EP1189183A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slot machine reel mechanism with dedicated local microcontroller
Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc
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Filing: 2001-07-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A slot machine comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and a reel mechanism. The CPU operates the slot machine and randomly determines a game outcome in response to a wager. The reel mechanism includes a motor, a symbol-bearing reel, and a reel driver. The motor includes a rotatable shaft, and the reel is mounted to the shaft. The reel driver includes a local microcontroller distinct from and coupled to the CPU. The reel driver is coupled to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the reel. The CPU issues high-level commands to the reel driver related to rotation of the reel. The high-level commands may, for example, include a start spin command for starting rotation of the reel and a stop command for stopping the reel at a specified position. However, to free up the CPU for other tasks, the local microcontroller performs low-level reel driver operations related to the rotation of the reel. The low-level reel driver operations may, for example, include sampling a state of the reel in real time, performing calculations, and responding with control changes.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy C. Loose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:47
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3202; G07F17/3204; G07F17/3211; G07F17/3213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A slot machine, comprising: a central processing unit for operating the slot machine in response to a wager;
and a reel mechanism including a motor, a symbol-bearing reel, and a reel driver,
said motor including a rotatable shaft, said reel being mounted to said
shaft, said reel driver including a local microcontroller distinct from
and coupled to said central processing unit, said reel driver being
coupled to said motor to cause said motor to rotate said reel, said local
microcontroller performing low-level reel driver operations
independent from said central processing unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
The slot machine of claim 1, wherein in response to actuation by a player, said
reel is rotated and stopped to place the symbols of said reel in visual association with
one or more pay lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The slot machine of claim 1, wherein said low-level reel driver operations
include monitoring said reel and at least partially controlling its position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The slot machine of claim 3, wherein said local microcontroller monitors said
reel by sampling its state multiple times per second in real time, and responds with
control commands for controlling the position of said reel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The slot machine of claim 1, wherein said local microcontroller is serially
connected to said central processing unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The slot machine of claim 1, wherein said reel driver includes a printed circuit
board proximate said reel, said microcontroller being mounted to said printed circuit
board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The slot machine of claim 1, wherein said central processing unit issues high-level
commands to said local microcontroller, said high-level commands including a
start spin command for spinning said reel and a stop command for stopping said reel
at a specified stop position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The slot machine of claim 1, wherein said reel includes an encoder for
indicating the position of said reel, and wherein said reel driver includes an optical
detector for reading said encoder, said local microcontroller being coupled to said
optical detector to monitor the position of said reel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A slot machine, comprising: a motor including a rotatable shaft; a symbol-bearing reel mounted to said shaft; a reel driver including a local microcontroller serially linked to said central
processing unit, said reel driver being coupled to said motor to cause
said motor to rotate said reel, said local microcontroller performing
low-level reel driver operations related to rotation of said reel; and a central processing unit issuing high-level commands to said reel driver
related to the rotation of said reel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The slot machine of claim 9, wherein said high-level commands include a start
spin command and a stop command, said start spin command instructing said reel
driver to cause said motor to rotate said reel, said stop command instructing said reel
driver to stop said motor from rotating said reel at a specified stop position
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The slot machine of claim 10, wherein said low-level commands include
sampling a state of said reel in real time and at least partially controlling its position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A slot machine, comprising: a motor including a rotatable shaft; a symbol-bearing reel mounted to said shaft; a reel driver including a local microcontroller, said reel driver being coupled
to said motor to cause said motor to rotate said reel; and a central processing unit for issuing a start spin command and a stop command
to said reel driver, said start spin command instructing said reel driver
to cause said motor to rotate said reel, said stop command instructing
said reel driver to stop said motor from rotating said reel at a specified
stop position; said local microcontroller monitoring said reel in real time and at least
partially controlling its position after said start spin command and prior
to said stop command.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The slot machine of claim 12, wherein said reel includes an encoder for
indicating the position of said reel, and wherein said reel driver includes an optical
detector for reading said encoder, said local microcontroller being coupled to said
optical detector to monitor the position of said reel in real time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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