BG98972A - System of controlling revenues and profits in gaming machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The system controlling takings and prizes in gaming machines subject of the invention, the purpose of which is at all times to have a count of the money gambled and the prizes awarded in gaming machines giving random prizes or the like, comprises the functional association of a control means (1), joined to an infrared light communication board (2), both linked to the gaming machine (3), and an adaptor board (4) linked to a data terminal (5), communication between boards (2) and (4) being provided to take place by means of infrared signals, both being to such end fitted with emitters and receivers. The control means (1), comprising a microcontrol (U1), a supervisor element (U2) and a communications element (U3) runs all information reading, storage and transmission operations, being moreover fitted with elements detecting program running faults and power cuts. <IMAGE>

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, as formulated in the title of this specification, to a system for managing receipts and profits, the purpose of which is at any time to account for pledges and grants made in slot machines giving random profits or the like, to avoid human or machine errors causing the receipts in such machines to be diverted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current betting and profit management systems include terminals connected to gaming machines via cable, absorbing the data they have, subsequently to process this information from a computer.

This type of system implies the need to connect differently to each of the existing types of slot machines and also the possibility of entering incorrect data, since test cases run in such slot machines are recorded as pledges, causing the acquired gaming machine data to be distorted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The revenue and profit management system of gaming machines subject to the invention solves the problems that currently exist by introducing elements that allow remote reading of infrared signals in any type of profit machines equipped with basic electronic circuits into which funds are inserted for reading information about a game played by the slot machine, for storing information in memory and allowing * data to be entered or information retrieved via a terminal out of the machine, both provided with infrared transceivers capable of converting signals into electrical signals.

In particular, the system includes the functional connection of a control unit having three circuits: supervisor and communication micro-control; an infrared communication board connected to the control means and an adapter board connected to the data terminal.

In the control means, the microcontroller circuit is the core of the system, as it manages all counting operations and stores such information in internal RAM type memory.

The supervisor scheme checks that the scheme is working properly and for that purpose is provided with two different security systems, a Watch-Dog system that detects program execution errors, and a power outage that alerts the microcontroller to switch low power consumption or power failure mode when a power outage is detected whereby the microcontroller is powered by a backup battery.

The communication circuit designed according to the RS232 standard allows the control device to be connected to any peripheral device meeting this standard.

Optical infrared communication of the controller with a data terminal is achieved through the use of two boards, an infrared communication board connected to the control means and an adapter board that allow F'SION ORGANISER II terminals to be connected to the control via the communication board with infrared rays.

This system is therefore new and appropriate in that it can adapt to any of the vending machines on the market, whatever the manufacturer, and can read data scanned at certain points in such machines. Moreover, no physical connection is required to read the information as this is achieved through an infrared transmission system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Attached

To provide a more complete description and to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of this

—4invention, a set of drawings is appended to the description, which, while purely illustrative and not fully detailed, shows the following:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for managing the proceeds and profits of gaming machines subject of the invention.

Figure 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of the control means.

Figure 3 is an aggregate drawing of the wired Tea Circuit Board of. the control tool ·

Figure 4 is a side view of the control board PCB elements.

Figure 5 is a side connection of the control board PCB.

Figure 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of an infrared communication board.

Figure 7 is an aggregate drawing of the wired circuit board

on the infrared communication board.

Figure 8 is the solder side of the infrared communication board circuit board.

Figure 9 is an electrical schematic diagram of the adapter board for accessing information through a data terminal.

Figure 10 is an aggregate drawing of the wired circuit board of the adapter board.

Figure 11 is a side connection of the printed circuit board of an adapter board.

Figure 12 is a diagram of the interface between the control means and the various elements of the gaming machine, and of the connections to other possible peripheral devices.

More * '

EXAMPLES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The figures show that the system for managing the proceeds and profits of gaming machines, subject to the present, consists of the functional connection of a control means (1) and a communication board with infrared rays (2) on one side, both connected to the gaming machine (3 ), and an adapter board (4) connected to the data terminal (5) of the other, the communication between the two settings being ensured by infrared signals.

The control means (1) on which the system is based include a micro control (UI) which controls the operations of the counter and further acts as a memory for storing information to be maintained by the battery (BT1) in the event of a power failure; a supervisor element (U2) that detects both program execution errors and power outages, and a communication element (113) designed to detect the transmission of information electrically to the infrared communication board (2).

The connector (CN1) has contacts through which the information in each machine to which it is connected can be read, in addition to the contacts intended to send information coming from the communication element (U3) to the infrared communication board (2).

The module formed by the control means (1) is implemented on a printed circuit board which, in addition to the aforementioned elements and related electronic circuits, has an element (Ux) used only to position such a circuit board inside the gaming machine (3), in particular one of the free ones. couplings on the control board of said machine.

' ^l W'

-6The control means (1), being the most essential part of the control system, and as explained in the previous paragraph is placed inside the gaming machine (3), contains the relevant information for reading it in specific places of the machine as such, such as and be an automaton.

The infrared communication board (2) will also be housed in the gaming machine (3) connected to the control means (1) through wires provided by the connector (CN2) through which the control means (1) send information from its memory via the communication element (U3).

The purpose of the infrared communication board (2) is solely to transform the information received electrically from the communication element (U3) into infrared signals, to send it outward, or to convert the received infrared signals into electrical signals, being able to transmit information without having to connect any cable between the two elements, that is, through the optical path. This circuit is therefore provided with a source (LD1) and a receiver (IR1) - (U5) through which the information recorded in the control means (1) is stated or transmitted. As a consequence, it is possible to access the information without having to open the gaming machine (3) after the two circuits described above, of the three systems forming the above, have been installed.

The adapter board (4) essentially includes a source (LD3) receiving the signals of the infrared communication board (2), an infrared receiver (IR2) receiving, the signals from the same board and the elements required

7 for connecting the same to any data terminal (5) in each gaming machine and converting the optical signal into an electrical signal. You connect the output, this board with the data terminal (5) is located at the points marked as (RX), (+ 5V), (LD4), (C10) and (GND) on said adapter board (4).

Figures 2 to 11 show all the details of the schematics and circuit boards of the system. Figure 12 illustrates the connection from one side to the elements of the gaming machine (3), in particular its CF'U (6), which supports the inputs (7) through the electronic cash box (8), outputs (9) and mechanical counters ( 10), and from the other connection to a central computer (11) via a modem (12) or an ORGANISER terminal (13) and a printing device (14).

The control means (1) contains the RAN of the micromanagement (U1), the machine code, bets pesetas (Ε · .Πρ. Money) and paid pesetas as profits, in its memory.

Games played and winnings are recorded when the generated signals from the CF'U (6) of the machine are read, and these same signals are controlled by the mechanical counters (10). The information thus obtained is written to pesetas in the RAM that is stored in the micro-control (1).

The control means (1) locks the electronic cash box (8) to prevent coins from being received in each of the following cases: program execution error detected by the WATCH-DOG system, broken counter input cables and internal information distortion of the control means (1).

The control means (1) has a test operating mode to enable technicians to perform so many operations.

-β than they consider good for repairing the machine without affecting its internal counter.

A serial communication port allows the control <1) to be connected to perform a large number of operations, namely entering the machine code with which it is configured, setting up game and gain counters, locking the counter in a test state, switching on the counter to remember all games played and winnings, reviewing the status of the control (1), for. to see if it is in active or locked mode, reviewing the status of the cashier (8) allowing coins to be inserted, reading the recorded machine code and reading the game and winners counters to determine the receipts and the profit percentage for the machine.

Claims (4)

Patent Claims 1. A system for managing the profits and profits of gaming machines, designed to determine at any time the amount of bets and gains made in gaming machines giving random profits or the like, characterized in that it consists of the functional connection of a control means (1) connected to an infrared communication board (2), both connected to a gaming machine (3), and an adapter board (4) connected to a data terminal (5), such as communication between the infrared communication board <2) and adapt Natta circuit board (4) is provided to take place by infrared signals. 2. A gaming machine earnings and profit management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (1) is provided with a micro control (U1), which controls the operations of the counters and acts as a memory for storing information, which is maintained by a battery (BT1) in the event of a power failure; a supervisor element (U2) that detects both program execution errors and power outages and a communication element (U3) designed to detect the transmission of information electrically to the infrared communication board (2). Gaming proceeds and profits management system according to the above claims, characterized in that the control means is provided by a PCB which, in addition to the micro-control element (U1), the supervisor element (U2), the communication element (U3) ) and associated electronic circuits, is provided with a connector (CN1) through which the gaming machine (3) and the circuit board (2) communicate, with an element (Ux) secured to position the circuit board inside the machine. Gaming receipts and profits management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the infrared communication board (2) comprises a source element (LD1) and a receiver (U5) which together with the source elements (LD3) ) and a receiver (IR2) on the adapter board (4) allow the information to be transmitted optically between the gaming machine and the data terminal (5), both secured to support means of connection to the associated elements, respectively control means (1) and data terminal (5).