Programmable computer controlled external visual indicator for gaming machine

• US 7,390,257 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Craig A., Crozier, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US10/008,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,392 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/31, 463/32, 463/33, 463/34, 463/36, 463/37, 463/47, 463 16- 22, 40452-453, 362/800, 345/39, 345/82, 345/84, 345/183
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects

Abstract

An improved external visual indicator such as a candle is provided for a gaming machine having lights such as LEDs which are programmable via a processor of the gaming machine. The reprogrammability of the illumination sequence and colors of the candle may provide for the promotion of bonusing and to aid in the servicing of gaming machines. Any assortment of colors of LEDs and combinations thereof may be provided and programmed via the processor of the gaming machine.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:

displaying a selection menu on a display at a remote network, the selection menu having a list of illumination instructions and a list of triggering events;

receiving an input signal by the remote network to associate one of the illumination instructions with at least one of the triggering events;

transmitting the input signal from the remote network to a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of gaming machines having a processor therein to control a plurality of gaming machine functions;

receiving the input signal by the processor, the input signal having the illumination instruction associated with at least one of the triggering events;

storing the input signal input in the processor;

detecting a triggering event by the processor based upon one of the plurality of gaming machine functions;

transmitting an illumination instruction signal associated with the detected triggering event from the processor to a candle mounted on the gaming machine, the candle having a plurality of colored LEDs; and

illuminating the plurality of colored LEDs provide a selected color illumination pattern based upon the transmitted illumination instruction signal;

whereby triggering one or more of the colored LEDs provides color change of the candle, without requiring the use or removal or insertion of a colored plastic insert within the candle for changing the color that is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the illumination pattern is multi-colored.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the multi-colored illumination pattern is produced by a single LED.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising a second triggering event and a second illumination pattern and upon occunence of the second triggering event, triggering the LEDs to provide the second illumination pattern.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

triggering the LEDs of a first stage upon occurrence of the first triggering event and triggering the LEDs of a second stage upon occunence of the second triggering event.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

programming an operation sequence including the first and second triggering events; and

triggering the operation sequence to display the first illumination pattern upon occunence of the first triggering event and the second illumination pattern upon occunence of the second triggering event.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

programming the processor to trigger a color illumination upon the occunence of a second triggering event; and

triggering the LEDs of at least one stage to provide the color illumination.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting an illumination instruction signal occurs automatically upon occunence of the first triggering event.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the LEDs include at least one of a red, yellow or green colored LED.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling the processor via a network or computer system that is coupled to the plurality of gaming machines.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first event includes one of a jackpot, bonus round, currency needed or special player present situation.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

coordinating the processor with the gaming machine functions in order to sense the first triggering event;

signaling an I/O interface;

signaling a coding buffer system;

signaling a pulse width modulator; and

controlling a current driver in order to control the LEDs according to the multi- colored illumination pattern.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a user input panel is provided by the gaming machine and the method further comprising:

selecting the illumination pattern via the user input panel; and

selecting the first triggering event to trigger the illumination pattern, via the user input panel.

14. A method of operating a gaming machine, which comprises:

associating at least one illumination instruction with at least one triggering event;

transmitting an association signal associating at least one illumination instruction with at least one triggering event to a plurality of gaming machines;

receiving the association signal at a processor in each of the plurality of gaming machines, said processor configured to control selected gaming machine operations, said at least one triggering event corresponding to one of the selected gaming machine operations;

storing the association signal in the processor;

providing a candle mounted on the gaming machine and having at least a first stage and a second stage, said candle in communication with the processor and having a plurality of first colored LEDs within said first stage and a plurality of second colored LEDs within said second stage;

detecting a triggering event by the processor based upon one of the gaming machine operations;

illuminating the plurality of LEDs by the processor to provide a selected color illumination pattern based upon the associated illumination instruction,

whereby triggering one or more of the colored LEDs within said at least one stage provides color change of the candle stage, without requiring the use or removal or insertion of a colored plastic insert within the candle stage for changing the color that is displayed.

15. A gaming machine which comprises:

a processor for controlling selected machine operations, said processor in communication with a remote server to receive and store an association signal, said association signal associating an illumination instruction with a triggering event;

a candle mounted on said gaming machine, said candle in communication with the processor and having at least a first stage;

said candle having a plurality of LEDS within said at least first stage, said candle configured to display various colors; and

said processor configured to detect a triggering event and trigger one or more of the colored LEDs in accordance with the illumination instruction to provide a selected color illumination pattern in response to the triggering event;

whereby triggering one or more of the colored LEDs provides a color change of the candle, without requiring the use or removal or insertion of a colored plastic insert within the candle for changing the color that is displayed.

16. A gaming machine as defined in claim 15, in which said candle includes a second stage, a plurality of second colored LEDs within said second stage, with the processor being operable to trigger one or more of the colored LEDs within at least said first or second stage to provide a selected color illumination pattern upon occurrence of a triggering event.

17. A gaming machine system, comprising:

a remote network having a display to display a menu having a plurality of illumination instructions and a plurality of triggering events;

the remote network configured to;

receive an input to associate one of the plurality of illumination selections with at least one of the plurality of triggering events; and

transmit the input signal to a plurality of gaming machines;

a processor within each of the plurality of gaming machines to control a plurality of gaming machine functions, the processor configured to;

receive and store the input signal, the input signal having one of the plurality of illumination instructions associated with at least one of the plurality of triggering events;

detect a triggering event; and

transmit an illumination instruction signal associated with the detected triggering event to an external visual indicator;

the external visual indicator mounted on each of the plurality of gaming machines and in communication with the processor, the external visual indicator having a plurality of LEDs operated by the processor,

wherein the external visual indicator is configured to receive the illumination selection signal to illuminate the plurality of LEDs according to the illumination selection signal without requiring the use or removal or insertion of a colored plastic insert for changing the color that is displayed.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to replace an existing illumination selection of the external visual indicator with the received illumination selection signal.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs illuminate a plurality of colors.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the external visual indicator further comprises:

an input/output interface in communication with the processor;

a coding buffer system coupled to the input/output interface;

a pulse width modulator coupled to the coding buffer system and

a current driver coupled to the pulse width modulator.