Wireless electronic gaming unit

Abstract

A portable gaming unit for playing an associated game comprises a housing and a base. The housing includes a display. An electronics assembly is mounted in the housing for controlling input/output functions of the gaming unit. A pivot joint pivotably mounts the housing to the base. An easel is pivotably mounted to one of the housing and the base. The easel in a use orientation braces the housing against the base to enable the housing to maintain an acute angle in relation to a plane of the base. In a transport orientation, the easel allows the housing to fold against the base. The easel in the transport orientation serves as a handle for the gaming unit.

1 . A portable gaming unit for playing an associated game, said gaming unit comprising: 
 a housing, including a display;    an electronics assembly mounted in said housing for controlling input/output functions of said gaming unit;    a base;    a pivot joint for pivotably mounting said housing to said base; and,    an easel pivotably mounted to one of said housing and said base, wherein said easel in a use orientation braces said housing against said base to enable said housing to maintain an acute angle in relation to a plane of said base, and in a transport orientation allows said housing to fold against said base, said easel in said transport orientation serving as a handle for said gaming unit.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , wherein said easel is generally U-shaped, said easel cooperating with at least one flange located on said base in said use position.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming unit of  claim 2 , wherein said base includes first and second locking flanges and a recessed portion located between said first and second locking flanges, a central leg of said easel being located in said recessed portion and engaged by said first and second locking flanges in said use position.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , wherein said base includes a first section comprising a keyboard unit and a second section, said easel being rotatably mounted to a rear wall of said housing, wherein said easel is adjustably engageable with said second section, such that said housing, when rotated relative to said base, may be fixed at a predetermined acute angle relative to said base.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming unit of  claim 4 , wherein said housing is fixed at an angle of approximately 12° from a vertical orientation relative to said keyboard unit.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , further including a reader for identifying a player during a network gaming session, said reader being located in one of said housing and said base, wherein said reader eliminates a need for the player to manually input player identifying information into said gaming unit to allow initiation or resumption of the gaming session, wherein said reader includes at least one of a magnetic card reader, a smart card reader and a biometric reader.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , further including at least one indicator light mounted on said housing, said at least one indicator light communicating status information concerning a first gaming session being played on said gaming unit to a player and others in a designated playing area, said at least one indicator being an operational element during a second gaming session.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , further including means for verifying and authenticating said gaming unit.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication card selectively mountable to one of said base and said housing to enable said gaming unit to communicate with a network.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a shock mounting assembly for securing said display to said housing.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery and a battery control system, mounted to one of said housing and said base, for regulating an operation of said gaming unit, said battery control system preventing the initiation of a gaming session on said gaming unit if there is inadequate power for the entire gaming session.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming unit of  claim 1 , wherein said base defines a first plane and said housing defines a second plane, wherein in said transport orientation, said first plane is generally parallel to said second plane.  
   
   
       13 . A portable gaming unit for playing a game over a secure network, the gaming unit comprising: 
 a housing, including a display;    an electronics assembly mounted in said housing for controlling input/output functions of said gaming unit; and    an alerting device mounted to said housing for indicating at least one of a game win condition at an end of a first game within a gaming session and a request for help from a game proprietor, said alerting device configured as an operational element during of a second game within said gaming session.    
   
   
       14 . The gaming unit of  claim 13 , wherein the alerting device includes at least one indicator light mounted on said housing, said at least one indicator light communicating status information concerning said first game to a player and others in a designated playing area.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming unit of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one indicator light includes a red light-emitting diode and a green light-emitting diode, wherein said red and green light-emitting diodes illuminate three distinct colors, each color being indicative of a win condition of said second game.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming unit of  claim 15 , wherein the second game is a raffle game, wherein said second game is played with a plurality of said gaming units, each gaming unit having said at least one indicator light illuminated during a start of said second game, said second game randomly deactivating said at least one indicator light of randomly selected gaming units until only one gaming unit of said plurality of said gaming units has an illuminated at least one indicator light in each chosen color.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming unit of  claim 16 , wherein at the end of said second game, a single randomly selected winning gaming unit has said at least one indicator light illuminated in a chosen one of a plurality of colors.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming unit of  claim 13 , wherein said gaming unit includes a distinct serial number, said serial number being an address of said gaming unit on the secure network, said second game being associated with said serial number.  
   
   
       19 . A portable gaming unit for playing a game over a secure network, the gaming unit comprising: 
 a housing, including a display;    an electronics assembly mounted in said housing for controlling input/output functions of said gaming unit; and    a battery and a battery control system, mounted to said housing, for regulating an operation of said gaming unit,    wherein said gaming unit receives information from the network regarding required duration of play for an entire gaming session,    wherein said battery control system prevents initiation of a gaming session on said gaming unit if there is inadequate power for the entire gaming session.    
   
   
       20 . The gaming unit of  claim 19 , wherein said electronic assembly includes a primary gaming processor and a low power secondary processor, the primary and secondary processors being interactively in communication with each other, the secondary processor being configured to selectively actuate said primary processor, suspend said primary processor and resume said primary processor depending on predetermined gaming events.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming unit of  claim 20 , wherein said electronics assembly includes a first state configuration and a second state configuration, said first state configuration and second state configuration determining operation of said primary processor and said secondary processor.  
   
   
       22 . The gaming unit of  claim 21 , wherein said first state configuration and said second state configuration comprises at least four operational states including Run, Screen Saver, Suspend and Low Power/Reset.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming unit of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of said first state configuration and second state configuration is responsive to an orientation of the gaming unit.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming unit of  claim 21 , wherein said gaming unit further comprises a base pivotally connected to said housing, such that the gaming unit has a use orientation and a transport orientation.  
   
   
       25 . The gaming unit of  claim 19 , further including at least one indicator light mounted on said housing, said at least one indicator light communicating status information concerning a first gaming session being played on said gaming unit to a player and others in a designated playing area, said at least one indicator light being an operational element during a second gaming session.