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Gaming machine and coin selection deviceRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Chance DevicesGaming machine and coin selection device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070007723, Gaming machine and coin selection device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based upon the prior Japanese Application No. 2004-63172, filed on Mar. 5, 2004; No. 2004-184119 filed on Jun. 22, 2004; and No. 2005-55212 filed on Feb. 28, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a gaming machine and a coin selection device capable of detecting game mediums inserted into the machines. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A conventional gaming machine is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H08-24434. This gaming machine includes a coin selection device that is equipped with a plurality of sensors arranged in positions where a coin inserted into the gaming machine is to pass through. The respective sensors are formed to output detection signals on detection of the inserted coin. If respective output times of the detection signals satisfy with a predetermined condition, the coin selection device judges that the inserted coin is appropriate. [0006] Each sensor comprises a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. When light emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected by a coin and then received by the light receiving unit, the sensor outputs a detection signal. Then, the coin selection device determines whether output time of the detection signal is a predetermined time or not. If the output time of the detection signal coincides with a predetermined time, then the coin selection device determines that the inserted coin is appropriate. [0007] However, since the coin selection device is constructed so as to judge whether an inserted coin is appropriate or not on the basis of receipt or non-receipt of light by the sensors, if a cheat inserts a light emitting element into a coin insertion slot and allows the light emitting element to turn on and off in the vicinity of the sensor in a specific cycle, then the coin selection device determines that an appropriate coin has been inserted. In this way, as the coin selection device can not recognize a game medium and its passing position precisely, it is impossible to prevent an occurrence of the above-mentioned cheating. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine and a coin selection device capable of recognizing positional information of a gaming medium moving in the gaming machine precisely and controlling a game procedure based on the positional information on recognition. [0009] In order to attain the above object, the present invention provides a coin selection device or a gaming machine, which includes a coin path portion and a photo sensor. The coin path portion is formed so as to allow a passage of a coin due to its own weight. The photo sensor includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, detecting a coin passing through the coin path portion. The light emitting portion emits light while modulating an oscillation of the light. The light receiving portion receives and demodulates the light emitted from the light emitting portion in sync with an emission of the light emitting portion. In this way, the coin selection device or the gaming machine detects the coin passing through the coin path portion. [0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of the photo sensor, which might be caused by a player's false inserting of a light emitting element into the coin selection device or the gaming machine through a coin insertion slot. [0011] In order to attain the above object, the present invention provides a coin selection device including a transmission unit, a receiving unit and a determining unit. The transmission unit transmits a detection signal having a frequency different from a frequency of a signal existing in the coin path portion, to the coin path portion. When a coin passes through the coin path portion, the receiving unit receives the detection signal reflected by the coin. In signals received by the receiving unit, only when signals' part having the same frequency as the frequency of the detection signal has amplitude larger than a predetermined reference value, the determining unit determines that the coin has passed through the coin path portion. [0012] According to the present invention, comparing with the conventional method of detecting a passage of a coin by only receiving a light receiving signal, it is possible to detect positional information of a coin more precisely. [0013] In order to attain the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine including a reservoir unit, a guide unit, a signal transmission unit, a signal receiving unit, a transmission information generating unit and a guide determination unit. The reservoir unit reserves a coin. The guide unit guides the coin to the reservoir unit. The signal transmission unit transmits a signal to the coin guided by the guide unit. The signal receiving unit receives the signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit and subsequently reflected by the coin. The transmission information generating unit generates information included in the signal transmitted from the signal emitting unit. The guide determination unit determines whether the guide unit is guiding the coin or not, on the basis of the information generated by the transmission information generating unit and the signal received by the signal receiving unit. [0014] According to the present invention, comparing with the conventional method of detecting a passage of a coin with the use of continuous light, it is possible to detect positional information of a coin more precisely. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a front view of a coin selection device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the coin selection device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coin selection device in a state where a pusher plate is separated from a board. [0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pusher plate in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI of FIG. 2. Continue reading about Gaming machine and coin selection device... Full patent description for Gaming machine and coin selection device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gaming machine and coin selection device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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