Patent US3171932A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5836818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Coin acceptor including multi-state visual indicator apparatus and method
Assignee: International Game Technology
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Filing: 1995-03-20
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Granted: 1998-11-17
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Expires: 2015-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A coin acceptor for use in accepting coins, paper currency, tokens, or magnetic cards includes a multi-state visual display for indicating the condition of the coin acceptor or an attached device. The coin acceptor finds application in connection with gambling devices including video poker games and slot machines, as well as with vending machines, arcade games, automated teller machines, and other similarly actuated devices and machines. In a preferred embodiment, the coin acceptor finds application in connection with a progressive jackpot component for a live casino table game and includes a visual display having three different states. In a first state, corresponding to jackpot wager attract or invitation, a plurality of LEDs surrounding a token slot flash sequentially to form a traveling pattern around the slot. In a second state, corresponding to jackpot wager placement, the LEDs flash simultaneously. In a third state, corresponding to jackpot wager acceptance, the LEDs remain continuously illuminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel A. Jones
- 👤 Terry Adams
- 👤 Mark W. Duron
- 👤 Yosef Har-Nov
- 👤 John Stitt
- 👤 James P. Suttle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:42
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00157; G07F17/3286; G07F17/3293; A63F2003/00167; A63F2003/0017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A coin acceptor including a multi-state visual display, comprising: an acceptor for receiving a coin; a first sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing placement of a coin into said acceptor; a second sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing acceptance of a coin; a microprocessor operably connected to said first and second sensors; and a visual display operatively connected to said first and second sensors and said microprocessor and operative, pursuant to control instructions from said microprocessor, to display a first visual state corresponding to absence of a coin from said acceptor, a second visual state corresponding to placement of a coin into said acceptor, and a third visual state corresponding to acceptance of a coin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A coin acceptor including a multi-state visual display, comprising: an acceptor for receiving a coin; a first sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing placement of a coin into said acceptor; a second sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing acceptance of a coin; a microprocessor operably connected to said first and second sensors; and a visual display operatively connected to said first and second sensors and said microprocessor and operative, pursuant to control instructions from said microprocessor, to display a first visual state corresponding to absence of a coin from said acceptor, a second visual state corresponding to placement of a coin into said acceptor, and a third visual state corresponding to acceptance of a coin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein said visual display comprises a plurality of light sources disposed in a predetermined pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coin acceptor of claim 2, wherein at least one of said visual states corresponds to simultaneous flashing of said light sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coin acceptor of claim 2, wherein at least one of said visual states corresponds to sequential flashing of said light sources.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein said coin acceptor is associated with a gambling device for detecting wagers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein said acceptor includes a slot dimensioned for insertion of a coin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The coin acceptor of claim 1, wherein said acceptor includes a location dimensioned for placement of a coin and said first sensor detects a coin placed in said location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
A gambling device including a coin acceptor having a multi-state visual display, comprising: an acceptor for receiving a coin; a first sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing placement of a wager into said acceptor; a second sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing acceptance of a wager; a microprocessor operably connected to said first and second sensors; and a visual display operatively connected to said first and second sensors and said microprocessor and operative, pursuant to control instructions from said microprocessor, to display a first visual state corresponding to absence of a wager from said acceptor, a second visual state corresponding to placement of a wager into said acceptor, and a third visual state corresponding to acceptance of a wager.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A gambling device including a coin acceptor having a multi-state visual display, comprising: an acceptor for receiving a coin; a first sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing placement of a wager into said acceptor; a second sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing acceptance of a wager; a microprocessor operably connected to said first and second sensors; and a visual display operatively connected to said first and second sensors and said microprocessor and operative, pursuant to control instructions from said microprocessor, to display a first visual state corresponding to absence of a wager from said acceptor, a second visual state corresponding to placement of a wager into said acceptor, and a third visual state corresponding to acceptance of a wager.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The gambling device of claim 8 further comprising one of said coin acceptors disposed at each player location of a live casino card gaming table and operatively connected to a jackpot component to allow optional player participation in said jackpot component by placement of a wager in the associated coin acceptor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gambling device of claim 8, wherein said visual display comprises a plurality of light sources disposed in a predetermined pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gambling device of claim 10, wherein at least one of said visual states corresponds to simultaneous flashing of said light sources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gambling device of claim 10, wherein at least one of said visual states corresponds to sequential flashing of said light sources.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of indicating the condition of a coin acceptor, comprising the steps of: providing an acceptor dimensioned to receive a coin; providing a first sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing placement of a coin into said acceptor; providing a second sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing acceptance of a coin; providing a microprocessor operably connected to said first and second sensors; providing a visual display operatively connected to said first and second sensors and said microprocessor; and displaying on said visual display pursuant to control instructions from said microprocessor a first visual state corresponding to absence of a coin from said acceptor, a second visual state corresponding to placement of a coin into said acceptor, and a third visual state corresponding to acceptance of a coin.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of indicating the condition of a coin acceptor, comprising the steps of: providing an acceptor dimensioned to receive a coin; providing a first sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing placement of a coin into said acceptor; providing a second sensor operably connected with said acceptor for sensing acceptance of a coin; providing a microprocessor operably connected to said first and second sensors; providing a visual display operatively connected to said first and second sensors and said microprocessor; and displaying on said visual display pursuant to control instructions from said microprocessor a first visual state corresponding to absence of a coin from said acceptor, a second visual state corresponding to placement of a coin into said acceptor, and a third visual state corresponding to acceptance of a coin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said step of providing a visual display includes the step of providing a plurality of light sources.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said step of displaying at least three different visual states includes the step of simultaneously flashing said light sources.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said step of displaying at least three different visual states includes the step of sequentially flashing said light sources.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-16 | 2002-05-18 | 2002-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-16 | 2006-05-18 | 2006-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-16 | 2010-05-18 | 2010-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |