U.S. patent application number 10/028513 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for scratch-off material sensor system for lottery game tickets.
This patent application is currently assigned to Welch Allyn Data Collection, Inc.. Invention is credited to Abraitis, John C., Boulay, Robert, Dueker, Todd A., Ehrhart, Michael A., Gougeon, Francois, Hussey, Robert M., Lambert, Claude, Mondou, Denis, Sanchez, Cayetano III, Szrek, Walter.
Application Number | 20020084327 10/028513 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22204594 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020084327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ehrhart, Michael A. ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
Scratch-off material sensor system for lottery game tickets
Abstract
The present invention relates to lottery game tickets and
methods for making the same. In one embodiment, a
wavelength-sensitive addition is incorporation in game ticket play
area. In another embodiment, reflectance characteristics of a game
ticket play area are controlled.
Inventors: |
Ehrhart, Michael A.;
(Liverpool, NY) ; Hussey, Robert M.; (Camillus,
NY) ; Dueker, Todd A.; (Camillus, NY) ;
Sanchez, Cayetano III; (East Greenwich, RI) ; Szrek,
Walter; (East Greenwich, RI) ; Abraitis, John C.;
(Cumberland, RI) ; Lambert, Claude; (Montreal,
CA) ; Gougeon, Francois; (Montreal, CA) ;
Boulay, Robert; (Laval, CA) ; Mondou, Denis;
(Chateaugay, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Wall Marjama & Bilinski LLP
Suite 400
101 South Salina St.
Syracuse
NY
13202
US
|
Assignee: |
Welch Allyn Data Collection,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
22204594 |
Appl. No.: |
10/028513 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10028513 |
Dec 20, 2001 |
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09088824 |
Jun 2, 1998 |
|
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09088824 |
Jun 2, 1998 |
|
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09087337 |
May 29, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/454 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2009/242 20130101;
A63F 2009/2444 20130101; A63F 3/06 20130101; A63F 3/0665 20130101;
A63F 3/065 20130101; A63F 2250/287 20130101; G06K 19/073 20130101;
G06K 17/0032 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/454 |
International
Class: |
G06K 007/10; G06K
007/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket
of the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off
material comprised of light blocking material formed thereon when
said game ticket is manufactured, said apparatus comprising: a
housing; a feed path defining a first area of said apparatus
delimited by said housing and said feed path, and a second area
delimited by said feed path and said housing; a light source
disposed in said first area selected so that light rays emanating
from said source transmit substantially through all material
present in said at least one play area of said game ticket except
for areas of said at least one play area covered by said light
blocking material; an image sensor assembly for generating image
signals corresponding to said at least one play area, said image
sensor assembly including an image sensor and imaging optic for
imaging said play area onto said image sensor means said image
sensor and said imaging optics, disposed in said second area, and a
controller in communication with said imaging assembly adapted to
capture an image representation of said at least one play area
which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play
area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play
area not covered by said scratch-off material; and means for
positioning said ticket in an optical path between said light
source and said image sensor.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
sense the presence of a radiation-wavelength sensitive additive on
said game ticket when said game ticket is of a type having a
wavelength sensitive additive incorporated therein.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a brander for
causing an indicator to be formed on said game ticket that
indicates that said ticket has been processed.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is further
adapted to capture an image representation corresponding
substantially to an entire surface of said game ticket.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been played by analyzing image
data of said play area image representation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been played based on a percentage
of non scratch-off material indicating pixels of said play area
image representation.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been tampered with by analyzing
image data of said play area image representation.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus id adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been tampered with based on a
percentage of non scratch-off material indicating image data of
said play area image representation.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
capture image data corresponding to said image signals and is
further adapted to determine a present identification code for each
ticket received in said apparatus by searching for, and decoding
bar code symbols which may be included in said captured image data,
said controller operating in accordance with at least one potential
processing subroutine for processing said ticket or said image data
which may or may not be executed by said controller, said main
program further adapting said apparatus to execute at least one
decision stage in which said controller determines whether or not
said controller will execute said at least one potential processing
subroutine, said controller including a memory having a and lookup
table stored in said memory correlating ticket identification codes
with at least one control flag indicator indicating whether or not
said controller should execute said at least one processing
subroutine, wherein said controller, at said at least one decision
stage accesses said lookup table in order to poll a control flag
indicator which corresponds to said present identification code so
that whether or not said controller executes said at least one
potential processing subroutine is dependent on said identification
code.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is adapted to
execute an authentication subroutine, wherein said apparatus
detects for a radiation sensitive additive which has been
incorporated into a game ticket by analyzing image data captured
from said at least one image sensor, wherein said at least one
control flag indicator indicates whether said controller should
execute said authentication subroutine so that whether or not said
controller executes said authentication subroutine is dependent on
said identification code.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is further
adapted to determine a present identification code for each ticket
received in said apparatus by searching for, and decoding bar code
symbols which may be included in said captured image data, wherein
said controller is further adapted to execute at least one
processing subroutine which will vary depending on physical
characteristics of the game ticket presently being read, said
apparatus further including a memory having a lookup table stored
in said memory correlating ticket identification codes with
physical characteristic data, wherein said controller, when
executing said at least one processing subroutine, reads from said
lookup table physical characteristic data corresponding to an
identification code of a ticket presently being read.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein physical characteristic data
includes data pertaining to dimensions and location of said play
area.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lottery game ticket
includes a light sensitive additive incorporated therein, and
wherein said physical characteristic data indicates characteristics
of said light sensitive additive.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lottery ticket is
manufactured to exhibit predetermined reflectance characteristics,
and wherein said physical characteristic data indicates said
predetermined reflectance characteristics.
15. A system for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket of
the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off
material formed thereon, said system comprising: a game ticket
having scratch-off material formed on a play area, wherein said
play area, in a layer exposed by removal of said scratch-off
material has a light sensitive additive incorporated therein, and
wherein said additive is a material that emits light in a second
band of wavelengths when illuminated by light in a first band of
wavelengths. imaging means including imaging optic means responsive
to said light in said second wavelength band for imaging said game
ticket to capture image data representing said at least one play
area, wherein said image data indicates contrast between areas of
said play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of
said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said controller is further
adapted to capture an image representation corresponding
substantially to an entire surface of said game ticket.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been played by analyzing image
data of said play area image representation.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been played based on a percentage
of non scratch-off material indicating pixels of said play area
image representation.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been tampered with by analyzing
image data of said play area image representation.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus is adapted to
determine whether said ticket has been tampered with based on a
percentage of non scratch-off material indicating image data of
said play area image representation.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of
Ser. No. 09/088,824, filed Jun. 2, 1998, entitled "Material
Detection Systems for Security Documents," which is a continuation
of Ser. No. 09/087,337, filed May 29, 1998, entitled "Methods for
Processing Security Documents." The priorities of both the above
application are claimed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to lottery game tickets and
methods for making the same.
[0004] 1. Background of the Prior Art
[0005] "Scratch-off" lottery games continue to grow in popularity.
These games have become an important source of revenue for
national, state, and local governments throughout the world.
[0006] While there are hundreds of different styles of these games,
there are characteristics common to the majority of scratch-off
lottery game tickets manufactured. The majority of scratch-off
lottery game tickets manufactured have topside and bottomside
surfaces, an identification code bar code symbol formed on one of
the surfaces, at least one "play area" formed on one of the
surfaces, and scratch-off material formed over the play area. In
playing a game, a user scratches off at least some of the
scratch-off material to reveal indicia icons of the play area. In
most scratch-off lottery games, the ticket is previously designated
as a winner or nonwinner independent of where scratch-off material
is removed. These games are known as "instant" ticket lottery
games. In more sophisticated scratch-off lottery games known as
"probability" games, the win/loss status of a game is dependent at
least in part on the areas of a ticket where scratch-off material
is removed.
[0007] As popular as scratch-off lottery game tickets have become,
their popularity has been limited by two major problems. The first
major problem is that present methods for processing such tickets
after play are inefficient. The second major problem is fraud.
[0008] According to one popular method for processing a scratch-off
lottery game ticket, the game ticket is validated (verified as a
winning ticket) by reading the identification code bar code symbol
on the ticket with use of a hand-held bar code reader to determine
the identification code of a ticket, then the identification code
is manually punched into a computer, which processes the
identification code to determine if the ticket is a winner. This
process is subject to failure by key entry error, and in addition
is time consuming. Speed is an important factor in the processing
of game tickets considering that game tickets are processed in
convenience stores or grocery stores whose successful business
depends to a large extent on the speed with which customers can be
successfully serviced.
[0009] With regard to the problem of fraud, fraudulent schemes
involving lottery game tickets are oftentimes carried out by
persons authorized to handle the tickets prior to their official
sale. Such persons may be for example, employees of a game ticket
manufacturer, employees of a ticket distributor, convenience or
grocery store sales clerks, or store owners. These persons are
herein referred to as "agents" of lottery game ticket sales or
ticket agents. Ticket agents have been observed to employ various
"peeking" techniques to determine the form of indicia icons of a
play area and therefore the win/loss status of game tickets prior
to their sale in order to separate winning tickets from losing
tickets before playing known winning tickets or selectively selling
known winning tickets to themselves or to an accomplice. In
probability games, the peeking schemes can be carried out by game
players to determine which sections of scratch-off material need to
be removed in order to make a game ticket a winning ticket.
[0010] Several types of "peeking" fraudulent schemes involve
"tampering" of game tickets. In a tampering scheme, a ticket agent
or probability game player determines the win/loss status of a
ticket by removing at least a portion of scratch-off material from
a game ticket to determine the form of indicia icons of a play
area.
[0011] In other peeking schemes, a ticket agent or probability game
player attempts to determine the win/loss status of a game ticket
without tampering with or materially altering the game ticket.
[0012] Existing manufacturing techniques for making lottery
tickets, and techniques for processing them cannot adequately
prevent peeking fraud schemes such as those described from being
successfully carried out. Fortunately, to some extent peeking
schemes carried out by ticket agents can be checked by controlling
the packaging and distribution of such tickets and by tracking
winning tickets. Therefore, "instant" lottery games (wherein the
win/loss status of a ticket is determined at the time the ticket is
manufactured) remain viable in spite of the persistence of peeking
schemes.
[0013] Probability type lottery games (wherein the win/loss status
of a ticket depends in part on the areas of the scratch-off
material which are removed) will not become viable, however, until
substantially all of the possible peeking schemes can either be
adequately prevented or adequately detected. Making viable
probability type scratch-off lottery games would be expected to
enhance the enjoyment derived from the playing of scratch-off
lottery games, and therefore the popularity and revenue generating
capacity of such games.
[0014] In addition to peeking schemes, scratch-off lottery ticket
gaming industry is threatened by the problem of counterfeiting of
game tickets by ticket agents and game players. In a common
counterfeiting scheme involving instant game tickets, parts of
winning tickets are fraudulently combined with parts of losing
tickets to construct counterfeit winning tickets. According to one
popular scheme, the identification code bar code symbol (or copy
thereof) from a winning ticket is attached to a losing ticket. In a
probability game, indicia icons can be transported from one ticket
to another to create the appearance of a winning ticket having the
appropriate combination of icons indicating a winning ticket.
[0015] There is a need for an apparatus for processing lottery game
tickets more quickly than is possible with current methods. There
is also a need for improved game ticket structures, processing
methods and apparatuses for preventing or detecting the peeking
into the form of indicia icons of a game ticket, and for preventing
or detecting the construction of counterfeit game tickets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1-1 shows a skin perspective diagram of an embodiment
of a document reader according to the invention having a lottery
game ticket inserted therein;
[0017] FIGS. 2-1 to 2-4 illustrate examples of lottery game
tickets.
[0018] FIG. 2-5 is an exploded cross-sectional side view of a prior
art scratch-off lottery game ticket.
[0019] FIG. 2-6 is a top view of a lottery game ticket including
play areas having scratch-off material formed thereon according to
a predetermined pattern;
[0020] FIG. 2-7 is an exploded top view of a play area of a game
ticket having scratch-off material formed according to a
predetermined pattern;
[0021] FIGS. 2-8 and 2-9 are exploded cross-sectional views of game
tickets manufactured according to an improved design;
[0022] FIG. 2-10 is a top view of another lottery ticket;
[0023] FIG. 3-1 shows a functional schematic diagram of a first
material detection system according to the invention;
[0024] FIG. 3-2 shows a lottery game ticket having a section of
scratch-off material removed;
[0025] FIG. 3-3 shows a video image of the ticket of FIG. 3-3
produced by the imaging system described with reference to FIG.
3-1;
[0026] FIG. 3-4 shows a functional schematic diagram of another
detection system of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 3-5 is a perspective view of a game ticket having
scratch-off material;
[0028] FIG. 3-6 shows a functional schematic diagram of yet another
detection system of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 3-7 is an exploded cross-sectional side view of a game
ticket;
[0030] FIG. 3-8 illustrates a game ticket when viewed under white
light and red light;
[0031] FIG. 3-9 illustrates a game ticket when viewed under white
light, red light and green light;
[0032] FIGS. 3-10 and 3-11 are video images that have been
subjected to a tampering scheme.
[0033] FIG. 4-1 shows a functional diagram of a document processing
apparatus having a non-contact branding system incorporated
therein;
[0034] FIG. 4-2 shows a lottery game ticket according to the
invention having brandable material formed thereon according to
such a pattern that an identification code bar code symbol is
obscured when the brandable ink is excited;
[0035] FIGS. 4-3 and 4-4 show security documents according to the
invention having conductive ink formed thereon according to such a
pattern that a localized area of the document is supplied with heat
when voltage is applied across the document.
[0036] FIGS. 4-5 and 4-6 show, respectively top cross-sectional and
front view functional schematic diagram of a document processing
apparatus including a voltage source for branding a document
configured according to the design described with reference to
FIGS. 4-3 and 4-4;
[0037] FIG. 4-7 shows a lottery game ticket having brandable
material formed thereon in a pattern differing from that shown in
FIG. 4-2;
[0038] FIG. 5-1 is a cross-sectional side view functional schematic
diagram of a document processing apparatus according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 5-2 is an exemplary block electrical diagram of a
document processing apparatus;
[0040] FIG. 5-3 is a block diagram illustrating a possible
communication system including a document processing apparatus, a
local host processor and a remote host processor;
[0041] FIG. 5-4 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of an
exemplary main program for a document processing apparatus
according to the invention;
[0042] FIG. 5-5 is an exemplary lookup table which may be
incorporated into a document processing apparatus according to the
invention;
[0043] FIG. 5-6 is a cross-sectional side view functional schematic
diagram of a document processing apparatus according to another
embodiment of the invention;
[0044] FIG. 5-7 is a cross-sectional side view functional schematic
diagram of a document processing apparatus according to yet another
embodiment of the invention;
[0045] FIG. 6-1 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of an
exemplary capture/decode/test routine according to the
invention;
[0046] FIG. 6-2 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of an
exemplary "test for scratch-off removal" subroutine according to
the invention;
[0047] FIG. 6-3 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of an
exemplary "tamper detection" subroutine according to the
invention;
[0048] FIG. 6-4 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of an
alternative "test for scratch-off material removal" subroutine
according to the invention; and
[0049] FIG. 6-5 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of an
exemplary "Branding" subroutine according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0050] Referring to FIG. 1-1, the inventions described herein
relate to security documents 110 and to apparatuses 112 and methods
for processing the same. In particular, the invention relates to
"scratch-off" lottery game tickets and to apparatuses for
automatically reading and processing scratch-off lottery game
tickets.
[0051] Some inventions described herein relate to improved designs
for lottery game tickets. For example, in one invention described
herein a game ticket is provided with a specialized layer which
prevents peeking into the win/loss status of a game. In another
invention, the ticket includes a specially adapted scratch-off
material which renders easily detected the fraud of peeking into
the win/loss status of a game by way of removing and replacing a
section of scratch-off material.
[0052] Other inventions described herein relate to document
security systems requiring specialized adaptations of both a game
ticket 202 (FIGS. 2-1 to 2-10) and of an apparatus 112 for
processing game tickets. For example, in one invention, game ticket
202 is provided with scratch-off material having a specialized
additive incorporated therein, and apparatus 112 includes an
imaging system which is specially adapted to detect for the
presence of the additive incorporated in to the game ticket. In
another document security system, ticket 202 is provided with a
brandable material which is normally invisible but which becomes
visible when exposed to heat, and conductive material formed over a
surface of the ticket such that a relatively high resistance area
of conductive material is formed over the area of the brandable
material. An apparatus for processing such a game ticket includes a
voltage source for supplying voltage to the ticket so that the high
resistance section of the conductive material heats up to locally
supply heat to the brandable ink.
[0053] Still other inventions described herein relate to
improvements to document processing apparatuses. In one embodiment,
a security document processing apparatus is described having three
imaging assemblies all operated under the control of a
processor-based controller. The first two imaging assemblies are
dedicated, respectively, for generating image signals representing
the topside and the bottomside of the ticket as seen in visible
light while a third imaging assembly is dedicated for generating
image signals indicative of the material composition of the game
ticket. In other embodiments, a controller controlling a document
processing apparatus is in communication with a memory space
comprising a lookup table. The lookup table correlates the
identification code for the present game ticket with flag status
indicators for controlling the operations of a processing
apparatus's main program and with physical characteristic game
data. By providing a lookup table correlating identification codes
with flag status indicators and physical characteristic game data,
the operations performed by apparatus 112 and the particular
methods for performing those operations are made dependent on the
identification code of the game ticket being processed.
[0054] While the inventions described herein relate specifically to
lottery game tickets, skilled artisans will appreciate that many of
the structures, methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein
are equally applicable to other types of security documents, such
as checks and other negotiable instruments, paper currency,
entertainment and sporting event tickets, test forms, and
merchandise coupons.
[0055] II. Lottery Game Tickets
[0056] Lottery game tickets of the type which apparatus 112 is
adapted to process are shown in FIGS. 2-1 through 2-4. Lottery game
tickets are manufactured in a variety of different styles, each
style corresponding to a different lottery game, e.g.
"Monopoly.RTM." (FIG. 2-1), "Lotto Quiz" (FIG. 2-2), "Stocking
Stuffer" (FIG. 2-3), "MAGICO" (FIG. 2-4). There are literally
hundreds of styles of instant lottery game tickets manufactured
throughout the world. Each style of game ticket includes a unique
indicia pattern printed thereon. Instant lottery game tickets are
manufactured in many sizes, depending on the style of the ticket.
Lottery game tickets range in size from about 1.51".times.3" to
about 5".times.8".
[0057] In spite of the wide variety of indicia patterns, and sizes
of instant lottery game tickets, there are numerous similarities
between instant lottery game tickets of the various styles. All
instant lottery tickets of the type described include topside 204
and bottomside 206 surfaces having indicia patterns formed on
theses surfaces, and an identification code bar code symbol 208
formed on one of the surfaces. Furthermore, all instant lottery
game tickets of the type described include at least one play area
210 formed on one of the surfaces. Instant lottery game tickets of
the type described typically include at least one but normally more
than one play area on the topside of the ticket. For example,
ticket 202 of FIG. 2-1 includes three play areas 210-A, 210-B, and
210-C. The play area of each ticket is covered by scratch-off
material when the ticket is manufactured. In playing a game, a
player removes at least a portion of the scratch-off material to
reveal indicia printed in the play area of the ticket which is
covered by scratch-off material when the ticket is first
manufactured. In one common style of game, this indicia comprises a
plurality of icons 223 whose form may vary from ticket to ticket of
a given style. These icons are referred to herein as variable data
icons. The player of the ticket becomes aware that a ticket is a
winner if a certain pattern of variable data icons are revealed
when the scratch-off material is removed. For example, a player
becomes aware that the ticket of the style shown in FIG. 2-1 is a
winner if three identical indicia icons are included in play area
210-A.
[0058] Identification code bar code symbol 208 encodes data
pertaining to a game ticket 202. When lottery game tickets of the
type described first became available then symbol 208, encoded in a
well known symbology, contained information which revealed whether
the ticket was a winner or not. This left the tickets susceptible
to a fraud in which a ticket agent read the bar code to determine
the win/loss status of game tickets prior to sale. In the majority
of lottery game tickets manufactured today, the identification code
bar code symbol 208 encodes only a ticket identification code. In
validating (determining the win/loss status) of tickets of this
type, store clerks typically determine the identification code of a
ticket using a prior art bar code reading device, then manually key
in the identification number into a computer which is configured to
validate the ticket by applying the identification code to a
validating algorithm stored in a memory space of the computer. The
features of the validating algorithm are kept secret and updated
periodically so that the win/loss status of a game ticket cannot be
determined by determining this identification code.
[0059] In most lottery game tickets of the type described having
topside and bottomside surfaces 204, 206, identification bar code
symbol 208, at least one play area 210 and scratch-off material
formed thereon, the win/loss status of the ticket is predetermined
at the time of ticket manufacture. Lottery games in which the
win/loss status of the game is determined at the time of ticket
manufacture are commonly referred to as "instant" lottery games and
the tickets associated with these games are commonly referred to as
"instant" lottery game tickets. The locations on an instant lottery
game ticket where scratch-off material is removed is irrelevant to
the win/loss status of the ticket. In a typical playing of this
type of game the player merely scratches off substantially all
available scratch-off material of the game ticket to determine
whether the ticket is a winner.
[0060] However, in more sophisticated "scratch-off dependent"
lottery ticket games, which are expected to become more popular as
processing apparatuses such as the ones described herein become
available, then the location(s) of scratch-off material removal
determine, at least in part, whether the ticket is a winner. In
scratch-off dependent games, then all or some tickets can be
designated as "possible winners" at the time of ticket manufacture.
Lottery games in which the win/loss status of a game is dependent
at least in part on the location(s) of scratch-off material removal
are commonly referred to as "probability-type" lottery games. An
example of a probability game ticket is shown in FIG. 2-10. It
should be understood that the game ticket 202 shown in FIG. 2-10 is
for illustrative purposes only and other constructions are
contemplated. Game ticket 202 in the example given includes one
large play area 210 having scratch-off material applied thereto. In
playing this type of game, a player removes only select portions of
the available scratch-off material. Play area 210 includes a
plurality of "cells" 213 which are delimited by sections 215 of
scratch-off material that should not be removed during the playing
of a game. A player wins a probability-type lottery game by
removing scratch-off material from the appropriate cells. In an
alternative design for a probability lottery game ticket, the
ticket may include a plurality of play areas, each play area
defining a single cell. These single cell play areas are commonly
referred to as play cells. It will be recognized that unless all
peeking schemes are either prevented or detected, there is a
substantial risk of loss on every probability game ticket sold.
[0061] Referring now to structural aspects of lottery game tickets,
an enlarged cross sectional diagram illustrating the material
composition of a typical prior art lottery game ticket 202 is shown
in FIG. 2-5. Game ticket 202 includes a substrate 218, and several
layers of material layered over the substrate. Cross sectional
diagram 219 shows a boundary 220 between a play area 210 of a game
ticket and a non-play area 222 to illustrate that the play area 210
has a greater thickness than non-play area 222.
[0062] Formed directly on substrate 218 in play area 210 is a first
ink layer 226 which forms the indicia which will be covered by
scratch-off material. Indicia patterns of this layer comprise,
typically, variable data indicia icons 223 as seen in game ticket
play area 210-A of FIG. 2-1. First ink layer will be referred to
herein as indicia icon layer 226.
[0063] Second layer 228, known as the release layer, comprises a
translucent material such as printable varnish. The purpose of this
layer is to protect indicia icons 223 of indicia icon layer 226 so
that indicia icons are not removed when scratch-off layers of the
game ticket are removed.
[0064] The layers of material over the release layer 228 comprise
the scratch-off material 211 of a game ticket. Scratch-off material
211 in a typical game ticket comprises 7 layers. Three layers,
layers 230, 231 and 232, comprise carbon black, while three layers
234, 235 and 236 comprise white ink. The function of the three
carbon layers 230, 231 and 232 is to prevent light from passing
through the game ticket. Without the three carbon layers, a ticket
agent or a probability game player could fraudulently determine the
form of the indicia icons 223 by backlighting ticket 202 with a
high radiance light source and viewing the form of indicia icons
through layers 234, 235, 236 and 238.
[0065] Three white ink layers 234, 235 and 236 provide the function
of a primer. They form a light colored background and enable
overlying indicia or outer layer 238 to be visible when formed on
layer 236. Overlying indicia or outer layer 238 is the layer
visible on the surface of ticket 202 before scratch-off material is
removed. It is typically of uniform consistency and typically
comprises four color graphics ink.
[0066] The layers of game ticket 202 can be formed using any one of
a number of possible printing methods, for example, by way of
gravure printing, silk screen printing, or offset printing. Most
preferably, however, layers are printed on ticket 202 by way of a
flexographic printing using a flexographic printing press. Although
printing parameters such as layer thickness cannot be tightly
controlled using flexographic printing, flexographic printing
provides high volume printing at low cost.
[0067] It is stressed that the cross section diagram of FIG. 2-5
illustrates the construction of a typical prior art game ticket,
but that many possible designs for lottery game tickets are
possible that are functionally equivalent to the design shown in
FIG. 2-5. For example, the three carbon black layers 230, 231 and
232 can be substituted for by a single light blocking layer
comprising carbon black or another light blocking material having
light blocking characteristics equivalent to the three layers 230,
231 and 232 in combination. The function of priming layers 234, 235
and 236 can likewise be provided by more or fewer layers having
equivalent optical characteristic. Printing each layer 226-238, at
substantially equal thicknesses simplifies the printing
process.
[0068] An embodiment of a possible improved design for a lottery
game ticket is shown in FIGS. 2-6 through 2-8. In this embodiment,
scratch-off material comprises light blocking material that is
formed on play area 210 in a predetermined fragmented pattern.
Light blocking material 240 (FIGS. 2-7 and 2-8) typically comprises
carbon black, but also may comprise other material which prevents
light from passing through a game ticket.
[0069] By the light blocking material being formed on a game ticket
in a "fragmented pattern", it is meant that some regions of the
play area will have light blocking material formed thereon and some
regions of the play area will not be covered by light blocking
material when the ticket is first manufactured. As shown in FIGS.
2-6 through 2-8, light blocking material 240 should be formed in
play area 210 in a sufficient amount so that the light blocking
material partially obscures indicia icons (variable data) of the
game ticket. However, light blocking material 240 should also be
formed in sufficiently small amounts so that discernible spaces 242
are present between regions of the play area covered by light
blocking material and regions not covered by light blocking
material, as seen in the enlarged play area view of FIG. 2-7.
[0070] Light blocking material 240 may comprise a single layer or
multiple layers. The predetermined pattern with which light
blocking material is formed on ticket 202-2-6 may take on a variety
of different forms. In the example of FIGS. 2-6 and 2-7, light
blocking material 240 is formed in a grid pattern comprising
intersecting horizontal and vertical "lines" of light blocking
material. The light blocking material can also be formed, for
example, in a parallel line pattern, a dot pattern, a spiral line
pattern, etc.
[0071] As will be described in section III herein, applying light
blocking material in a predetermined fragmented pattern facilitates
machine detectability of a "lifting" tampering scheme carried out
by a ticket agent. In a lifting tampering scheme, a ticket agent or
probability game ticket player removes a section of the scratch-off
material, then reapplies the scratch-off material or replaces the
scratch-off material.
[0072] In Section III, a material detection imaging system is
described that can accurately construct image data representations
representative of the pattern of scratch-off material present on a
game ticket. It is recognized that if scratch-off material is
applied uniformly to a game ticket then image data representing a
play area prior to removal of scratch-off material would not be
readily distinguishable from image data representing a play area
comprising uniformly reapplied or uniformly applied replacement
scratch-off material if the replacement scratch-off has light
blocking characteristics similar to that of the original
scratch-off material.
[0073] By contrast, image data representing a play area prior to
scratch-off removal in the case scratch-off material is applied in
a predetermined fragmented pattern would be readily distinguishable
from image data representing a tampered ticket wherein a section of
scratch-off material applied in a predetermined fragmented pattern
is removed and replaced with uniformly applied counterfeit
scratch-off material.
[0074] One possible drawback with the game ticket configuration of
FIG. 2-6 is that indicia icons 223 are partially visible through
spaces 242 between areas of a play area covered by scratch-off
material. An embodiment of a game ticket 202-2-8 adapted such that
the form of indicia icons cannot be readily determined by viewing
sections of exposed icons through spaces 242 is illustrated in FIG.
2-8. The embodiment of FIG. 2-8 includes an additional obscuring
ink layer 251. The major requirement of obscuring ink layer 251 is
it includes a level of transmissivity greater than that of light
blocking material 240 but less than that of primer layers 234, 235
and 236. Preferably, obscuring ink layer 251 includes a level of
transmissivity at about the level of transmissivity of indicia icon
layer 226. Obscuring ink layer may be formed directly on substrate
218 or over any layer 226, 228, 230, 231, 232, 234, 235 and 236,
but is preferably formed on release layer 228 or on a layer above
release layer 228 so that indicia icon layer is not obscured by
obscuring layer when scratch-off material 211 is removed.
[0075] FIG. 2-9 shows another embodiment of an improved game
ticket. The embodiment of FIG. 2-9 is configured so that the game
ticket is impervious to electrostatic fraud discussed in the
background herein. Game ticket 202-2-9 includes a neutralizing
layer 252. A requirement of neutralizing layer 252 is it includes a
chemical composition that is substantially identical or equivalent
to that of indicia icon layer 226. There is not a requirement,
however, that neutralizing layer 252 have a similar opacity or
transmissivity level as indicia icon layer 226 in order to prevent
electrostatic fraud. Neutralizing layer 252 may be formed on
substrate 218 or on any one of layers 226, 228, 230, 231, 232, 234,
235 and 236. However, if layer 252 is formed below release layer
226 then neutralizing layer 252 should be formed to have an opacity
less than that of indicia icon layer 226 so that indicia icons 223
are visible when scratch-off material 211 is removed.
[0076] Indicia patterns formed on instant lottery game tickets as
can be seen from FIGS. 2-1 to 2-4, and 2-10 can be quite intricate.
Furthermore, there is no standard pattern of indicia for the
various styles of game tickets. The outer layer 238 of scratch-off
material covering the play area of a game ticket can be of any
indicia pattern and color combination and the indicia icon layer
underneath the scratch-off material can comprise any indicia
pattern or any color combination as well. Therefore, in prior art
game tickets there is no standard contrast pattern in lottery game
tickets under white light or under narrow band illumination
corresponding to either the condition of a scratch-off material
being scratched or unscratched. As will be seen herein, an
important step in the validating and/or authenticating a lottery
game ticket is to accurately capture data indicating the locations
of a game ticket's play area having scratch-off material removed.
Section III herein describes various systems for capturing image
data which indicated the location of a play area having scratch-off
material removed which allow for game tickets of varying styles to
be manufactured in varying indicia patterns and in color
combinations that vary from ticket style to ticket style.
[0077] III. Material Detection Systems
[0078] A light transmissivity based scratch-off material detection
system generally indicated at 302, which is adapted to capture
images representing a play area of a lottery game ticket, is shown
in the functional schematic diagram of FIG. 3-1. System 302
includes an image sensor 304, and a specialized light source 306.
System 302 may also include imaging optics 307, illumination optics
308, and a mechanism (not shown in FIG. 3-1) for positioning game
ticket 202 in a fixed or moving position in the optical path
between light source 306 and image sensor 304. System 302 is
adapted to capture images which can be processed to determine the
regions in a play area of a game ticket in which scratch-off
material has been removed.
[0079] Light source 306 is selected so that light rays emanating
from source 306 are transmitted substantially through each layer
218, 226, 228, 230, 231, 232, 234, 235, 236 and 238 of the ticket
(as shown in FIG. 2-5) excepting light blocking layers 230, 231 and
232. It has been found that when light source 306 emits light in
the visible spectrum of between about 200 nm and 1000 nm, then very
little light is transmitted through any of the layers of document
202. However, when light source 306 is selected to emit light
having wavelengths longer than visible light wavelength, then a
substantial amount of light is transmitted through each layer of
document 202, with the exception of light blocking layers 230, 231
and 232 which block substantially all light emanating from source
306. Preferably light source 306 is selected to emit light in the
infrared light range in the spectrum of between about 0.75 .mu.m
and 1000 .mu.m. Check Most preferably, light source 306 is an
infrared LED light source selected to emit light at ______ .mu.m.
Most commonly available image sensors can readily detect light rays
in the infrared light wavelength range.
[0080] Image sensor 304, which may be provided by virtually any
off-the-shelf 1D, 2D, or single pixel (photodetector) image sensor,
is responsive to forms of light outside the visible light spectrum,
including infrared light. Accordingly, light rays which pass
through regions of ticket 202 not covered by scratch-off material
will be detected by image sensor 304 while light rays which are
blocked by light blocking layer 230 will not be detected by image
sensor 304.
[0081] In the case where it is desired to determine whether a
single point in a play area contains scratch-off material, image
sensor 304 may be provided by a single element photodetector. In
the case where it is desired to determine whether a line or "slice"
of a play area contains scratch-off material, then image sensor 304
may be provided by a single element photodetector and ticket 202
may be transported across the field of view of sensor, or else
image sensor may be provided by a 1D N.times.1 pixel array image
sensor.
[0082] In the case where it is desired to capture comprehensive
image information corresponding to an entire play area, image
sensor 304 should be provided by a 1D or a 2D image sensor
operating under the control of a processor based control system
which is adapted to capture 2D bit map images representing the
entire play area. An exemplary embodiment of a 2D image capture
system utilizing a 1D N.times.1 pixel array image sensor as system
sensor 304 is described in detail in Section V herein.
[0083] FIG. 3-2 shows a lottery game ticket having a portion 209 of
scratch-off material removed from its play area 210, and FIG. 3-3
shows a digital image 312 corresponding to a bit map representation
of ticket 202 captured by a processor based controller in
communication with an image sensor disposed in accordance with the
system of FIG. 3-1. It is seen from digital image 312 that image
sensor 304 detects light rays emanating from source 306 which pass
through game ticket 202 not blocked by light blocking layers
230-232 but does not detect light rays from source 306 that are
blocked by light blocking layers 230-232 of the ticket's
scratch-off material. Thus, the region 209-d in the play area
digital representation 210-d having scratch-off material removed is
in clear contrast with the region 211-d corresponding to an area of
a play area covered by scratch-off material. In the digital image
of FIG. 3-3, the darkest light pixel value corresponding to regions
in play area 210 not covered by scratch-off material have
brightness levels approximately 2 times brighter than the lightest
dark pixel values corresponding to regions in play area covered by
scratch-off material. The high contrast in pixel values between
pixels in a bit map corresponding to regions in a game ticket
covered by scratch-off material and those not covered by
scratch-off material enables certain patterns to be recognized in
play area image data which are indicative of various ticket
tampering schemes. Image processing algorithms which process high
contrast play area image data from imaging systems designed in
accordance with the system shown in FIG. 3-1 are described in
detail in Section V herein.
[0084] The amount of light that is transmitted through an area of a
game ticket not covered by scratch-off material varies greatly
depending on the style of ticket, the materials of the ticket, the
inks used, and the printing method. Nevertheless, for most styles
of tickets, image data corresponding to an area of a ticket covered
by scratch-off material is readily distinguished from image data
corresponding to an area not covered by scratch-off material in a
captured digital representation captured from an imaging system in
accordance with FIG. 3-1. The contrast in a digital representation
between an area of a game ticket covered by scratch-off material
and an area not covered by scratch-off material can be enhanced
with use of a simple thresholding procedure. For purposes of
illustration, the brightest scratch-off representation pixel in the
example of FIG. 3-3 has a gray scale value of about 22 while the
darkest non-scratch-off region pixel has a gray scale value of
about 40. Contrast of the digital representation can be improved by
setting each pixel value less than about 30 to p=0, and by setting
each pixel value above about 30 to p=255.
[0085] An alternative system, generally indicated at 330, for
detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket is described with
reference to FIGS. 3-4 and 3-5. In this system, a game ticket is
specially configured for use in system 330. In particular,
scratch-off material 331 of game ticket 202-3-4 is provided with an
additive that emits radiant energy (which may be visible or
nonvisible light) in a second band of wavelengths when radiated by
radiant energy in a first band of wavelengths. Additives having
such characteristics include luminophors or phosphors. The additive
material is preferably incorporated in outer layer 238 of
scratch-off material 211.
[0086] In other embodiments, the additive that emits radiant energy
in the second band of wavelengths can be incorporated in a layer of
scratch-off material other than outer layer 238 or in a specialized
layer of formed material beneath the scratch-off material.
[0087] Energy source 332 of system 330 is selected to emit radiant
energy in the range of wavelengths causing the additive to emit
radiant energy at the second wavelength band. Image sensor 334
meanwhile, may be provided by an off-the-shelf single pixel
photodetector, 1.times.N pixel array image sensor or N.times.N
pixel array. Receive optics 336 associated with image sensor should
include a light filter for filtering out light not in the second
band of wavelengths. In the system of FIG. 3-4, the second band of
wavelengths at which the document emits may be a band of
wavelengths identical to or which encompasses or overlaps the first
wavelength band at which source 332 emits.
[0088] In a preferred embodiment, system 330 is controlled by a
processor-based control unit which controls a 1.times.N pixel array
image sensor, and captures image data from image signals generated
by sensor 334. The controller also typically controls a transport
mechanism for transporting a document across a field of view of
sensor so that the controller can construct 2D images from 1D
"slice" image signals generated by sensor 334. Such a system is
described in detail in Section V herein.
[0089] Another scratch-off material detection imaging system for
producing high contrast images representing a play area, which,
like the system of FIG. 3-4 includes a game ticket specially
configured for use in system is described with reference to FIGS.
3-6 through 3-9. System 340 comprises image sensor 342 which, like
image sensors 304 and 334 may be virtually any commercially
available image sensor, but preferably a 1D linear array image
sensor which is controlled to generate image signals used in
constructing 2D images. Illumination source 344, meanwhile, is a
narrow band illumination source, typically a red light source or a
green light source.
[0090] As mentioned in Section II, it is preferred that the play
area of a game ticket 202 comprises colorful patterns, both on the
visible portion of outer layer 238 and variable data icon layer
226. Providing colorful patterns of indicia with outer layer 238 on
and with indicia icon layer 226 enhances the attractiveness of
lottery game tickets. Unfortunately, if the materials used for
producing the colors of a play area in various styles of tickets
are selected based on the color of those materials in white light,
and the color selection varies from ticket style to ticket style,
as is the case with prior art tickets, then a conventional imaging
assembly will not produce images in which a high contrast is
apparent for all tickets of various styles between pixels
representing a play area section covered by scratch-off material
and an area having scratch-off material removed.
