`Okuniewicz
`
`USOO684086OB1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,840,860 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jan. 11, 2005
`
`(54) PRINTING AND DISPENSING BONUSING
`SYSTEM FOR GAMING DEVICES
`76) I
`tor: Douglas M. Ok
`2 Deer Trail
`(76) Inventor Yet, "s%. ter rall,
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/639,441
`(22) Filed:
`Aug. 15, 2000
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/994,075, filed on
`Dec. 19, 1997, now Pat. No. 6,146,276, which is a continu-
`ation-in-part of application No. 08/795,152, filed on Feb. 7,
`1997, now Pat. No. 5,908.354.
`
`(51) Int. Cl. ........................... A63F 13/00; A63F 9/24;
`G06F 17/00; G06F 19/00; A63B 71/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 463,35, 463/43; 273/142 B.
`s
`s
`381/61
`
`(56)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`ASSorted general disclosures to Iowa Racing and Gaming
`Commission.
`Documents authored by Doug Okuniewicz on dates shown.
`Documents of interest but not believed to be detailed dis
`closure of invention prior to critical dates, provided for
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35 CXCS CWCW.
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 320 days.
`Primary Examiner A. L. Wellington
`Assistant Examiner Binh-An D. Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David E. Mixon; Bradley
`Arant Rose & White LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention provides a printing and dispensing
`bonusing system for electronic gaming devices, particularly
`a casino gaming device, which includes at least one detec
`tion device which is adapted for connection to an electronic
`apparatus, the detection device operative to detect Selected
`event occurrences on an electronic apparatus and output
`event occurrence notification signals upon detection of an
`event. An event detection Sampling device is connected in
`information transmission connection with the detection
`device, the event detection Sampling device operative to
`detect and receive event occurrence notification Signals from
`the detection devices, analyze the received event occurrence
`notification signals and output event occurrence information
`Signals including information Specifying Selected event
`(58) Field of Search ........................ 463/16, 17, 19–22,
`occurrences. Connected in information transmission con
`463/25, 26, 30, 35, 43; 273/142 B, 142 R;
`nection with the event detection Sampling device is an event
`381/1, 61; 704/270; 434/185
`occurrence information Signal computing device which is
`operative to receive and analyze the event occurrence infor
`References Cited
`mation Signals output by the event detection Sampling
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`device and upon detection of Selected event occurrence
`information signals, output command Signals for initiating
`3,417,249 A 12/1968 Akmenkains et al. ....... 250/551
`operation of at least one bonus printing and dispensing
`4,069,488 A
`1/1978 Fiorenza et al. ............ 700/169
`device connected thereto, independent of a Standard output
`4,100,597 A * 7/1978 Fleming et al.............. 700/169
`device of the electronic gaming device and operative to
`4,280.221 A : 7/1981 Chun et al. ............... 375/288
`accept command Signals from the computing device and to
`4,522,399 A : 6/1985 Nishikawa.
`273/143 R
`3.R. A : 3.
`Pist et al. ..
`"gift print and dispense bonus information and awards resulting
`is is A
`is twice at O. 273A. R. E.E.E.E.", E,
`
`2 - a--a-2
`
`aller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`4.884.972 A * 12/1989 Gasper ....................... 345/473
`4,964,638 A * 10/1990 Ishida .....
`273/143 R
`4,993,713 A
`2/1991 Harada ................... 273/143 R
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`lect PE it
`y d
`device i
`lect gaming
`C
`Staming CWCC S WCCC SCCCCC OUIS LCS
`and awards.
`
`17 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`MACHINE
`202-NNTERFACE
`DISPLAY DATA
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`:
`1992 Gimon- 273/143 R
`59. A
`5:
`A : 9: title al..."37.
`2- . 12
`f
`entley et al.
`f
`5,192,854 A
`3/1993 Counts ....................... 235/375
`5,375,830 A * 12/1994 Takemoto et al. ...... 273/143 R
`5,390,938 A * 2/1995 Takeya ..........
`... 463/35
`5,393,073 A
`2/1995 Best .............................. 463/1
`:
`5,411,258 A * 5/1995 Wilson et al. ................ 463/28
`5,429,361. A
`7/1995 Raven et al. ................. 463/25
`5,467856 A * 11/1995 Okada
`2 : - .. 2
`5,472,195 A * 12/1995 Takemoto et al. ...... 273/143 R
`5,472,197 A * 12/1995 Gwiasda et al. ........ 273/143 R
`:
`5,579,537 A 11/1996 Takahisa ...................... 455/45
`5,586,936 A * 12/1996 Okada
`5,638,426 A
`6/1997 Lewis ................... 379/100.01
`5,655,961. A
`8/1997 Acres et al. .................. 463/27
`
`5,766,075 A * 6/1998 Cook et al. ................... 463/25
`5,770.533 A * 6/1998 Franchi ....................... 463/16
`5,781,911 A * 7/1998 Young et al. ................. 705/26
`5,813,511 A * 9/1998 Takemoto et al. .......... 194/217
`5,816,918 A * 10/1998 Kelly et al. ................... 463/16
`5,819,281. A * 10/1998 Cummins ...
`707/103
`5.830,064 A 11/1998 Bradish et al. ............... 463/22
`2Y-Y-2
`5.835,126 A 11/1998 Lewis ................... 379/100.12
`2Y-2
`5,836,817 A 11/1998 Acres et al. .................. 463/16
`5908,354 A
`6/1999 Okuniewicz ............ 273/143 R
`2- Y-Y-2
`:
`5,915,588 A 6/1999 Stoken et al. .................. 221/2
`6,146,276 A 11/2000 Okuniewicz ...
`273/142 B
`2- : */
`6.227.972 B1
`5/2001 Walker et al. ................ 463/25
`211 .. 2
`6,244,958 B1
`6/2001 Acres .......................... 463/16
`6,319,125 B1 * 11/2001 A
`463/25
`2- - - 2
`CICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`
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`* cited by examiner
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`1
`PRINTING AND DISPENSING BONUSING
`SYSTEM FOR GAMING DEVICES
`
`US 6,840,860 B1
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`2
`independent testing laboratory and/or by the State gaming
`commission to confirm that nothing on the chip was modi
`fied except for the Sounds themselves. Obviously, if retesting
`of the chip each time the Smallest change in Sound or
`bonuses designated by the chip is necessary, no casino
`location will wish to go through the process due to the length
`of time and expense of development and testing involved.
`There is, therefore, a need for a device for inclusion in a
`gaming device which is capable of being quickly and easily
`reprogrammed to produce a different Sound or bonus payout
`in response to a particular event occurrence, and which does
`not require retesting by an agent of the gaming commission
`each time a new Sound or bonus is included.
`It is thus Seen that a disadvantage of the prior art is that
`the Sound-producing devices found in gaming devices can
`not be modified by the casino to produce alternative Sounds.
`However, it is a further disadvantage of the prior art that the
`Sound-generating devices on all but the newest machines are
`often technologically insufficient to produce Such Sounds as
`human Speech and difficult-to-reproduce Sounds. It therefore
`may be desirable to enhance the Sound-producing capabili
`ties of the gaming device by “adding on a more Sophisti
`cated Sound card. Due to restrictive gaming regulations,
`however, any Such add-on Sound card would have to be
`incapable of influencing the outcome probabilities of the
`gaming device, thus requiring a type of detection means for
`detecting Specific event occurrences on the electronic circuit
`board or the reels of the gaming device. At present, Such
`read-only detection devices are not found in the prior art, as
`most, if not all, of the Sound-producing devices found in the
`prior art are integrated into the gaming device and Such
`read-only detection devices are not necessary. With the rapid
`improvement in Sound cards, however, the need for non
`intrusive read-only detection devices for use in combination
`with an add-on Sound card has arisen. There is therefore a
`need for Such a read-only detection device used in combi
`nation with an add-on Sound card.
`One of the most recent innovations in gaming is the
`multi-machine jackpot, Such as Quartermania, Megabucks
`and Cool Millions. In these games, a bank of gaming
`machines are connected to one another in information trans
`mission connection Such that coin input at each of the
`machines adds to an overall jackpot which can be hit on the
`any of the machines in the group. These wide-area progres
`Sive games have acted to increase game play thus increasing
`the handle of the casino. The disadvantage to Such wide-area
`progressive games is that the casino is again prevented from
`modifying the Sound or bonusing output of the machine
`when a jackpot or other winning combination is achieved.
`The casino may desire to formulate its own location-specific
`games, Such as treasure hunts or other Such games, in which
`the treasure would be “found” by a specific reel combination
`turning up on the machine. Should Such a reel combination
`come up on the machine, the player would be notified by
`casino-Specific Sounds emanating from the machine. It also
`may be desirable to have “treasure hunts” between multiple
`casino locations having wide-area progressive games, but
`again the Sounds emitted by the machine must be modified
`to reflect the new game play. Obviously, the Sounds included
`in the machine from the factory are not designed with this
`type of option in mind, and it would be necessary for the
`casino to be able to interrupt the ordinary Sound production
`of the gaming device and Substitute its own desired Sound
`output for particular event occurrences. It is believed that the
`variety offered by Such Sound variations will significantly
`increase “coin in on the various machines due to the
`heightened interest in the modified games.
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`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`This application is a Continuation-In-Part of patent appli
`cation Ser. No. 08/994,075 filed Dec. 19, 1997 now U.S. Pat.
`No. 6,146,276; which in a Continuation-In-Part of patent
`application Ser. No. 08/795,152 filed Feb. 7, 1997, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,908,354.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Technical Field
`This invention relates to a bonus dispensing System for
`gaming devices and, more particularly, to a programmable
`printing and dispensing bonusing System for electronic
`gaming devices including slot machines, Video poker
`machines and other Such electronic gaming devices which
`includes at least one detection device connected an elec
`tronic gaming device, an event detection Sampling device in
`information transmission connection with the detection
`device operative to identify particular events, a program
`mable event occurrence information signal computing
`device connected to the event detection Sampling device, the
`programmable event occurrence information signal comput
`ing device operative to output command Signals therefrom
`and a printing/dispensing bonus device connected to Said
`programmable event occurrence information signal comput
`ing device operative to output bonus payout information and
`items resulting from particular combinations being produced
`by the electronic gaming device.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Slot machines and Video poker machines continue to be
`the most widely used types of gaming devices found in the
`gaming industry. The oldest slot machines and Video poker
`machines were relatively simple devices which included
`little in the way of Sound generating devices, commonly
`including only a bell or buZZer to Signify a winning com
`bination on the reels. With the advent of new technology in
`40
`the gaming industry, the slot machines and Video poker
`machines were now able to produce a variety of pre
`programmed Sounds through the use of computer chip
`technology. These chips are most often constructed as inte
`gral parts of the gaming device and are programmed at the
`factory to produce a limited number of Sounds in response
`to events Such as a winning combination coming up on the
`reels. The Sounds produced by the machine can be of high
`quality through the use of efficient loudspeaker Systems.
`In spite of the use of Such new technology, one of the
`major disadvantages found in the prior art regarding the
`Sounds produced by the slot machine has gone unaddressed.
`Specifically, because the chips are programmed by the
`factory, the Sounds and payouts produced by the machine
`cannot be changed by the customer, i.e., the casino. The
`Sounds and payouts produced by the gaming device thus are
`always the Same, absent game modifications, and the gaming
`public may lose interest in play of the machine due to the
`lack of any changes in the output of the machine when
`winning combinations are produced. It is important to under
`Stand that on most machines the Sound and payout informa
`tion and the payout tables are programmed on the same chip.
`If a user of the gaming device wishes to modify the Sounds
`or bonuses produced by the machine, the chip containing the
`sound bytes must be “reburned' or reprogrammed by the
`factory or the casino. The reprogramming of the chip,
`however, will mandate review and testing of the chip by an
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`Another disadvantage found in those devices representa
`tive of the prior art is that when an update of Sound produced
`is desired, the chip carrying the Sounds must be repro
`grammed or "reburned'. AS was Stated previously, on many
`machines the audio files are Stored on and played by the
`Same chip that controls the payouts and pay tables for the
`machine. Therefore, each time the chip is reprogrammed to
`issue new Sounds, the modified chip must be retested by an
`independent laboratory and/or the State authorities.
`Obviously, a casino organization which has invested mil
`lions of dollars in Slot machines does not wish to lose the use
`of the slots for a period of time during testing each time the
`Sounds produced by the machine are modified. There is
`therefore a need for an easily updatable and reprogrammable
`Sound-producing device for use in slot machines and the like
`that will increase the usable life span of the slot machine
`and, more importantly, require only a single round of testing
`when initially added to the machine.
`There are Several examples of devices in machines pro
`posed in the prior art which attempt to increase the amount
`of “coin in by increasing interest in the games. For
`example, Nishikawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,399, discloses a
`device for generating an impact Sound for a slot machine, the
`device intentionally producing an impact Sound when reels
`start to be rotated by motors. Clearly, however, this device
`cannot be modified in any meaningful way to produce a
`variety of Sounds and thus its application to the gaming
`industry is limited.
`It has also been found that there is a Substantial interest in
`the development of a bonusing System for electronic gaming
`devices which outputs bonus items, the items either having
`intrinsic value or being representative of the bonus received
`and which are redeemable for the indicated bonus. AS was
`Stated previously, any Such add-on electronic activity detec
`tor would have to be incapable of influencing the outcome
`probabilities of the gaming device, and thus a uni-directional
`detection device for detecting Specific event occurrences on
`the electronic circuit board would be preferred. In a typical
`Slot machine, there are numerous machine event occurrences
`which would need to be sampled in order to determine
`whether the particular event has occurred. These include
`Such occurrences as a bill accepted into the machine, a
`jackpot being hit, coin in, coin out and other display data.
`Each of these machine inputs and outputs would need to be
`monitored to determine event occurrences, but must be
`monitored in Such a way that the event occurrence cannot be
`tampered with in order to conform to applicable gaming
`regulations. Therefore, as was Stated previously, there is a
`need for an electronic activity detector and command gen
`erator which is capable of detecting event occurrences on the
`circuit board of a gaming device and then issue appropriate
`demands in response to those event occurrences which will
`cause connected output devices to perform designated taskS.
`By way of clarification, the electronic activity detecting
`portion of the card is that portion of the card that will
`identify that an event is taking place within the machine (i.e.
`coin in, jackpot. etc . . . ), and the command portion of the
`card is that portion which recognizes the event and dictates
`the proper response. Although it is expected that one of the
`major output functions of any card performing these func
`tions would be that of Sound reproduction, there is also a
`need for other types of outputs, including printer functions,
`lights and gaming information. It is important to note that
`there are no devices found in the prior art which can be
`connected to one or more output devices Such as a Sound
`card, a printer, a Set of lights or a player's card information
`System. There is therefore a need for a device which can read
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`and react to gaming machine outputs, and, depending on the
`programming of the device, output the appropriate com
`mand Signals to output devices to drive the output devices to
`perform their respective functions without affecting the
`regulated components of the gaming device.
`At the present time, bonuses on gaming devices are
`delivered through the Standard payment mechanism of an
`individual machine. For example, if a specific reel combi
`nation is hit for 25 coins plus a spin of the bonus wheel, the
`wheel will spin and Stop on a number or multiplier in an
`apparently random fashion (i.e. if it stops on 50 coins then
`a total of 75 coins were won). However, the total payment
`of 75 coins was predetermined at the time the reel combi
`nation was hit, and therefore in cases like this the bonuses
`are not really “bonuses” but rather a split payment of the
`actual payout with one part of the Split payment having the
`appearance of a bonus.
`It has also been found that increased game play can result
`from the dispensing or paying of bonuses in connection with
`particular reel or display combinations on the electronic
`gaming device being hit. Such bonusing items could include
`plush toys, Vouchers for meals, cash, lottery tickets,
`coupons, promotional materials, other prizes or almost any
`other type of prize award. At the present time, the prior art
`does not disclose the dispensing or printing of a bonus item
`from a Secondary output device not directly associated with
`the Standard payment device on the gaming device, most
`commonly a coin or Scrip dispenser, the bonus being dis
`pensed in connection with a predetermined event or Series of
`events occurring on the gaming device, Such as coin in or a
`particular combination being "hit' on the electronic gaming
`device. There is therefore a need for Such a bonusing System
`which would both increase game play and decrease the
`dissatisfaction of the consumer, as a reel combination that is
`not ordinarily a payout combination may result in the
`obtaining of bonus prizes.
`Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
`a printing and dispensing bonusing System for electronic
`gaming devices.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`printing and dispensing bonusing System for electronic
`gaming devices which includes at least one detection device
`adapted for connection to an electronic apparatus which is
`operative to detect Selected event occurrences on the elec
`tronic apparatus and output event occurrence notification
`Signals upon detection of an event.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`printing and dispensing bonusing System for electronic
`gaming devices which includes an event detection Sampling
`device in information transmission connection with the
`detection devices, the event detection Sampling device
`operative to receive and detect the event occurrence notifi
`cation signals from the detection devices, analyze the Signals
`and output event occurrence information Signals Specifying
`the occurrence of a preselected event or events on the
`electronic apparatus circuit board.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`printing and dispensing bonusing System for electronic
`gaming devices which includes a programmable event
`occurrence information Signal computing device in infor
`mation transmission connection with the event detection
`Sampling device, the computing device operative to receive
`and analyze event occurrence information Signals output by
`the event detection Sampling device and upon detection of
`event occurrence information Signals, output command Sig
`nals for initiating operation of a printing and dispensing
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`device connected to the programmable event occurrence
`information signal computing device, the printing and dis
`pensing device operative to dispense or print a bonus item or
`information from a Secondary output device not directly
`asSociated with the Standard coin or Scrip dispenser, the
`bonus being dispensed in connection with at least one event
`occurring on the electronic gaming device.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`printing and dispensing bonusing System for electronic
`gaming devices which may be quickly and easily repro
`grammed to produce different outputs in response to the
`Same reel combinations turning up on the machine.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`printing and dispensing bonusing System for electronic
`gaming devices, particularly a casino gaming device, which
`is capable of Sampling event occurrences on the circuit
`board of the gaming device that is clearly incapable of
`influencing the outcome of any gaming event in the gaming
`device, thus permitting the electronic activity detector and
`command generator to be added to gaming machines while
`requiring only minimal inspection by a gaming commission
`or its agent. Future operational modifications will not
`require reinspection by the gaming commission or its agent.
`Finally, another object of the present invention is to
`provide a printing and dispensing bonusing System for
`electronic gaming devices which is durable in construction
`and Safe and efficient in use.
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`detection Sampling device operative to detect and receive
`event occurrence notification signals from the detection
`devices, analyze the received event occurrence notification
`Signals and output event occurrence information signals
`including information Specifying preselected event occur
`rences. Connected in information transmission connection
`with the event detection Sampling device is an event occur
`rence information signal computing device which is opera
`tive to receive and analyze the event occurrence information
`Signals output by the event detection Sampling device and
`upon detection of those event occurrence information
`Signals, output command Signals for initiating operation of
`a bonus printing and dispensing device connected to the
`programmable event occurrence information signal comput
`ing device operative to dispense or print a bonus item or
`bonus information from a Secondary output device not
`asSociated with the Standard coin or Scrip dispenser, the
`bonus being dispensed in connection with at least one
`predetermined combination being “hit' on the electronic
`gaming device.
`The advantages of the present invention over those
`devices found in the prior art are numerous and include the
`fact that the present invention may be added to any existing
`gaming device to produce alternative command outputs in
`response to event occurrences in the electronic apparatus,
`thereby engaging various output devices. Furthermore,
`because the present invention is reprogrammable in a quick
`and easy manner, a variety of response Schemes may be
`instituted over the life span of a gaming device, thus insuring
`that consumer interest in the game remains relatively high.
