Patent ID: 7670224
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A gaming apparatus, comprising: a housing; a display unit that is capable of generating video images mounted in the housing; a value input device mounted in the housing, the value input device being one of a coin acceptor, a paper currency acceptor, or a ticket reader/printer; a value output device mounted in the housing; a detection device operable to detect presence of a person and a direction in which the person is moving; a timer circuit; a controller operatively coupled to the display unit, the value input device, the value output device, the detection device and the timer circuit, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the detection device comprising: the controller being programmed to determine that no person is within a determined distance of the gaming apparatus in response to a failure to detect a person during a first time interval, the controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager via the value input device, the controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on the display unit, the video image representing a game, the controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of the game represented by the video image and to provide the value payout via the value output device; the controller being programmed to cause the timer circuit to measure a period of time after the detection device determines that no person is within the determined distance of the gaming apparatus; the controller being programmed to compare the period of time to a predetermined time duration; the controller being programmed to cause the gaming apparatus to enter a sleep mode after the period of time equals the predetermined time duration in which power supplied to a plurality of different components of the gaming apparatus is reduced; the controller being programmed to cause the gaming apparatus to terminate the sleep mode when the detection device detects a person, to cause power to the plurality of different components of the gaming apparatus to be increased; and the controller being programmed to vary the predetermined time duration throughout the day.