GB2116346A - Poker machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrically actuated poker machine has a cabinet (3) fitted with a switch (11), operated by the cabinet door (1). Each closure of the cabinet door initiates a sequence of operations wherein the poker machine control unit tests the symbols showing on the display (5, 6, 7) and, if a winning combination is present, initiates a game cycle. The control unit retests the symbol display at the end of the game cycle, and if another winning combination is present it will again initiate a game cycle without payout. This test and operate sequence will continue until a non-winning combination is detected at which time the control unit will allow normal operation of the poker machine by a player. Fraudulent interference with the display reels is thereby rendered useless. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A poker machine The present invention relates to a poker machine.

Until recently all poker machines (also known as fruit machines or slot machines) manufactured and marketed around the world were of what is called "the mechanical type." This means that the internal mechanism of such machines was actuated by mechanical means and performed its various functions by a series of mechanical devices. Nearly all such machines were operated by the insertion of a coin which then permitted the player to pull a handle, usually situated on the right hand side of the machine's cabinet.

Of recent years electronics have been introduced in varying degrees to assist or in many cases replace the mechanical arrangements of the past. In most cases an electric motor is used to drive the mechanism through its complete game cycle. This has meant that the action of pulling the handle to activate the mechanism is no longer essential as it is now only necessary to operate an electric switch. This switch activates various electronic circuits which in turn activate the electric motor drive system.

Prior art poker machines, both the mechanical type, and those having electrically driven mechanisms, have been susceptible to being fraudulently operated by persons having access to the mechanism of the machine. Fraudulent operation usually consists in opening the machine, manipulating the mechanism to produce a winning combination, closing the machine, and then claiming payment for the combination as though it had been obtained by valid operation of the machine. In poker machines featuring the present invention, circuits are arranged to automatically operate the mechanism of the poker machine, without debiting the player, immediately after the poker-machine door has been closed. If the mechanism comes to rest with a winning combination showing, the machine does not pay, the mechanism is automatically re-operated and the controller again searches for a winning combination.This operate and search sequence is repeated until a non-winning combination is displayed. When a non-winning combination is achieyed the controller then permits the player to piay the machine.

The invention may be applied to any poker machine in which the game cycle is initiated electrically in response to the actuation of a button operated or handle operated switch. In such machines the game cycle may also be initiated in response to other conditions existing in the machine, in which case the particular conditions are detected by a control circuit which then controls the generation of the necessary signals to initiate the game sequence. Such a machine would also require a door operated switch or other means to detect door closure, an electrical circuit to memorize door opening and a means of detecting winning combinations at the end of a game cycle.

Many poker machines of contemporary design have all the hardware required to provide the features of the present invention and only require the control circuit to be adapted to perform the required sequence of operations In particular, those poker machines which are controlled by microprocessors require only a change to the control programme contained in read-onlymemory (ROM).

The present invention consists in an electrically operated poker machine comprising a housing fitted with a door and door operated switch game, display means, and control means, said control means having at least two control modes, and a game cycle of said poker machine being initiated by the control means and providing a result which is displayed by the display means, said result being randomly selected from a plurality of possible results which are divided into winning results and losing results, and wherein the control means, in response to a signal initiated by the door operated switch means, enters a control mode in which said control means initates a game cycle, a winning result of the game cycle causing the control means to initiate additional game cycles until a losing result is achieved, and a losing result of the game cycle causing the control means to enter a control mode which allows a player to operate the poker machine, the signal from the door operated switch means being initiated upon closure of the door.

By way of example an embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a typical poker machine with its door closed and locked.

Fig. 2 illustrates the poker machine of Figure 1 with its door open, exposing the mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 3 illustrates a typical method of detecting the position of reels in the mechanism of a poker machine.

The poker machine of Figures 1 and 2 has a door 1 fitted to a housing 3 and provided with a lock 2, which locks the door when in the closed position. When the door is opened as in Figure 2, the mechanism 4 of the poker machine is revealed. Three reels 5, 6 and 7 which are mounted coaxially and rotatably in the mechanism are provided with a reel spinning means (not shown) and three stopper arms (not shown), one for each reel.

A means for detecting the positions of the reels is depicted in Figure 3a and b. Figure 3a shows a simplified representation of the detection system in which a light source 20 is positioned on one side of a reel and directed toward a light detector 21 positioned on the other side of the reel. An axially directed hole 22 passing through the reel is radially positioned to pass between the light source 20 and the light detector 21 when the reel rotates, such that when the hole is positioned between the source and detector light passes through the hole to reach the detector and when the hole is not so positioned, light does not reach the detector.

By using a number of detectors of the type shown in Figure 3a it is possible to determine in which one of a number of available positions a reel currently rests. Figure 3b depicts such an arrangement of sensors, wherein a lamp bracket 23 holds five light sources 20 -- typically infrared Light emitting Diodes - and a sensor bracket 24 holds five corresponding light detectors 21 typically Phototransistors of Photodiodes. The reel .5 positioned between the lamp bracket and the sensor bracket has a plurality of holes 22 arranged such that the detectors 21 produce a unique binary code for each rest position of the reel. The positioning of the holes 22 may best be seen on reel 7 which is depicted without the lamp and sensor brackets for clarity.

Returning to Figure 2 the poker machine is fitted with a control circuit 10 the heart of which is a microprocessor and ROM. Contained in the ROM is a control programme which sequences the operations of the microprocessor, and hence the control circuit, in order that it might in turn control the functions of the poker machine.

The poker machine is fitted with a door operated switch 11 and a game initiating switch 8 operated by a handle 9. Both of these switches are connected to the control circuit 10 and provide inputs to the microprocessor control programme as dc the signals from the reel position detectors.

Signals generated by the control circuit, as a result of outputs from the microprocessor control programme, are used to control the release of reel stopper arms, and a mechanism motor which in turn controls the re-engagement of the stopper arms.

Each reel in the mechanism has a sprocket wheel co-axially mounted to it and a stopper arm which engages with the sprocket wheel. This stopper arm acts like a pawl in a ratchet, such that when the stopper arm is pulled tangentially away from the sprocket wheel it causes the wheel and the reel to which it is attached to spin. This pulling action is provided by a solenoid energised by the control circuit. To stop the reel the stopper arm is pushed back into engagement with the sprocket wheel by a cam, driven by the mechanism motor.

The stopper arm rides over the sprockets of the spinning wheel, slowing it in the process, until the wheel finally comes to rest with the stopper arm positioned in the gap between two adjacent sprockets. Each sprocket gap on the sprocket wheel corresponds to a symbol position on the reel to which the wheel is attached. The mechanism motor drives a cam shaft which has a cam for each stopper arm and a home cam which operates a switch to stop the mechanism motor.

The present invention is incorporated into a poker machine as herein described by adding a new procedure to the function of the control circuit. This procedure is added by changing the microprocessor control programme contained in ROM. This procedure is initiated when the microprocessor detects the operation of the door operated switch upon closure of the door of the poker machine, and the sequence of operations which form the procedure are as follows:- a) Door operated switch operates on closure of the door; b) Microprocessor based controller energises the stopper arm solenoids causing the stopper arms to pull the sprocket wheel before disengaging from the sprocket wheel.

c) The reels spin freely with the stopper arms held clear.

d) A random variable delay is generated by the microprocessor and no further actions occur until the delay period has elapsed.

e) Upon elapsing of the delay period, the controller starts the mechanism motor.

f) The cams driven by the mechanism motor cause the stopper arms to stop the reels one at a time.

g) When all reels have stopped and the game cycle is ended, a home cam stops the mechanism motor.

h) The microprocessor tests signals from the reel position detectors to determine whether a winning combination occurs.

i) If a winning combination occurs, the microprocessor programme returns to step b.

j) If no winning combination occurs microprocessor reverts to its normal operating procedure.

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as hereinbefore described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described.

Claims (2)

1. An electrically operated poker machine comprising a housing fitted with a door and door operated switch means, display means, and control means, said control means having at least two control modes, and a game cycle of said poker machine being initiated by the control means and providing a result which is displayed by the display means, said result being randomly selected from a plurality of possible results which are divided into winning results and losing results, and wherein the control means, in response to a signal initiated by the door operated switch means, enters a control mode in which said control means initiates a game cycle, a winning result of the game cycle causing the control means to initiate additional game cycles until a losing result is achieved, and a losing result of the game cycle causing the control means to enter a control mode which allows a player to operate the poker machine, the signal from the door operated switch means being initiated upon closure of the door.

2. An electrically operated poker machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.