Gaming machine with ambient noise attenuation

• US 20030114214A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Barahona, Francisco Jose Paz, Loose, Timothy C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,112,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

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.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing game sounds generated by a gaming machine operating in a gaming establishment, comprising:

detecting ambient noise in the gaming establishment with a microphone mounted to the gaming machine;

generating a noise signal from the sensed ambient noise;

processing the noise signal to generate an anti-noise signal; and

driving an audio speaker with an output signal comprised of the anti-noise signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further including isolating the microphone and the audio speaker from each other.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step includes filtering the noise signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further including adding the anti-noise signal to a game sound signal generated by the gaming machine to produce the output signal, the output signal being comprised of the anti-noise signal and the game sound signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further including driving another audio speaker with a game sound signal generated by the gaming machine.

6. The method of claim 5, further including isolating the microphone and the another audio speaker from each other.

7. A gaming machine operating in a gaming establishment, comprising:

means for detecting ambient noise in the gaming establishment and generating a noise signal from the sensed ambient noise;

means for processing the noise signal to generate an anti-noise signal; and

an audio speaker driven with an output signal comprised of the anti-noise signal.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the detecting means and the audio speaker are isolated from each other.

9. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the processing means filters the noise signal.

10. The gaming machine of claim 7, further including means for adding the anti-noise signal to a game sound signal generated by the gaming machine to produce the output signal, the output signal being comprised of the anti-noise signal and the game sound signal.

11. The gaming machine of claim 7, further including a second audio speaker driven with a game sound signal generated by the gaming machine.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the detecting means and the second audio speaker are isolated from each other.

13. A gaming machine operating in a gaming establishment, comprising:

a microphone for detecting ambient noise in the gaming establishment and generating a noise signal from the sensed ambient noise;

processing circuitry for generating an anti-noise signal from the noise signal; and

an audio speaker driven with an output signal comprised of the anti-noise signal.