Infrared Card Imaging via Cut-Off Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for reading suit and rank of playing cards in gaming environments face challenges with readability, especially when cards are face-down or vary in quality, due to issues with infrared sensitivity and accurate imaging.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an infrared-sensitive camera with a cut-off filter that excludes non-useful wavelengths, allowing near-infrared radiation to enhance image clarity and contrast, enabling the processor to provide suit and rank information even when the card face is hidden by a visible light-opaque back.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a digital camera with infrared blocker is used for photography, then image quality and privacy are improved, but infrared photography becomes impractical due to excessive exposure times creating noise and motion blur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the infrared blocker from the camera system, extracting the harmful element that caused the contradiction. This allows infrared light to reach the sensor directly, enabling fast exposure times while maintaining image quality, thus resolving the conflict between measurement precision and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specific filter as an intermediary element that selectively transmits infrared light while blocking visible light. This mediator enables the camera to capture infrared images with proper exposure times, resolving the contradiction by allowing both good image quality and acceptable productivity.
2Productivity
If the infrared blocker is removed from the camera, then infrared photography becomes possible with normal shutter speeds, but the camera can no longer block infrared light to protect privacy and improve image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a selective filter that has different transmission properties for different wavelengths. The filter allows infrared light to pass through while blocking visible light, enabling the camera to achieve both fast shutter speeds for infrared photography and maintained image quality through wavelength-specific control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the camera system by introducing a filter with specific transmission characteristics. This parameter change enables the camera to accept infrared light for fast capture while maintaining image quality through controlled wavelength selection, resolving the contradiction between productivity and measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If a filter that blocks almost all visible light is used for infrared photography, then infrared images can be captured, but other infrared artifacts such as haze penetration and darkened skies are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using a filter that blocks most visible light but allows sufficient infrared light to pass through. This partial blocking approach enables infrared image capture while maintaining acceptable levels of infrared artifact penetration, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision for infrared capture and the presence of harmful infrared artifacts.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If playing card imaging systems use conventional cameras, then card reading is attempted, but readability is poor when cards are face-down or vary in quality due to infrared sensitivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional visible light camera system with an infrared-sensitive imaging system. This substitution leverages the different interaction of infrared light with card materials to improve readability, especially for face-down cards and varied card qualities, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection difficulty and measurement precision.
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
This method allows for accurate and clear reading of playing card information, improving readability and reducing errors in suit and rank identification, even when cards are face-down, by using infrared radiation and a processor to interpret the captured signals.
Implementation Method 1
An infrared-sensitive camera is positioned over the playing card back and receives infrared information passing through the playing card
Implementation Method 2
The filter has defined cut-off range and a maximum transmission range. The maximum transmission range is within the near infrared range, such as between 780 nm and 1100 nm
Implementation Method 3
The use of a cut-off filter in the camera that excludes or reduces non-useful ranges of wavelengths (e.g., visible and/or UV) and allows more useful (infrared) ranges of wavelengths sharpens images or card values for viewing
Data Source
AI summary
A method of reading suit and rank of playing cards is enabled on a system for controlled provision of image content of faces of a playing card that has:e) a support surface for playing cards;f) a source of infrared radiation;g) an infrared sensitive camera; andh) a processor.The infrared sensitive camera positioned to capture infrared radiation transmitted through the playing cards and transmit information based on the captured radiation to the processor; and the processor configured to provide suit and rank information of a playing card through which the infrared radiation was transmitted.