Patent ID: 6575833
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A gaming machine comprising:(a) a master gaming controller that controls a game played on the gaming machine; (b) a plurality of gaming devices coupled to the gaming machine; (c) an access mechanism allowing access to one or more gaming devices of said gaming machine; (d) a sensor including a sensor emitter and a sensor detector for indicating when the access mechanism has been actuated in a manner in allowing access to one or more of the gaming devices; (e) a security monitoring system, connected to the master gaming controller, said security monitoring system comprising: sensor monitoring circuitry, said sensor monitoring circuitry including: (i) source circuitry providing an oscillating validation signal controlling operation of the sensor emitter; (ii) detection circuitry for monitoring the output of the sensor detector in a manner sampling the output at least twice within a single oscillation; (iii) comparison circuitry for comparing the oscillating validation signal from the source circuitry with a signal from the detection circuitry to determine when the access mechanism has been actuated; (iv) a random number storage register for storing a random number that is generated by the master gaming controller prior to actuation of the access mechanism wherein the random number storage register is cleared by the sensor monitoring circuitry when the access mechanism has been actuated; and (f) a non-volatile memory location different from the random number storage register for storing the random number; wherein the master gaming controller is used to compare the random number stored in the random number storage register with the random number stored in the non-volatile memory location to determine when the access mechanism has been actuated.