Gaming terminal

A gaming terminal for use with information carriers, such as gaming coupons and receipts. The gaming terminal comprises an information analyzer including an information processor for converting the information read from the carriers into digital data and for transmitting the data to a remote processing system, a dividable nonvolatile memory system for storing terminal instructions received from the remote processing system and for storing gaming data received by the terminal, a data receiver for accepting carrier validation data originating from the processing system, a data display, a keyboard, and a terminal processor. The information analyzer further comprises a single analysis device having the facility to analyze hand-written signs or marks scribed on the coupons by a player and the facility to read bar codes representing validation numerals on the receipts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to terminals for games organized on a 
national scale, such as lottery games, lotto totalizers or the like. 
2. Related Art 
Such terminals generally form part of systems for placing bets. 
A system for placing bets generally includes terminals for placing bets 
located in gaming offices visited by the players who deposit at these 
offices gaming coupons which they have completed, together with the 
handing-over of a sum of money corresponding to the stake which they 
wager. 
In exchange they receive a receipt which they keep until the draw. 
The bet-placing terminals are either linked by a communication network to a 
central processing system or server centre and are so-called "on line" 
terminals, or autonomous so-called "off line" terminals. 
The gaming terminals are ordinarily equipped with devices for analyzing 
gaming coupons and often with separate devices for analysing receipts for 
determining, after the draw, the bearers of receipts who should receive 
winnings, together with the amounts of these winnings. 
The processing of a gaming coupon is carried out by inserting this coupon 
into a coupon analysis device of a terminal. 
This coupon is analysed in pixels and the image obtained is processed 
digitally. 
The aforesaid processing determines the type of coupon, the type of marks 
or signs written on the coupon by the players, and prepares a coded frame 
which is transmitted to the central processing system which records the 
corresponding transaction in a memory. 
Once the transaction is recorded, a validation code is sent to the terminal 
which prints a receipt which marks the commitment of the gaming body 
towards the player of payment in the event of a win. 
The terminal furthermore includes means for analyzing the receipt after the 
draw in order to determine whether the bearer of the receipt has won or 
not. 
After reading the receipt, the coded numeral which it bears is transmitted 
by the terminal to the central system which interrogates the file of 
winners. 
If the numeral of the receipt in question appears in the file, permission 
for payment is transmitted to the corresponding terminal. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention aims to enhance the existing gaming terminals by creating a 
gaming terminal which provides for the greatest number of functions 
mentioned above while still offering the most compact, modular 
construction possible and the simplest and safest possible manner of use. 
It also aims to produce a terminal whose construction and use offer major 
possibilities for development over time. 
The subject of the invention is therefore a gaming terminal comprising 
means for analyzing information carriers, especially gaming coupons and 
receipts, means for processing the information resulting from the analysis 
of the information carriers, for converting these data into digital data 
and for transmitting these data to a remote or local processing system by 
way of a communication network, means for receiving data for validating 
gaming coupons and/or receipts originating from the remote or local 
processing system, data display means, a keyboard assembly associated with 
electronic means for controlling the various functions of the terminal 
characterized in that the means for analyzing the gaming coupons and 
receipts consist of a common information carrier analysis device 
comprising means for analyzing the signs written by the players on the 
coupons and means for reading bar codes representing the validation 
numerals of the receipts and in that these processing means include 
large-capacity, dividable storage means having zero retention energy 
consumption, on the one hand for the instructions for operating the 
terminal which are transmitted to them from the processing system, and on 
the other hand for the gaming data received by the terminal and in that it 
furthermore includes integrated-circuit passkey means for permitting or 
prohibiting access to the terminal. 
According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the storage 
means consist of at least one so-called "flash" segmented EEPROM memory. 
According to another characteristic of the invention, the terminal 
furthermore includes a device for reading magnetic codes and optical 
codes, which is associated with the device for analyzing information 
carriers. 
According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the terminal 
furthermore includes an integrated-circuit card reader associated with the 
information carrier analysis device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Represented in perspective in FIG. 1 is a general outside view of the 
gaming terminal according to the invention. 
This terminal, designated by the general reference 1, includes a rear 
housing 2 in which are placed most of the electronic circuits of the 
terminal and a front housing 3 essentially containing the means for 
actuation and for display for the terminal. The housing 2 contains an 
essential element of the terminal of the invention, namely a device 4 for 
analyzing data carriers. 
For access to the analysis device 4, the housing includes a slot 5 
delimited by lips 6 made from the same material as the housing 2. 
To the side of the data carrier analysis device 4, the housing 2 contains a 
printer 7 equipped with a cutter device, such as a thermal printer, above 
which is made a slot 8 provided in the housing 2 to enable printed 
documents to exit. 
The various components of the terminal which are contained in the housing 
2, together with those contained in the housing 3, are represented dotted. 
The housing 3 situated in front of the housing 2 includes a control 
keyboard 9 which will be described in further detail later on, a display 
screen 10 of the liquid-crystal type intended to display the information 
corresponding to the current running of commands for operating the 
terminal, a magneto-optical reader 11 intended for reading carriers 
bearing magnetic codes, and carrier bearing optical codes, a housing 12 
with integrated-circuit passkey intended for monitoring access to the 
terminal in a way which will be described later and a reader 13 of 
integrated-circuit cards, especially monetary credit cards or gambling 
credit cards. 
Represented in FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the gaming terminal 
according to the invention. 
This schematic diagram of a particular type should be read starting from 
the center whereat is indicated the general function of the device 
described, towards the periphery, by successive concentric layers which 
provide progressively more detailed indications about the structure of the 
device. 
The terminal 1 represented diagrammatically in FIG. 2 includes, firstly, an 
off-the-shelf microprocessor card 20, such as a 386 SX card from Intel 
Corporation, 3065 Bower Avenue, Santa Clara, Calif. 95052. 
This card 20 includes two serial input output circuits 21, 22, a parallel 
input output circuit 22a, a circuit 23 for connecting to a color graphics 
screen, a circuit 24 connected up to a switch 25 for selecting the 
operating speed of the terminal, a circuit 26 for linking to the keyboard 
9, a loudspeaker output circuit 27 and a logic circuit for resetting 28. 
It furthermore includes circuits 29, 30 and 31 which can be used for 
connecting a hard disk, a diskette and an external microcomputer card. 
The ports for linking all these circuits to the aforesaid peripheral 
devices are manifested in the figure with a square barred with a cross. 
With the microprocessor 20 there is furthermore associated an ISA 
microcomputer bus 32 intended for linking the microprocessor 20 to a 
number of circuits and especially to a circuit or auxiliary card 33 
containing an autonomous processing unit, a memory and a logic monitoring 
unit. 
The microprocessor 20 is furthermore linked by the bus 32 to a modem 34 for 
linking to a communication network to which the terminal is connected, 
with a "flash" type EEPROM memory card 35. This integrated memory circuit 
is manufactured and sold by the Intel Corporation company. It is intended 
for storing, on the one hand, the terminal operating programs loaded 
therein from the central processing system to which it is linked by the 
network and, on the other hand, the gaming data received by the terminal 
proper. 
This "flash" memory card 35 is associated with a "flash" memory card 36 
which can be plugged in by means of a connector 37 and is intended to 
contain for example the gaming data gathered by the terminal over a given 
period. This memory card 36 can be withdrawn from the terminal so as to be 
transported to a processing centre. The "flash" type memories have the 
essential characteristics of being extremely difficult to access, if the 
appropriate means are not available, so that the transporting in such a 
memory of data relating to games which are to remain secret prior to the 
draw is much safer than the transporting of data for example in a memory 
of the diskette type which may be read extremely easily with the aid of an 
ordinary microcomputer. 
The microprocessor 20 is furthermore connected up by the bus 32 to a 
circuit 38 for connecting to a local network having a coaxial cable 
connection 39 and a twisted pair connection 40. 
The microprocessor 20 is moreover connected by the bus 32 to an interface 
circuit 41 intended for linking together mass storage units. This is a 
parallel local bus, of multi-media type, for example SCSI. The interface 
circuit 41 enables a multi-media CD-ROM reader to be linked to the 
terminal. 
The auxiliary card 33 is linked to two serial input/output circuits 42, 43, 
to a circuit 44 for monitoring the opening or closing of a cash till, to a 
circuit 45 for monitoring the electrical supply to the terminal, this 
circuit 45 being described in further detail with reference to FIG. 6, to 
the data analysis device 4 represented in FIG. 1, to an input/output 
circuit 46 associated with the keyboard 9 and to a circuit for controlling 
the thermal printer 7. 
The electrical current supply to the terminal is provided for either at 110 
volts, or at 220 volts AC from 40 to 80 Hz and delivers DC voltages of 
various values, -5 volts, +5 volts, -12 volts, +12 volts and +24 volts for 
example. 
Thus, as will be seen later with reference to FIG. 6, all of the DC 
voltages with the exception of the 24-volt voltage, are controlled by the 
code of the coded passkey which the user of the terminal must possess in 
order to set it going. 
Represented in further detail in FIG. 3 is the assembly of the keyboard 9 
controlled by the keyboard input/output circuit 36 of FIG. 2. 
This keyboard assembly includes a matrix of keys associated with a 
monitoring circuit 51. 
It furthermore includes a loudspeaker control circuit 52, a control circuit 
53 associated with the integrated-circuit card or microchip card reader 13 
(FIG. 1), a circuit 54 associated with the integrated-circuit passkey or 
microchip passkey assembly 12, a circuit 55 for controlling light-emitting 
signalling diodes (not depicted), and an interface circuit 56 with 50 
connection pairs. 
The keyboard assembly furthermore includes a circuit 57 for controlling an 
optical or magnetic reader 58 commonly termed a "douchette" and linked by 
a flexible cable to the keyboard assembly. 
It also includes a circuit 59 for monitoring the magneto-optical reader 11 
(FIG. 1) together with a circuit 60 for controlling, on the one hand, the 
liquid-crystal display screen of the terminal intended for the retailer 
and a liquid-crystal display device 61 intended for the players and linked 
to the terminal by a flexible cable, placed in such a way that the 
gamblers may see the result of their bet when their receipt is verified in 
the terminal following the draw of the game in which they participated. 
The liquid-crystal display device 10 intended for the retailer and 
represented in FIG. 5 includes a liquid-crystal display region 62 and a 
serial-parallel interface circuit 63. 
Similarly, as represented in FIG. 4, the liquid-crystal display device 
intended for the players includes a liquid-crystal display region 65 and a 
serial-parallel interface circuit 66, the two display devices 10 and 61 
being linked to the control circuit 60 by way of respective interface 
circuits 63 and 66. 
Reference will now be made to FIG. 6 wherein is represented the circuit 45 
for monitoring the supply to the terminal according to the invention. 
In this figure is seen the supply circuit 70 which is itself supplied from 
the 220 volts network by way of a switch 71 and which is intended to 
deliver at its output a number of DC voltages ranging from -5 volts to +12 
volts for example, these various supply voltages being applied to the 
central processing unit of the microprocessor 20, to the memory assembly 
and in particular to the "flash" memory 35, to the auxiliary card 33 as 
well as to other circuits of the terminal. 
Furthermore, the central unit of the microprocessor 20 is connected to the 
integrated-circuit passkey reading circuit 12 of a microchip passkey 73 
which, as its name indicates, bears an integrated circuit 74 which 
contains the code for access to the terminal 
The output of the circuit 12 for reading the passkey 73 is furthermore 
connected to an input of an OR circuit 75, while the other input of the OR 
circuit is connected to a corresponding output of the central unit of the 
microprocessor 20. The output from the circuit 75 is intended to control 
the switch 71 for transmitting the voltage from the network to the supply 
circuit 70. 
The insertion of the passkey 73 into the reader 12 firstly causes the 
appearance of an output signal applied, on the one hand, to the central 
unit 20 and, on the other hand, to the corresponding input of the OR 
circuit 75. If the output signal from the reader 12 corresponds to the 
exact code for access to the terminal, the central unit 20 recognizes this 
code and transmits on its output connected to the OR circuit 75 a signal 
causing the appearance at the output of the circuit 75 of a signal for 
controlling the closing of the switch 71 and consequently for turning on 
the supply 70. If, on the contrary, the output signal from the reader 12 
corresponds to an erroneous access code, the central unit 20 transmits on 
its output connected to the corresponding input of the circuit 75, a 
signal providing for the turning-off of this circuit and consequently the 
opening of the switch 71 and the cutting of the network voltage applied to 
the supply 70. 
Consequently, it is seen that the turning-on of the terminal is already 
conditional upon detecting the exact code or algorithm for access to the 
terminal written in the integrated circuit or microchip 74 of the passkey 
73. 
As described earlier with reference to FIG. 2, the circuit of the terminal 
includes a microprocessor card 20 comprising its own conventional memories 
with which is associated the flash memory 35 and the auxiliary card 33 
also utilizes a memory. 
The operation of the device as regards the behaviour of its storage means 
will therefore be described later. 
The storage means associated with the central processing unit comprise a 
DRAM, the "flash" memory 35 intended to contain the coded and compressed 
software for the applications of the terminal, an SRAM and a ROM which are 
intended to contain fixed parameters such as internal tests, and basic 
transfer software. 
According to the invention, it is desired to avoid, in respect of the flash 
memory 35, employing a hard disk which is expensive, slow, bulky and 
unreliable. 
The memory 35 is therefore made in the form of a large-capacity segmented 
EEPROM having zero retention consumption and with which are associated 
specific access means 35a (FIG. 2) enabling the memory to be placed in 
communication with the remainder of the terminal, with other terminals of 
the network or with units for loading/downloading and for reading/writing 
the flash memory. 
During normal operation of the terminal, after switching on, there is a 
test to determine whether the memories of the terminal are loaded or 
empty. 
If the memories are loaded, part of the DRAM is configured in virtual disk 
form, the remainder being configured as a work memory. 
The files stored in the flash memory 35, in the SRAM and in the ROM are 
expanded, decoded and transferred either to the DRAM disk, or into the 
DRAM memory of the unit of the microprocessor 20. 
Access to the flash memory is conditional upon the recognizing by the 
access means 35a of the access code contained in the integrated circuit 74 
of the microchip passkey 73. 
The application to be carried out is then executed. 
During the application, certain parameters are temporarily transferred to 
the SRAM, then during idle times of the application, the flash memory 35 
is updated with the information contained in the SRAM. 
The segmented structure of the flash memory 35 enables these operations to 
be executed in a minimum of time. 
If the flash memory 35 and the SRAM and DRAM memories are empty, 
corresponding to the unloaded state of the terminal, when switching on, it 
is verified that there is no software in the aforesaid memories. 
The terminal reads the ROM disk and basic transfer software contained in 
the ROM calls up the server center or is called by the latter which 
remotely loads into the flash memory 35 the applications to be executed by 
the terminal. 
The latter is then ready to operate under normal operation. 
The flash card 36 connected to the flash memory 35 by the connector 37 as 
represented diagrammatically in FIG. 2 also forms part of the operating 
diagram just described. 
It can furthermore be withdrawn from the terminal and transported to a 
distant processing center without it being possible to access its 
contents. 
This facility is very advantageous for terminals which do not operate in an 
interconnected network but whose gaming data would be read out 
specifically with the aid of a removable memory and transported to a 
processing center with a view to being processed there. 
Returning now to FIG. 2 it should be pointed out that in the present 
embodiment, the data carrier analysis device 6 is advantageously of the 
type described in the French Patent Applications Nos. 92 10 642 of 7 Sep. 
1992 and 92 11 112 of 17 Sep. 1992, which have been filed by the 
Applicant. 
This is a device comprising means for inserting an information carrier, 
means for reading the information on the carrier, means for processing the 
information read on the carrier with a view to its conversion into digital 
data and its transmission to a central gaming management unit. The means 
for reading the information on the carrier, when the latter is a gaming 
coupon, comprise an optical reader which is blind to at least one color in 
which fixed information is printed on the carrier and which reader is 
sensitive to other colors, so as to take into account only the variable 
gaming information and the fixed information for aligning the carrier and 
for designating the type of game to which it belongs, which information is 
printed in these other colors. 
The analysis device represented schematically in FIG. 7 includes 
principally an image detector 101 arranged opposite a roller 102 for 
driving a document 103 to be analysed. 
The roller 102 is linked to an electric stepper motor 104 intended to allow 
analysis of the document 103 through successive scanning lines with a 
vertical resolution which depends on the step selected for the 
displacement of the roller 102. 
Connected up to the image detector 101 is a data processing device 105 
which includes a memory 106 for temporary storage of the digital image 
data, prior to its transmission to a central gaming management unit (not 
represented). 
The device of FIG. 7 furthermore includes a logic circuit 107 for 
controlling the electric stepper motor 104 and a comparator 108 connected 
up between the data output of the image detector 101 and the input of the 
processing unit and intended to compare the output signal from the 
detector with a reference signal delivered by a signal source 109, as well 
as a circuit 109a for monitoring the luminous intensity which receives a 
luminous intensity monitoring signal originating from the processing unit 
105. 
Thus, the processing unit 105 will be able, by comparison, to determine a 
correct intensity of the light source, appropriate to the processing in 
progress. 
As represented in FIG. 8, the image detector 101 includes a row of 
light-emitting diodes 110, the number of which depends on the horizontal 
resolution and luminous intensity which are required. 
With these diodes 110 there are associated members 111 for focusing and 
filtering the light, and intended to focus these beams 112 onto a 
transparent wall 113 of the housing of the detector, against which wall 
must be applied the face of the document to be analysed which bears, on 
the one hand, fixed inscriptions such as a gaming grid, grid box numerals, 
date and other indications, printed in the color of the light emitted and 
which will therefore not be reproduced by the device and, on the other 
hand, variable inscriptions made by the player in the gaming grid in a 
color which differs from that of the emitted light, as well as fixed 
inscriptions such as alignment tags, a code relating to the type of game 
to which the coupon belongs, printed in a color which differs from that of 
the emitted light, and which will be reproduced. 
Opposite the region for focusing the beams emitted by the light-emitting 
diodes 110, are arranged light conductors 114 for transmitting the beams 
to the photo-sensitive elements 116. 
The plane of symmetry of the roller 102 and the optical axis of the light 
conductors 114 have a slight offset in the direction of insertion of a 
document in order to allow the front edge of this document to reflect the 
light emitted by the monochromatic light source, thereby conveying the 
presence of the document at this location. 
Advantageously, the members 111 for focusing and filtering the beams 
emitted by the light-emitting diodes 110 are made in the form of thick 
plano-concave lenses whose concave face has a curvature such that the beam 
exiting a lens overlaps the beam exiting a neighboring lens. 
Thus, the light emitted by the set of light-emitting diodes has the 
appearance of a continuous monochromatic luminous stroke of red color for 
example. 
Thus, all the parts of a coupon printed in red do not appear on the image 
of the coupon as given by the device, while the parts printed or bearing 
marks in other colors do appear. 
The device furthermore includes detectors 117, 118 arranged opposite the 
slot between the roller 102 and the image detector 101, at an axial 
distance from one another which is slightly greater than the transverse 
dimension a of the smallest document to be read. 
The outputs of the detectors 117, 118 are connected up to the processing 
unit 105 through a circuit 119. 
Such a layout makes it possible to distinguish between a document of small 
width, such as a receipt which prompts the actuation of a single detector, 
and a document of greater width, such as a gaming coupon which triggers 
two detectors, and to prompt within the processing unit 105 the 
intervention of a program appropriate to the processing of the 
corresponding document. 
Represented in FIG. 9 is a lotto gaming coupon which includes a gaming grid 
120 containing numerals printed in the color of emission of the light 
sources of the detector, that is to say in red in the present example. 
This coupon furthermore bears, printed in red, an upper zone 121 indicating 
the day and period of validity of the coupon and to the left of this zone, 
the word "LOTTO" is printed on a blue background in respect of the letters 
L and T and on a red background in respect of the letters O. 
The ticket moreover includes a lower zone 122 with red background on which 
appears in white the inscription "6 out of 49" indicating the number of 
numerals to be ticked. 
The other zones of the coupon are printed in colors which allow them to be 
detected by the reading device. 
These are regions 123, 124 for aligning the coupon, a region 125 for 
identifying the type of game to which the coupon belongs and inscriptions 
126 indicating for example the number of draws and the corresponding prize 
to be paid out. 
Finally, marks in the form of crosses 127 have been made by a player on the 
coupon and constitute the latter's variable data. 
Represented in FIG. 10 is the image of the coupon of FIG. 9 which results 
from the analysis by the device according to the invention and which 
appears on the display means associated with the latter. 
It is seen that all the regions printed on the coupon in the color to which 
the device has been rendered blind, have disappeared from the image of the 
coupon and that there remain only the variable data consisting of the 
crosses 127 made by the player and the fixed data printed in colors other 
than red, such as the alignment tags 123, 124, and the code 125 
designating the type of game, together with certain inscriptions such as 
126. 
As will be seen later, the image of the coupon of FIG. 10 will be completed 
by superimposing on the information of FIG. 10 from the image, a 
reconstructed game analysis marking pattern such as a grid identical to 
the grid 120 of the coupon of FIG. 9 
Represented in FIG. 11 is the image of a gaming receipt delivered to the 
player by the gaming terminal and the reading of which is also ensured by 
the analysis device according to the invention. 
The receipt also includes a number of regions intended to be analyzed and 
in particular a region 130 containing a bar code for validating the coupon 
presented by a player. 
This is a code which must be identified and compared with a corresponding 
code stored in the central unit. 
This code, which is sometimes printed with printing defects, must be 
recognized by the device according to the invention with maximum accuracy. 
It consists of a first part 131 formed of bars arranged at regular 
intervals and which embody clock signals and of a second part 132 formed 
of bars defining data signals corresponding to the validation code proper. 
To the left of the receipt thus constituted is represented a histogram 133 
of the bar code generated by the analysis device intended for calculating 
the separation between the clock signals and the data signals. 
Under the lower edge of the receipt is represented a horizontal histogram 
133a intended for calculating the angle of inclination .alpha. of the 
receipt. 
Analysis of the receipt is ensured by sweeping two rectangular sectors 134, 
135 defined in the parts 131 and 132 of the bar code. 
The positions of the sectors 134 and 135 are chosen on each side of the 
line of separation of the clock signals and data signals. 
As represented in FIG. 12, in the sector 134 of part 131 of the bar code 
embodying the clock signals, there are defined adjacent windows 137 each 
surrounding a portion of bar. 
Next, in sector 135 of part 132 of the bar code corresponding to the data 
signals, there are defined windows 138 each surrounding the possible 
location of a portion of bar and the presence or absence of a bar in each 
window 138 is determined through line-by-line sweeping. 
This sweeping takes account of the printing defects, since it is accepted 
by convention that the detecting of for example 60% of the points out of 
the totality of points forming a bar confirms the presence of a bar and 
causes it to be taken into account in respect of the analysis of the code. 
Next, the counting of the data signals is carried out by performing a 
logical AND operation between a clock bar and a data bar which may 
possibly lie opposite this clock bar. 
The simultaneous presence of a clock bar and a data bar induces the issuing 
of a logic 1, while the presence of a clock bar and the absence of a data 
bar induces the issuing of a logic 0. 
It is therefore seen that in this way the validation numeral borne by the 
receipt is reconstructed highly accurately. 
The executing of an analysis operation with the aid of the device according 
to the invention will now be described with reference to the flowcharts of 
FIGS. 13 and 14. 
The sweeping operation is triggered by the presenting of a document to the 
analysis device by insertion between the roller 102 and the image detector 
101. 
As represented in FIG. 8, the plane of symmetry of the roller 102 
perpendicular to the transparent face 113 of the detector is offset with 
respect to the optical axis of the set of light conductors 114 so that the 
edge of a document engaged between the roller 102 and the light detector 
101 may lie beyond this optical axis and so that the document may reflect 
the light originating from the light-emitting diodes 110 as soon as it is 
put in place. 
The parallelism between the edge of the document and the lines of 
light-emitting diodes is checked by making provision for a minimum number 
of photosensitive elements 116 to have to receive the light reflected by 
the edge of the document in order to accept that its position with respect 
to the line of diodes is correct, that is to say that its defect in 
parallelism with respect to the line of diodes is tolerable. 
This parallelism can also be checked by determining a minimum distance 
between two illuminated photosensitive elements. When this minimum 
distance or the minimum number of photosensitive elements is reached, the 
processing device actuates the stepper motor for driving the roller 102 
and line-by-line reading of the document can be performed. The minimum 
distance between two elements or the minimum number of illuminated 
light-emitting elements differs depending on the transverse dimension of 
the document to be analysed. 
The placing of a document on the analysis device is performed in phase 140. 
Whether the document is a coupon or a receipt is determined by means of the 
detectors 117, 118 during phases 141 and 142. 
If the document is a receipt, its processing will be examined with 
reference to FIG. 14. 
If the document is a gaming coupon, during phase 143 the edges of the 
coupon which are embodied through eight tags 123 represented in FIGS. 9 
and 10 are searched for with a view to the approximate aligning of the 
coupon. 
After the aligning is carried out, a search is made for the marks 124 for 
accurate alignment of the coupon, which are represented in FIGS. 9 and 10 
by blocks. 
This search is effected in phase 144. If the coupon does not include any 
marks for accurate alignment, it is established during phase 145 that the 
coupon examined is a coupon of the old type which requires, during a 
procedure embodied overall by a phase 146, a specific search corresponding 
to each coupon. 
If the coupon includes marks 124, it is established during phase 147 that 
this is a coupon which can be processed by the device. 
During phase 148 the inclination of the coupon with respect to the 
generatrix of the roller 102 is established and the processing system 
compensates for this inclination. 
During the subsequent phase 149 the coupon is searched for the code 
relating to the type of game to which it belongs and which is represented 
at 125 in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
During phase 150 there is undertaken the sending of the code relating to 
the type of game to a device with memory for storing the various 
information items relating to the gaming grids, which during phase 151 
sends back a table of regions. 
During phase 152 there is undertaken the search for the crosses in the 
regions of the ticket where they have been placed. 
During phase 153 the information relating to the table and to the crosses 
placed by the player on the ticket and embodied by their coordinates is 
returned to the central unit. The recording of the data relating to a 
coupon is then complete. 
The processing of a receipt will now be described with reference to the 
flowchart of FIG. 14. 
After having established during phase 142 mentioned at the time of 
describing FIG. 13 that the document inserted into the analysis device is 
a receipt, the straight edges of this receipt are searched for during 
phase 155. 
Then, during phase 156, the inclination of the receipt is calculated and, 
during phase 157, the region 130 containing the bar code which is 
represented in FIG. 11 is searched for. 
During phase 158, the compensating of the inclination calculated during 
phase 156 is undertaken. 
During phase 159, a horizontal histogram is compiled of a region of about 
20% of the region 130 containing the bar code followed by a filtering and 
digital smoothing which are performed during phase 160. 
During phase 161 a search is made for the downward verge in the largest 
area of the graph of the histogram 133 (FIG. 11). 
During phase 162 the largest downward verge corresponding to the center of 
the bar code is pinpointed. 
During phase 163 the adjacent regions 131, 132 (FIG. 11) representing the 
clock and data signals respectively are determined. 
During phase 164 the histogram relating to the codes in the region of the 
clock signals 131 is compiled. 
During phase 165 the smoothing and extraction of the clock bits is 
undertaken as is a rescaling by compiling an average. 
Whether the number of clock signals is correct is determined during phase 
166. If the answer is no, the receipt is regarded as being illegible and 
is rejected. If the answer is yes, we go to phase 167 in which, on the 
basis of the clock signals, the regions for sampling the data or windows 
137 are determined by shifting the phase of the clock signals by half a 
period. 
During phase 168 the data in each region or window 138 corresponding to the 
window 137 are searched for by undertaking a discrimination by threshold 
and by regarding as valid the data represented by a specified fraction of 
the total number of points, two thirds for example. 
During phase 169 the four bits by four bits reformatting of the clock 
signals is undertaken, of which there are 60 for example, that is to say 
fifteen times four bits. 
During phase 170 the corresponding binary value is calculated, and is 
transmitted to the central unit. 
Examination of the validation numeral of the receipt is thus complete. 
The operation of the entire device according to the invention will now be 
specified with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. 
When the detectors 117, 118 detect the presence of a document at the input 
of the device, the information is transmitted through circuit 119 to the 
processing unit 105 which monitors the analyzing device and the stepper 
motor 104. The processing unit then activates the light-emitting diodes 
110, (FIG. 8) of the analysis device and the latter begins to scan a line. 
When the document is parallel to the light source in the layout indicated 
earlier, the central unit 105 controls the stepper motor 104 in such a way 
that a line is analysed after each advance by one step. 
Next, the central unit 105 uses the signals delivered by the input 
detection system of the analyzing device consisting of the detector 117 
and 118 and the circuit 119 for determining whether part of the document 
is still to be analyzed. 
Once the detection system no longer sees any document at the input, it 
transmits the absence of document information to the central unit 105 
which calculates the difference in position between the line currently 
being analyzed by the analyzing device, and the back edge of the document 
in order to establish the number of steps which the motor 104 must make so 
that the analysis of the document may be finished to the end. 
The image is analyzed line by line with for example a resolution of 40 
steps per cm and each line possesses a resolution of 80 steps per cm. 
The vertical resolution can be modified by modifying the transmission ratio 
between the output shaft of the stepper motor 104 and the document drive 
roller 102. 
The vertical resolution depends on the construction of the image detector 
101. 
During the operations for sweeping a document, the data analyzed line by 
line by the device, are transmitted by the processing unit to the data 
storage memory 106 with a view to their subsequent transmission to the 
central unit with which the device according to the invention is 
associated. 
In the example just described, the light source of the image reader is 
formed of a series of diodes having elements of red color with a 
wavelength of 650 to 670 nanometers. 
It is also conceivable to associate elements for filtering a first color 
with a first series of light-emitting diodes and to associate elements for 
filtering at least one other color with at least one other series of 
light-emitting diodes, and thus to render the reader blind to two or more 
colors. 
It is also conceivable to substitute the light-emitting diodes with a 
discharge tube emitting monochromatic light directly or else associated 
with an appropriate filtering element. 
The device for analyzing information carriers or documents, represented in 
FIG. 15, includes a housing 201 in the form of a channel of general U 
section with splayed-out edges, made from sheet metal and closed at its 
ends by flanges 202 and 203, made from plastic for example, fixed to the 
housing 201 for example by screws 203a. 
The splayed-out edges 204 and 205 of the housing 201 include, as is seen 
clearly in FIG. 17, sloping portions 206, 207 each prolonging a vertical 
wing 208, 209 of the housing and horizontal rims 210, 211. 
This splayed-out shape of the housing 201 facilitates the mounting of the 
device in a larger assembly such as for example a gaming terminal or the 
like. 
In the housing thus constituted, is arranged an image detector 215 of 
elongate parallelipipedal shape extending throughout the length of the 
housing and consisting of a linear light source (not depicted), means for 
focusing the light emitted by the source onto a transparent wall 216 
situated opposite a roller 217 for driving documents and photo-sensitive 
elements (not depicted) for detecting the light beams originating from the 
linear source when they are reflected by a document placed between the 
transparent wall 216 and the roller 217. 
At its ends the image detector 215 includes mounting plates 218, 219 which, 
as seen on plate 218, each include a projection 220 co-operating with a 
sloping groove made in each of the end flanges 202, 203 of the housing, 
only the groove 221 of the flange 203 being visible, to enable the image 
detector 215 to be mounted in the housing 201. 
As is clearly seen in FIG. 17, in the lower part of each end flange 202, 
203 of the housing, in proximity to the bottom 222, is fixed a hairpin 
spring 223 mounted on a stud 224 solid with the corresponding flange 203 
and including a curved-back branch 225 held in abutment against a pin 226 
and intended to come into contact with an edge of the corresponding plate 
219 for mounting the image detector 215 in order thus to provide for 
suspension or floating mounting of the detector 215 in the housing 201. 
The image detector 215 is held in place in the housing by the drive roller 
217 whose periphery is covered, as known per se, with a layer of cellular 
rubber 228 or the like. 
At each of its ends the roller 217 includes spindles 229, 230 provided with 
corresponding bearings 231, 232 intended to be received in respective 
notches 233, 234 made in the upper edges 235, 236 of the end flanges 202 
and 203 of the housing 201. 
The bearings 231, 232 are each provided with a catch 237, 238 for 
immobilizing the roller 217 with respect to the housing 201. 
These catches are identical, so that only the one which is more visible in 
the drawing, namely the catch 238, will be described. 
It includes a stem 239 solid with a hub 240 forming one of the parts of the 
corresponding bearing and provided with fans 240a for engaging the 
bearings in the corresponding notches 233, 234 of the flanges 202, 203 
when the catches are in the released position. 
At the end of the stem 239 away from the hub is provided a hole 241 which 
co-operates with a locking lug 242 provided on the corresponding end 
flange of the housing 201. 
Interlock is ensured, after placing the ends of the roller 217 into the 
corresponding notches 233, 234 of the housing 201, by rotating the catches 
237, 238 and engaging the locking lugs such as lug 242 in the 
corresponding holes such as the hole 241 in the catches. 
The elasticity of the catches 237, 238 permits slight deformation of the 
latter towards the inside of the housing in order to enable them to be 
engaged on the locking lugs 242. 
A tab 243 provided at the end of each catch makes it possible to facilitate 
its unlocking manoeuvre with a view to the disengaging of the roller 217. 
As represented in FIG. 18, when the roller 217 is in place in the housing 
201, it bears against the transparent face 216 of the image detector 215 
and causes the tensioning of the springs for suspending the image detector 
which thus apply the detector 215 permanently against the roller 217 as a 
result of the sliding mounting of the detector 215 in the sloping guide 
grooves 221 of the housing. 
Permanent contact is thus obtained between the detector and the roller, 
whether a document to be analyzed is present interposed between these two 
elements or not. 
The end spindle 229 of the roller 217 bears a pinion 245 for rotational 
driving of the roller which enmeshes with the output pinion 246 of a 
reduction gear 247 with two pinions 246 and 248 mounted rotatably on 
spindles fixed to the flanges 202 of the housing 201. The input pinion 248 
of the reduction gear is jammed onto the output shaft 249 of an electric 
stepper motor 250 for driving the roller fixed to the flanges 202 by way 
of ties 251 made from the same material and which leave between themselves 
a space sufficient to accommodate the pinions of the reduction gear 247. 
The bearing 232 mounted at the end of the roller 217 away from the drive 
pinion 245 includes, interposed between the part 240 forming a hub for the 
catch 238 and a washer 255 bearing on a circlipse 256 engaged in an end 
groove 257 of the spindle 230 of the roller 217, a crinkle washer 258 
whose elasticity ensures tight mounting of the bearing 232 against a 
corresponding shoulder 259 of the spindle 230 of the roller, the bearing 
232 thus forming a brake intended to damp the vibrations which are due to 
the stepped driving of the roller 217 and which are transmitted to the 
roller 217 by the latter's drive pinion 245. 
Analogously, as represented in FIG. 16, the output pinion 246 of the 
reduction gear 247 is likewise mounted on its spindle by way of a crinkle 
washer 260, the spindle of the pinion 246 consisting of a threaded rod 261 
including a smooth portion 262 for receiving the pinion 246 and a head 263 
for axial retention of this pinion. 
When the threaded rod 261 is screwed into a corresponding tapped hole made 
in the flange 202 of the housing 201, the crinkle washer 260 is compressed 
and provides for the rotational braking of the pinion 246 and thus the 
damping of the vibrations transmitted to it by the stepper motor 250. 
An oscillating flap 265 for receiving the documents after they are read by 
the device is furthermore arranged inside the housing. The oscillating 
flap 265 has an almost square-shaped outline and also extends throughout 
the length of the housing between the latter's flanges 202 and 203. It 
includes a longitudinal thickening 266 in which are made pockets 267 for 
receiving idlers 268 mounted rotatably on spindles 269 engaged removably 
by snap-fitting into slots 270 provided on either side of the pockets 267. 
There are four idlers 268 and they are distributed uniformly over the 
length of the oscillating flap 265. 
The longitudinal thickening 266 of the oscillating flap 265 has a concave 
face 271 shaped as a portion of a cylinder coaxial with the roller 217 in 
order to promote passage of the documents. 
The flap 265 is mounted oscillating on the end flanges 202 and 203 of the 
housing 201, by way of forks 272 which each co-operate with a spindle 273 
which is perceived on the flange 203 turned towards the inside of the 
housing 201. The flap 265 is held in position by hairpin springs 274, one 
branch 275 of which is curved back and hooked onto a stud 276 provided on 
the end edge of the flap and the opposite end 277 of which is straight and 
abuts against a pin such as 278 arranged beside the spindle 273 on the 
flange 203 of the housing 201. 
Thus, the springs 274 ensure the permanent application of the idlers 268 
against the roller 217. 
The role of the idlers 268 is, on the one hand, to escort the documents 
driven by the roller 217 up to the rear edge of the document and, on the 
other hand, when a document is freed by the roller 217, to bring it back 
against the flap in co-operation with an abutment which will be described 
with reference to FIG. 19. 
Of course, the corresponding elements are provided on the flange 202 to 
provide for the oscillating mounting of the flap 265 at its two ends. 
As can be seen in FIG. 18, the device is completed with a guide 280 fixed 
by ties 281 (FIG. 15) inside the housing 201 and which is intended to 
facilitate the insertion of the documents between the roller 217 and the 
image detector 215. 
Sensors 282, for example infrared sensors, are furthermore arranged along 
the guide 280 in order to detect the presence of a document at the 
entrance of the device. 
Advantageously, there are two of these sensors and their distancing is 
designed in such a way as to allow determination of the kind of document 
presented to the device according to the width of this document. 
Such a layout is described in the aforesaid French Patent Application No. 
92 10 642 filed on 7 Sep. 1992 by the Applicant and entitled "Device for 
analyzing information carriers, especially gaming coupons". 
Instead of being mounted oscillating, the flap for guiding and receiving 
the information carriers can be mounted fixedly in the housing of the 
device and the idlers which it bears can be applied against the roller 217 
by elastic members. 
Such a variant is represented in FIG. 19. 
According to this variant, the guide flap 283 fixed inside the housing (not 
depicted) of the device includes, like the oscillating flap 265 of FIG. 
15, a thickening 284 having a concave face 285 in the shape of a portion 
of a cylinder and, in this thickening, pockets 286 for idlers 287 which 
have the same role as the idlers 268. 
The idlers 287 are each mounted on a spindle 288. 
In the face of the flap 283 away from the thickening 284 are made recesses 
289 provided at the locations of the idlers 287 and emerging into the 
corresponding pockets 286. 
A spindle 288 of an idler 287 is engaged into gullets 290 hollowed out in 
the bottom wall of each recess 289 on either side of the pocket 286 and is 
applied to the bottom of the said gullets by a leaf spring 291 fixed in 
the bottom of the recess by a screw 292 and having a branch 293 bent at 
right angles and having the shape of a fork, in contact with the ends of 
the idler 286 projecting with respect to the latter. 
Thus, each idler 286 is pulled by its spring 291 into the out position with 
respect to the inward-curving face 285 and consequently against the roller 
217. 
Lastly, in FIG. 19, is represented an abutment 294 which can also be 
provided in the embodiment of FIG. 15 and which serves in co-operation 
with the idlers 287 to allow the stacking of the sheets F of processed 
documents as they exit the device. 
For this purpose, the abutment 294 includes a sloping edge against which 
the front edges of the sheets F abut so as then to be pushed against the 
stack of sheets F already built up against the flap. 
The document analysis device just described also includes means for 
processing the information read by the image detector and means for 
controlling the electric stepper motor 250 to allow the sweeping of the 
document by successive line-after-line scans. 
