CREDIT STORAGE MEMORY DEVICE FOR JUKEBOXES, GAMING DEVICES AND THE LIKE

• US 3,807,541 A
• Filed: 03/28/1973
• Issued: 04/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dieter Kortenhaus
• Original Assignee: Dieter Kortenhaus
• Inventors: Kortenhaus, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/345,779
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 194/1N,9,10,12,15
• US Class Current: 194/217
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/22 electrically actuated

Abstract

A credit storage memory device includes encoding means for producing a coin value signal corresponding to the value of coins inserted in a coin operated apparatus. The coin value signals are stored in an intermediate storage device, and then are added to a coin value storage register. The outputs of the coin value storage register are decoded, and interrogated as to their highest value, for application to a conversion device for converting the coin values to predetermined play unit values. The play unit values from the conversion device are applied to a play shift register by way of an intermediate play shift register, with the outputs of the play shift register being decoded for indication of the availability of credit in the device for given operations. Values from the coin value storage are subtracted in response either to insertion of coins or operation of the apparatus in a given fashion, and subtraction of units from the play shift register are accomplished in response to operation of the apparatus. The circuits for transferring the contents of the intermediate registers to the storage registers are full adders, the necessary subtraction being effected by subtraction inputs to the full adders.

Claims

1. A credit storage device for coin operated apparatus, comprising a coin input device, means responsive to insertion of coins in said input device for producing an encoded signal corresponding to the vaLue of coins inserted therein, a coin value storage means for storing said encoded signal, means for adding said encoded coin value signals to the contents of said coin value storage means, conversion means for converting encoded signals corresponding to coin values to encoded signals corresponding to credit units, sensing means connected to apply encoded signals stored in said coin value storage means to said conversion means, credit unit storage means for storing encoded credit unit signals, means for adding the encoded credit unit signals from said conversion means to said credit unit storage means, and sensing means connected to said credit unit storage means for producing a control signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said conversion means is a diode matrix.

3. A credit storage device for coin operated apparatus comprising a coin input device for separately receiving coins of different value, encoding means responsive to the insertion of coins in said input device for producing a first encoded signal corresponding to the value of coins inserted therein, a first shift register, means adding the contents of said encoding means to said first shift register, means connected to said first shift register for producing a second encoded signal, conversion means for converting signals corresponding to coin values to signals corresponding to credit units, first sensing means connected to apply signals corresponding to signals stored in said first shift register to said conversion means, a second shift register, means for adding signals corresponding to credit units from said conversion means to said second shift register, and sensing means connected to said second shift register for producing an output signal.

4. The device of claim 3, comprising means for subtracting data from said first register to permit transfer of data to said second shift register by way of said conversion device, and means for subtracting data from said second shift register in response to operation of said apparatus.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said means adding the contents of said encoding means to said first shift register comprises a third shift register connected to receive the output of said encoding means in parallel, first full adder means connected to receive data from said third shift register as one input, means applying the sum output of said first full adder means to said first shift register, and means connecting the output of said first shift register to a second input of said first full adder.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising means responsive to insertion of coins in said input device for actuating a coin strobe, and means responsive to said coin strobe for subtracting data from said first shift register.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first sensing means comprises sequencing switch means for detecting the highest value signal corresponding to data stored in said first shift register, and wherein said means for subtracting data comprises means responsive to said highest value signal and said coin strobe for applying subtraction pulses to said full adder means, whereby highest value signals are sequentially applied from said first sensing means to said conversion means. 9

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first sensing means further comprises decoding means connected to apply the data of said first shift register to said sequencing switch means, said decoding means converting the code of said first shift register to a code corresponding to the monetary system of coins to be inserted in said coin input device.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein said means for adding signals corresponding to credit units from said conversion means comprises a fourth shift register connected to receive signals from said conversion means, and a full adder having a first input connected to receive data from said fourth shift register, a sum output connected to apply signals to said second shift register, and means applying the output of said second shIft register to said full adder as a second input thereof.

10. The device of claim 9, comprising means responsive to operation of said apparatus for applying pulses to said full adder as subtraction pulses.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said means adding the contents of said encoding means to said first shift register comprises a third shift register connected to receive data from said encoding means, a full adder having a first input connected to receive data from said third shift register, a second input connected to receive data from said first shift register, an output connected to apply data to said first shift register, and a subtraction input, and further comprising means selectively responsive to insertion of a coin in said coin input device and operation of said apparatus for applying subtraction pulses to said subtraction input of said full adder.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for applying subtraction pulses to said subtraction inputs further comprises means for limiting the application of subtraction input in response to data applied from said sensing means to said conversion means, whereby said first shift register is read out as signals are stored in said second shift register.

13. The device of claim 3, wherein said first sensing means comprises means for selecting highest value signals of said second encoded signal, and further comprising means responsive to the selection of a highest value signal for subtracting corresponding data from said first shift register, whereby second encoder signals corresponding to the highest value remain in storage in said first shift register are sequentially applied to said conversion means.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said first sensing means comprises electronic switching means.

15. The device of claim 13, comprising means connected to said coin input device to produce a pulse upon the insertion of a coin in said storage device, and switch means for selectively enabling said pulse to affect said subtraction in said first shift register.

16. The credit storage device of claim 13, comprising manually operable switch means for enabling said subtraction in said first shift register.

17. The credit storage device of claim 16, further comprising means responsive to operation of said external switch means for subtracting data from said second shift register.

18. The credit storage device of claim 17, comprising external condition responsive means for controlling the value of data subtracted in said second shift register.