Roulette Wheel Random Number Generator Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional roulette wheels are susceptible to dealer manipulation due to predictable ball movement, leading to biased results and increased house advantage, and physical degradation over time affects randomness, necessitating costly monitoring and replacement.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a random number generator with a roulette wheel system that includes a processor, motors, sensors, and a random number generator to control the wheel and ball movement, ensuring unbiased outcomes and maintaining randomness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional roulette wheel uses mechanical construction and manual operation, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ball movement becomes predictable and susceptible to dealer manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandomness of ball landingVSAvoidcomplexity of roulette wheel system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical ball release mechanism with an electronic random number generator (RNG) that uses software algorithms to determine ball placement. The RNG generates random numbers that correspond to specific ball positions, eliminating the predictability inherent in manual mechanical operation while maintaining the physical roulette wheel structure for display purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a microprocessor and control system as an intermediary between the random number generation and the physical ball placement. This intermediary layer translates abstract random numbers into concrete ball positions, ensuring true randomness while allowing for controlled mechanical actuation of the ball release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the roulette wheel operates for extended periods with manual operation, then operational costs are low, but physical degradation occurs and randomness is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifespan of roulette wheelVSAvoidconsistency of randomness

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an electronically controlled system that uses an RNG to determine ball positions. This eliminates wear and degradation associated with manual operation while maintaining the physical wheel structure, allowing the system to operate indefinitely with consistent randomness generated by the software-based RNG rather than physical degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If dealers manually spin the wheel and ball for extended periods, then operational simplicity is maintained, but dealer manipulation becomes possible and house advantage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of roulette operationVSAvoidfairness of game outcome

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual dealer operation with an automated electronic system that uses a random number generator to determine outcomes. The microprocessor-controlled system automatically releases the ball based on RNG output, eliminating dealer manipulation entirely while maintaining ease of operation through automated control. The physical wheel and ball remain for traditional display, but the critical randomization function is fully electronic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If casinos monitor and replace roulette wheels due to wear, then randomness is maintained, but operational costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandomness maintenanceVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the physical randomization mechanism with an electronic random number generator that has no moving parts subject to wear. The RNG is implemented as software on a microprocessor, which can operate indefinitely without degradation. This eliminates the need for monitoring and replacing physical wheels, maintaining randomness consistency while dramatically reducing operational costs associated with wheel maintenance and replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7762883B2Random number generator based roulette wheel

Publication Date: 2010.07.27 INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

The invention provides for the use of a random number generator in a roulette wheel to play a game of roulette. The gaming apparatus may have a random number generator, a roulette wheel, and means for controlling the roulette wheel to indicate a first winning number corresponding to a first random number generated by the random number generator. The roulette wheel may have a top ring, outer ring, separator ring, and an inner ring and each ring may be decoupled from each outer to spin in different directions.