Gaming machine

• US 20040209668A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

During a slot machine game, game effects are also displayed on a liquid crystal panel 39d provided in a reel display window unit 39, and thus the liquid crystal panel 39d serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Therefore, new effects for the game can be performed on the liquid crystal panel 39d, which facilitates maintaining the novelty of game effects. Furthermore, the diffusion sheet 39f and the light guiding plate 39g are formed with openings 5a, 6a and 7a and openings 5b, 6b and 7b respectively for allowing the symbols variably displayed on the reels to be observed. As a result, there are decreased obstacles, interposed, in such a way as to prevent the light from passing through, between the transparent acryl plate 39a and the reels 2-4 on which the light is variably displayed. Therefore, the visibility of the symbols variably displayed on the reels 2-4 is increased.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

variable display means for variably displaying designs; and

front display means disposed in front of the variable display means, wherein the front display means includes a transparent liquid crystal display panel through which said variable display means is able to be seen, a light guiding plate for guiding light emitted from a light source to the entire of said liquid crystal display panel, and diffusion means for diffusing the light guided by the light guiding plate to equalize the light which illuminates said liquid crystal display panel, and in said light guiding plate and diffusion means, transparent areas for ensuring the visibility of the variable display of said variable display means are formed.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said variable display means is one or more rotatable reels each having a reel band thereon, on which said designs are drawn.

3. The reel-based gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said gaming machine is a slot machine.