U.S. patent application number 10/494925 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for gaming machin display.
This patent application is currently assigned to ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. Invention is credited to Flores, Steve, Lyons, Martin, Mezen, Brett, Muir, Robert Linley.
Application Number | 20050192090 10/494925 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3832561 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050192090 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muir, Robert Linley ; et
al. |
September 1, 2005 |
Gaming machin display
Abstract
A gaming machine display (14) includes a game playing
arrangement (16) mountable in a cabinet (62) of a gaming machine
(10). An electronically controlled display element (50) overlies
the game playing arrangement (16) so that, depending on a state of
the display element (50), the game playing arrangement (16) is
visible through the display element (50).
Inventors: |
Muir, Robert Linley;
(Rosebery, AU) ; Mezen, Brett; (Rosebery, AU)
; Lyons, Martin; (Rosebery, AU) ; Flores,
Steve; (Las Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP
2450 COLORADO AVENUE, SUITE 400E
SANTA MONICA
CA
90404
US
|
Assignee: |
ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA
PTY LTD
Lane Cove
AU
|
Family ID: |
3832561 |
Appl. No.: |
10/494925 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 29, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU02/01462 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/30 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3211 20130101;
G07F 17/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/030 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 8, 2001 |
AU |
PR 8742 |
Claims
1. A gaming machine display which includes: a game playing
arrangement mountable in a cabinet of a gaming machine; and an
electronically controlled display element overlying the game
playing arrangement, in use, so that, depending on a state of the
display element, the game playing arrangement is visible through
the display element.
2. The display of claim 1 in which the game playing arrangement
comprises a mechanical, symbol carrying arrangement.
3. The display of claim 2 in which the symbol carrying arrangement
comprises a set of rotatable mechanical reels, a plurality of
symbols being arranged on an outer periphery of each reel.
4. The display of claim 3 in which the display element comprises a
display screen overlying the game playing arrangement.
5. The display of claim 4 in which the display screen is a
multi-layered structure.
6. The display of claim 5 in which the structure includes a monitor
on which images are to be displayed.
7. The display of claim 6 in which the monitor overlies a shutter
mechanism.
8. The display of claim 7 in which the shutter mechanism is an
electronically controlled device that is controllable to vary
between a transparent state, in which the game playing arrangement
is visible through the device, and an at least partially opaque
state, in which the game playing arrangement is at least partially
occluded.
9. The display of claim 8 which includes a monitor housing defining
a plurality of openings, one opening being associated with each
reel, a part of the outer periphery of each reel being visible
through its associated opening.
10. The display of claim 8 in which the electronically controlled
device defines a plurality of zones, each zone, in use, overlying
one of the reels and each zone being controllable to vary between
the transparent state, in which the associated reel is visible
through that zone, and an at least partially opaque state, in which
said reel is at least partially occluded.
11. The display of claim 6 in which a user interface layer overlies
the monitor.
12. The display of claim 6 in which the multi-layered structure
includes an illuminating layer for illuminating the monitor.
13. The display of claim 12 in which the illuminating layer
comprises a light transferring panel and an illuminating means
arranged adjacent at least one edge of the panel.
14. The display of claim 1 in which the display element is a flat
panel display.
15. A display element for a gaming machine display, the display
element including: a monitor on which images are to be displayed;
and a shutter mechanism underlying the monitor, the shutter
mechanism being controllable to vary between a transparent state,
in which other images underlying the shutter mechanism, in use, are
visible through the monitor, and an at least partially transparent
state in which the other images are at least partially occluded
when viewed through the monitor.
16. The display element of claim 15 which is a multi-layered
structure having a user-interface layer overlying the monitor.
17. The display element of claim 15 in which the multi-layered
structure includes an illuminating layer operatively arranged
relative to the monitor to illuminate the monitor.
18. A method of displaying images on a gaming machine, the method
including the steps of: displaying a first set of images on a game
playing arrangement mounted in a cabinet of the gaming machine; and
displaying at least one further image on a display element
overlying the game playing arrangement.
19. The method of claim 18 which includes controlling a state of
the display element to control its transparency to regulate a
degree of visibility, if any, of the game playing arrangement
through the display element.
20. The method of claim 18 which includes displaying at least one
further image overlying an image of the game playing arrangement,
said at least one further image being taken into account in
determining an outcome of a game played on the gaming machine.
21. The method of claim 18 which includes illuminating the display
means to enhance the display of said at least one further image on
the display means.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a gaming machine. More
particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine display, to
a display means for a gaming machine display and to a method of
displaying images on a gaming machine.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Players who regularly play gaming machines are,
increasingly, demanding more features on the gaming machines.
