Patents by Inventor Bob Mackenzie

Bob Mackenzie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8851373
    Abstract: Tracking information in a note handling facility, such as an amusement gaming facility, involves, in some implementations, communications between components of the system to facilitate tracking the location and movement of note acceptors and cassettes for storing notes. Such components can include host machines, note acceptors, cassettes for storing notes, databases, and/or note counting machines. RF tag chips can be embedded in or mounted to some of the components to facilitate the communications. RF tag readers can be provided at appropriate locations within the facility to facilitate reading information from and writing information to the RF tag chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob MacKenzie, Thomas E. Shuren, Neil M. Young
  • Publication number: 20130134011
    Abstract: An indicator, such as an alarm or warning, is generated to indicate that a document storage cassette attached to a document handling device (e.g., a currency validator) has reached a particular capacity or is approaching its full capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Mackenzie, Stephen Marsh, Mark H. Greenawalt, Bill Nichols, Phil Pascarella, Rick Lopez, Peter Camilleri
  • Patent number: 8186672
    Abstract: An indicator, such as an alarm or warning, is generated to indicate that a document storage cassette attached to a document handling device (e.g., a currency validator) has reached a particular capacity or is approaching its full capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Mackenzie, Stephen Marsh, Mark H. Greenawalt, Bill Nichols, Phil Pascarella, Rick Lopez, Peter Camilleri
  • Patent number: 7946576
    Abstract: Techniques include sensing electric signals from an actuator during a document stacking operation and determining whether an abnormal event has occurred based on the sensed signals. The techniques may find particular applicability, for example, to document acceptors that include piston-type stackers driven by a direct current motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: MEI, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Deaville, Bob Mackenzie, Carl A. Phillips, Kenneth B. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080128241
    Abstract: Techniques include sensing electric signals from an actuator during a document stacking operation and determining whether an abnormal event has occurred based on the sensed signals. The techniques may find particular applicability, for example, to document acceptors that include piston-type stackers driven by a direct current motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Deaville, Bob Mackenzie, Carl A. Phillips, Kenneth B. Wood
  • Publication number: 20080029953
    Abstract: An indicator, such as an alarm or warning, is generated to indicate that a document storage cassette attached to a document handling device (e.g., a currency validator) has reached a particular capacity or is approaching its full capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventors: Bob Mackenzie, Stephen Marsh, Mark Greenawalt, Bill Nichols, Phil Pascarella, Rick Lopez, Peter Camilleri
  • Publication number: 20080011840
    Abstract: Tracking information in a note handling facility, such as an amusement gaming facility, involves, in some implementations, communications between components of the system to facilitate tracking the location and movement of note acceptors and cassettes for storing notes. Such components can include host machines, note acceptors, cassettes for storing notes, databases, and/or note counting machines. RF tag chips can be embedded in or mounted to some of the components to facilitate the communications. RF tag readers can be provided at appropriate locations within the facility to facilitate reading information from and writing information to the RF tag chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: MEI, INC.
    Inventors: Bob MacKenzie, Thomas Shuren, Neil Young
  • Publication number: 20050183926
    Abstract: Techniques include sensing electric signals from an actuator during a document stacking operation and determining whether an abnormal event has occurred based on the sensed signals. The techniques may find particular applicability, for example, to document acceptors that include piston-type stackers driven by a direct current motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: David Deaville, Bob Mackenzie, Carl Phillips, Kenneth Wood
  • Patent number: 6934844
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing communications in a currency-handling machine. The method includes generating an encrypted transaction message based on a bill acceptor transaction event, communicating the encrypted transaction message to a transaction controller, decrypting the encrypted transaction message and enabling the bill acceptor to accept bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Carl Alexander Phillips, Gaston Baudat, Didier Rossel, Bob Mackenzie, Gregory John Billington
  • Publication number: 20020091648
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing communications in a currency-handling machine. The method includes generating an encrypted transaction message based on a bill acceptor transaction event, communicating the encrypted transaction message to a transaction controller, decrypting the encrypted transaction message and enabling the bill acceptor to accept bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Carl Alexander Phillips, Gaston Baudat, Didier Rossel, Bob Mackenzie, Gregory John Billington