Multi-Currency Bill Acceptor Using Pseudo Credit Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional gaming machine cashless systems are limited to handling a single currency, making it inconvenient for international casinos to accept foreign currencies, as they require multiple currency exchange counters or inconvenience players.
Innovation Solution
A multi-currency bill acceptor that can easily convert an existing cashless system to support multiple currencies by outputting pseudo credit image data information for foreign currency bills, allowing the system to process both domestic and foreign currency bills without the need for significant modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional bill acceptors are used to handle single currency, then the system is simple and reliable, but it cannot accept foreign currency bills and requires multiple currency exchange counters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates pseudo credit image data that copies the structure and format of legitimate credit image data. When a foreign currency bill is inserted, the system generates synthetic credit image data containing the bill amount and currency information, allowing the existing single-currency system to process foreign bills without structural modifications. This copying approach enables multi-currency support while preserving the original system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a currency conversion table as an intermediary component between the bill acceptor and the game controller. This conversion table stores exchange rates and currency conversion rules, acting as a mediator that translates foreign currency bill information into the domestic currency format that the original system expects. The intermediary layer handles currency conversion without requiring changes to the core system logic.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple currency exchange counters are provided to handle foreign currencies, then all currencies can be accepted, but the facility complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing bill acceptor system universal by enabling it to handle both domestic currency bills and foreign currency bills through a single device. The system maintains its original function of processing domestic bills while adding the capability to process foreign bills by generating pseudo credit image data and using currency conversion tables. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate currency exchange counters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data parameters passed to the game controller based on the currency type detected. When a foreign currency bill is inserted, the system modifies the credit image data parameters to include pseudo data representing the foreign bill, and uses currency conversion tables to adjust amount parameters. This parameter-based approach allows the same hardware to handle different currencies by simply changing data values rather than physical components.
3Ease of operation
If the system is converted to support multiple currencies, then player convenience is improved, but the modification complexity of the existing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring currency conversion tables with exchange rates and conversion rules before the system needs to process foreign currency bills. The conversion tables are prepared in advance, containing all necessary currency information and conversion logic. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly adapt to foreign currency processing without complex runtime modifications or extensive programming changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a multi-currency bill acceptor that can easily convert an existing cashless system into a multi-currency cashless system at low cost. In the case of reading a ticket, the multi-currency bill acceptor converts information on the ticket into data in a ticket format readable by a game controller and sends it to the game controller; in the case of reading a bill, it sends information on the bill to the game controller in a form of data converted into a ticket format.