Sensing of coin output from a gaming device to reduce incorrect number of coins output

A coin payout system for a gaming terminal comprising:

• an output hopper for controllably outputting a series of coins;
• a first radiation source and first radiation detector positioned such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a radiation beam detectable by said radiation detector;
• at least a second detector radiation detector positioned to avoid detecting radiation from said first radiation source;
• and
• means for outputting an error signal when said second detector detects radiation during a time when said first radiation source is emitting radiation.

A coin payout system for a gaming terminal comprising:

• an output hopper for controllably outputting a series of coins;
• a first radiation source and first radiation detector positioned such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a radiation beam detectable by said radiation detector;
• means for outputting an error signal when said first detector detects that radiation from said first source to said first detector is blocked during a period of time which exceeds a duration threshold;
• means for adjusting the value of said duration threshold;
• and
• wherein said means for adjusting adjusts said duration threshold on the basis of a measurement of the period of time required for a particular diameter coin to pass over the detector under normal circumstances.

A coin payout system for a gaming terminal comprising:

• an output hopper for controllably outputting a series of coins;
• a first radiation source and first radiation detector positioned such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a radiation beam detectable by said radiation detector;
• a second radiation source and a second radiation detector positioned so that a coin, output by said coin hopper, will travel past said second detector, blocking radiation to said detector after said coin has passed over said first detector;
• means for alternately pulsing said first radiation source and said second radiation source substantially out of phase with respect to one another.

A coin payout system for a gaming terminal comprising:

• an output hopper for controllably outputting a series of coins;
• a first radiation source and first radiation detector positioned such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a radiation beam detectable by said radiation detector;
• a second radiation source and a second radiation detector positioned so that a coin, output by said coin hopper, will travel past said second detector, blocking radiation to said detector after said coin has passed over said first detector;
• means for pulsing at least one of said first radiation source and said second radiation source such that said first radiation source is off during at least some of a period when said second radiation source is on.

A coin payout system for a gaming terminal comprising:

• an output hopper for controllably outputting a series of coins;
• a first radiation source and first radiation detector positioned such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a radiation beam detectable by said radiation detector;
• means for predicting output of a coin from said hopper;
• and
• means for outputting an error message when said first detector has not detected blockage within a first maximum delay threshold following a coin output prediction by said means for predicting.

Coin payout apparatus for a gaming terminal comprising:

• an output hopper for controllably outputting a series of coins;
• a first light source and first light detector, said first light detector configured to output a first output signal indicative of whether light is detected by said first light detector, said first light source and first light detector positioned such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a light beam emitted by said first light source, causing a pulse to be output by said first light detector;
• a second light source and second light detector, said second light detector configured to output a second output signal indicative of whether light is detected by said second light detector, said second light source and second light detector positioned such that a coin, after moving past said first light detector, will pass through a light beam emitted by said second light source, causing a pulse to be output by said second light detector;
• a processor configured to receive said first and second output signal and to generate an error signal when a sequence of blockage at said first and second detectors is other than blockage at said first detector followed by blockage at said second detector within a predetermined period of time.

A coin payout system for a gaming terminal comprising:

• an output hopper for controllably outputting a series of coins;
• a first light source and first light detector, said first light detector configured to output a first output signal indicative of whether light is detected by said first light detector, said first light source and first light detector positioned such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a light beam emitted by said first light source, causing a pulse to be output by said first light detector;
• at least a second light detector positioned to substantially avoid detecting light from said first light source and to output a second output signal indicative of whether light is detected by said second light detector;
• and
• a processor configured to receive said first and second output signals and to generate an error signal when said second detector detects radiation during a time when said first radiation source is emitting radiation.

A method for coin payout in a gaming terminal comprising:

• controllably outputting a series of coins from an output hopper;
• positioning a first radiation source and first radiation detector such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a radiation beam detectable by said radiation detector;
• outputting an error signal when said first detector detects that radiation from said first source to said first detector is blocked during a period of time which exceeds a duration threshold;
• adjusting the value of said duration threshold;
• and
• wherein said step of adjusting adjusts said duration threshold on the basis of a measurement of the period of time required for a particular diameter coin to pass over the detector under normal circumstances.

A method for coin payout in a gaming terminal comprising:

• controllably outputting a series of coins from an output hopper;
• positioning a first radiation source and first radiation detector such that a coin, output by said output hopper, will pass through a radiation beam detectable by said radiation detector;
• positioning a second radiation source and a second radiation detector so that a coin, output by said coin hopper, will travel past said second detector, blocking radiation to said detector after said coin has passed over said first detector;
• pulsing said first radiation source and said second radiation source substantially out of phase with respect to one another.