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EP-4741173-A2 - INSPECTION SYSTEM AND GAME TOKEN

EP4741173A2EP 4741173 A2EP4741173 A2EP 4741173A2EP-4741173-A2

Abstract

An inspection system for inspecting a game token, includes: a game token assigned with code information such that an ID mark region covered with a UV ink is partially irradiated with laser light to denature or remove the irradiated part; an ultraviolet irradiation lamp for irradiating the game token with ultraviolet light for visualizing the UV ink; a UV camera configured to shoot the game token irradiated with ultraviolet light; and an inspection device configured to recognize the code information that has been visualized by the irradiation with ultraviolet light based on an image shot by the UV camera and determine authenticity of the game token.

Inventors

  • SHIGETA, YASUSHI

Assignees

  • Angel Playing Cards Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20180507

Claims (14)

  1. An inspection system for a game token, comprising: a game token having a first ID recorded using an RFID tag and a second ID marked by laser irradiation and different from the first ID, a database storing a combination of the first ID and the second ID of the same game token, an RF reader for reading the first ID, a camera for shooting the game token to generate an image, an image analysis device for acquiring the second ID by analysing the image, and an inspection device for inspecting the game token by comparing the first ID associated with the second ID acquired by the image analysis device in the database with the first ID read by the RF reader.
  2. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the second ID is marked by laser irradiation by changing light reflection characteristics or absorption characteristics of the irradiated portion.
  3. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the second ID is marked in a way that it is not visible in normal use.
  4. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the first ID or second ID is associated with any of a machine used for manufacturing, a sequence of manufacture, time of manufacture, and manufacturing information in a database.
  5. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the second ID of the game token is a code expressed by a character or a mark.
  6. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the game token has a reference mark that serves as a reference for the area where the second ID is formed.
  7. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the second ID of the game token is expressed by the presence or absence of a mark at a predetermined position.
  8. A game token, wherein game token is provided with an RFID tag having a first ID recorded therein, a second ID whose combination with a first ID is stored in a database is marked by laser irradiation, and inspection is performed by reading the first ID and the second ID and comparing the first ID associated with the read second ID in the database with the read first ID.
  9. The game token according to claim 8, wherein the second ID is marked by laser irradiation by changing light reflection characteristics or absorption characteristics of the irradiated portion.
  10. The game token according to claim 8, wherein the second ID is marked in a way that it is not visible in normal use.
  11. The game token according to claim 8, wherein the first ID or second ID is associated with any of a machine used for manufacturing, a sequence of manufacture, time of manufacture, and manufacturing information in a database.
  12. The game token according to claim 8, wherein the second ID is a code expressed by a character or a mark.
  13. The game token according to claim 8, wherein the game token has a reference mark that serves as a reference for the area where the second ID is formed.
  14. The game token according to claim 8, wherein the second ID is expressed by the presence or absence of a mark at a predetermined position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This nonprovisional application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-099903 filed with the Japan Patent Office on May 19, 2017, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD The present invention relates to an inspection system for game tokens used in table games, and a game token. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Conventionally, table games using game tokens are played in gaming houses such as casinos. Since game tokens can be cashed, counterfeiting is strictly controlled. Various techniques have been proposed and adopted in order to distinguish counterfeit game tokens from genuine game tokens. For example, there is known a method of embedding a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag recorded with identification information into a game token and reading the identification information with an RFID reader to determine authenticity of the game token (for example, JP 2008-246103 A). On the other hand, different values are defined for different types of game tokens, and techniques for detecting the values of the game tokens have also been proposed in order to automate the table games. For example, there is known a method of embedding into a game token an RFID tag recorded with information on a type or a value of the game token and reading the information with an RFID reader to detect the value of the game token (for example, see JP 2008-246103 A). An object of the present invention is to provide a novel game token that enables determination of authenticity thereof based on an image obtained by shooting by a camera, and an inspection system of inspecting the game token. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inspection system for game tokens for games using a game table, including: at least one camera configured to shoot the game tokens; a recording device configured to record types and authenticity of the game tokens using the camera; and an inspection device configured to determine authenticity of the game tokens using a result recorded by the recording device, each of the game tokens is provided with a unique ID for individual identification in appearance, the inspection device reads the unique ID of a target game token for inspection among the game tokens using the camera, and determines authenticity of the target game token based on the read unique ID, and the unique ID for individual identification or for individual identification in a specific group unit is formed by irradiating an ID mark region that is included in each of the game tokens and is formed of a UV ink or an infrared absorbing material with laser light to partially denature or remove the UV ink or the infrared absorbing material that forms the ID mark region. With this configuration, the unique ID appears in the ID mark region by irradiating the ID mark region on the game token with ultraviolet light or infrared rays, and thus the authenticity can be determined by reading the unique ID of the game token. In the above inspection system, the unique ID may be associated with any one of a machine used for manufacturing the game tokens, a sequence of manufacture, time of manufacture, and manufacturing information in a database. With this configuration, any one of a machine used for manufacturing the game tokens, a sequence of manufacture, time of manufacture, and manufacturing information can be determined by reading the ID code. In the above inspection system, each of the game tokens may further include an RFID or an ID code aside from the unique ID for individual identification that is provided on an outer layer of the game token, the inspection system may further include a database configured to associate the unique ID provided on the outer layer with the RFID or the ID code, and the inspection device may read the unique ID added to the target game token for inspection using the camera, and determines authenticity of the target game token based on a result of comparison of the read unique ID and the RFID or the ID code with contents of the database. This configuration makes it possible to determine authenticity of each of the game tokens by comparing the unique ID provided using the UV ink or the infrared absorbing material with the RFID or the ID code provided aside from the unique ID. In the above inspection system, at least one camera may include a normal camera, and an infrared camera or a UV camera, and the inspection device may be configured to determine authenticity of the game tokens using the normal camera, and the infrared camera or the UV camera. This configuration makes it possible to determine authenticity of the game tokens by shooting the unique ID appeared in the ID mark region with the infrared camera or the UV camera. In the above inspection system, the unique ID provided on each of the game tokens may be a code expressed by a character or a mark. With this configuration, the unique ID is expressed by a character or a mark. I