Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for signaling promotional operation of a gaming device using existing fluorescent illumination lamps. An illumination lamp on a gaming device is operated continuously during normal operation, then flashed to signal promotional operation. Alternatively, an illumination lamp can be dimmed during normal operation, then operated at full brightness during promotional operation. To achieve flashing and dimming operation, a conventional starter is removed from a socket in a fluorescent lamp fixture and replaced with a controllable starter that fits into the same socket. The starter has a pair of wire leads for receiving a control signal for flashing or dimming the lamp. The controllable starter includes a starter circuit having a switch connected between two power terminals of the starter. When the switch closes responsive to the control signal, it shorts circuits the lamp, thereby extinguishing the arc and allowing preheat current to flow in the heating filaments of the lamp. When the switch opens responsive to the control signal, an arc is struck. By repetitively opening and closing the starter switch, the lamp is made to flash. The lamp is dimmed by flashing the lamp a high enough frequency that the lamp appears to operate continuously. The brightness of the dimmed lamp is controlled by adjusting the duty cycle of the switch. Flashing and dimming operation is combined with multiple colored fluorescent lamps to signal promotional operation.

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First Claim