JP5425447B2 - GAME CHIP AND GAME SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming chip and a gaming system.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose game chips having a built-in wireless IC tag. In a betting device for betting a game bet at a casino or the like, a bet is placed by stacking and placing this game chip with a valuable value on a bet area on a bet table. Then, the bet amount betted by the player is determined by reading the wireless IC tag of the gaming chip placed for each betting area under the betting table by the antenna that reads the wireless IC tag.

  In order to reliably read the wireless IC tag built in the game chip, it is necessary to increase the intensity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the antenna that reads the wireless IC tag.

  However, since the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the antenna returns in a concentric loop, if the intensity of the electromagnetic wave is too strong, it is placed in another area adjacent to the area where the antenna is provided. There is also a risk of reading the wireless IC tag of the gaming chip.

As a means for preventing extra reading of the gaming chip as described above, it is conceivable to provide an electromagnetic shield on the side edge of the gaming chip. That is, if a shielding material made of a metal material is formed on the side edge of the gaming chip, the wireless IC tag built in the gaming chip is less susceptible to extraneous electromagnetic waves. It is possible to prevent reading as necessary.
JP 2001-148047 A JP 2003-331250 A

  However, if an electromagnetic shield is applied to the side edge of the gaming chip, there is a problem that the reading of the wireless IC tag of the gaming chip placed in the region where the antenna for transmitting electromagnetic waves is provided becomes unstable. is there.

  An object of the present invention is to ensure that a wireless IC tag is not read for a gaming chip in a region where reading is performed, while a wireless IC tag is not read for a gaming chip in a region other than the region where reading is performed. The tag is to be read.

The present invention includes a flat gaming medium body, a wireless IC tag provided on the gaming medium body, and a shield material formed on a side edge of the gaming medium body to shield the wireless IC tag from a magnetic field. A plurality of exposed portions on the side edge of the game medium main body that are not formed with the shield material from one end to the other end in the thickness direction of the game medium main body. is there.
The shield material is a gaming chip provided directly over the outer periphery of the side edge portion of the game medium main body excluding the exposed portion.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a game chip, a game table on which the game chip is placed, and the game chip placed on a placement area formed on the game table. Reading means, and the gaming chip includes a flat gaming medium body, a wireless IC tag provided on the gaming medium body, and a wireless IC tag formed on a side edge of the gaming medium body. A shield material that shields the magnetic field from a magnetic field, and an exposed portion where the shield material is not formed from one end to the other end in the thickness direction of the game medium body at a predetermined interval at a side edge of the game medium body This is a gaming system provided in plurality .
The shield material is a gaming system provided directly over the outer periphery of the side edge portion of the game medium body excluding the exposed portion.

  According to the present invention, while the wireless IC tag is not read for a gaming chip in a region other than the region where reading is performed by the shield material, the side plate of the gaming media body is placed on the side of the gaming media body. By providing at least one location where no shield material is formed from one end to the other in the thickness direction, the wireless IC tag is reliably read for gaming chips in the area where the reading is being performed. Can be made.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a roulette wheel. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the betting board of the gaming betting device. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the betting board.

  The roulette wheel 51 and the game betting device 1 are used in, for example, a casino in a casino hotel. That is, the player predicts the position of the roulette ball 61 put in the roulette wheel 51 and uses the game betting device 1 to bet the game chip 71 on the betting portion 3 corresponding to the position. Perform various games. The gaming betting device 1 and the gaming chip 71 constitute a gaming system 201 that is one embodiment of the present invention.

