Williams Electronics Games, Inc.

Wms Gaming, Inc.

James M Shird

John R Krutsch

Charles R Bleich

Thomas W Uban

Victor Mercado

George A Gomez

Andrew W Eloff

Bradley D Cornell

Bradley A Hume

According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a gaming cabinet having a first member and a second member. The first member is located physically separate from the second member. The gaming machine further comprises a plurality of high-voltage wires generally located within the first member. The gaming machine additionally includes a plurality of low-voltage wires generally located within the second member. The first member and the second member shielding the respective plurality of high-voltage wires and low-voltage wires to reduce electrical interference between the plurality of high-voltage wires and the plurality of low-voltage wires.

Methodology of co-interference reduction through cable separation and shielding within a gaming machine

A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a cabinet, a playfield, a panel, an electronics system, and a video display. The playfield is mounted in the cabinet with the panel mounted to the cabinet and overlaying at least a portion of the playfield. The video display is mounted generally above the cabinet and is disposed to project video images onto the panel for viewing by the player. The electronics system includes a control unit and a plurality of input/output elements which are mounted to the playfield. The control unit, which includes a controller and memory for storing game instructions and video images, is coupled to the plurality of input/output elements. The controller executes the game instructions to cause the video images to be displayed upon the video display. A retrofitting kit for the pinball machine provides a replacement memory that stores second game instructions and second game video images therein for operation in is the pinball machine. Thus, the types of video images of displayed by the pinball machine, the times the video images are displayed, and the manner in which they are displayed can be entirely modified. The kit may also include a new playfield to alter the physical environment which the rolling ball of the machine interacts to complement the new video images.

Method and kit retrofitting a pinball machine

A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a playfield mounted to a cabinet. Unlike previous pinball machines, electrical wires and their associated 'playfield-side' connectors extending from input/output elements mounted to the playfield are limited in movement to a region generally beneath and in close proximity to the playfield. This allows the playfield to be more easily handled than prior playfields, which had long dangling electrical wires and connectors which could be easily tripped over or severed. Additionally, the plurality of playfield-side connectors are configured for easy installation and integration with corresponding 'cabinet-side' connectors. The cabinet-side connectors are electrically connected to a driver electronics board mounted within the cabinet and carry all input/output functions of the driver electronics board.

Method of replacing a playfield of a pinball machine

Growing community of inventors

Oak Park, IL, United States of America

James M Shird