USB light controller for controlling a display on a light device in a gaming unit

Abstract

A gaming unit having a light device controller operatively coupled a light device. The light device controller being adapted to couple to the gaming unit by a universal serial bus peripheral connection. The light device controller comprising a processor, a memory, and an input/output device. The gaming unit capable of transmitting the light display data to the light device controller via the universal serial bus peripheral connection. The light device controller capable of reading the light display data and transmitting the data to the light device to cause the generation of the light data on the light device

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming apparatus, comprising: 
 a display unit that is capable of generating video images;    a value input device;    a light bezel having a plurality of independently operable lights, said independently operable lights being capable of displaying visual colors;    a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games: video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,  
 said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,  
 said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,  
 said video image comprising an image of a pachinko board and a pachinko ball if said game comprises video pachinko,  
 said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,  
 said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,  
 said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game; and  
   a light bezel controller, said light bezel controller comprising a universal serial bus connector operatively coupling said light bezel controller to said gaming unit controller, a light bezel input/output circuit operatively coupling said light bezel controller to said light bezel, a second processor, and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to transmit illumination data stored in said first memory to said light bezel controller via said universal serial bus, said illumination data comprising data for illuminating said plurality of lights  
 said light bezel controller being programmed to receive said illumination data from said gaming unit controller,  
 said light bezel controller being programmed to read said illumination data, and  
 said light bezel controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data via said light bezel input/output device to cause the illumination of said plurality of lights in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         2 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said light bezel controller comprises a jumper for configuring said light bezel controller.  
     
     
         3 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said light bezel controller comprises a power supply.  
     
     
         4 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said universal serial bus comprises said power supply.  
     
     
         5 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said power supply comprises an external power source.  
     
     
         6 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said light bezel controller comprises an address/data bus, said address/data bus operatively coupling said universal serial bus connector, said light bezel input/output circuit, said second processor, and said second memory.  
     
     
         7 . A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in  claim 1 , said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.  
     
     
         8 . A gaming system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.  
     
     
         9 . A gaming apparatus, comprising: 
 a display unit that is capable of generating video images;    a value input device;    a light device, said light device having at least one independently operable light;    a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games: video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,  
 said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,  
 said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,  
 said video image comprising an image of a pachinko board and a pachinko ball if said game comprises video pachinko,  
 said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,  
 said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,  
 said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game; and  
   a light device controller, said light device controller operatively coupled to said gaming unit controller via a universal serial bus peripheral connection, said light device controller comprising a light device input/output circuit operatively coupling said light device to said light device controller, a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to transmit illumination data stored in said first memory to said light device controller via said universal serial bus peripheral connection, said illumination data comprising data for illuminating said at least one independently operable light,  
 said light device controller being programmed to receive said illumination light from said gaming unit controller,  
 said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data, and  
 said light device controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data via said light device input/output device to cause the illumination of said at least one independently operable light in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         10 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said light device controller comprises a jumper for configuring said light device controller.  
     
     
         11 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said light device controller comprises a power supply.  
     
     
         12 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said universal serial bus peripheral connection comprises said power supply.  
     
     
         13 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said power supply comprises an external power source.  
     
     
         14 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said light device controller comprises an address/data bus, said address/data bus operatively coupling said universal serial bus connector, said light device input/output circuit, said second processor, and said second memory.  
     
     
         15 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , said gaming unit controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data to attract a player to said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         16 . A slot machine, comprising: 
 a plurality of gaming reels;    a value input device;    a light device having at least one independently operable light;    a slot machine controller operatively coupled to said gaming reels and said value input device, said slot machine controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said slot machine controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,  
 said slot machine controller being programmed to cause said gaming reels to rotate and stop, representing a game,  
 said slot machine controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game,  
 said slot machine controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device; and  
   a light device controller, said light device controller operatively coupled to said slot machine controller via a universal serial bus peripheral connection, said light device controller comprising a light device input/output circuit operatively coupling said light device to said light device controller, a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said slot machine controller being programmed to transmit illumination data stored in said first memory to said light device controller via said universal serial bus peripheral connection, said illumination data comprising data for illuminating said at least one independently operable light,  
 said light device controller being programmed to receive said illumination light from said gaming unit controller,  
 said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data, and  
 said light device controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data via said light device input/output device to cause the illumination of said at least one independently operable light in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         17 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said light device controller comprises a jumper for configuring said light device controller.  
     
     
         18 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said light device controller comprises a power supply.  
     
     
         19 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said universal serial bus connector comprises said power supply.  
     
     
         20 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said power supply comprises an external power supply.  
     
     
         21 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said light device controller comprises an address/data bus, said address/data bus operatively coupling said universal serial bus connector, said light device input/output circuit, said second processor, and said second memory.  
     
     
         22 . A pachinko machine, comprising: 
 a pachinko board element;    a pachinko ball element;    a value input device;    a light device having at least one independently operable light;    a pachinko gaming controller operatively coupled to said pachinko board element and said value input device, said pachinko machine controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to allow a person to initiate a pachinko game by causing said pachinko ball element to contact said pachinko board element,  
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said pachinko game,  
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device; and  
   a light device controller, said light device controller operatively coupled to said pachinko gaming controller via a universal serial bus peripheral connection, said light device controller comprising a light device input/output circuit operatively coupling said light device to said light device controller, a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to transmit illumination data stored in said first memory to said light device controller via said universal serial bus peripheral connection, said illumination data comprising data for illuminating said at least one independently operable light,  
 said light device controller being programmed to receive said illumination light from said pachinko gaming controller,  
 said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data, and  
 said light device controller being programmed to transmit said illumination data via said light device input/output device to cause the illumination of said at least one independently operable light in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         23 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said light device controller comprises a jumper for configuring said light device controller.  
     
     
         24 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said light device controller comprises a power supply.  
     
     
         25 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said universal serial bus connector comprises said power supply.  
     
     
         26 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said power supply comprises an external power supply.  
     
     
         27 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said light device controller comprises an address/data bus, said address/data bus operatively coupling said universal serial bus connector, said light device input/output circuit, said second processor, and said second memory.  
     
     
         28 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said pachinko machine additionally comprises a display, wherein said pachinko board element comprises an image of a pachinko board on said display  
     
     
         29 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said pachinko ball element comprises an image of a pachinko ball on said display.