one or more of the faces 19, travels through the interchip 11, and exits through the other faces 19, enabling a visual recognition of authenticity.

Chips 27 including the interchip 11 may also be vertically stacked and similarly backlit. A scanner mechanism may be provided to scan chips 27 including respective interchips 11 to determine their value or authenticity. The preferred embodiment may find application in various gaming situations, as well as other areas where tokens are used, for example, such as subways or tollways.

Figures 5A-5D illustrate four further examples of interchips with different numbers of fingers. These could be associated, for example, with four chips of different denomination.

Claims (12)

1. l. An anticounterfeiting device for

   implantation within a chip or token comprising: a generally planar central light-conducting portion; and a plurality of fingers extending from said central light-conducting portion in a generally planar relation to said central portion, each finger terminating in a respective face, such that light received by a face of one of said tingers is transmitted to the faces of each of the remaining fingers.
2. 2. Apparatus comprising: a generally flat token having a peripheral edges an implant device embedded in said flat token; said implant device including a light conducting central potion from which a plurality of fingers extend so as to present a plurality of faces arrayed along said edge1 said fingers further being formed of light-conducting material such that light applied to one of said faces illuminates the rewaindtr thereof.
3. 3. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein said flat token is disc-shaped and wherein said periphery is circular.
4. 4. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said central portion is circular and said fingers comprise a plurality of spikes extending from said central portion.
5. 5. Apparatus comprising: a gaming chip having front and bottom surfaces and an edge; and means embedded in said gaming chip for presenting a plurality of light-receiving faces about the circumference of said chip and for conducting light received at one of said faces to the remainder of said faces.
6. 6. A system comprising: a plurality of gaming chips according to claim 5, each of generally circular configuration; rack means for retaining said chips in a stack; and light source means for illuminating a plurality of said chips.
7. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said peripheral edge is circular.
8. 8. The system of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said means presenting a plurality of light-receiving faces comprises a plurality of light-conducting fingers.
9. 9. A system according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein chips of different denomination present respectively different numbers of light-receiving faces.
10. 10. An anticounterfeiting device for implantation within a chip or token substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the examples shown in the accompanying drawings.
11. 11. Apparatus comprising a gaming chip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the examples shown in the accompanying drawings.
12. 12. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the examples shown in the accompanying drawings.