Service enhancing power supply system for gaming machines
View Patent ↗A gaming machine having a multi-tiered power supply and power distribution system which enables maintenance of low security and higher failure rate components such as video monitors, LCDs, or reel mechanisms without disconnecting power from higher security, low failure rate components such as the main processor board. The ability to provide multi-tiered power in this manner allows low security risk items to be serviced while the gaming machine is still in contact with the casino's backend reporting system, reporting on its status. This improves security, accountability of maintenance personnel, and significantly reduces overall gaming machine down time.
1. A gaming machine, comprising:
a game cabinet configured to house a game processor and a first game peripheral allowing play of at least one game;
a first power supply located within the gaming cabinet, the first power supply operably connectable to an external power source, wherein the first power supply includes switched and unswitched connections, wherein the first game peripheral is coupled to the switched connection and a second power supply is coupled to the unswitched connection wherein the game processor is coupled to the second power supply, and wherein the first game component is electrically isolated from the first power supply when the first power supply is turned off and the second power supply and the game processor remain electrically connected to the first power supply;
a first lockable external access panel configured to only allow access to the switched connections; and
a second lockable access panel located within the gaming cabinet, the second lockable access panel configured to only allow access to the unswitched connections.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 where said second power supply is located in said gaming machine such that said first lockable external access panel must be opened to gain access to the second lockable access panel and said second lockable access panel must be opened to gain access to said second power supply.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1 where said second power supply comprises a low voltage power supply operably connected to a main processor board comprising the game processor using one of a plurality of connection points.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1 where said second power supply further comprises a switch having an off position configured to electrically disconnect said plurality of connection points on said second power supply.
5. The gaming machine of claim 1 where said first power supply further comprises a plurality of power distribution points, each point being operable for electrically connecting to gaming machine components.
6. The gaming machine of claim 1 where said first power supply further comprises a switch having an off position, and a plurality of high voltage connection points and a plurality of low voltage connection points, where at least one of said points is electrically disconnected when said switch is in said off position.