Rotatable video display and display method for a gaming machine
An apparatus includes a support structure mounted for rotation within a gaming machine cabinet. A display device is mounted on the support structure. The support structure may, for example, comprise a support structure for a reel of a reel-type gaming machine, and the display device may be mounted so that the device makes up at least a portion of the reel peripheral curved surface. In this position, the video display may display one or more of the reel symbols for the reel. A processing device is mounted in the gaming machine cabinet separate from the support structure, so that the processing device does not rotate with the support structure as the support structure rotates in the gaming machine cabinet. A communication path is provided between the processing device and the display device so that data and/or control instructions, that is, display operation information, may be communicated for use in controlling the operation of the display device. A wireless communication link is included in the communication path between the processing device and the display device.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/985,362, filed Nov. 10, 2004, and entitled “Curved Surface Display for a Gaming Machine.” This application is also related to PCT International Application PCT/US05/40770, filed Nov. 10, 2005, of the same title. The inventor claims priority from both of these prior applications under 35 U.S.C. §120. The entire content of each of these applications is incorporated herein by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to gaming machine displays. More particularly, the invention is directed to apparatus and methods for games in which a player may view images being displayed on a rotatable structure such as, for example, a rotatable reel in a reel-type gaming machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTraditional mechanical slot machines include three or more reels rotatably mounted on a common axis. Each reel has a number of symbols spaced apart around its periphery. The symbols may be pictures of bells, bars, fruit, or any number of other symbols to suit a particular theme for the slot machine. When the reels are at rest, they define a matrix of reel symbol locations. For example, a traditional three-reel, reel-type gaming machine may display a three-by-three matrix of symbol locations when the three reels are at rest, each reel showing a column of three symbols each. Mechanical reel gaming machines may also include a separate reel for each symbol location. For example, a common reel arrangement includes nine separate reels, one reel for each symbol location in a three-by-three matrix of symbol locations with each reel oriented to rotate about an axis lying in a plane in common with the axis of each other reel.
Regardless of how the matrix of symbol locations is produced in a mechanical reel gaming machine, one or more lines of symbol locations are defined through the matrix of symbol locations. These lines of symbol locations are commonly referred to as “paylines.” For example, a payline in the three-reel gaming machine mentioned above may have five different paylines, one line for each horizontal row of symbol locations in the three-by-three matrix of symbol locations, and one line for each diagonal through the symbol locations. In the play of one of these reel-type gaming machines, a player makes a wager for a given payline, and then pulls a handle or actuates some other control on the gaming machine to cause the reels to rotate. The reel symbols that line up along the respective payline when the reels stop rotating represent a result for that payline. Typically, a number of combinations of symbols along a payline are defined as winning combinations, and any other combination of symbols along a payline represents a losing combination. Each gaming machine usually provides a pay table that illustrates the various winning combinations of reel symbols and indicates the prize associated with each winning combination.
Early mechanical reel gaming machines relied on the randomness resulting from rotating and then stopping the reels to determine the results for a given play at the gaming machine. In more recent mechanical reel gaming machines, a result for a given play of the game is generated by a random result generator associated with the gaming machine and each reel may be forced to stop rotating at the appropriate position to show the proper set of reel symbols along the payline for that result. A result for a given play in a mechanical reel gaming machine may also be identified from a lottery record selected at the gaming machine or at another device in communication with the gaming machine, and the reels may be caused to stop so as to show reel symbols along a given payline that are consistent with the lottery result. A result to be displayed in a mechanical reel-type gaming machine may also be obtained from a bingo game, or from some other result generating arrangement.
The reels in a typical mechanical reel gaming machine are located in a cabinet behind a glass plate with the reel symbols on the periphery of the reels facing the player position in front of the gaming machine. The glass plate defines one or more windows through which the various reel symbol positions are visible to the player. The mechanical structure that allows the reels to rotate and the control structure for driving and stopping the reels are usually hidden within the gaming machine cabinet.
Mechanical reel gaming machines present a number of problems. For example, a mechanical reel gaming machine is prone to break down due to the mechanical nature of the device. In addition, mechanical reel-type machines do not offer an easy way to change the appearance of the gaming machine. For these reasons and others, gaming machine manufacturers have developed video reel-type gaming machines in which a video display device such as a CRT device is operated to display a representation of rotating reels. These electronic versions of reel-type gaming machines offer flexibility in modifying reel indicia and reduce the number of mechanical components in the mechanical reel-type gaming machines. However, among other problems, prior video gaming machines that imitate mechanical reel-type gaming machines may not look realistic depending upon the quality of the video display and the graphics processing arrangement associated with the gaming machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides apparatus and methods for displaying results in a gaming machine in which at least a portion of a result is shown with a device that rotates with respect to the gaming machine cabinet, such as a reel in a reel-type gaming machine, for example. In particular, the present invention provides apparatus and methods for producing realistic mechanical reel presentations while achieving the flexibility of video reel-type presentations.
One preferred apparatus embodying principles of the invention includes a support structure mounted for rotation within a gaming machine cabinet. A display device is mounted on the support structure. The support structure may, for example, comprise a support structure for a reel of a reel-type gaming machine, and the display device may be mounted so that the device makes up at least a portion of the reel peripheral surface. In this position, the video display may display one or more of the reel symbols for the reel. A processing device is mounted in the gaming machine cabinet separate from the support structure, so that the processing device does not rotate with the support structure as the support structure rotates in the gaming machine cabinet. A communication path is provided between the processing device and the display device so that data and/or control instructions, that is, display operation information, may be communicated for use in controlling the operation of the display device. According to the invention, a wireless communication link is included in the communication path between the processing device and the display device. By employing the wireless communication link to transmit the display operation information to the rotatable display device, the display device may be controlled to change graphic images and produce animations while the support structure is rotating within the gaming machine cabinet, and without having to rely on a mechanical slip ring arrangement for communicating data/control instructions for the display device.
The wireless communication link employed according to the invention may use any suitable type of wireless technology. For example, the wireless communication link may utilize radio frequency (RF) transmissions. Alternatively, the wireless communication link may utilize transmissions by visible or non-visible light (optical transmissions), such as infrared light transmissions for example.
Certain elements may be described as “stationary” or “fixed” in the present disclosure and accompanying claims. For example, a processing device or transmitter/receiver may be described as being stationary or fixed. The terms “stationary” and “fixed” in this sense means that the respective element is not adapted to rotate with a rotatable support structure supporting a display device. Various communications links or transmission paths may also be referenced in describing the present invention. As used below and in the accompanying claims, a “wireless communication link” refers to a wireless communication arrangement that facilitates the wireless transmission of information (data and/or instructions) from a transmitting device to a receiving device. A “communication path” refers to an arrangement which facilitates the communication of data and/or instructions from a first device to a second device, and may include one or more path segments. The data and/or instructions may change forms one or more times over a given communication path, or may result in a sequence of communications that ultimately affects the operation of the second device. Also, a “wireless transmission path” refers to a path in which transmissions travel from a wireless transmitter to a wireless receiver.
One preferred method embodying the principles of the present invention includes generating display operation information to be used in controlling graphics produced by a display device. This display operation information is transmitted over a wireless transmission path from a transmission point within a gaming machine cabinet. This method also includes receiving the display operation information at a receiving point within the gaming machine cabinet. The receiving point is separated from the transmission point along the wireless transmission path so that the devices used to transmit the display operation information and the device used to receive the information may be mounted on separate structures in the gaming machine cabinet. In particular, the transmitter may be mounted in a fixed position in the gaming machine cabinet and the receiver may be mounted on a structure that is adapted to rotate with respect to the gaming machine cabinet, such as a gaming machine reel structure or wheel structure.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Those familiar with reel-type gaming machines will appreciate that reels 100, the structure supporting the reels for rotation and related elements, CPU 110, graphics processing device 112, and other components of the gaming machine are mounted in a gaming machine cabinet. The precise form of the gaming machine cabinet is not necessary for an understanding of the present invention and thus the gaming machine cabinet itself is omitted from the drawings.
Each reel 100 shown in
When a player activates a gaming machine in which reels 100 are included, either by pulling a lever, pushing a “PLAY” button, or operating some other activating device (not shown in the figures), reels 100 are caused to rotate about their common axis A in
According to the present invention, one or more processing devices such as CPU 110, or the CPU combined with one or more dedicated graphics processors such as processor 112 drive each of the displays 102. In one preferred embodiment, a main processing device such as CPU 110 cooperates with a separate graphics processor 112 for each display 102 or for each of a number of groups of displays 102. Such a separate graphics processor may be located externally to the respective rotatable reel 100, or internally to the respective reel. That is, the graphics processor that controls the graphics produced by a respective display 102 may be mounted on the rotatable reel 100 on which the respective display is mounted, or may be mounted in a stationary position in the gaming machine cabinet. Regardless of whether the images displayed on displays 102 are controlled through a single main processing device such as CPU 110 or the CPU in cooperation with one or more dedicated graphics processors, the image or symbol displayed at each display 102 may include continuous or intermittent animations or may change or remain constant during the course of a play at the gaming machine including reels 100.
