Thermal management in a gaming machine
First Claim
1. A gaming machine having one or more heat-emanating components, the gaming machine comprising:
- a master gaming controller;
one or more baffles;
one or more fans;
a thermal management component for regulating temperatures in the gaming machine;
a temperature measuring device having a temperature-detection span;
a memory storing a thermal specification profile corresponding to the one or more heat-emanating components, wherein the thermal specification profile contains temperature range data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming machine has thermal control components for controlling its internal temperature. Temperatures within the cabinet of the machine may be controlled by either monitoring the temperatures near or of heat-producing components, such as the CPU, video controllers, and the like, or by monitoring ambient temperatures in zones or areas within the machine. These thermal control components include a thermal management sub-system, fans, baffles, digital thermometers, and control signal alarms. Also included is a thermal specification profile or table that includes thermal data for heat-producing components in the machine. Such data may include high temperature thresholds, such as an alert and alarm temperatures, instructions or actions to be taken when those temperatures are met, and which elements within the machine to use, such as baffles, fans, and the like. In this manner, the internal temperatures of a gaming machine may be more finely controlled and elements within the machine for cooling are used only when needed.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A gaming machine having one or more heat-emanating components, the gaming machine comprising:
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a master gaming controller; one or more baffles; one or more fans; a thermal management component for regulating temperatures in the gaming machine; a temperature measuring device having a temperature-detection span; a memory storing a thermal specification profile corresponding to the one or more heat-emanating components, wherein the thermal specification profile contains temperature range data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of regulating temperature in a gaming machine, the method comprising:
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obtaining a temperature reading of a component; comparing the temperature reading with one or more threshold temperatures; determining whether there is an out-of-range temperature condition based on the comparison; if there is an out-of-range condition, determining if the out-of-range condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal; and if the condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal, transmitting the control signal to a fan or a baffle to regulate the temperature. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A gaming machine comprising:
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means for obtaining a temperature reading of a component; comparison means for comparing the temperature reading with one or more threshold temperatures; a temperature condition module for determining whether there is an out-of-range temperature condition based on the comparison; means for determining if the out-of-range condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal; and means for transmitting the control signal to a fan or a baffle to regulate the temperature. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification