Imaging card device having an optical validation sensor
AssigneeSimon Marketing, Inc.
InventorAndrew S. Filo
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Abstract
An imaging device of the present invention, utilized for game cards or the like, comprises an optical validation sensor configured to prevent fraudulent play by a retailer or the like to pick out winning game cards. The optical validation sensor activates the imaging device only upon sensing a predetermined amount or density of light passing through the game card. The imaging device also comprises a debris slot to prevent debris or the like from collecting therein when accompanied with a card being inserted and improved configurations of the game card.
Claims11
An imaging card device, comprising:
- a receiving means for receiving a card having at least one symbol and at least one area having binary zones representative of said symbol, said binary zones being selectively filled with infrared radiating ink;
- a strobe light source disposed proximate said receiving means, said strobe light source being adapted to shine visible light onto said card and expose said prize;
- a code sensor coupled to said receiving means, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink and indicate said symbol;
- and
- an optical validation sensor disposed proximate said symbol, said optical validation sensor adapted to detect the density of light passing through said card and activate said code sensor only upon detecting density of light over a predetermined threshold.
An imaging game card device, comprising:
- receiving means;
- a card for insertion into said receiving means, comprising:
- a substrate imprinted with a pattern of infrared radiating ink indicating a prize and binary zones denoting a code corresponding to said prize, said binary zones selectively filled with infrared ink;
- and
- a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal said infrared ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means;
- a light source disposed proximate said receiving means, said light source being adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said prize and said code;
- a code sensor disposed proximate said receiving means, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink;
- a voice unit connected to said code sensor, said code sensor being adapted to actuate said voice unit to announce said prize corresponding to the presence or absence of ink detected by the sensor in the binary zones;
- and
- an optical validation sensor disposed proximate said pattern of infrared radiating ink, said optical validation sensor adapted to detect the density of light passing through said card and activating said code sensor only upon detecting density of light over a predetermined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.