Patent Application
20050054449
The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more specifically, to a gaming machine with a top box display area including a common substructure. The substructure is substantially identical on all top boxes associated with the main game cabinet thus simplifying design for top box display components and allowing easier game theme changes.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Players also appreciate the reliability of a gaming machine, as do the casino operators. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining, exciting, and reliable machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator.
Gaming machines display a variety of visual attraction devices, models, signs, and other forms of information. Methods used to display these items include fixed permanently printed glass, video displays, fixed artwork, and model displays.
Historically, gaming machines presented a single game and top box display. To alter game offerings, casino operators needed to replace the entire gaming machine (or the entire top box display). If the operator wanted to relocate a machine to a different position on the casino floor, the entire machine would have to be moved. Replacement and relocation processes are slow and counter-productive to maintaining pace with the continuously changing gambling industry. To better serve their customers, casino operators need a method of converting and/or moving games quickly.
Another aspect of the difficulty in modifying or changing games relates directly to the service personnel responsible for the conversion. In many cases, a conversion of a gaming machine would require the replacement of the top box display and marquee. This typically requires the services of at least two service technicians to manage the weight of the top box. The difficulty of shipping and storing a large and heavy top box display in itself is cost-prohibitive. Requiring two technicians to remove one top box display and replace it with another is also costly.
Gaming Machine manufacturers, especially those that produce video-based gaming machines, have responded quickly to this need. One such response is the development of a plain gaming terminal that allows multiple games to be presented on the same machine. This method addresses the issue of offering more games and placing them at optimal locations during peak playing times, and also addresses the issue of converting games to the latest offerings by the gaming machine manufacturer (by performing a software conversion).
What is not addressed is the ability to transition the top box display easily when a conversion to a new game occurs. For example, if a casino operator decides that a certain video reel slot game, using a particular molded model display, has reached the end of its playing life on the casino floor, the operator contacts the manufacturer and requests a conversion of the gaming machine to a newer, perhaps more popular game. While the conversion of the main video-based reel slot game is a simple software and surface artwork change, the top box display area typically requires a complete replacement. This can be time-consuming, expensive, and cumbersome.
This issue is also indicative of top box failures and the method of repair. Should a failure occur in a top box display, the typical response is to send an entire, functional top box to the casino, remove the failed top box, and return the failed top box to the service office to diagnose the problem. Again, this method requires the services of two or more technicians.
To make top box conversions and repairs faster, easier, and more cost effective, the use of a common substructure in accordance with the present invention would reduce the variations of the assembly mechanisms in top box display offerings, simplify the conversion or repair process, and modularize the sub-components to allow pre-tested subassemblies to be installed by a single service technician.
The present invention provides a common substructure for the top box display area in a gaming machine. The substructure allows for display component design standards that ensure easier top box display changes during game conversions and top box repair.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The primary display 12 may be implemented with a CRT, LCD, plasma, mechanical reels (in the case of a reel slot game), or other type of display known in the art. The primary display 12, especially if implemented in video, may be overlaid with a touch screen to facilitate interaction with the player. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 12 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 12 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.
System memory 24 stores control software, operational instructions and data associated with the gaming machine. In one embodiment, the system memory 24 comprises a separate read-only memory (ROM) and battery-backed random-access memory (RAM). However, it will be appreciated that the system memory 24 may be implemented on any of several alternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a single memory structure. A payoff mechanism 26 is operable in response to instructions from the CPU 20 to award a payoff to the player. The payoff may, for example, be in the form of a number of credits. The number of credits is determined by one or more math tables stored in the system memory 24.
Cable chase 32 is a wide, U-shaped structure with space behind it to run power and data cabling. Cable chase 32 also contains a number of connector holes 35 to allow access to cabling at varied points depending on the requirements of the display being attached to substructure 29. The size of each connector hole 35 in the cable chase 32 can be standardized to allow for the placement of cable connectors manufactured with standard clips. Grommet material may also be used to reduce the sharpness of the edges of the connector holes 35, thereby allowing wires and cables to pass through without the risk of stripping and shorting. This method of connecting allows for the development and manufacture of “pluggable” components that can be quickly installed using standard cable connectors. Along the outer edges of cable chase 32 are a number of threaded studs 34 for component mounting. The threaded studs 34 are evenly spaced to allow for consistent development of component mounting brackets. Components such as power supplies and controller boards can be mounted to brackets that then attach (e.g., bolt) to the threaded studs 34.
Connection bracket 33 contains a number of connection slots 36 used to connect outer components to substructure 29. These components are typically (but not limited to) exterior plastic structures used as the decorative shell of the top box display. While only four connection slots 36 are shown in
The final component in the composition of the substructure 29 is a marquee top plate 38. Marquee top plate 38 attaches to the top of the assembly comprised of cable chase 32 and connection bracket 33. Supporting brackets may be used if the weight of the marquee attached to the marquee top plate 38 requires additional support.
While providing a common platform for other components, the top box substructure also offers an alternative to the current methods by which repairs or conversions are performed. If each gaming machine contains a common substructure, the method of conversion and/or repair can be standardized. For example, components that attach to the substructure can also be standardized between gaming machines. Devices such as power supplies and their associated mounting brackets can be manufactured to fit any gaming machine containing the top box substructure. Lighting components, video displays, and other mechanical devices can all be produced in a modular fashion allowing the service technician the ability to carry a small inventory of each and be able to “swap out” a component if a repair is needed. These components can all be pre-approved to maintain strict adherence to product safety and gaming industry regulations and requirements.
When a game conversion is required, instead of replacing the entire top box, the service technician receives new subassemblies, side covers, and front glass of the top box (for the new game theme) and uses other components from his/her inventory (if necessary) to change the top box to the new game. This approach allows the conversion to be performed by a single technician, since the component parts individually weigh much less than the entire top box structure. Thus, a single service technician can respond to the conversion request rather than multiple technicians.
All examples of top box substructures can be fitted with a variety of “outer shells” and front display glass. Outer shells can be made of a variety of materials, be of any shape, and contain any features relevant to the play of the game or to attract players to the game. For example, the side shells of the top box display that attach to the substructure may contain a side facing artwork panel that is backlit from within the top box. This artwork panel may contain the name of the game or other artwork such as advertisements. The position of the top box side display artwork allows casino patrons moving past a row of gaming machines to view information placed on the game without having to stand directly in front of the machine.
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example, while the previous examples present what could be viewed as a fixed height substructure, a modular approach such as the one described in
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