[0091] In a game ticket 202-3-6 for use in the system of FIG. 3-6,
the manufacturing of ticket 202-3-6 is controlled so that the
colors of the exposed layers of a game ticket (either indicia icon
layer 226' or outer layer 238'), for each of various styles of
ticket, exhibit predetermined reflectance patterns under exposure
to a specific narrow band source of illumination. Different colors,
as seen in white light can have substantially identical or similar
reflectance characteristics when illuminated by a narrow band
illumination source. According to the system of FIG. 3-6, the
manufacturing specifications of tickets for various styles of
tickets are controlled so that the outer layer 238' and indicia
icon layer 226' have patterns and colors that may vary for each
style of ticket, but predetermined reflectance characteristics
within an acceptable range for each style of ticket. Preferably the
reflectance characteristics of a play area outer layer 238' and
icon layer 226' are substantially similar within an acceptable
range for each of the various styles of tickets manufactured, so
that for each style of ticket, a reflectance measurement under
illumination by a specific narrow band source at a given point in a
ticket within a certain range indicates the presence of, or the
absence of, scratch-off material at that given point for all ticket
styles manufactured in accordance with the detection system. The
term "different colors" herein encompasses different shades of a
particular color. Thus, the colors "light blue" and "dark blue" are
considered "different colors" herein.
[0092] The color as seen in white light and reflectance
characteristics of the exposed portion of outer layer 238' and icon
layer 226' can be influenced by a number of different factors, for
example, the thickness of the layer formed, the type of material
used in forming the exposed layers, the opacity of the layer on
which the exposed layer is formed, and the absorption
characteristics of the layer on which the exposed layer is formed.
In general, the color of the exposed portion of outer layer 238'
and icon layer 226' can be adequately controlled by assuring that
substrate 218 and priming layers 234, 235 and 236 are highly opaque
when layers 238' and 226' are formed thereon, and by assuring that
priming layer 236 has dried sufficiently when layer 238' is printed
thereon.
[0093] Furthermore, it is understood that the indicia patterns of
the play area of a game ticket do not have to be formed by way of
printing ink layers. For example, the colors of a game ticket's
play area can also be controlled by dying areas of a document
according to a predetermined method.
[0094] In one illustrative embodiment, all styles of tickets in a
group of tickets are manufactured so that all exposed colors of
outer layer 238' for each style of ticket have a first reflectance
measurement when illuminated in a specific narrow band of light,
and all colors of indicia icon layer 226' for each style of ticket
have a second reflectance measurement when illuminated in the same
narrow band. For example, a group of tickets may be manufactured so
that all colors of outer layer for each style of ticket exhibit
about 100% reflectance to red light, and all colors of indicia icon
layer 226' exhibit about 0% reflectance to red light.
[0095] A one cell play area designed in accordance with this
example, under white and red light lighting conditions is
illustrated in FIG. 3-8. FIG. 3-8 is a grey copy of a color image
but is useful in illustrating the invention. Under white light,
indicia patterns 346 and 347 are present in the visible portions of
both outer layer 238' of scratch-off material and in indicia icon
layer 226'. However, under red light illumination, outer layer 238'
is uniformly white and icon layer 226' is uniformly black. When a
portion of scratch-off material is removed, then the exposed
portion icon layer 226', appearing uniformly black, is in
discernible contrast with scratch-off material, appearing uniformly
white.
[0096] Of course, the colors of the ticket do not have to exhibit
precise reflectance (such as about 0% or about 100% reflectance)
characteristics under narrow band illumination for the system to be
operational. Once a grey scale bit map is captured from image
sensor 344, the pixel values can be subjected to a thresholding
procedure to binarize pixel values of the bit map or to otherwise
convert pixel values within a range of pixel values to a discrete
pixel value. Thus, the colors of layer 238' and layer 226' can be
within any reflectance measurement range under narrow band
illumination as long as the reflectance measurement ranges for
layer 238' and 226' are consistent for each style of ticket that is
manufactured.
[0097] By exerting additional controls over the reflectance
characteristics of colors forming outer layer 238', and icon layer
226', additional information can be yielded through imaging of a
ticket under narrow band illumination. For example, the pattern
color and background color of each of the outer layer 238' and the
icon layer 226' can be selected to have reflectance measurements at
different values or within separate ranges. In an illustrative
example, the color or colors forming the background of the outer
layer 238' are made to have a reflectance measurement under red
light of 100%, the colors(s) forming the indicia pattern of outer
layer 238' are made to have reflectance measurements of about 67%,
the colors forming the background of icon layer 226' are made to
have reflectance measurements of about 33%, while the colors
forming indicia icons 223 are made to have reflectance measurements
under a narrow band source illumination of about 0%.
[0098] In a system wherein the play areas of game tickets are
manufactured in colors having four values or ranges of reflectance
measurements under narrow band illumination, then in an image
captured from sensor 342, a region of a play area covered by
scratch-off material is in discernible contrast with a region not
covered by scratch off, an indicia pattern 349 of outer layer 238'
is in discernable contrast with background 348 of outer layer and
an indicia pattern 351 of indicia icon layer 226' is in discernable
contrast with background 350 of icon layer 226'.
[0099] Contrast, in a captured image, between several different
sections (e.g. outer layer to indicia layer backgrounds, indicia
layer pattern to indicia layer background, outer layer pattern to
outer layer background) of a game ticket can also be provided by
providing in system 340 more than one narrow band illumination
source as indicated by dashed light source 344'. For example,
system 340 may include a red light source and a green light
source.
[0100] Many colors (as seen in white light) have very different
reflectance measurements when illuminated by different types of
narrow band illumination. For example, reddish shades as seen in
white light tend to reflect about 100% of narrow band red light,
but 0% green light. Green shades as seen in white light reflect
about 0% red light and about 100% green light. Other shades reflect
about the same red light as green light. For example, yellows as
seen in white light reflect about 100% red and green light whereas
purple shades as seen in white light reflect about 0% of red and
green light.
[0101] By providing multiple sources of narrow band illumination, a
first image can be captured under illumination by a first narrow
band source that has different contrast characteristics than a
second image captured from sensor 342 under illumination by a
second narrow band source.
[0102] In the example of FIG. 3-9 (a grey copy of a color image is
shown) the background 348 and pattern 349 of outer layer 238' are
100% reflective to red light but under green light the background
348 is 100% reflective, while the pattern 349 is 0% reflective. The
background 350 and pattern 351 of indicia icon layer 226' are 0%
reflective to red light, but under green light, the pattern is 100%
reflective, while the background is 0% reflective. Thus, under red
light, a contrast is apparent between an area covered by outer
layer 238' and an area where indicia icon layer 226' is exposed,
while under green light, contrast is apparent between a pattern and
background in both the outer layer 238' and in icon layer 226',
where the variable data indicia icon layer is exposed.
[0103] IV. Branding System
[0104] In one major aspect of the lottery game ticket reader of the
present invention, lottery tickets are made to be "brandable" and
apparatus 402 for processing the tickets as shown in FIG. 4-1
includes a certain energy source 404 which "brands" game tickets
when processing them. A "brandable" game ticket is one that
includes a material formed thereon which is invisible to the human
eye before being exposed to the energy source, and which remains
unactivated in ambient light, but which becomes visible when
exposed to certain radiant energies such as heat or light within a
particular wavelength range. In the present invention, a radiant
energy source, or "brander" 404 is incorporated into an automatic
game ticket processing apparatus 402 which may include a transport
mechanism 406 for transporting tickets through apparatus, and
certain processing components, such as at least one imaging
assembly 408 and an associated controller (not shown) for capturing
image data representing a game ticket from image signals generated
from imaging assembly, and for decoding any bar code symbols which
may be included in the image data. After being branded, the
activated brandable material on the ticket becomes visible to
indicate to person handling that the ticket has been previously
played.
[0105] As shown in FIG. 4-2, game ticket 202 may have brandable ink
formed thereon in accordance with the configuration described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,153 to Johnsen et al., incorporated herein by
reference. Johnsen et al. describe a lottery game ticket, or
another document, which includes a machine readable bar code
symbol. According to Johnsen et al., brandable material is formed
directly on the bar code symbol at such a location that when the
material is branded, the machine readable code is rendered
unreadable. The marking which becomes visible when the ticket is
branded provides two functions. First, the brandable material when
branded indicates to a ticket handler that the ticket has been
played. Second, the brandable material when branded can prevent
machine reading of the bar code symbol on the ticket. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 4-2, brandable ink 412 shown in a branded
state is formed on ticket over a bar code symbol 410 such that when
branded the ink forms characters of the word "void"and obscures
symbol 410 so that the symbol can be rendered unreadable by a
machine reader.
[0106] In another embodiment, illustrated with reference to FIG.
4-7, brandable material 412' shown in a branded state is also
formed directly over identification bar code symbol 410. However,
according to this embodiment, and contrary to the teachings to
Johnsen et al., symbol 410 is not rendered unreadable by a bar code
machine reader when the brandable material is branded. A document
processing apparatus configured to process a ticket designed in
accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 4-7 will, in general, be
able to read the symbol after the symbol is branded, and at the
same time recognize that the symbol has been branded by recognizing
the pattern in which brandable material on the document is
formed.
[0107] Either of the embodiments described with reference to FIGS.
4-2 and 4-7 are useful in preventing the fraud scheme in which a
ticket agent or player removes a bar code symbol from a winning
ticket and attaches the symbol or a copy thereof to a losing
ticket.
[0108] Brandable material may also be formed on a location of a
ticket other than on symbol 410. When branded the existence of
visible brandable material indicates to a visual observer that the
ticket has been played. However, such embodiments are generally not
preferred for the reason that they do not address the fraud of
removing a winning symbol from a processed ticket and applying the
symbol to a losing ticket.
[0109] The brandable material which is formed on game ticket can be
provided, for example, by a reactive ink. Preferably, however,
brandable material is provided by thermochromatic ink.
[0110] The selection of the appropriate brander 404 or radiant
energy source will vary on the type of brandable material formed on
game ticket 202. If the brandable material is of the type that
becomes visible in ambient light when exposed to a light source in
a specific wavelength range, then brander 404 is provided by a
light source that emits light in that specific wavelength range. If
the brandable material is of the type that is activated in response
to heat, then brander 404 should be provided by a heat source. When
the brandable ink is a thermally sensitive material (such as
thermochromatic ink), then brander 404 may be a heat source such as
a high intensity white light source that emits heat to a
temperature sufficient to cause branding of the selected brandable
material.
[0111] One possible drawback with the branding system of the
functional diagram of FIG. 4-1 is that heat generated by brander
404 when provided by an energy source emitting heat, may have a
negative affect on the structural integrity of game ticket 202, or
on the various electrical components of apparatus 402 over time.
Thus, when brander is provided by an energy source giving off
substantial heat, the source must be carefully selected and
positioned so that source 404 gives off enough heat to activate the
brandable material on ticket 202 but not so much that the generated
heat affects other material of ticket or other components of the
processing apparatus.
[0112] An alternative branding system in which heat is applied in
comparatively small quantities to localized areas of a game ticket
or of another type of document such as a coupon, or a sporting or
entertainment event ticket is described with reference to FIGS. 4-3
to 4-6. In the document shown in FIG. 4-3, a conductive, printable
material is formed on document 418 according to a predetermined
pattern such that, when a voltage is applied across ends of the
document 418, there is a relatively high voltage drop in at least
one localized area of the document as compared to the voltage drop
over the remainder of the document. In accordance with the
invention, conductive printable material is formed on the document
so that a relatively high voltage drop on the ticket takes place at
the location or approximately at the location of the document where
brandable material is formed.
[0113] The resistance of a uniform length of conductor is given by:
1 R = 1 s
[0114] where 1 is the length of the section of the conductor,
.sigma. is the resistivity of the material, and s is the cross
sectional area of the conductor section. Thus, it is seen that the
resistance over any length of conductive material can be precisely
controlled by controlling the cross sectional area of the
conductive section.
[0115] In the specific examples of FIGS. 4-3 and 4-4, conductive
printable material 420 is formed on document 418 such that a
relatively high resistance section of resistive circuit comprising
sections 421, 422 and 423 is formed about a region of a document
desired to be exposed to a relatively higher amount of heat. The
higher resistance section at or approximately at the location of
the brandable material may be formed by a number of possible
methods, for example by providing a conductive material having a
higher resistivity in the location of the brandable material.
Preferably, however, the higher resistance conductor section 422 is
formed as is shown by providing a conductor section having a
smaller area cross section than remaining conductive sections 421
and 423. In this way, all conductive sections of resistive circuit
can be formed on document 418 by applying a single contiguous layer
of conductive material. The precise resistance value of high
resistance section 422 and the voltage of the voltage source which
is applied to the ticket can be controlled so that high resistance
section 422 generates the desired amount of heat at the brandable
ink location of the document. If it is desired to brand more than
one location of a document, document 418 can have more than one
relatively high resistance section.
