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US 8,012,026 B2Granted
Gaming machine and a method of supplying a flexible architecture gaming machine
AssigneeAristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
InventorsPeter Dreyer, Neil Hogg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gaming machine (10) is provided having a plurality of modules. The gaming machine (10) may be used to provide a flexible architecture gaming machine. The plurality of modules include a play module (12) containing a display device (14) and a computational device (100) for controlling the operation of the gaming machine (10), and a base module (24) shaped and dimensioned to either directly or indirectly support the play module (1 2). The play module (12) includes a communication interface device (104) operable to communicate with a transaction handler that may be a transaction handling module (16). Also described and claimed is a method of supplying and a method of manufacturing a flexible architecture gaming machine.
Claims22
A gaming machine comprising a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising:
- a play module having a first housing containing a display, a computational device for controlling the operation of the gaming machine, including utilising the display to display images for game play of at least one game and receiving commands relating to the game play from a player through a player interface, and a communication interface operable to communicate with a transaction handler;
- a player interface module having a second housing including the player interface, wherein the player interface module and play module are configured for horizontal engagement and for electrical connection with one another;
- a transaction module having a third housing including the transaction handler, wherein the transaction module and play module are configured for vertical engagement and for electrical connection with one another;
- a base module shaped and dimensioned to support the play module and the transaction module;
- and
- wherein the base module, first housing, second housing, and third housing are separable from one another as distinct physical units, and wherein the first housing, second housing, third housing, and base module are shaped and dimensioned to define a form factor of the gaming machine.
3 more elements
A method of supplying a flexible architecture gaming machine, the method comprising:
- providing a selection of a plurality of modules that can be assembled to form a gaming machine, each module having a distinct housing, wherein the plurality of modules include
- a play module having a first housing containing a display device and a computational device for controlling the operation of the gaming machine, including utilising the display device to display images for game play of at least one game and receiving commands relating to the game play from a player through a player interface, the play module further including a communication device to communicate with a transaction handler that is operable to attend to the payment and receipt of funds or credits to and from the player respectively,
- a player interface module having a second housing including the player interface, wherein the player interface module and play module are configured for horizontal engagement and for electrical connection with one another,
- a transaction module having a third housing including the transaction handler, wherein the transaction module and play module are configured for vertical engagement and for electrical connection with one another,
- a base module shaped and dimensioned to support the play module and the transaction module,
- wherein the first housing, second housing, third housing, and base module are shaped and dimensioned to define a form factor of the gaming machine;
- and
- supplying the selection of modules from the plurality of modules sufficient to form a gaming machine.
5 more elements
A method of manufacturing a gaming machine, the method comprising:
- receiving a play module having a first housing containing a display device and a computational device for controlling the operation of the gaming machine, including utilising the display device to display images for game play of at least one game and receiving commands relating to game play from a player through a player interface, the play module including a communication interface for communication with a distinct transaction device that, under the control of the play module, is operable to attend to the payment and receipt of funds or credits to and from a player respectively;
- receiving a player interface module having a second housing including the player interface, wherein the player interface module and play module are configured for horizontal engagement and for electrical connection with one another;
- receiving a transaction module having a third housing including the transaction handler, wherein the transaction module and play module are configured for vertical engagement and for electrical connection with one another;
- receiving a base module shaped and dimensioned to support the play module and the transaction module;
- and
- assembling the gaming machine by physically and communicatively connecting the play module, the transaction module, the player interface module, and the base module in a manner to form a complete gaming machine, wherein the play module, first housing, second housing, and third housing are separable from one another as distinct physical units, and wherein the first housing, second housing, third housing, and base module are shaped and dimensioned to define a form factor of the gaming machine.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.