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US4795155A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Powder down door open memory latch for a gaming device

Assignee: Bally Gaming International Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-30
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Granted: 1989-01-03
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Expires: 2006-06-30
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Abstract

Abstract A powder down door open memory latch circuit for a gaming device which determines whether a door on the gaming device has been opened during a power failure. The circuit includes a cam switch coupled to a lock on the door of the gaming device, the switch being actuated to provide a signal when the door is unlocked. The circuit also includes a hinge switch mounted adjacent a hinge connecting the door to the cabinet of the gaming device to provide a signal when the door is opened. Each of the switch signals is coupled to a respective battery powered memory latch to cause the latches to change from a cleared state to a second state when the door is unlocked and open. Upon the restoration of power after a powder failure, the main processor for the gaming device determines the states of the latches and if the memory latch states indicate that the door was unlocked and opened during a power failure, the processor tilts the gaming device to prevent further operation thereof.

Inventors

  • 👤 Fulvio R. Grande

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 22:36
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/34

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, the cabinet having a door through which access to the controls may be had, a system for detecting whether the door has been opened during a power failure comprising: switch means secured to said door and operable during a power failure for sensing whether said door is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; memory means operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal from said switch means for storing information indicating that said door has been opened; and game control means for reading the information stored in said memory means upon the restoration of power after a power failure to determine whether said door was opened during the power failure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 130 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, the cabinet having a door through which access to the controls may be had, a system for detecting whether the door has been opened during a power failure comprising: switch means secured to said door and operable during a power failure for sensing whether said door is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; memory means operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal from said switch means for storing information indicating that said door has been opened; and game control means for reading the information stored in said memory means upon the restoration of power after a power failure to determine whether said door was opened during the power failure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein said game control means is responsive to information read from the memory means indicating that said door was opened during the power failure to halt the operation of said gaming device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 83 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein said memory means has a first, cleared state and a second state, indicating that the door has been opened, and wherein said memory means is responsive to a door open signal to change from said first state to said second state; and said game control means provides a memory control signal to the memory means to cause said memory means to return to said first state after said control means has read the information stored therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 231 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, said cabinet having a door with a lock, access to said controls being had when said door is unlocked, a system for detecting whether said door has been opened during a power failure comprising: a first switch means coupled between said door and said cabinet and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the door is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; second switch means coupled to said door lock and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the door is locked or unlocked to provide a signal indicative thereof; first memory means operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal from said first switch means for storing information indicating that said door has been opened; second memory means operable during a power failure and responsive to a door unlock signal from said second switch means for storing information indicating that said door has been unlocked; signal means for generating a restoration signal when power has been restored to the gaming device after a power failure; and control means responsive to said restoration signal for reading the information stored in said first and second memory means, said control means halting the operation of said gaming device if the read information indicates that the door has been unlocked and opened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 231 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, said cabinet having a door with a lock, access to said controls being had when said door is unlocked, a system for detecting whether said door has been opened during a power failure comprising: a first switch means coupled between said door and said cabinet and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the door is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; second switch means coupled to said door lock and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the door is locked or unlocked to provide a signal indicative thereof; first memory means operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal from said first switch means for storing information indicating that said door has been opened; second memory means operable during a power failure and responsive to a door unlock signal from said second switch means for storing information indicating that said door has been unlocked; signal means for generating a restoration signal when power has been restored to the gaming device after a power failure; and control means responsive to said restoration signal for reading the information stored in said first and second memory means, said control means halting the operation of said gaming device if the read information indicates that the door has been unlocked and opened.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 167 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, the cabinet having a door through which access to the controls may be had, a system for detecting whether the door has been opened during a power failure, comprising: switch means secured to said door and operable during a power failure for sensing whether said door is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; memory latch means having a cleared state and a door open state, said memory latch means being operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal coupled thereto from the switch means for changing from said first state to said second state to indicate that the door has been opened; and game control means for determining the state of said memory latch means upon the restoration of power after a power failure to halt the operation of the gaming device if the state of the memory latch means indicates that the door has been opened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 167 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, the cabinet having a door through which access to the controls may be had, a system for detecting whether the door has been opened during a power failure, comprising: switch means secured to said door and operable during a power failure for sensing whether said door is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; memory latch means having a cleared state and a door open state, said memory latch means being operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal coupled thereto from the switch means for changing from said first state to said second state to indicate that the door has been opened; and game control means for determining the state of said memory latch means upon the restoration of power after a power failure to halt the operation of the gaming device if the state of the memory latch means indicates that the door has been opened.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
The gaming device of claim 5 wherein said memory latch means includes a flip-flop powered during a power failure by a battery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 276 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, the cabinet having a door with a lock, access to said controls being had when said door is unlocked, a system for detecting whether said door has been opened during a power failure comprising: first switch means coupled between said door and said cabinet and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the cabinet is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; second switch means coupled to said door lock and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the door is locked or unlocked to provide a signal indicative thereof; first memory latch means having a cleared state and a door open state, said first memory latch means being operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal coupled thereto from the first switch means for changing from said first state to said second state to indicate that the door has been opened; second memory latch means having a cleared state and a door unlock state, said second memory latch means being operable during a power failure and responsive to a door unlock signal coupled thereto from the second switch means for changing from said first state to said second state to indicate that the door has been unlocked; and game control means for determining the state of the first memory latch means and the second memory latch means upon the restoration of power after a power failure to halt the operation of the gaming device if the states of the first and second memory latch means indicate that the door has been unlocked and opened.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 276 words
In a gaming device having a cabinet housing controls for the gaming device, the cabinet having a door with a lock, access to said controls being had when said door is unlocked, a system for detecting whether said door has been opened during a power failure comprising: first switch means coupled between said door and said cabinet and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the cabinet is open or closed to provide a signal indicative thereof; second switch means coupled to said door lock and operable during a power failure for sensing whether the door is locked or unlocked to provide a signal indicative thereof; first memory latch means having a cleared state and a door open state, said first memory latch means being operable during a power failure and responsive to a door open signal coupled thereto from the first switch means for changing from said first state to said second state to indicate that the door has been opened; second memory latch means having a cleared state and a door unlock state, said second memory latch means being operable during a power failure and responsive to a door unlock signal coupled thereto from the second switch means for changing from said first state to said second state to indicate that the door has been unlocked; and game control means for determining the state of the first memory latch means and the second memory latch means upon the restoration of power after a power failure to halt the operation of the gaming device if the states of the first and second memory latch means indicate that the door has been unlocked and opened.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4231105A Cited
US4231105B1 Cited
US4366481A Cited
US4607844A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-01-03 1992-07-04 1993-01-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-01-03 1996-07-04 1997-01-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-01-03 2000-07-04 2001-01-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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