It will be appreciated from the above description that display operation information must ultimately be communicated to the reel-mounted displays 102 from a device mounted in a stationary position in the gaming machine cabinet, that is, a device mounted separately from rotatable reels 100. In order to accommodate the communication of display operation information to a respective reel-mounted display 102, the present invention includes a wireless communication link in a communication path to the respective reel-mounted display. Examples of preferred wireless communication links will be described below with reference to
As shown in
It should be noted that displays 102, 202, and 302 shown in
The flow diagram of
It will be noted that displays 102, 202, and 302 each provide an opportunity for producing interesting effects and/or interesting game characteristics at a gaming machine using such displays. As one example, the symbol presented or shown by one of the displays at any given reel location may be animated, rather than static. Also, it is possible for the symbol to be changed during the course of play. For example, a non-winning series of symbols may initially be displayed as a game result, and then one or more symbols along a payline may change to show a winning series of symbols for the play result.
The step of controlling the display device or devices shown at process block 406 in
It will be noted that in the arrangement shown in
The invention is not limited to any particular type of bus or transmission line 604 or communication connection 605 between interface 602 and RF transmitter/receiver 603. One convenient implementation employs an ethernet adapter as the interface 602 which communicates with CPU 601 across a suitable bus such as a PCI bus. Communications between interface 602 and RF transmitter/receiver 603 may comprise ethernet communications. In this arrangement, RF transmitter/receiver 603 may comprise a wireless ethernet hub or switch that may communicate to the various reel mounted electronic devices through a suitable communications protocol such as TCP/IP. This communications arrangement allows the single RF transmitter/receiver 603 to communicate respective display operation information to reel-mounted electronics on each of the reels. Display operation information for a particular one of the reel graphics controllers, for example controller 606, may be addressed to that controller through the communications protocol while display operation information for another one of the reel graphics controllers 607 or 608 may be addressed to that respective controller through the communications protocol. For example, each reel graphics controller may be assigned a respective static or dynamic IP address to facilitate addressing the respective controllers. Any suitable wireless communications protocol may be employed for the RF communications across the wireless transmission path between RF transmitter/receiver 603 and the respective RF transmitter/receiver 615. For example, the wireless communications may be provided in accordance with IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g.
As with the stationery cabinet-mounted electronics, any suitable connections may be used between the reel mounted RF transmitter/receiver 615, its respective interface 614, and respective video processor 610. One convenient implementation integrates the interface 614 and RF transmitter/receiver 615 similarly to a PC card or PCI card wireless network adapter, and a PC bus or PCI bus is provided for communications with video processor 610.
Each reel graphics controller 606, 607, and 608 preferably includes sufficient random access memory 611 and 612 to provide a suitable frame buffer and also to store video image related data at the respective reel graphics controller. It will be appreciated that video image related data may be stored in other types of memory rather than random access memory 611 and 612. For example rather than random access memory 611 and 612, or in addition to this random access memory, a respective reel graphics controller may include a flash memory device or other nonvolatile memory for storing video image related data.
Despite the addressing arrangements that may be used to allow the single RF transmitter/receiver 603 to communicate with each of the reel graphics controllers 606, 607, and 608 shown in
It should be noted in the example of
The reel-mounted components for the embodiment shown
Numerous different types of buses 801 may be used for communications between CPU 800 and the interfaces 802. One convenient implementation employs a suitable standard such as PCI bus for bus 801. Each interface 802 provides an interface between this bus and IR transmitter/receiver 803. Similarly to the arrangement shown in
It will be noted that the arrangements shown in
The present invention encompasses numerous variations on the specific example structures described above in connection with
As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,”“involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to claims, in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition, August 2001 as revised May 2004), Section 2111.03.
Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus including:
- (a) a first support structure mounted for rotation within a gaming machine cabinet;
- (b) a first display device mounted on the first support structure;
- (c) a processing device mounted in the gaming machine cabinet separate from the first support structure; and
- (d) a first wireless communication link in a communication path between the processing device and the first display device for communicating first display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by the first display device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a first video processor mounted on the first support structure for receiving the first display operation information and for producing video input signals for the first display device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first wireless communication link is a radio frequency communication link.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first wireless communication link also communicates addressing information specific to the first display device and wherein the first display operation information is associated with the addressing information specific to the first display device.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first display operation information is communicated in the form of a TCP/IP communication across the first wireless communication link.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 further including:
- (a) a second support structure mounted for rotation within the gaming machine cabinet;
- (b) a second display device mounted on the second support structure; and
- (c) a second wireless communication link in a communication path between the processing device and the second display device for communicating second display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by the second display device.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second display operation information is communicated in the form of a TCP/IP communication across the second wireless communication link.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first wireless communication path is between a first wireless receiver mounted on the first support structure and a wireless transmitter, and wherein the second wireless communication path is between a second wireless receiver mounted on the second support structure and the wireless transmitter.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an additional display device mounted on the first support structure, and wherein the first wireless communication link also communicates additional display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by the additional display device.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication link is an optical communication link.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the optical communication link includes a light path aligned with an axis of rotation of the first support structure.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 further including:
- (a) a second support structure mounted for rotation within the gaming machine cabinet;
- (b) a second display device mounted on the second support structure; and
- (c) a second wireless communication link in a communication path between the processing device and the second display device for communicating second display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by the second display device.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:
- (a) the first wireless communication link includes a first wireless transmitter mounted in a first fixed position in the gaming machine cabinet for transmitting to a first wireless receiver mounted on the first support structure; and
- (b) the second wireless communication link includes a second wireless transmitter mounted in a second fixed position in the gaming machine cabinet for transmitting to a second wireless receiver mounted on the second support structure.
14. An apparatus including:
- (a) a first support structure mounted for rotation within a gaming machine cabinet;
- (b) a first display device mounted on the first support structure;
- (c) a first wireless transmitter mounted in a first fixed position in the gaming machine cabinet;
- (d) a processing device mounted in the gaming machine cabinet and operatively connected to the first wireless transmitter to control the transmission of first display operation information from the first wireless transmitter, the first display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by the first display device; and
- (e) a first wireless receiver mounted on the first support structure for receiving the first display operation information transmitted from the first wireless transmitter and directing the first display operation information for use in controlling the graphics produced by the first display device.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further including:
- (a) a second support structure mounted for rotation within the gaming machine cabinet;
- (b) a second display device mounted on the second support structure; and
- (c) a second wireless receiver mounted on the second support structure for receiving second display operation information transmitted from the first wireless transmitter and directing the second display operation information on for use in controlling the graphics produced by the second display device, and
- (d) wherein the processing device also controls the transmission of the second display operation information from the first wireless transmitter.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 further including:
- (a) a second support structure mounted for rotation within the gaming machine cabinet;
- (b) a second display device mounted on the second support structure;
- (c) a second wireless transmitter mounted in a second fixed position in the gaming machine cabinet; and
- (d) a second wireless receiver mounted on the second support structure for receiving second display operation information transmitted from the second wireless transmitter and directing the second display operation information on for use in controlling the graphics produced by the second display device, and
- (e) wherein the processing device is also operatively connected to the second wireless transmitter to control the transmission of the second display operation information from the second wireless transmitter.
17. A method including:
- (a) generating first display operation information, the first display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by a first display device;
- (b) transmitting the first display operation information over a first wireless transmission path from a first transmission point within a gaming machine cabinet; and
- (c) receiving the first display operation information at a first receiving point within the gaming machine cabinet separated from the first transmission point along the first wireless transmission path.
18. The method of claim 17 further including:
- (a) generating second display operation information, the second display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by a second display device;
- (b) transmitting the second display operation information over a second wireless transmission path from the first transmission point within a gaming machine cabinet; and
- (c) receiving the second display operation information at a second receiving point within the gaming machine cabinet separated from the first transmission point along the second wireless transmission path.
19. The method of claim 17 further including:
- (a) generating second display operation information, the second display operation information for use in controlling graphics produced by a second display device;
- (b) transmitting the second display operation information over a second wireless transmission path from a second transmission point within the gaming machine cabinet, the second transmission point being spaced apart from the first transmission point; and
- (c) receiving the second display operation information at a second receiving point within the gaming machine cabinet separated from the second transmission point along the second wireless transmission path.
20. The method of claim 17 further including moving the first receiving device about a first rotational axis while the first display operation information is being received at the first receiving device.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 23, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 29, 2006
Applicant:
Inventor: Joseph Enzminger (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 11/361,066
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);