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 computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module operable to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a thermal management module operable to monitor the temperature of one or more integrated circuits comprising a part of the wagering game machine. In one embodiment, the thermal management module monitors one or more temperature indicator signals provided by the integrated circuit, and the wagering game system is operable to change function in response to the temperature signals.

Abstract: Methods for powering devices in wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the method can include receiving, over an Ethernet connection, communications and power in a PoE device, where the PoE device disposed inside a wagering game machine. The method can also include using the power and communications to perform wagering game machine operations.

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: A method and apparatus for gaming machine peripherals are described herein. In one embodiment, the method is performed by a smart component of a multipart gaming machine peripheral. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing communication with a gaming machine master processing unit. The method also includes determining that a dumb component of the multipart gaming machine peripheral is connected and operating properly, wherein the dumb component does not include a processor. The method also includes controlling the dumb component of the multipart gaming machine peripheral, wherein the controlling is performed by a peripheral processor included in the smart component. The method also includes determining that the dumb component is not connected or not operating properly, and upon determining that the dumb component is not connected or not operating properly, maintaining the communication with the gaming machine master processing unit.

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 gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a controller for conducting the wagering game, and a video projector coupled to the controller. The display region includes a plurality of projection surfaces secured to floating screen assemblies. The video projector simulates mechanical reels of a slot machine in the display region. The video projector displays images of a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game. The images are projected onto the projection surfaces within the display region.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for docking and powering Universal Serial Bus hubs in a wagering game machine are described herein. In one embodiment, a docking Universal Serial Bus (USB) power unit includes a USB socket to receive USB data and a power socket to receive power of a first type. The USB power unit can also include a switching power unit to convert the power of the first type into power of a second type. The power unit can also include a docking connector to join the docking USB power unit to a USB hub, where the USB hub is to dock with the docking USB power unit, and where the docking connector to conduct the USB data and some of the power of the second type to the USB hub.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing and storing information on a wager gaming voucher are described herein. In one embodiment, a wager gaming voucher includes a single machine-readable indicium. The single machine-readable indicium includes a remote database index associated with a set of one or more fields in a remote database and a portable voucher database to store information.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a housing that surrounds a light source. The light source emits at least one color of visible light and may include a microdisplay. In one aspect, the light emitters are coupled to optical fibers that guide visible light from the light source to one or more light emitters (such as a tower light, a lighted button, a marquee, or transparent signage). In another, a microdisplay displays an image that is magnified through one or more lenses and projected onto a transparent substrate. The light source may include an LCD display, a CRT display, an incandescent source, or the like. The microdisplay may include a DLP display, a LCoS display, a plasma display, an OLED display, or the like.

Abstract: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a multi-core processor having multiple processor cores, the multiple processor cores each operable to execute any thread executing in the multi-core processor. In further embodiments, the multiple processor cores and an operating system facilitate symmetric multiprocessing, parallel processing, or hyperthreading.

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 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 computerized wagering game further includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, and a USB audio module coupled to the gaming module via the USB port that is operable to receive streaming audio from the gaming module and to play the streaming audio through at least one audio channel that is coupled to a speaker operable to play sound.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system, method and kit for detecting tampering within a self-service machine having a housing. An emitter and a sensor are mounted to the housing and to an object positioned in relationship to the housing such that radiation generated by the emitter falls on the sensor when the object is in a particular position with respect to the housing and to a lesser extent otherwise. A signal is generated and the emitter is driven with the signal. The signal is modified and the sensor is monitored for the modified version of the signal. An alarm is generated if the modified version of the signal is not detected.

Abstract: A gaming control board having low-power circuitry and high-power circuitry for controlling the operation of a gaming machine. The low-power circuitry includes logic components including a CPU that executes instructions for randomly selecting a plurality of game outcomes in response to wagers inputted by a player. The high-power circuitry includes high-power components such as lamp drivers for interfacing high-power signals between the gaming control board and a game interface board. Two connectors are provided on the gaming control board, one to interface low-power signals and another to interface high-power signals. The high-power circuitry is located near the connector interfacing the high-power signals for optimal EMI suppression.