  The gaming betting device 1 has a plurality of betting portions 3 corresponding to the positions of the roulette wheel 51 on the upper surface thereof (for example, spots divided by numbers of 0, 00, 1, 2,..., 35, 36). Is provided, and a betting board 4 for betting game chips 71 is provided. Each betting portion 3 on the betting board 4 is an area on the upper surface of the betting board 4 divided by a frame 5. Each gaming chip 71 is provided with a wireless IC tag 72 in which information related to the gaming chip 71 is recorded. The roulette wheel 51 is provided with an output detecting device 52 for detecting the output position and the output type of the roulette ball 61 on the roulette wheel 51. Further, when the gaming chip 71 is bet on the betting part 3, the betting board 4 reads the information related to the gaming chip 71 recorded on the wireless IC tag 72, and thereby the betting position and the latch of the gaming chip 71 are read. A bet information detection device 11 (described later) for detecting value is provided. Further, although not shown in the figure, in the casino, based on the position of the roulette ball 61 on the roulette board 51 and the bet position and value of the game chip 71, a dividend for calculating the dividend of the game (roulette game). A calculation system (details omitted) is provided.

  The information related to the gaming chip 71 recorded in the wireless IC tag 72 includes a unique number (number identifying the gaming chip 71) that identifies the gaming chip 71, a value ($ 1, $ 5, $ 10, etc.), color, Information such as a place where the gaming chip 71 can be used (information for identifying a casino where the gaming chip 71 is used) is included. Further, only the unique number is recorded in the gaming chip 71, and other information is stored in association with the unique number in a predetermined server device in the casino, and the game chip 71 stores the information based on the unique number read from the wireless IC tag 72. Information may be searched.

  The appearance detecting device 52 is composed of an ID reading device (details are not shown). This ID reader includes an X-side transmitting antenna and an X-side receiving antenna that extend in parallel from the X-side scan driver, and a Y-side transmitting antenna and a Y-side receiving antenna that extend in parallel from the Y-side scan driver. It is configured by orthogonal arrangement. According to this ID reader, when scanning radio waves are transmitted from the X-side transmission antenna and the Y-side transmission antenna, reading radio waves rise near the cross point between the antennas. This radio wave for reading is received by the X-side receiving antenna and the Y-side receiving antenna, but if there is a roulette sphere 61 near the cross point, the reception state changes due to the impedance change accompanying the dielectric formation of the roulette sphere 61. Arise. The presence or absence of the roulette 61 is determined by detecting this change state.

  More specifically, the roulette wheel 51 has a circular rotating body structure, and a total of 38 pockets 54 (only a part of which are shown in the figure) are formed concentrically with respect to the central axis 53 thereof. ing. In each pocket 54, numbers (for example, 0, 00, 1, 2,..., 35, 36) corresponding to a plurality of betting portions 3 assigned to the betting board 4 are displayed. The cross points of the ID reader are respectively arranged in 38 pockets 54. When the roulette ball 61 enters the pocket 54, the roulette ball 61 is positioned on any cross point. Since the above-described radio wave for reading is always in a standing state during the game, only the reception state of the pocket 54 changes when the roulette ball 61 is positioned on a certain cross point. As a result, it is possible to detect where the roulette ball 61 has entered the roulette wheel 51 (where the pocket 54). The data detected at this time is sent to a PTS (player tracking system) server (not shown) in the casino hotel, and the history is collectively managed.

  The roulette ball 61 is provided with a wireless IC tag (not shown) in which roulette ball identification information for identifying the roulette ball 61 is recorded. This wireless IC tag is embedded in the roulette ball 61, and the roulette ball identification information includes information such as the origin of the roulette ball 61, a usable place (a casino in which the roulette ball 61 can be used), and the type of the ball. It is included. The roulette ball identification information recorded in the roulette ball identification information recording means can be read by the ID reading device of the roll detection device 52. Based on the read information, it is possible to discriminate between the roulette sphere 61 that can be used and those that are not. For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent the occurrence of fraud or infringement such as bringing in and using a forged roulette ball 61.

  In such a gaming system, a person who wants to play on the roulette wheel 51 enters the casino with a certification card. This proof card is a card issued by a card issuing machine at the hotel front for customers who check in at the casino hotel. The certification card is a card for identifying the customer. After the card is issued, the customer can use all facilities by presenting the certification card and receiving a check in the casino hotel. For example, in a cash register at a restaurant or bar in a hotel, the payment amount is stored in the hotel server of the casino hotel in association with the identification information of the customer by reading the certification card with a card reader, and the customer checks the casino hotel. When paying out, all payment charges are displayed on the front terminal of the hotel. That is, the certification card has a function as a credit card used for various settlements in the casino hotel.

  When a customer enters the casino with a proof card, a desired number of game chips 71 are obtained by a game chip issuing / settlement machine, and a proof card reading reader provided on the betting board 4 (not shown). Set the proof card to At this time, the reading device reads the contents of the certification card, identifies the customer, and recognizes it as a participant in the game. Recognition data from the reader is sent to the PTS server described above and registered as a participant in the current game. The reading method of the certification card can be arbitrarily set (magnetic reading method, optical reading method) according to the recording method (magnetic recording, optical recording) of the certification card.

  In the roulette game, first, the dealer turns the roulette wheel 51 to insert the roulette ball 71 into the roulette wheel 51. During this time, the game participants bet the game chips 71 on hand on the desired betting portion 3 of the betting board 4. In the example of FIG. 2, one participant bets on the corner (4, 5, 7, 8), another participant bets on the straight (9), and another participant bets on the column (2to1). Yes. At this time, the bet information detection device 11 detects the bet position of each participant and the value of the premium (the amount of the premium of 1 dollar, 5 dollars, 10 dollars, etc.), and the detection result is sent to the PTS server. History is managed collectively.

  Thereafter, when the rotation of the roulette wheel 51 becomes gentle and the output of the pocket 54 containing the roulette ball 61 is “8”, for example, the output position “8” of the roulette ball 61 is set by the output detecting device 52. Detected, the detection result is sent to the PTS server, and the history is collectively managed. The PTS server may collectively manage history and various data regarding roulette boards other than the roulette board 51 and other gaming machines such as slot machines.

  A payout calculation system is constructed in a totaling / analysis server (not shown) in the casino hotel, and the position of the roulette ball 61 on the roulette wheel 51 (the outcome “8” in the above example) and the gaming chip. Based on the bet position of 71 and the value of the bet, the dividend of the game (roulette game) is calculated.

  4 is a plan view of the gaming chip 71, FIG. 5 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged side view thereof.

  The gaming chip 71 has a wireless IC tag 72 built in a gaming medium main body 101 on a flat plate made of reinforced plastic or ceramic. The flat game medium 101 includes two main surfaces 100 having the largest area, and one end 106 to the other end 107 of the plate thickness direction 105 positioned in a direction perpendicular to the main surfaces 100. It has the side edge part 102 formed over the outer periphery. A shield material 103 is formed over the side edge portion 102 of the game medium main body 101. The shield material 103 is formed by plating or vapor-depositing a metal material such as iron, copper, or aluminum on the game medium main body 101, and serves as an electromagnetic shield that shields the wireless IC tag 72 from a magnetic field.

  The shield material 103 is not formed over the entire outer periphery of the side edge portion 102 of the game medium main body 101, and the shield medium 103 is not formed on the side edge portion 102 of the game medium main body 101 ( There are at least one exposed portion (exposed portion) 104, three in the example of FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the exposed portion 104 is a portion where the shield material 103 is not formed from one end 106 to the other end 107 in the thickness direction (arrow 105 direction) of the side edge portion 102 of the game medium main body 101. The width is, for example, about 1 mm.

  Next, the bet information detecting device 11 of the gaming betting device 1 constituting the gaming system 201 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electrical connection between the reading device 12, the control device 14, and the wireless IC tag 72 of the bet information detection device 11.

  The control device 14 generates a magnetic field to cause the wireless IC tag 72 to generate power with respect to the reading device 12, and reads the information recorded in the wireless IC tag 72 and transmits the data. Command.

  The reading device 12 includes a plurality of antennas (loop antennas) 21, a transmission / reception unit 22, a switching unit 23, and a control unit 24.

  The control unit 24 receives a command from the control device 14 and drives the transmission / reception unit 22 and the switching unit 23 according to the command.

  The transmission / reception unit 22 generates a magnetic field (electromagnetic field) for energizing the antenna 21 to generate electricity in the wireless IC tag 72. That is, the antennas 21 are sequentially switched, and a magnetic field is generated in order for each antenna 21. Simultaneously with the generation of this magnetic field, the switching unit 23 reads the information of the wireless IC tag 72 by demodulating the load-modulated radio wave signal by the transmission / reception unit 22.

  The wireless IC tag 72 is a so-called magnetic field type wireless IC tag, and includes a memory 73, a control unit 74, a transmission / reception unit 75, and an antenna 76. The memory 73 is a storage device that stores a unique number that identifies the gaming chip 71 (a number that identifies the gaming chip 71). Further, as described above, information such as value ($ 1, $ 5, $ 10, etc.) and color, a place where the gaming chip 71 can be used (information for identifying a casino where the gaming chip 71 is used), and the like are stored. You may do it. The control unit 74 interprets commands, requests, instructions, and the like received from the reading device 12 and executes operations in response thereto. The transmission / reception unit 75 includes a modulation unit (not shown) and a demodulation unit (not shown), and modulates / demodulates a signal in order to communicate with the reading device 12. The antenna 76 feeds power to the transmission / reception unit 75 by the magnetic field from the reading device 12, receives the modulated wave modulated from the transmission / reception unit 75, and radiates it into the air so that the reading device 12 receives it.

  As described above, the bet information detection device 11 performs power generation of the wireless IC tag 72 and reading of information of the wireless IC tag 72 by the antenna 21 of the reading device 12, but these are performed by separate antennas. You may make it do.

  Next, the switching unit 23 of the charging device 12 will be described.

  8 to 10 are circuit diagrams illustrating the configuration of the switching unit 23.

  The switching unit 23 includes an X side scan driver 41 and a Y side scan driver 42. A plurality of X-side transmission lines 43 extending in parallel with each other extend from the X-side scan driver 41. Further, a plurality of Y side transmission lines 44 extending in parallel to each other extend from the Y side scan driver 42. One of the plurality of X-side transmission lines 43 and the plurality of Y-side transmission lines 44 extend in the vertical direction and the other in the horizontal direction, and intersect each other. A relay circuit 45 is provided at each cross point. Each relay circuit 45 has one end of the coil 46 connected to the X-side transmission line 43 and the other end connected to the Y-side transmission line 44. A diode 48 is interposed on the X side transmission line 43 side of the coil 46 with the X side transmission line 43 side as a cathode side and the coil 46 side as an anode side. Normally, when each relay circuit 45 is turned off, each X-side transmission line 43 is maintained at the H level, and each Y-side transmission line 44 is maintained at the L level. When it is desired to turn on the switch 47 of any of the relay circuits 45, the X-side transmission line 43 to which the desired relay circuit 45 is connected at the cross point is switched to the L level, and similarly, the connection is made at the cross point. The Y-side transmission line 44 being switched is switched to the H level. This energizes the coil 46 and closes the switch 47.

  As shown in FIG. 10, each relay circuit 45 is provided with one relay circuit 45 for each antenna 21. That is, in each antenna 21, one antenna 21 is connected in series with one relay circuit 45. If a certain relay circuit 45 is off, the antenna 21 connected in series with the relay circuit 45 does not drive, When the relay circuit 45 is turned on, the antenna 21 connected in series with the relay circuit 45 is driven. Such a relay circuit 45 is a high frequency relay.

  Next, the arrangement of each antenna 21 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of the antennas 21 on the betting board 4. Numbers such as (11) number, (12) number, (13) number,... In this example, one or a plurality of antennas 21 are arranged corresponding to each bet portion 3. Then, the antennas 21 of all the betting portions 3 are sequentially driven one by one in the order of the betting portions 3 of (11), (12), (13),. The wireless IC tags 72 of the gaming chips 71 that have been read are sequentially read.

  FIG. 12 is a plan view showing another example of the arrangement of the antennas 21 on the betting board 4. In this example, a vertically long area 91 numbered (11), (12), (13),..., (51), (52), (53),. Each of the horizontally long regions 91 and the horizontally long regions 92 intersects with each other, and each of the rectangular regions intersecting with each other corresponds to each betting portion 3. Become. One or a plurality of antennas 21 are arranged corresponding to each of the vertically long regions 91, and one or a plurality of antennas 21 are arranged corresponding to each of the horizontally long regions 92. Therefore, by driving the antenna 21 in a certain area 91, the wireless IC tag 72 of the gaming chip 71 arranged on the area 91 can be read, and by driving the antenna 21 in a certain area 92, The wireless IC tag 72 of the gaming chip 71 arranged on the area 92 can be read.

  In this example, for example, the antennas 21 of the vertically long area 91 are sequentially driven in the order of number (11), number (12), number (13),..., And then number (51), number (52) , (53),... Are sequentially driven in the horizontally long area 92. For example, when the gaming chip 71 is placed in a plurality of betting parts 3 corresponding to the area 91 of (11), the wireless IC tags 72 of the gaming chips 71 in the entire area 91 are not distinguished from each other. Although the same reading operation will be performed for all of the horizontally long areas 92 (51), (52), (53),... Later, the reading results of the vertically long areas 91 are read. And the reading result of each horizontally long region 92 are ANDed, and the reading result of the wireless IC tag 72 of the gaming chip 71 placed in each betting portion 3 can be clarified.

  According to the gaming system 201 described above, the wireless IC tag 72 is not read by the shield material 103 for the gaming chip 71 placed on the betting portion 3 other than the betting portion 3 being read. be able to. On the other hand, the side edge portion 102 of the game medium main body 101 is provided with an exposed portion 104 where the shield material 103 is not formed from one end 106 to the other end 107 in the plate thickness direction 105 of the game medium main body 101. The wireless IC tag 72 can be surely read with respect to the gaming chip 71 in the betting portion 3 where the wireless IC tag 72 is being read.

It is a top view of the roulette wheel of the game system which is one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the betting board of the gaming betting device of the gaming system which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partially expanded perspective view of the betting board of the gaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the game chip of the game system which is one embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the game chip of the game system which is one embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial expanded side view of the game chip of the game system which is one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the electrical connection of the reader of the bet information detection apparatus of the game system which is one embodiment of this invention, a control apparatus, and a wireless IC tag. It is a circuit diagram explaining the structure of the switching part of the game system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit diagram explaining the structure of the switching part of the game system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit diagram explaining the structure of the switching part of the game system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of each antenna in the board for bets of the game system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of each antenna in the board for bets of the game system which is one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

71 gaming chip 72 wireless IC tag 102 side edge portion 103 shield material 104 exposed portion (exposed portion)
201 gaming system

Claims (4)

A flat game medium body;
A wireless IC tag provided in the game medium body;
A shield material formed on a side edge of the game medium body to shield the wireless IC tag from a magnetic field;
With
A plurality of exposed portions at which the shield material is not formed are provided at predetermined intervals from one end to the other end in the thickness direction of the game medium body on the side edge of the game medium body.
Gaming chips. The game chip according to claim 1, wherein the shield material is directly provided over an outer periphery of a side edge portion of the game medium main body excluding the exposed portion. Gaming chips,
A gaming table on which the gaming chips are placed;
Reading means for electromagnetically reading the gaming chip placed on a placement area formed on the gaming table;
With
The gaming chip is
A flat game medium body;
A wireless IC tag provided in the game medium body;
A shield material formed on a side edge of the game medium body to shield the wireless IC tag from a magnetic field;
With
A plurality of exposed portions at which the shield material is not formed are provided at predetermined intervals from one end to the other end in the thickness direction of the game medium body on the side edge of the game medium body.
Game system. The game system according to claim 3, wherein the shield material is directly provided over an outer periphery of a side edge portion of the game medium main body excluding the exposed portion.

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