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 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A reel control system for a reel mechanism having at least one stepper motor driver and at least one reel for carrying symbols, the reel control system comprising:
 an intelligent reel driver configured to monitor the reel position of said at least one reel and automatically corrects the position of said reel when improper movement is detected.   
     
     
         7 . The reel control system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said intelligent reel driver is configured with two modes of operation. 
     
     
         8 , The reel control system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said intelligent reel driver automatically corrects the position of said reel in a lock mode of operation. 
     
     
         9 . The reel control system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said intelligent reel driver includes a tilt mode of operation in which a tilt alarm when improper movement is detected. 
     
     
         10 - 16 . (canceled)