GB2082361A

GB2082361A - Recording data in amusement machines

Info

Publication number: GB2082361A
Application number: GB8026227A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Associated Leisure Games Ltd
Current assignee: Associated Leisure Games Ltd
Priority date: 1980-08-12
Filing date: 1980-08-12
Publication date: 1982-03-03

Abstract

An amusement machine comprises a detector for detecting the introduction of coins or tokens into the machine, electronic control means for controlling the functioning of the machine, and a data store 6 arranged to store data generated by the detector, the data store being separably connected to the control means. A component of the electronic control means may be separable with the data store to prevent operation when the data store is disconnected. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Recording data in amusement machines This invention relates to the recording of data and more particularly concerns recording data such as cash received and paid out in an amusement machine.

In amusement machines, the numbers of coins received and paid out are recorded by electromechanical counters, which are read at regular intervals and the totals written down for use subsequently in accounting. The writing out of numbers read from a counter can give rise to error. If a number is written incorrectly, the accounting for the machine will be incorrect. In addition, electromechanical counters can be tampered with.

According to the invention, an amusement machine comprises a detector for detecting the introduction of coins or tokens into the machine, electronic control means for controlling the functioning of the machine, and a data store arranged to store data generated by the detector, the data store being separably connected to the control means.

Preferably the data store is in the form of an electronic circuit including a non-volatile memory, i.e. a memory which is maintained when the store is separated from the control means.

According to a preferred embodiment, a component of the electronic control means is separable with the store circuit, whereby the machine may be prevented from operating when the data store is disconnected. Thus, fraudulent use of the machine, by disconnecting the data store may be prevented. The component may be a decoding circuit decoding signals from a 'game memory' in the control means to operate the machine in a particular way.

The data store, after removal from the machine, may be taken from the machine location for the data to be transcribed for processing by a computer for accounting purposes, or the data may be recorded at the machine location by a portable data recorder, for example including a magnetic tape recorder, before the data store is reinstalled in the machine.

Alternatively or additionally, the data may be printed out at the machine location by a portable printer, which may be incorporated into the data recorder.

In one form of machine, the game memory is provided as a detachable circuit board component, so that the operation of the machine may readily be changed to offer a new game to be played on the machine. In this type of machine, the data store may be in the form of a second circuit board connectable to the first, for example by a pin and socket arrangement.

The game memory circuit board might typically include a decoding circuit. This decoding circuit is conveniently included on the data store circuit board instead of on the game memory circuit board so that operation of the machine with the data store circuit board disconnected is prevented, thus preventing fraudulent use of the machine.

In addition to data relating to coins or tokens received by the amusement machine, the data store may also record data relating to coins or tokens paid out by the machine as prizes, and to record, for example, the number of times the machine cabinet is opened, for how long it is opened on each occasion, and possibly by whom it was opened, using a magnetically-coded card-controlled lock, for example.

The data store may include a permanent memory containing a security code which identifies the individual store when the data is read or transferred. In addition the electronic control means, for example a microelectronic device capable of some computing functions, hereinafter referred to as a microprocessor, may be programmed to transfer into the data store a "site code" identifying the location of the machine. As an alternative, this "site code" may be'included in the permanent memory of the data store. This "site code" ensures that the data store is kept at the same machine location and enables detection of fraudulent misuse of the machine by exchanging the data store.

An advantage of the machine according to the invention is that data relating to coins or tokens received and paid out is preserved in the event of machine failure, and if a machine fails the same data store can be used with a replacement machine, ensuring a continuous record for one particular machine location.

Another advantage is that the data recorded is kept secure; it is only available with the aid of suitable transcription and printing apparatus.

Further, it cannot readily be altered.

Reference is made to the drawing, which shows in block diagrammatic form a part of one type of amusement machine in accordance with the invention.

In the machine, a microprocessor 1 controls operation of all functions of the machine, for example random operation of fruit machine reels and acceptance and paying out of coins and tokens. Control signals are sent out and received through connections indicated by way of example by lines 2. A separate game memory module 3 in the form of a printed circuit board with components attached thereto is separably connected to the microprocessor 1 by means of a multiple tab and socket connector, indicated schematically at 4. The game memory module 3 includes a programmable read-only memory (PROM) containing the instructions for the particular game for which the machine is to operate. To adapt the machine to operate for a different game, the module 3 may be unplugged and replaced by another module in which the PROM contains a different program to control the microprocessor.

The instructions from the PROM are decoded into a form suitable for operating the microprocessor by a decoding circuit 5 included in a data storage module 6 which can be connected to the game memory module 3 by means of a second multiple tab and socket connector 7 at the edge of the module 3 opposite to the first connector 4.

The data storage module 6 includes a data store memory 8 and a battery support circuit 9 which includes a battery and ensures that when the module 6 is detached from the game memory module 3, the memory 8 is maintained.

At regular intervals, in use, the data storage module is removed from the machine and is plugged into a portable reader/recorder/printer unit which reads the data stored in the memory, prints the data out as a receipt for the site operator and records the data in a back-up store.

The information collected by the unit from different machine sites or locations visited may be transformed to a central computer for accounting purposes, enabling accurate records of the operation of each machine tto be kept more easily than with known named recording techniques.

Claims

1. An amusement machine comprising a detector for detecting the introduction of coins or tokens into the machine, electronic control means for controlling the functioning of the machine, and a data store arranged to store data generated by the detector, the data store being separably connected to the control means.

2. An amusement machine according to Claim 1 in which the data store is in the form of an electronic circuit including a non-volatile memory.

3. An amusement machine according to Claim 1 or 2 in which a component of the electronic control means is separable with the data store, whereby the machine may be prevented from operation when the data store is disconnected.

4. An amusement machine according to Claim 3 in which the component is a decoding circuit which decodes signals from a game memory in the control means.

5. An amusement machine according to claim 4 in which the game memory is provided as a detachable circuit board component.

6. An amusement machine according to Claim 5 in which the data store is in the form of a second circuit board connectable to the game memory circuit board.

7. An amusement machine according to Claims 5 and 6 in which the game memory circuit includes a decoding circuit.

8. An amusement machine according to Claim 7 in which the decoding circuit is provided on the data store circuit board.

9. An amusement machine according to any of Claims 1 to 8 in which the data store records data relating to coins or tokens paid out by the machine as prizes.

10. An amusement machine according to any of Claims 1 to 9 in which the data store records information relating to the opening of the machine cabinet.

11. An amusement machine according to any of Claims 1 to 10 in which the data store includes a permanent memory containing a security code which identifies the individual store.

12. An amusement machine according to any of Claims 1 to 11 in which the electronic control means is programmed to transfer into the data store a site code identifying the location of the machine.

1 3. An amusement machine according to any of Claims 1 to 11 in which the data store has a permanent memory including a site code identifying the location of the machine.

14. An amusement machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.