Universal switch assembly for locking and unlocking an access door of a gaming machine cabinet

An electronic gaming machine comprising:

• a cabinet;
• an access door;
• a hook fixedly coupled to one of i) the cabinet and ii) the access door;
• an electromechanical latch fixedly coupled to one of the other of i) the cabinet and ii) the access door, wherein the electromechanical latch is configured to mechanically engage the hook to lock the access door in a closed position, or mechanically disengage the hook to unlock the access door so that the access door is moveable to an open position;
• and
• a switch assembly operable to control the electromechanical latch, the switch assembly comprising:
• a lock comprising one of a plurality of industry-standard locks, the lock coupled to the cabinet and partially extending into the cabinet;
• a cam coupled to a rotatable portion of the lock located within the cabinet, the cam configured to be coupled to any of the plurality of industry-standard locks;
• and
• a switching element mounted within the cabinet proximate the cam, wherein:
• the switching element is configured to be mechanically engaged and actuated by the cam when the cam is rotated on the rotatable portion of the lock into mechanical contact with the switching element, and
• the switching element is electrically connected to the electromechanical latch and is further configured to generate a first electrical signal to electronically control the electromechanical latch in response to mechanical actuation by the cam,
• wherein the electromechanical latch is configured to:
• receive the first electrical signal from the switching element;
• receive a second electrical signal from a processor of the electronic gaming machine;
• and
• engage or disengage the hook based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal.

A system for controlling access to an electronic gaming machine cabinet, the system comprising:

• an electromechanical latch configured to mechanically couple an access door to the electronic gaming machine cabinet;
• and
• a universal switch assembly operable to generate an electronic signal to electronically control the electromechanical latch, the universal switch assembly comprising:
• a lock comprising one of a plurality of industry-standard mechanical locks, the lock configured to be mechanically coupled to the cabinet;
• a cam coupled to a rotatable portion of the lock, the cam configured to be coupled to any of the plurality of industry-standard mechanical locks to permit interoperation between any of the plurality of industry-standard mechanical locks and the electromechanical latch;
• and
• a switching element configured to be mounted within the cabinet proximate the cam, wherein:
• the switching element is further configured to be mechanically engaged and actuated by the earn when the cam is rotated on the rotatable portion of the lock into mechanical contact with the switching element, and
• the switching element further is configured to generate a first electronic control signal to electronically control the electromechanical latch in response to mechanical actuation by the cam,
• wherein the electromechanical latch is configured to:
• receive the first electronic control signal from the switching element;
• receive a second electronic control signal from an electronic gaming machine associated with the electronic gaming machine cabinet;
• and
• lock or unlock the access door based on the first electronic control signal and the second electronic control signal.