Bill validation and change system for a slot machine

Claim 2

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game, win means for determining a winning game play and coin storage means for storing said coins, said coin storage means being controllable to payout variable numbers of coins, a bill changing system comprising: means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; acceptance means responsive to said bill receiving means for determining whether a received bill is acceptable, a bill being acceptable if a game is not currently being played; and means responsive to said win means and said acceptance means for controlling said storage means to payout coins of said one denomination responsive to a winning game or a received bill determined to be acceptable.

Claim 3

The gaming device of claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes: means responsive to a determination that a received bill is acceptable for storing a number representing the number of coins necessary to change said bill; means responsive to a coin being paid out from said storage means for signaling the payment of a coin as each coin is paid out; means responsive to said signaling means for decrementing the number in said storing means in response to the signaled payment of a coin; and means responsive to the number in said storing means being decremented to zero for inhibiting said storage means from paying to more coins to change said bill.

Claim 4

The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a housing having a door and a door position sensor, wherein said acceptance means is coupled to said door position sensor and said acceptance means includes means for rejecting a received bill if said door position sensor senses an open door condition.

Claim 5

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game, win means for determining a winning game play and coin storage means for storing coins, said coin storage means being controllable to payout variable numbers of coins, a bill changing system comprising: means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; means for monitoring the number of coins in said storage means; acceptance means responsive to said bill receiving means and said monitoring means for determining whether a received bill is acceptable, a bill being acceptable if there are at least a predetermined minimum number of coins in said storage means; means responsive to said win means for controlling said storage means to payout coins of said one denomination responsive to a winning game; and player select means responsive to a player input and said acceptance means for causing said controlling means to payout the number of coins of said one denomination equivalent to the denomination of an accepted bill.

Claim 6

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game, win means for determining a winning game play and coin storage means for storing coins, said coin storage means being controllable to payout variable numbers of coins, a bill changing system comprising: means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; means for monitoring the number of coins in said storage means; acceptance means responsive to said bill receiving means and said monitoring means for determining whether a received bill is acceptable, a bill being acceptable if there are at least a predetermined minimum number of coins in said storage means; means responsive to said win means for controlling said storage means to payout coins of said one denomination responsive to a winning game; and player select means responsive to a player input and said acceptance means for causing said controlling means to payout the number of coins of said one denomination equivalent to the denomination of an accepted bill.

Claim 7

The gaming device of claim 4 wherein said receiving means further includes: means for determining the validity of a received bill; means responsive to said validity determining means and said bill acceptance determining means for rejecting bills determined to be invalid or unacceptable; and means for retaining bills determined to be valid and acceptable.

Claim 8

The gaming device of claim 4 wherein said monitoring means includes: means for storing data representing the number of coins in said coin storage means; and means responsive to said controlling means for decrementing said data in response to each coin paid out for a winning game or an accepted bill.

Claim 9

The gaming device of claim 6 wherein said coin storage means is coupled to said coin accepting means to store accepted coins input to play a game and said monitoring means further includes means for incrementing said data in response to each coin accepted by said coin accepting means for storage in said coin storage means.

Claim 10

The gaming device of claim 4 wherein said controlling means includes: credit means responsive to a determination that a received bill is acceptable for storing a number representing the number of coins necessary to change said bill; means responsive to a coin being paid out from said coin storage means for signaling the payment of a coin as each coin is paid out; means responsive to said signaling means for decrementing the number stored in said credit means in response to the signaled payment of a coin; and means responsive to said credit means being decremented to zero for inhibiting said coin storage means from paying out more coins to change said bill.

Claim 11

The gaming device of claim 8 further including means responsive to said signaling means for displaying the number of coins paid out from said coin storage means.

Claim 12

The gaming device of claim 9 further including means responsive to said signaling means for incrementing the display means each time payment of a coin is signaled to display a running count of the number of coins paid out.

Claim 13

The gaming device of claim 4 further including a display means responsive to said payout control means for depicting a running count of the number of coins paid out in responsive to said player select means.

Claim 14

The gaming device of claim 4 further including means for displaying the denomination of a received bill determined to be acceptable.

Claim 15

The gaming device of claim 4 further including means for preventing acceptance of coins by said coin accepting means after a bill is received by said receiving means.

Claim 16

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game, win means for determining a wining game play and coin storage means for storing said coins, said coin storage means being controllable to payout variable numbers of coins, a bill changing system comprising: means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; acceptance means coupled to said bill receiving means for determining whether a received bill is acceptable, said receiving means being responsive to said acceptance means to retain bills determined to be acceptable and means for determining whether a game is in progress, a bill being unacceptable if a game is in progress when said bill is received; change means responsive to said acceptance means and the denomination of an acceptable bill for determining the correct change for said bill; and means for controlling said coin storage means to payout coins of said one denomination for a wining game in response to said win means, said payout control means being responsive to said acceptance means and said change means to control said storage means to payout coins of said one denomination to change an acceptable bill retained by said receiving means.

Claim 17

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game, win means for determining a wining game play and coin storage means for storing said coins, said coin storage means being controllable to payout variable numbers of coins, a bill changing system comprising: means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; acceptance means coupled to said bill receiving means for determining whether a received bill is acceptable, said receiving means being responsive to said acceptance means to retain bills determined to be acceptable and means for determining whether a game is in progress, a bill being unacceptable if a game is in progress when said bill is received; change means responsive to said acceptance means and the denomination of an acceptable bill for determining the correct change for said bill; and means for controlling said coin storage means to payout coins of said one denomination for a wining game in response to said win means, said payout control means being responsive to said acceptance means and said change means to control said storage means to payout coins of said one denomination to change an acceptable bill retained by said receiving means.

Claim 18

The gaming device of claim 14 wherein said bill acceptance determining means includes means for monitoring the number of coins in said storage means, a bill being acceptable if said storage means has at least a predetermined number of coins therein.

Claim 19

The gaming device of claim 14 wherein said acceptance means includes means for determining the validity of a bill, a bill being unacceptable if the bill is determined to be invalid.

Claim 20

The gaming device of claim 14 wherein said acceptance means includes means for determining whether a coin has been accepted, a bill being unacceptable if a coin has been accepted before said bill is received.

Claim 21

The gaming device of claim 14 wherein said coin storage means is coupled to said coin accepting means for storing accepted coins and further including means for storing data representing the number of coins in said coin storage means; means for incrementing said data in response to each coin accepted for storage by said accepting means; and means for decrementing said data in response to each coin paid out from said storage means.

Claim 22

The gaming device of claim 18 wherein said acceptance means includes means responsive to said data for rejecting a bill for which there are insufficient coins in said coin storage means to make change.

Claim 23

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game and coin storage means for storing coins, said coin storage means being controllable to payout a variable number of coins, a game control and bill changing system comprising: means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations input to the device; first processing means coupled to said bill receiving means for determining the validity of bills input to the device, said first processing means having means for determining the denomination of a valid bill; second processing means for determining the denominations of bills which are acceptable, said second processing means being coupled to said first processing menas to communicate acceptable denominations thereto; means included in said first processing means and responsive to said denomination determining means and said second processing means for controlling the bill receiving means to retain a valid bill having a denomination determined to be acceptable; means included in said second processing means for determining a wining game play; means included in said second processing means for controlling said coin storage means to payout coins of said one denomination in response to a winning game play determination and in response to the receipt of a valid bill having an acceptable denomination; and player select means for controlling said coin storage means to pay out in response to a player input coins of said one denomination equivalent to the receipt of a bill having an acceptable denomination.

Claim 24

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game and coin storage means for storing coins, said coin storage means being controllable to payout a variable number of coins, a game control and bill changing system comprising: means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations input to the device; first processing means coupled to said bill receiving means for determining the validity of bills input to the device, said first processing means having means for determining the denomination of a valid bill; second processing means for determining the denominations of bills which are acceptable, said second processing means being coupled to said first processing menas to communicate acceptable denominations thereto; means included in said first processing means and responsive to said denomination determining means and said second processing means for controlling the bill receiving means to retain a valid bill having a denomination determined to be acceptable; means included in said second processing means for determining a wining game play; means included in said second processing means for controlling said coin storage means to payout coins of said one denomination in response to a winning game play determination and in response to the receipt of a valid bill having an acceptable denomination; and player select means for controlling said coin storage means to pay out in response to a player input coins of said one denomination equivalent to the receipt of a bill having an acceptable denomination.

