Game token verification system

Abstract

A game token verification system includes a coin passage defined in a game machine, a perforated game token, a game token sensor installed in the coin passage and adapted for sensing movement of the game token through the coin passage and producing a corresponding identification signal indicative of the pattern of the perforations of the game token, and a comparator installed in the game machine and adapted for receiving the identification signal produced by the game token sensor and comparing the received identification signal to a predetermined reference data and recognizing the authenticity of the game token subject to the comparison result.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to game technology and more particularly, to a game token verification system, which includes a coin passage defined in a game machine, a perforated game token, a game token sensor installed in the coin passage and adapted for sensing movement of the game token through the coin passage and producing a corresponding identification signal indicative of the pattern of the perforations of the game token, and a comparator installed in the game machine and adapted for receiving the identification signal produced by the game token sensor and comparing the received identification signal to a predetermined reference data and recognizing the authenticity of the game token subject to the comparison result.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Slot machine (fruit machine or poker machine) is a coin-operated gambling machine that pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Modern computer technology has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept. Game tokens are commonly used in lieu of currency in game machines. One casino or game center provides one specific kind of game tokens for play. To prevent the use of counterfeit game tokens in a game machine, every game token issued for use in one specific game center carries an identification sign, and a game token verification sensor is installed in each game machine to verify the authenticity of every inserted game token The identification sign can be an arched slot. The game token verification sensor includes multiple light emitter and receiver sets arranged in a crossed manner in the game machine for sensing the identification sign of each inserted game token. By means of sensing the length and location of the arched slot, an identification signal is obtained and compared to a reference value for determination of the authenticity of the detected game token. This game token verification speed of this design of game token verification system is slow. An improvement in this regard is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a game token verification system, which verifies the authenticity of each inserted game token rapidly and accurately.

[0006] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a game token verification system comprises a coin passage defined in a game machine and having a bottom side edge, a game token movable through the coin passage along the bottom side edge, the game token being a small disc used in lieu of currency in the game machine and having perforations made subject to a predetermined pattern, a game token sensor installed in the coin passage and adapted for sensing the presence of a game token in the coin passage and producing a corresponding identification signal, the game token sensor comprising a plurality of light emitter and receiver sets arranged along multiple concentric circles in the coin passage in such a manner that the distance between the center of the concentric circles and the bottom side edge of the coin passage is equal to the radius of the game token, and a comparator installed in the game machine and adapted for receiving the identification signal produced by the game token sensor and comparing the received identification signal to a predetermined reference data and recognizing the identification of the game token subject to the comparison result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a game token in accordance with the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a game token verification system used in a game machine in accordance with the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing, illustrating the arrangement of the game token sensor of the game token verification system used in a game machine in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a game token verification system in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a game token 1, a coin passage 2 and a game token sensor 3.

[0011] The game token 1 is a small disc used in lieu of currency in the game machine in which the coin passage 2 is defined. The small disc of the game token 1 has perforations 11 made subject to a predetermined pattern. The coin passage 2 is configured for the passing of the game token 1. The game token sensor 3 is installed in the coin passage 2, comprising a plurality of light emitter and receiver sets 31 arranged along multiple concentric circles in the coin passage 2 in such a manner that the distance between the center of the concentric circles and the bottom side edge of the coin passage 2 is equal to the radius of the game token 1. The light emitter and receiver sets 31 of the game token sensor 3 are electrically connected to a comparator (not shown) in the game machine. The comparator of the game machine has installed therein a reference data.

[0012] When the game token 1 is passing through the game token sensor 3 in the coin passage 2 of the game machine, the center of the game token 1 will be moved over the center of the concentric circles along which the light emitter and receiver sets 31 are arranged. At this time, the game token sensor 3 will obtain an identification signal from the game token 1 subject to the pattern of the perforations 11 of the game token 1. The identification signal thus obtained is then provided to the comparator for comparison with the preset reference data. When the value of the identification signal matches, the game token 1 is recognized to be a true game token, allowing continuation of the game. If the value of the identification signal does not matches, the inserted object is judged to be a counterfeit and rejected out of the coin passage 2 of the game machine through a coin-return passage 4.

[0013] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A game token verification system, comprising: a coin passage defined in a game machine, said coin passage having a bottom side edge; a game token movable through said coin passage along said bottom side edge, said game token being a small disc used in lieu of currency in said game machine and having holes made thereon subject to a predetermined pattern; a game token sensor installed in said coin passage and adapted for sensing the presence of a game token in said coin passage and producing a corresponding identification signal, said game token sensor comprising a plurality of light emitter and receiver sets arranged along multiple concentric circles in said coin passage in such a manner that the distance between the center of said concentric circles and said bottom side edge of said coin passage is equal to the radius of said game token; and a comparator installed in said game machine and adapted for receiving the identification signal produced by said game token sensor and comparing the received identification signal to a predetermined reference data and recognizing the identification of the game token sensed by said game token sensor subject to the comparison result.

2. The game token verification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holes of said game token are perforations made subject to a predetermined pattern.