The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1997
Daniel J Waller, Reno, NV (US);
Joseph R Hedrick, Reno, NV (US);
Ted M Gail, Sparks, NV (US);
Ben Elie Isaac, Reno, NV (US);
International Game Technology, Reno, NV (US);
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.