Flashing and diming fluorescent lamps for a gaming device
First Claim
1. A controllable starter circuit for a fluorescent lamp comprising:
- a first power terminal for coupling the starter circuit to a fluorescent lamp circuit;
a second power terminal for coupling the starter circuit to a fluorescent lamp circuit;
a control port for receiving an external control signal;
a switch having;
a controlled current path coupled between the first and second power terminals;
a switch control terminal coupled to the control port to receive the control signal;
a rectifier bridge having a first input terminal coupled to the first power terminal, a second input terminal coupled to the second power terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal; and
a transistor having a controlled current path coupled between the first and second output terminals of the rectifier bridge;
a voltage suppressor coupled in parallel with the switch; and
a resistor coupled between the switch control terminal and the first output terminal of the rectifier bridge so as to hold the switch in a conductive state in the absence of a control signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for signaling promotional operation of a gaming device using existing fluorescent illumination lamps. An illumination lamp on a gaming device is operated continuously during normal operation, then flashed to signal promotional operation. Alternatively, an illumination lamp can be dimmed during normal operation, then operated at full brightness during promotional operation. To achieve flashing and dimming operation, a conventional starter is removed from a socket in a fluorescent lamp fixture and replaced with a controllable starter that fits into the same socket. The starter has a pair of wire leads for receiving a control signal for flashing or dimming the lamp. The controllable starter includes a starter circuit having a switch connected between two power terminals of the starter. When the switch closes responsive to the control signal, it shorts circuits the lamp, thereby extinguishing the arc and allowing preheat current to flow in the heating filaments of the lamp. When the switch opens responsive to the control signal, an arc is struck. By repetitively opening and closing the starter switch, the lamp is made to flash. The lamp is dimmed by flashing the lamp a high enough frequency that the lamp appears to operate continuously. The brightness of the dimmed lamp is controlled by adjusting the duty cycle of the switch. Flashing and dimming operation is combined with multiple colored fluorescent lamps to signal promotional operation.
165 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A controllable starter circuit for a fluorescent lamp comprising:
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a first power terminal for coupling the starter circuit to a fluorescent lamp circuit; a second power terminal for coupling the starter circuit to a fluorescent lamp circuit; a control port for receiving an external control signal; a switch having; a controlled current path coupled between the first and second power terminals; a switch control terminal coupled to the control port to receive the control signal; a rectifier bridge having a first input terminal coupled to the first power terminal, a second input terminal coupled to the second power terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal; and a transistor having a controlled current path coupled between the first and second output terminals of the rectifier bridge; a voltage suppressor coupled in parallel with the switch; and a resistor coupled between the switch control terminal and the first output terminal of the rectifier bridge so as to hold the switch in a conductive state in the absence of a control signal.
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2. A controllable starter circuit for a fluorescent lamp comprising:
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a first power terminal for coupling the starter circuit to a fluorescent lamp circuit; a second power terminal for coupling the starter circuit to a fluorescent lamp circuit; a control port for receiving an external control signal; and a switch having; a controlled current path coupled between the first and second power terminals; a switch control terminal coupled to the control port to receive the control signal; a rectifier bridge having a first input terminal coupled to the first power terminal, a second input terminal coupled to the second power terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal; a transistor having a drain coupled to the first output terminal of the rectifier bridge, a source coupled to the second output terminal of the rectifier bridge, and a gate; a voltage suppressor coupled between the first and second output terminals of the rectifier bridge; and a resistor coupled between the drain and gate of the transistor. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A method for starting a fluorescent lamp having a starter switch coupled in parallel with the lamp, the method comprising:
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closing the starter switch during a preheat period, thereby preheating a filament in the lamp; repetitively opening and closing the starter switch during a striking period, thereby striking an arc; and opening the switch after the end of the striking period, thereby maintaining the arc. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for flashing a fluorescent lamp having a starter switch coupled in parallel with the lamp, the method comprising:
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opening the starter switch during an on period, thereby striking an arc; and closing the starter switch during an off period, thereby extinguishing the arc and heating a filament in the lamp. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for dimming a fluorescent lamp having a starter switch coupled in parallel with the lamp, the method comprising:
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opening the starter switch during an on period, thereby striking an arc; closing the starter switch during an off period, thereby extinguishing the arc and heating a filament in the lamp; and rapidly repeating opening and closing the starter switch at a high enough frequency that the arc appears to be operating continuously. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for generating variable colored light with two or more fluorescent lamps, each lamp emitting a different colored light, the method comprising:
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repetitively opening and closing a first starter switch coupled in parallel with a first fluorescent lamp, thereby generating a first colored light; controlling the duty cycle of the first switch, thereby controlling the light output of the first lamp; repetitively opening and closing a second starter switch coupled in parallel with a second fluorescent lamp, thereby generating a second colored light; controlling the duty cycle of the second switch, thereby controlling the light output of the second lamp; and mixing the light generated by the first and second lamps. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for generating variable colored light comprising:
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a first fluorescent lamp assembly that generates a first colored light including; a first fluorescent lamp; and a first controllable starter switch coupled in parallel with the first lamp and having a control port for receiving a first control signal; a second fluorescent lamp assembly that generates a second colored light including; a second fluorescent lamp; and a second controllable starter switch coupled in parallel with the second lamp and having a control port for receiving a second control signal; a controller coupled to the first and second control ports, the controller generating the first control signal for controlling the first starter switch and the second control signal for controlling the second starter switch. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for signaling promotional operation of a gaming device having a fluorescent illumination lamp, the method comprising:
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operating the lamp in a first mode during normal operation; and operating the lamp in a second mode during promotional operation. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for signaling promotional operation of a gaming device having a first fluorescent illumination lamp that emits light of a first color and a second fluorescent illumination lamp that emits light of a second color, the method comprising:
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operating the first lamp at a first illumination level and the second lamp at a second illumination level during normal operation; operating the first lamp at a third illumination level and the second lamp at a fourth illumination level during promotional operation; and mixing the light from the first and second lamps. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A gaming device comprising:
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a fluorescent illumination lamp; a fluorescent lamp circuit coupled to the lamp to provide power to the lamp, the lamp circuit including a magnetic ballast coupled to the lamp; lamp control means coupled to the lamp circuit to control the operation of the lamp responsive to a control signal, the lamp control means including a controllable starter coupled to the lamp and the lamp circuit to control the lamp responsive to the control signal; and a controller that generates the control signal; a second fluorescent illumination lamp; a second fluorescent lamp circuit coupled to the second lamp to provide power to the second lamp; and second lamp control means coupled to the second lamp circuit to control the operation of the second lamp responsive to a second control signal from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification