U.S. patent application number 09/934153 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-08 for method and apparatus for creating a multi-panel video display unit gaming device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Innovative Gaming Corporation of America. Invention is credited to Stephan, Don.
Application Number | 20020107075 09/934153 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24655694 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020107075 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stephan, Don |
August 8, 2002 |
Method and apparatus for creating a multi-panel video display unit
gaming device
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for creating a
computer generated video display based gaming device having a
plurality of display unit in which gaming images, advertisements,
and announcements are displayed to a player of the gaming device.
apparatus consists of a multi-panel gaming device permits a player
to operate a video-based game. The gaming system has a programmable
computing system enclosed within a computer enclosure 10 having a
top side and a back side. The gaming system also has a separate
player wager and prize unit having a plurality of input and output
devices relating to accepting wagers from the player and paying
winnings to the player, the input and output devices are enclosed
within the wager and prize unit. The gaming system uses a pair of
vertical support members extending upward from the computer
enclosure. These support members are located on either side of a
plurality of video display devices and hold the sequence of video
display devices in a vertical column. A player stands or sits in
front of the rising sequence of video display devices to play the
gaming system such that the player may easily view the sequence of
images presented upon the display devices while operating the
gaming system.
Inventors: |
Stephan, Don; (Carson City,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Assignee: |
Innovative Gaming Corporation of
America
Reno
NV
|
Family ID: |
24655694 |
Appl. No.: |
09/934153 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09934153 |
Aug 21, 2001 |
|
|
|
09661930 |
Sep 14, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3216 20130101;
G07F 17/3211 20130101; A63F 13/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/46 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic gaming system for permitting a player to operate a
video-based game, the gaming system comprising: a programmable
computing system enclosed within a computer enclosure having a top
side and a back side; a player wager and prize unit having a
plurality of input and output devices relating to accepting wagers
from the player and paying winnings to the player, the input and
output devices are enclosed within the wager and prize unit; a pair
of vertical support members extending upward from the top side of
the computer enclosure; and two or more player display devices for
presenting video images and audio sounds generated by the
programmable computing system to the player, the player display
devices having a pair of vertical edges and a pair of horizontal
edges; wherein the display devices are coupled to a pair of
vertical support members about the vertical edges of the player
display devices; and the computer enclosure and the wager and prize
unit are separate units electrically connected by a communication
cable in order to permit the wager and prize unit to be easily be
connected and disconnected from the computer enclosure.
2. The electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the
programmable computing system comprises: a processing module
electrically connected to a system bus; two or more video interface
modules connected to the system bus, each video display module is
electrically connected to a player display device; mass storage
interface module connected to the system bus; and an intelligent
input and output module (IIOB) connected to the system bus; wherein
the IIOB module is further connected to the communications cable
used to transmit and receive data to and from the wager and prize
unit.
3. The electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the
wager and prize unit comprises one or more player interface units
chosen from the following: a coin return hopper, a bill acceptor
unit, a coin/token acceptor unit, a credit card acceptor unit, and
a prize ticket payout unit.
4. The electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the
video display modules comprise an LCD panel for displaying video
images.
5. The electronic gaming system according to claim 4, wherein the
wherein the video display modules comprise one or more audio
speakers.
6. The electronic gaming system according to claim 2, wherein the
wherein the video interface modules comprise a video buffer memory
module.
7. The electronic gaming system according to claim 2, wherein the
programmable computing system comprise one or more concurrently
operating software modules that generate the sequence of video
images stored within the video interface modules for display upon
the video display devices.
8. The electronic gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the
sequence of video images comprise video images used to display
games images presenting the operation of the game to the
player.
9. The electronic gaming system according to claim 8, wherein the
sequence of video images further comprise video images used to
display advertisements and announcements.
10. The electronic gaming system according to claim 9, wherein the
game images are displayed upon different video display devices from
video display devices displaying the advertisements and
announcements.
11. The electronic gaming system according to claim 3, wherein the
communications cable electrically connecting the IIOB module to the
wager and prize unit comprises a plurality of electrical
connections to connect each of the one or more player interface
units in the wager and prize unit to the IIOB module.
12. The electronic gaming system according to claim 11, wherein
each of the one or more player interface units operate in response
to commands received from and transmitted through the IIOB module
to the processing module, the commands are processed by software
modules executing within the processing module.
13. The electronic gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the
software modules generate the sequence of video images based upon
video data elements retrieved from mass storage devices connected
to the mass storage interface module.
14. The electronic gaming system according to claim 13, wherein the
video data elements retrieved from mass storage devices connected
to the mass storage interface module comprise streaming video data
transmitted directly from the mass storage interface module to the
video display interface module.
15. A gaming apparatus, comprising: a computer controlled gaming
device including a payment receiver; a computer controlled
actuator; a computer controlled determiner awarding winning for
selected plays; a computer controlled distributor for paying or
crediting winnings; and a display assembly mounted to the gaming
device, the display assembly including a plurality of display
screens providing gaming information; wherein the screens are
vertically connected in a serial configuration.
16. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display
screens extend upward from the gaming device.
17. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plurality
of display screens face toward a center point forward and above the
gaming device.
18. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display
comprises at least three screens.
19. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display
screens comprise video screens for displaying computer generated
video images.
20. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display
screens mount on support rails on support rails, wherein a support
rail extends upward from each end of the display screens.
21. A gaming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the display
screens mount on support rails on support rails, wherein a support
rail extends upward from each end of the display screens.
22. A gaming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the support
rails arc about a radius having a focal point substantially at the
center point.
23. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the gaming
device comprises a plurality of modules interconnecting in a side
by side configuration.
24. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein adjacent
display screens are connected at an oblique angle to one
another.
25. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display
screens display portions of a larger image that form a continuous
image.
26. A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising
gaming device controls, wherein the controls are located on an
upper portion of the gaming device.
27. A display system for a computer controlled gaming apparatus
having a housing, comprising: a plurality of video display screens
mounted to an upper portion of the housing; wherein the display
screens are connected along upper and lower edges to adjacent
display screens.
28. A display system according to claim 27, wherein each of the
display screens comprises a computer generated video display.
29. A display system according to claim 27, wherein the display
system includes at least three connected display screens.
30. A display system according to claim 27, wherein the display
screens are arranged at an obtuse angle to one another.
31. A display system according to claim 27, wherein the display
screens are arranged to face a center point forward of the screens
and above the housing.
32. A display system according to claim 31, wherein the display
screens mount on arcing side rails, arcing about the center point.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates in general to a method for creating a
multi-panel video display unit gaming device, and more particularly
to a method and apparatus for creating a computer generated video
display based gaming device having a plurality of display unit in
which gaming images, advertisements, and announcements are
displayed to a player of the gaming device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] With the development of computing systems that incorporate
multi media capabilities, gaming systems that provide entertainment
to players and also offer opportunities to place wagers on the
outcome of the games have become prevalent. Users of these gaming
systems are constantly faced with a desire to both attract players
interest in a particular gaming device as well as keep the
attention of players so that the players continue to make wagers
using the gaming device.
[0003] The owners of gaming systems typically operate gambling
sessions and establishments such as casinos that also offer other
attractions such as restaurants, retail establishments, and live
entertainment venues. These establishments desire that the players
of the gaming systems also patronize these other attractions. Multi
media based computing systems offer operators of these
establishments with capability to serve both of the above needs
within a single gaming system.
[0004] In the past, video based gaming systems typically did not
present video based information to players other than video and
information associated with the playing of the particular game.
This fact meant that establishments needed to use additional
efforts to advertise and entice players to both play the games and
to patronize the other attractions. This arrangement was an
inefficient use of video display devices within video based gaming
systems. As such a need existed to create gaming systems capable
simultaneously displaying video images that both present a game and
entice players to play a game as well as present advertisements and
other announcements used to promote other attractions within a
casino.
SUMMARY
[0005] To overcome the limitations in the prior art described
above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent
upon reading and understanding the present specification, the
present invention discloses a multi-panel gaming device permits a
player to operate a video-based game over two or more video display
devices.
[0006] A system in accordance with the principles of the present
invention includes a multi-panel gaming device permits a player to
operate a video-based game. The gaming system has a programmable
computing system enclosed within a computer enclosure having a top
side and a back side. The gaming system also has a player wager and
prize unit having a plurality of input and output devices relating
to accepting wagers from the player and paying winnings to the
player, the input and output devices are enclosed within the wager
and prize unit.
[0007] The gaming system uses a pair of vertical support members
extending upward from the top side of the computer enclosure. These
support members are located on either side of a plurality of video
display devices and hold the sequence of video display devices in a
vertical column. A player stands or sits in front of the rising
sequence of video display devices to play the gaming system such
that the player may easily view the sequence of images presented
upon the display devices while operating the gaming system. The
gaming system has two or more player display devices for presenting
video images and audio sounds generated by the programmable
computing system to the player.
[0008] Other embodiments of a system in accordance with the
principles of the invention may include alternative or optional
additional aspects. These and various other advantages and features
of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof.
However, for a better understanding of the invention, its
advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should
be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to
accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and
described specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Referring now to the drawings in which like reference
numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a three-panel
embodiment of a multi-panel gaming device according to the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a three-panel embodiment
of a multi-panel gaming device according to the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a three-panel embodiment of
a multi-panel gaming device according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a three-panel embodiment
of a multi-panel gaming device illustrating the modular design of
the gaming device having a computer enclosure and display unit and
a wager and prize unit according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a two-panel
embodiment of a multi-panel gaming device according to the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a two-panel embodiment of
a multi-panel gaming device according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a two-panel embodiment of a
multi-panel gaming device according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a two-panel embodiment of
a multi-panel gaming device illustrating the modular design of the
gaming device having a computer enclosure and display unit and a
wager and prize unit according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the wager and prize
unit having a coin return hopper according to another embodiment of
the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a computing system used to generate the
video images displayed upon the video display devices according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 11 illustrates a set of software modules executing
within a computing system used to generate the video images
displayed upon the video display devices according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] In the following description of the exemplary embodiment,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part
hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration the specific
embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilized as structural
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0022] The present invention provides an apparatus for creating a
computer generated video display based gaming device having a
plurality of display unit in which gaming images, advertisements,
and announcements are displayed to a player of the gaming
device.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a three-panel
embodiment of a multi-panel gaming device according to the present
invention. The multi-panel gaming device permits a player to
operate a video-based game. The gaming system has a programmable
computing system 110 enclosed within a computer enclosure 10 having
a top side 22 and a back side 21. The gaming system also has a
separate player wager and prize unit 11 having a plurality of input
and output devices relating to accepting wagers from the player and
paying winnings to the player, the input and output devices 23-25
are enclosed within the wager and prize unit 11.
[0024] The gaming system uses a pair of vertical support members
31-32 extending upward from the top side 22 of the computer
enclosure 10. These support members are located on either side of a
plurality of video display devices 41-43 and hold the sequence of
video display devices 41-43 in a vertical column. A player stands
or sits in front of the rising sequence of video display devices
41-43 to play the gaming system such that the player may easily
view the sequence of images presented upon the display devices
41-43 while operating the gaming system.
[0025] The gaming system has two or more player display devices for
presenting video images and audio sounds generated by the
programmable computing system to the player. The video display
devices 41-43 have both a pair of vertical edges and a pair of
horizontal edges. The display devices 41-43 are coupled to the pair
of vertical support members 31-32 about the vertical edges 61 of
the video display devices.
[0026] The computer enclosure 10 and the wager and prize unit 11
are separate units electrically connected by a communication cable
in order to permit the wager and prize unit 11 to be easily be
connected and disconnected from the computer enclosure 10.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a three-panel embodiment
of a multi-panel gaming device according to the present invention.
In the example embodiment, a plurality of user input devices 71-76
are located upon the computer enclosure. These input devices 71-76
permit a player to provide input commands and signals to the gaming
system in order to initiate the playing of a game, to provide
inputs needed to operate the game, and to accept other operating
instructions from a player.
[0028] The gaming system has a programmable computing system 110
within the computer enclosure 10 that includes one or more
concurrently operating software modules. These software modules
generate a sequence of video images stored within a video interface
modules for display upon the each of the video display devices
41-43. The sequence of video images correspond to video images used
to display games images presenting the operation of the game to the
player. The sequence of video images also correspond to video
images used to display advertisements and announcements. The game
images are displayed upon different video display devices 41-43
from video display devices displaying the advertisements and
announcements.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a three-panel embodiment of
a multi-panel gaming device according to the present invention. In
one embodiment, the plurality of user input devices 71-76 located
upon the computer enclosure consist of a set of individual input
buttons. A player will depress a button corresponding to a desired
input to start, to operate, and to end a game. One skilled in the
art will recognize other user input devices such as a keyboard, a
trackball, and other computer user pointing and input devices may
be used in place of these buttons 71-71 without deviating from the
spirit and scope of the present invention recited within the
attached claims.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a three-panel embodiment
of a multi-panel gaming device illustrating the modular design of
the gaming device having a computer enclosure and display unit and
a wager and prize unit according to the present invention. The
computer enclosure 10 and the wager and prize unit 11 are
constructed from two separate units. These units are coupled
together to form the gaming system used by a player. Such a
construction permits a computer enclosure 10 and its computing
system to be used in one embodiment where wager on the outcome of a
play of a game are permitted. This same enclosure 10 and computing
system 110 may also be easily reconfigured to use only tokens and
award prize tickets in place of currency when the placement of a
wager is not permitted simply by replacing one version of the wager
and prize unit 11 for a second version of the wager and prize unit
11.
[0031] FIGS. 5-8 illustrates a set of views of a two-panel
embodiment of a multi-panel gaming device according to the present
invention. The gaming system may be constructed using any number of
video display units 41-42 arranged in a vertical arc that permits a
player to simultaneously view each of the video display units
41-42. The same games may be played upon the various embodiments of
the gaming system. In some cases, a game will use just one video
display 41. In such a case, the other displays, if present, may be
used for advertisements, announcements, and other sequences of
video images designed to obtain and keep the interest of game
players. In other embodiments, a game may display sequences of
video images upon two or more video display units 41-43. In such
cases, the advertisements, announcements, and other sequences of
video images may still be displayed upon any video display unit in
which game related images are not being displayed.
[0032] The distinction between video display units used to display
game related images and video display units used to display other
images applies to all multi-panel gaming system regardless of how
many video display units are present in the system. If a particular
game uses all of the video display units 41-43 present in the
system, the advertisements, announcements, and other sequences of
video images may still be displayed upon the video display units
when a player is not actively using the system.
[0033] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the wager and prize
unit having a coin return hopper according to another embodiment of
the present invention. In embodiments in which wagering is
permitted, the wager and prize unit 11 typically includes a bill,
coin/token or credit card input device 23-24 that allows a player
to add currency to a currently active banked amount. The wager and
prize unit 11 also has a coin return hopper 25 that permits
winnings in the form of coins, tokens, and similar items of value
to be returned by the gaming system when a player has won an
outcome of a game. This hopper 25 may return the winnings after the
end of each game outcome. This hopper 25 may also maintain a banked
amount within the computing system 110 to which winnings are added
and from which wagers are deducted. In the latter embodiment, the
hopper 25 returns winnings to a player when instructed by a player
at the conclusion of a session of plays of the game.
[0034] FIG. 10 illustrates a computing system used to generate the
video images displayed upon the video display devices according to
one embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a
computing system 110, a player wager interface device module 120,
and a plurality of video display devices 101-103. The computing
system 110 is a programmable computer having a programmable
processing module 114, a mass storage interface module 115
connected to a mass storage device 135, an IIOB interface module,
and a video interface module 111-113 corresponding to each of the
video display devices in the present embodiment of the system.
[0035] The computing system is constructed using a personal
computer or similar industry standard computing system. The
processing modules may be constructed using a microprocessor such
as ones manufactured by Intel or Motorola. The mass storage devices
may be any memory device capable of storing computer readable data
and programs for use by the gaming system. In a preferred
embodiment, the mass storage device is a CD-ROM drive and its
corresponding interface module needed to connect the storage device
135 to the processing module 114 over a system bus. The technical
description of a CD-ROM based mass storage system may be found in
detail in a co-pending U.S. patent application, entitled, System
and Method for Verifying the Contents of a Mass Storage Device
Before Granting Access to Computer Readable Data Stored on the
Device, Ser. No. 09/396,821, filed Sep. 14, 1999, which is
concurrently assigned with the present application and is
incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
[0036] The IIOB module provides a programmable interface to the
wager and prize unit 11 and the player interface modules contained
therein. These modules include a bill/coin acceptor module 121, a
credit card acceptor, 122, a hopper, 123 and a player I/O module.
The technical description of these computer controlled gaming
machines may be found in detail in co-pending U.S. patent
application, entitled, Method and Apparatus for Providing a
Compartmentalized Game Instruction Architecture within a Gaming
Machine, Ser. No. 09/396,190, filed Sep. 14, 1999, that is commonly
assigned and is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein,
and in co-pending U.S. patent application, entitled, System and
Method of Distributing Casino Games, Employing Platform Independent
Programming and Common Communications Protocols, Ser. No.
60/153,718, filed Sep. 14, 1999, which is also concurrently filed
with the present application and is also incorporated by reference
in its entirety herein.
[0037] FIG. 11 illustrates a set of software modules executing
within a computing system used to generate the video images
displayed upon the video display devices according to another
embodiment of the present invention. The software consists of an
operating system 201, display device drivers 212, and wager
interface device drivers 211. These modules together provide the
basis operation of the computing system.
[0038] The software in the computing system includes game specific
modules that are used to implement games and related images and
gaming machine modules that are used to interface the gaming
modules with the hardware devices and their supporting driver
modules.. The game specific modules include player game interaction
modules 231, gaming modules 232 and advertisement and announcement
display modules 233. The gaming machine modules video image
generation modules, audio sound generation modules, and player
wager interface modules.
[0039] The software for one such gaming system is disclosed within
U.S. patent application, entitled, System and Method of
Distributing Casino Games, Employing Platform Independent
Programming and Common Communications Protocols, Ser. No.
60/153,718, filed Sep. 14, 1999, which is also concurrently
assigned with the present application and is also incorporated by
reference in its entirety herein, and
[0040] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the
invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is
intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this
detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *