Control system for reel mechanism

Abstract

A reel control system eliminates known problems with reel mechanisms used in gaming machines. First of all, phase setting of the reel position is greatly simplified. The control system also provides a relatively accurate method for determining if a reel position has moved from a standstill position, due to low power, no power or outright tampering. Any movement of the reel can be corrected. The reel control system includes multiple serial bus interfaces connected to a single serial bus that can be connected to multiple stepper motor drivers which provide for fast response time to commands. The reel control system can drive multiple stepper motor drivers configured with the same physical address to reduce manufacturing costs and is further configured to simultaneously drive multiple reels, different distances, different directions, with different numbers of symbols per reel as well as drive different types of reels.

1 . A reel control system for communicating with a reel mechanism having a reel for carrying symbols and a stepper motor driver, the reel control system comprising:
 an intelligent reel driver configured to communicate with a host application and a stepper motor driver, said intelligent reel driver configured to enable the home position of the reel to be aligned with a pay line by way of an external PC.   
     
     
         2 . The reel control system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said home position corresponds to a predetermined symbol on said reel. 
     
     
         3 . The reel control system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intelligent reel controller includes at least one serial bus for communicating with said host application. 
     
     
         4 . The reel control system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intelligent reel controller includes one serial bus for communicating with a plurality of reel mechanisms. 
     
     
         5 . The reel control system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said reel includes symbols of different lengths. 
     
     
         6 - 16 . (canceled)