Coin-actuated gaming machine.

p0001The invention relates to a slot machine with a microprocessor, a memory and an input-output unit.

p0002Slot machines are generally known. These slot machines usually have a casing that can be opened from the front, so that maintenance work can be carried out and the money collected during the games can be removed. The door is usually opened with a key, to pay the authorized person at all times. It has been shown that both the people who had a key to open the slot machine, abuse to the effect occurred, that the person conducted activities that were not permitted, as well as those who no key to open the device, by manipulation opened the door and first names interventions on the slot machine.

p0003The invention is thus based on the object to provide a gaming machine in which the authorization for access to the inside of the slot machine can be checked.

p0004This object is achieved by the characterizing features of the main claim.

p0005The fact that a device for testing the access authorization is provided to the interior of the slot machine, which has a separate from the gaming machine circuit for generating a dedicated identification code number and in the gaming machine includes means for comparing the information read from the circuit code number with the authorization codes, can at Connect the circuit with the means for comparing the code numbers are the person who opens the right slot machine identified. When the device is opened without authorization and no connection of the circuit is made to the means for comparing the code numbers, a signal is issued indicative of the non-authorization.

p0006By being enclosed in the dependent claims, advantageous developments and improvements are possible.

p0007It is particularly advantageous that the identification number of the circuit, the date, time and, where appropriate, actions performed are stored, so that later it can be determined who had the device when opened and what actions it has undertaken. It can thus be checked whether the maintenance was performed and distortions have been removed and whether authorized money was collected.

p0008Other advantages and embodiments result from the further dependent claims.

p0009An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd> a view to an open slot machine with a molded circuit for generating the associated identification code number and</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd> a circuit design of the device for checking the access authorization to the interior of the slot machine.</dd></dl>

p0010In Fig. 1 at 1 is a gaming machine referred to, comprising a housing 2 and a housing fitting door 3. Inside the case 2 the turning bodies 4 with drive gates, a coin processing unit 5, which has not coin, coin acceptor and Auszahlvorrichtungen illustrated, a coin box 6, the control of the slot machine and other elements are added.

p0011At the door 3 and in or on the housing 2 door contacts 6 are arranged which emit a signal to the controller when the door is opened. The maintenance personnel, ie technicians and cashiers, each have associated with them potted circuits for generating a dedicated identification number 7, which is not visible or accessible, but has only output ports. 8 The output terminals 8 to be brought into contact with a present in the slot machine jack 9 which is provided with means for comparing the identification code number in connection.

p0012In Fig. 2, the device for checking the access authorization to the AWPs is schematically illustrated in the form of a circuit according to the embodiment. It consists of a circuit for generating an identification code number 7 and means 10 for comparing the identification code number with code numbers stored. The circuit 7 has a code generator 11 for generating the identification code number, which is preferably designed as a parallel shift register settable on. The inputs of the shift register 11 are connected with contact bridges 12th These contact bridges 12 are set by the manufacturer of the slot machine in a way that is interrupted, that results in the shift register inputs a binary coded number. This binary coded number can be read sequentially at the output 13 of the shift register 11th The output 13 is connected to the output terminals 8 illustrated in FIG. 1 in conjunction.

p0013After the circuit 7 has been encoded, it is cast into a block so that the coded number is not recognized.

p0014In game machine 1 is for controlling in a known manner, a microprocessor arrangement exists, which is also part of the apparatus for checking the access authorization. The microprocessor assembly consists of the microprocessor 14 itself, a ROM 15, in which the control program is stored, a RAM 17 and an input-output unit 16, which is connected to the output jack. 9 The individual elements of the microprocessor arrangement are connected together via a bus 18th In the RAM 17, the code numbers are stored, which have been adjusted for the different circuits 7 for the respective maintenance personnel. It can also be stored in the RAM 17 in addition to each code number data, make the statements to be implemented by the respective owners of the circuit 7 at the slot machine operations.

p0015The functioning of the device for checking the access authorization to the interior of the slot machine is the following.

p0016When the door 3 of the slot machine 1 is opened, the door contacts 6 is interrupted and a corresponding signal is supplied to the microprocessor 14th If not, the output terminals 8 a circuit 7 for identification are connected to the contacts of the connector 9 within a predetermined period, a signal from the microprocessor 14 is discharged, via which can be determined that the gaming machine 1 has been opened without authorization. For example, the control is influenced such that the slot machine is no longer playable. Thereby an outsider is made aware of the non-recordable device, so that often the stand after the event can find out who has opened the device, without identifying. Of course, this signal of the non-identification also trigger optical or visual signaling systems.

p0017After the terminals 8 have been inserted into the socket 9, the microprocessor sends a control signal and on the output 13 the binary data from the circuit 7 is read out and forwarded via the connected to the input-output unit 16 data line. The microprocessor 14 compares the data with the code numbers stored in the RAM 17th If the identification code number of the circuit does not match one of the stored, in turn, an alarm signal is emitted. If they match, the data is controlled by the microprocessor 14, stored in the RAM 17, in addition to the identification code number refill the date, time, and after conducted the slot machine 1 acts as money movement, found coins or coins, eliminate errors in the device, erase fault memory or the like corresponding to data stored. When the actions performed are not those which are assigned to the respective identification code number, a corresponding message is stored.

p0018The readout of the shift register 11 takes place via the power supply to the slot machine 1, so that no additional power supply for the circuit 7 is required. Further, the RAM 17 is battery so that the data is retained even when the device.

p0019The input-output unit 16 is further connected to a data read-out connector 19, via the read data stored in the RAM 17 data of an external data read-out system that is connected to the data read-out connector 19, via the input-output unit 16, which is controlled by the microprocessor 14, , In this way, a complete log of exists, when and by whom that action has been taken on slot machine.

p0020The circuit 7 is formed in the embodiment as a shift register. Such a shift register may also be incorporated on or in a chip card. In a modified form can also be a microprocessor or other folded contacts the circuit, whereby these embodiments are designed in the form of smart cards.