Patent ID: 8235803

Claim:
A gaming machine that permits wagering on games comprising: components that display visual indicia to a player, receive inputs from the player for making game selections during the games via the gaming machine, accept at least one of money and credits, and provide a payoff to the player; a first component of the components that consumes first and second amounts of current during first and second time intervals, respectively, where the first component alternates between the first and second time intervals during operation, the second amount of current being at least twice the first amount of current; a central processing unit (CPU) that controls operation of a game executed by the gaming machine and an operation of the first component; a power supply that receives input power from an alternating current (AC) power source and supplies direct current for the first component; a power manager, coupled to the CPU and coupled between the power supply and the first component, that supplies the first and second amounts of current to the first component, the power manager including a rechargeable energy storage device that supplies at least 25% of the second amount of current to the first component during the second time interval from energy stored in the energy storage device prior to the start of the second time interval so that the current supplied from the power supply to the power manager during the second time interval is less than the second amount of current, thereby reducing a peak current load of the power supply and correspondingly a peak current input from the AC power source during the second time interval to normalize the power supplied by the power supply, the power manager further including a voltage monitoring circuit that transmits a signal to the CPU indicative of whether the charge of the rechargeable energy storage device is sufficient to permit the CPU to initiate the second time interval, the CPU monitoring the charge of the rechargeable energy storage device, and pausing the operation of the first component and inhibiting initiation of the second time interval until the signal indicates that the charge of the rechargeable energy storage device is sufficient, and where the rechargeable energy storage device requires a recharging time interval during which it is being recharged with energy, the rechargeable energy storage device not supplying current during the second time interval to the first component until the recharging time interval has been completed, and where the rechargeable energy storage device includes an ultra capacitor.