USB light controller for controlling a display on a light device in a gaming unit

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
• a value input device;
• a light device, said light device having at least one independently operable light;
• a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor,
• said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,
• said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,
• said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,
• said video image comprising an image of a pachinko board and a pachinko ball if said game comprises video pachinko,
• said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,
• said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,
• said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo,
• said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game;
• and
• a light device controller, said light device controller operatively coupled to said gaming unit controller via a universal serial bus peripheral connection, said light device controller comprising a light device input/output circuit operatively coupling said light device to said light device controller, a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor,
• said gaming unit controller being programmed to transmit illumination data stored in said first memory to said light device controller via said universal serial bus peripheral connection, said illumination data comprising data for illuminating said at least one independently operable light,
• said light device controller being programmed to receive said illumination light from said gaming unit controller,
• said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data, and
• said light device controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data via said light device input/output device to cause the illumination of said at least one independently operable light in accordance with said illumination data.

A slot machine, comprising:

• a plurality of gaming reels;
• a value input device;
• a light device having at least one independently operable light;
• a slot machine controller operatively coupled to said gaming reels and said value input device, said slot machine controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor,
• said slot machine controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said slot machine controller being programmed to cause said gaming reels to rotate and stop, representing a game,
• said slot machine controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game,
• said slot machine controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device;
• and
• a light device controller, said light device controller operatively coupled to said slot machine controller via a universal serial bus peripheral connection, said light device controller comprising a light device input/output circuit operatively coupling said light device to said light device controller, a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor,
• said slot machine controller being programmed to transmit illumination data stored in said first memory to said light device controller via said universal serial bus peripheral connection, said illumination data comprising data for illuminating said at least one independently operable light,
• said light device controller being programmed to receive said illumination light from said gaming unit controller,
• said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data, and
• said light device controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data via said light device input/output device to cause the illumination of said at least one independently operable light in accordance with said illumination data.

A pachinko machine, comprising:

• a pachinko board element;
• a pachinko ball element;
• a value input device;
• a light device having at least one independently operable light;
• a pachinko gaming controller operatively coupled to said pachinko board element and said value input device, said pachinko machine controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor,
• said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to allow a person to initiate a pachinko game by causing said pachinko ball element to contact said pachinko board element,
• said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said pachinko game,
• said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device;
• and
• a light device controller, said light device controller operatively coupled to said pachinko gaming controller via a universal serial bus peripheral connection, said light device controller comprising a light device input/output circuit operatively coupling said light device to said light device controller, a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor,
• said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to transmit illumination data stored in said first memory to said light device controller via said universal serial bus peripheral connection, said illumination data comprising data for illuminating said at least one independently operable light,
• said light device controller being programmed to receive said illumination light from said pachinko gaming controller,
• said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data, and
• said light device controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data via said light device input/output device to cause the illumination of said at least one independently operable light in accordance with said illumination data.