Abstract:
A lockable security cabinet for game controllers of the type used to operate electronic slot and card games in gambling casinos. The cabinet includes multiple key locking doors and key operated control switches to allow access to specific areas and controls of a main cabinet thereof housing the computers and other electronics only by authorized persons having the proper key for reach particular area or control switch. The cabinet is slidably mounted to a locking base which bolts into a recess in a gaming table allowing the main cabinet to also be recessed therein yet slide out in a cantilevered fashion to access the doors and controls. The base includes a side or rear cable locking enclosure allowing access to and disconnecting of ends of cables connected to the game controller only upon unlocking of the base and outward sliding of the main cabinet.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is a continuation of, and expressly incorporates by reference, U.S. application 09/642,550, filed Aug. 17, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,483. This patent application, as well as U.S. application 09/642,550, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,483 claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 60/149,522, filed on Aug. 17, 1999, 60/149,525, filed Aug. 17, 1999, 60/153,895, filed on Sep. 14, 1999, and 60/191,898, filed on Mar. 23, 2000. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The invention relates to game controllers for electronic gaming tables and devices, and more particularly to security enclosures and cabinets for such game controllers. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Modern casinos have a wide variety of gaming devices to entertain patrons and produce revenue. These gaming devices may include electromechanical slot machines and a variety of manually dealt card games such as poker, twenty-one, roulette, baccarat, and the like. In recent years, electronic versions of such games have replaced many of the manual versions. For example, many slot machines utilize electronic versions of spinning reels. These reels may be reproduced on a video display that is controlled by a video controller. Likewise, all of the major card games now appear in electronic form on similar video displays. 
   A controller generally operates electronic gaming devices. The controller can be built into the cabinet or housing of the gaming device or it can be connected to the gaming device from a remote location, such as a control room, by one or more cables. Game controllers can also be used to control a number of different gaming devices. For example, casino-type lottery systems generally utilize a number of separate gaming devices on the floor of a casino. The gaming devices request game outcomes from a central controller. The central game controller stores one or more pools of game outcomes that are transmitted to the gaming devices when appropriate. 
   One problem with electronic controllers is that various casino personnel need to access different portions and controls of the game controller at various times. However, because of the need for strict security in a gaming environment, it is often necessary to restrict access to sensitive components of the controller. For example, an operator might require only access to control certain game functions necessary to keep play going, while a management person might be the proper person to access more basic functions, such as resetting the game controller, and only maintenance personnel might be qualified to work on the electronics of the game controller. Likewise, the cable assemblies that connect the game controller to the gaming device being controlled tend to be loosened, removed, or stolen from time-to-time. Therefore, it is also desirable to restrict access to the cable assemblies to specifically authorized persons. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   1. Advantages of the Invention 
   The lockable security cabinet for game controllers provides multiple levels of security wherein only authorized persons can access specific controls, electronics, and cable connections of the game controller. The security cabinet further provides convenient access to the game controller electronics and cable assemblies by means of the slide-out design of the main cabinet with the base recessed in the gaming table or other enclosure, a plurality of access doors, and the slide opening design of the cable enclosure. 
   These and other advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and abstract. 
   2. Brief Description of the Invention 
   The invention is a lockable security cabinet for game controllers such as used in gambling casinos to operate and control one or more gaming terminals. The security cabinet houses the electronics of the game controller, and the cable connectors at one end of respective cable assemblies connected thereto for communications with external devices. The security cabinet comprises a main cabinet having a plurality of interconnected walls defining an enclosable inner compartment for housing the electronic components of the game controller, and one or more lockable access devices, typically comprising one or more key switches which control access to specific game controller functions, and/or one or more lockable access members such as key lockable doors pivotally connected to the main cabinet. Each access member is movable upon unlocking thereof to provide access to at least a portion of the electronic components of the game controller within the main cabinet, preferably an access member disposed at the top of the main cabinet for access to the processor boards and the power supply, and an access member disposed at the front of the main cabinet for access to the user accessible components (i.e. those components of the game controller which must be accessed on a regular basis) such as keyboard and monitor ports which allow a keyboard and a monitor to be connected to the game controller to program, operate, and maintain the game controller. Other such user accessible components include ports for memory devices such as ROM cards, flash memory cards, and communications devices. 
   An access member can also be movably connected to the main cabinet to control access to the connection and disconnection of cable assemblies. This access member for the cables preferably comprises a portion of a base on which the main cabinet is movably mounted such as for sliding in a front-to-rear direction. The portion of the base, such as comprising an enclosure structure, preferably is at a rear portion of the base for connection of the cable assemblies at the rear of the main cabinet or at a side portion of the base for connection of the cables assemblies at the side of the main cabinet, in both cases with the cables exiting rearwardly therefrom, so as to substantially enclose and retain the connector of the cable assemblies connected to the game controller. The cable of the cable assembly attached thereto extends through an elongate gap while the main cabinet is in a retracted, or closed position on the base. The main cabinet is lockable in such a closed position by means of a key lock. A rear cable guide bracket can be affixed to the rear of the main cabinet for guiding cable assemblies during forward and backward movement of the main cabinet on the base. Other types of cables which can be locked include Ethernet, parallel, various communication, VGA (video), coax, audio, etc. Typically, to provide the various levels of security, each key lock requires a different key to unlock. 
   The above description sets forth, rather broadly, the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description of the preferred embodiment that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is substantially a front perspective view of a typical electronic gaming table of the type wherein a game controller can be housed in a security cabinet of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is substantially a rear perspective view of such electronic gaming table showing a first embodiment security cabinet of the invention having a rear cable enclosure structure, as mounted in a recess therein; 
       FIG. 3  is substantially a front perspective view of such first embodiment security cabinet; 
       FIG. 4  is substantially a fragmentary front perspective view showing the details of the control panel; 
       FIG. 5  is substantially a fragmentary front perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 4 , wherein the front access door is shown in the unlocked and open position allowing access to the user accessible components; 
       FIG. 6  is substantially a fragmentary side perspective view wherein the top access door is shown in the unlocked and open position allowing access to the processor boards and the power supply, 
       FIG. 7  is substantially a rear perspective view of the main cabinet and the main circuit board, without the attached base; 
       FIG. 8  is substantially a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the details of the rear cable enclosure structure; 
       FIG. 9  is substantially a rear perspective view of an electronic gaming table similar to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but modified to use a second embodiment security cabinet of the invention having a side cable enclosure structure; 
       FIG. 10  is substantially a front perspective view of such second embodiment security cabinet; 
       FIG. 11  is substantially a front perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 10 , but wherein the front access door is in the open position; 
       FIG. 12  is substantially a front perspective view corresponding to  FIGS. 10 and 11  wherein the top access door is in the open position and the main cabinet is in the forward or extended position; and 
       FIG. 13  is substantially a front perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 12 , wherein a processor board is partially removed. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  therein is shown a typical electronic gaming table used in modern casinos of the type that can use the locking controller box of the present invention. Electronic gaming table  20  is used, for example, to play an electronic version of the card game twenty-one. Gaming table  20  comprises an upstanding, semi-cylindrical frame  23  having an arcuate wall  26  around which the players (not shown) stand or sit, a flat wall  29  adjacent which the dealer (not shown) stands, and a semi-circular table top  32  having an arcuate padded rail or rim  35  along the perimeter thereof. Extending through table top  32  is a dealer&#39;s video display  38 , typically being a cathode ray tube (CRT), which is centrally located on table top  32 , and a plurality of player&#39;s video displays  41 , also typically being of the CRT type, in an arcuate line adjacent padded rim  35  of table top  32 . A plurality of virtual cards (not shown) are presented on the dealer&#39;s video display  38  and on the player&#39;s video displays  41 , the virtual cards being electronic versions of regular playing cards, dealt from a virtual card deck (not shown) such as generated by a random number generator (not shown). The dealer&#39;s video display  35  and the player&#39;s video displays  41  can be covered with a polarized light filter or other such privacy filter or mechanical shield (not shown) which limits the visual range in which the dealer&#39;s and player&#39;s video displays  38  and  41  can be viewed by adjacent players, the dealer, and other such persons. 
   The gaming table  20  further comprises a centrally located chip tray  44  for holding the dealer&#39;s chips (not shown), a bill slot  47  for the dealer to place paper money into given by the players in exchange for chips, and a chip slot  50  for placing chips. The central chip tray  44  allows easy use of the chips so there is minimal disruption of the game as it is played, and the various bets are collected or paid. Other versions of gaming table  20  can accept cash, credit and debit cards, or VIP cards with a given cash value used in place of chips for betting. The dealer&#39;s video display  38  and the player&#39;s video displays  41  can be of the touch screen type. Adjacent each player&#39;s video display  38  is a first spot  53  associated with a respective proximity sensor (not shown) such as of the capacitive, radio frequency, optical, or pressure sensitive type mounted beneath table top  32  to sense when chips have been bet and the position active so as to deal virtual cards on the respective player&#39;s displays  38 . The gaming table  20  can therefore know whether a given player&#39;s station will participate in the next gaming round. Also adjacent each player&#39;s video display  38  is a second spot  56  also associated with a respective proximity sensor (not shown) of a similar type to sense when one or more chips have been bet such as for side bets. A first version game controller  59  incorporating a first embodiment security cabinet of the invention is mounted in a recess  62  through flat wall  29  of frame  23 . Game controller  59  houses the electronic components (not shown) which make the game work. 
   It is to be under stood that game table  20  is only one application for the game controller  59 . Many other uses are possible. For example, game controller  59  may be linked to a plurality of different gaming devices (not shown) by cables. In this application, game controller  59  may be placed on a table or stand. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3  therein is shown a first version game controller  59  which comprises a first embodiment security cabinet  65 , a control panel  68 , a main circuit board  71 , a central game server (CGS) computer module  74 , a central accounting server (CAS) computer module  77 , and a power supply  80 . Security cabinet  65  comprises a main cabinet  83 , a base  86 , a ROM door or front access door  89 , and a processor board door or top access door  92 . Main cabinet  83  includes a sloped front wall  95  having a rectangular opening  98 , a pair of side walls  101  and  104 , a rear wall  107 , a bottom wall  110  interconnecting side walls  101  and  104 , a transverse mounting wall  113 , a rearwardly extending portion  116 , and a power supply support  119 . 
   Front access door  89  is pivotally mounted to bottom wall  110  by means of a first piano hinge  122  and which is retainable in a closed position by means of a first rotary key lock  125  having a body  128  mounted to a vertical face  131  of front wall  95 , and having a rotatable cylinder  134  into which a key (not shown) is inserted. A locking tab  137  rotates with cylinder  134  into a corresponding slot  140  of an upper cross member  143  of front access door  89  to lock front access door  89 . Top access door  92  is pivotally mounted to rear wall  107  by means of a second piano hinge  146 , and is retainable in a closed position by means of a second rotary key lock  149  having a body  152  mounted to top access door  92 . A rotatable cylinder  155  includes an attached locking tab  158  which rotates to a position under an edge portion  161  of front wall  95  to lock top access door  92 . A retaining strap (not shown) retains top access door  92  in the open position during access therein. 
   Base  86  comprises a lower wall  170  which interconnects a pair of side walls  173  and  176  having respective upwardly extending rear portions  179  and  182  which are interconnected by a partial top wall  185  and a rear wall  188  so as to comprise a cable enclosure structure  191 . Main cabinet  83  is slidably mounted to base  86  by means of a pair of slides such as ball bearing drawer slides  194  and  197  having respective upper slide members  200  and  203  and lower slide members  206  and  209 , upper slide members  200  and  203  being affixed to the exterior of respective side walls  101  and  104  of main cabinet  83 , and lower slide members  206  and  209  being affixed to the interiors of respective side walls  145  and  148  of base  86 . Main cabinet  83  can be retained in a closed position, wherein main cabinet  83  is enclosed except for a cable gap “G” ( FIG. 8 ) between a front edge  212  of partial top wall  185  and rear wall  188  of base  86 , by means of a third rotary key lock  215  having a body  218  mounted to an upstanding front lip  221  of lower wall  170  and having a rotatable cylinder  224  with attached locking tab  227  which rotates into a transverse slot  230  through bottom wall  110  of main cabinet  83 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , control panel  68  provides administration and configuration access as well as displays system status. Control panel  68  comprises a plate  233 , a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD)  236 , a keypad  239 , a plurality of rotary key switches  242 ,  245 ,  248 , and  251 , a power indicator light emitting diode (LED)  254 , and a plurality of status indicator LED&#39;s  257 . VFD display  236  is a four line by twenty character long display capable of displaying information such as the system operation and status, software revision information, configuration data, or any other message programmed into the software. Keypad  239  includes a plurality of function keys  260 , arrow keys  263 , digit keys  266 , and delete keys  269 . Keypad  239  is the primary input device for administration level data. Each rotary key switch  242 ,  245 ,  248 , and  251  are individually keyed (require a separate key to activate/deactivate the switch) and provide a means to switch to high security modes for administration and debugging. The power indicator LED  254  indicates whether the system has power, and the status indicator LED&#39;s  257  indicate communications and other status of the system. A control panel wire harness (not shown) extends rearwardly from control panel  68  interconnecting the various components thereof to the other electronics. 
   Main circuit board  71  includes a front portion  272 , a middle portion  275 , and a rear portion  278 . Front portion  272  includes compact flash ROM connectors  281  and  284  into which are plugged a pair of respective compact flash ROM cards  287  and  290  (one for each processor) which provide a means for information storage and custom game templates, and keyboard connectors  293  and  296  (one for each processor) which allow super user input to the processors. The rear portion  278  of main circuit board  71  is where all of the external connections are made to game controller  59  and main circuit board  71 . These include, for example, CAS printer parallel port connector  311 , which is a standard printer parallel port capable of operating most printers. 
   Main circuit board  71  slides into main cabinet  83  and is secured therein such as by screws (not shown). In such mounted condition, front portion  272  of main circuit board  71  is adjacent front access door  89  and rear portion  278  thereof extends onto rearwardly extending portion  116  of main cabinet  83 . Therefore, just behind front access door  89  lies access to the wire harness (not shown) of front control panel  68 , as well as to the user accessible components such as the compact flash ROM cards  287  and  290 , and keyboard connectors  293  and  296 . At rearwardly extending portion  116 , connectors including CSA parallel printer port connector  265  are accessible when main cabinet  83  is in the open position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , rear wall  107  and rearwardly extending portion  116  of main cabinet  83  work in conjunction with enclosure structure  191  to prevent the removal or theft of cables such as a parallel cable assembly  341 , which includes a parallel port connector  344  and a connected sleeved wire cable  347 . After unlocking base  86 , sliding main cabinet  83  forward, and connecting cable assembly  341  such as to CAS printer parallel port connector  311 , main cabinet  83  is moved to the closed position shown and locked. Cable  347  extends through a transverse opening  350  formed between rear wall  107  of main cabinet  83  and a downwardly directed lip  353  of end portion  356  of partial top wall  185  of base  86 . With main cabinet  83  in such closed position, opening  350  is slightly larger than the diameter of cable  347  so as not to be pinched, but small enough so as to not pass connector  344 , effectively retaining cable assembly  341  to main cabinet  65  until base  86  is unlocked and main cabinet  83  moved forward to open. 
   An angled bracket  359  having a plurality of generally vertically disposed, parallel slots  362  can be affixed to rear wall  107  of main cabinet  83 , with cable  347  bending into a respective slot  362  to laterally retain cable  347  as main cabinet  83  moves forward and backward during use. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , therein is shown gaming table  20 , but using a second version game controller of similar design to first version game controller  59 , but having side cable access and locking rather than rear, being disposed in a recess  363  of slightly modified design from recess  62 . As shown in  FIGS. 10-13 , the second version game controller  365  comprises a second embodiment security cabinet  386 , a control panel  371 , a main circuit board  374 , a central game server (CGS) computer module  377 , a central accounting server (CAS) computer module  380 , and a power supply  383 . Security cabinet  368  comprises a main cabinet  386 , a base  389 , a front access door  392 , and a top access door  395 . Main cabinet  386  comprises a front wall  398  having a rectangular opening  401 , a pair of side walls  404  and  407 , a rear wall  410 , a bottom wall  413  interconnecting side walls  404  and  407 , and a laterally extending portion  416 . Front access door  392  is pivotally mounted to bottom wall  413  by means of a first piano hinge  419  and which is retainable in a closed position by means of a first rotary key lock  422  having a body  425  mounted to front wall  398 , and a rotatable cylinder  428  into which a key (not shown) is inserted, with an attached locking tab  431  which rotates into a corresponding slot  434  of an upper cross member  437  of front access door  392 . 
   Top access door  395  is pivotally mounted to rear wall  410  by means of a second piano hinge  440  and which is retainable in a closed position by means of a second rotary key lock  443  having a body  446  mounted to top access door  395 , and having a rotatable cylinder  449  with attached locking tab  452  which rotates to a position under an edge portion  455  of front wall  398 . A gas spring  458  connected to respective pins  461  retains top access door  395  in the open position. 
   Base  389  comprises a lower wall  464  which interconnects a pair of side walls  467  and  470 , which are interconnected by a partial top wall  473 , and a rear wall  476  so as to comprise a cable enclosure structure  479  which, in conjunction with rear wall  410  of main cabinet  386  prevents the unauthorized removal or the theft of cables. Main cabinet  386  is slidably mounted to base  389  by means of a pair of slides such as ball bearing drawer slides  482  and  485  having respective upper slide members  488  and  491  and lower slide members  494  and  497 , upper slide members  488  and  491  being affixed to the exterior of respective side walls  404  and  407  of main cabinet  386 , and lower slide members  494  and  497  being affixed to the interiors of respective side walls  467  and  470  of base  386 . Main cabinet  386  can be retained in a closed position, by means of a third rotary key lock  503  having a body  504  mounted to an upstanding front lip  506  of lower wall  464  and having a rotatable cylinder  508  with attached locking tab  509  which rotates into a transverse slot  512  through lower wall  413  of main cabinet  386 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , front wall  398  provides administration and configuration access as well as displays system status through a plurality of rotary key switches  515 ,  518 ,  521 , and  524 , a power indicator light emitting diode (LED)  527 , and a plurality of status indicator LED&#39;s  530 . Each rotary key switch  515 ,  518 ,  521 , and  524  are individually keyed and provide a means to switch to high security modes for administration and debugging. The power indicator LED  527  indicates whether the system has power, and the status indicator LED&#39;s  530  indicate communications and other status of the system. A control panel wire harness (not shown) extends rearwardly from front control panel  62  interconnecting the various components thereof to the other electronics. 
   Main circuit board  374  includes a front portion  533 , a middle portion  536 , and a rear portion  539 . Front portion  533  includes compact flash ROM connectors  542  and  545  into which are plugged a pair of respective compact flash ROM cards  548  and  551  (one for each processor) which provide a means for information storage and custom game templates, keyboard connectors  554  and  557  (one for each processor) allow super user input to the processors. Main circuit board  374  slides into main cabinet  386  and is secured therein. In such mounted condition, front portion  533  of main circuit board  374  is adjacent to front access door  392  and side portion  539  thereof extends onto laterally extending portion  416  of main cabinet  386 . Therefore, just behind front access door  392  lies access to the wire harnesses (not shown), and the user accessible components such as compact flash ROM cards  548  and  551 , and keyboard connectors  554  and  557 . At laterally extending portion  416  of main cabinet  386  are connectors such as CAS printer port connector  572  which are accessible when main cabinet  386  is in the open position. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10-13 , laterally extending portion  416  of main cabinet  386  acts as a lock to prevent the removal or theft of cables such as a parallel cable assembly  602 , which includes a parallel port connector  605  connected to a sleeved wire cable  608 . After unlocking base  389  and connecting parallel cable assembly  602  such as to CAS printer parallel port connector  572 , main cabinet  386  is moved to the closed position shown and locked. Cable  608  extends through a vertical opening  611  formed between rear wall  476  of base  389  and rear wall  410  of main cabinet  386 . With main cabinet  386  in such a closed position, vertical opening  611  is of a gap “G1” which is slightly larger than the diameter of cable  608  so as not to be pinched, but small enough so as to not pass connector  605 , effectively retaining cable assembly  602  to game controller  365  until base  389  is unlocked and main cabinet  386  is moved forward to open. 
   An angled bracket (not shown) having a plurality of generally vertically disposed, parallel slots of similar design to bracket  359  can be affixed to rear wall  410  of main cabinet  386 , with cable  608  bending into a respective slot thereof to laterally retain cable  608  as main cabinet  386  is moved forward and rearward on base  389  during use. 
   Many variations of the lockable security cabinet can be made while staying within the same inventive concept. For example, the access members can be plates which are removably, lockably connectable to the main cabinet rather than being doors pivotally connected thereto. The access members can be located anywhere desired to access the desired components therein. Other locks can be used than the cylinder type rotary key locks, with electronic locks which use a code rather than a physical code can likewise be used. 
   CONCLUSION 
   The lockable security cabinet for casino game controllers provides access security never before available in prior art enclosures for game controllers by permitting only authorized persons to access specific controls, electronics, and cable connectors inside the game controller. This high security is provided in an easily accessible package with convenient access to the game controller electronics and cable assemblies by means of the slide-out design of the main cabinet with the base recessed in the gaming table or other enclosure, the plurality of access doors, and the slide opening design of the cable enclosure. 
   Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.