NRI Output Signal Emulation

Introduction
As an alternative to the more common Sense, Credit, Tilt, Inhibit interface scheme popularly used in single coin denomination slot machines, video lottery machines accepting multiple coin denominations typically make use of a multi-wire output credit signal interface popularized by the NRI G-13 coin acceptors and others, which utilizes a standard 10-pin insulation displacement connector (IDC) having 6 of the pins assigned as credit outputs associated each with one or more coin signatures in active Coin Memory. For example, because of the changes the Royal Canadian Mint has made to Canadian currency over the years, there are three distinct coin signatures for the $.25 coin, two distinct signatures for the $.50 coin, and one distinct signature for the $1.00 coin. In a typical application, one might assign all three of the $.25 coin signatures to produce credit signals on Output #1, the two $.50 coin signatures to produce credit signals on Output #2, and the $1.00 coin signature to produce credit signals on Output #3 such that the machine firmware can simply assign one denomination to a particular output number.

Personality Plug Descriptions
As detailed on the Personality Plug web page, IDX offers the models PPNRI-3 and PPNRI-6 personality plugs having plug compatibility with the 10-pin IDC style connector.  As shown in the table below, PPNRI-6 fully implements the NRI G-13 Series interface while the PPNRI-3 does not implement all of the outputs (and is a bit less expensive). Both personality plugs utilize the proper 10-pin dual row shrouded header with central polarizing key.

Inhibit: The Inhibit input is set by the factory as requiring a logical high, as shown above, but may be reconfigured in the field with the Xaminer or by using HyperTerminal and Serial Port commands.

Pulse Width: The pulse width of the output signals is factory set to 100ms (64 Hex) but may be field reconfigured in the field with the Xaminer or by using HyperTerminal and Serial Port commands, and for many OEM machine manufacturers will be considerably shorter than 100ms.

Output Assignment: The Output # for each coin type is determined during normal coin programming. While in the standard Xeptor, after turning the rotary switch to one of positions 1-6, one then presses the push button according to the number of credit pulses desired, however for the NRI emulation, one presses the pushbutton to specify the Output channel desired. For the PPNRI-6, the output is a One-Of-N configuration where pressing the button N times will assign Output #N to the coin being programmed. For the PPNRI-3, pressing the button N times produces the binary code N at Outputs1-3. Hence, if one needs only three or fewer distinct outputs or can read a binary output code, the PPNRI-3 is a satisfactory and more economical choice. With the PPNRI-3, assignments to Output Channels 1, 2, and 4 are produced on Output 1, Output 2, and Output 3 pins respectively, whereas an assignment to Output Channel 3 would produce an output on Output 1 and Output 2 simultaneously.

Coin Return / Tilt: Depending on the the Xeptor model, this output may be a Coin Return pulse generated for each rejected coin, or a Tilt output signal generated in the event of a Tilt or Failure condition. Note that the Coin Return / Tilt output is equivalent to Output 7, and thus a coin programmed to activate Output 7 will also generate an output on the Coin Return /Tilt line. Model specific details follow.

• For the X-10 and X-50, one must use firmware version XNRI V3.0r or V3.0t. As factory shipped, the Coin Return / Tilt output is configured to output a pulse for a returned coin, but not for a Tilt. One may alternatively configure (or factory order) the unit so that the Tilt signal is produced by this output by setting the least significant bit of the SysConfig byte (i.e. use command "s09"). When used to output the Tilt signal, the output pulse stays on for the duration of the Tilt condition, whereas when configured for Coin Return pulse output, the pulse width is the same as for the other valid coin pulse outputs.

• For the X-20 and X-60, any standard V4.0 firmware is used, however the NRI emulation must be enabled by setting the 2nd least significant bit (NRI emulation bit) of the SysConfig byte and clearing the 3rd least significant bit (one-pulse/coin bit) of SysConfig byte (i.e. use command "s0A"). Up through V4.0d firmware Output 7 is always activated for a Tilt condition, and there is no output for a rejected coin. Starting with V4.0e one must opt-in to producing the Tilt on Output 7 by setting TiltTime to "FF" using HyperTerminal or the Xaminer. When the value of FF is used for TiltTime to opt-in for this feature, the actual value used for TiltTime under Tilt conditions will default to the value "04", meaning 4/3 seconds. There should be no compatibility problem with existing systems that have traditionally either ignored this signal or expect it to produce a Coin Return signal as the Tilt signal will be interpreted either as a harmless Coin Return signal, or ignored altogether.