# US 10,946,110 B1 · Systems and methods for providing ultraviolet sterilization, disinfection and decontamination of gaming equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,946,110 B1 - Document ID: US10946110B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/866,517 - Filed: 2020-05-04 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-20 - Applicants: Gaming Arts, LLC - Inventors: David Colvin; Eric D. Colvin; Keith Matthew Kruczynski; Sassoun Sarhadian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946110B1 ## CPC - A63F 1/12: Card shufflers - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - F24F 8/22: using UV light - G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen} - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - G07F 17/3206: {Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics} - G07F 17/3216: {Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects} - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract Systems and methods for providing ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, disinfection and decontamination of electronic gaming machines (EGMs), gaming chips, dice, playing cards, currency, TITO tickets, etc. The ultraviolet sterilization, disinfection and decontamination may include a plurality of UV LEDs or RGB-UV LEDs of such wavelengths to be effective in reducing or eliminating viruses or the like. Pass through or planar arrays of UV or RGB-UV LEDs are mounted to or installed within a variety of gaming devices or equipment such as EGMs, chip trays, dice holders, automatic card shufflers, bill validators, magnetic card readers, currency counting or currency dispensing devices, printers, etc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic gaming machine comprising: at least one game display; a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance; enable the player to initiate a cash out operation; and a processor programmed to: deduct the selected wager from the credit balance; and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; and ultraviolet lighting mounted to or within an electronic gaming machine cabinet, deck or component to at least partially sterilize, disinfect and/or decontaminate at least a portion of the electronic gaming machine button deck and/or touch-screen display; and wherein the effectiveness of the sterilization, disinfection and/or decontamination increases over time of use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet lighting is produced by a plurality of UV LEDs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the ultraviolet lighting is produced by a plurality of RGB-UV LEDs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic gaming machine of claim 3 wherein the wavelengths of ultraviolet light produced by the plurality of RGB-UV LEDs is in the about 207 nm to about 222 nm range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the wavelengths of ultraviolet light produced by the plurality of UV LEDs is in the about 207 nm to about 222 nm range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the ultraviolet lighting is mounted adjacent to decorative LED lighting strips on the electronic gaming machine cabinet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 wherein a state of the ultraviolet lighting is controlled by the processor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 wherein a state of the ultraviolet lighting is controlled by a controller separate from the processor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the ultraviolet lighting is mounted in, on or proximate to the at least one game display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the ultraviolet lighting includes reflectors and/or directors to focus ultraviolet light on a specific area of the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The electronic gaming machine of claim 2 further comprising one or more reflectors, deflectors and/or directors to focus or direct ultraviolet light to the specific desired point of contact with the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 12 An electronic gaming machine comprising: a monetary input device configured to determine a monetary value associated with a physical item; a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance; enable the player to initiate a cash out operation; and a processor programmed to: add the monetary value to a credit balance for the player; deduct the selected wager from the credit balance; and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; and a source of ultraviolet light positioned in, on or proximate to an electronic gaming machine cabinet, deck or gaming machine component, the source of ultraviolet light configured to transmit ultraviolet light on an electronic gaming machine button deck and/or touch-screen display to at least partially sterilize, disinfect and/or decontaminate at least a portion of the electronic gaming machine button deck and/or touch-screen display; and wherein the source of ultraviolet light is a plurality of UV LEDs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the source of ultraviolet light is part of decorative LED lighting mounted to the electronic gaming machine cabinet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic gaming machine of claim 13 wherein the decorative LED lighting mounted to the electronic gaming machine cabinet includes an arrangement of: (i) both RGB and UV LEDs; (ii) alternating RGB and UV LEDs; or (iii) combination RGB-UV LEDs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electronic gaming machine of claim 13 wherein the LED lighting mounted to the electronic gaming machine cabinet produces ultraviolet radiation in a range of about 207 nm to about 222 nm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The electronic gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the ultraviolet lighting is mounted in, on or proximate to at least one game display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The electronic gaming machine of claim 12 further comprising one or more reflectors, deflectors and/or directors to focus or direct ultraviolet light to the specific desired point of contact with the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 18 An electronic gaming machine comprising: a monetary input device configured to determine a monetary value associated with a physical item; a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance; enable the player to initiate a cash out operation; and a processor programmed to: add the monetary value to a credit balance for the player; deduct the selected wager from the credit balance; and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; a source of ultraviolet light mounted to or within an electronic gaming machine cabinet, deck or component; and wherein a controller controls the state of the source of ultraviolet light based on the state of the electronic gaming machine; and wherein the effectiveness of the sterilization, disinfection and/or decontamination increases over time of use. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the controller is a separate component from the processor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the controller is programmed to place the source of ultraviolet light in an on state when the electronic gaming machine is not being played. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the controller is programmed to place the source of ultraviolet light in an off state when the electronic gaming machine is being played. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the source of ultraviolet light is a plurality of UV LEDs. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the source of ultraviolet is a plurality of RGB-UV LEDs. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the wavelengths of ultraviolet light produced by the source of ultraviolet light is in the about 207 nm to about 222 nm range. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the controller is programmed to intermittingly cycle the source of ultraviolet light between an on state and an off state independent of the state of the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The electronic gaming machine of claim 18 further comprising one or more reflectors, deflectors and/or directors to focus or direct ultraviolet light to the specific desired point of contact with the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 27 A method of retrofitting an electronic gaming machine, the electronic gaming machine including at least a processor running executable game instructions, memory, display, monetary input device and one or more user interfaces comprising: mounting ultraviolet lighting on, to or proximate to an electronic gaming machine cabinet, deck or component to sterilize, disinfect and/or decontaminate at least a portion of the one or more user interfaces; and providing power to the ultraviolet lighting; and wherein the effectiveness of the sterilization, disinfection and/or decontamination increases over time of use. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the ultraviolet lighting comprises one or more of a plurality of UV LEDs, RBG-UV LEDs and/or a plurality of UV LEDs and RBG-UV LEDs. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein the plurality of UV LEDs and RBG-UV LEDs are arranged individually in an alternating fashion on a LED strip. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein the plurality of UV LEDs and RBG-UV LEDs are arranged on separate LED strips. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 further comprising a translucent cover integral with the ultraviolet lighting. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein a state of the ultraviolet lighting is controlled by the processor. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 further comprising utilizing a controller separate from the processor, the controller for controlling the state of the ultraviolet strip lighting. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein the one or more user interfaces are selected from the group consisting of a button deck, touch-screen display, bill validator and/or card reader. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 further comprising utilizing one or more reflectors, deflectors and/or directors to focus or direct ultraviolet light to the specific desired point of contact with the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 further comprising utilizing one or more pieces of intermediary hardware to mount the ultraviolet lighting to or within an electronic gaming machine cabinet.