Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for communicating control signals in a gas grill are disclosed herein. An example user-interface assembly for use in a grill includes control knob, knob sensor to detect a user interaction with the control knob, lighting circuitry including a plurality of light emitting diodes, and user-interface controller circuitry to identify an addressing block connected via an input wiring harness, the knob controller to select an address to be used to communicate with a central controller of the gas grill.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to indicate presence of a flame are disclosed. An example gas grill includes a burner tube having apertures to emit a fuel for combustion, an ignition element to cause ignition of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, a flame sensor to detect the presence of a flame associated with the combustion of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, and flame sense circuitry including a flame signal accessor to access a flame sense signal from the flame sensor, and a terminal to output an indication of the presence of the flame, the indication of the presence of the flame output without respect to an open or closed state of a lid of the grill.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for supplying configuration data to controllers of grills are disclosed. An example grill includes a controller and a dongle. The dongle is connectable to the controller. The dongle includes memory storing configuration data associated with the grill. The controller is to read the configuration data from the memory in response to the dongle being connected to the controller.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to indicate presence of a flame are disclosed. An example gas grill includes a burner tube having apertures to emit a fuel for combustion, an ignition element to cause ignition of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, a flame sensor to detect the presence of a flame associated with the combustion of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, and flame sense circuitry including a flame signal accessor to access a flame sense signal from the flame sensor, and a terminal to output an indication of the presence of the flame, the indication of the presence of the flame output without respect to an open or closed state of a lid of the grill.

Abstract: A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region. A first image display device for simulating mechanical reels of a slot machine in the display region includes a curved surface that approximates the radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The curved surface displays first video images that include a plurality of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. A second image display device displays second video images spatially separated from and overlaying the first video images within the display region. The second video images include indicia related to the wagering game.

Abstract: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered. The system also comprises an interface to receive a nonvolatile storage device, which is operable to mount and unmount one or more hot pluggable mass storage devices. In a further embodiment, the interface is operable to prohibit write caching data to be written to the nonvolatile storage device, and to restrict mounting nonvolatile storage devices to authorized users.

Abstract: A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region. A first image display device for simulating mechanical reels of a slot machine in the display region includes a curved surface that approximates the radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The curved surface displays first video images that include a plurality of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. A second image display device displays second video images spatially separated from and overlaying the first video images within the display region. The second video images include indicia related to the wagering game.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and system of powering gaming machine devices over an Ethernet connection. A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) connection point communicates with and powers a PoE device performing operations for a wagering game presented on the gaming machine. The PoE connection point and PoE device are powered by a different power source than the gaming machine and continue operating and communicating after the gaming machine power source fails.

Abstract: A gaming terminal includes a housing defining an exterior of the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal includes one or more displays disposed along the housing. The one or more displays are adapted to display, in response to a wager, a wagering game. The gaming terminal also includes a substantially closed interior enclosure disposed within the housing. The interior enclosure includes walls formed from electrically conductive material. The interior enclosure can be substantially closed. The gaming terminal further includes one or more signal-emitting components disposed within the interior enclosure and emitting a level of electromagnetic signals. A transmission of electromagnetic signals from the substantially closed interior enclosure is less than the level of electromagnetic signals emitted from the one or more signal-emitting components.

Abstract: A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region. A first image display device for simulating mechanical reels of a slot machine in the display region includes a curved surface that approximates the radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The curved surface displays first video images that include a plurality of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. A second image display device displays second video images spatially separated from and overlaying the first video images within the display region. The second video images include indicia related to the wagering game.

Abstract: Systems described herein include wagering game machines having a cabinet memory mounted or affixed to a cabinet or cabinet component. The cabinet memory provides configuration data and manufacturing data for the cabinet and cabinet components. The configuration data may be used during operation of the wagering game machine to properly configure the components and operation of the wagering game machine.

Abstract: A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game includes a gaming cabinet, a first surface, a video display assembly, and a first blower. The gaming cabinet includes an intake port and an exhaust port. The first surface is within the cabinet and divides the cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The video display assembly includes a video display having a display area and a display housing. The video display assembly is positioned adjacent to the upper chamber of the game cabinet at an angle between about 0 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to horizontal. The display housing forms a longitudinal channel along a substantial portion of a back side opposite the display area. The first blower is disposed in the upper chamber. The longitudinal channel is at least partially sealed such that the first blower creates a negative pressure within the longitudinal channel.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can determine different objects and/or portions within a wagering game video image and split the wagering game video image into multiple video streams containing different parts of the wagering game video image. The operations can then present the multiple video streams on multiple displays. The multiple displays can show the different parts of the wagering game video image appearing as separate and distinct video images. In some embodiments, some of the multiple displays can be placed in front of other displays. The operations can generate transparent masks that allow images to be seen through a display.

Abstract: A method and system of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels includes receiving a wager to play the wagering game. A first set of video images are displayed on a curved surface approximately a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The first set of video images simulates movement of a first set of reel symbols. In response to a triggering event, a second set of video images are displayed on the curved surface. The second set of video images simulate a transitioning from the first set of reel symbols to a second set of reel symbols.

Abstract: A gaming terminal includes a housing defining an exterior of the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal includes one or more displays disposed along the housing. The one or more displays are adapted to display, in response to a wager, a wagering game. The gaming terminal also includes a substantially closed interior enclosure disposed within the housing. The interior enclosure includes walls formed from electrically conductive material. The interior enclosure can be substantially closed. The gaming terminal further includes one or more signal-emitting components disposed within the interior enclosure and emitting a level of electromagnetic signals. A transmission of electromagnetic signals from the substantially closed interior enclosure is less than the level of electromagnetic signals emitted from the one or more signal-emitting components.

Abstract: A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game includes a gaming cabinet, a first surface, a video display assembly, and a first blower. The gaming cabinet includes an intake port and an exhaust port. The first surface is within the cabinet and divides the cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The video display assembly includes a video display having a display area and a display housing. The video display assembly is positioned adjacent to the upper chamber of the game cabinet at an angle between about 0 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to horizontal. The display housing forms a longitudinal channel along a substantial portion of a back side opposite the display area. The first blower is disposed in the upper chamber. The longitudinal channel is at least partially sealed such that the first blower creates a negative pressure within the longitudinal channel.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a printed circuit board that is part of a wagering game machine. The printed circuit board includes a processor operable to execute instructions associated with a wagering game. The printed circuit board also includes a hard drive mount that includes an alignment guide and a blind mate connector for electrically coupling a hard drive to a surface mount connection on the printed circuit board. The hard drive is to store wagering game data for the wagering game.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a processor for executing gameplay on the gaming machine. The processor has a plurality of power consumption levels. A power regulator is operative to alter the power consumption level of the processor amongst the plurality of power consumption levels. In an embodiment, the power regulator comprises application software stored on a memory device in communication with the processor.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive an indication that a wagering game machine is to enter into a service power mode while the game machine is fully operational, and then to enter into the service power mode to disable game play while providing substantially uninterrupted power to a subset of game machine components. These powered components include one or more processors and memory. The service power mode may operate to leave the remainder of the game machine components unpowered, so that later transitioning from the service power mode to full operation does not result in resetting the processors. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.