Abstract: A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a primary display that displays a randomly selected outcome. The gaming system includes a multi-touch input system having a multi-touch sensing device, a memory, and a local controller. The multi-touch sensing device includes an array of input sensors that detect a multi-point gesture. Each sensor detects a touch input made by a player of the wagering game. The memory includes gesture classification codes each representing a distinct combination of characteristics relating to the gesture. The local controller receives data indicative of at least two of the characteristics related to the multi-point gesture and determines whether the data corresponds to any of the gesture classification codes. A main controller is coupled to the local controller to receive the gesture classification code responsive to the local controller determining that the data corresponds to a gesture classification code.

Abstract: A gaming control board having low-power circuitry and high-power circuitry for controlling the operation of a gaming machine. The low-power circuitry includes logic components including a CPU that executes instructions for randomly selecting a plurality of game outcomes in response to wagers inputted by a player. The high-power circuitry includes high-power components such as lamp drivers for interfacing high-power signals between the gaming control board and a game interface board. Two connectors are provided on the gaming control board, one to interface low-power signals and another to interface high-power signals. The high-power circuitry is located near the connector interfacing the high-power signals for optimal EMI suppression.

Abstract: An exemplary power manager is adapted to supply power from a power supply to a first component of a gaming machine. The first component consumes a larger amount of current during a second time interval than during a first time interval, where the first component alternates between the first and second time intervals during operation. A rechargeable energy storage device is used to supply a substantial portion of the current to the first component during the second time interval from energy stored in the energy storage device prior to the start of the second time interval. This causes the current supplied from the power supply to the power manager during the second time interval to be less than the total current required by the first component during the second time interval and thus reduces the peak current load of the power supply during the second time interval.

Abstract: A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon the reels. The video image may be interactive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Abstract: A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon the reels. The video image may be interactive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a primary gaming display for presenting the outcome of a wagering or bonus game and a video display. In response to a wager, an outcome is generated and displayed in a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon primary game display. The video image may be interactive with the primary game display and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for cooling microprocessors and other data processing circuits in wagering game terminals. The method and system of the invention allow a wagering game terminal to be retrofitted with a cooling system for a different microprocessor-based application while making few or no changes to the wagering game terminal. The retrofitted microprocessor cooling system provides greater thermal dissipation, ensuring that the microprocessor will operate within the specified temperature range. The cooling system also takes up less space and has fewer components, resulting in a lower cost overall. And since few or no changes are made to the wagering game terminal, existing inventory of equipment and components may be used.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a primary gaming display for presenting the outcome of a wagering or bonus game and a video display. In response to a wager, an outcome is generated and displayed in a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon primary game display. The video image may be interactive with the primary game display and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and at least one rotatable reel. The reel comprises a reel strip arranged about the periphery of a cage. The reel strip, buttons on the machine, a player tracking card, and/or a gaming machine credit ticket may each comprise alterable film for displaying a plurality of indicia, including images, text, and other information. The gaming machine further comprises a controller operative to alter the appearance of items displayed on the film.

Abstract: A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon the reels. The video image may be interactive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Abstract: A spinning reel slot machine has increased versatility, while having reels that are aesthetically similar to traditional mechanical reels. In one embodiment, the slot machine includes a plurality of optical fibers having first ends optically coupled to a surface of an image display device and seconds ends defining a curved display surface for displaying simulated mechanical reels to a player. In another embodiment, one or more of the mechanical reels has a transparent window at a location where a symbol would normally be present. A video display displays a video symbol in the transparent window. In yet a further embodiment, one of the plurality of mechanical reels has a miniature image display located at selected ones of the symbol regions for providing video symbols for the game. In yet further embodiments, a symbol region can produce more than one symbol in response to exposure at certain wavelengths or polarizations of light.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and at least one rotatable reel. The reel comprises a reel strip arranged about the periphery of a cage. The reel strip comprises an alterable film for displaying a plurality of symbols. The gaming machine further comprises a controller operative to alter the appearance of at least one of the plurality of symbols displayed on the film.

Abstract: A method directed to operating a plurality of gaming machines in a gaming establishment includes determining that a certain triggering event has occurred in one of the plurality of gaming machines. The triggering event includes a desired game outcome. The method further includes selectively controlling audio output from a plurality of remotely located speakers to operate in conjunction with internal cabinet speakers for creating a desired audio ambience only within a portion of the gaming establishment. The remotely located speakers are located remotely from the plurality of gaming machines. The internal cabinet speakers are located within gaming cabinets of the plurality of gaming machines. The audio output is focused to deliver enhanced audio effects only to the portion of the gaming establishment.

Abstract: A computerized wagering game system has a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio module comprising a digital audio amplifier, the audio module operable to receive digital audio signals and to amplify them to produce an amplified digital audio signal. In some embodiments, the digital amplifier produces a pulse width modulated amplified digital audio signal, which is in further embodiments also pulse frequency modulated.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system comprises a gaming terminal and a speaker arrangement. The gaming terminal conducts a wagering game. The speaker arrangement emits audio associated with the wagering game in surround sound relative to a player in front of the gaming terminal.

Abstract: A gaming machine system comprises a game cabinet, a processor, and an audio/visual effects system. The game cabinet receives inputs and displays outputs. The processor is located within the cabinet and randomly selects a game outcome in response to a wager. The processor generates a first signal in response to a certain event occurring. The audio/visual effects system includes speakers and projecting lights, which are located remotely from the cabinet. In response to the processor generating the first signal, the audio/visual effects system broadcasts a certain audio output from the speakers toward the game cabinet and directs a certain light pattern from the projecting lights toward the game cabinet. The invention also provides for a gaming machine network with a plurality of gaming machines and an audio/visual controller. The audio/visual controller controls the audio outputs and the light patterns experienced by players of the gaming machines.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a processing apparatus and a secondary apparatus. To inhibit unauthorized persons from replacing some or all of the software executed by the processing apparatus with unapproved software, the processing apparatus transmits a security message to the secondary apparatus. The secondary apparatus, in turn, transmits an enable signal critical to machine function in response to successful validation of the security message. The secondary apparatus may, for example, be a programmable logic circuit external to the processing apparatus.

Abstract: A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon the reels. The video image may be interactive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Abstract: A slot machine comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and a reel mechanism. The CPU operates the slot machine and randomly determines a game outcome in response to a wager. The reel mechanism includes a motor, a symbol-bearing reel, and a reel driver. The motor includes a rotatable shaft, and the reel is mounted to the shaft. The reel driver includes a local microcontroller distinct from and coupled to the CPU. The reel driver is coupled to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the reel. The CPU issues high-level commands to the reel driver related to rotation of the reel. The high-level commands may, for example, include a start spin command for starting rotation of the reel and a stop command for stopping the reel at a specified position. However, to free up the CPU for other tasks, the local microcontroller performs low-level reel driver operations related to the rotation of the reel.

Abstract: A gaming machine in a gaming establishment enhances its game sounds by attenuating ambient noise in the establishment. The gaming machine includes a microphone, processing circuitry, and an audio speaker. The microphone detects ambient noise and generates a noise signal from the sensed ambient noise. The processing circuitry generates an anti-noise signal from the noise signal and adds the anti-noise signal to a game sound signal generated by the gaming machine to produce an output signal. The audio speaker is driven with the output signal.