Abstract: A reel mounting assembly for a slot machine is disclosed. The reel mounting assembly includes a frame for supporting a reel. An actuator is provided to adjust the position of the reel when the reel is inserted into the slot machine. The reel mounting assembly includes a base plate having two rows of slots for engagement with at least one finger on the frame. Furthermore, a control means is provided to control the rotation of said reel. Means connecting the control means to said reel mounting assembly provide additional means to secure the reel mounting assembly to the frame.

Abstract: A high capacity coin hopper is disclosed comprising a cylinder mounted for rotation above a coin dispensing disc assembly. The central axis of the cylinder is offset above the central axis of the coin dispensing disc, creating a wall in the cylinder. Coins pile up against the wall, alleviating pressure and jamming in the region of the disc. Coins spill over the wall where they are picked up by the disc. In addition, lift fingers inside the cylinder pick up coins from the base of the wall and lift them above the wall so they can fall into the region of the disc.

Abstract: The data transfer system operates by collecting data from game machines and transferring said data to a smart card type data transfer unit containing memory, addressing, control, and protection circuitry. Depending on the level of capability desired, the card may or may not have microprocessor and encryption circuitry. Various embodiments include systems that store data regarding cash flow, security violations, machine malfunctions, and volume of play attributable to an individual player, and transfer that data to a smart card for use in monitoring machine performance and determining the eligibility of a particular player to receive premiums as a play incentive. Additionally, either in concert with one or more of the above features or not the system can allow a player card to be used in lieu of cash to play game machines. In this instance, the player card can either be used as a pre-paid debit card, or as a credit card in which case money is collected from the player after he has played.

Abstract: A gaming machine having a dynamic pay schedule is provided. The machine selects a pay schedule from a set of pay schedules as a function of the number of coins inserted and the current state of the machine. The state of the machine is represented by an event counter which is incremented upon the happening of certain events. The current value of the counter is displayed. The predetermined pay schedules are ranked according to value of maximum payout. As the machine advances from one state to the next, pay schedules of successively higher rank are selected so that player's potential payout increases. At least one schedule has a progressive payout, which is periodically incremented upon the occurrence of predetermined events.

Abstract: A bill validation and change system for a slot machine. The system accepts bills of a plurality of denominations and pays out change for the bills in coins of the denomation which may be accepted by the slot machine to play a game. Coins input to the slot machine are stored in a coin hopper which is controlled to payout coins to game winners and to make change for bills. The system includes a master processor which determines winning game plays and whether change for a bill should be made. The master processor further controls the coin hopper to payout coins to winners and to make change for a bill. The master processor is coupled to a slave processor which in conjunction with a bill input device determines the validity and denomination of a received bill. The slave processor controls the bill input device to accept valid bills for which the master processor determines that change should be made and to reject other bills.

Abstract: A reel mounting assembly for a slot machine is disclosed. The reel mounting assembly includes a frame for supporting a reel. An actuator is provided to adjust the position of the reel when the reel is inserted into the slot machine. The reel mounting assembly includes a base plate having two rows of slots for engagement with at least one finger on the frame. Furthermore, a stepper motor, a computer, and a reel controller board are provided to control the rotation of said reel. The stepper motor and reel controller board are secured to the frame.

Abstract: By combining a number of different types of coin sensors including a reflective sensor, a capacitive sensor and inductive sensors together with a logic circuit it is possible to provide for highly accurate and flexible discrimination between authorized and unauthorized coins or tokens. Fexibility is further enhanced by a self teaching feature where a microprocessor is used to iteratively adjust upper and lower value limits in the sensor circuits in response to the insertion of a limited number of sample coins.

Abstract: In an exercise machine where an electric motor is used to simulate a weight stack a more realistic feel plus stability of operation is achieved by compensating the torque output of the motor for the mechanical characteristics of the machine including inertia, friction and gravitational effects on the user interface. Also by controlling the motor so as to increase its output torque as a function of the displacement of the user interface, it is possible to produce a measure of the user's strength. A heavy negative feature which may be selected by the user is provided as well. The exercise machine additionally includes a computer control which allows a pyramid type exercise program to be implemented.

Abstract: Convenience and speed of play in a gaming machine are enhanced by providing a payout schedule that includes one very large payout along with a number of other large payout values that are plateaued just below an administrative value.

Abstract: A general purpose controller suitable for use with an electronic amusement game having a raster scan display receives game data from the game during vertical blank periods, the game data specifying object images and their screen positions desired for the next display in the sequence of raster scan displays. The controller then reads color/intensity information for each display pixel out of permanent memory at the time the pixel is displayed on the raster scan display surface. An embodiment is described capable of controlling up to 32 object images in the play of a game.

Abstract: An apparatus for making photographs from a video image including a video system for creating the video image and for displaying the video image to the subject, a photographic system for producing a photograph from the video image, and a computer for transferring the video image from the video system to the photographic system. The computer system digitizes the video image signal from the video system, stores it in a digitized format and converts it to an analog signal for display by the video system and for producing photographs by the photographic system. And a method of producing photographs from a video image using the above apparatus.

Abstract: In order to provide a reel type gaming apparatus with the capability to pay out winnings having a higher value than an apparatus where the reels have an equal probability of stopping at each reel stop, a table is created in memory having pairs of lower and upper numerical limits which define groups of subintervals that in turn correspond to reel stops. A random number is generated and the subinterval which includes the number is identified and the reel is stopped at the corresponding reel stop. The interval between the upper and lower limits for each subinterval defines the relative stopping probability for the corresponding reel stop. In another approach probability factors are assigned to each reel stop and a microprocessor subtracts the value of each probability factor from a randomly generated probability value and increments a reel stop index until the probability value is less than the probability factor for the current stop index.

Abstract: A foot pedal assembly for an exercise machine. The foot pedal assembly includes a foot pedal or base having a longitudinally extending upper surface on which the user's foot rests and a strap the ends of which are coupled to opposite sides of the foot pedal so that the strap extends horizontally across the pedal in a position to maintain the user's foot in place. One end of the strap is coupled to a rotatable, square shaft which extends longitudinally, adjacent to a portion of one side of the foot pedal. The square shaft extends through an aperture in a knob with a one-way clutch being disposed between the shaft and the knob. The one-way clutch engages when the knob is rotated in a first direction to transmit rotation to the shaft to wind the strap thereabout tightening it about the user's foot. A release lever is hinged at one end to the foot pedal and extends horizontally underneath the foot pedal and square shaft.

Abstract: A diagnostic testing system for an exercise machine having a computer control. The computer control of the machine is responsive to the actuation of a test button to enter a diagnostic test mode in which various components of the machine may be checked for maintenance. Tests are provided to check the machine's display, keypad, sound generation system, opposition force providing system and speed sensing system. Another test is used to display accounting data which reflects the usage of the machine. The accounting data may be monitored by the computer control to automatically provide an indication to an operator when the data indicates that the machine should have a service check performed.

Abstract: A control system for a health club which stores user records including user activity data in order to monitor and control use of the club's facilities. A central controller includes a memory for storing the user records including attendance data and accounting data, and a main control which is responsive to the user record data for determining whether a user is authorized to use the club's facilities. The central controller is coupled to various club facilities and equipment such as a computerized scale to prevent use thereof if a user is not authorized. The central controller also stores user history data such as user weight data for the computerized scale to alleviate data storage problems.

Abstract: To increase casino floor space utilization, an enclosure containing a number of video gaming machines is constructed such that it can readily be converted to a casino table game. This is accomplished by configuring the top of the enclosure to receive a standard table game board. The enclosure also includes a game display module that can easily be replaced by a dealer chip tray when the enclosure is converted to a table game.

Abstract: There is provided a video game system utilizing a video disk as a read only memory to store digital video image data for use in generating the video game images. The video data is stored by compressing digitized video data using color cell compression and then further compressing the data to multi-level data encoded with partial response coding. The data is retrieved from the video disk ROM by using an inverse of this compression process.

Abstract: A power failure scheme for a gaming device in which, upon the detection of a failure of the line power, particular processing operations are completed before power is completely lost. A regulated D.C. power supply coupled to the line power generates an interrupt having the highest priority upon detecting a failure of the line power. The main processor of the gaming device is responsive to a power fail interrupt to complete any access to a safe memory which may have been on-going at the time the interrupt was generated or to complete any state transition which was on-going at the time the interrupt was generated.