An automated playing card retrieval system is used with a physical gaming table that hosts live wager-based games. The system includes a movable receiving component that receives dealt physical playing cards and an automated card removal component that removes the cards to a discard region after the game. The movable receiving component can be a mechanized tray, can display card(s) to player(s) seated away from the table during game play, and can receive cards at a first position, move to a second position where cards are removed, and move to a third position where cards are displayed at a position elevated from and at a substantially non-parallel angle to the table surface. Additional system components can include an automated card return component that returns cards to another location for a future game, a robotic dealer, an automated card shuffler, a card shoe, and/or the table itself.

An information reading system performs near field communication with an information storage medium. The information reading system includes: an antenna structure including a plurality of antenna coils, each arranged across at least one of the others and each having a reading area; and a computer processor configured to perform near field communication with the information storage medium in each reading area, thereby reading information from the information storage medium in proximity to the reading area.

An illustrative application control system is provided having an entity and an electronic device with a display. The control system includes software operating instructions to direct movement of the entity and to direct display operation to interact with the entity. The entity may have the capability to move when positioned on the display and to detect pixels and pixel arrangements on the display. The electronic device may include the capability to generate and display the pixels and pixel arrangements in subsequent locations on the display to trigger entity responses. The software operating instructions may include content such as audio output and/or performance instructions to facilitate interaction between the entity and electronic device.

An information processing system includes an information storage medium and an information processing apparatus for performing near field communication with the information storage medium. The information processing apparatus includes: at least one antenna coil; and a computer processor configured to: perform near field communication with the information storage medium via the antenna coil, thereby reading information from the information storage medium in proximity to the antenna coil; detect an orientation of the information storage medium that can perform the near field communication; and perform predetermined processing using the information read from the information storage medium and the orientation of the information storage medium.

Disclosed is a complex augmented reality system implementing a mobile device to display complex augmented reality on a display device. A user captures one or more live images from the display device via a camera on the mobile device, which sends the images to a server. The server determines if there are one or more image tags on the display device that are viewable in the live camera images and, if so, uses the one or more image tags to access information used by the augmented reality system to overlay virtual graphics in a position within 3D space on a display of the mobile device to augment the image of the display device with 3D effects to create complex augmented reality.

Disclosed is a method for enabling use of a complex augmented reality system and a mobile device to display complex augmented reality on a display device. The method includes: enabling a user to capture one or more images from the display device via a camera on the mobile device; determining if there are one or more image tags within a video display on the display device that are viewable in the live camera image; using the one or more image tags to access information used by the augmented reality system; and overlaying virtual graphics in a position within 3D space on a display of the mobile device that augment the display of the display device with 3D effects to create complex augmented reality, when one or more image tags are detected within a video display on the display device that are viewable in a live camera image.

The present invention relates to a casing for accommodating a computer based device or an activity board having an input/output port interface and/or an interface in form of a touch sensitive screen, comprising one or more operating means (e.g., levers, handles, buttons, knobs) and/or one or more apertures for interacting with said device, wherein said casing, at least partially, can cover the interface of said device.

Pinball machines are described. A method includes detecting an event during a game played at least in part over a surface of a playfield in a pinball machine. The playfield has first and second playfield portions. In response to the event, a playfield reducer located between the first and second portions is electronically activated in a manner sufficient to prevent a pinball from traveling between the first and second playfield portions. A pinball machine includes a playfield reducer that is operable to be in and transition between first and second positions during normal gameplay. When the playfield reducer is in the first position, the pinball is capable of rolling into and out of a portion of the playfield surface, and when the playfield reducer is in the second position, the playfield reducer prevents the pinball from accessing or from leaving the portion of the playfield surface.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a self-capacitance device that is configured to be detectable by a known touchscreen without the need for human contact. Such a device has a device body, a capacitance structure disposed within the body, and at least three contacts disposed on one side of the body and electrically coupled to the capacitance structure. Further disclosed herein are systems having at least two such self-capacitance devices and a software application configured to recognize each of the at least two self-capacitance devices.

A digital, interactive game table provides a versatile gaming experience for players participating in person, remotely, or both. Players interact both physically and virtually with games played on the game table, which enables playing games not otherwise feasible in heretofore separate physical and virtual gaming environments. The game table includes a tabletop with an LCD video screen recessed into its top surface, an IR frame surrounding the LCD video screen. The IR frame senses and communicates positional and movement information from physical game props (e.g., paddles, pucks, etc.) used by players on or near the LCD video screen. A computer capable of communicating with over the internet and communicating between the LCD screen and IR frame is also included. With these integrated components the game table receives and interprets physical player interactions and converts them into virtual in-game actions.