Flashing and dimming 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; and
a switch having;
a controlled current path coupled between the first and second power terminals; and
a switch control terminal coupled to the control port to receive the control signal.
3 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.
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Citations
28 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; and a switch having; a controlled current path coupled between the first and second power terminals; and a switch control terminal coupled to the control port to receive the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A controllable starter for a fluorescent lamp circuit that includes a starter socket, the controllable starter comprising:
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a body mountable in the socket; a first contact attached to the body so as to engage a first socket terminal when the body is mounted in the socket; a second contact attached to the body so as to engage a second socket terminal when the body is mounted in the socket; a starter circuit disposed within the body and electrically coupled to the first and second contacts to provide a controlled current path between the first and second contacts; and a control port electrically coupled to the starter circuit to receive an external control signal for controlling the current path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for modifying an existing fluorescent lamp circuit including a starter socket, the method comprising:
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mounting a controllable starter having a body and a control lead in the starter socket; and coupling the control lead to a controller located outside of the body. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. 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; lamp control means coupled to the lamp circuit to control the operation of the lamp responsive to a control signal, wherein the lamp control means is enclosed in a body; and a controller that generates the control signal, wherein the controller is located outside the body and coupled to the lamp control means through a lead. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification