1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wager gaming machines. More specifically, it relates to thermal management within a gaming machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
With energy prices rising, gaming operators and casinos are looking for ways to reduce power consumption in their gaming machine operations. Generally, this is in line with the trend over the past few years to develop a more environmentally efficient gaming machine (a so-called “green” machine), where sub-systems within the gaming machine are optimized to run more intelligently and efficiently, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining normal standards of game play and non-gaming functionality. That is, although gaming operators would like a green gaming machine so that they use less power, they do not want gaming machines that are less appealing to the game player and are not as likely to encourage game play.
One sub-system which may be managed more efficiently to reduce power consumption, increase the life of gaming machine, and require less maintenance by the gaming operator is the thermal management system. Presently, input fans and exhaust fans are used to cool components and areas within the gaming machine. However, the fans typically operate at their maximum RPMs (i.e., at full power). Presently, there are no mechanisms for adjusting the power of the fans or fine tuning them to operate, for example, at low, medium, or high speeds, or simply be turned off when they are not needed. Presently, when a gaming machine is powered on, all the fans go on as well.
Having all the fans in a gaming machine operating nearly continually while the machine is on creates several issues. One is the increase in white noise level of the casino from the din of the fans' constant operation. There is significant background noise created from fans having slightly different sound frequencies. The oscillation of the frequencies create a worble-type sound resulting from fans operating in multiple machines arranged close to one another (e.g., in row after row of hundreds of gaming machines). This audible beat frequency may be a distraction or annoyance to gaming machine users, thus potentially reducing the time they spend playing the machines.
Another issue is maintenance and wear-and-tear from fans operating constantly. As is commonly known, fans become old and do not operate as efficiently as they did when they were new. Many old fans need extra power to “kick start” or they may break down or overheat. Presently there are no alarms or other problem indicators in a gaming machine or in a gaming network that inform casino floor technicians or gaming network administrators of fan maintenance issues or breakdowns.
A gaming machine includes specific components for controlling its internal temperature. Temperatures within the cabinet of the machine may be controlled by either monitoring temperatures near heat-producing components or their actual temperatures or by monitoring ambient temperatures in zones or areas within the machine. These components include a thermal management sub-system, fans, baffles, digital thermometers, and control signal alarms. The gaming machine memory includes a thermal specification profile or table that includes data on threshold temperatures and actions to be taken when those thresholds are passed.
One embodiment of the present invention is a gaming machine having one or more heat-emanating components. In addition to including a master gaming controller (CPU), it also includes baffles, fans, and a thermal management component for regulating temperatures in the gaming machine. Also included is a temperature monitoring device having a temperature-detection span. A memory stores one or more thermal specification profiles corresponding to the one or more heat-emanating components, wherein a thermal specification profile contains temperature range data and other data such as actions to be taken when certain conditions are met and which cooling elements are to be used in the specified actions.
In another embodiment, a method of regulating temperatures in a gaming machine is described. Components and thermal measuring devices obtain temperatures and transmit them to a thermal management component. The temperature readings are compared with stored temperature thresholds, the temperature data stored in a thermal specification profile, for example, a relational table having fields for temperatures, actions, cooling elements, and other data. It may then be determined if there is an out-of-range temperature condition based on the comparison. If there is such a condition, it is determined whether the condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal sent from the thermal management component to various cooling elements within the machine. If the condition can be addressed (e.g., starting a fan, opening a baffle), a control signal is sent to the cooling element. If the temperatures reach a certain value, an alarm condition may be set requiring immediate action by the gaming machine (e.g., going to a tilt state) and notifying the gaming operator.
In another embodiment, a gaming machine comprises a means for obtaining a temperature reading of a component, such a digital thermometer in the vicinity of the component. In other embodiments, the component may be self-thermal measuring and is able to essentially take its own temperature. The temperature readings are compared to data in a thermal data table, stored in the gaming machine's memory. The comparison may be done by a thermal management sub-system or component or a temperature condition comparison module. These components may also be used to determine whether a temperature reading is above one of the threshold temperatures for the specific device as provided in the thermal data table. The gaming machine includes means for determining if the out-of-range temperature condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal and means for transmitting the control signal to a fan or a baffle to regulate the temperature.
References are made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and in which are shown, by way of illustration, particular embodiments:
Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments of the invention including the best modes contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. Examples of these specific embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention is described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the described embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In addition, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
Methods and systems for regulating temperatures within a gaming machine are described in the various figures. In one embodiment, thermal management is generally achieved through the use of fans strategically configured within the top box and cabinet of the gaming machine. Such fans may be input fans, which draw typically cooler air into the gaming machine or outlet (exhaust) a fan which draws warmer air out of the machine.
In one configuration, the top box of a gaming machine may have one fan, for example, an outlet fan for blowing air out of the machine. There may be another fan near the power supply. The master gaming controller may have one fan nearby or solely dedicated to it. In general, each critical gaming machine component that receives enough current to get hot and contribute to a temperature rise in the gaming machine may have a fan in its vicinity. Sample components are shown by generic boxes 124, 126, and 128, one of which, for example, may be the gaming machine power supply. A master gaming controller (MGC) 130 is shown close to fan 118. Fans may be configured within the gaming machine cabinet based on thermal zones 104 to 112 and based on location of critical or heat-producing components 124 to 130. In a zone embodiment, it is not necessary that there be one fan in each zone; the number of fans may vary. Nor is it necessary that each critical component have a dedicated fan. Fans may be configured in a gaming machine by taking into account both thermal zones and the number of critical components and their placement within the machine. Generally, in a zone embodiment, fans operate to cool their specific zones.
Also shown in
Multiple devices and components 208 operate within the gaming machine. These may include peripheral devices that interface with the player, such as RDC readers, bill validators, ticket printers, card readers, coin hoppers, and so on. In one embodiment, they are attached to PMS 134 (connections not shown in
Devices/components 208 (“devices”) may be characterized into two categories. One category or type is comprised of devices that are capable of self-thermal monitoring; that is, they have the ability to determine their own temperature and report it to another component. They often have some type of electrical interface (SPI, serial, etc.) that enables transmission of their internal temperature. This ‘built-in’ intelligence of such devices is known in the field of device manufacturing and thermal management. In
Another category of devices 208 is comprised of devices that do not have the built-in capability to monitor their internal temperatures. For example, some of the mechanical devices, such as coin hoppers or card readers, may not be capable of reporting their temperatures. These non-self monitoring devices 216 may not have direct communication links to TMSS 132. Instead, in one embodiment, their temperatures are communicated to TMSS 132 via a temperature monitoring device 218. Devices 216 may emanate heat when operational (or some may give off heat even when simply powered on) and temperature monitoring device (TMD) 218 is a suitable thermometer that measures the temperature of the air around devices 216. In one embodiment, TMD 218 is an electronic thermometer, such as a thermo-coupled thermometer, known in the art, which generates a voltage reading based on the ambient temperature within a specific span or area around the thermometer. Such thermometers are commercially available from Omega Engineering Inc, of Stamford, Conn. Other types of thermometers or TMDs may report temperatures in terms of changes in resistance or changes in oscillation frequency. TMD 218 may be in proximity of one or more devices 216 (within the temperature detecting span of the thermometer) or may even be in physical contact with such devices. TMD 218 may use various means for determining the temperature, such as air pressure difference, air flow, “thermal tubes,” and the like. Most TMDs simply provide a temperature value, which may be in analog or digital form. TMD 218 has a communication link 220 to TMSS 132, which may have logic or hardware to convert the temperature data received from TMD 218 (e.g., in the form of volts or pressure differential) into a form that is useful to TMSS 132 and that it can manipulate.
In one embodiment, TMSS 132 may also be connected to an airflow sensor 222, also referred to as a sail switch, via communication link 224. Airflow sensor 222 is used to measure or sense airflow in a zone or area of the gaming machine. In one embodiment, sensor 222 is a mechanical device that consists of a flap or sail that pivots if there is airflow. Various types of airflow sensors are known in the field of thermal management. A duct position sensor 226 is also connected to TMSS 132 via communication link 228. Sensor 226 may sense or detect a baffle position, which may be important when a fan fails or stalls. Baffle positions may change to facilitate removal of hot air in areas where a fan has failed. In this manner, a certain redundancy is incorporated into the thermal management system. That is, even if a fan fails and an area or zone gets hot as a result, duct position sensor 226 may prevent the area from rising above a threshold temperature by enabling a change in baffle position or opening or closing a baffle.
Also connected to TMSS 132 is a fan tachometer 230 connected via communication link 232. Tachometer 230 is also connected to one or more fans 234 in the gaming machine. In one embodiment, tachometer 230 calculates or measures fan speed by analyzing current (power) consumption of a fan. In this respect, tachometer 230 may also be referred to as a fan current sensor. Tachometer 230 may also measure pulses from the fan or fan RPMs with the goal of determining whether the fans are operating effectively. In another embodiment, this may be done by using two electronic thermometers associated with each fan, where one thermometer is placed on each side of the fan and the difference in temperatures between the two indicating whether the fan is functioning.
TMSS 132 may also be connected to one or more fans 304, the number of which may depend on whether there is one TMSS 132 for the entire gaming machine or whether there is one for each zone or section of the machine (e.g., top box, cabinet, etc.). TMSS 134 may transmit fan control signals to fans 304 via control signal line or communication line 306. These control signals instruct one or more fans to adjust their speed or power, or to shut off because they are not needed. As noted above, fans presently remain on constantly while the gaming machine is powered and usually at full speed, which reduces the life of the fan and wastes energy. By sending fan control signals, TMSS 132 is able to control the speed of fans 304 with a granularity that will increase the life of the fan and save power. Also connected to TMSS 132 are baffles 308 which may be used to re-direct air circulation within a gaming machine. Various types of baffles and mechanisms for controlling them may be used. Some suitable ones may use solenoids, stepper motors, and other means. Such mechanisms may allow a baffle to be open (or closed) by a certain fraction, (e.g., ½ or ¼). TMSS 132 may transmit baffle control signals via communication link 310.
Another output of TMSS 132 are discrete alarm indicators 312 which may be implemented using any suitable visual or audio means to notify casino floor technicians or gaming network administrators. An alarm may be transmitted from TMSS 132 in a variety of situations, such as when a specific fan in the machine is not operating or a baffle or sail switch is stuck in one position. The alarm may be in the form of a visual indicator, such as an LED light or a number on the display. Alarm indicators 312 may specifically identify a problem by displaying details on a monitor in the machine that can be viewed by a technician. For example, data on which fan is malfunctioning and the temperature in the fan's area or zone may be displayed. This may be preferable in situations where the gaming machine is not part of a sophisticated gaming network or does not have a central monitoring system. In those cases, a floor technician will want to see what the problem is while he or she is at the gaming machine and has opened the cabinet. If there is a central monitoring system, details on the alarm condition may be displayed at a network administrator workstation.
Another function that may be performed at step 402 is verification that certain control signals were effective. These control signals may have been transmitted earlier, as described below at step 414, essentially making the process of
At step 404 the temperatures obtained at step 402 are compared with threshold temperatures in thermal data tables for the various devices and components. In one embodiment, these tables are downloaded to the TMSS prior to normal operation of gaming machine or are installed in the TMSS or in a memory accessible by TMSS during the manufacturing of the gaming machine. The thermal data tables store temperature thresholds, for example, 45.7 degrees as a low and 101.3 degrees as a high. There may be degree ranges within the tables that correspond to below low, low, normal, high, alarm condition, and so on. An example of one implementation of a thermal data table is described in
At step 406 the thermal sub-system determines whether there is an out-of-range temperature condition. In one embodiment, both the upper and lower threshold temperatures are checked. If there is a temperature reading that exceeds one of the lower or upper threshold temperatures, control goes to step 408 where another determination is made by the TMSS: Can the out-of-range condition be addressed by an appropriate control signal, such as a fan or baffle control signal? At step 406, if there is no out-of-range condition, control returns to step 402 where the thermal regulation process continues and further temperature readings are obtained.
At step 408 an alarm is set. In this scenario, the out-of-range condition is addressable by a control signal and is an indication that there is a serious temperature condition; one or more of the components or devices has reached a temperature that is too high for the machine and may cause an imminent shut down. Typically, the TMSS will go through the process described so far several times before an alarm is set. At step 410 the alarm is reported via a gaming network over a discrete communication line or to an indicator in the gaming machine that can be seen or hear by a gaming technician. In one embodiment, the TMSS may continue to try to control the temperature after an alarm has been set. Control goes to step 412. If at step 408 it is determined that the out of range condition can be addressed by a control signal (e.g., increasing fan speed or switching a baffle), at step 412 the appropriate control signal or signals are determined and an alarm is not set. In another embodiment, the TMSS may also transmit signals to the power management system to cause the powering off or transitioning into an idle or wait state of a peripheral device. At step 414 the control signal is transmitted to the appropriate mechanism (fan, baffle, or power management system) and control returns to step 402. As noted, when at step 410, when an alarm is set, the system will still try to bring the temperature of the machine into an acceptable range (i.e., cool the machine), and thus control goes to step 412. Once a control signal has been transmitted, control returns to step 402 where, as described above, it is determined whether the control signal worked. In this manner, an error feedback is performed in the process.
Although illustrative embodiments and applications of this invention are shown and described herein, many variations and modifications are possible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those of ordinary skill in the art after perusal of this application. For example, although airflow is used as the conduction method to cool the machine, other methods may be used, such as liquids (valves) or alternative heat pipe arrangements. While the various embodiments have involved player-related peripheral devices, other types of components and devices that are not player oriented but use high amounts of current and are enabled and disabled on top of standard operation of the gaming machine may also be regulated using the methods described herein. Accordingly, the embodiments described are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.