Sensing of coin output from a gaming device to reduce incorrect number of coins output
US6003651A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F17/3241
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A gaming device is provided with detectors configured to substantially reduce the potential for unauthorized manipulation of a coin output system. A pair of detectors can be used to output an error signal when the sequence or timing of detector blockages departs from that which would be expected from normal coin movement. A second optical detector is configured to provide a signal used to output an error signal when the second detector detects radiation or light during a time that a first detector is also detecting light from a paired radiation source. An error signal is preferably output when an optical detector is blocked for a period of time which exceeds a maximum blockage threshold, and preferably the threshold may be dynamically adjusted. In one embodiment, a sensor in or adjacent an output hopper is used to predict coin output from the hopper and an error signal is generated when more than a predetermined period of time passes, following a coin output prediction, without a coin being detected by a downstream optical detector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.