Door security system

• US 5,923,249 A
• Filed: 07/11/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Muir, Robert Linley
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/860,892
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545, 340/693, 340/508, 273/138.1, 463/29, 463/47, 463/16
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening

Abstract

An optional security system for monitoring door opening is designed to be plugged into the main board of a slot machine without any change of hardware or addition of extra switches. This security system allows time stamping of any access to the machine interior and will operate while the machine is powered down. Standard and optional security is designed so that when the optional security module is added it can share the same sensors as the standard system. The normal security system does not prevent the security module functioning when the power is off. Ideally, a security module can be plugged into a machine and take over or add the new security features. The isolation between the main board and the security system is achieved by the use of schottky diodes. When operating from battery power, the security subsystem remains in a low power drain "sleep" state for the majority of the time, "waking up" periodically to check the door switches and then going to sleep again.

Claims

1. A security system for monitoring door openings, the system including one or more door open detection devices, and first and second monitoring systems each connected to each of the one or more detection devices the second monitoring system being arranged with battery power supply means and the first monitoring system being arranged to allow the second monitoring system to continue operating when power to the first monitoring system is interrupted.

2. The security system of claim 1 wherein the two monitoring systems each supply power to each of the door open detection devices such that if power to one monitoring system is interrupted, power is still supplied by the other system without being loaded by the unpowered system.

3. The security system of claim 2 wherein power to each of the door open detection devices is supplied from each of the monitoring systems via a pair of sharing diodes.

4. The security system of claim 3, wherein the second monitoring system is arranged to operate intermittently at regular intervals, when operating from batteries, and returns to a low power mode between monitoring operations.

5. The security system of claim 4, wherein the second monitoring system also includes a real time clock which operates continuously whereby door openings are time stamped.

6. The security system of claim 5, wherein communication means are also provided between the second monitoring means and the first monitoring means whereby information of door openings detected while the first monitoring means is unpowered may be communicated to it upon reinstatement of power.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the second monitoring system is arranged to operate intermittently at regular intervals, when operating from batteries, and returns to a low power mode between monitoring operations.

8. The security system of claim 1, wherein the second monitoring system also includes a real time clock which operates continuously whereby door openings are time stamped.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein communication means are also provided between the second monitoring means and the first monitoring means whereby information of door openings detected while the first monitoring means is unpowered may be communicated to it upon reinstatement of power.

10. A slot machine having game playing means, control means and a security system for monitoring door openings, the security system including one or more door open detection devices, and first and second monitoring systems each connected to each of the one or more detection devices, the second monitoring system being arranged with battery power supply means and the first monitoring system being arranged to allow the second monitoring system to continue operating when power to the first monitoring system is interrupted.

11. The slot machine of claim 10 wherein the two monitoring systems each supply power to each of the door open detection devices via a pair of sharing diodes such that if power to one monitoring system is interrupted, power is still supplied by the other system without being loaded by the unpowered system.

12. The security system of claim 11, wherein communication means are also provided between the second monitoring means and the first monitoring means whereby information of door openings detected while the first monitoring means is unpowered may be communicated to it upon reinstatement of power.

13. The slot machine of claim 10, wherein the second monitoring system is arranged to operate intermittently at regular intervals, when operating from batteries, and returns to a low power mode between monitoring operations.

14. The slot machine of claim 10, wherein the second monitoring system also includes a real time clock which operates continuously whereby door openings are time stamped.

15. The security system of claim 10, wherein communication means are also provided between the second monitoring means and the first monitoring means whereby information of door openings detected while the first monitoring means is unpowered may be communicated to it upon reinstatement of power.

16. The slot machine of claim 15 wherein the second monitoring system is arranged to operate intermittently at regular intervals, when operating from batteries, and returns to a low power mode between monitoring operations.

17. The slot machine of claim 16 wherein the second monitoring system also includes a real time clock which operates continuously whereby door openings are time stamped.