Chip Tray Diffuser for Uniform Illumination Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tracking playing chips in gaming establishments is challenging due to varying environmental conditions and chip designs, requiring accurate, quick, and reliable detection across different lighting levels and geometries, and efficient processing with limited computing resources.
Innovation Solution
The system uses diffused lighting to normalize images of playing chips, allowing for consistent illumination and reduced computational resources needed for image processing, enabling accurate chip detection and tracking across different environments with fewer cameras and simpler processing techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If direct lighting is used to illuminate playing chips, then sufficient light intensity is provided for image capture, but non-uniform illumination and shadows are created that reduce image consistency
Solution Approach 1:
A diffuser is introduced as an intermediary element between the light source and the playing chips. The diffuser scattersthe light rays, converting direct non-uniform illumination into diffused uniform illumination across the chip tray, thereby eliminating shadows while maintaining sufficient light intensity for consistent image capture
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system transitions from direct lighting to diffused lighting by changing the physical state of light propagation. The diffuser modifies the light distribution pattern, transforming concentrated light rays into scattered light that provides uniform illumination across the entire chip tray area
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to capture chip images from different angles, then comprehensive chip detection is achieved, but system complexity and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for multiple cameras by using a single camera positioned to capture images through the chip tray aperture. The diffused lighting system compensates for the single-viewpoint limitation, providing sufficient illumination and image quality for accurate chip detection without requiring multiple camera systems
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera system is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing chip images for identification, tracking chip movements, and detecting chip quantities. The diffused lighting enables this single camera to achieve comprehensive detection capabilities that would otherwise require multiple cameras
3Measurement precision
If complex image processing techniques are used to detect playing chips in varying environments, then detection accuracy is improved, but computational resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing uniform illumination conditions before image capture. The diffused light ensures that chips are consistently illuminated regardless of their position in the tray, reducing the need for complex post-processing algorithms to correct lighting variations and enabling simpler, more efficient image processing
4Illumination intensity
If lighting is positioned to provide sufficient illumination, then image quality improves, but interference with game play occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system applies local quality by directing illumination specifically to the chip tray area where chips are stored and exchanged. The diffuser confines the light distribution to the relevant gaming surface, providing sufficient illumination for chip detection without creating glare or distraction for players engaged in the game
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves consistent and accurate tracking of playing chips with reduced computational resources, allowing for more efficient and portable solutions that can adapt to various gaming environments without extensive recalibration.
Implementation Method 1
One or more diffusers are associated, respectively, with the one or more lighting devices and positioned between the one or more lighting devices and the playing chips. The one or more diffusers diffuse or modify the light emitted according to the light emitting device distribution pattern passing through the diffuser into a diffused light emitted according to a second light distribution pattern
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of tracking playing chips on a gaining table. The system may include a game playing surface, a chip tray including a plurality of chip storage formations for receiving playing chips, a light emitting device to illuminate the playing chips, and a diffuser associated with the light emitting device to modify the light emitted by the light emitting device into a second light distribution pattern. Images of the illuminated playing chips are processed to identify the one or more playing chips and the one or more playing chip amounts associated with the one or more playing chips. The playing chip amounts are transmitted to a gaining monitoring server.