Gaming machine having improved audio control architecture

• US 20040161115A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Loose, Timothy C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

The present invention includes a gaming machine with a first control module that includes a main processor for randomly selecting one of a plurality of outcomes of said gaming machine in response to a wager amount and for sending audio information that controls audio output from the gaming machine. An audio control module is separate and distinct from the first control module, and includes an audio processor that receives the audio information from the main processor. The audio control module is coupled to an audio speaker system for broadcasting the audio output corresponding to the audio information. Also, the first control module may include a memory device that stores operating instructions for the gaming machine, while the audio control module may include an audio memory device for storing audio data sets that the audio processor processes to produce the audio output.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a main control module including a main processor for randomly selecting one of a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager amount and for producing audio information that controls an audio output from said gaming machine;

an audio control module separate and distinct from said main control module, said audio control module including an audio processor that receives and processes said audio information from said main processor to develop output audio signals; and

an audio speaker system for broadcasting said audio output corresponding to said output audio signals received from said audio control module.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said audio control module includes a memory device for storing audio data sets, said audio processor selecting a certain data set in response to receiving said audio information from said main processor.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein said audio information is in a digital format.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said main processor develops said audio information in response to selecting a winning game outcome of said plurality of outcomes.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said audio information is in an analog format and includes analog audio signals that are further processed by said audio control module.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said audio control module further includes an interface for receiving said audio information, a D/A converter for converting processed audio signals from said audio processor, and a power amplifier.

7. The gaming machine of claim 6, wherein said audio processor is a DSP.

8. The gaming machine of claim 6, wherein said audio information is high level instructions that are converted to said output audio signals by said audio control module.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said audio speaker system includes at least one speaker remotely located from said gaming machine.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said audio speaker system includes at least one speaker mounted on said gaming machine.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said main control module includes a memory device for storing audio data, said main control module downloading said audio data to an audio memory device on said audio control module in response to an initialization of said gaming machine.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said main control module includes a first printed circuit board and said audio control module includes a second printed circuit board.

13. A gaming machine, comprising:

a main control module including a main processor and a memory device, said memory device for storing operating instructions for said gaming machine, said main processor for randomly selecting one of a plurality of outcomes of said gaming machine in response to a wager amount and for producing audio information that controls an audio output from said gaming machine;

an audio control module separate and distinct from said main control module, said audio control module including an audio processor that receives said audio information from said main processor and an audio memory device for storing audio data sets, said audio processor processing at least one of said audio data sets, in response to receiving said audio information, to produce output audio signals corresponding to said audio output; and

an audio speaker system for broadcasting said audio output.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said audio information from said main control module is in a digital format.

15. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said audio memory device is a compact flash card.

16. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said audio controller selects said at least one of said audio data sets in response to receiving said audio information.

17. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said audio control module includes an interface for receiving said audio information, a D/A converter for converting processed audio signals from said audio processor, and a power amplifier.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein said audio processor is a DSP.

19. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein said audio memory device includes a compact flash card.

20. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein said audio memory device includes a DRAM array.

21. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said main control module and said audio control module are enclosed.

22. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said audio information corresponds to an audio output that contains a message for a player of said gaming machine.

23. The gaming machine of claim 22, wherein said message relates to an outcome achieved by said gaming machine.

24. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said audio speaker system includes at least one speaker remotely located from said gaming machine.

25. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said audio speaker system includes a plurality of speakers.

26. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein said main control module includes a first printed circuit board and said audio control module includes a second printed circuit board.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said processing includes processing with a DSP and said output audio signals are amplified at said audio control module.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said audio control module includes a memory device for storing said audio data, said processing including accessing said audio data from said memory device.

27. A method of operating a gaming machine that receives wager inputs and randomly selects outcomes after receiving said wager inputs, comprising:

determining, via a main control module for said gaming machine, an audio output to be broadcast from said gaming machine;

sending audio information corresponding to said audio output from said main control module to an audio control module that is distinct from said main control module;

processing audio data at said audio control module so as to produce output audio signals; and

driving at least one speaker with said output audio signals.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said step of determining is in response to a selection of a certain one of said outcomes.

31. A method of operating a gaming machine that receives wager inputs and randomly selects outcomes after receiving said wager inputs, comprising:

accessing a main memory device located on a main control module and containing game operating instructions;

randomly selecting an outcome from said outcomes in accordance with said operating instructions;

accessing an audio memory device containing audio data and located on an audio control module that is distinct from said main control module; and

processing audio data at said audio control module so as to produce output audio signals.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said step of accessing and processing is accomplished by a DSP.

33. The method of claim 31, further including transmitting high level audio instructions from said main control module to said audio control module.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein transmitting occurs in response to said selecting of a certain outcome.

35. A method of retrofitting a gaming machine with an enhanced audio system, said gaming machine including a main control module for randomly selecting outcomes after receiving wager inputs and for controlling audio output from speakers associated with said gaming machine, said main control module including a D/A converter for delivering analog audio signals from a first interface on said main control module to a speaker system for producing said audio output, said method comprising:

disconnecting said first interface;

providing an audio control module including a second interface for receiving input analog audio signals and leading to an A/D converter for converting said input analog audio signals to input digital audio signals, said audio control module including a DSP for processing said input digital audio signals to output digital signals, said audio control module further including a D/A converter for converting said output digital signals to output analog signals;

connecting said second interface on said audio control module to said first interface on said main control module; and

connecting said speaker system to a third interface on said audio control module, said third interface for transmitting said output audio signals to said speaker system.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said first control module includes a first memory device for storing audio data and said audio control module includes a second memory device, and including the step of sending audio data from said first memory device to said second memory device after said connecting steps.