These means, which do not actually form part of the present invention, are 
also described in the aforesaid patent application. 
In the present embodiment, the device according to the invention being 
applied essentially to the analysis of gaming coupons and receipts, the 
image detector consists of an optical reader which is blind to at least 
one color in which the fixed information is printed on the document to be 
examined and which is sensitive to other colors so as to take into account 
only the variable gaming information and the fixed information for 
aligning the document and for designating the type of game to which it 
belongs, which information is printed in these other colors. 
This image detector is also described in French Patent Application No. 92 
10 642 cited above. 
It will however be understood that the information carrier analysis device 
according to the invention can include an image detector of different 
construction on condition however that it is of linear type and allows the 
documents submitted to it to be scanned while filing past. 
It would for example be conceivable to substitute the image detector 
described above with a global-reading scanner for box-by-box scanning of a 
document and for positive recognition of the signs borne by the document, 
such as those used for example by fax machines. 
The device 11 for reading magnetic codes and optical codes will be 
described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 22. 
Represented diagrammatically in section in FIG. 20 is a slot 301 for 
receiving magnetic code carriers generally produced in the form of cards 
of thickness A and optical code carriers of smaller thickness sometimes 
consisting of sheets of paper or the like on which the bar codes are 
printed. 
The slot 301 is delimited by two opposite walls 302 and 303. 
In the wall 302 is made an orifice 304 in which is mounted a magnetic 
reading head 305 pulled towards the inside of the slot by a spring 306 and 
having an end 307 opposite the spring, of rounded shape allowing clearance 
of the head on insertion of a card of thickness A (not shown) and 
application of the latter under the effect of the spring 306 against the 
magnetic tracks borne by the card. 
Engagement of the magnetic head 305 into the slot 301 is limited to a value 
smaller than the width A of the slot by an abutment 308 co-operating with 
the wall 302 of the slot. 
In the wall 303, of the slot 301 opposite the wall 302, is made another 
orifice 309 in which is arranged fixedly an optical reading head 310, so 
as to be flush with the inside edge of the wall 303. 
Thus, between the rounded end 307 of the magnetic head and the wall 303 of 
the slot opposite the wall 302, is made a gap of width B which allows, 
when the magnetic head is not used, the free passage into the slot of an 
optical code carrier of small thickness and the reading of the bar codes 
which it bears by the optical reading head 310. 
According to another embodiment, the magnetic head 305 can be mounted on 
the wall by means of a leaf spring which simultaneously provides for the 
function of applying the reading head 305 against the magnetic tracks of 
the card and limiting the engagement of the magnetic head into the slot 
301 in the absence of a magnetic card in order to define between the 
magnetic reading head and the optical reading head 310, flush with the 
inside edge of the wall 303, a gap of width B for the insertion of an 
optical code carrier. 
The magnetic head 305 and the optical reading head 310 are both linked to a 
circuit 311 such as a microprocessor forming part of an installation 
equipped with the magneto-optical head according to the invention and 
intended to recognize the output signals from one or the other of these 
heads with a view to allowing appropriate subsequent processing of the 
signals. 
In FIG. 21 is represented a variant of the magneto-optical reader according 
to the invention. 
In this variant, the elements of which corresponding to those of FIG. 20 
bear the same reference numerals, the slot 301 is likewise delimited by 
walls 302 and 303. 
In the wall 302 is made an orifice 304 granting passage to a magnetic 
reading head 305. 
In the wall 303 of the slot opposite the wall 302 is on the other hand made 
an orifice 312 which differs from the orifice 309 made in the wall 303 of 
the embodiment of FIG. 20, in that it includes rounded edges 313 to allow 
the positioning of an optical reading head 310 set back slightly with 
respect to the inside edge of the wall 303. 
The magnetic head 305 is linked to the wall 302 of the slot 301 by an 
elastic leaf 314 which provides for the retracting of the magnetic head 
305 on the insertion of a card into the slot 301 and the application of 
the head against the magnetic tracks of the card. 
On the other hand, in the absence of a magnetic card, the elastic leaf 314 
returns the magnetic head 305 to a rest position in which its rounded end 
307 comes level with the inside edge of the wall 303 of the slot in which 
the optical reading head 310 is arranged. However, since the optical 
reading head is mounted set back slightly with respect to the inside edge 
of the wall 303, a gap of width B is made between the magnetic head 305 
and the optical reading head 310 for the passage of an optical code 
carrier consisting, for example, of a flexible sheet 315. 
In fact, the relative position of the magnetic and optical heads 305 and 
310 delimits, in this embodiment, a chicane for the passage of the 
flexible optical code carrier. 
Finally, the variant of FIG. 21 also includes a circuit 311 for recognizing 
the output signals from the magnetic and optical reading heads. 
The flowchart of FIG. 22 illustrates a way of recognizing the kind of 
signals emitted by the magneto-optical reading device according to the 
invention. 
Reading is firstly undertaken with the aid of the optical reader 310, 
during a phase 320. The next phase 321 consists in determining whether any 
code carrier is present or not in the slot 301. In the event that this 
carrier is absent, return to phase 320. 
If a carrier is detected in the slot, during phase 322 it is determined 
whether this is a magnetic card. 
If the answer is yes, a processing of the magnetic signals is triggered 
during phase 323. 
If the answer is no, it is determined during phase 324 whether the carrier 
present in the slot 310 is an optical code carrier. 
If the answer is no, return to phase 320. 
If the answer is yes, the processing of the optical signals is undertaken 
during phase 325. 
Of course, the designating of the kind of signals emitted by the 
magneto-optical reading device and the processing of these signals are 
carried out in the circuit 311 associated with the said head. 
A device for reading magnetic codes and optical codes, of the type 
described above, and forming the subject of French Patent Application No. 
92 10 709 filed on 8 Sep. 1992 by the Applicant, may have the most diverse 
applications which are not, of course, limited to gaming terminals.