Gaming machine

• US 8,597,105 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Shigehiko, Kishi, Hideaki, Tanimura, Tatsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US12/124,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/24, 463/43, 307/80, 307/66, 711/170, 711/165
• US Class Current: 463/24
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof

Abstract

A gaming machine is provided, which includes an interface portion, a controller, a memory, a first power supply, and a second power supply. The interface portion is connected with at least one unit used for executing a game. The controller controls the unit connected to the interface portion and detects an occurrence of abnormal operation at the unit. The memory stores identification information for identifying the unit, and further stores historical information that includes information related to the occurrence of abnormal operation detected by the controller in connection with the identification information. The first power supply supplies a voltage required for operation of the controller. The second power supply supplies the voltage required for operation of the controller if a voltage supplied for the controller by the first power supply is less than the voltage required for operation of the controller.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

an interface portion to which at least one unit used for executing a game is connected;

a controller that controls the unit connected to the interface portion and detects an occurrence of abnormal operation at the unit; and

a main power supply for supplying power to the controller, wherein

the interface portion includes a motherboard on which the controller is formed and a gaming board,

the motherboard includes a first memory that stores identification information for identifying the unit, the first memory further storing historical information that includes information related to the occurrence of abnormal operation detected by the controller in connection with the identification information, and a first CPU to control the first memory,

the gaming board includes a second memory for storing the identification information and the historical information stored in the first memory and a second CPU to control the second memory, and

the gaming machine includes a backup power supply and a gaming board backup power supply that provide different functions and are separated from each other, wherein when a voltage supplied for the controller by the main power supply is less than the voltage required for the operation of the controller, the backup power supply supplies the controller with the voltage required for operation of the controller and the gaming board backup power supply supplies the gaming board with a voltage required for operation of the gaming board, the gaming board being connected to the motherboard and the controller via at least one bus.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a removal memory that is attachably and detachably connected with the interface portion and that stores the historical information.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, further comprising a time counter, wherein the removal memory further stores information related to a time counted by the time counter, the time being correlated with the historical information.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the historical information stored in the removal memory is encrypted.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a time counter, wherein the first memory further stores information related to a time counted by the time counter, the time being correlated with the historical information.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the backup power supply includes a first secondary power supply and a second secondary power supply,

wherein the first secondary power supply of the backup power supply is charged by the main power supply, and if a voltage supplied for the controller by the main power supply is less than the voltage required for operation of the controller, the first secondary power supply of the backup power supply supplies the controller with a voltage required for the controller, and

wherein the second secondary power supply of the backup power supply is charged by the main power supply, and if both voltages supplied for the controller by the main power supply and the first secondary power supply of the backup power supply are less than the voltage required for operation of the controller, the second secondary power supply of the backup power supply supplies the controller with a voltage required for the controller.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the historical information stored in the memory is encrypted.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming board backup power supply includes a first secondary power supply and a second secondary power supply,

wherein the first secondary power supply of the gaming board backup power supply is charged by the main power supply, and if a voltage supplied for the controller by the main power supply is less than the voltage required for the operation of the controller, the first secondary power supply of the gaming board backup power supply supplies the gaming board with a voltage required for the gaming board, and

wherein the second secondary power supply of the gaming board backup power supply is charged by the main power supply, and if the voltage supplied for the controller by the main power supply is less than the voltage required for operation of the controller and the voltage supplied for the gaming board by the first secondary power supply of the gaming board backup power supply is less than the voltage required for the operation of the gaming board, the second secondary power supply of the gaming board backup power supply supplies the gaming board with a voltage required for the gaming board.

9. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the interface portion further includes a signal line whose output voltage switches according to installation and removal of the unit, and

the controller detects the occurrence of abnormal operation at the unit based on the output voltage of the signal line.