Multicolor top light for gaming machines

• US 20050153780A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GTECH Germany GmbH
• Original Assignee: Atronic International GmbH (Gauselmann AG)
• Inventors: Gauselmann, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/47
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a top light is provided for a slot machine wherein the white light source and colored film is replaced by a red/green/blue light emitting diode (LED) source. The red, green, and blue components of the LED source are selectively controlled to produce any color and any effect (e.g., flashing) so as to generate any color code required in any jurisdiction without changing the top light for each jurisdiction.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a housing;

a top light on a top of the housing for conveying information about the gaming device, the top light comprising at least one segment, each segment comprising a combination of red, green, and blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) whose individual intensities are controllable to create a variety of light colors for conveying information about the gaming device.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a controller for each of the red, green, and blue LEDs for selectively controlling the light output of each of the red, green, and blue LEDs depending upon information to be conveyed by the top light.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one segment is two segments.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one segment is three segments.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the red, green, and blue LEDs comprises a module containing a red LED chip, a green LED chip, and a blue LED chip.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the variety of light colors for conveying information about the gaming device comprises flashing light.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the top light forms a cylindrical structure.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the top light comprises a plurality of segments side-by-side.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display screen in the housing.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising multiple reels in the housing.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory being programmed for generating top light control codes for at least one jurisdiction.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory being programmed for generating top light control codes for multiple jurisdictions.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a top light controller for receiving digital codes and converting the digital codes to signals for controlling brightness levels of the red, green, and blue LEDs.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the red, green, and blue LEDs are controlled to convey a denomination of the gaming device.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the red, green, and blue LEDs are controlled to convey maintenance information to an operator of the gaming device.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the top light further comprises a light diffuser, at least partially surrounding the red, green, and blue LEDs, for mixing the light colors.

17. A method for controlling a top light on a gaming device, the top light comprising at least one segment, each segment comprising a combination of red, green, and blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) whose individual intensities are controllable to create a variety of light colors for conveying information about the gaming device, the method comprising:

applying currents to one or more of the red, green, and blue LEDs to control brightness levels of the red, green, and blue LEDs to convey information about the gaming device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein applying currents to one or more of the red, green, and blue LEDs comprise applying currents to convey a denomination of the gaming device.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein applying currents to one or more of the red, green, and blue LEDs comprise applying currents to convey maintenance information to an operator of the gaming device.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising detecting a change in a denomination being used in the gaming device and applying currents to one or more of the red, green, and blue LEDs to identify the denomination being actively used in the gaming device.