`Also, because the present invention is designed to Sample
`events off of the electronic apparatus and cannot be used to
`modify the probabilities of gaming occurrences, it is
`believed that the present invention will be acceptable for use
`with Slot machines and the like without requiring any more
`than minimal additional inspection and certification by the
`gaming commissions of the various jurisdictions or their
`agents. Because the computing device on the programmable
`electronic activity detector and command generator may be
`programmed to interrupt the normal Sound and display
`output of the gaming device and Substitute an alternative
`Sound or display, exciting new varieties of games may be
`introduced even though the new game is being played on the
`old piece of gaming machinery. Also, one of the most
`exciting features of the present invention is that unique
`messages Such as advertisements for casino activities and
`the like or interactive gaming experiences can be included in
`the programmable electronic activity detector and command
`generator, and the variety of messages is almost unlimited.
`The present invention also combines the excitement of the
`traditional Slot machine with an entirely new element of
`gaming, the printing or dispensing of bonus information or
`items through a Secondary output device which is unrelated
`to the Standard payment device. With the present invention,
`not only are winning reel combinations paid, but the player
`also will have the opportunity to win bonus prizes based on
`the occurrence of preselected events or a Series of events,
`Such as reel combinations. Therefore, the present invention
`provides a Substantial improvement over those devices
`found in the prior art.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram of the present
`invention showing the elements thereof;
`FIGS. 2A-2E are detailed circuit diagrams of the input
`Section of the electronic activity detector and command
`generator, and
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a printing and dispensing
`bonusing System for electronic gaming devices, particularly
`a casino gaming device, which includes at least one detec
`tion device which is adapted for connection to an electronic
`apparatus, the detection device operative to detect Selected
`event occurrences on an electronic apparatus and output
`event occurrence notification signals upon detection of an
`event. An event detection Sampling device is connected in
`information transmission connection with the detection
`means, the event detection Sampling device operative to
`detect and receive event occurrence notification Signals from
`the detection devices, analyze the received event occurrence
`notification signals and output event occurrence information
`Signals including information Specifying event occurrences.
`Connected in information transmission connection with the
`event detection Sampling device is an event occurrence
`information signal computing device which is operative to
`receive and analyze the event occurrence information Sig
`nals output by the event detection Sampling device and upon
`detection of Selected event occurrence information signals,
`output command Signals for initiating at least one connected
`output device to perform a Selected operation corresponding
`to the outputted command Signal. The output device is
`operative to accept command Signals from the program
`mable event occurrence information signal computing
`device and output the appropriate response corresponding to
`the command Signal.
`The present invention also provides a printing and dis
`pensing bonusing System for electronic gaming devices,
`particularly a casino gaming device, which includes at least
`one detection device which is adapted for connection to an
`electronic apparatus or which is integral with the device, the
`detection device operative to detect Selected event occur
`rences on an electronic apparatus and output event occur
`rence notification signals upon detection of an event. An
`event detection Sampling device is connected in information
`transmission connection with the detection device, the event
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`FIGS. 3A-3E are detailed circuit diagrams of the event
`occurrence information signal computing device or main
`computing unit showing the inputs and outputs thereof.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`The following description discloses two embodiments of
`the present invention. The first embodiment is a program
`mable electronic activity detector and command generator
`illustrated in FIGS 1-3E.
`FIGS. 2A-2E and 3A-3E illustrate the programmable
`electronic activity detector and command generator 200 of
`the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment
`includes a machine interface 202 which consists of the
`connection of the programmable electronic activity detector
`and command generator 200 to the circuit board 300 of an
`electronic device. In this instance, as shown in FIGS.
`2A-3E, the electronic device would be a typical slot
`machine having display data output, machine input infor
`mation and machine output information which may be either
`sampled on the circuit board itself as will be necessary with
`many retrofit Situations, or the slot machine may include a
`wiring harneSS which allows for simple connection to each
`of the dat