U.S. Pat. No. 7,575,512

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The present invention is concerned with an improved multiplayer interactive video gaming device. Accordingly,FIG. 1depicts a presently preferred embodiment of a multiplayer interactive video gaming device, indicated generally at10. A cabinet A is divided into a player portion12and a display portion14. Display portion14and player portion2are attached by a connection piece (not visible in the view shown) through which communication and power lines may be passed.

Player portion12is constructed to simulate a casino blackjack game table. Three player stations16are disposed on the top counter surface of player portion12. Each player station16includes a keypad18and a currency acceptor20. Each keypad18includes a plurality of input keys22by which players participate in the blackjack game. In the embodiment shown, the currency acceptor is a bill acceptor configured to receive bills of various denominations.

In this embodiment, each keypad18includes a first row of five, and a second row of two, input keys22. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the use, number, and arrangement of such keys can depend upon the nature of the video gaming program operated within the present invention. For example, a blackjack game may require the use of different keys for different purposes than a poker game. Bill acceptor20accepts bills for betting and/or game fee purposes.

A central ticket dispenser19is mounted on the cabinet within reach of all the player stations16. Players may “cash out” at any time by inputting a proper command at their player station. Upon cashing out, a printer21mounted within player portion12prints a redeemable ticket indicating the player's winnings via ticket dispenser19.

Referring now toFIG. 2, keys22(FIG. 1) trigger compression switches24when activated by a player. Compression switches24communicate via communication lines30with an interface processor such as CPU26forming part of an interface device28.

A compression switch24is triggered each time a player depresses and/or releases its corresponding key22, thereby sending an electrical player input signal, for example a pulse or a change in current, to CPU26over its corresponding communication line30. CPU26, for example an INTEL8048device, is programmed to correlate a signal from a given compression switch24with a predetermined interface signal. For example, upon receiving a signal from a switch24, CPU26may output a digital number peculiar to that particular switch.

Additionally, each bill acceptor20is configured to receive paper currency and to output a currency input signal corresponding to the amount of money input to the device. For example, bill acceptor20may output five pulses upon receiving a five dollar bill. Bill acceptors should be known and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and, thus, a detailed description of their operation is not provided herein.

CPU26also correlates the currency information to a currency output signal. Thus, upon receiving five pulses from a bill acceptor20, CPU26may output five identical digital numbers.

CPU26outputs the interface and currency output signals to a buffer device32for storage. In this embodiment, the interface signals and currency output signals are all digital numbers. It should be understood, however, that any suitable coding method may be employed.

Player station16and interface device28are housed in player portion12of cabinet A (FIG. 1). A personal computer assembly34is housed in display portion14(FIG. 1). Personal computer assembly34may be a personal computer circuit board alone, or may include various peripheral elements such as a memory device. Personal computer assembly34includes a series of data ports. These ports may be configured, for example, for a variety of predetermined purposes, including receiving keyboard and mouse input and outputting monitor and printer output.

Personal computer assembly34houses a game processor such as a CPU38for executing a blackjack gaming program responsively to the information input by the players at player stations16. An input/output system such as a BIOS39receives the interface and currency output signals from buffer32via a communication line40, a keyboard port36, and a bus35. BIOS39outputs a signal to CPU38over a bus41to convey information carried by the interface signals and currency output signals to CPU38. As should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, BIOS39may further decode or encode signals received by CPU26depending upon, for example, the requirements of CPU38and/or the number or sequences of activations of switches24.

Moreover, a variety of circuitry configurations are possible within the range of personal computers. For example, a variety of input/output, memory (for example RAM37), buses, and other devices may be arranged on circuit board34in various suitable configurations. Furthermore, various methods may be employed utilizing such devices and configurations in communicating information between keyboard port36and CPU38. It should be understood that all suitable such personal computer configurations may be employed in accordance with the present invention.

As it executes the video card gaming program, CPU38outputs video display signals to a monitor42via a parallel port43. The video card gaming program executed by CPU38permits interactive participation by a plurality of players at player stations16.

The video card gaming program is preferably written in an “event-driven” language such as visual Basic or Visual C. An event-driven program performs operations responsively to “events,” such as the depression of a push-button22that, in turn, causes BIOS39to output a signal to CPU38. For example, the receipt of five signals from BIOS39corresponding to a particular bill acceptor20causes the program to add a five dollar credit for the player at the corresponding player station16.

Although a variety of card gaming programs may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, in one presently preferred embodiment CPU38is configured to execute a blackjack game wherein the gaming program generates a “dealer's” blackjack hand on monitor42that is visible to the players at player stations16. The players submit wagers, accept or reject card “hits”, and select game options via keys22at player stations16. The players' hands are displayed on monitor42along with the dealer's hand in a manner similar to the display of cards on a casino blackjack table. Various versions of the basic blackjack or “21” game are known and may be employed in accordance with the present invention.

While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is to be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. For example, communication lines from the currency acceptors may be routed directly to one or more ports on the personal computer assembly, bypassing the interface assembly. This may be advantageous, for example, if large denomination bills are frequently inserted to the currency acceptors. Additionally, the currency acceptors may be configured to accept hard and/or paper currency. Thus, the embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. Thus, while particular embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art that the present invention is not limited thereto since many modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the literal or equivalent scope of the appended claims.