Stepping motor driven reel mechanism having an encoder means integrally formed on the motor: apparatus and method
 A reel mechanism for use in a gaming machine including an integrally formed stepping motor/encoder assembly operatively coupled to a rotatable reel having an annular row of various symbols which are to be sequentially displayed in a visual field. The stepping motor/encoder assembly includes an integrally formed encoder wheel and sensing means. A processor/controller is operatively coupled to the stepping motor/encoder assembly for controlling the stepping motor drive signals, reading signals from the sensing means and storing in an associated memory a plurality of encoded reel stop positions which are a representation of physical stop positions on the reel. The processor/controller signals the stepping motor to spin the reel and while the reel is spinning, a random number generator means associated with the processor/controller determines a reel stop which corresponds to a specific position of a the reel. Simultaneously, the processor/controller cooperates with the integrally formed encoder means to provide a precise and fast response time in determining reel spin direction and absolute reel position to precisely control the stepping motor drive signals to stop the reel such that a portion of the annular row of various symbols which is associated with the reel stop determined by the random number generator means properly appears in the visible field. 
Casino Data Systems
G G
G07F G07F
inventional inventional
Thomas Jay Richard
Miner Stone Schneider