US20100113163A1 - Gaming apparatus including an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplace device - Google Patents

Gaming apparatus including an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplace device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100113163A1
US20100113163A1 US12/563,013 US56301309A US2010113163A1 US 20100113163 A1 US20100113163 A1 US 20100113163A1 US 56301309 A US56301309 A US 56301309A US 2010113163 A1 US2010113163 A1 US 2010113163A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
game
controller
game information
storage medium
processor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/563,013
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English (en)
Inventor
Arden Yang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Astro Corp
Original Assignee
Astro Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Astro Corp filed Critical Astro Corp
Assigned to ASTRO CORP. reassignment ASTRO CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: YANG, ARDEN
Publication of US20100113163A1 publication Critical patent/US20100113163A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
    • G07F17/3204—Player-machine interfaces
    • G07F17/3211—Display means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
    • G07F17/3216—Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a gaming apparatus, more particularly to a gaming apparatus including an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplate device.
  • a nameplate is used for identifying and displaying specification or use of an object, such as a plate hung on a door of a conference room or a bathroom, and a plate attached to a product.
  • a machine or an electronic device is usually provided with a nameplate for identifying the model and the specification thereof.
  • the conventional nameplate is usually made of metal, such as iron, copper and aluminum, or plastics, and is usually printed or engraved with information of the object.
  • a gaming machine is generally provided with the conventional nameplate for displaying information about a name and a version of game software installed therein.
  • the conventional nameplate is mounted on a housing of the gaming machine for convenience of inspection and management.
  • a service life of the gaming machine is usually much longer than a life cycle of the game software installed therein.
  • the nameplate attached to the gaming machine requires replacing each time the game software is replaced.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming apparatus including a digital nameplate device that does not require replacement when a game software stored in the gaming apparatus is replaced.
  • a gaming apparatus of the present invention comprises an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplate device.
  • the electronic gaming machine includes a storage medium for storing a game software that has corresponding game information, a game processor coupled to the storage medium and operable to execute the game software, a display module coupled to and controlled by the game processor to generate game images, and a machine housing for housing the storage medium and the game processor and on which the display module is mounted.
  • the digital nameplate device is mounted on the machine housing of the electronic gaming machine, and includes a memory unit, a controller coupled to the memory unit and the game processor, and a nameplate display coupled to the controller.
  • the game processor is configured to retrieve the game information stored in the storage medium and to control the controller to store the game information retrieved by the game processor in the memory unit.
  • the controller is configured to access the game information stored in the memory unit and to control the nameplate display to display the game information accessed thereby.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a first preferred embodiment of a gaming apparatus of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplate device of the gaming apparatus of the first preferred embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart to illustrate operation of the first preferred embodiment for displaying game information
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the electronic gaming machine and the digital nameplate device of the gaming apparatus of a second preferred embodiment.
  • a first preferred embodiment of a gaming apparatus 100 of the present invention includes an electronic gaming machine 1 and a digital nameplate device 2 .
  • the electronic gaming machine 1 includes a game processor 10 , a storage medium 11 , an input unit 12 , a transmitting interface 13 , a display module 14 , a sound module 15 , and a machine housing 16 .
  • the machine housing 16 is used for housing the game processor 10 , and the storage medium 11 .
  • the sound module 15 , the display module 14 and the input unit 12 are mounted on the machine housing 16 .
  • the storage medium 11 is, but not limited to, a memory card for storing a game software 110 that has corresponding game information 120 .
  • the storage medium 11 can be a hard drive or a memory device.
  • the game processor 10 is coupled to the storage medium 11 , and is operable to execute the game software 110 .
  • the input unit 12 is coupled to the game processor 10 , and is operable by a user of the gaming apparatus 100 to generate control commands for the game processor 10 .
  • the display module 14 includes a display controller 141 coupled to the game processor 10 , and a game display 142 coupled to the display controller 141 .
  • the display controller 141 is controlled by the game processor 10 to send image signals to the game display 142 for generating game images.
  • the sound module 15 includes a sound processor 151 coupled to the game processor 10 , and a speaker 152 coupled to the sound processor 151 .
  • the sound processor 151 and the speaker 152 cooperate to generate audible sound corresponding to the game images generated by the game display 142 . Since techniques of the display module 14 and the sound module 15 are well known to those skilled in the art, and since the feature of this invention does not reside therein, further details thereof will be omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
  • the digital nameplate device 2 is mounted on a lateral side of the machine housing 16 of the electronic gaming machine 10 , and includes a memory unit 21 , a controller 20 coupled to the memory unit 21 , and a nameplate display 22 coupled to the controller 20 .
  • the controller 20 is further coupled to the game processor 10 via the transmitting interface 13 , such as a Recommended Standard 232 (RS232) or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
  • RS232 Recommended Standard 232
  • USB Universal Serial Bus
  • the game processor 10 is configured to retrieve the game information 120 stored in the storage medium 11 and to control the controller 20 to store the game information retrieved by the game processor 10 in the memory unit 21 .
  • the controller 20 is configured to access the game information stored in the memory unit 21 and to control the nameplate display 22 to display the game information accessed thereby.
  • the storage medium 11 includes first program instructions 111 , second program instructions 112 , third program instructions 113 , fourth program instructions 114 , and fifth program instructions 115 . Operation of the first preferred embodiment for displaying the game information 120 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .
  • step 301 the electronic gaming machine 1 is booted.
  • step 302 the first program instructions 111 configure the game processor 10 to detect electrical connection between the game processor 10 and the controller 20 of the digital nameplate device 2 .
  • the second program instructions 112 configure the game processor 10 to automatically determine whether the memory unit 21 of the digital nameplate device 2 stores the game information in step 303 .
  • the flow goes to step 304 when the determination made in step 303 is affirmative, and goes to step 401 when otherwise.
  • the second program instructions 112 configure the game processor 10 to retrieve the game information 120 stored in the storage medium 11 .
  • the second program instructions 112 further configure the game processor 10 to control the controller 20 for storing the game information retrieved by the game processor 10 in the memory unit 21 in step 402 , and for controlling the nameplate display 22 to display the game information stored in the memory unit 21 in step 403 .
  • step 304 the third program instructions 113 configure the game processor 10 to automatically acquire the game information stored in the memory unit 21 from the controller 20 .
  • the fourth program instructions 114 configure the game processor 10 to automatically compare the game information acquired from the controller 20 with the game information 120 stored in the storage medium 11 in step 305 .
  • the flow goes to step 403 when the game information acquired from the controller 20 matches the game information 120 stored in the storage medium 11 , and goes to step 306 when otherwise.
  • step 306 the fifth program instructions 115 configure the game processor 10 to control the controller 20 for updating the game information in the memory unit 21 using the game information 120 in the storage medium 11 . Then, the flow goes to step 403 .
  • a second preferred embodiment of the gaming apparatus of this invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment.
  • the program instructions 111 - 115 are replaced by a program instruction set 116 for configuring the game processor 10 to automatically retrieve the game information 120 stored in the storage medium 11 and to automatically control the controller 20 to store the game information retrieved by the game processor 10 in the memory unit 21 each time the electronic gaming machine 1 is booted.
  • the game processor 10 is capable of automatically retrieving the game information 120 stored in the storage medium 11 , and controlling the digital nameplate device for storing and displaying the game information. Therefore, replacement of the digital nameplate device 2 is not required when replacing the game software 110 .

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Controls And Circuits For Display Device (AREA)
  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
US12/563,013 2008-10-30 2009-09-18 Gaming apparatus including an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplace device Abandoned US20100113163A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TW097141783A TW201016271A (en) 2008-10-30 2008-10-30 Method for displaying game information of electronic game machine, storage device, system, and digital name plate
TW097141783 2008-10-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100113163A1 true US20100113163A1 (en) 2010-05-06

Family

ID=42132104

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/563,013 Abandoned US20100113163A1 (en) 2008-10-30 2009-09-18 Gaming apparatus including an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplace device

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20100113163A1 (https=)
TW (1) TW201016271A (https=)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120064959A1 (en) * 1999-09-09 2012-03-15 Igt Apportionment of pay out of casino game with escrow
US20120115564A1 (en) * 2010-11-08 2012-05-10 Canterbury Stephen A Wagering game machine cabinet memory
US20150206041A1 (en) * 2014-01-23 2015-07-23 Vacon Oyj Arrangement for connecting set values concerning performance to an electronics device

Citations (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5273294A (en) * 1991-02-04 1993-12-28 Tengen Ltd. Game memory
US6315666B1 (en) * 1997-08-08 2001-11-13 International Game Technology Gaming machines having secondary display for providing video content
US6863608B1 (en) * 2000-10-11 2005-03-08 Igt Frame buffer capture of actual game play
US20050170893A1 (en) * 2002-07-03 2005-08-04 Muir Robert L. Gaming machine power fail enhancement
US20060009286A1 (en) * 1999-09-10 2006-01-12 Wms Gaming Inc. Gaming machine having a controller for conrolling multiple displays
US20060063575A1 (en) * 2003-03-10 2006-03-23 Cyberscan Technology, Inc. Dynamic theming of a gaming system
US20060178188A1 (en) * 2000-10-11 2006-08-10 Igt Frame capture of actual game play
US20070129150A1 (en) * 2001-08-20 2007-06-07 Crowder Robert W Jr Game Conversion System
US20070167223A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2007-07-19 Bleich Charles R Gaming machine having a player time-selectable bonus award scheme and an intelligent button
US20080026853A1 (en) * 2003-03-05 2008-01-31 Bally Gaming, Inc. Gaming machine with power-hit tolerant data storage
US20080102919A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2008-05-01 Igt Pluggable modular gaming modifiers and configuration templates for gaming environments
US20080167118A1 (en) * 2007-01-09 2008-07-10 Kroeckel John G Apparatus for providing amusement
US20080254893A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2008-10-16 Bally Gaming, Inc. Tournament bonus awards and related methods
US20080254862A1 (en) * 2007-04-12 2008-10-16 Igt Gaming system having retractable gaming unit
US20080261685A1 (en) * 2006-11-28 2008-10-23 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd Gaming apparatus and method involving secondary display
US20080318686A1 (en) * 2001-08-20 2008-12-25 Bally Gaming, Inc. Local Game-Area Network System
US7819742B2 (en) * 2002-08-28 2010-10-26 Igt Gaming device having an electronic funds transfer system
US20110014971A1 (en) * 2007-07-18 2011-01-20 Ward Matthew J Gaming System Having Operator Configurable Supplemental Features

Patent Citations (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5273294A (en) * 1991-02-04 1993-12-28 Tengen Ltd. Game memory
US6315666B1 (en) * 1997-08-08 2001-11-13 International Game Technology Gaming machines having secondary display for providing video content
US20060009286A1 (en) * 1999-09-10 2006-01-12 Wms Gaming Inc. Gaming machine having a controller for conrolling multiple displays
US6863608B1 (en) * 2000-10-11 2005-03-08 Igt Frame buffer capture of actual game play
US20060178188A1 (en) * 2000-10-11 2006-08-10 Igt Frame capture of actual game play
US20080318686A1 (en) * 2001-08-20 2008-12-25 Bally Gaming, Inc. Local Game-Area Network System
US20070129150A1 (en) * 2001-08-20 2007-06-07 Crowder Robert W Jr Game Conversion System
US20080102919A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2008-05-01 Igt Pluggable modular gaming modifiers and configuration templates for gaming environments
US20050170893A1 (en) * 2002-07-03 2005-08-04 Muir Robert L. Gaming machine power fail enhancement
US7819742B2 (en) * 2002-08-28 2010-10-26 Igt Gaming device having an electronic funds transfer system
US20080026853A1 (en) * 2003-03-05 2008-01-31 Bally Gaming, Inc. Gaming machine with power-hit tolerant data storage
US20060063575A1 (en) * 2003-03-10 2006-03-23 Cyberscan Technology, Inc. Dynamic theming of a gaming system
US20070167223A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2007-07-19 Bleich Charles R Gaming machine having a player time-selectable bonus award scheme and an intelligent button
US20080254893A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2008-10-16 Bally Gaming, Inc. Tournament bonus awards and related methods
US20080261685A1 (en) * 2006-11-28 2008-10-23 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd Gaming apparatus and method involving secondary display
US20080167118A1 (en) * 2007-01-09 2008-07-10 Kroeckel John G Apparatus for providing amusement
US20080254862A1 (en) * 2007-04-12 2008-10-16 Igt Gaming system having retractable gaming unit
US20110014971A1 (en) * 2007-07-18 2011-01-20 Ward Matthew J Gaming System Having Operator Configurable Supplemental Features

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120064959A1 (en) * 1999-09-09 2012-03-15 Igt Apportionment of pay out of casino game with escrow
US8430407B2 (en) * 1999-09-09 2013-04-30 Igt Apportionment of pay out of casino game with escrow
US20120115564A1 (en) * 2010-11-08 2012-05-10 Canterbury Stephen A Wagering game machine cabinet memory
US8708798B2 (en) * 2010-11-08 2014-04-29 Wms Gaming Inc. Wagering game machine cabinet memory
US20150206041A1 (en) * 2014-01-23 2015-07-23 Vacon Oyj Arrangement for connecting set values concerning performance to an electronics device
US9367788B2 (en) * 2014-01-23 2016-06-14 Vacon Oyj Arrangement for connecting set values concerning performance to an electronics device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW201016271A (en) 2010-05-01
TWI377080B (https=) 2012-11-21

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ASTRO CORP.,TAIWAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:YANG, ARDEN;REEL/FRAME:023256/0014

Effective date: 20090908

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION