Methods and apparatus of docking a gaming control board to an interface board in a gaming machine

A docking system for use in a gaming machine, comprising:

• an interface board mounted within said gaming machine, said interface board including a first interface board connector and a second interface board connector;
• a gaming control board including logic circuitry and high-power circuitry, a first connector coupled to said logic circuitry, said logic circuitry including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and a processing unit adapted to execute said instructions, said first connector providing low-power signals from said logic circuitry to said first interface board connector, and a second connector coupled to said high-power circuitry, said second connector providing high-power signals from said high-power circuitry to said second interface board connector, said gaming control board being in a generally coplanar relationship with said interface board;
• and
• a docking mechanism adapted to releasably interconnect said first connector and said second connector with said first interface board connector and said second interface board connector, respectively.

A method of releasably interconnecting a gaming control board and an interface board in a gaming machine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a gaming control board including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and a processing unit adapted to execute said instructions;
• generally aligning said gaming control board with said interface board in said gaming machine;
• and
• moving an operating lever to a docked position to cause an electrical connector on said gaming control board to matingly engage a complementary electrical connector on said interface board.

A method of releasably docking a first circuit board to a second circuit board in a gaming machine, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first circuit board including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and a processing unit adapted to execute said instructions;
• aligning a locating guide formed on a housing enclosing said first circuit board with a preattachment registration mechanism in said gaming machine;
• sliding said housing along said locating guide in said first direction until connectors of said first circuit board are positioned proximate to complementary connectors of said second circuit board;
• and
• urging an operating lever from a first position to a second position to mate said connectors with said complementary connectors.

A method of retrofitting a gaming control board of a gaming machine, comprising:

• moving a lever to an undocked position, said lever including a latch pivotally connected thereto, said moving causing said latch to disengage connectors of a gaming control board from complementary connectors of an interface board secured to said gaming machine, said gaming control board including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and high-power circuitry for controlling high-power devices of said gaming machine, said gaming control board being enclosed in a housing;
• removing said gaming control board from said housing;
• installing a new gaming control board into said housing to form a new housing assembly, said new gaming control board including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and a processing unit adapted to execute said instructions and high-power components for controlling high-power devices of said gaming machine;
• positioning said new housing assembly to engage said interface board;
• and
• moving said lever toward a docked position to cause said latch to engage said new gaming control board to said interface board.

A method of upgrading a gaming control board of a gaming machine, comprising:

• moving a lever in a docking mechanism toward an undocked position to disengage a gaming control board from an interface board secured to said gaming machine, said gaming control board including logic components, said logic components including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and a processing unit being adapted to execute said instructions;
• removing said gaming control board from said gaming machine;
• replacing at least one of said logic components of said gaming control board so as to create an upgraded gaming control board;
• positioning said upgraded gaming control board to engage said interface board;
• and
• moving said lever toward a docked position to engage said upgraded gaming control board to said interface board.

A method of electrically coupling a peripheral device of a gaming machine to a gaming control board via a fixed interface board, comprising:

• coupling said peripheral device to said fixed interface board;
• coupling a power supply to said fixed interface board;
• and
• moving a lever from a first position to a second position to electrically couple said peripheral device to said gaming control board and to provide power from said power supply to electrical components of said gaming control board, said electrical components including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and a processing unit executing said instructions when said power is provided to said processing unit.

A method of assembling a docking assembly for use in a gaming machine, comprising:

• mounting an interface board within said gaming machine, said interface board including a first interface board connector and a second interface board connector disposed thereon;
• mounting a gaming control circuit inside a housing, said gaming control circuit including a memory storing instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome in response to a wager and a processing unit adapted to execute said instructions;
• and
• attaching a first latch and a second latch to a lever, said first latch and said second latch being adapted to mate said first connector with said first interface board connector and to mate said second connector with said second interface board connector when said lever is moved from a first position to a docked position.

A docking assembly in a gaming machine, comprising:

• an interface board secured within said gaming machine;
• an electronics subassembly including a housing and a gaming control board mounted within said housing, said gaming control board including a processing unit adapted to execute instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome;
• and
• a docking mechanism for releasably interconnecting said electronics subassembly and said interface board, said docking mechanism including an operating lever moveable between a docked position and an undocked position and a first latch coupled to said operating lever, said docking mechanism further including a second latch coupled to said operating lever.

A docking assembly in a gaming machine, comprising:

• an interface board secured within said gaming machine;
• an electronics subassembly including a housing and a gaming control board mounted within said housing, said gaming control board including a processing unit adapted to execute instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome;
• and
• a docking mechanism for releasably interconnecting said electronics subassembly and said interface board, said docking mechanism including an operating lever moveable between a docked position and an undocked position and a first latch coupled to said operating lever, said first latch including an engaging member adapted to engage and hold said electronics subassembly to said interface board in response to urging said operating lever toward said docked position, said housing including a slot adapted to receive said engaging member of said first latch.

A docking assembly in a gaming machine, comprising:

• an interface board secured within said gaming machine;
• an electronics subassembly including a housing and a gaming control board mounted within said housing, said housing including a door hingedly connected to said housing, said door including a lock for securing said door to said housing, said gaming control board including a processing unit adapted to execute instructions for randomly selecting at least one game outcome;
• and
• a docking mechanism for releasably interconnecting said electronics subassembly and said interface board.