Abstract:
A gaming machine in which the form of pay out is selectable by the operator and/or user to provide a pay out with coins or by way of a ticket. The gaming machine incorporates both a hopper for coin operated play as well as a printer for cashless play. In accordance with one aspect of the machine, the system can automatically detect when one of the pay out systems is disabled or otherwise unavailable and automatically continue operation with the other pay out method to allow the machine to function in a limited state. The system thus helps the transition for players from coin operated machines to cashless gaming machines, and accommodates users with different cash out preferences. The gaming machine also accepts tickets, allowing users to easily move their credits from one gaming machine to another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a gaming machine and more particularly to a gaming machine which enables the operator and/or player to select the form of pay out from the machine before cash out; either by coin or ticket, and allows a ticket to be accepted for wagers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various gaming machines are known in which pay outs are made either in coin or by way of a ticket. Examples of gaming machines with coin pay outs are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,564; 4,518,001; 4,574,824; 4,978,322; and 6,003,651. Such coin operated machines normally include a coin hopper in which coins are collected and transferred to a transport system. Transport systems are known which include a rotating pinwheel for segregating individual coins and transporting the coins to a coin dispenser for pay out. Coin dispensing is under the control of a microprocessor. When a payout is indicated, a counter is used for counting the coins to be dispensed. 
     There are several problems with such coin operated machines. For example, various mechanical problems are known with such machines. One of these problems relates to coins jamming in the machine. In order to resolve this problem, various mechanical solutions have been developed, for example, as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,518,001 and 4,574,824. Another known problem with such coin operated gaming machines is the ability to accurately detect the correct number of coins dispensed for a pay out. Various mechanical and electronic systems have been developed for resolving this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,564 relates to an improved mechanical design which improves the accuracy of the coin pay outs. In addition, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,651 relates to an electronic sensing system for sensing when the correct number of coins have been paid out. 
     In addition to those problems, coin operated machines require significant amount of maintenance due to the relatively complicated mechanical mechanism used to accept and pay out coins. As such, there is a trend toward cashless gaming machines, for example, as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,265,874 and 5,326,104. In such cashless gaming machines, tickets rather than coins may be used for both playing the game as well as pay outs. Unfortunately, the transition from coin operated machines to cashless gaming machines is difficult for many players used to the older coin operated machines. Thus, there is a need for a gaming machine which helps players transition from the older coin operated machines to the newer cashless gaming machines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention is directed to a gaming apparatus, comprising: a video display that is capable of generating video images; a value input device; a hopper; and a cashless payout apparatus. The gaming apparatus is programmed to determine a player cash out amount and to determine if the cashless payout apparatus is available for the player cash out amount. The gaming apparatus is also programmed to compare the player cash out amount to a coin pay limit and to determine if a split pay option is available if the player cash out amount is greater than the coin pay limit. Additionally, the gaming apparatus is programmed to pay to a player a first amount equal to the coin pay limit from the hopper and to pay to the player d second amount equal to the player cash out amount minus the coin pay limit utilizing the cashless payout apparatus, if the split pay option is available. 
     In another aspect, the invention is directed to a gaming apparatus, comprising: a video display that is capable of generating video images; a value input device; a hopper; and a cashless payout apparatus. The gaming apparatus is programmed to determine a player cash out amount and to determine if a split pay option is available. The gaming apparatus is also programmed to receive a distribution input from a player corresponding to the player cash out amount if the split pay option is available, wherein the distribution input is a portion of the player cash out amount that the player wants to receive from the hopper. Additionally, the gaming apparatus is programmed to pay to the player a first amount equal to the distribution amount from the hopper and to pay to the player a second amount equal to the player cash out amount minus the distribution amount utilizing the cashless payout apparatus, if the split pay option is available. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantageous of the present invention will be readily understood with reference to the following specification and attached drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic meters for the gaming machine illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a system for accepting tickets for playing the game which forms part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a system for accepting coins for playing the game machine illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a pay out system which forms part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a pay out system which forms part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a ticket pay out system in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a coin pay out system in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a hand pay out system in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-9 relate to a gaming machine which enables an operator and/or player to select the form of the pay; either by coins, or by a ticket, or by a combination of both. In this way, the player will be given the look and feel of a coin operated machine but also have the option for different forms of pay out to simplify the transition from coin operated machines to cashless gaming machines. As such, the gaming system in accordance with the present invention aids the transition for players from coin operated gaming machines to cashless gaming machines, and accommodates various players&#39; preferences. 
     Referring to FIG. 1 an exemplary gaming machine is shown. The gaming machine, generally identified with the reference numeral  20 , includes a housing, generally identified with the reference numeral  22 . In order to provide access to the interior of the machine  20 , the front portion  24  of the housing  22  may be configured to provide access to the interior of the gaming machine  20  for on-site maintenance and repair as well as for upgrades. In the exemplary gaming machine  20  illustrated in FIG. 1, various player input/output (I/O) devices are provided on the front portion  24  of the housing. For example, a plurality of player input switches  26  are provided, that enable a player to select, for example, the form of the desired pay out, either coins or ticket. Alternatively, the player selections may be made by way of a touch screen as described below. The front housing portion  24  also includes a coin acceptor  28 , a bill validator/ticket reader  30  and a coin tray  32 . 
     A video display  34  is also carried by the gaming machine  20 . The video display  34  may be a cathode ray tube display, high resolution flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD) or other conventional electronically controlled video display. An information panel  36  may be disposed adjacent the video display  34 . The information panel  36  may be formed from a backlit silk screened glass panel with lettering to indicate general game information including, for example, the amount of wager. The bottom of the housing  22  may be closed by what is known as a belly glass  38 . 
     A ticket printer  42  and a pair of speakers  44  and  46  are carried by an upper portion  40  of the housing  22 . The bill validator/ticket reader  30 , used to validate currency and read and/or validate machine readable tickets, along with the ticket printer  42  allow for cashless: operation for a gaming machine. The coin acceptor  29  along with the coin tray  32  enable coin operated play of the gaming machine  20 . 
     As is known in the art, an electronic storage meter set, such as the exemplary meter set  50 , illustrated in FIG. 2, is required by gaming authorities. The meter set  50  includes a plurality of electronic meters which allows verification of the coins and tickets that are input to the machine as well as the coins and tickets that are paid out of the machine. In order to comply with regulatory requirements, the meter set  50  in accordance with the present invention includes the electronic meters normally provided on a coin operated gaming machine as well as electronic meters found on cashless gaming machines. The meter set  50  includes electronic meters  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 , and  66  for the following types of data; TOTAL VALUE OF TICKETS ACCEPTED; TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS ACCEPTED; TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS PRINTED; TOTAL VALUE OF TICKETS PRINTED; CREDIT; PHYSICAL COINS IN; PHYSICAL COINS OUT; and CANCELED CREDITS, respectively. 
     The gaming machine in accordance with the present invention is formed to have all of the standard hardware as in a coin operated gaming machine, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,564; 4,518,001; 4,574,824; 4,978,322; 5,167,571 and 6,003,651; as well as the hardware for cashless gaming machines, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,265,874 and 5,326,104, hereby incorporated by reference. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the software for wager acceptance system, for cashless operated play and coin-operated play, respectively. FIGS. 5-9 illustrate the software for the pay out system in accordance with the present invention. 
     The wager acceptance system, as used herein, may include one or more of the systems described below. For example, the wager acceptance system may include a conventional coin acceptor for accepting coin wagers and/or a conventional bill validator/ticket reader that can receive and validate currency as well as read and/or validate machine readable tickets, for example, encoded with a bar code, magnetic code, optical code, or electronic code all of which are known in the art. For example, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,231 discloses a system for validating currency. U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,042 discloses a system for reading machine readable information, such as bar codes. 
     Systems for reading magnetic information encoded on different media are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,098,881; 6,082,617 and 6,076,731, incorporated by reference, disclose systems for reading so called magnetic stripes encoded on the back of various media, such as plastic substrates, similar to credit cards. Yet other systems are known, for reading, for example, magnetic tokens, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,891. 
     Optical a readers are also known. An exemplary optical reader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,824, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The wager acceptance system may also include a so called smart card reader. An example of a smart card reader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,316, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     An exemplary wager acceptance system with a validator/ticket reader and coin acceptor is described below. Other types of wage acceptance systems are understood to operate in a similar manner. Referring to FIG. 3, the exemplary wage acceptance system monitors the bill validator/ticket reader  30  and the coin acceptor  28  and establishes a credit for playing the game when coins, bills or tickets are detected. 
