Gaming device with a serial connection

Abstract

A gaming device comprising a cabinet, a door, a game control unit, a printed circuit board and an input/output microcontroller. The door is hingedly connected to the cabinet. The game control unit is housed within the cabinet. The printed circuit board is mounted to the door and disposed inside the cabinet. The printed circuit board carries a plurality of light sources and a plurality of switches switchable between an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. The input/output microcontroller, which performs many of the functions conventionally performed by the game control unit, is mounted to the printed circuit board and connected to the game control unit by a serial link. The microcontroller is coupled to the switches to inform the game control unit of the condition of each of the switches. The microcontroller is coupled to the light sources to turn the light sources on and off.

1. A gaming device comprising:
 a game control unit; 
 a printed circuit board carrying a plurality of switches switchable between an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; and 
 an input/output microcontroller mounted to said printed circuit board and connected to said game control unit by a serial link, said microcontroller being coupled to said switches to inform said game control unit of the condition of each of said switches. 
 
     
     
       2. The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein said serial link comprises a universal serial bus, RS-232, RS-485 or Ethernet link. 
     
     
       3. The gaming device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a button panel mounted in proximity to said printed circuit board; 
 a plurality of buttons mounted to said button panel; and 
 a plurality of actuators coupled to said respective buttons and disposed to actuate said respective switches in response to pressing said respective buttons. 
 
     
     
       4. The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein said microcontroller scans said switches to determine whether each of said switches is in the actuated or non-actuated condition. 
     
     
       5. The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein said microcontroller debounces said switches. 
     
     
       6. The gaming device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light source mounted on said printed circuit board, wherein said microcontroller determines when to illuminate said light source. 
 
     
     
       7. The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein said microcontroller refreshes said light source. 
     
     
       8. A gaming device comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a door hingedly connected to said cabinet; 
 a game control unit housed within said cabinet; 
 a printed circuit board mounted to said door and disposed inside said cabinet, said printed circuit board carrying a plurality of light sources and a plurality of switches switchable between an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; and 
 an input/output microcontroller mounted to said printed circuit board and connected to said game control unit by a serial link, said microcontroller being coupled to said switches to inform said game control unit of the condition of each of said switches, said microcontroller being coupled to said light sources to turn said light sources on and off. 
 
     
     
       9. The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein said serial link comprises a universal serial bus, RS-232, RS-485 or Ethernet link. 
     
     
       10. The gaming device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a button panel mounted to said door in proximity to said printed circuit board; 
 a plurality of buttons mounted to said button panel; and 
 a plurality of actuators coupled to said respective buttons and disposed to actuate said respective switches in response to pressing said respective buttons. 
 
     
     
       11. The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein said microcontroller scans said switches to determine whether each of said switches is in the actuated or non-actuated condition. 
     
     
       12. The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein said microcontroller debounces said switches. 
     
     
       13. The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein said microcontroller refreshes said light sources. 
     
     
       14. A gaming device comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a door hingedly connected to said cabinet; 
 a game control unit housed within said cabinet; 
 a printed circuit board mounted to said door and disposed inside said cabinet, said printed circuit board carrying a plurality of light sources and a plurality of switches switchable between an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; and 
 microprocessor means for scanning and debouncing said switches, informing said game control unit of the condition of each of said switches, turning said light sources on and off, and refreshing said light sources, said microprocessor means being mounted to said printed circuit board and connected to said game control unit by a serial link.