Claim 25

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game and coin storage means for storing said coins, said storage means being controllable to payout a variable number of coins, a system for changing bills input to the gaming device comprising: means for receiving a bill; master processing means for controlling the game and payout of coins including: means for determining a winning game play; means responsive to a player input for determining whether change for a received bill should be made; and means for controlling said storage means to payout coins of said one denomination in response to a wining game play denomination or said determination that change should be made; second processing means for controlling the receiving means to retain or reject received bills, said second processing means being coupled to said master processing means in a slaved relationship for communication therebetween and including: means for determining the validity of a received bill; said second processing means controlling the receiving means to retain a valid bill in response to a determination by the master processing means that change should be made and said second processing means controlling the receiving means to reject a bill in response to a determination that the bill is not valid or that change should not be made.

Claim 26

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins of only one denomination to play a game and coin storage means for storing said coins, said storage means being controllable to payout a variable number of coins, a system for changing bills input to the gaming device comprising: means for receiving a bill; master processing means for controlling the game and payout of coins including: means for determining a winning game play; means responsive to a player input for determining whether change for a received bill should be made; and means for controlling said storage means to payout coins of said one denomination in response to a wining game play denomination or said determination that change should be made; second processing means for controlling the receiving means to retain or reject received bills, said second processing means being coupled to said master processing means in a slaved relationship for communication therebetween and including: means for determining the validity of a received bill; said second processing means controlling the receiving means to retain a valid bill in response to a determination by the master processing means that change should be made and said second processing means controlling the receiving means to reject a bill in response to a determination that the bill is not valid or that change should not be made.

Claim 27

The gaming device of claim 21 wherein said receiving means receives bills of a plurality of denominations and includes means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; said master processing means further includes means for monitoring the number of coins in said storage means; and means responsive to said monitoring means for determining for each of said bill denominations whether said storage means contains a sufficient number of coins to change a bill of that denomination, said master processing means communicating to the second processing means the bill denominations for which there are sufficient coins; and said second processing means being responsive to the bill denominations from the master processing means and to the identified denomination of a: received bill to control the receiving means to reject a bill having a denomination other than one of the bill denominations communicated from the master processing means.

Claim 28

The gaming device of claim 22 further including means controlled by said master processing means for displaying the bill denomination for which there are sufficient coins in said storage means to make change.

Claim 29

The gaming device of claim 22 further including means controlled by said master processing means for displaying the denomination of a received bill for which it is determined that change should be made.

Claim 30

The gaming device of claim 21 further including means controlled by said master processing means for displaying the number of coins paid out by said storage means.

Claim 31

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins to play a game, coin storage means for storing said coins, and means for determining a winning game play, said coin storage means being controllable to payout variable numbers of coins, a coin payout system comprising: credit means for storing a number representative of a number of coins payable to a user; means responsive to said determining means for incrementing the value of said credit means responsive to a winning game play; payout means responsive to said credit means having a value greater than zero for causing said coin storage means to payout a number of coins equal to said stored number; play means responsive to said credit means having a value greater than zero for accepting credits to play a game; means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; and select means responsive to said bill receiving means for selecting in response to a player input whether the receiving of a bill causes said credit means stored number to be incremented by a value corresponding to the denomination of the bill or operates said coin storage means to payout coins equal to said received bill.

Claim 32

In a gaming device having means for accepting coins to play a game, coin storage means for storing said coins, and means for determining a winning game play, said coin storage means being controllable to payout variable numbers of coins, a coin payout system comprising: credit means for storing a number representative of a number of coins payable to a user; means responsive to said determining means for incrementing the value of said credit means responsive to a winning game play; payout means responsive to said credit means having a value greater than zero for causing said coin storage means to payout a number of coins equal to said stored number; play means responsive to said credit means having a value greater than zero for accepting credits to play a game; means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for identifying the denomination of a received bill; and select means responsive to said bill receiving means for selecting in response to a player input whether the receiving of a bill causes said credit means stored number to be incremented by a value corresponding to the denomination of the bill or operates said coin storage means to payout coins equal to said received bill.

Claim 33

The gaming device of claim 26 further comprising means for accepting a bill only if a bill is of a denomination high enough to permit game play.

Claim 34

The gaming device of claim 26 wherein said payout means comprises a user actuable collect button which causes said coin storage means to payout a number of coins equal to said stored number when said button is depressed.

Claim 35

The gaming device of claim 26 wherein said receiving means includes means for returning a bill which is determined to be unacceptable, a bill being unacceptable if a game is being played or the bill is of insufficient denomination.

Claim 36

The gaming device of claim 26 wherein said receiving means further includes: means for determining the validity of a received bill; means responsive to said validity determining means for rejecting bills determined to be invalid or unacceptable; and means for retaining bills determined to be valid and acceptable.

Claim 37

In a gaming device having a housing and means mounted in said housing for playing a game responsive to payment therefor, a bill acceptance system comprising: means mounted within said housing having an inlet for receiving bills, said receiving means including validation means for determining the validity and denomination of a received bill and reject means responsive to said playing means for causing said receiving means to reject a bill prior to the determination of validity of the bill if a game is being played; means responsive to said playing means and said validation means for accepting a valid bill; and means mounted within said housing responsive to said accepting means for transporting accepted bills from said receiving means.

Claim 38

In a gaming device having a housing and means mounted in said housing for playing a game responsive to payment therefor, a bill acceptance system comprising: means mounted within said housing having an inlet for receiving bills, said receiving means including validation means for determining the validity and denomination of a received bill and reject means responsive to said playing means for causing said receiving means to reject a bill prior to the determination of validity of the bill if a game is being played; means responsive to said playing means and said validation means for accepting a valid bill; and means mounted within said housing responsive to said accepting means for transporting accepted bills from said receiving means.

Claim 39

The gaming device of claim 31 further comprising means in communication wi&:h said transporting means for storing bills transported from said bill receiving means.

Claim 40

The gaming device of claim 31 wherein said receiving means includes a bill validation determining device having an inlet slot for receiving bills and an outlet slot for forwarding bills determined to be acceptable by said accepting means.

Claim 41

The gaming device of claim 33 wherein said includes a front access door and said inlet slot extends through an opening in said front door.

Claim 42

The gaming device of claim 32 wherein said transporting means comprises an elongated conveyor defining a longitudinal passageway therethrough through which an acceptable bill is conveyed.

Claim 43

The gaming device of claim 35 wherein said conveyor includes a motor driven belt extending along said passageway for carrying an acceptable bill through said passageway.

Claim 44

The gaming device of claim 35 wherein said transporting means includes a door pivotally secured to a transporter housing, said door being selectively movable for access to said passageway.

Claim 45

The gaming device of claim 32 further comprising an access opening through a bottom wall of said housing in communication with said transporting means remote from said receiving means, said transporting means passing an acceptable bill through said opening upon the bill exiting said transporting means.

Claim 46

The gaming device of claim 38 wherein said storing means comprises a lockable stand having an opening through a top wall thereof, said top wall defining a support surface for said housing wherein said stand opening is in communication with said opening in the bottom wall of said housing for receiving bills into the stand from the transporting means.

Claim 47

The gaming device of claim 38 further comprising means for sensing the passage of a bill through said access opening.

Claim 48

In a gaming device having a housing, means for accepting coins to play a game, means for determining a winning play means for storing said coins, said accepting means, said determining means and said storing means being contained within said housing, a display system comprising: means mounted to said housing and viewable to a user of said gaming device for displaying information to a user, said information relating to the status of a game play; means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for determining the validity and denomination of a received bill; means coupled to said receiving means and said displaying means for controlling said display means to display information relating to a received bill; credit means for storing a credit number of coins payable to a user thereof or that alternatively can be used to play additional games, said displaying means being coupled to said credit means for displaying said credit number to a user; player select means operatively connected to said storing means, receiving means and said controlling means for causing said credit means in response to a credit select signal to increment said credit number by an amount equal to said received bill and operating said displaying means to provide an indication of said incremented credit number of alternatively for causing storing means to pay out a number of coins equal to said received bill.

Claim 49

In a gaming device having a housing, means for accepting coins to play a game, means for determining a winning play means for storing said coins, said accepting means, said determining means and said storing means being contained within said housing, a display system comprising: means mounted to said housing and viewable to a user of said gaming device for displaying information to a user, said information relating to the status of a game play; means for receiving bills of a plurality of denominations, said receiving means having means for determining the validity and denomination of a received bill; means coupled to said receiving means and said displaying means for controlling said display means to display information relating to a received bill; credit means for storing a credit number of coins payable to a user thereof or that alternatively can be used to play additional games, said displaying means being coupled to said credit means for displaying said credit number to a user; player select means operatively connected to said storing means, receiving means and said controlling means for causing said credit means in response to a credit select signal to increment said credit number by an amount equal to said received bill and operating said displaying means to provide an indication of said incremented credit number of alternatively for causing storing means to pay out a number of coins equal to said received bill.

Claim 50

The gaming device of claim 41 wherein said controlling means includes means for operating said display to display information to a user relating to the validity and denomination of a received bill.

Claim 51

A gaming device comprising: a housing; game control means secured within said housing including a game processor, a game operating instruction memory and a game data memory operatively connected to said game processor, for controlling the operation of the gaming device; coin input means secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game control means for accepting coins from players; player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for permitting players to operate the gaming device; hopper means, secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game logic means and in communication with said coin input means, for storing coins accepted from players and dispensing coins in response to win signals from said game control means; bill acceptor means, disposed to the gaming device and including an acceptor processor, for accepting and validating bills; communication means operatively connected between said game processor and said acceptor processor for communicating data representing the value of a bill accepted by said acceptor means between said acceptor processor and said game processor; and means responsive to said game control means and said player interface means for causing said hopper means to dispense the number of coins equivalent to the value of the bill that has been accepted by said bill acceptance means when said player interface receives an input from a player indicating that change for said accepted bill is desired.

Claim 52

A gaming device comprising: a housing; game control means secured within said housing including a game processor, a game operating instruction memory and a game data memory operatively connected to said game processor, for controlling the operation of the gaming device; coin input means secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game control means for accepting coins from players; player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for permitting players to operate the gaming device; hopper means, secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game logic means and in communication with said coin input means, for storing coins accepted from players and dispensing coins in response to win signals from said game control means; bill acceptor means, disposed to the gaming device and including an acceptor processor, for accepting and validating bills; communication means operatively connected between said game processor and said acceptor processor for communicating data representing the value of a bill accepted by said acceptor means between said acceptor processor and said game processor; and means responsive to said game control means and said player interface means for causing said hopper means to dispense the number of coins equivalent to the value of the bill that has been accepted by said bill acceptance means when said player interface receives an input from a player indicating that change for said accepted bill is desired.

Claim 53

The device of claim 43 wherein said game data memory includes a current count of the number of coins in said hopper means and wherein said game control means transits a reject signal via said communication means to cause said bill acceptor means to reject a bill when said coin count is less than the value of the bill.

Claim 54

The device of claim 44 wherein said game control means is responsive to said player interface means to generate said reject signal when game play has been initiated by a player and the game play has not been completed.

Claim 55

The device of claim 44 wherein said game control means is responsive to said coin input means and is effective to generate said reject signal when a coin has been accepted for game play and the game has not been completed.

Claim 56

The device of claim 44 wherein said game control means is effective to generate said reject signal during game play.

Claim 57

The device of claim 44 wherein said game control means is effective to generate said reject signal when the gaming device is locked up in a win condition.

Claim 58

The device of claim 44 wherein said game control means includes tilt means for detecting when the gaming device is in a tilt condition and wherein said game control means is effective to generate said reject signal when the gaming device is in said tilt condition.

Claim 59

The device of claim 44 wherein said housing includes at least one door and wherein said game control means is effective to generate said reject when at least one of said doors is in an open condition.

Claim 60

The device of claim 44 wherein said game control means includes means for detecting when the gaming device is out of order and wherein said game control means is effective to generate said reject signal when the gaming device is out of order.

Claim 61

The device of claim 43 wherein said game processor additionally stores in said game data memory bill information relating to the bills accepted by said bill acceptor means.

Claim 62

The device of claim 52 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 63

The device of claim 53 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of the last five bills accepted.

Claim 64

The device of claim 52 wherein said bill information includes said number of coins dispensed by said hopper means for accepted bills.

Claim 65

The device of claim 43 additionally including means, operatively connected to said game processor, for transmitting bill information relating to the bills accepted by said bill acceptance means to an external data system.

Claim 66

The device of claim 56 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 67

The device of claim 56 wherein said bill information includes said number of coins dispensed by said hopper means for accepted bills.

Claim 68

The device of claim 43 additionally including a display operatively connected to said game processor for displaying both game information and bill acceptance information.

Claim 69

The device of claim 59 wherein said bill acceptance information includes said number of coins dispensed.

Claim 70

The device of claim 43 wherein said game control means additionally includes credit means for permitting the gaming device to be played in a credit mode whereby the count of coins credited to a player are stored in said game data memory; wherein said player interface means includes credit select means for permitting players to select the credit mode of operation and wherein said game control means inhibits said means for dispensing coins in response to the acceptance of a bill and causes said count of coins credited to be incremented by the value of the accepted bill when the credit mode has been selected.

Claim 71

The device of claim 43 wherein said acceptor processor transmits a bill accepted signal via said communication means to said game control means when a bill has been accepted by said bill acceptor means and wherein said game control means in response to said bill accepted signal causes said coin input means to reject coin inputs.

Claim 72

The device of claim 43 wherein said bill acceptor means includes a cash box and wherein said acceptor processor upon receipt of a signal from said game processor indicating that the game device is in a predetermined operating condition, causes the bill to be transferred to said cash box.

Claim 73

The device of claim 43 wherein said game control means includes means for determining if the gaming device is not in one of a predetermined set of operating conditions; wherein said gaming processor transmits an accepted enable signal to said bill acceptor means via said communication means when the gaming device is not in one or more of said predetermined operating conditions said accepted enable signal effective to enable said bill acceptor means to receive a bill.

Claim 74

The device of claim 64 wherein one of said predetermined operating conditions is that there is a game in progress.

Claim 75

The device of claim 65 wherein one of said predetermined operating conditions is that there has been a coin accepted by said coin input means.

Claim 76

The device of claim 43 wherein said game data memory contains a coin count of the number of coins in said hopper and said game processor is effective to transmit a signal via said communication means to said bill acceptor means indicating the maximum bill denomination for which coins can be dispensed.

Claim 77

The device of claim 67 wherein said bill acceptor means will reject any bills having a denomination greater than said maximum bill denomination.

Claim 78

The device of claim 68 wherein said game processor periodically polls said bill acceptor means via said communication means to determine if a bill has been accepted.

Claim 79

The device of claim 69 wherein in response to the acceptance of a bill said bill acceptor means transmits the value of any bill that has been accepted to said game processor.

Claim 80

The device of claim 61 wherein said game processor additionally stores in said game data memory bill information relating to the bills accepted by said bill acceptor means.

Claim 81

The device of claim 71 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 82

The device of claim 71 wherein said bill information includes the amount by which said count of coins has been incremented.

Claim 83

The device of claim 61 additionally including means, operatively connected to said game processor, for transmitting bill information relating to the bills accepted by said bill acceptance means to an external data system.

Claim 84

The device of claim 74 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 85

The device of claim 74 wherein said bill information includes the amount by which said count of coins has been incremented.

Claim 86

The device of claim 76 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 87

The device of claim 77 wherein said bill information includes said number of coins dispensed.

Claim 88

The device of claim 61 additionally including a display operatively connected to said game processor for displaying both game information and bill acceptance information.

Claim 89

The device of claim 79 wherein said bill acceptance information includes said count of coins credited after said count has been credited.

Claim 90

A gaming device comprising: a housing; game control means secured within said housing including a game processor, a game operating instruction memory and a game data memory operatively connected to said game processor, for controlling the operation of the gaming device; coin input means secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game control means for accepting coins from players; player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for permitting players to operate the gaming device; hopper means, secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game logic means and in communication with said coin input means, for storing coins accepted from players and dispensing coins in response to win signals from said game control means; bill acceptor means, disposed to the gaming device and including an acceptor processor, for accepting and validating bills; communication means operatively connected between said game processor and said acceptor processor for transmitting data including data representing the value of a bill accepted by said acceptor means between said acceptor processor and game processor; credit means including a credit display, a credit count stored in said game data memory and a credit button in said player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for operating the gaming device in a credit mode and wherein said acceptor processor responds to an accept signal form said game processor indicting that the gaming device is not in one or more predetermined operating conditions by transmitting a value signal to the game processor representing the value of an accepted bill and wherein said game processor responds to said value signal by incrementing said credit count; and wherein said game data memory stores a current count representing the number of coins in said hopper means; wherein said player interface includes means for selecting either a credit or change mode or wherein said game control means causes said hopper means to dispense the number of coins equivalent to the denomination of a bill accepted by said bill acceptor means if said current count is at least equal to the bill denomination and said change mode has been selected.

Claim 91

A gaming device comprising: a housing; game control means secured within said housing including a game processor, a game operating instruction memory and a game data memory operatively connected to said game processor, for controlling the operation of the gaming device; coin input means secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game control means for accepting coins from players; player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for permitting players to operate the gaming device; hopper means, secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game logic means and in communication with said coin input means, for storing coins accepted from players and dispensing coins in response to win signals from said game control means; bill acceptor means, disposed to the gaming device and including an acceptor processor, for accepting and validating bills; communication means operatively connected between said game processor and said acceptor processor for transmitting data including data representing the value of a bill accepted by said acceptor means between said acceptor processor and game processor; credit means including a credit display, a credit count stored in said game data memory and a credit button in said player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for operating the gaming device in a credit mode and wherein said acceptor processor responds to an accept signal form said game processor indicting that the gaming device is not in one or more predetermined operating conditions by transmitting a value signal to the game processor representing the value of an accepted bill and wherein said game processor responds to said value signal by incrementing said credit count; and wherein said game data memory stores a current count representing the number of coins in said hopper means; wherein said player interface includes means for selecting either a credit or change mode or wherein said game control means causes said hopper means to dispense the number of coins equivalent to the denomination of a bill accepted by said bill acceptor means if said current count is at least equal to the bill denomination and said change mode has been selected.

Claim 92

The device of claim 81 wherein one of said predetermined operating conditions is when a game is in progress.

Claim 93

The device of claim 81 wherein one of said predetermined operating conditions is when the gaming device is locked up in a win condition.

Claim 94

The device of claim 81 wherein one of said predetermined operating conditions is when the gaming device is in a tilt condition.

Claim 95

The device of claim 81 wherein said housing includes at leas tone door and wherein one of said predetermined operating conditions is when at least one of said doors is in an open condition.

Claim 96

The device of claim 81 wherein said bill acceptor means after accepting and validating a bill transmits data representing the value of the bill via said communication means to said game processor and wherein said current count is incremented by said game processor by an amount equivalent to the bill value.

Claim 97

The device of claim 81 wherein said bill acceptor means after accepting and validating the bill transmits data representing the value of the bill to said game data memory.

Claim 98

The device of claim 81 wherein said game processor additionally stores in said game data memory bill information relating to the bills accepted by said bill acceptor means.

Claim 99

The device of claim 88 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 100

The device of claim 89 wherein said bill information includes the amount by which said credit count has been incremented.

Claim 101

The device of claim 81 wherein said game processor stores in said game data memory said number of coins dispensed.

Claim 102

The device of claim 81 wherein said game processor additionally stores in said game data memory bill information relating to the bills accepted by said bill acceptor means.

Claim 103

The device of claim 92 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 104

The device of claim 92 wherein said bill information includes said number of coins dispensed by said hopper means for accepted bills.

Claim 105

The device of claim 81 additionally including means, operatively connected to said game processor, for transmitting bill information relating to the bills accepted by said bill acceptance means to an external data system.

Claim 106

The device of claim 95 wherein said bill information includes the denomination of at least one of the bills accepted.

Claim 107

The device of claim 95 wherein said bill information includes the amount by which said credit count has been incremented.

Claim 108

The device of claim 81 additionally including a display operatively connected to said game processor for displaying both game information and bill acceptance information.

Claim 109

The device of claim 97 wherein said bill acceptance information includes said credit count credited after said count has been incremented.

Claim 110

A gaming device comprising: a housing; game control means secured within said housing including a game processor, a game operating instruction memory and a game data memory operatively connected to said game processor, for controlling the operation of the gaming device; coin input means secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game control means for accepting coins from players; player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for permitting players to operate the gaming device; hopper means, secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game logic means and in communication with said coin input means, for storing coins accepted from players and dispensing coins in response to win signals from said game control means; an inlet slot configured in said housing; bill acceptor means, secured within said housing in communication with said inlet slot and including an acceptor processor, for accepting and validating bills; communication means operatively connected between said game processor and said acceptor processor; a cash box disposed to said housing; transport means, operatively connected to said game processor, for transporting bills from said bill acceptor means to said case box; means responsive to said game control means for causing said hopper means to dispense the number of coins equivalent to the value of a bill that has been accepted by said bill acceptor means upon receipt from said player interface means of a signal indicating that the player desires change for said accepted bill; wherein said game processor in response to a signal received from said acceptor means via said communicating means indicating that a valid bill has been accepted causes the transport means to transport the bill from the bill acceptor means to said cash box.

Claim 111

A gaming device comprising: a housing; game control means secured within said housing including a game processor, a game operating instruction memory and a game data memory operatively connected to said game processor, for controlling the operation of the gaming device; coin input means secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game control means for accepting coins from players; player interface means, operatively connected to said game control means for permitting players to operate the gaming device; hopper means, secured to said housing and operatively connected to said game logic means and in communication with said coin input means, for storing coins accepted from players and dispensing coins in response to win signals from said game control means; an inlet slot configured in said housing; bill acceptor means, secured within said housing in communication with said inlet slot and including an acceptor processor, for accepting and validating bills; communication means operatively connected between said game processor and said acceptor processor; a cash box disposed to said housing; transport means, operatively connected to said game processor, for transporting bills from said bill acceptor means to said case box; means responsive to said game control means for causing said hopper means to dispense the number of coins equivalent to the value of a bill that has been accepted by said bill acceptor means upon receipt from said player interface means of a signal indicating that the player desires change for said accepted bill; wherein said game processor in response to a signal received from said acceptor means via said communicating means indicating that a valid bill has been accepted causes the transport means to transport the bill from the bill acceptor means to said cash box.

Claim 112

The device of claim 100 additionally including: a secure stand secured to the bottom of said housing; and wherein said cash box is contained within said secure stand.

Claim 113

The device of claim 100 wherein said housing includes a front door and wherein said input slot is located in said front door and said bill acceptor means is secured to an inner portion of said front door in communication with said input slot.

Claim 114

The device of claim 100 wherein said input slot is located in the front of said housing; wherein said cash box is located below said housing; wherein said hopper means is located with a lower portion of said housing and wherein said transport means extends above and behind said hopper means.

Claim 115

The device of claim 101 wherein said transport means additionally includes sensor means, operatively connected to said game processor, for generating a signal to said game processor indicating that a bill has entered said cash box.

Claim 116

The device of claim 104 wherein said sensor means includes an optical sensor located at the exit of said transport means.