     In particular, the system monitors the ticket reader  30  (FIG. 1) awaiting a ticket to be inserted into the gaming machine  20 . When the system senses a ticket has been escrowed by the ticket reader  30  in step  70 , it determines if the ticket is valid in step  72 . If the ticket is valid, the system determines whether the entire ticket amount can be accepted in step  74 . If the entire ticket amount can be accepted, the ticket is retained by the ticket reader  30  in step  76 . Subsequently, in step  78  the TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS ACCEPTED meter  54  (FIG. 2) is incremented, in step  80  the total ticket value is added to the TOTAL VALUE OF TICKETS ACCEPTED meter  52 , and in step  82  the total ticket value is added to the CREDIT meter  60 . The CREDIT meter  60  maintains the credit amount available to play the game. 
     If the system determines in step  74  that it cannot accept the entire ticket amount, for example, if the amount is not evenly divisible by the machine denomination or would cause the credit limit to be exceeded, the system determines in step  84  if it can accept a portion of the ticket amount and if so, in step  86 , the system determines whether a printer is available. If the ticket is not valid, no portion of the ticket can be accepted, or no printer is available to print a change ticket, the ticket is rejected in step  102  and the system returns in step  104 . 
     If the system determines that it can accept a portion of the ticket and a printer is available, the ticket is retained by the ticket reader  30  in step  88 . Subsequently, in step  90  the TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS ACCEPTED meter  54  is incremented, and in step  92  the total ticket value is added to the TOTAL VALUE OF TICKETS ACCEPTED meter  52 . In step  94  a change ticket is printed for the amount to be returned to the player, in step  96  the TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS PRINTED meter  56  is incremented, and in step  98  the amount of the change ticket amount is added to the TOTAL VALUE OF TICKETS PRINTED meter  58 . In step  100  the amount of the ticket value that was not returned to the player is added to the CREDIT meter  60 . 
     The software for a coin wager acceptance system is illustrated in FIG.  4 . Initially, the system monitors the coin acceptor  28  (FIG. 1) to determine if coins have been deposited therein in step  106 . If so, the system increments the PHYSICAL COINS IN meter  62  (FIG. 2) and the CREDIT meter  60  in steps  108  and  110 . The system then determines in step  112  whether the coins inserted are equal to or greater than the minimum wager for the game  20 . If not, the system continues to monitor the coin acceptor  28 , otherwise it enables the game. 
     As discussed below, the gaming machine  20  includes a pay out system for enabling the operator and/or player to select the type of pay out to be either a cashless pay out in the form of a ticket, or a coin pay out, or a combination of both. During certain conditions as discussed below, the player may also be paid manually by the attendant. The software for pay outs is illustrated in FIGS. 5-9. In particular, FIG. 5 represents the main system for operator selection of pay outs. FIG. 6 represents the main system for player selection of pay outs. FIG. 7 is a subroutine for ticket pay outs. FIG. 8 is a subroutine for coin pay outs while FIG. 9 is a subroutine for manual pay outs. 
     In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the gaming machine  20  includes a pay out system which enables a player to select by way of the player input switches  26 (FIG.  1 ), for example, from multiple forms of pay out, for example, by way of coins or by way of a cashless payout, for example a ticket, a magnetic card or by way of a smart card. Systems for enabling coin pay outs are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,564 and 6,003,651, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Cashless payouts by way of a ticket may include a printer for printing pay out information such as a pay out amount and/or in machine readable form, such as a bar code. An example of a system for printing tickets is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,538, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Other cashless payout systems include a programmer for programming magnetic media such as magnetic stripes or a smart card. Magnetic smart card programmers are known in the art. An example, of a magnetic programmer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,978, while an example of a smart card programmer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,316, both hereby incorporated by reference. 
     In situations where the payout is over the coin pay limit of the machine, the machine  20  may provide for a split option, which allows the pay out to be split between coins and a ticket. In one embodiment, this option may be configured by an operator during set up of the machine, for example, by way of a touch screen, for example as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,426, hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the option may be selected by the player, for example, by the player input switches  26  or by touch screen as discussed above. 
