New Life Games Tech Forums

Hello All

This topic has been discussed before here http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=2044.0 and here http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=5917.msg52774#msg52774.
The aim is to eliminate the coin comparator and coin in PCB and have a device that simulates the pulses going to the processor board in order to credit the game There is plenty of info in these 2 threads but there still does not seem to be a A to Z step by step on how to get this working.

Well I got myself a new toy today (http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=7202.0 (http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=7202.0)) and would like to give it a shot. Comments / Suggestions welcome.

Regards
Ian

Hi All

Ok - Did a quick and dirty code for the demo board to pulse the 3 outputs in the correct sequence. Currently just connected to LED's with a long delay to see if its right.
I believe the sequence from the optics would be as follows as the coin passes through.

1 2 3

H H H
L H H
L L H
L L L
H L L
H H L
H H H

Was going through the use manual for the programmer today and a very cool additional feature is that you can use it as a basic 3 channel logic analyser (As luck would have it its how many channels I need to check) - The plan is to hook it up to a machine and check if my theory is correct and also determine timing.

Plan to use this functionity again on decoding BV signal but lets get project 1 going first.

Ian

Check out this thread (http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=175.msg1057#msg1057) -- Stolistic had to figure out how to simulate the coin-in sequence and timing for a PE+ video poker machine (should be the same as the S+ coin-in system), and was able to do it.

There is a a way to do it with 16F84A that was posted on here.

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies. I checked Stolistics posts and his sequence is as I expected.
Foster - Its in one of the threads that I referenced to in my initial post - My main aim here is to become familiar with PIC programming again so I am starting from scratch

Ian

Check out the BV Pulse/Timing information at the bottom of this document.

Hello Edski

Great Stuff - Thanks for the info.

Ian

Hi Stat

Great Stuff - K+. Which machines use ID03?. Am I correct in that it is JCM's propreitary protocol.

Ian

I'm pretty sure that Konami machines use ID003.
Bally 6000's with WBAs might also use this ID, and maybe Sigmas, but don't quote me; I'm not sure.

Stat :31-

Hi All

Quick update - Not at the office this week so cant do testing. Have ported the project from assembler to a basic compiler for PIC. Although for a project as simple as this there is no real benifit in this as stated previously the object of the exersise is to become familiar with microcontroller programming again.

I have decided to use the 12F675 device which is an 8 Pin device. It has enough IO available and will make a nice compact circuit. As far as the hopper goes would it be wortwhile to simulate the signal from the hopper optic as well on cashout ?

Ian

Wow! Dejavu I did a project for this around a year ago. Just uploaded the schematic if it will help you out any. Basically you unplug the connector going to the optic and coin comparator and plug this in. Two additional wires go to the hopper SSR module wires (SSR removed) so You can simulate coin out also. Makes the machine coinless. Of course I HATE PIC processors and did mine with a ATMEL 8051 chip. But if anyone wants the HEX code I'll email it to them for free.

I'd be happy with just a DBV eliminator.

Ed

Duct tape?

I think I understand the schematic
But what is that small unlabeled block and what is its function?
it is near pin 7 of the 4051?

I will say this it could easily be modified to work with the S2000 as well.

That is one of those 2 pin PC type jumpers. The design was to watch the coin lockout signal and only "accept" coins (coin pulses from this circuit) if the lockout was enabled (comparator is on and ready to accept coins). I included the option of always detecting a lockout voltage with a jumper to ground. The machine ignores any extra coin in pulse sequences from my MCU until the insert coin lamp comes back on anyways so the H11AA1 and related circuit was not needed in the S+ slot I installed this design in. It could be needed in some other configuration of a IGT game though (different software).

Great stuff - Thanks for the info. Hope to be in office later this week in order to do some testing.

Having this for the S+ and the S2000 will open up some options for a lot of people. Some people just don't want coins , hopper, or any money in. I know that in the Pachslo site they have a circuit that not only allows Vegas style autostopping but with each push  of the button would add 25 or 50 credits at a push. Maybe your circuit could be modified to do 50 or 100 credits at a time.

Reho33

Thats the beauty of using a microprocessor. Instead of re designing the entire circuit you just change a few lines of code and re program the chip.
As soon as I have the circuit working for the 8032 platform (S+ and PE+) I will try the same for the 80960 platform (IGAME and S2000).
For 50 to 100 credits emulating the BV would probably be quicker.

Ian

Are you going to use the 8051 design I came up with?

Hello Badbaud

No I will be using PIC's - I am familiar with the 8051 -Its was first processor I ever used when I studied Digital Electronics starting in 1994 - All of the programming was done in assembler.
The reason I am using PICS is that it seems to be the most popular device at the moment and there is tons of info online. I am also trying to learn a high level language (Basic) and there are some great compilers for the PIC (The one I am using is PROTON PicBasic) - Also its pretty easy to convert any code from Parallax stamp apps and they have neen extremely sucessful in the hobby market.

Ian

Ahhh the joys of using PIC's. I did a couple of designs with some years ago and didn't like all of the software overhead required to get one to work. With the ATMEL chips I use I can write the assembly code in Wordpad and assembly it with a inexpensive program. Those HLL are nothing but software hogs and assembly is much quicker and neater as far as I am concerned.

Hi All

Did not make it to the office as promised. One of our clients had a management walkout and I had to babysit the casino. Hope to get to office later this week.

Badbaud -
Back when I did the 8051 was still using dos and text editor. Remember writing bat files to do all compiling and programming with one shot. No flash devices at the time - Lots of time wasted sitting in the lab waiting for EPROMS to blank in between revisions.
I think higher level languages are a good thing - A lot of people that would not normally take the time to learn micros now have the oppertunity to tinker. Just look at how popular the Basic stamp and the Arduino have become. Yes you achieve the best speeds with asm but it takes so much longer to get it working

Ian

Ya I started with a CMP 80 board inside an Apple IIe. Before that I programmed EPROM's manually with 8 toggle switches and some pushbuttons. Had to really learn ASM to calculate the jumps and calls as I didn't have an assembler and entered the HEX code manually.

Hello All

Sorry it take a bit longer than anticipated. I have the coin in emulation done. All I need to do now is get the hopper emulation done. I have added a poll here to get some idea of what the interest level is in such a device. Its pretty easy to build. I have designed it on stripboard.You willl also need a decent soldering iron and a programmer to get the code on the Pic.

Please refer to the attached diagram for an idea on how the circuit will look. Please note that this is not 100% complete. There will be an additional resistor or 2 added to this.

If you are interested in buying how much are you willing to pay?. I have not checked prices on your side of the pond but so far have spent +/-R200 ($25) but have enough parts to build 2 units although I have used some parts that I already had available.

Ian

Hey, this might be the "key" to having a true slot that you could add credits to and never having to worry about coins, tickets, or a hopper. Some people like to play like that. I know that there is an auto stop device for pachislos that Will allow you to add 50 credits just by pushing a button and no coins needed! So yes, I think that your device will come in handy for home users K+ for thinking of it and actually doing something with the idea. I think that some of the members here would be very intrested in a board or two.

Ian. Interesting device. Very Nice!!  You should consider making the hopper option so that it could be switched in and out. Consider adding a button that would empty the hopper when pressed with the door open.  Maybe even add a small harness that  mults to the cash out switches wires so you can empty the hopper with the door closed. Just some thoughts to add some versatility to your device and so that it would be easy to go from using coins to complete free play.  I love the sound of the coins hitting the coin tray.   Wow, now my minds going. Maybe have 3 modes of operation with your device installed:
 
1) Coins and hopper usage which is no change from stock.
2) Neutral where you could add credits and add coins and still use hopper.
3) Complete free Play, where you could add credits, and have the machine count them off at will.
E~

Hello Eric

Good ideas - My aim was to eliminate both hopper and coin in assembly. Never thought of running them in parallel with existing devices but it should work. The little PIC I am using only has 6 IO pins and using them all so will probabaly need to use a bigger device for additional functionality.

Ian

Hi Ian. Just some suggestions. The additions probably wouldn't cost much. 4 or 5 dollars I would expect if even that.
It would be a nice multi-function device though.
Eric

 :71-

Hello Eric

And very good ones they are. I would also like to add a LCD and replace the mechanical meters with an interface to the PIC to keep track of accounting data. The other aim of course is to emulate the signals from the BV as this would be much quicker than coin pulsing. Ultimately trying to build a Key on / key off device with accounting capability that can be maketed to third world slot operators with old equipment.

Ian

Ian. That sounds like a nice option. Doing this for the S+, PE+, WMS and Bally S5500 and S6000 Shouldn't be that difficult as the validators are all RS232 based I believe.
The S2000 and iGame/GameKing would prove a little more challenging in that you would need to have a netplex interface.  Another great option that would grab and additional market for you is to add a small numeric keypad located on the board, inside the machine, to add credits and a time limit.  This could be a fourth mode of operation that would add a tournament feature that could be used with any non-tournament chip. So in this mode you would add a number of credits to each machine, set a time limit for each machine, and have this feature disable cash in, coin in and hopper functions.  If you wanted to go all out you could probably add another rs232 or similar interface that would allow you to connect many machines together in tournament mode so that by setting the number of credits and the time limit on the first machine in the chain all of the others machines would automatically set themselves to the tournament mode, set the same number of credits and set the same time limit.  Maybe you could use telephone jack type interface or RJ45 or Fiber optics?  The only drawback is that you would have to create an rs232 to netplex converter in order to use this with the S2000 and Igame/Gameking platform. Maybe all of this could be done through SAS if the older machines support it? This fourth mode, tournament mode,  would not only be useful to casinos, but also to people here in the states that supply machine to people that hold casino parties.
Just some more thoughts.
Eric

PS: If there's  any help that I could give you in finding the necessary parts for your project at the cheapest possible prices, let me know.  :92-

Gaming commissions would have to approve the circut for tourney use so it would have to be lab tested for "honesty".

Hi All

Went and got a card reader so can finally get pics of my camera. Circuit tested on IGT PE+ and working fine. Should work on S+ as well. Next step is to get it working on S2000 and I Game platforms.

Ian