Venues which make use of gaming machines as a source of revenue
also desire enhanced gaming machines to attract players to improve
their source of revenue.
[0003] Various ways of enhancing gaming machines by means of the
games played thereon have been proposed by the applicant.
[0004] However, in general, few changes have been made to the
gaming machines themselves, apart from changes to cabinet design,
or the like, in an attempt to modernise the appearance of the
gaming machine and to enhance images displayed on a primary display
of the gaming machine.
[0005] In addition, it is becoming increasingly popular to provide
bonus events in the form of second screen features. Such second
screen features may occur on a secondary display of the gaming
machine. Where the secondary display is vertically spaced with
respect to the primary display of the gaming machine, it requires a
player to adopt a different vertical, viewing orientation. This can
become taxing to a player leading to fatigue and, potentially,
muscle pain. As a result the player's enjoyment of the gaming
activity is reduced leading to the player's activity being
curtailed. This defeats the purpose of adding the additional
features to attract and retain players.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gaming machine display which includes:
[0007] a game playing arrangement mountable in a cabinet of a
gaming machine; and
[0008] an electronically controlled display means overlying the
game playing arrangement, in use, so that, depending on a state of
the display means, the game playing arrangement is visible through
the display means.
[0009] Preferably, the game playing arrangement comprises an
electro-mechanical, symbol carrying arrangement. The symbol
carrying arrangement may comprise a set of rotatable mechanical
reels, a plurality of symbols being arranged on an outer periphery
of each reel.
[0010] The display means may comprise a display screen overlying
the game playing arrangement. Preferably, the display screen is a
multi-layered structure.
[0011] The structure may include a monitor on which images are to
be displayed. In this specification, the term "monitor" is to be
understood in a broad sense as any device on which varying images
are displayed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
monitor is a flat panel, liquid crystal display (LCD).
[0012] The monitor may overlie a shutter mechanism. The shutter
mechanism may be an electronically controlled device that is
controllable to vary between a transparent state, in which the game
playing arrangement is visible through the device, and an at least
partially opaque state, in which the game playing arrangement is at
least partially occluded. The shutter mechanism may be formed of
electrically responsive crystals which change phase depending on a
control signal applied to them. Thus, for example, the shutter
mechanism may be formed of nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP)
liquid crystals.
[0013] The display may include a monitor housing defining a
plurality of openings, one opening being associated with each reel,
a part of the outer periphery of each reel being visible through
its associated opening.
[0014] The electronically controlled device may therefore define a
plurality of zones, each zone, in use, overlying one of the
openings of the monitor housing and, hence, one of the reels, and
each zone being controllable to vary between the transparent state,
in which the associated reel is visible through that zone, and an
at least partially opaque state, in which said reel is at least
partially occluded.
[0015] A user interface layer may overlie the monitor. The
user-interface layer may be implemented as a touchscreen. The
touchscreen may employ surface acoustic wave technology.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
multi-layered structure may include an illuminating layer for
illuminating the monitor. The illuminating layer may comprise a
light transferring panel and an illuminating means arranged
adjacent at least one edge of the panel. The panel may be a panel
of a synthetic plastics material that is interposed between the
monitor and the shutter mechanism.
[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the game playing
arrangement may be illuminated to render it visible through the
monitor. The intensity of the illumination may be adjustable for
adjusting the degree of visibility of the game playing arrangement
through the monitor. In other words, by adjusting the illumination,
the effect is created of adjusting the transparency of the
monitor.
[0018] The monitor may be arranged in spaced relationship relative
to the game playing arrangement such that, when an image appears on
the monitor, it imparts a three-dimensional effect to a scene
comprising the game playing arrangement and the image on the
monitor. For example, win lines may be indicated on the monitor
after a win occurs. The win lines may be animated over the top of
those symbols of the game playing arrangement which make up the
winning combination or winning combinations to highlight the win or
wins, as the case may be.
[0019] In another embodiment of the invention, instead of the
multi-layered structure, the display means may be a flat panel
display, more particularly, a flat panel, liquid crystal display,
alone.
[0020] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a display means for a gaming machine display, the display
means including:
[0021] a monitor on which images are to be displayed; and
[0022] a shutter mechanism underlying the monitor, the shutter
mechanism being controllable to vary between a transparent state,
in which other images underlying the shutter mechanism, in use, are
visible through the monitor, and an at least partially transparent
state in which the other images are at least partially occluded
when viewed through the monitor.
[0023] The display means may be a multi-layered structure having a
user-interface layer overlying the monitor. The multi-layered
structure may include an illuminating layer operatively arranged
relative to the monitor to illuminate the monitor.
[0024] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of displaying images on a gaming machine, the
method including the steps of:
[0025] displaying a first set of images on a game playing
arrangement mounted in a cabinet of the gaming machine; and
[0026] displaying at least one further image on a display means
overlying the game playing arrangement.
[0027] Preferably, the method includes controlling a state of the
display means to control its transparency to regulate a degree of
visibility, if any, of the game playing arrangement through the
display means.
[0028] In addition, the method may include displaying at least one
further image overlying an image of the game playing arrangement,
said at least one further image being taken into account in
determining an outcome of a game played on the gaming machine.
[0029] To enhance the appearance of the images, the method may
include illuminating the display means to enhance the display of
said at least one further image on the display means.
[0030] The method may include displaying the at least one further
image on the display means as a moving animation. In addition, the
method may include controlling the display of the at least one
further image on the display means to provide an effective change
in camera angle or a zooming in or out effect.
[0031] The invention extends also to a gaming machine which
includes a gaming machine display, as described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The invention is now described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:--
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in
accordance with the invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the
gaming machine;
[0035] FIGS. 3 to 5 show three-dimensional views of part of the
gaming machine with an animated image on a display means of a
display of the gaming machine;
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a first example
of a screen display of the gaming machine;
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a second example
of a screen display of the gaming machine;
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a three dimensional, exploded view of a gaming
machine display in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention; and
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of a game played on the gaming
machine of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a
gaming machine including a display 14, in accordance with the
invention. The machine 10 includes a cabinet 12 housing the display
14.
[0041] The display 14 includes a game playing arrangement, or
symbol carrying arrangement, 16 in the form of a plurality of
mechanical reels 18 with each reel 18 carrying a plurality of
symbols on an outer periphery of the reel 18. The reels 18 are used
to play a spinning reel game.
[0042] A midtrim 20 of the machine 10 houses a bank 22 of buttons
for enabling a player to play the game. The midtrim 20 also houses
a credit input mechanism 24 (FIG. 2).
[0043] The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is
carried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus
awards, etc.
[0044] A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the cabinet 12 for cash
payouts from the machine 10.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a control means or
control circuit 40 is illustrated. A program which implements the
game and user interface is run on a processor 42 of the control
circuit 40. The processor 42 forms part of a controller 44 which
drives the reels 18 of the symbol carrying arrangement 16 and which
receives input signals from sensors 46 associated with the bank 22
of buttons and sensors 46 associated with a touchscreen of the
display 14.
[0046] The controller 36 also receives input pulses from the credit
input mechanism 24 to determine whether or not a player has
provided sufficient credit to commence playing.
[0047] Finally, the controller 42 drives a payout mechanism 48
which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the
coin tray 30 to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes
to redeem his or her credit.
[0048] The display 14 includes a second display means in the form
of a flat panel, liquid crystal display (LCD) 50 mounted
operatively in front of the symbol carrying arrangement 16 so that
the symbol carrying arrangement 16 is visible through the LCD
50.
[0049] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawings, the
LCD 50 is an at least partially transparent display and carries at
least one image 52 under certain circumstances thereon. In
particular, the image 52 is related to the underlying spinning reel
game played on the symbol carrying arrangement 16.
[0050] As indicated above, the LCD 50 is at least partially
transparent so that images or symbols carried on the reels 18 of
the symbol carrying arrangement 16 are visible through the LCD
50.
[0051] In use, when a predetermined trigger condition occurs, at
least one image 52 is displayed on the LCD 50. The image 52 may be
related to the underlying base game which uses the symbol carrying
arrangement 16. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the
drawings, when a particular trigger condition occurs in the base
game, a "wild card" symbol 54 is displayed on the LCD 50, overlying
one of the symbol positions on one of the reels 18. When the reels
18 stop spinning, the symbol 54 substitutes for the underlying
symbol on the relevant reel 18. In the example shown in FIG. 6 of
the drawings, the symbol 54 is transparent so that the underlying
reel symbol is visible through the symbol 54. In the example shown
in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the symbol 54 is opaque so that the
underlying reel symbol position is covered and is hidden by the
symbol 54 on the LCD 50. It will be appreciated that the
above-described example could apply to a base game and/or to a
special feature game.
[0052] In addition, the LCD 50 can be used for displaying messages
as an attracting unit for attracting patrons to the machine 10.
Further, the LCD 50 can be used for a second screen feature which
is triggered when a trigger condition is spun up on the reels 18 of
the symbol carrying arrangement 16. Still further, the LCD 50 could
be used to carry advertising material which may be displayed when a
game is not being played or could also be displayed while a game is
being played.
[0053] If desired, the image 52 carried on the LCD 50 could overlie
one of the symbol positions on one of the reels 18 to create a
three-dimensional effect. Then, the controller 44 may be operable
to vary "camera angles" and to provide a "zooming in or out effect"
to enhance the three-dimensional effect.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, a display 14, in
accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is
illustrated. With reference to the previous drawings, like
reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise
specified.
[0055] The LCD 50 is a multi-layered structure overlying the symbol
carrying arrangement 16.
[0056] For this purpose, the display 14 includes a monitor housing
60 which, in use, is secured to a door 62 (FIG. 1) of the gaming
machine 10. The monitor housing 60 defines a plurality of apertures
or openings 64. Each opening 64 of the monitor housing 60 is
associated with one of the reels 18 of the symbol carrying
arrangement 16.
[0057] The monitor housing further defines a recessed region 66
within which the LCD 50 is received.
[0058] The LCD 50 is a multi-layered structure and includes a glass
panel LCD monitor 68. A user interface in the form of a touchscreen
70 is superimposed on the monitor 68.
[0059] The monitor 68 and the touchscreen 70 are connected via
connectors 72, 74, respectively, to the controller 42 of the gaming
machine 10.
[0060] The touchscreen 70 employs surface acoustic wave technology.
Frets bound the touchscreen 70 and discern energy field
disturbances. These disturbances are interpreted by the frets as
decisions made coincident with touching the touchscreen 70 and the
position at which the touchscreen 70 was touched.
[0061] The LCD 50 include a shutter mechanism 76 interposed between
the monitor 68 and the monitor housing 60. The shutter mechanism 76
has zones or regions 78 which, in use, lie in register with the
openings 64 in the monitor housing 60 and, accordingly, in register
with those parts of the peripheries of the reels 18 visible through
the openings 64.
[0062] At least the zones 78 of the shutter mechanism 76 are formed
from a material responsive to varying energy levels. In particular,
the zones 78 are formed from nematic curvilinear aligned phase
(NCAP) liquid crystals.
[0063] Upon the application of appropriate energy levels, these
NCAP crystals either render the zones 78 optically transparent
allowing visual access to the parts of the reels 18 visible through
the openings 64 in the monitor housing 60 or can be rendered opaque
to form a background shutter for the LCD monitor 68 allowing the
LCD monitor 68 to carry images with the reels 18 being hidden. In
addition, the varying of the energy levels applied to the zones 78
of the shutter mechanism 76 allows varying degrees of transparency
of those zones 78 to be achieved. The zones 78 of the shutter
mechanism 76 are controlled by the controller 42 of the gaming
machine 10 via a connector 80.
[0064] While it is envisaged that all of the zones 78 will operate
in concert, it is also contemplated that the zones 78 could be
independently addressable such as when a bonus round uses one or
more of the reels 18 in the bonus event.
[0065] As a consequence, a gaming machine 10 is provided which
includes a first display, being the symbol carrying arrangement 16,
which can be selectively occluded by the second display being the
LCD 50. The net effect is that a plurality of displays are stacked
along a single visual path which reduces a visual footprint
required to provide such plurality of displays. This also frees
other areas of the cabinet 12 of the gaming machine 10 for other
devices, artwork, or the like.
[0066] The visual impact imparted by the LCD 50 is enhanced by an
illuminating layer in the form of a backlighting arrangement 82.
The backlighting arrangement 82 includes a transparent panel 84 of
a synthetic plastics material which, conveniently, is interposed
between the monitor 68 and the shutter mechanism 76. The panel 84
supports a pair of opposed illuminating elements 86. The elements
86 can, for example, be in the form of fluorescent lamps.
Additionally, illuminating elements (not shown) can be incorporated
in the reels 18 for further visual enhancement.
[0067] With the provision of the display 14, it is possible for
game play to be effected using the LCD 50 alone, the symbol
carrying arrangement 16 on its own or both the LCD 50 and the
symbol carrying arrangement 16. It is also contemplated that more
than one LCD 50 could be incorporated in the display 14 with second
and subsequent LCD's overlying the first LCD 50 of the display 14
in the same visual footprint.
[0068] Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that a
gaming machine 10 is provided which has an enhanced display 14 in
comparison with other gaming machines, in particular, those using
mechanical reels 18 or other mechanical game playing arrangements
such as pachinko machines, or the like.
[0069] Moreover, the display 14 is at the position of the primary
display of a conventional gaming machine. It will be appreciated
that, in general, there is only one optimal position at which to
locate a display of a gaming machine. Most gaming machines are
ergonomically designed so that the display of the gaming machine is
at that optimal position for a person of average height. Thus, the
enhanced display 14 of the present invention can be arranged at
that optimal height with the added benefit that a feature game can
be played on the LCD screen 50 at that height.
[0070] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the
invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The
present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *