The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1997
John G. Breeding, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
James P. Helgesen, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Shuffle Master, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention is for an apparatus for detecting the presence of a gaming token. This apparatus comprises a gaming structure having at least one predetermined location for receiving a gaming token. In a casino, this gaming structure can be a gaming table. At each predetermined location for receiving a gaming token designated on the gaming table, a proximity sensor is mounted to the gaming table such that each sensor is aligned with one predetermined location. A decoder is electrically connected to each proximity sensor for determining whether a gaming token is present at each predetermined location. When the presence of a gaming token is sensed by the decoder, the player's bet is registered.