     In other embodiments, the gaming machine may be configured at least in part remotely, for example, in response to a remote signal, for example, from a remote data base, which may be used to configure a machine in response to certain data, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,079, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Turning first to FIG. 5, the system monitors the status of the player input switches  26  on the front portion  24  of the housing  22  or touch screen interface to detect a player request for pay out in step  114 . If the system determines that a printer is available for player cash outs step  116 , the cash out amount is compared to an operator selected coin pay limit in step  118 . If the cash out amount is greater than the coin pay limit, the system checks to see if the split pay option has been enabled in step  120 . If split pay is enabled, an amount equal to the coin pay limit is paid from the hopper in step  122 , by way of the system steps illustrated in FIG. 8, and the balance is paid by ticket in step  124 , byway of the system steps illustrated in FIG.  7 . If split pay was not enabled in step  120 , the entire cash out is paid by ticket in step  126 . If the cash out amount was not over the coin pay limit in step  118 , the entire cash out is paid by the hopper in step  130 . However, if the printer is not available for player cash out in step  116 , for example, due to a printer malfunction, or inability to validate a ticket, the cash out amount is compared to the hopper limit in step  128 . If the cash out is greater than the hopper limit, it results in a hand pay in step  132  by way of the system steps illustrated in FIG. 9, otherwise it is paid by the hopper in step  130 . 
     FIG. 6 is a system to for handling the same cash out, where the configuration of the payout parameters may be provided by operator configuration of the gaming machine  20  as discussed above, or by a central data base, and subsequently optionally adjusted by the player. If the system determines that a printer is available for player cash outs in step  134 , the system determines default pay out amounts for the printer and hopper in step  136  based on operator configuration as described in FIG. 5, or information derived from another source, such as a central data base, or information stored on a magnetic stripe card or smart card. In step  138 , the system determines whether the player is to be allowed to select how much of the cash out is to come from the hopper and how much is to come from the printer. If player selection of cash out parameters is enabled, system flow proceeds to step  140 . The player is provided with two pay out options; coin and ticket. Initially, the system monitors the state of the player input switches  26  of the front portion  24  of the housing  22  to determine which pay out option has been selected; either coin or ticket. In order to account for various situations, the system may enable a split pay option to allow for pay outs in both coin and ticket. Depending on the player selection, the system will pay out according to the player&#39;s selection to the extent possible considering the status of the machine and the amount of the pay out, paying out the selected coin amount in step  142  and the selected ticket amount in step  144 . Should the system determine in step  134  that the printer is not available, the system next checks in step  146  whether the pay out amount exceeds the hopper limit. If it does not, the system initiates a coin pay out in step  148 . Otherwise, an attendant or hand pay is initiated in step  150 . With this option, a gaming machine attendant is signaled to make a manual pay out to the player. 
     FIGS. 7-9 describe the system steps to accomplish each of the individual pay out procedures for ticket, coin, or hand pays. Referring first to FIG. 7, if a ticket pay out has been initiated, as discussed above and determined in step  152 , the system prints the ticket for the pay out amount in step  154 . The system also increments the TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS PRINTED meter  56  (FIG. 2) and updates the TOTAL VALUE OF TICKETS PRINTED meter  58  in steps  156  and  158 , respectively. The CREDIT meter  60  is updated in step  160 , by subtracting the value of the printed ticket from the CREDIT meter  60 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the software for a coin pay out. Initially, if a coin pay out is initiated as discussed above in step  162 , coins are paid out by way of a hopper in step  164 . The  1 PHYSICAL COINS OUT meter  64  (FIG. 2) is updated in step  166  and the CREDIT meter  60  is updated in step  168  by subtracting the number of coins paid out by way of the hopper. 
     As mentioned above, there are several circumstances in which neither the ticket pay out or the coin pay out are possible. In these situations, as discussed above, a hand or attendant pay out is initiated. Whenever a hand pay out is initiated, as in step  170 , the system locks up the machine in step  172 . The machine remains in a locked out condition until a gaming machine attendant actuates a key operated switch which is monitored in step  174 . After the key operated switch is actuated, the pay out amount is displayed in step  176 , the hand pay amount is added to the TOTAL CANCELED CREDIT meter in step  178 , and the CREDIT meter  60  is updated in step  180 . 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above. 
     What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters patent of the United States is: