Patent US5931731A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5931731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Enclosed rotary-optic coin counting system
Assignee: International Game Technology
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Filing: 1997-04-17
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Granted: 1999-08-03
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Expires: 2017-04-17
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an optical coin counting system for use in gaming machines such as video poker machines and slot machines. One disclosed system includes an optical detector including a light source and a light detector, a deflection arm which deflects when a coin passes over it, a shaft attached to the deflection arm such that the shaft rotates when the deflection arm deflects, an optic flag attached to the shaft at a location remote from the deflection arm such that when the coin causes the deflection arm to deflect, the optic flag moves with respect to the light detector to cause a change in light intensity detected by the detector, and an opaque barrier disposed substantially about the optic flag such that substantially all light proximate the deflection arm is blocked from reaching the optical detector. The shaft may pass through the opaque barrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Voytek Chwalisz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:27
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3248; G07D; G07D9/00; G07D9/008; G07D9/04; G07F17/3202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A gaming machine having an optical coin counting system with an optical detection mechanism, the optical detection mechanism being fully enclosed in an opaque enclosure which blocks substantially all light from accessing the optical detection mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A gaming machine having an optical coin counting system with an optical detection mechanism, the optical detection mechanism being fully enclosed in an opaque enclosure which blocks substantially all light from accessing the optical detection mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising: a coin hopper capable of holding coins; and a rotary disk which delivers coins from the coin hopper and triggers said optical coin counting system such that the optical coin counting system registers a coin passing event.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the optical coin counting system is disposed proximate a hopper exit such that each coin passing by the optical coin counting system passes out the hopper exit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optic coin counting system comprising: an optical detector including a light source and a light detector; a deflection arm which deflects when a coin passes over it; a shaft attached to said deflection arm such that said shaft rotates when the deflection arm deflects; an optic flag attached to said shaft at a location remote from said deflection arm such that when the coin causes the deflection arm to deflect, the optic flag moves with respect to said light detector to cause a change in light intensity detected by the detector; and an opaque barrier disposed substantially about said optic flag such that substantially all light proximate said deflection arm is blocked from reaching said optical detector, wherein the shaft passes through the barrier such that the optic flag is provided on one side of the barrier and the deflection arm is provided on the other side of the barrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optic coin counting system comprising: an optical detector including a light source and a light detector; a deflection arm which deflects when a coin passes over it; a shaft attached to said deflection arm such that said shaft rotates when the deflection arm deflects; an optic flag attached to said shaft at a location remote from said deflection arm such that when the coin causes the deflection arm to deflect, the optic flag moves with respect to said light detector to cause a change in light intensity detected by the detector; and an opaque barrier disposed substantially about said optic flag such that substantially all light proximate said deflection arm is blocked from reaching said optical detector, wherein the shaft passes through the barrier such that the optic flag is provided on one side of the barrier and the deflection arm is provided on the other side of the barrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 5, further comprising a coin hopper capable of storing coins; and a rotary disk which delivers coins from the coin hopper over said deflection arm such that each coin passing over the deflection arm deflects the deflection arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 6, wherein the deflection arm is disposed proximate a hopper exit such that each coin passing over the deflection arm and causing it to deflect passes out a coin exit chute.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 5, wherein said shaft passes through the opaque barrier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 5, further comprising a torsion spring mounted about said shaft and allowing the deflection arm to deflect when a coin passes over it and causes the deflection arm to spring back after the coin passes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 5, wherein the opaque barrier forms part of an opaque enclosure which blocks substantially all light from accessing the optical detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 10, wherein the optic flag and the optical detector are enclosed by said opaque enclosure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 5, further comprising at least one stop mechanism which blocks the deflection arm from deflecting more than a predefined distance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optic coin counting system of claim 5, wherein the optic counting system forms part of a gaming machine.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of counting coins with an optical coin counting system including an optical detection mechanism enclosed in an opaque enclosure which blocks substantially all light from accessing the optical detection mechanism, the method comprising: passing a coin by said optical coin counting system such that it causes a change in light intensity detected by the optical detection mechanism which is fully enclosed in the opaque enclosure; and registering a coin passing event for the change in light intensity detected by the optical detection mechanism.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of counting coins with an optical coin counting system including an optical detection mechanism enclosed in an opaque enclosure which blocks substantially all light from accessing the optical detection mechanism, the method comprising: passing a coin by said optical coin counting system such that it causes a change in light intensity detected by the optical detection mechanism which is fully enclosed in the opaque enclosure; and registering a coin passing event for the change in light intensity detected by the optical detection mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering said coin from a coin hopper to trigger said optical coin counting system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering said coin from said optical coin counting system to a coin exit chute.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of counting coins with an optical coin counting system including an optical detection mechanism, the method comprising: delivering a coin from a hopper to said optical coin counting system; passing the coin over a deflection arm of said optical coin counting system and thereby causing the deflection arm to deflect and move an optic flag within said optical detection mechanism to thereby cause a change in light intensity detected by the optical detection mechanism; and blocking extraneous light proximate the hopper from reaching the optical detection mechanism with an opaque barrier fully enclosing said optic flag.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of counting coins with an optical coin counting system including an optical detection mechanism, the method comprising: delivering a coin from a hopper to said optical coin counting system; passing the coin over a deflection arm of said optical coin counting system and thereby causing the deflection arm to deflect and move an optic flag within said optical detection mechanism to thereby cause a change in light intensity detected by the optical detection mechanism; and blocking extraneous light proximate the hopper from reaching the optical detection mechanism with an opaque barrier fully enclosing said optic flag.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 17, wherein delivering the coin from the hopper to the optical coin counting system includes conveying said coin on a rotary disk which engages the coin in said hopper and rotates to deliver the coin to said optical coin counting system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said step of passing the coin over a deflection arm causes a shaft attached to both said deflection arm and said optic flag to rotate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising preventing said deflection arm from deflecting more than a predefined distance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17, wherein delivering the coin from the hopper occurs when a payout event occurs on a gaming machine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising delivering said coin from said optical coin counting system to a coin exit chute.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3279574A
Cited
US3680566A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-02 | 2003-02-01 | 2003-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-02 | 2007-02-01 | 2007-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-02 | 2011-02-01 | 2011-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |