U.S. patent number 3,796,433 [Application Number 05/152,533] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for electronic gaming device simulating the game of blackjack.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hydro-Search, Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles A. Bell, Walter C. Fraley, James T. Hendrix.
United States Patent |
3,796,433 |
Fraley , et al. |
March 12, 1974 |
ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE SIMULATING THE GAME OF BLACKJACK
Abstract
A disk-operated electronic gaming device for playing a simulated
game of blackjack is disclosed. The device includes operating
controls for a player to control his play of the game; a display
panel to show the progress of the game and its result;
disk-handling equipment for receiving metallic disks and returning
an appropriate number of disks to the player based on the results
of the play; a solid state, fixed logic, digital computer to
automatically determine the play of the game and to compute the
results of this play; and a power supply to provide power necessary
for operation of the computer, the display panel and the
disk-handling equipment. The apparatus is housed in a compact,
attractive, utilitarian cabinet.
Inventors: |
Fraley; Walter C. (Kensington,
CA), Hendrix; James T. (Reno, NV), Bell; Charles A.
(Anaheim, CA) |
Assignee: |
Hydro-Search, Inc. (Buena Park,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22543329 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/152,533 |
Filed: |
June 14, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/12; 273/292;
463/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/32 (20130101); A63F 1/00 (20130101); G07F
17/3293 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
17/32 (20060101); A63F 1/00 (20060101); A63f
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/138A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
1,082,557 |
|
Sep 1967 |
|
GB |
|
1,107,552 |
|
Mar 1968 |
|
GB |
|
1,178,302 |
|
Jan 1970 |
|
GB |
|
1,082,557 |
|
Sep 1968 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sandford; Dean
Claims
1. A gaming device for playing a simulated game of blackjack by a
player against a simulated dealer, which comprises:
a solid state, fixed logic, digital computer to automatically
determine the play of the game including (1) means to randomly
generate card and suit values representing simulated cards, said
means including means to simultaneously generate first and second
low purity, high frequency signals, means to generate a low purity,
low frequency clock signal, first counter means to repetitively
count said first signals to a count of 13 during half of each cycle
of said low frequency clock signal to determine a random value from
1 to 13 representative of a card value, second counter means to
repetitively count said second signals to a count of 4 during each
of said half cycles to determine a random value from 1 to 4
representative of a suit value, and means to read said first and
second counters during each alternate half cycle of said clock
signal, each combination of card and suit values representing a
different simulated card, (2) means to simulate the dealing of two
of said simulated cards to the player and two of said simulated
cards to the dealer, (3) means responsive to a player's control
means to permit the player to initiate the play of the game and to
selectively control the dealing of additional cards to the player,
(4) means to simulate the dealing of additional cards to the dealer
until a prescribed total card valve count is equalled or exceeded,
and means to determine the winner as between the player and the
dealer;
player control means electrically connected to said computer for a
player to initiate the play of the game, to direct the dealing of
an additional card to the player, and to terminate the dealing of
additional cards to the player;
a display panel electrically connected to said computer to show the
progress of the game and the result;
disk-handling equipment electrically connected to said computer for
receiving metallic disks deposited by the player and returning an
appropriate number of disks to the player in the case of a player
win; and a power supply to provide the power necessary for
operation of the device.
2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said computer includes a
dealer card memory and a player card memory and also includes means
to store a first series of said randomly generated card values
representing dealer's cards in said dealer card memory and to store
a second series of randomly generated card values representing
player's cards in said player card memory, said dealer's cards
being dealt from said dealer card memory and
3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein said computer also
includes means to display both of the player's cards dealt to the
player and only one of the dealer's cards dealt to the dealer,
means to ascertain if the player or dealer has a point count
totaling 21, means to determine if after the dealing of an
additional card to the player and player point count exceeds 21,
means to determine the dealer point count and wherein said means to
simulate the dealing of additional cards to the dealer
automatically simulates the dealing of additional cards to the
dealer so long as the dealer's point count is less than 17, means
to determine if the dealer point count exceeds 21, means to end the
game in the case of a dealer win or a push, and means to end the
game and to return an appropriate number
4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said display panel
includes a dealer card display section for displaying the simulated
cards dealt to the dealer and a player card display section for
displaying the simulated
5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said display panel also
includes a disks-played indicator, a dealer numerical total
display, a dealer blackjack indicator, a dealer bust indicator, a
player numerical total display, a player blackjack indicator, a
player bust indicator, a push indicator and a game over-winner paid
indicator electrically connected to said computer to indicate
respectively the occurrence of the various play
6. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said control means
includes a deal pushbutton to initiate play of the game, a hit
pushbutton to initiate the dealing of an additional card to the
player on each operation of the pushbutton, and a stand pushbutton
to terminate the dealing of additional cards to the player and to
initiate the dealing of said additional cards
7. The device defined in claim 6 wherein said control means
includes a double pushbutton operative only after the initial deal
and wherein said computer includes means to permit a player to
double the number of disks initially received by said disk handling
equipment and to then receive
8. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said power supply includes
means to convert 115 volt a.c. power to substantially constant 5
volt d.c., approximately 6 volt a.c. and approximately 6 volt d.c.
power to operate
9. An electronic gaming device for playing a simulated game of
blackjack by a player against a simulated dealer, which
comprises:
an enclosed cabinet for housing the operating components of the
device;
a solid state, fixed logic digital computer including (1) means to
randomly select simulated cards for the player and for a simulated
dealer including first and second low purity, high frequency
oscillators, means for generating a low purity, low frequency clock
signal, a repeating count to 13 counter, a repeating count to 4
counter, means to conduct the output of said first oscillator to
said count to 13 counter and the output of said second oscillator
to said count to 4 counter during half of each cycle of said clock
signal with each count of said count to 13 counter determining a
different respective card value and each count of said count to 4
counter determining a different respective card suit, means to read
said count to 13 and said count to 4 counters during each alternate
half cycle of said clock signal, and means to enable said counters
upon the receipt of a deal signal and to disable said counters upon
the production of sixteen card and suit values representing eight
dealer's cards and eight player's cards, (2) means to simulate the
deal of two of said randomly selected player's cards to the player
and two of said randomly selected dealer's cards to the dealer and
to display both of the player's cards and only one of the dealer's
cards, (3) means to ascertain if the player or dealer has a point
count totaling 21, (4) means responsive to a player's control means
to permit the player to initiate play of the game and to
selectively control the dealing of additional cards to the player,
(5) means to determine if the player total point count exceeds 21,
(6) means to automatically simulate the deal of cards to the dealer
so long as the dealer point count is less than 17, (7) means to
determine if the dealer total point count exceeds 21, (8) means to
determine the winner as between the player and the dealer, and (9)
means to end the game in the case of a dealer win or push, or to
end the game and return two times the number of disks received by
disk handling equipment in the case of a player win;
a display panel electrically connected to said computer to show the
progress of the game and its result;
player control means electrically connected to said computer for
the player to initiate the start of play, to initiate the dealing
of one or more additional cards to the player and to terminate the
dealing of additional cards to the player;
disk-handling equipment electrically connected to said computer for
receiving metallic disks deposited by the player and returning an
appropriate number of disks to the player in the case of a player
win, said equipment including a disk acceptor having a solenoid
actuated disk lockout to permit acceptance of disks only during
prescribed modes and disk payout means to return a prescribed
number of disks to the player on command; and
a power supply to provide a source of constant voltage 5 volt d.c.,
6 volt
10. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said display panel
includes dealer and player card display sections for displaying the
simulated cards respectively dealt to the dealer and the player, a
disks-played indicator, a dealer numerical total display, a dealer
blackjack indicator, a dealer bust indicator, a player numerical
total display, a player blackjack indicator, a player bust
indicator, a push indicator and a game over-winner paid indicator
electrically connected to said computer to
11. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said player control means
includes a control panel having a deal pushbutton to initiate play
of the game, a hit pushbutton to initiate the dealing of an
additional card to the player on each operation of the pushbutton,
and a stand pushbutton to
12. The device defined in claim 11 wherein said control panel also
includes a double pushbutton operative only after the initial deal
and wherein said computer includes means to permit a player to
double the number of disks initially received by said disk handling
equipment and to then receive
13. An electronic gaming device for playing a simulated game of
blackjack by a player against a simulated dealer, which
comprises;
an enclosed cabinet for housing the operating components of the
device;
a solid state, fixed logic, digital computer including (1) means to
randomly select simulated cards for the player and for the
simulated dealer including first and second low purity, high
frequency oscillators, means for generating a low purity, low
frequency clock signal, a repeating count to 13 counter, a
repeating count to 4 counter, means to conduct the output of said
first oscillator to said count to 13 counter and the output of said
second oscillator to said count to 4 counter during half of each
cycle of said clock signal with each count of said count to 13
counter determining a different respective card value and each
count of said count to 4 counter determining a different respective
card suit, means to read said count to 13 and said count to 4
counters during each alternate half cycle of said clock signal,
each combination of card and suit values representing a different
simulated card, and means to enable said counters upon the receipt
of a deal signal and to disable said counters upon the production
of 16 card and suit values representing eight dealer's cards and
eight players cards, (2) means to simulate the deal of two of said
randomly selected player's cards to the player and two of said
randomly selected dealer's cards to the dealer and to display both
of the player's cards and only one of the dealer's cards, (3) means
to ascertain if the player or dealer has a point count totaling 21,
(4) means responsive to a player's control means to permit the
player to initiate play of the game and to selectively control the
dealing of additional cards to the player, (5) means to determine
if the player total point count exceeds 21, (6) means to
automatically simulate the deal of cards to the dealer so long as
the dealer point count is less than 17, (7) means to determine if
the dealer total point count exceeds 21, (8) means to determine the
winner as between the player and the dealer, and (9) means to end
the game in case of a dealer win or push, or to end the game and
return two times the number of disks deposited in the case of a
player win;
disk-handling equipment electrically connected to said computer for
receiving metallic disks and returning an appropriate number of
disks to the player in the case of a player win, and equipment
including a disk acceptor having a solenoid actuated disk lockout
to permit acceptance of disks only during prescribed modes, a disk
storage tube, a disk return tube, a solenoid operated disk payout
unit, and a disk return tray;
a display panel located at the front of said cabinet and
electricaly connected to said computer, said display panel
including dealer and player card display sections for displaying
simulated cards respectively dealt to the dealer and the player,
disks played indicator, dealer numerical total display, dealer
blackjack indicator, dealer bust indicator player numerical total
display, player blackjack indicator, player bust indicator, a push
indicator and a game over-winner paid indicator to indicate
respectively the occurrence of the various play modes;
a control panel located at the front of said cabinet and
electrically connected to said computer, said control panel
including a deal pushbutton to initiate play of the game, a double
pushbutton to permit the player to double the number of disks
deposited and to receive one more card, a hit pushbutton to
initiate the dealing of an additional card to the player on each
operation of the pushbutton, and a stand pushbutton to terminate
the dealing of additional cards to the player; and
a power supply to provide a source of constant 5 volt d.c., 6 volt
a.c. and 6 volt d.c. power to provide the power necessary for
operation of the
14. The device defined in claim 13 wherein said first oscillator
develops an output signal having a frequency of about 1 megahertz
.+-. 20 percent, said second oscillator develops an output signal
having a frequency of about 500 kilohertz .+-. 20 percent; and said
means for generating a low frequency clock signal includes an
oscillator having an output frequency of about 170 hertz .+-. 20
percent and a three-stage counter to reduce said output to a
frequency of about 21 hertz.
Description
This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly
to a device for playing a simulated game of blackjack or
twenty-one.
Blackjack, also sometimes known as twenty-one, is a card game in
which one or more players play separately against dealer which can
be a house dealer, i.e., a dealer employed by a gaming house to run
the game. A standard deck of 52 cards is used. The cards have no
rank, but have numerical value as follows: any ace counts one or 11
at the option of the holder, any face card or 10 counts 10, and any
other card counts its index number. The object of the game is for
each player to acquire cards whose numerical values total 21, or as
close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21.
In the course of play, each player places a bet and the dealer
deals one card face down to every player in rotation, beginning
with the player on his left and including himself. He then deals
one card face up to each other player and himself, in the same
rotation. When each player, including the dealer, has two cards,
each player in turn, beginning with the player on the left of the
dealer, has the right to draw additional cards one at a time. If a
player's first two cards count exactly 21, that is they are a face
card or 10 and an ace, he has a natural or blackjack and wins the
amount of his bet immediately, unless the dealer also has a
blackjack. The dealer may not look at his face-down or hole card
until his turn to play unless his face-up card is an ace, face card
or 10.
If the dealer does not have a blackjack, and when all bets on
blackjacks have been settled, each player in turn, beginning with
the player on the dealer's left, may request additional cards,
i.e., be "hit" by saying to the dealer "hit me," whereupon the
dealer gives him one card face up. There is no limit to the number
of cards a player may so draw, except that he may not draw a card
after his count equals or passes 21. The player may continue to
receive cards, one at a time, until he chooses to stand, which
means that he has a count of 21 or less and does not desire any
more cards; or until he "busts," which means that he has a count of
more than 21. In the latter case, he pays the amount of his bet to
the dealer immediately. The players play in this manner, one at a
time, until all players finish play.
When all other players have finished play, dealer turns up his
face-down card. A dealer must stand if his count is 17 or more, and
he must hit himself if and so long as his count is 16 or less. When
the dealer's hand totals 17 or more, or if he has busted, he then
settles the bets. If the dealer's total exceeds 21, he pays the
amount of any bet not previously settled. If the dealer stands at a
total of 21 or less, he settles with each player who has stood by
paying any higher count and collecting from any lower count. The
dealer is at a standoff with a player having the same count, which
is called a "push." The handling of pushes or ties varies. In some
games pushes are collected by the dealer, and in some cases pushes
are considered stand-offs. One popular mode of play is for
blackjacks by the dealer and any one or more players to be
considered a standoff, and for the dealer to take all other
pushes.
In another variation of the game sometimes played, after a player
has received his first two cards, but prior to receiving any
additional cards, the player is allowed to double the amount of his
original bet. The player is then dealt one more card, and cannot
receive additional cards.
There has long been a demand for coin-operated games of chance
and/or skill which permit a single player to play against the
machine. These games may be purely games of chance, such as
typified by the so-called "slot machines," or they may simulate
some well known game of chance or skill such as those played with
cards. The card game of blackjack has long been a favorite with
gamesters, but efforts to produce a mechanical device to simulate
this game have not been successful because of the mechanical
complexity of the device and the inordinate size of such machines.
Thus, a demand exists for a reliable, compact, device which
simulates play of the card game known as blackjack or
twenty-one.
Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide
apparatus by means of which a person may play a simulated game of
blackjack.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device by means of
which a player can utilize his skill and luck against a simulated
dealer in playing a game of blackjack.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a
player-controlled device by means of which a person can play a
simulated game of blackjack against the device acting as the
dealer.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device by means
of which a person can utilize his skill and luck in playing a game
against a simulated dealer substantially in accordance with the
rules of the card game known as blackjack or twenty-one.
A further object of the invention is to provide a compact,
reliable, player-controlled, self-contained device by means of
which a person may play a simulated game of blackjack.
An even further object of the invention is to provide a machine
that simulates for a player play-action similar to that in the card
game known as blackjack.
The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this
invention are realized will be apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following description considered together with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of the invention
illustrating the playing board;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the interior
arrangement;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the door of the device taken
along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a front elevation view illustrating the layout of the
display panel;
FIGS. 5a and 5b are block diagrams illustrating the computer logic
flow and control circuitry of the device;
FIG. 6 is a schematic electrical diagram of the random card
generator; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical diagram of the power supply
unit.
Briefly, the gaming device of this invention is a electronic
apparatus including control means for a player to control his play
of the game; a display panel to show the progress of the game and
its result; disk-handling equipment for receiving metallic disks
and returning an appropriate number of disks to the player based on
the results of this play; a solid state, fixed logic, digital
computer to automatically determine the play of the game and to
compute the results of this play; and a power supply to provide
power necessary for operation of the computer, the display panel
and the disk-handling equipment. The apparatus is housed in a
compact, attractive, utilitarian cabinet.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus is comprised of a
box-like cabinet or housing 10 adapted for placement upon a table
or other supporting structure, not shown, that maintains the device
at a convenient playing height, Cabinet 10 has a door or front
panel 12 pivotly secured thereto by hinge 14. Door 12 can be locked
in a closed position by means of latch 16 and lock 18. Cabinet 10
and door 12 provide a closed dust and moisture proof container for
the operating components of the device and prevent tampering by
unauthorized persons. Cabinet 10 can be provided with a vertical
interior partition 20 that divides the cabinet into separate
compartments for housing the electronic components and the
disk-handling equipment. The computer and electronic control
circuitry is of the solid state, printed circuit type mounted on a
number of plugboards 22, seven such plugboards being employed in
the illustrated embodiment.
The disk-handling equipment is a coin receiver of conventional
design and is located within cabinet 10. This equipment includes a
standard coin acceptor 30 having a coin return button 32, a coin
storage tube 34 to provide a reservoir of disks available for
pay-offs, coin overflow tube 36 and coin return tube 38. The
disk-handling equipment can be adapted to handle metallic disks of
any size
A metallic disk of proper denomination is inserted into the slot in
coin acceptor 30 and is tested for thickness, diameter, weight and
metallurgy. If the disk is found unacceptable, or if the device is
not in a proper mode of play to accept disks, the disk is rejected
through coin return tube 38 and coin return chute 40 into coin
return tray 42 on the front of door 12. The discharge end of coin
return chute 40 mates with the aperture 44 through which the disks
pass into coin return tray 42. A coin lockout unit in coin acceptor
30, not shown, is activated at various modes of play to prevent
acceptance of a disk during that mode. However, if the device is in
the proper mode to accept a disk and if a proper disk is inserted,
coin acceptor 30 discharges the disk into chute 46 which passes
over the top of coin storage tube 34 and is in communication with
the coin storage tube. Disks passing downwardly through chute 46
enter coin storage tube 34 until it is full, then slide across the
top of the filled tube and into coin overflow tube 36, from which
the disks are discharged into a suitable receptacle, not shown, or
into the bottom of cabinet 10. The disk-handling equipment is
supported within cabinet 10 by a suitable bracket 48.
Disks are discharged from the bottom of coin storage tube 34 by
means of solenoid operated payoff unit 50 that on command passes
the disks one by one into coin return chute 40, through which they
are discharged into coin return tray 42.
Door 12 is constructed with an upper recessed vertical display
panel 60 upon which the progress and results of the game are
displayed, an inclined control panel 62 located immediately below
display panel 60, and a lower front panel 64 below which
coin-return tray 42 is located. The display and control panels can
be conveniently enclosed by the top and side members of the door
which provide some privacy for the player and tend to isolate the
display and control panels from adjacent machines.
The progress of the game and its result is depicted on display
panel 60. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 include dealer card
display 70 upon which the dealer's cards are indicated, and player
card display 72 upon which the player's cards are indicated in a
manner which will be hereinafter more fully described; a game-over
indicator 74a and winner-paid indicator 74b; a disks-played
indicator 76 including separate indicators 78a, 78b, 78c and 78d
that indicate the number of disks played, and separate indicators
80a, 80b, 80c and 80d that indicate the number of disks played in
doubling the bet; a dealer display section 82 that includes a
dealer's numerical total display 84, dealer blackjack indicator 86
and dealer bust indicator 88; a player display section 90 that
includes a player's numerical total display 92, player blackjack
indicator 94 and player bust indicator 96; push indicator 98 and
legend 100 explaining the basis upon which pushes are paid.
Dealer card display 70 and player card display 72 are each
comprised of fifty-two separate indicators which each represent one
specific card of a standard card deck. In the play of this
simulated game of blackjack, the dealer and the player each play
with a separate simulated card deck containing 52 cards. In the
dealer card display layout illustrated, a row of 13 separate
indicators 102 numbered 2 through 10, inclusive, J, Q, K and A
represent the heart suit; a row of 13 separate indicators 104
numbered 2 through 10, inclusive, J, Q, K and A represent the spade
suit; a row of thirteen separate indicators 106 numbered 2 through
10, inclusive, J, Q, K and A represent the diamond suit; and a row
of 13 separate indicators 108 numbered 2 through 10, inclusive J,
Q, K and A represent the club suit. Four similar rows of 13
separate indicators 110, 112, 114 and 116 in player card display 72
represent cards of each suit in the simulated player's deck.
Each of the card indicators in dealer card display 70 and player
card display 72, and the special condition indicators are each
separately illuminated by lamps placed behind the indicators to
vividly indicate the play of a particular card or the existence of
a particular condition. These lamps and the attendant electrical
circuitry are located in an enclosed box 66 in the upper section of
door 12. While FIG. 4 illustrates one preferred arrangement, it is
to be recognized that this arrangement may be modified and that
other display panel layouts can be employed without materially
altering the game described herein.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, control panel 62 includes deal pushbutton
120, hit pushbutton 122, double pushbutton 124 and stand pushbutton
126 and printed instructions describing the manner in which the
game is played. The pushbuttons are separately illuminated to
indicate to the player which of the buttons he may select at
various stages of the game to direct his play. Deal pushbutton 120
is illuminated by lamp 130, not shown, hit push-button 122 is
illuminated by lamp 132, not shown, double pushbutton 124 is
illuminated by lamp 134, not shown, and stand pushbutton 126 is
illuminated by lamp 136, not shown. These lamps and the attendant
wiring are contained in box 68 mounted on the back of control panel
62.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the solid state, fixed logic,
digital computer is comprised of the following components: disk
counter 200, master reset 202, player mode control logic 204,
dealer mode control logic 206, random card generator 208, card
selector 210, card counter 212, master counter 214, player card
memory 216, dealer card memory 218, player card decoder 220, dealer
card decoder 222, player register 224, player accumulator 226,
player blackjack detector 228, player bust detector 230, player
adder-subtractor 232, dealer register 234, dealer accumulator 236,
dealer blackjack detector 238, dealer bust detector 240, dealer
adder/subtractor 242, player-dealer comparator 244, payoff and end
of game logic 246, disk-out counter 248 and dealer and player ace
present logic 250. These logic components are constructed of solid
state, plug in, integrated circuits of the type conventionally
employed in developing digital computer logic networks.
FIGS. 5a and 5b are block diagrams illustrating the logic flow of
the computer and control systems. Prior to the start of play the
card display from the previous game and the special condition lamps
resulting from the previous play are lit, and the solenoid in the
coin lockout unit is energized to permit coin acceptor 30 to accept
disks. The first disk deposited extinguishes the card display and
special condition lamps, and energizes master reset 202 to reset
all memory units and clear the arithmetic and accumulator units.
Also, indicator 78a in disks-played indicator 76 is energized to
display the numeral "1" and deal lamp 130 is energized to light
deal pushbutton 120. Deposit of additional disks in coin acceptor
30 successively energizes disks played indicators 78b, 78c and 78d
to display the numerals "2," "3" and "4," respectively, to indicate
the number of disks played. Deal pushbutton 120 can be enabled at
any point after deposit of the first disk. Deposit of the fourth
disk or enabling deal pushbutton 120 de-energizes the solenoid in
the coin lock-out unit to prevent additional disks from being
accepted. If additional disks are deposited, they are returned to
the player. While the illustrated device is capable of accepting
from one to four metallic disks, by simple alteration the apparatus
can be modified to accept more than four disks, or to accept coins
of various denominations, or to accept coins of other than United
States currency.
Depressing deal pushbutton 120 also extinguishes deal lamp 130 and
enables random generator 208 to cause eight cards to be randomly
selected from the dealer deck by card selector 210 and card counter
212. Each card is stored in dealer card memory 218 in the order of
selection. At the count of eight a dealer/player card select
flip-flop in card selector 210 changes state and eight cards are
selected randomly from the player deck and stored in player card
memory 216. At the count of 16, random generator 208, card selector
210 and card counter 212 are disabled and master counter 214 is
enabled. Cards are dealt from the dealer and player memories one at
a time. When the card is dealt, the corresponding lamp in dealer
card display 70 or player card display 72 is lit and the card value
is added to dealer accumulator 236 or player accumulator 226,
respectively. This takes place for two cards for the player, both
of which are displayed, and two cards for the dealer, of which only
the first is displayed. The second card dealt to the dealer is held
in dealer card memory 218 as the "hole" card.
After the dealer and player have been dealt two cards each, both
dealer accumulator 236 and player accumulator 226 are checked by
dealer blackjack detector 238 and player black-jack detector 228
for a card total value of "21." If "21" is sensed in dealer
accumulator 236 and not in player accumulator 226, master counter
214 is reset and disabled and game over indicator 74a and dealer
blackjack indicator 86 are lit and the dealer hole card displayed.
If "21" is sensed in player accumulator 226 and not in dealer
accumulator 236, a payoff of two times the initial bet is set and
the computer goes into the payoff cycle, at the conclusion of which
winner paid indicator 74b is lit. If "21" is sensed in both dealer
and player accumulators, push indicator 98, dealer blackjack
indicator 86 and player black-jack indicator 94 are lit, master
counter 214 is reset and disabled, game over indicator 74a is lit
and a payoff equal to the amount of the initial bet is set and the
computer goes into the payoff cycle, at the conclusion of which
winner paid indicator 74b is lit. If no "21" is sensed, hit
pushbutton 122, double pushbutton 124 and stand pushbutton 126 are
enabled and lamps 132, 134 and 136 are lit to indicate that these
pushbuttons are enabled.
If double pushbutton 124 is depressed, double lamp 134 will remai
lit and hit lamp 132 and stand lamp 136 will be extinguished. The
coin lock-out unit in coin acceptor 30 is energized to permit
additional disks to be accepted. The device will not start play
until an amount of disks equal to the initial bet is deposited. As
the coins are deposited, "1 Double" indicator 80a, "2 Double"
indicator 80b, "3 Double" indicator 80c and "4 Double" indicator
80d in coins played indicator 76 are successively lit until the
necessary number of disks are deposited. When the initial bet is
matched, one card is dealt from player card memory 216. The card is
displayed on layer card display 72 and its numerical value is added
to player accumulator 226 and the total point count displayed on
player numerical total display 92. After scoring and displaying the
card, the computer will automatically switch to the player stand
condition. The dealer second card is displayed on dealer card
display 70 and added to dealer numerical total display 84. The
player accumulator is checked for a bust condition by player bust
detector 230. If a bust is sensed, player bust indicator 96 and
game over indicator 74a are lit. If no bust is sensed, cards are
automatically dealt to the dealer until a point total of 17 or
greater is sensed by the computer. Dealer accumulator 236 is
checked for a bust condition. If a bust is sensed, dealer bust
indicator 88 is lit, a payoff of two times the doubled best is set,
the computer goes into the payoff cycle, and winner paid indicator
74b is lit. If no bust exists, dealer accumulator 236 is checked
for a push condition by player-dealer comparator 244. If a push is
sensed, push indicator 98 is lit, master counter 214 is reset and
disabled, and game over indicator 74a is lit. If no push is sensed
player-dealer comparator 244 compares player accumulator 226 and
dealer accumulator 236. If the dealer score is greater than the
player score, master counter 214 is reset and disabled, and game
over indicator 74a is lit. If the player score is greater than the
dealer score, a payoff of two times the doubled bet is set, the
computer goes into the payoff cycle, and winner paid indicator 74b
is lit.
If, after the initial deal, instead of depressing double pushbutton
124 and doubling his bet, the player elects to depress hit
pushbutton 122, hit lamp 132, double lamp 134 and stand lamp 136
are extinguished to indicate that hit pushbutton 122, double
pushbutton 124 and stand pushbutton 126 are disabled. One card is
dealt from player card memory 216, added to player accmulator 226,
displayed on player card display 72 and the total score indicated
on player numerical total display 92. Player accumulator 226 is
checked for a bust condition by player bust detector 230. If a bust
is sensed, player bust indicator 96 and game over indicator 74a are
lit, and master counter 214 is reset and disabled. If a bust
condition is not sensed, hit pushbutton 122 and stand pushbutton
126 are enabled, and the corresponding lamps are lit to indicate
the enabled pushbuttons. The player may continue to play the hit
pushbutton until a bust condition is sensed or the player elects to
stand by depressing stand pushbutton 126.
If stand pushbutton 126 is depressed, hit pushbutton 122, double
pushbutton 124 and stand pushbutton 126 are disabled and
corresponding lamps 132, 134 and 136 are extinguished and the
dealer hole card is displayed on dealer card display 70 and its
numerical total added to dealer numerical total display 84. Cards
are automatically dealt one at a time from dealer card memory 218
and displayed on dealer card display 70, and their point value
added to dealer accumulator 236 and displayed on dealer numerical
total display 84 until a total of 17 or greater is sensed in the
dealer accumulator. When the total reaches 17 or more, dealer
accumulator 236 is checked for a bust condition by dealer bust
detector 240. If a bust is sensed, dealer bust indicator 88 is lit,
a payoff of two times the bet is set, the computer goes into the
payoff cycle, and at the conclusion of the payoff winner paid
indicator 74b is lit. If no bust exists, dealer accumulator 236 is
checked for a push by player-dealer comparator 244. If a push is
sensed, push indicator 98 is lit, master counter 214 is reset and
disabled, and game over indicator 74a is lit. If no push is sensed,
player accumulator 226 and dealer accumulator 236 are compared by
player-dealer comparator 244 and the winner determined. If the
dealer score is greater than the player score, master counter 214
is reset and disabled, and game over indicator 74a is lit. If the
player score is greater than the dealer score, a payoff of two
times the bet is set, and the computer goes into the payoff cycle.
At the end of payoff cycle, winner paid indicator 74b is lit and
the device is left with the cards showing on the card display
panels and the appropriate special condition indicators remain
lit.
Since an ace counts a point value of either 1 or 11, a special
handling mode for aces is provided. The first ace that is dealt to
the player or dealer is assigned 9 point value of 11. The remaining
aces that may be dealt in the same hand have a point count of 1.
When the first ace is dealt, it is also stored in an ace memory
section of dealer and player ace present logic unit 250 for use in
case the player or dealer point value is over 21 and the ace needs
to have a point value of 1 rather than 11. If the player or dealer
should have an ace with a count value of 11 and the next card dealt
puts the player or dealer count value over 21, ace present unit 250
will automatically subtract 10 from the count value, thereby
attributing a point value of 1 to the ace and preventing a bust
condition.
Random card-generator 208 simultaneously generates a series of
separate suit and card values identifying eight cards and stores
these cards in dealer card memory 218. After eight cards are
selected, the output is switched to player card memory 216 and a
second series of suit and card values are generated identifying an
additional eight cards which are stored in the player card memory.
At the count of 16, the random card generator is disabled. The
dealer and player cards are selected independently. Each hand can
contain any of the 52 cards, but a card once selected cannot be
selected again in that hand during any one game. However, the same
card can be selected in both the dealer and player hands..
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates random generator 208, which is
comprised of low purity oscillator 260 having a frequency of 1
megahertz .+-. 20 percent, low purity oscillator 262 having a
frequency of 500 kilohertz .+-. 20 percent, and low purity
oscillator 264 having a frequency of 170 hertz .+-. 20 percent. By
"low purity" it is meant that the output frequency of each
oscillator will independently drift during successive short
sampling periods. The outputs of oscillators 260 and 262 are
connected through gates 266 and 268, respectively, to counters 272
and 274. Counter 272 counts to 13 and repeats, with each count
representing a card value. Counter 274 counts to 4 and repeats with
each count representing a suit. The output of oscillator 264 is
passed through three stage counter 276 which reduces the frequency
to approximately 21 hertz. The most significant bit output signal
from counter 276 enables gates 266 and 268 and allows the
oscillator outputs to pass to counters 272 and 274 for half of each
cycle. During each enabled period approximately 22,000 .+-. 4,400
pulses are passed to counter 272 and 11,000 .+-. 2,200 pulses are
passed to counter 274. Counters 272 and 274 continuously count
these input pulses during the enabled period. During alternate half
cycles the output of gate 278 causes the counter to be read and the
suit and card value transferred to the respective dealer or player
card memory. Thus, each signal output from gate 278 will cause one
signal representing a suit and one signal representing a card value
to be transferred to the dealer or player card memory. Card
selection is enabled by latch flip-flop 280 which is activated by a
deal signal generated by depressing deal pushbutton 120 and is
disabled at the count of 16 cards transferred to memory.
Randomness in card selection is obtained by variability of the time
in the count cycle at which deal button 120 is depressed; by the
variations in the frequencies of the outputs of oscillators 260,
262 and 264; by the fact that the outputs of the high frequency
lcocks are sampled at a low frequency, i.e., frequencies of
nominally 1 megahertz and 500 kilohertz are sampled at a frequency
of about 21 hertz; and by the fact that a large number of pulses
are counted by a repeating count to 4 or count to 13 counter.
The power required for operation of the device is 5 volt d.c. for
the computer components, approximately 6 volt a.c. for the disk-in
and disk-out counters, and approximately 6 volt d.c. for the
indicator lights, and 115 volt a.c. for the payoff solenoid. A
conventional power supply unit capable of converting a 115 volt
a.c. supply to a relatively constant 5 volt d.c., 6.3 volt a.c. and
6.3 volt d.c. output is illustrated in FIG. 7. The 115 volt a.c.
power supply is connected across the primary coil of constant
voltage transformer 300, which is provided with capacitive
reactance compensation. Full wave rectifier 302 is connected across
the secondary winding of the transformer, and the ground is
connected to the center tap of this winding. The rectified current
is filtered by capacitive input filter 304. Bleeder resistor 306
provides a small d.c. current flow to stabilize the unit under
no-load conditions. Transformer 308 reduces the 115 volt a.c.
supply to a 6.3 volt a.c. output, and diode 310 provides the
unfiltered 6.3 volt d.c. output.
The timisequences for the various play actions are summarized as
follows:
When the first disk is deposited:
a. master reset is generated and all registers, accumulators and
displays from the previous game are reset.
B. deal pushbutton 120 is enabled.
When deal pushbutton is depressed:
a. card selector 210 and random generator 208 are enabled.
B. eight cards are selected randomly from the dealer deck and
stored in dealer card memory 218.
C. at the count of eight, flip-flop in card selector 210 changes
state and eight cards are selected randomly from the player deck
and stored in player card memory 216.
D. at the count of 16, card selector 210 and random generator 208
are disabled and master counter 214 is enabled.
E. master counter 214 generates the following timing during the
deal cycle:
T1 . . . .preset player and dealer adder-subtractors 232 and
242.
Fill player and dealer registers 224 and 234.
T2 . . . .sample for player or dealer ace.
T3 . . . .enable load 11 in player and dealer registers 224 and
234.
T4-t9 . . . .add player and dealer registers to zero and store in
player and dealer accumulators 226 and 236.
T9-t11 . . . .update dealer card decoder 222.
T10 . . . .display player and dealer first card. Update player and
dealer accumulator display.
T11 . . . .preset dealer and player adder-subtractors 232 and
242.
Shift next cards out of player and dealer memories 216 and 218.
T12 . . . .store dealer second card.
T13 . . . .fill player and dealer registers 224 and 234.
T14 . . . .sample for dealer and player ace.
T15 . . . .enable load 11 in player and dealer registers 224 and
234.
T16-t21 . . . .add player and dealer registers to accumulators 226
and 236 and store in accumulators.
T21 . . . .display player second card. Update player accumulator
display 92.
T22 . . . .sample for dealer and player blackjack. Light dealer or
player blackjack indicators 86 or 94, if present.
If Blackjack is Present
T23-t25 . . . .update dealer card decoder 222.
T24 . . . .display dealer second card. Update dealer accumulator
display 84.
T25 . . . .reset deal flip-flop.
T26 . . . .if dealer blackjack, light game over indicator 74a, and
reset and disable master counter 214. If player blackjack, initiate
payoff cycle and light winner paid indicator 74b.
If No Blackjack is Present
T27 . . . .reset deal flip-flop. Reset and disable master counter
214. Enable hit, stand and double pushbuttons.
When hit pushbutton is depressed:
a. disable hit, stand and double pushbuttons.
B. enable master counter 214 generating the following timing during
the hit cycle:
T1 . . . .preset player and dealer adder-subtractors 232 and 242.
Shift next card out of player memory 216.
T2 . . . .fill player register 224.
T3 . . . .sample for player ace.
T4 . . . .enable load 11 in player register.
T5-t10 . . . .add player register to accumulator 226 and store in
accumulator.
T10 . . . .display player card. Update player accumulator display
92.
T11 . . . .preset player and dealer adder-subtractors 232 and 242.
Enable player subtract 10 circuitry.
T11-t17 . . . .generate player subtract 10.
If Player Has An Ace and Greater Than 21 Count
T12-t17 . . . .subtract player register 224 from accumulator 226
and store in accumulator.
If Player Has No Ace
T12-t18 . . . .add player accumulator 226 to zero and store in
accumulator.
T17 . . . .reset player ace flip-flop.
T18 . . . .sample for player bust. If bust present, light player
bust indicator 96.
If Player Busts
T19-t21 . . . .update dealer card decoder 222.
T20 . . . .display dealer second card. Disable player subtract 10
circuitry. Update dealer accumulator display 84.
T21 . . . .light game over indicator 74a. Reset and disable master
counter 214.
If Player Does Not Bust
T22 . . . .enable hit and stand pushbuttons. Reset and disable
master counter 214.
When stand pushbutton is depressed:
a. disable hit and double pushbuttons.
B. enable master counter 214 generating the following timing during
the stand cycle;
T1 . . . .generate dealer hit enable.
T2-t4 . . . .update dealer card decoder 222.
T3 . . . .display dealer second card. Update dealer accumulator
display 84.
T26 . . . .if dealer cards total less than 17, set dealer hit
flip-flop. If dealer cards total 17 or greater, set dealer stand
flip-flop.
T27 . . . .reset less than 17 flip-flop.
T28 . . . .reset master counter 214 and go into dealer hit cycle or
dealer stand cycle.
When double pushbutton is depressed:
a. disable hit and stand pushbuttons.
B. enable coin acceptor 30.
C. upon deposit of correct amount of disks, enable master counter
214 generating the following timing during the double cycle:
T1 . . . .preset player and dealer adder-subtractors 232 and 242.
Set double flip-flop.
T2 . . . .shift card out of player card memory 216.
T3-t5 . . . .update player card decoder 220.
T3 . . . .fill player register 224.
T4 . . . .display dealer second card. Update dealer accumulator
display 84. Sample for ace.
T5 . . . .enable load 11 in player register 224.
T6-t11 . . . .add player register to accumulator 226 and store in
accumulator.
T11 . . . .display player card. Update player accumulator display
226. Preset player adder-subtractor 232. Enable player subtract 10
circuitry.
T11-t17 . . . .generate player subtract 10.
If Player Has An Ace and Greater Than 21 Count
T12-t17 . . . .subtract player register from accumulator 226 and
store in accumulator.
If Player Has No Ace
T12-t17 . . . .add player accumulator 226 to zero and store in
accumulator.
T17 . . . .reset player ace flip-flop.
T18 . . . .sample for player bust. If bust present, light player
bust indicator 96.
If Player Busts
T19 . . . .light game over indicator 74a. Reset and disable master
counter 214.
If Player Does Not Bust
T20 . . . .generate dealer hit enable. Disable player subtract 10
circuitry.
T26 . . . .if dealer cards total less than 17, set dealer hit
flip-flop.
T27 . . . .reset 17 flip-flop.
T28 . . . .reset double flip-flop. Reset master counter 214 and go
into dealer hit cycle or dealer stand cycle.
Dealer hit cycle:
t1 . . . .shift card out of dealer memory 218. Pre-set dealer
adder-subtractor 242.
T2 . . . .fill dealer register 234.
T3 . . . .sample for dealer ace.
T4 . . . .enable load 11 in dealer register 234.
T5-t10 . . . .add dealer register to accumulator 236 and store in
accumulator.
T11 . . . .preset dealer adder-subtractor 242. Enable dealer
subtract 10 circuitry.
T11-t17 . . . .generate dealer subtract 10.
If Dealer Has An Ace and Greater Than 21 Count
T12-t17 . . . .subtract dealer register from accumulator 236 and
store in accumulator.
If Dealer Has No Ace
T12-t17 . . . .add dealer accumulator 236 to zero and store in
accumulator.
T17-t19 . . . .update dealer card decoder 222.
T18 . . . .display dealer card. Update dealer accumulator display
84.
T19 . . . .reset dealer ace flip-flop.
T20 . . . .disable dealer subtract 10 circuitry. Sample for dealer
bust.
If Dealer Busts
Light dealer bust indicator 88, reset dealer hit cycle and generate
payoff cycle.
If Dealer Does Not Bust
T21 . . . .generate dealer hit enable.
T22 . . . .if dealer cards total less than 17, set dealer hit
flip-flop. If dealer cards total 17 or greater, set dealer stand
flip-flop.
T23 . . . .reset 17 flip-flop.
T24 . . . .reset master counter 214 and stay in dealer hit cycle or
go into dealer stand cycle.
Dealer stand cycle:
t1 . . . .generate player-dealer comparator 244 preset.
T2-t7 . . . .compare dealer and player accumulator count
totals.
T7 . . . .sample for push:
a. If push exists, light push indicator 98, and game over indicator
74a.
b. If player total is greater than dealer total, go into payoff
cycle and light winner paid indicator 74b.
T8 . . . .if dealer total is greater than player total, light game
over indicator 74a and disable master counter 214.
To play a simulated game of blackjack with the device of this
invention, a player deposits one to four disks in coin acceptor 30.
Upon acceptance of the first disk, all card and special condition
indicators from the previous game are reset and deal pushbutton 120
is illuminated. Hit pushbutton 122, double pushbutton 124 and stand
pushbutton 126 are disabled at this time.
To start play, the player depresses deal pushbutton 120 which
initiates the random selection of eight cards from the dealer deck
and eight cards from the player deck. These cards are stored
respectively in dealer card memory 218 and player card memory 216.
Upon completion of the card selection and storage in the memory
units, the master timing and arithmetic units are enabled and the
card selector disabled. The master timer deals two cards each from
the player and dealer memories. Both of the player's cards are
displayed on player card display section 72 and their total
numerical value is displayed in player numerical total display 92.
One of the dealer's two cards is not displayed, but is stored in a
memory unit to check for a blackjack.
Upon dealing these four cards, a search for a total of 21 is made.
If 21 is sensed in the player accumulator, but not in the dealer
accumulator, player blackjack indicator 94 is lit and the device
goes into a payoff cycle. If 21 is sensed in the dealer
accumulator, but not in the player accumulator, the dealer's second
kard is displayed and dealer blackjack indicator 86 and game over
indicator 74a and lit and the device is ready for the next game. If
both the dealer and player have 21, push indicator 98, player
blackjack indicator 94, and dealer blackjack indicator 86 are lit
and a payoff equal to the amount of the bet is made and winner paid
indicator 74b lit.
If neither the player nor the dealer has a blackjack, hit
pushbutton 122, double pushbutton 124 and stand pushbutton 126 are
enabled and illuminated to indicate to the player that he has a
choice of these selections.
If double pushbutton 124 is depressed, double lamp 134 remains lit,
and the hit and stand buttons are disabled. The player must now
deposit disks equal in number to those deposited in the initial
bet. When the initial bet is matched, one card is automatically
dealt from the player memory and displayed, the dealer's hole card
is displayed, and the player's total point count is checked for a
"bust." If the player busts, player bust indicator 96 and game over
indicator 74a are lit. The device is now ready for the next
game.
If the player does not bust, the dealer's total point count is
checked for the numerical value of the two cards. if the value is
17 or greater, the computer compares the dealer and player
numerical values. If the dealer total is greater than the player
total, game over indicator 74a is lit and the device is ready for
the next game. If the player total is greater than the dealer total
point count, a payoff of twice the bet is returned. If the dealer
total is 16 or less, the computer will automatically deal another
card from the dealer card memory. The dealer's total point count is
checked for a bust. If a bust is detected, the computer goes into
the payoff cycle. If the dealer has 17 or greater, the dealer total
and the player total are compared and the winner determined. If the
dealer still has a point count of 16 or less, the dealer hit cycle
is repeated until the dealer busts or has a point count of 17 or
greater.
If instead of selecting the double pushbutton, the player elects to
depress hit pushbutton 122, a card is dealt from the player memory
and displayed. The player's total point count is checked for a
bust. If a bust is detected, player bust indicator 96 and game over
indicator 74a are lit. If no bust is detected, the hit button is
enabled again allowing the player a choice of hit or stand. The
player may play the hit pushbutton as many times as he wants until
he busts or decides to stand. When the player desires no more
cards, i.e., he elects to stand, he depresses stand pushbutton 126.
The dealer's hole card is displayed and the computer goes through
the dealer hit and dealer stand cycles and the winner
determined.
Thus, from a player's standpoint, a simulated game of black-jack is
played with the device of this invention by inserting the desired
number of disks into coin acceptor 30 and depressing the deal
pushbutton. When the dealer's card and player's cards and numerical
point count are displayed, the player need only decide whether to
double his bet and receive one additional card, or to be hit with
as many cards as he may desire, or to stand. These plays are
controlled by the player's selection of the double, hit and stand
pushbuttons.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it
will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so
limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications,
which are considered within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the attached claims.
* * * * *