Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for unlocking hardware and associated functionality of gaming devices. Before a player reaches a predetermined progress level, enhanced user interface devices of the gaming device remain locked to the player. The functionality associated with the enhanced user interface devices also remains unavailable to the player while the enhanced user interface devices are locked. Once the player reaches the progress level, a hardware-unlock option is presented to the player allowing the player to unlock an enhanced user interface device and select a functionality associated with the unlocked enhanced user interface device. The availability of the hardware-unlock options and specific functionality to be activated can be limited based on in-game events and a progress level reached by the player.

Abstract: A method for determining the degree of wear of a valve, the degree of wear of the valve being dependent on the degree of wear of an operating element that is made of an expandable material and performs a mechanical movement each time the temperature changes, the change in temperature resulting in wear, the operating element made of an expandable material being mechanically connected to a piston; the movements of the operating element made of an expandable material are calculated by initially sensing the change in temperature on the operating element, whereupon the changes in temperature are recalculated as movements on the basis of the temperature/expansion curve applicable to the operating element made of an expandable material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming machines, systems, and methods. As an example, a method is disclosed that includes enabling a user to interact with a game of chance via a user interface device of the electronic gaming machine, storing an amount of credit available for the player to play the game of chance in a credit meter, presenting the amount of credit available to the user via the user interface device, providing information from the credit meter to a wireless communication assembly, and transmitting, with the wireless communication assembly, the information from the credit meter to a game management system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the degree of wear of a valve, the degree of wear of the valve being dependent on the degree of wear of an operating element that is made of an expandable material and performs a mechanical movement each time the temperature changes, the change in temperature resulting in wear, the operating element made of an expandable material being mechanically connected to a piston; the movements of the operating element (3) made of an expandable material are calculated by initially sensing the change in temperature on the operating element (3), whereupon the changes in temperature are recalculated as movements on the basis of the temperature/expansion curve applicable to the operating element (3) made of an expandable material.

Abstract: A gaming device, and related devices, methods, and systems, may include a touch input device to detect touch inputs performed by a user, and a gesture input device to detect gesture inputs performed by the user. The gaming device may further includes a processor circuit and a memory coupled to the processor circuit. The memory may include machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to: receive a first gesture input value from the gesture input device, predict, based on the first gesture input value, a predicted touch input value corresponding to a predicted touch input that is predicted to be performed by the user, and modify a user interface element of the gaming device based on the first gesture input value and the predicted touch input value.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided. A gaming device includes an input device that includes multiple input locations and a pressure sensor to detect, for each input location, an amount of pressure applied to the input device at the input location by a player. The gaming device includes a processor circuit and a memory coupled to the processor circuit. The memory includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to receive, from the input device, multiple pressure parameter values corresponding to a first amount of pressure being applied to a first portion of the input locations, determine a pressure pattern that corresponds to locations of the first portion of the input locations, and based on the pressure parameter values and the pressure pattern, determine an identification of an object that is on the input device.

Abstract: Input systems for multiple gaming device displays, and related devices, systems, and methods, include a first display device, a second display device, an input device, a processor circuit, and a memory coupled to the processor circuit. The memory includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to receive a first input value from the input device. Based on the first input value, the processor circuit causes the first display device to modify a first graphical interface element being displayed on the first display device to generate a first modified graphical interface element on the first display device, and cause the second display device to display a second graphical interface element based on the first modified graphical interface element.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods, and devices that enable interactions between a tag having conductive, coded ink and a gaming environment. As an example, a method is disclosed that includes providing a tag with an encoded physical medium that is readable by a touch-capable user interface, determining that the tag has been read by a touch-capable user interface of a gaming device in combination with detecting a gesture of the user at the touch-capable user interface of the gaming device, enabling the gaming device to provide a predetermined game feature in response to determining that the tag has been read by the touch-capable user interface of the gaming device in combination with detecting the gesture of the user at the touch-capable user interface of the gaming device, and updating an electronic record associated with the tag to indicate that the predetermined game feature has been enabled.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods, and devices that enable interactions between a tag having conductive, coded ink and a gaming environment. As an example, a method is disclosed that includes receiving, at a touch-capable user interface, a user gesture provided in combination with a tag having data encoded thereon with an encoded physical medium that is readable by the touch-capable user interface. The method further includes extracting the data encoded on the tag, determining an output to provide based on the extracted data, and causing a user output device of a gaming device to provide the determined output.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided. A gaming device includes an input device that includes multiple input locations and a pressure sensor to detect, for each input location, an amount of pressure applied to the input device at the input location by a player. The gaming device includes a processor circuit and a memory coupled to the processor circuit. The memory includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to receive, from the input device, multiple pressure parameter values corresponding to a first amount of pressure being applied to a first portion of the input locations, determine a pressure pattern that corresponds to locations of the first portion of the input locations, and based on the pressure parameter values and the pressure pattern, determine an identification of an object that is on the input device.

Abstract: Pressure and time sensitive inputs for gaming devices, and related devices, systems, and methods, are disclosed. An input device includes a pressure sensor to detect an amount of pressure applied to the input device by a player of the gaming device. A processor circuit receives, from the pressure sensor of the input device, a first pressure parameter value corresponding to a first amount of pressure being applied to the input device by the player at a first time. Based on the first pressure parameter value, a time value is determined corresponding to an amount of time that the player has continuously applied pressure to the input device in a first range of pressure amounts, wherein the first amount of pressure is within the first range of pressure amounts. Based on the first pressure parameter value and the time value, a user interface element of the gaming device is modified.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing multiple simultaneous pressure sensitive inputs for gaming devices include an input device including a plurality of input locations and a pressure sensor to detect, for each input location of the plurality of input locations, an amount of pressure applied to the input device at the input location by a player of the gaming device. A processor circuit receives, from the pressure sensor, a first pressure parameter value corresponding to a first amount of pressure being applied to a first input location of the plurality of input locations by the player, and a second pressure parameter value to a second amount of pressure being applied to a second input location of the plurality of input locations by the player. Based on the first pressure parameter value and the second pressure parameter value, the processor circuit modifies a user interface element of the gaming device.

Abstract: Mixed reality systems and methods, and in particular to systems and methods for providing virtual elements based on a code provided within a mixed reality scene, are provided. A mixed reality method includes generating a live video signal of a scene associated with a field of view of a user, wherein the scene comprises an optical, machine-readable representation of code data. The method further includes determining, via a processing device, the code data based on the representation of the code data. The method further includes determining, via the processing device based on the code data, a virtual element in real time. The method further includes displaying the virtual element to the user as part of the scene.

Abstract: Pressure and movement sensitive inputs for gaming devices, and related devices, systems, and methods, are disclosed. An input device includes a plurality of input locations and a pressure sensor to detect, for each input location, an amount of pressure applied by a player to the input device at the input location of the gaming device. A processor circuit receives, from the pressure sensor, a first pressure parameter value corresponding to a first amount of pressure being applied by the player to the input device at a first input location at a first time, and a second pressure parameter value corresponding to a second amount of pressure being applied by the player to the input device at a second input location at a second, later time. Based on the first pressure parameter value and the second pressure parameter value, a user interface element of the gaming device may be modified.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method can include determining a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and that is associated with a user. The method can further includes determining a conditional reward that indicates a reward to be provided to the user in response to a condition being completed by the user. The conditional reward can be based on the location of the mobile deice relative to the casino. The method can further include transmitting a signal having the conditional reward to the mobile device and determining that the user is at the casino. The method can further include determining that the condition is completed and providing the user with the reward.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes a programmable haptic interface that produces, responsive to a force feedback signal, a variable amount of resistance to movement of a moveable element of the programmable haptic interface by a player as a haptic force feedback. A memory is coupled to a processor circuit and includes machine-readable instructions that cause the processor circuit to initiate a wagering game on the EGM. The processor circuit further generates the force feedback signal controlling an amount of resistance to movement of the moveable element of the programmable haptic interface based on a game event in the sequence of game events. The programmable haptic interface includes a magnetorheological fluid coupling the moveable element to a fixed housing that is mounted to the EGM and a circuit controlling a magnitude of a magnetic field that is applied across the magnetorheological fluid responsive to the force feedback signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and, in particular, to creating an impersonal player identification (ID) using biometric information obtained from a player in a gaming facility. In one example, a player is scanned at a gaming device and an impersonal player ID and gaming account is generated for the user without requiring identity information about the player other than the biometric information for the player. The impersonal player ID associates stored gaming history, award information, and offers for the player. As the player moves within the gaming facility, the player can access various functions of gaming devices by entering a biometric feature scanning zone. Aspects of the present disclosure allow player to securely redeem issued tickets/vouchers as well as interact with gaming devices without the need to carry tracking cards, fobs, or other physical tokens.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes a programmable haptic interface that produces, responsive to a force feedback signal, a variable amount of resistance to movement of a moveable element of the programmable haptic interface by a player as a haptic force feedback. A memory is coupled to a processor circuit and includes machine-readable instructions that cause the processor circuit to initiate a wagering game on the EGM. The processor circuit further generates the force feedback signal controlling an amount of resistance to movement of the moveable element of the programmable haptic interface based on a game event in the sequence of game events. The programmable haptic interface includes a magnetorheological fluid coupling the moveable element to a fixed housing that is mounted to the EGM and a circuit controlling a magnitude of a magnetic field that is applied across the magnetorheological fluid responsive to the force feedback signal.

Abstract: A method can be used to unlock gaming devices and/or a functionality of a gaming device based on an impersonal player identification (ID) and obtained biometric information for a player. A player may be scanned by a biometric feature scanning device and an impersonal player ID and gaming account may be generated for the player without requiring the storage of identity information about the player other than the biometric information for the player. Based on a characteristic, gaming history, and/or the presence of the player at a gaming device, access to features of the gaming device are selectively controlled.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and, in particular, to creating an impersonal player identification (ID) using biometric information obtained from a player in a gaming facility. In one example, a player is scanned at a gaming device and an impersonal player ID and gaming account is generated for the user without requiring identity information about the player other than the biometric information for the player. The impersonal player ID associates stored gaming history, award information, and offers for the player. As the player moves within the gaming facility, the player can access various functions of gaming devices by entering a biometric feature scanning zone. Aspects of the present disclosure allow player to securely redeem issued tickets/vouchers as well as interact with gaming devices without the need to carry tracking cards, fobs, or other physical tokens.