Entertainment machines

Abstract

A display device for a player-operable entertainment machine has a rotatable reel (9) with symbols around its periphery. The symbols are defined digitally on a support (27, 30), such as a curved LCD strip, by feed of signals from a signal generating device (28). The support (27) may rotate with the reel. Alternatively the support (30) may be fixed so that the reel (9) rotates but the support (30) is static. In this case the support (30) extends round part only of the periphery of the reel and the feed of signals is such as to define symbols which move with the rotation of the reel (9).

Description

This invention relates to player-operable entertainment machines, particularly coin-operated amusement with prizes (AWP) machines, such as “fruit” or “poker” machines of the kind having a main display device for displaying a selected combination of symbols at a win zone. As used herein the term coin is intended also to cover tokens, charge or credit cards or any other means of supplying credit or monetary value.

The main display device of a fruit machine may comprise multiple (usually three or four) side-by-side reels which are rotatable about a common horizontal axis within a housing behind a window at the win zone. Each reel has symbols at equally spaced positions (typically 20 positions) around its periphery and the reels can be brought to rest with one symbol on each reel displayed through the window on one or more so called win lines.

If the displayed symbols constitute or include a predetermined winning combination an award may be made available to the player.

In one well known arrangement, the symbols comprise representations of different fruits and also special (e.g. jackpot) symbols, such as the number 7, a picture of a bar or the like. Some of the symbols may be overprinted with, or otherwise accompanied by additional indications, such as indications corresponding to transfer of play to a supplementary feature game or corresponding to some other special feature or bonus.

The nature and frequency of occurrence of the symbols are selected for the reels depending on the particular machine game and requirements with regard to win likelihood, pay-out percentages and the like.

It is well known to use standardised reel mechanisms for different machines and differences in the symbols may be accommodated by using different reel bands in the form of printed plastics bands removably attached around the peripheries of the reels.

It is usual to provide back illumination for the symbols with lamps housed in the reels and accordingly the reel bands may be made from translucent or transparent plastics material.

The use of attached, printed reel bands is generally inconvenient and restrictive. It means that different symbol combinations require printing of different reel bands, and changes cannot readily be implemented to existing operational machines. Also, reliance on printing limits the ability conveniently to incorporate and change special visual effects.

As an alternative to mechanical reels with attached reel bands it is well known to use video-simulated reels. This permits ready set up and subsequent change of symbols and permits easy incorporation of special visual effects, but simulated reels are not always as acceptable to players as mechanical reels.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate the provision of different combinations or variations of symbols on mechanical display devices.

According to one aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a display device for displaying symbols in a player-operable entertainment machine comprising at least one movable member having a symbol-bearing support, and a signal-generating device characterised in that the support is a signal-actuable support whereby the symbols are produced on said support by supply of signals thereto from said signal-generating device.

With this arrangement instead of requiring a specially printed reel band it is possible to use a standardised reel and support and then produce the desired symbols by appropriate signal-actuation of the support. Initial set up and possibly also subsequent change of the symbols can thereby be much facilitated and special visual effects can be readily incorporated.

With regard to the support this may be capable of actuation, to produce the symbols, by application of any suitable signals thereto of an electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic or other nature such that the symbols are created in correspondence with characteristics of the signals.

The signals are preferably of the form of electrical charges or currents whereby the symbols are created in correspondence with applied patterns or sequences of the signals.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the support comprises an LCD substrate which creates the symbols in correspondence with applied digital signals. Other devices such as OLED devices can also be used.

The arrangement may be such that the symbols are produced after actuation of the support and are retained without need for further actuation. Alternatively, continuous or continual actuation may be necessary whereby the symbols are only produced and displayed whilst the actuation is maintained.

Thus, as appropriate, the signal-generating device may be operable to produce and maintain actuating signals and/or to produce actuating signals to establish the corresponding symbols at an occasion, e.g. at a power-up occasion, the signal-generating device then ceasing operation leaving display of the symbols maintained by virtue of retentive properties of the support alone and/or by supply of power to the support to effect retention.

Alternatively, in the case where the support has retentive properties (alone or in dependence on supply of power) the support may be pre-actuated whereby the signal-generating device may be used only at set up.

The signal-generating device may be adapted to operate in a plurality of pre-determined modes corresponding respectively to a plurality of pre-determined different symbol combinations or variations. Alternatively or additionally provision may be made for adaptation of the signal-generating device at will to produce different symbol combinations or variations as desired, possibly within defined limiting parameters.

Alternatively or additionally the signal-generating device may operate automatically to change the symbols on any suitable predetermined random or pseudo random basis between or during play as a consequence of game play parameters, selections or events and/or as a consequence of other non-game related parameters.

Where the signal-generating device has different modes or can be adapted at will, switching between the different modes or the entering of data or instructions at will, thereby to change the displayed symbol combination, may be achieved in any suitable manner, e.g. by operating manual controls such as switches, press buttons, a touch screen, or a keyboard, and/or by selection or substitution of all or part of stored data on a data store medium such as a CD-ROM, EPROM or the like.

Implementation of these changes may be made available to any user, or only to an authorised user, or only at a manufacturing stage.

In the case where the signal generating device operates to change the symbols on an automatic basis this may be under the control of control circuitry of the entertainment machine or otherwise e.g. by a remote control device.

The movable member may take any suitable form. In one embodiment the member is a rotatable member particularly an axially rotatable reel or drum. In the latter case the support may be in the form of a flexible or pre-shaped strip mounted in a curved path around or alongside all or part of the outer periphery of the reel or drum so as to face radially outwardly.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the movable member is a rotatable reel of a player-operable coin-operated entertainment machine, especially an amusement with prizes machine or a fruit machine of the kind described above. Thus, the display device of the invention may comprise the main display device of a fruit machine whereby the display device may comprise multiple side-by-side axially rotatable reels each having a respective said signal-actuable support applied thereto.

The invention is not restricted to movable members in the form of rotatable reels. Other kinds of movable members may also be used such as a rotatable disc with the support on a face of the disc, wheel or roller drives operable to drive a flexible bands, which may be wholly or partially defined by the said signal-actuable support, around a closed path or loop, or the like.

The invention is not restricted to application of the main display device of a fruit machine. For example, it is usual for fruit machines to incorporate one or more auxiliary reels for supplementary features such as feature games, gamble features or the like and the display device of the invention may also be used for such reels.

Where used in a fruit machine, the aforesaid change of adaptations may be achieved by operation of external player controls, and/or by internal user controls or selections accessible only to authorised personnel, and/or remotely via a communication link from a nearby control device or from a remote central control location or otherwise, and/or in accordance with pre-determined or random or pseudo-random scheduling whereby changes take place on a predetermined, random or pseudo random basis which is time-determined or triggered by any other suitable event and/or in accordance with game play selections, events or features.

If desired the support may be illuminated in any suitable manner e.g. by back-lighting, reflection or as a consequence of actuation of intrinsic light-producing properties of the support.

The symbols may take any suitable form as required. Thus, the symbols may comprise pictorial representations of fruit special jackpot symbols, numbers, currency values, transfer symbols, etc.

The signal-actuable support may be applied to the movable member so as to be movable therewith. Alternatively, the support may be applied to the movable member so that the support is static and the member moves relative to the support, signal-actuation of the support being arranged to produce a moving symbol display simulating movement of the symbols together, and preferably in synchronism with the movable member. By way of example, the movable member may comprise a reel with the support mounted inwardly of, and exposed through, an openwork or skeletal reel rim; or it may comprise a reel with the support mounted outwardly of and exposed alongside a peripheral edge or edges of a reel rim. The support need only be of a size appropriate to the display zone. That is, for a reel rotatable behind a window such as to display say three symbols, the support need only consist of a corresponding arcuate length.

Thus, and in accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a display device for a player-operable entertainment machine comprising at least one movable member arranged to bear symbols for display on the machine, and a signal-generating device, characterised by the provision of a signal-actuable support mounted alongside said member so that the member is movable relative to the support and the symbols are arranged to be produced on said support in a sequence moving in correspondence with movement of the member by supply of signals to the support from the signal-generating device.

With this arrangement, although movement of the symbols is only simulated, such movement is accompanied by movement of the member whereby a display corresponding closely to a moving symbol-bearing member is attained.

This second aspect of the invention may incorporate any or all of the hereinbefore described features.

Whilst the association of the support with a movable member is preferred, it may also be possible to use a signal-actuable support which is preferably static and not necessarily associated with any movable member but is shaped physically to conform to a simulated path of movement. In the case of simulated reel rotation behind a window, the support may comprise a curved section.

Thus and in accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a display device for a player-operable entertainment machine comprising a signal-actuable support, and a signal-generating device, characterised in that the support is shaped to conform to a simulated path of movement and the symbols are arranged to be produced on said support in a sequence moving along said path by supply of signals to the support from the signal-generating device.

With this arrangement, although movement of the symbols is only simulated, such movement takes place along a physically shaped path e.g. a curved path and thereby simulates more closely mechanical movement.

This third aspect of the invention may incorporate any or all of the hereinbefore described features.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of a fruit machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic block circuit diagram of the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of a display device of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a side view in detail of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of an alternative embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a fruit machine having a floor-standing box shaped housing 1 having a front wall which includes upper and lower glass panels, 2, 3, a number of operating buttons 4, 5, 6, a coin slot 7 and a payout opening 8.

Within the housing 1 there are three axially aligned reels 9 having say 20 symbols at regularly spaced positions around their peripheries. The reels 9 are axially rotatable and are drivably connected to respective stepper motors 10. The reels 9 are arranged behind a window 11 defined by a printed region of the lower glass panel 3. Each reel 9 can be arrested by the respective stepper motor 10 in any of 20 stopping positions in which one symbol is in precise registration with a horizontal win line in the centre of the window 11 and two further symbols are visible above and below the win line.

The stepper motors 10 are connected to a microprocessor-based control unit 12. This unit is also connected to a coin-mechanism 13, a pay-out mechanism 14 and the buttons 4, 5, 6.

In use, the player inserts coins into the coin mechanism 13 through the slot 7 sufficient to generate credit for one or more games, and the machine is actuated so that a game can now be played. The game commences after a start button 4 has been pressed and the reels 9 spin and then come to rest so as to select a combination of symbols displayed on the win line. The displayed symbol combination is assessed by the control unit 12 and a win indication is given in the event that the combination is of a predetermined winning nature.

The control buttons 5 can be used to perform ‘hold’ or ‘nudge’ functions, when made available to the player, so that the player can seek to influence the outcome of a game, in conventional manner.

The upper panel 2 is a transparent glass panel and within this there is a printed display region 15, which can be back-illuminated with a bank of lamps, and which provides a supplementary feature game.

This feature game may comprise a wraparound trail and a rotatable auxiliary feature reel 19 is visible through a window in the panel 2.

Play transfers to the feature game in the usual way on a random or predetermined basis, e.g. when predetermined transfer symbols on the main reels 9 are selected on the win line or otherwise.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the reels comprises a drum-shaped plastics skeletal framework 20 having two circular rims 21 linked by transverse ribs 22 at spaced intervals around the rims and radial arms 23 extending inwardly from one of the rims to a central hub 24.

The hub 24 is connected to a stepper motor 10 mounted on a support foot 25.

This foot also carries an arcuate light box 26 (shown in FIG. 4 but omitted from FIG. 3) with three, successive sections containing lamps. The light box 26 is disposed between the rims 21 slightly inwardly of the ribs 22.

The reel structure so far described is conventional and would normally be completed by a translucent plastics reel band fixed between the rim 21 around the entire periphery of the reel on top of the ribs 22. This reel band is conventionally printed with symbols, such as pictures of fruits etc., at say 20 equally spaced positions. Symbols on the band can be selectively back-illuminated with the light box 26 in the window 11.

In accordance with the described embodiment of the present invention, the reel band is replaced by a similarly sized flexible LCD strip 27.

The strip 27 has edge connectors and is linked by a commutator or other linking arrangement (not shown) to a signal generating device 28 connected to the control unit 12.

The signal generating device 28 is operated to generate patterns or sequences of digital signals which cause symbols to be produced in colour at 20 equally spaced positions around the LCD band. The band 27 is translucent whereby the symbols are backlit by the light box 26.

The signals may be predetermined, in accordance with data contained in a data storage device 29 connected to the control unit to produce a predetermined sequence of symbols of predetermined kinds.

The machine can therefore be readily set up to provide a desired symbol sequence using a wholly standardised reel mechanism by appropriate selection of stored data.

The arrangement may be such that the utilised data, and hence the substitution of a different data store 29 (e.g. EPROM or the like) and/or by switching between different resident data stores, or different sections of a single such resident data store. This changing may be achieved during a machine set up procedure by authorised personnel who have access to the interior of the machine and/or to protected control devices such as switches, remote connections or the like. Thus it may be possible to change the symbol sequence from a remote control station via on-line, Internet or other remote link.

Alternatively or additionally there may be provision for changes to be made by a player. Thus by use of machine controls 4, 5, 6 the player may be able to change games or game play options by selection from available ranges and this may automatically change, in corresponding manner, the symbol sequences e.g. to change the nature of the symbols or the frequency of individual symbols of the like.

Alternatively or additionally changes may take place automatically in correspondence with events, Thus, symbols may change or a random, pseudo random or predetermined basis with parameters such as elapse of time, number of plays, periods of inactivity, or during play to enhance playing of a game by increasing variety or to reward a successful outcome of a game play feature, or otherwise.

These automatic changes may be of a substantive nature i.e. such as to effect or correspond to a changed game play feature, or of an entertaining nature e.g. to give an interesting visual effect or the like.

With the embodiment of FIG. 5, instead of using a movable LCD strip 27, a short strip 30 is fixed over the light box within the periphery of the reel 20 so as to follow a curved path of similar diameter to that of the drum periphery, and signals are fed to the LCD strip to simulate movement of symbols through a predetermined sequence in correspondence with rotation of the drum structure 20.

Thus, when the drum structure 20 is static, three symbols are defined on the strip 30 and displayed statically through the window 11 to the player.

When the drum structure 20 rotates the displayed symbols change in simulation of rotation at the same rate as the drum structure. The player thereby sees the real rotation of the drum structure and the simulated movement of the symbols along the curved path of the strip 30. This represents very closely the appearance of a wholly mechanical reel.

If desired there may be an additional transparent or translucent band around the reel through which the symbols can be seen.

The symbol sequence may be changed as described above in relation to the first embodiment.

With the embodiments described above symbols can be installed and changed in a particularly convenient and flexible manner without departing unduly from the desirable mechanical reel appearance.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A display device for displaying symbols in a player-operable entertainment machine comprising at least one movable member having a symbol-bearing support, and a signal-generating device characterised in that the support is a signal-actuable support whereby the symbols are produced on said support by supply of signals thereto from said signal-generating device.

19. A display device according to claim 18 characterised in that the movable member is movable relative to the support, and the signal-generating device is operable to produce a moving symbol display on the support.

20. A display device for a player-operable entertainment machine comprising at least one movable member arranged to bear symbols for display on the machine, and a signal-generating device, characterised by the provision of a signal-actuable support mounted alongside said member so that the member is movable relative to the support and the symbols are arranged to be produced on said support in a sequence moving in correspondence with movement of the member by supply of signals to the support from the signal-generating device.

21. A display device according to claim 18 characterised in that the support is movable with the movable member.

22. A display device according to claim 18 characterised in that the movable member is a rotatable member.

23. A display device according to claim 22 characterised in that the rotatable member is an axially rotatable reel, and the support is in the form of a strip mounted in a curved path relative to at least a part of an outer peripheral structure of the reel so as to face radially outwardly therefrom.

24. A display device according to claim 23, characterised in that the strip extends around part only of the peripheral structure.

25. A display device according to claim 24 wherein the peripheral structure is open whereby the strip is visible therethrough.

26. A display device for a player-operable entertainment machine comprising a signal-actuable support, and a signal-generating device, characterised in that the support is shaped to conform to a simulated path of movement and the symbols are arranged to be produced on said support in a sequence moving along said path by supply of signals to the support from the signal-generating device.

27. A display device according to claim 18 characterised in that the support comprises an LCD substrate and said symbols comprise digital signals.

28. A display device according to claim 18 characterised in that the signal-generating device is operable to produce and maintain said signals thereby to establish and maintain said symbols.

29. A display device according to claim 18 characterised in that the signal-generating device is operable to produce said signals thereby to establish said symbols, the support being operative to retain established symbols.

30. A display device according to claim 18 characterised in that the signal-generating device is operable in a plurality of modes corresponding respectively to a plurality of different symbol ranges.

31. A device according to claim 18 characterised in that the support is back illuminated with an illumination device.

32. A device according to claim 18 characterised in that the symbols on the support comprise pictorial representations of fruit.

33. A player-operable coin-operated entertainment machine of the kind having a main display device for displaying a combination of symbols at a win zone, said device comprising a plurality of side-by-side symbol-bearing reels rotatable about a common horizontal axis within a housing behind a window at the win zone, characterised in that said main display device is the display device of claim 18.

34. A player-operable coin-operated entertainment machine of the kind having a main display device for displaying a combination of symbols at a win zone, and an auxiliary display device for displaying one or more symbols in relation to a supplementary game feature characterised in that said auxiliary display device is the device of claim 18.

35. An entertainment machine operable to receive monetary value from a player, the entertainment machine comprising:

a housing defining at least one display zone;

a symbol-bearing support movably coupled to the housing, a portion of the symbol-bearing support positioned adjacent to the display zone;

a motor operatively coupled to the symbol-bearing support;

a signal-generating device operatively coupled to the symbol-bearing support;

a plurality of symbols generated by the signal-generating device and displayed on the symbol-bearing support;

a successful outcome occurring when at least one of the symbols is displayed at the display zone; and

an award available to the player when the successful outcome occurs, the award being at least partially based on the monetary value provided by the player.

36. The entertainment machine of claim 35, wherein the symbol-bearing support includes a movable member which supports a signal-actuable device.

37. The entertainment machine of claim 35, wherein the signal-actuable device includes a device selected from the group consisting of a Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) device, an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) device and a flexible diode device.

38. The entertainment machine of claim 35, which includes a light source supported by the housing, the light source generating light which is directed to the symbol-bearing support.

39. The entertainment machine of claim 35, wherein the signal-generating device has a plurality of modes, each of the modes associated with at least one different symbol, each of the modes activated upon occurrence of a designated event.

40. The entertainment machine of claim 39, wherein the designated event is selected from the group consisting of an input by an operator, an input by the player, occurrence of a game play parameter and occurrence of a non-game related parameter.

41. An entertainment machine controlled by a processor, the entertainment machine operable to receive monetary value from a player, the entertainment machine comprising:

a housing defining at least one display zone;

a plurality of drums rotatably coupled to the housing, each of the drums having an outer surface, a portion of each of the drums being positioned adjacent to the display zone;

a plurality of signal-actuable devices, each of the signal-actuable devices connected to the outer surface of one of the drums;

a plurality of motors, each of the motors operatively coupled to one of the drums;

at least one signal-generating device operatively coupled to the processor and the signal-actuable devices;

a plurality of symbols generated by the signal-generating device and displayed by the signal-actuable devices;

a successful outcome occurring when at least one of the symbols is displayed at the display zone; and

an award available to the player when the successful outcome occurs, the award being at least partially based on the monetary value provided by the player.

42. The entertainment machine of claim 41, wherein each of the signal-actuable devices includes a device selected from the group consisting of a Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) device, an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) device and a flexible diode device.

43. The entertainment machine of claim 42, wherein each of the signal-actuable devices includes an flexible diode strip extending around all or substantially all of the outer surface of one of the drums.

44. The entertainment machine of claim 41, wherein each of the signal-generating devices has a plurality of modes, each of the modes associated with at least one different symbol, each of the modes activated upon occurrence of a designated event.

45. The entertainment machine of claim 44, wherein the designated event is selected from the group consisting of an input by an operator, an input by the player, occurrence of a game play parameter and occurrence of a non-game related parameter.

46. The entertainment machine of claim 41, which includes at least one light source supported by the housing, the light source generating light which is directed to each one of the signal-actuable devices.

47. The entertainment machine of claim 41, which includes a data storage device accessible by the processor, the data storage device storing data which is associated with different displays produced by each one of the signal-actuable devices, each of said displays including a designated sequence of designated ones of the symbols.

48. An entertainment machine operable to receive monetary value from a player, the entertainment machine comprising:

a housing defining at least one display zone;

a movable member movably coupled to the housing, the movable member having an outer surface, the outer surface having an plurality of portions positioned adjacent to the display zone;

a motor operatively coupled to the movable member;

a signal-actuable device supported by the housing adjacent to and spaced apart from the movable member, the signal-actuable device covering one of the portions of the movable member at the display zone and exposing another one of the portions of the movable member at the display zone;

a signal-generating device operatively coupled to the signal-actuable device;

a display generated by the signal-generating device, the display including a simulation of a plurality of symbols moving and then coming to a stop;

a successful outcome occurring when at least one of the symbols is displayed at the display zone; and

an award available to the player when the successful outcome occurs, the award being at least partially based on the monetary value provided by the player.

49. The entertainment machine of claim 48, which includes a processor operatively coupled to the motor and the signal-generating device, the processor synchronizing the simulated movement of the symbols with the movement of the exposed portion of the movable member.

50. The entertainment machine of claim 48, wherein the movable object includes a wheel or a mechanical reel.

51. The entertainment machine of claim 48, wherein the movable object includes a drum structure, and the exposed portion includes a rim of the drum structure.

52. The entertainment machine of claim 51, which includes a support member supported by the housing within the drum structure, the support member fixedly positioned adjacent to the display zone.

53. The entertainment machine of claim 52, wherein the signal-actuable device includes a diode strip connected to the support member.

54. The entertainment machine of claim 53, wherein the support member includes a light source.