[0116] Preferably, the relatively high resistance section 422
exhibits a resistance in the tens of ohms or lower. This is so a
relatively high resistance section is made to emit an amount of
heat sufficient to cause branding of brandable material on a game
ticket by applying a relatively low voltage source (such as a 5V
voltage source) across a resistive circuit formed on a game
ticket.
[0117] Brandable material and conductive material, like the layers
211 described with reference to FIG. 2-5 are conveniently applied
in high volume using a flexographic printing press but may also be
applied using an alternative printing method such as with the use
of gravure printing, offset printing, or silk screen printing.
[0118] A document processing apparatus which is adapted to brand
documents of the type shown with reference to FIGS. 4-3 and 4-4 is
shown in FIGS. 4-5 and 4-6. Apparatus 430 includes feed path 432
for receiving documents, a voltage source 434 which may be either
an AC or DC voltage source, and voltage terminals 436 adapted to
make contact with end conductor sections, e.g. sections 421 and 423
of a document 418. In the embodiment shown, apparatus 430 is
configured so that documents received therein are manually inserted
into apparatus 430 until document 418 is in electrical contact with
terminals 436. However, apparatus 430 can also be configured so
that document 418 is transported into an appropriate position in
contact with terminals by operation of rollers 406, as shown in
FIG. 4-1 or another transport mechanism. Apparatus 430 can be
configured so that document 418 is in motion while voltage is
applied to document, or else apparatus 430 can be configured so
that the document is in a stationary position during the time that
branding voltage is applied to the document.
[0119] Document 418 can be made to have contact pads 425 formed
thereon as shown in FIGS. 4-3 and 4-4. These contact pads can be
made of highly conductive metals. The increased thickness of
contact pads 425 and high conductivity assured good electrical
connection between document and terminals, and assure that losses
between document and terminal are minimal. Several contact pads 425
can be formed on a document as illustrated in FIG. 4-3 so that the
document can be inserted into an apparatus for processing the
document in any one of a plurality of different orientations and
still engage terminals 436.
[0120] V. Document Processing Apparatus Control System
[0121] A specific embodiment of a multiple function apparatus
according to the invention which is adapted to receive and process
security documents, in particular lottery game tickets, is shown
with reference to FIG. 5-1, which shows a functional schematic
diagram of a document processing apparatus and its associated
components, and FIG. 5-2, which shows a block electrical control
system for controlling the components of the apparatus.
[0122] Lottery ticket reader 510 includes a plurality of elements
adapted to carry out various functions in the reading and
processing of lottery game tickets, such as game ticket 202. Reader
510 includes a housing 512, a transport mechanism 514 for
transporting game tickets along a feed path 515, a first ticket
sensor 544 for sensing the presence of a game ticket in housing
512, second and third ticket sensors 529 and 530 for sensing the
presence of a document at specific points along feed path 515, a
topside imaging assembly 516 for generating image signals
corresponding to a topside 204 of a lottery ticket, a bottomside
imaging assembly 517 for generating image signals corresponding a
bottomside 206 of a lottery ticket, a material detection imaging
assembly 519 of the type described in connection with FIG. 3-1
herein, and a brander 520 for branding brandable inks which may be
formed on various lottery tickets which may be read by the reader
of the invention.
[0123] Embodiments of reader 510 can have more than or fewer than
the above components. Furthermore, as will be explained herein,
reader 510 may be configured so that a user may elect to deactivate
components and/or operations of reader 510 by entering control
commands via control button or a keyboard 511 or from the local
host processor system 558 (FIG. 5-2). Still further, as will be
described herein, reader 510 may be configured so that certain
components and/or operations of reader 510 may be enabled or
disabled during operation of reader 510 based on characteristics of
the game ticket that is currently being read.
[0124] Although imaging assemblies 516, 517, and 519 may
incorporate 2D type image sensors, they preferably include 1D image
sensors 522T, 522B, 522M having 1.times.N pixel arrays which are
oriented and controlled so that controller 532 captures 2D images
from image signals generated by the image sensors. 1D image sensors
are disposed generally perpendicular to the direction of transport
514, and caused to generate image signal "slices" as documents are
transported through feed path 515. Accurate image data
representations of lottery ticket indicia can be captured by
controller 532 (FIG. 5-2) by coordinating the frequency of image
capture and speed with which documents are transported across the
field of view of the imaging assemblies. The dimensions of 1D image
sensors for use in reader 510 are selected based on the resolution
requirements of the captured images.
[0125] The term "capture" as used herein in relation to imaging
systems shall refer to the process by which a processor based
controller 532 receives image signals generated by an image sensor
e.g. 522T (in a digitized state after being digitized by A/D
converter e.g. 522T) and constructs from the image signals an
initial bit map corresponding to the signals and representative of
the scene in the field of view of the image sensor.
[0126] Referring to particular aspects of imaging assembly 516,
imaging assembly 516 may include an illumination source assembly
523T, provided typically by an array of LEDs, together with an
illuminating optics assembly 524T, which may include lenses and/or
mirrors for directing light from the illumination source to a
target, which is a portion of a document presently in the field of
view of the image sensor. Imaging assembly 516 further includes an
imaging optics assembly 525T for receiving and focusing an image of
object T onto image sensor 522T, and possibly an optical filter for
filtering out light not in the band of wavelengths emanating from
illumination source 523T.
[0127] Illumination and receive optical elements referred to herein
may include mirrors of fiber optical elements for folding or
otherwise shaping the illumination or receive optical paths.
[0128] Bottomside imaging assembly 517 typically includes
components identical to topside imaging assembly 516. Bottomside
imaging assembly 517 typically includes a 1D image sensor 522B and
an associated imaging optics assembly 525B, an illumination source
assembly 523B and associated imaging optics assembly 524B.
[0129] In the embodiment of FIG. 5-1, material detection imaging
assembly 519 is configured in accordance with the
transmissivity-based material detection system described in
reference to FIG. 3-1. Material detection image sensor 522M is
disposed to generate image signals representing a topside of a game
ticket while illumination source 523M is disposed on a side of feed
path 515 opposite image sensor to direct light through ticket
toward image sensor 522M. Illumination source 523M is typically an
infrared light source which emits light in the wavelength range of
from about 0.75 .mu.m to about 1000 .mu.m. Receive optics 525M
associated with material detection sensor 522M should include an
optical filter for filtering out light not in the band of
wavelengths emitted by illumination source 523M.
[0130] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention image
sensors 522T, 522B are provided by high resolution 1D image sensors
which generate image signals of sufficient resolution so that, when
images corresponding to those images are captured by reader 510,
fine lined (such as 6 mil) bar codes can be decoded in such images.
The resolution requirements for images captured by material
detection image sensor 522M may be less stringent, and therefore
materials detection image sensor 522M can normally be provided by a
lower resolution image sensor which generates lower resolution
images.
[0131] Shown as being provided by a system of rollers, transport
mechanism 514 could also be provided by an air transport system or
a drum type transport system. In other possible embodiments,
transport mechanism 514 may comprise simply a feed path which
guides a document received therein and the document may be moved
through the feed path by the force of gravity (in the case of a
vertically oriented feed path) or by a manual force supplied by a
ticket handler as suggested by the apparatus shown in FIGS. 4-5 and
4-6. In still other possible embodiments, a document may be held in
a stationary position and transport mechanism may cause motion of
image sensors 522T, 522B and 522M across the stationarily held
document for enabling full document imaging.
[0132] Functional schematic diagrams of alternative embodiment of a
document processing apparatus are shown in FIGS. 5-6 and 5-7. In
the embodiment of FIG. 5-6 apparatus includes an additive-based
material detection system 519' described with reference to FIG.
3-4. In this embodiment, material detection assembly includes a
specially adapted illumination source 523M' selected to emit light
in a band of wavelengths necessary to excite the light-sensitive
additive material added to scratch-off material, and receive optics
525M' of assembly 519' includes an optical filter for filtering out
light not with the band of wavelengths at which the additive of the
document emits when exposed by light emanating from source 523M'.
Preferably, material detection image sensor 522M' is disposed in
relation to document so as to be exposed to light rays emanating
from illumination source and reflected from document 202. The
apparatus of FIG. 5-6 further includes a topside brander energy
source 520' for branding a topside of a game ticket 202.
[0133] The embodiment of FIG. 5-7 includes two types of material
detection assemblies incorporated in a single document processing
apparatus. First material detection imaging assembly 519 is
configured to detect the presence of scratch-off material on a game
ticket based on transmissivity characteristics of a game ticket
while second material detection imaging assembly 519' is configured
to detect the presence of scratch-off material by detecting for the
presence of a light-sensitive additive which has been previously
incorporated in the scratch-off material of a game ticket as has
been described previously herein in Section III. Alternatively, the
detection imaging assembly 519' can be configured to detect the
absence of scratch-off material by detecting for the presence of a
light-sensitive additive which has been previously incorporated
beneath the scratch-off material of a game ticket.
[0134] Receive optics 525M of first material imaging assembly 519
includes an optical filter for filtering out light not with the
band of wavelengths emanating from illumination source 523M while
receive optics 525M of second material detection imaging assembly
519' includes an optical filter for filtering out light not within
the band of wavelength reflected from document originating from
illumination source 523M. Providing first and second material
detection imaging assemblies 519 and 519' enhances the accuracy
with which apparatus 510" can determine whether a security document
is authentic (whether it has been manufactured according to
authorized specification) and whether a security document is valid
(whether it satisfied the requirements of being a winning
ticket).
[0135] For example, apparatus 510" can be made to make a first
determination as to whether a document is authentic based on
whether image signals (indicative of transmissivity characteristics
of document) generated by image sensor 522M satisfy a certain
criteria, and a second redundant determination as to whether a
document is valid based on whether image signals from image sensor
522M' indicate that a predetermined additive is present in a game
ticket.
[0136] Apparatuses 510, 510' and 510" may have scratch-off material
detection systems incorporated therein designed in accordance with
system 340 described with reference to FIG. 3-6. If a reading
apparatus according to the invention includes a controlled
reflectance system 340, then, in general controller 532 (FIG. 5-2)
is made to analyze image data captured from topside image sensor
522T in order to detect the presence of scratch-off material in a
game ticket. Because illumination source 523T of topside imaging
assembly 516 is normally provided by a narrow band red light
source, a reader equipped to determine the presence of scratch-off
material on a game ticket based on reflectance characteristic of a
play area will not require an additional narrow band light source
if the colors of a play area of tickets to be processed are
controlled according to their reflectance characteristics under red
light. Reader 510 will normally require an additional narrow band
illumination source or sources, however, if it is equipped in
accordance with a controlled reflectance material detection system
requiring more than one narrow band light source or a narrow band
light source other than a red light source.
[0137] A block electrical diagram of the invention is shown in FIG.
5-2. Lottery ticket reader 510 includes a controller 532, typically
provided by one or more processors 534 and 536. Preferably,
controller 532 comprises an integrated circuit microprocessor 534
and an application specific integrated circuit or ASIC 536.
Processor 534 and ASIC 536 are both programmable control devices
which are able to receive, output and process data in accordance
with a stored program stored in a memory space 548 comprising
either or both of a read/write random access memory or RAM 550 and
an erasable read only memory or EROM 552. Processor 534 and ASIC
536 are also both connected to a common bus 553 through which
program data and working data, including address data, may be
received and transmitted in either direction to any circuitry that
is also connected thereto. Processor 534 and ASIC 536 differ from
one another in their operation.
[0138] The actual division of labor between processors 534 and 536
will depend on the type of off-the-shelf microprocessors that are
available, the type of image sensors which are used, the rate at
which image data is output by the imaging assemblies 516, 517, and
519. There is nothing in principle, however, that requires that any
particular division of labor be made between processors 534 and
536, or even that such a division be made at all. This is because
special purpose processor 536 may be eliminated entirely if general
purpose processor 534 is fast enough and powerful enough to perform
all of the functions contemplated by the present invention. It
will, therefore, be understood that neither the number of
processors used, nor the division of labor therebetween, is of any
fundamental significance for purposes of the present invention.
[0139] With processor architectures of the type shown in FIG. 5-2,
a typical division of labor between processors 534 and 536 will be
as follows. Processor 534 is preferably devoted primarily to the
tasks of decoding image data, once such data has been stored in RAM
550, transmission and reception of data to and from a processor
external to reader 510 through an RS 232 or RS 485 (or other)
compatible I/O device 537, and providing overall system level
coordination.
[0140] Processor 536 is preferably devoted primarily to controlling
the image acquisition process, the A/D conversion process and the
storage of image data, including the ability to access memories 550
and 552 via a DMA channel. Processor 536 may also perform many
timing and communication operations. Processor 536 may, for
example, control the illumination of LEDs 523T, 523B, and 523M, the
timing (exposure start time, exposure stop time, the clock out
time) of image sensors 522T, 522B, and 522M (see FIG. 5-1), the
timing of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters 527T, 527B, and 527M,
the coordination between a transport motor and image sensors 522T,
522B and 522M, and the outputting of user perceptible data via an
output device 538, which may comprise a display device, such as a
liquid crystal display, CRT, an array of LED's and or sound
producing displays such as speakers or beepers. It is seen from the
functional diagrams 5-1, 5-6, and 5-7 that controller 532 at
certain times during the processing of a security document will be
required to construct bit maps from image signals received from
each of the three image sensors concurrently. Processor 536 is
conveniently employed to arbitrate bus 553 so that binarized image
signals from each image sensor are written into the appropriate bit
map storage location address location of RAM 550. Control of
output, display and I/O functions may also be shared or duplicated
between processors 534 and 536, as suggested by bus driver I/O and
output/display devices 537' and 538'. As explained earlier, the
specifics of this division of labor is of no significance to the
present invention.
[0141] In the case where image sensors 522T, 522B, 522M are
1.times.N linear array type image sensors, three inputs are
typically provided from processor for the control of each image
sensor. Referring to topside imaging assembly 516, first input
522-1 carries a signal causing image sensor to begin an exposure
period, a second input 522-2 carries a signal causing image sensor
522T to end an exposure period, and third input 522-3 carries a
signal causing an image signal waveform corresponding to a row of
pixels to be clocked or read out of image sensor and presented to
analog-to-digital converter 527T. An A/D input 527-1 carries an A/D
control signal which causes the analog waveform image signals
presented to A/D converter 527T to be sampled at the appropriate
times to assure that digital image signals corresponding to each
pixel of the array are presented to processor 536.
[0142] One specific practical example of a document reader of the
type shown in FIG. 5-2 may be constructed using the particular
commercially available solid-state integrated circuits listed in
the following component table:
1 COMPONENT TABLE Block Diagram Item Manufacturer and Part No.
Processor 534 ASIC 536 Image Sensor 522T Image Sensor 522B Image
Sensor 522M RAM 550 ROM 522
[0143] As indicated by block diagram 5-2, reader 510 is preferably
in communication via I/O device with a local host processor system
558 which includes a local host processor memory space 559. Local
host processor system 558 is typically located in proximity with
reader at a game ticket processing location, such as a convenience
store.
[0144] As illustrated in FIG. 5-3, reader 510 and local host
processor system 558 are preferably part of a larger communications
system 560 comprising a main remote processor system 561 including
a main remote processor and a main remote processor system memory
space 563, which is in communication with a plurality of local host
processor systems, e.g. 558', and processor system 558 also shown
in FIG. 5-2. Main remote processor system 561 may communicate with
a local host processor system via communication interface device
564 such as a modem, or via another suitable communications link,
for example via a computer network connection. Wireless
communication links, such as RF links or other wireless links may
be provided between main remote processor system 561 and local
processor system 558.
[0145] Main remote processor system 561 is typically operated under
the control of local, state, or national government agency, and is
typically equipped with data input devices such as a keyboard 565
and a disk drive which enable data and programs stored in memory
space 563 to readily be edited and updated. Main remote processor
system 563 could also be in communication with a remote governing
processor system (not shown) which is in communication with each of
several main remote processor systems similar to system 561.
[0146] Communications system 560 provides two major functions for
the purposes of the present invention which will be explained fully
herein. First, communications system makes available to reader 510
new validating algorithms. In determining whether a game ticket is
a winner, reader 510 applies a validating algorithm to the
identification code of a game ticket. The features of the
validating algorithm are kept secret and updated periodically so
that the win/loss status of the ticket cannot be determined except
by application of the present validating algorithm. A second major
function of the communication system is to make game data available
to reader 510. As will be seen herein, game data, typically
provided in the form of a lookup table, correlates identification
code information with game ticket physical characteristic data, and
with main program flag status indicators so that processing of a
game ticket received in the reader is made dependent on the
identification code of the ticket being processed. As new styles of
games are manufactured and as new tickets are produced, the game
data must be updated to include the new game styles and game
tickets. Distributing new game data to each of several local
processors is conveniently accomplished by updating the data in a
main remote processor system 561 then writing the new data to each
of several local processor systems 558, 558', and 558".
[0147] Referring again to aspects of reader 510, a high level flow
diagram illustrating operation of a main program for controlling
the overall operation of reader 510 is illustrated in the flow
diagram FIG. 5-4. According to main program 570, the controller
532, after positively sensing a ticket via sensor 544 at block 571,
executes an initial read/decode routine at block 572 and then
executes at least one of several processing subroutines. In
general, a similar initial image capture subroutine will be
followed for each document that is presented to reader 510. In an
initial image capture/decode subroutine, controller 532 captures
image data representing the front and back of a game ticket 202
searches for identification bar codes represented in that image
data, and decodes any bar codes existing in that image data. For
most lottery game tickets, decoding a bar code symbol formed on a
game ticket reveals a game ticket identification code.
[0148] Processing subroutines which controller 532 may execute
after executing an initial capture/read/decode subroutine include
an authentication subroutine, a manual validation subroutine, a
scratch-off material removal test subroutine, a tamper detection
subroutine, and a branding subroutine. Which of the potential
subroutines controller 532 executes depends on the status of
control flags which controller 532 polls at various stages of
operation of main program 510. In the example shown, controller 532
polls the status of control flags at decision blocks 577, 578, 579,
580, 581, 582, and 583 to determine which of the potential
subroutines reader 510 will execute.
[0149] Reader 510 may be configured so that the processing
subroutines which are executed by reader 510 can be controlled
manually. In the case that reader 510 can manually control which
processing subroutines will be executed, then controller 532 at
decision blocks 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 583, polls a flag
that is raised or lowered by manual input commands input to
controller 532 by an operator with use of a keyboard or control
buttons 511 which may be integrated into housing 512. When polling
the status of a flag raised manually, controller 532 polls the
contents of an address corresponding to the keyboard or control
buttons operated to manually raise the flag status indicators.
[0150] In addition to or in place of the manual control of which
subroutines controller 532 executes, reader 510 may be configured
so the processing subroutines which controller executes are
dependent on the style of game ticket presently being
processed.
[0151] To the end that execution of the various processing
subroutines 575-1 to 575-6 is made dependent on the style of ticket
being processed, then a lookup table which correlates an
identification code of a given game ticket 202 with various control
flag indicators pertaining to that code is stored into memory space
548 of reader 510. A lookup table 590 which may be stored in memory
space 548 is shown in FIG. 5-5. Lookup table 590 includes a first
column 591 listing game ticket identification code(for a portion of
an identification code), and at least one control flag status
indicator column 592 indicting the status of a flag which
determines whether or not controller 532 will execute a particular
potential subroutine. When executing one of the decision blocks
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, and 583, then controller 532 will
poll the column and row of data in lookup table 590 corresponding
to the identification code of the ticket 202 presently being read
in order to determine whether controller 532 will execute a
potential processing subroutine. In some cases, the controller will
use data that has been read from the ticket and combined with the
data from the lookup table 590 to fully describe the relevant
attributes of the game, the instance of the game on the ticket, and
the particular processing required for that ticket. This
correlation of information can be used on both sides of the ticket,
or include data read from a ticket's light-sensitive material
layer.
[0152] It is seen further from FIG. 5-5 that lookup table 590
includes at least one column 593 including data pertaining to the
physical characteristics of the ticket being processed. Such
physical characteristic information may include, for example, the
dimensions of the ticket, and the dimensions and the location of
the play areas (and scratch-off material) of the game ticket. Such
information is useful in several of the ticket processing
applications of the application. Physical characteristic game data
defining the location of a play area, e.g. column 593 data, are
typically provided in the form of distance parameters which define
a point location (such a center point or corner point) with respect
to a predetermined reference point of a game ticket. The
predetermined reference point of the ticket may be defined by,
e.g., corner points of the game ticket, an identification bar code
symbol of a game ticket, or another indicia of a game ticket added
to the ticket for purpose of providing a reference point.
[0153] For example, in a latex detection function according to the
invention, which will be explained in detail herein, controller 532
determines whether scratch-off material covering a play area of a
ticket has been scratched. In making such a determination,
controller reads from lookup table the positions and locations of
the play areas in a game ticket in order to determine the
appropriate image data pertaining to those positions.
[0154] Lookup table 590 can include one entry or row of data
corresponding to each individual ticket, as identified by its
identification code. For many applications, however, it is
sufficient to provide one entry for each style of ticket, and to
process each ticket manufactured according to a given style in the
same way. Where it is sufficient to provide one entry per style of
ticket, controller 532 can be made to data from lookup table 590,
by reading certain characters of an identification code pertaining
to a ticket style, and ignoring certain other characters of an
identification code not pertaining to a ticket style.
[0155] VI. Document Reader Operation
[0156] The various functions which reader 510 may be adapted to
perform will now be described in detail. In operation, reader 510
is configured to carry out an initial capture/decode/test routine,
and then execute at least one of several potential processing
subroutines whose execution depends on the status of various flags
controlling the operation of these functions or subroutines.
[0157] A flow diagram illustrating the steps in the operation of an
initial capture/decode/test routine which is carried out in the
same manner for each game ticket presented to reader is described
with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 6-1. In executing the
operation, routine controller 532 captures the necessary image data
that will be required to carry out the various potential functions
of the reader.
[0158] Briefly, referring to FIGS. 5-1 and 5-2, reader 510 captures
image data as follows. When a ticket 202 is sensed by position
sensor 544, controller 532 issues the appropriate command to motor
PC Board 546 to actuate transport mechanism 514 so that transport
mechanism 514 transports game ticket 202 across the field of view
of image sensors 522T, 522B, and 522M. In the specific embodiment
of FIG. 5-1, transport mechanism 514 transports a front end of game
ticket 202 across the field of view of topside and bottomside image
sensors 522T, 522B before transporting ticket 513 across the field
of view of material detection image sensor 522M.
[0159] Controller 532 is configured to construct bit map
representations of indicia patterns on the topside and bottomside
of a game ticket by capturing successive "slices" of image data
corresponding to a line of indicia on a game ticket that runs the
width of a game ticket. Each image sensor 522T, 522B and 522M is
adapted to develop analog signal waveforms that represent, at any
give time, a complete line or slice of a game ticket surface, which
is presently in the field of view of the image sensor. Controller
532 captures a slice of image data, in general, by issuing
appropriately timed control signals to image sensors 522T, 522B,
and 522M and to appropriately timed A/D converters 527T, 527B, and
527M (FIG. 5-2)and by reading into memory space 548 at the
appropriate read rate, bits or bytes of data corresponding to image
signal waveforms output by sensors 522T, 522B, and 522M
representing a complete line of ticket indicia. If the value of
each pixel in an image sensor pixel array is to be captured by
controller 532 as a binary 1 bit number then the output from an A/D
converter 527T will be either a 1 or 0. If the value of each pixel
is to be captured as a grey scale value then the output of A/D
converter 527 is a multi bit signal representing the grey scale of
each pixel. Image sensors 522T, 522B, and 522M are adapted to
generate image signals corresponding to the full width of a game
ticket having a maximum available width. Thus, for game tickets
having less than the maximal width, additional image data
corresponding to an image signal that does not represent a part of
a ticket will be captured.
[0160] The output signals generated by ticket position sensors 529
and 530, along with the transport speed with which a ticket is
transported determine the time at which controller 532 commences
capturing image data corresponding to a given image sensor, and the
time at which controller ceases capturing image data corresponding
to a given image sensor.
[0161] The "sample rate" is the rate at which controller 532
captures slices of image data from the image sensors 522T, 522B and
522M. The sample rate and pixel dimension of image sensors 522T,
522B and 522M should be selected according to the resolution
requirement of the image data that is captured. Image sensors 522T,
522B will be required to generate image signals for use in
capturing image data containing therein fine lined bar code
symbols, as fine as 6 mils, while the resolution requirements of
image data captures from material detection image sensor 522M will
normally be less.
[0162] So that sufficiently high resolution and sufficiently
distortion-free image data are captured, the speed of transport
mechanism should be coordinated with the sampling rate. In one
practical working example of the invention, the transport speed,
required resolution, the pixel dimension, and sampling rate
associated with the various image sensor are as follows:
2 Transport Sample Image Sensor Speed Resolution Pixel Dimension
Rate Topside 522T 15 I/sec. 330dpi pixels, 2048 pixels used
Bottomside 522B 15 I/sec. Mat. Det. 522M 15 I/sec.
[0163] Controller 532 assembles slices of image data corresponding
to image signals generated by a given image sensor 522T, 522B, or
522M in predetermined (normally sequentially addressed) address
locations of memory space 548 to form initial bit map image
representations of a complete topside surface (by topside 522T and
material detection 522M sensor) or bottomside surface (by
bottomside 522B image sensor) of a game ticket 202. The initial bit
map representations captured from image signals generated by
topside image sensor 522T and bottomside image sensor 522B shall be
referred to herein, respectively, as the topside and bottomside bit
maps while the bit map representation constructed from material
detection image sensor 522M shall be referred to herein as the
material detection bit map.
[0164] Turning again to FIG. 6-1, when the initial bit maps are
completely constructed at block 610 (at the time when the back end
202B of a game ticket passes position sensor 522M then controller
532 proceeds to block 612, in order to search for and attempt to
decode any bar code symbols which may be included in the captured
image data. In searching for and decoding any bar code symbols
which may be included in the captured image data, controller 532
will search through the topside and bottomside bit maps for bar
code symbols.
[0165] The searching for and decoding of bar code symbols in the
captured image data can be carried out in accordance with use of
one of several search and decode methodologies that are in
widespread use in the art, and available from a variety of
different software providers including Welch Allyn Corporation of
Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. In general, these symbol finding
methodologies involve analyzing a row or column of a bit map to
determine if the row or column includes a sequence of dark pixels
followed by a sequence of light pixels according to a predetermined
criteria, then, if a grouping satisfying the pattern criteria is
found, pixels surrounding the grouping are analyzed until a
determination is made as to whether the image data includes a
symbol.
[0166] As described in Section II herein, lottery game tickets 202
of the type reader 510 is configured to process have printed
thereon an identification code bar code symbol 208 which encodes an
identification code pertaining to that particular ticket.
[0167] However, as seen in FIG. 2-1 lottery game tickets often have
more than one bar code symbol printed thereon. For example, lottery
game tickets often have a sales data bar code symbol 209 printed
thereon in addition to having an identification code bar code
symbol 208. Fortunately, recognizing a located bar code symbol as a
sales data bar code symbol is normally an easy task considering
that sales data bar code symbols are commonly printed in one
symbology, UPS symbology, which is employed on a widespread basis
for the purpose of encoding sales records information. Therefore,
after locating a bar code symbol in captured image data at block
613, controller 532 determines if the located symbol satisfies a
predetermined criteria for being an identification code type bar
code symbol. Such criteria may be for example, that the symbol is
not a UPS-symbol, or is of a symbology designated for possible use
as an identification code symbol. If the located symbol does not
satisfy the criteria for being an identification code bar code
symbol, then controller 532 at block 613 continues to search for
bar code symbols in the captured image data. If a located symbol
does satisfy the criteria for being an identification code type bar
code symbol then controller 532 proceeds to block 616 and attempts
to decode the symbol. If no symbol is found that satisfies the
requirements of being an identification code type symbol, then
controller 532 at block 614 displays a "No Bar Code Symbol Found"
message and proceeds to reject the game ticket at block 615.
[0168] Display messages described herein may be displayed by a
display device which has been incorporated in reader 510 (not
shown). Preferably, however, controller 532 is configured so that
when controller 532 causes the display of a message, controller 532
writes a message to I/O device 537 which is received by local host
processor system 558 which displays the message on a display device
incorporated therein.
[0169] "Rejecting" the game ticket shall be referred to herein as
the process of transporting a ticket 202 through reader 510 to the
outlet thereof subsequent to capturing image data pertaining to the
ticket without performing any further processing of the ticket
involving, e.g., branding or validating.
[0170] If controller 532 does locate at block 613 a bar code symbol
in the image data satisfying a criteria for being an identification
code bar code symbol, controller 532 proceeds to block 616 and
attempts to decode the located bar code symbol. If the controller
532 at block 617 determines that the located symbol cannot be
decoded then controller proceeds to block 618, and attempts to
determine whether the symbol cannot be decoded because it has been
previously branded. If the ticket has been previously branded, then
its win/loss status has been previously processed by reader 510 and
it should not be processed again. The attempt to reprocess a ticket
which has been previously processed as indicated by the ticket
being branded can be an indication of an attempted fraud.
[0171] As has been discussed herein, and in detail in Section IV,
brandable ink may be formed on a symbol according to a
predetermined pattern, which become visible after being branded. It
should be noted that the brand does not have to be located on the
bar code. Because the pattern of the brandable ink is
predetermined, whether or not a ticket has been branded can be
determined by application of a pattern recognition algorithm in
which controller 532 determines whether the predetermined brand
pattern is present in the captured image data corresponding to the
location of the identification symbol. This pattern recognition
algorithm can be simplified if the manufacturing of game tickets to
be processed by controller 532 is controlled so that each ticket
includes a substantially identical branding pattern formed in
substantially identical locations and orientations in relation to
symbol 208. By application of a pattern recognition algorithm
controller 532 determines whether the reason that the symbol cannot
be decoded is that the symbol has been branded.
[0172] If controller 532 at block 618 determines that the ticket
has been previously branded then controller 532 at block 620 causes
a "Previously Played" message to be displayed by display 538 and
causes the ticket to be rejected at block 615. If controller 532 at
block 618 determines that a symbol cannot be read for a reason
other than that the ticket has been previously branded then
controller 532 causes a general "Bar code reading failure" message
to be displayed at block 619 and rejects the ticket at block
615.
[0173] If controller 532 successfully decodes the symbol at block
617 then controller 532 proceeds to block 621 to determine if an
entry exists in lookup table 590 (as described with reference to
FIG. 5-5) corresponding to the identification code of the
successfully decoded symbol. At block 621 controller 532 determines
if a lookup table entry corresponding to the identification code of
the present ticket is resident in reader memory space 548. If an
entry is not present in memory 548 then controller 532 proceeds to
block 622 to download and then determine at block 623 if an entry
corresponding to the identification code of the present ticket is
located in a Master lookup table stored in memory space of local
host processor system 558.
[0174] If a lookup table entry corresponding to the present
identification code is not located either in the original lookup
table or the download Master lookup table, then controller 532 at
block 624 causes to be displayed an "Unrecognized Game" message and
proceeds to block 615 to reject the game ticket. If a lookup table
entry corresponding to the identification code is present either in
the original or Master lookup table, then controller 532 exits the
initial capture/decode/test routine and proceeds to execute at
least one potential processing subroutine. When an entry
corresponding to a present identification code is found, a stack
pointer is added to the entry so that the entry is readily located
in future processing steps.
[0175] As mentioned in Section IV herein, brandable ink formed on a
game ticket need not be formed in such a location on a ticket that
branding the brandable ink obscures an identification code bar code
symbol. Accordingly, if controller 532 successfully decodes a
symbol at block 616 controller 532 may execute another processing
routine to search, in the captured image data, for sequences of
pixel values corresponding to a predetermined brand pattern. Lookup
table 590 may have incorporated therein data encoding the location,
and possibly characteristics of the brand pattern. If lookup table
590 is made to include data pertaining to characteristics of the
brand pattern, then a brand pattern locating routine should be
executed after a lookup table entry corresponding to the presented
game ticket is found, at block 621 or block 623. In general, brand
patterns are formed on game tickets in locations that do not
obscure symbols so that the ticket's identification code can be
utilized in the processing of the ticket. Thus, if a non-obscuring
brand pattern is located, the brand status is recorded and utilized
to control further processing of the ticket, but will in general
not result in the immediate rejecting of the ticket as is the case
where the brand pattern is symbol obscuring brand pattern formed
directly on an identification bar code.
[0176] With reference to main program flow diagram 570 of FIG. 5-4,
controller 532 at decision stage 577 determines if a flag is raised
indicating whether a "Test for Scratch-off Material" or
"Authentication" subroutine should be executed. This flag will be
raised if the designer of the game wishes to have a preliminary
test carried out on the ticket to determine if the ticket has
authentic scratch-off material printed thereon, before carrying out
more sophisticated processing routines involving time and memory
consuming character recognition algorithms. Execution of this
processing subroutine is particularly useful in the case where the
reader includes a material detection system of the type described
with reference to FIG. 3-1 and the game ticket includes a
scratch-off material having a light-sensitive additive which is
selected to emit light in specific wavelength range when
illuminated at a certain wavelength range.
[0177] If the scratch-off material or the layer beneath the
scratch-off material includes a wavelength-responsive additive and
the material detection system is of a type that includes a material
detection imaging system configured in accordance with the design
of FIG. 3-4, then image data captured from material detection image
sensor 522M' corresponding to the scratch-off region will indicate
whether the game ticket includes the additive. Therefore, the "Test
for Scratch-Off Material" subroutine can comprise a simple
algorithm which analyzes image data corresponding to the play area
to determine whether at least one bit or bits of data corresponding
to a single pixel of array 522M' indicates the presence of an
additive in the scratch-off material.
[0178] Still referring to FIG. 5-4, if controller 532, in execution
of a "Test for Scratch-off Material" algorithm, determines at block
626 that the scratch-off material does not include a
light-sensitive additive, then controller 532 at block 627 may
cause display of a "Counterfeit Ticket" message and proceed to
block 615 to reject the ticket.
[0179] Additional preliminary checks as to the authenticity of a
game ticket can be made in the case reader 510 includes the
required reader elements of a controlled reflectance material
detection system described with reference to FIG. 3-6, and ticket
is manufactured according to the requirement of the system of FIG.
3-6. For example, controller 532 can analyze image data captured
from image sensor 522T in order to determine whether pixels of the
bit map exhibit intensities in accordance with the reflectance
characteristics of colors of a game tickets outer layer 238' and/or
icon layer 226'. Furthermore if reader 510 and ticket 202 are made
in accordance with a reflectance controlled material detection
system wherein contrast is evident between a pattern and background
of outer layer 238' and icon layer 226' then controller 532 may
analyze patterns of either or both outer layer 238' and icon layer
226' to determine if the patterns satisfy predetermined criteria
indicative of authenticity. If controller 532 at block 626
determines that the game ticket is authentic, or if a "Test for
Scratch-off Material" flag is not raised, then controller 532
proceeds to decision stage 578 to determine whether a flag is
raised for causing execution of a "Manual Validation" subroutine.
The designers of some games may wish to require that validation of
their game be performed by manual inspection only. A game designer,
who wishes to require that validation be carried out by manual
inspection only, may provide a lookup table as shown in FIG. 5-5
that includes a flag status indicator column including an indicator
causing execution of the "Manual Validation" subroutine when
controller 532 executes decision stage 578. In a "Manual
Validation" subroutine, controller 532 at block 628 causes a
display of a "Ticket Authentic, OK to Manually Validate" message
then proceeds to block 630 to eject the ticket.
[0180] At block 579 controller 532 determines the status of flag
controlling executing a "Test for Scratch-off material removal"
subroutine. If this subroutine is caused to be executed, controller
532 analyzes image data captured from material detection image
sensor 522M in order to determine if the game ticket has been
played. If a ticket is presented to reader 510 without the
scratch-off material being removed, it is normally indicative of an
attempted fraud perpetrated by a ticket agent who wishes to
separate winning tickets from losing tickets. A flow diagram
illustrating a possible implementation of a "Scratch-Off Material
Detection Removal" subroutine is described with reference to FIG.
6-2. In the case the reader is a reader such as 510' or 510"
including an image sensor 522M' adapted to detect for the presence
of a light sensitive additive in a game ticket, then controller 532
in a "Scratch-Off Material Removal Detection" subroutine and in a
"Tamper Detection" subroutine to be described later herein may
analyze image data captured from image sensor 522M'. Where a
reader, e.g, 510, 510', 510" includes a controlled reflectance
material detection system described with reference to FIG. 3-6,
then controller 532 may analyze discernable contrast image data
captured from topside image sensor 522T when executing a
"Scratch-Off Material Removal Detection" subroutine or a "Tamper
Detection" subroutine.
[0181] In a "Scratch-off Material Removal Detection" subroutine,
controller 532 at block 634 determines from an appropriate bit map
a reference point in the image data that corresponds to a
particular point in a game ticket. The reference point may be
provided, for example, by a point in the identification code bar
code of a game ticket. All points in the image data corresponding
to points in a game ticket can be found by reference to the
identification code bar code symbol or another predetermined mark
or indicia on game ticket 202. A reference point in the image data
can also be determined by searching for, and locating in the image
data a point which corresponds, e.g., to a corner point of the game
ticket.
[0182] At block 635, controller 532 reads from lookup table 590
physical characteristic game data. Physical characteristic game
data defines the region in the captured material detection bit map
corresponding to the play area of the ticket with reference to a
reference point in the bit map, such as any pixel value
corresponding to a point on a bar code symbol, or a bit
corresponding to a corner point of the game ticket.
[0183] When the physical characteristic game data is read at block
636, controller 532 determines the region in the captured image
data corresponding to the ticket's play area, and then proceeds to
block 637 to analyze the image data of the bit map in the location
of the play area. At block 637, controller 532 determines whether
the captured image data in the region of the play area indicates
that the ticket has been played. A number of possible algorithms
may be employed to make the determination of whether the ticket has
been played.
[0184] In one method for making a determination as to whether a
ticket has been played, controller 532 at block 637 evaluates the
pixel values in the area of the bit map corresponding to a play
area to determine the percentage of bits in the play area of the
bit map having "light values". A "light value" pixel herein shall
refer to a grey scale pixel value above a certain value or the bit
value of P=1, in the case the pixels in the bit map are either
captured as binary values or converted to binary values with use of
a thresholding procedure. As indicated by the video image of FIG.
3-3 and in FIGS. 3-8 and 3-9, a high contrast will be apparent in
the selected play area profile bit map between pixel values
corresponding to locations in the play area that are scratched off
and those pixel values corresponding to locations in the play area
that are not scratched off. At block 637, controller 532 may
determine that a ticket has been played if the pixel values
corresponding to the play area indicate that more than a
predetermined percentage of the scratch-off material has been
removed. In one specific embodiment, controller 532 determines that
a ticket has been played if the pixel values in the material
detection bit map indicate that more than about 20 percent of the
scratch-off material is removed.
[0185] If controller 532 at block 637 determines that less than a
predetermined percentage of scratch-off material has been removed
from a play area then controller at block 638 may cause a "Ticket
Has Not Been Played" message to be displayed and then proceed to
block 615 to reject the ticket.
[0186] At block 580, if the ticket has not been rejected controller
532 executes another decision stage to determine whether controller
532 will execute a "Tamper Detection" subroutine. In a "Tamper
Detection" subroutine, controller 532 determines whether a ticket
has been tampered with by a player or agent. In a tamper detection
subroutine, controller 532 may determine whether small portions of
the scratch-off material have been removed by a ticket agent or
probability game player with the intention of determining variable
indicia of the game ticket while maintaining the appearance that
the ticket has not been played. In a sophisticated "Tamper
Detection" subroutine, controller 532 may attempt to determine
whether a portion of the scratch-off material has been lifted, then
placed back on the ticket, or replaced with counterfeit scratch-off
material.
[0187] In one embodiment, as described with reference to the flow
diagram of FIG. 6-3, the method by which controller 532 determines
whether a ticket has been tampered with is similar to the method by
which controller determines if a ticket has been played. At block
640 controller 532 determines a reference point on the game ticket,
at block 641 controller 532 reads physical characteristic data from
lookup table 590 corresponding to the present ticket identification
code, at block 642 controller 532 locates the image data from the
bit map corresponding to the play area based on the physical
characteristic game data, and at block 643 controller 532 analyzes
the image data of the play area to determine whether the ticket has
been tampered with. Of course, the location of image data of the
material detection bit map which corresponds to the play area does
not have to be re-determined at blocks 640-642 if the location as
is the case with image data has previously been determined at
blocks 634-636.
[0188] As is the case with the scratch-off material removal
detection routine described with reference to FIG. 6-3, controller
532 at decision block 643 makes a determination as to whether a
ticket has been tampered with based on the percentage of pixel
values in the material detection bit map having light values. If
the percentage is above a first predetermined value but below a
second predetermined value, then the condition that the ticket has
been pin pricked or otherwise tampered with is deemed to have been
indicated. In one illustrative example of the invention, the
condition that the game ticket has been tampered with is indicated
in the bit map representation of the play area, then between about
0.5 percent and about 5 percent of the bit map pixel values have
lighter values. If the determination is made at block 643 that the
ticket has been tampered with then controller causes a "Tampered
Ticket" message to be displayed at block 644 then rejects the
ticket at block 615.
[0189] It will be seen that where controller 532 is configured in
such a way that it may carry out both the scratch-off material
removal detection routine described in connection with the flow
diagram of FIG. 6-2 and the tamper detection removal subroutine of
FIG. 6-3, then the subroutine for determining whether a ticket has
been played should be modified so that the ticket can be subjected
to a tamper detection subroutine without being rejected at block
637 on the basis of less then the threshold percentage of play area
bit map pixel values having light values. To the end that the
ticket will not be rejected at block 637 despite less than the
threshold percentage of bit values in the play area of the bit map
having light values, then controller can be caused to execute an
additional decision at block 646 as indicated in the alternative
flow diagram of FIG. 6-4 after executing block 637 in which
controller 532 determines whether less than a trace amount (for
example, 0.5 per cent) of the scratch-off material has been
removed. In this embodiment, controller 532 will determine that the
ticket has not been played only if the bit map information reveals
that none or essentially none of the scratch-off material has been
removed, and will cause "Not Played" message to be displayed at
block 638 and will reject ticket at block 615 only if a
trace-amount percentage or less (such as 0.5 percent) of the play
area bit map pixel values have light values. Furthermore if the
tamper detection routine will determine whether tampering has taken
place based on the percentage of play area bit map bit values
having light values, then controller 532 can be made to skip
execution of decision stage 580 if controller determines at block
637 that a ticket played indicating percentage of play area values
have light values.
[0190] The illustrative indicating percentages provided thus far
have been given for the case that the game ticket 202 presented to
reader 510 includes a play area comprising a uniformly applied
layer of scratch-off material. It will be understood that the
selection indicating percentages which indicate the various
conditions, e.g., that the ticket has been played, has not been
played, or has been tampered with, will vary depending on the
percentage of play area that is originally covered by a detectable
scratch-off material when the ticket is manufactured.
[0191] In addition to or in place of the percentage light bit value
tamper detection subroutine, controller 532 can be configured to
carry out alternative methods for determining whether a game ticket
has been tampered. Many such tamper detection methods are based on
character recognition techniques as will be described herein.
[0192] In an alternative tamper detection subroutine, controller
532 analyzes pixel values of a play area profile bit map to
determine if patterns are present in the play area image data
indicative of an attempted tampering scheme. FIGS. 3-10 and 3-11
show video images corresponding to tampered game tickets. The image
data corresponding to the video images of FIGS. 3-10 and 3-11 were
captured using a controlled-reflectance scratch-off material
detection scheme configured according to the system of FIG. 3-6.
FIGS. 3-10 and 3-11 are video images of game tickets that have been
subjected to pin pricking.
[0193] A pattern indicative of a pin prick can be detected by
searching for a small number, 1 to N, of contiguous pixels
corresponding to points of an icon layer surrounded by scratch-off
material pixels. The small number contiguous pixel which can be
considered to constitute a pin prick will vary depending on the
resolution of the imaging system.
[0194] In a lifting tampering scheme, a subtle jagged line, arc or
circle is normally formed in a play area. A well known line
searching algorithm, such as a wall hugging scheme or a Hough
transform accordingly can be employed to search in captured image
data for a pattern indicative of a lifting tampering scheme.
[0195] A play area of a game ticket can be especially adapted to
simplify the task of a tamper detection. As mentioned in Section II
herein, scratch-off material can be formed in predetermined
fragmented pattern so that a taper attempt is indicated by a
mismatch or discontinuity in the predetermined pattern.
[0196] In another adaptation for simplifying tamper detection in a
system comprising an additive based material detection scheme or a
controlled reflectance detection scheme a predetermined pattern may
be formed in outer layer 238 or 238' which can be recognized by the
particular imaging system which will be employed. The predetermined
pattern which preferably comprised contiguous lines may be formed
in area over a play area that is slightly larger than a play area.
The predetermined pattern enables a lifting scheme or pin prick
scheme to be detected by detecting a discontinuity in the
predetermined pattern. If a game ticket manufactured according to a
controlled reflectance material detection scheme is to be made so
that there is a detectable contrast between a background, a
pattern, and a tamper detection pattern of an outer layer, then the
background, pattern, and tamper detection pattern of the outer
layer can be manufactured to have first, second, and third
reflectance characteristic respectively.
[0197] With reference again to the main program shown in FIG. 5-4,
controller 532 executes decision block stage 581 after executing
"Tamper Detection" subroutine or after determining at block 580
that a flag has not been raised. At decision stage 581, controller
532 polls a flag whose status determines whether controller 532
will validate the game ticket by application of a validation
routine that is resident in memory space. The status of this flag
may be determined by either a flag status indicator that is stored
in lookup table 590 or by an indicator in a predetermined address
of memory space that is from time to time written to by host
processor 558, or both.
[0198] In general, lottery game tickets are validated by applying
the game ticket identification code of a ticket to a validating
algorithm which determines whether the ticket is winner. By design,
the features of a validating algorithm are kept secret so that a
ticket agent cannot determine the win/loss status of a game ticket
by determining an identification code for a game ticket. With
reference to network hierarchy diagram of FIG. 5-3, a main security
validating algorithm may be stored in a memory space 559 of remote
host processor system 558, where it is maintained and updated (to
encompass the identification codes of new tickets, or to surmount
security breaches, for example), and may be periodically downloaded
to local host processor 558, which periodically downloads the
validating algorithm to reader 510.
[0199] In subroutine 575-5, controller 532 reads the ticket
identification code from the memory address of memory space 548
where it has been previously stored and jumps to the EROM address
at which the most recent validating algorithm has been written to,
executes the algorithm and reads the result. If according to the
algorithm the ticket is not a winner, then controller 532 proceeds
to decision stage 582. Eventually, controller 532 at block 650 will
cause display of a "Ticket Not a Winner" message if according to
the algorithm the ticket is not valid. If according to the
validation algorithm the ticket is a winner then controller 532
also jumps to decision stage 583 and eventually will cause a
"Ticket is a Winner" message to be displayed at block 650 (FIG.
6-5).
[0200] At block 582 controller 532 polls the status of an "External
Validation" subroutine flag for determining whether controller 532
will validate the present ticket using a validating algorithm
stored in a memory space external to reader 510. This decision
stage will normally be executed only if the "Internal Validation"
subroutine flag polled at block 581 is lowered. Like the internal
validation flag, the status of the external validation flag can be
raised or lowered either by an indicator of a lookup table 590 or
by an indicator in a memory space address of reader 510 which is
written to periodically by local host processor system 558. A game
designer may provide an external validation flag status indicator
in lookup table 590 if the designer wishes that tickets of that
style be validated externally each time they are read. Local host
processor system 558 may write an external validation algorithm
flag status indicator to memory space 548 of reader 510 in the case
that, for example, because of a security problem, or because of a
change in the validation algorithm, it is desired to validate the
game ticket externally.
[0201] When an external validation flag is raised, then controller
532 may read the ticket identification code, upload the
identification code to local host processor system 558, where it is
applied to a validating algorithm, then receive an indicator from
local host processor system 558 as to the win/loss status of the
game ticket. Controller 532 at block 650 will cause to be displayed
the appropriate "Ticket is a Winner" or "Ticket is not a Winner"
depending upon the win/loss status of the game ticket as determined
by the validating algorithm.
[0202] If reader 510 is equipped in accordance of a controlled
reflectance material detection system described with reference to
FIG. 3-6, and if reader 510 and ticket 202 are made so that
contrast is evident between a pattern and background of icon layer
226' then controller 532 may execute an additional check on the
validity of a ticket by determining whether exposed patterns an
icon layer in one or several play areas are in accordance with a
criteria indicative of a winning ticket.
[0203] At block 583, controller 532 polls the status of a
"Branding" subroutine flag for controlling whether controller will
execute a branding subroutine. In a "Branding" subroutine reader
510 subjects a game ticket to an energy source so that brandable
ink formed on the game ticket becomes visible. In executing
decision stage 583 controller 532 normally reads a flag status
indicator of lookup table 590 in order to determine the status of a
branding subroutine flag.
[0204] An example of a "Brandin" subroutine according to the
invention is described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG.
6-5. At block 655, controller 532 issues the appropriate command to
cause brander 520 to energize and brand ticket 202. The timing of
the issuance of this command should be selected so that
substantially all of a surface of the ticket is exposed to the
energy emanating from brander 520. Preferably, transport mechanism
514 holds ticket 202 in a stationary position when a ticket is
branded.
[0205] After ticket 202 is branded at block 655, controller 532 can
be made to check if the branding was successful. A determination
that the branding was not successful will indicate that the ticket
did not include brandable ink and that therefore the ticket is not
authentic.
[0206] In order to determine whether the branding was successful,
controller 532 at block 656 may issue a command to transport motor
PCB board 546 to cause transport of ticket 202 in a reverse
direction. While ticket 202 is transported in a reverse direction,
controller 532 is made to capture image data representing image
signals generated by bottomside image sensor 522B in the manner
described previously so that controller 532 captures at block 657 a
second bit map representation of indicia formed on the bottomside
of the game ticket.
[0207] At block 658, controller 532 locates the identification code
represented in the second bit map, then at block 659, analyzes the
image data in the bar code symbol portion of the bit map to
determine, based on characteristics of that image data, whether the
ticket has been branded. The determination of whether a ticket has
been branded can be made at block 659 by attempting to decode a
located bar code symbol if the ticket is of a type having brandable
material formed thereon according to such a pattern that an
identification code symbol is obscured when the material is
branded. If the symbol which was successfully decoded at block 617
cannot be decoded at block 659, there is an indication that the
ticket has been successfully branded. If at block 659, controller
532 determines that the branding was not successful then controller
532 may cause a "Ticket not Authentic" or "Counterfeit Ticket"
message to be displayed on display screen at block 660. Controller
532 may also be made to search for a brand pattern in accordance
with a method described in connection with block 618 in order to
determine whether the ticket branding was successful.
[0208] In the case the branding was successful, controller 532 at
block 650 causes the appropriate ticket win/loss status to be
displayed before ejecting the ticket at block 662.
[0209] While this invention has been described in detail with
reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be appreciated that
the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment.
Rather, in view of the present disclosure which describes the best
mode for practicing the invention, many modifications and
variations would present themselves to those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, as
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *