Bally Gaming, Inc.

3com Corporation

Wms Gaming, Inc.

Scot W Salzman

Craig Joe Sylla

Vernon W Hamlin

Derick W Voegeli

Michael T Cranston

Roger Shuma

Gregory Glasshof

Mark C Pace

Srinivyasa Murthy Adiraju

Craig G Mitchell

Michael P Dempsey

Christian A D'Souza

Evan Hollander

Russell C Panzarella

Paul A Quaglia

Aaron W Levinsky

Stephen A Canterbury

Jorge Luis Shimabukuro

Sten Hallundbaek Mejenborg

Christopher W Chudek

Toriono A Granger

Jeremy K Gill

Chandra S Pandey

Eric T Miner

Sten H Mejenborg

Christopher J Talko

Chandra S Pandoy

Charles A Eley

John Burica

Salvatore R Giammanco

Gerry A Greco

A gaming system includes circuitry and associated methodology for detection of continuity along one or more sensing paths for determination of the presence and proper seating of one or more component boards to each other and a backplane, having an arbitrary number of couplings. The invention controls voltage to one or more components of the gaming system, enabling selective activation of various components, on one or more of the connected boards, based on the proper seating of component boards to each other and a backplane. The invention implements dynamic configuration of sensing paths (defined by signal paths and signal traversal) and subsequent continuity detection through interfacing connector/port pairs, in combination with specifically placed electronic components and local ground connections along the sensing paths, to control powering selective system components based upon a detection of the presence and proper seating of multiple component boards to each other and a backplane.

Controlling gaming machine power-up

In some embodiments, a wagering game machine includes: a carrier board comprising a first network port and a second network port, the first network port having a first network address and the second network port having a second network address; a processor located on the carrier board; a first nonvolatile memory located on the carrier board and communicatively coupled to the first network port, the first nonvolatile memory configured to store the first network address; and a second nonvolatile memory located on the carrier board, wherein the second nonvolatile memory is configured to store Basic Input and Output System (BIOS) code that includes a system BIOS code and an application BIOS code, wherein the BIOS code is hardware write-protected, wherein the processor is configured to derive the second network address from the first network address during execution of boot-up operations of the apparatus.

Computer BIOS protection and authentication

A gaming system internally secures a modular, critical-electronics central processing unit (CPU) box enclosure having various security features, a power source, a power regulator module, a removable fan assembly, and a backplane providing connection between all the other elements contained within the housing. The removable fan assembly is a modular, hot-swappable, encased unit that provides air flow in a plurality of directions using a corresponding plurality of individually sensed and controlled fans. The fan assembly can be removed during operation of the wagering game machine without interfering with the operations of any other electronic component and without breaking one or more validated seals of the enclosure, the validated seals enabling the gaming system to perform a wagering game having regulatory approval in a given jurisdiction. The removable fan assembly is coupled to one or more processing units that detects, monitors, and controls the operation of the individual fans the fan assembly.

Removable fan assembly providing multi-directional air flow for a wagering game machine

A gaming system includes a backplane and one or two additional PCBs that plug into the backplane. A first PCB includes a CPU and three PCIe edge connectors that plug into corresponding sockets on the backplane. One connector separates power and ground on either side of the connector's key. Another connector carries high-speed differential video signal pairs separated by ground to video ports on the backplane. The third connector carries CPU-related signals and at least one signal specific to a gaming machine housing the backplane. An optional second PCB plugs into the first PCB and backplane and provides gaming I/O functionality. The second PCB features a repurposed PCIe connector in which the first upper and last lower pin need to be activated to place the second PCB in operation. The first and second PCBs lack any connectors that receive external cables. Cable connections inside the gaming machine are made on the backplane.

Printed circuit board assembly for a gaming machine

An electronic gaming machine has memory components configured for easy removal during programming or validation procedures. A module may carry first and second memory devices on a module board having a module connector configured to removably attach to a baseboard carrying a processor. Accordingly, multiple memory devices may be removed and reinstalled together as a unit. An adapter may be provided to allow connection of the module to an interface device having a standard interface connector. The module may also provide status information regarding the execution of code stored on one or more of the memory devices.

Removable module and adapter for electronic gaming machine and associated methods

The present invention relates to enabling an operating system software to selectively power cycle one or more components of a wagering gaming system comprising a central processing unit board having one or more central processing units, and one or more central processing unit components. The invention uses a memory comprising a dedicated power cycle control register, a power controller, and digital logic configured to initiate a power cycle of the one or more components of the wagering gaming machine when the operating system writes a predetermined value to the power cycle control register. Upon recognizing the predetermined value to a dedicated power cycle control register used solely for power cycling procedures, digital logic is initiated to terminate voltage supplied to the one or more components of the wagering gaming machine and restore power to the one or more components of the wagering gaming machine, effectively 'cold booting' the selected one or more components of the wagering gaming machine main system board(s) without disrupting voltage supplied to the entirety of other components, including peripheral devices of the wagering gaming system.

Power cycling of gaming machine

A method for configuring a wagering game machine. The method can include initializing a processor and chipset residing on an embedded computer module residing in the wagering game machine, wherein a BIOS resides on a carrier board connected to the embedded computer module. The BIOS includes code for configuring many possible computer modules. The method can further include identifying, under control of code in the BIOS, some the possible computer modules that reside in the wagering game machine and initializing, using code of the BIOS input/output devices connected to the carrier board and the embedded computer module. The method can further include launching an operating system in the wagering game machine and presenting a wagering game on the wagering game machine according to information received from the input/output devices.

Booting a set of embedded computer modules in a wagering game machine by selecting a portion of bios

Gaming terminals, gaming machines, gaming systems and utility hook and sensor assemblies are presented. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming terminal includes a cabinet, at least one display device configured to display aspects of the wagering game, and at least one input device configured to receive an input from a player to play the wagering game. The gaming terminal also includes a support mechanism that is attached to the cabinet and is configured to support a personal belonging of the player. An alert system is configured to detect the presence or absence, or both, of the personal belonging and/or the player at the gaming terminal, and generate an alert signal in response to the detected presence or absence.

Utility hook and sensor assembly for wagering game terminals and gaming systems

Embodiments include a method for configuring basic input/output system (BIOS) of a wagering game machine. The method can include: initializing a processor and chipset residing on an embedded computer module residing in the wagering game machine, wherein the BIOS resides on a carrier board connected to the embedded computer module; identifying, under control of code in the BIOS, the embedded computer module as a particular one of a plurality of embedded computer modules, wherein the BIOS includes code for configuring each of the plurality of embedded computer modules; initializing, using code of the BIOS configured for the particular one of the plurality of embedded computer modules, input/output devices connected to the carrier board and embedded computer module; launching, under control of the BIOS, an operating system in the wagering game machine; presenting a wagering game on the wagering game machine, wherein the presenting utilizes information received from the input/output devices.

Bios used in gaming machine supporting pluralaties of modules by utilizing subroutines of the bios code

Gaming terminals, gaming systems, and electrical and mechanical connector assemblies for coupling a gaming terminal to a chair positioned in front of the gaming terminal are presented herein. A gaming system is disclosed. The gaming system includes a gaming terminal for playing a wagering game and a chair positioned in front of the gaming terminal. The chair includes electronic components operated by a digital data signal and powered by a power supply signal. The gaming terminal includes an electrical connector assembly for coupling to a complementary electrical connector assembly on the chair. The electrical connector assembly also includes a switching device for automatically electrically coupling the electronic components with a power supply signal from a power supply once the respective electrical connector assemblies are securely coupled.

Gaming terminal chair electrical interface

Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of configuring gaming devices, and computer programs for configuring gaming devices are featured. A gaming machine is disclosed for communicatively coupling to peer gaming machines via a peer-to-peer network. The gaming machine includes a display device(s), a processor(s), and a memory device(s) storing instructions that cause the gaming machine to: store a first set of data indicative of the gaming machine's configuration parameters and a second set of data indicative of the gaming machine's performance; receive from one or more peer gaming machines a third set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s') configuration parameters and a fourth set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s') performance; analyze the third and fourth data sets to determine modifications to the gaming machine's configuration parameters to improve machine performance; and, automatically modify at least one configuration parameter of the gaming machine based upon the analysis.

Systems, methods and devices for configuring wagering game devices based on shared data

A system and method for developing a cost efficient electronic power supply system that handles a range of supported electronic circuits is provided. The electronic power supply system adaptively configures the power applied to electronic circuits. Thereby, eliminating redesign of a power supply system when a newly developed or different electronic circuit is implemented. When an electronic circuit is attached to the electronic power supply, a controller confirms electronic circuit presence and queries for electronic circuit power on requirements. As more electronic circuits are added, the controller examines each electronic circuit power on requirements and determines if a power conflict is present. If a conflict exists, the controller will not supply power to the electronic circuits until the conflict is resolved. If a conflict does not exist, the controller powers up the present electronic circuits according to desired power on requirements by broadcasting commands to power supplies, some of which are programmable.

Communication module having power supply requirement identification

Intelligent power supply control for electronic systems requiring multiple voltages

A system for shutting down and resetting an embedded system having a general purpose computing platform. A push button is provided for generating a push button reset signal to the shutdown and reset manager. The shutdown and reset manager receives the management reset signal and initiates a shutdown of the operating system. When the operating system has shutdown, the user presses the push button again. The second receipt of the push button reset signal initiates a hardware reset.

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo Grove, IL, United States of America

Scot W Salzman