Optically sensitive display for a gaming apparatus

• US 20060025212A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Griswold, Chauncey W., Wilder, Richard L., Mattice, Harold E., Gadda, Christian E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming apparatus may include a controller operatively coupled to a display unit and a value input device. The controller may include a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and may be programmed to cause the display unit to generate a game display. The display unit may include an optically sensitive control panel operatively coupled to the controller, and the controller may be programmed to cause the optically sensitive control panel to read an image and to cause the optically sensitive control panel to generate a display of one or more game controls. An optically sensitive video display screen, and the controller may be programmed to cause the display unit to read an image via the optically sensitive video display screen and to cause the display unit to generate the game display on the optically sensitive video display screen.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit;

an optically sensitive control panel;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said optically sensitive control panel and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel generate a display of one or more game controls,

said controller being programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel to read an image of a fingerprint of a player when said fingerprint is positioned over said one or more game controls,

said controller being programmed to compare a characteristic of said fingerprint image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a player identification stored in said memory,

said controller being programmed to cause said display unit to generate a game display relating to one of the following games;

poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo,

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game.

2. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to compare said characteristic of said fingerprint image with said corresponding characteristic for each game control activated by said player.

3. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to prevent said player from playing said game if said characteristic of said fingerprint image does not match said corresponding characteristic.

4. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises an array of pixel elements and at least one optical sensor element for each pixel element in said array.

5. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises an array of pixel elements, each pixel element comprising a display sub-pixel element and an optical sensor sub-pixel element.

6. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein one or more areas of said optically sensitive control panel relating to said one or more game controls comprise touch-sensitive areas.

7. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises said optically sensitive control panel.

8. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit;

an optically sensitive control panel;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit, said optically sensitive control panel and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel to read a first image,

said controller being programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel generate a display of one or more game controls,

said controller being programmed to cause said display unit to generate a game display relating to one of the following games;

poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo,

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game.

9. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said display unit comprises a video display unit that is capable of generating video images.

10. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards to be displayed if said game comprises video poker,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels to be displayed if said game comprises video slots,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards to be displayed if said game comprises video blackjack,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers to be displayed if said game comprises video keno,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a bingo grid to be displayed if said game comprises video bingo.

11. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said display unit comprises at least one mechanical slot machine reel.

12. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said display unit comprises said optically sensitive control panel.

13. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises an array of pixel elements and at least one optical sensor element for each pixel element in said array.

14. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises an array of pixel elements, each pixel element comprising a display sub-pixel element and an optical sensor sub-pixel element.

15. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8,

wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises an array of pixel elements, each pixel element comprising a plurality of display sub-pixel elements,

wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises an optical sensor element for each display sub-pixel element.

16. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein one or more areas of said optically sensitive control panel relating to said one or more game controls comprise touch-sensitive areas.

17. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel to read an image positioned over said display of one or more game controls.

18. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8,

wherein said first image comprises a player identification,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel to read said player identification image,

wherein said controller is programmed to compare a characteristic of said player identification image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a player identification stored in said memory.

19. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8,

wherein said first image comprises an image from a player tracking card,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel to read said image from said player tracking card.

20. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8,

wherein said first image comprises a fingerprint of a player,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel to read said fingerprint image of said player.

21. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 20,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive control panel to read said fingerprint image when said fingerprint is positioned over said one or more game controls,

wherein said controller is programmed to compare a characteristic of said fingerprint image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a player identification stored in said memory for each game control activated by said player.

22. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said controller is programmed to prevent said player from playing said game if said characteristic of said fingerprint image does not match said corresponding characteristic.

23. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises a liquid crystal display unit.

24. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said optically sensitive control panel comprises a low temperature polysilicon thin film transistor liquid crystal display unit.

25. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said controller is programmed to cause said display unit to generate a display of said first image.

26. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8,

wherein said display unit comprises an optically sensitive video display screen,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said display unit to read a second image via said optically sensitive video display screen.

27. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said optically sensitive video display screen comprises an array of pixel elements and at least one optical sensor element for each pixel element in said array.

28. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said optically sensitive video display screen comprises an array of pixel elements, each pixel element comprising a display sub-pixel element and an optical sensor sub-pixel element.

29. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 26,

wherein said optically sensitive video display screen comprises an array of pixel elements, each pixel element comprising a plurality of display sub-pixel elements,

wherein said optically sensitive video display screen comprises an optical sensor element for each display sub-pixel element.

30. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said optically sensitive video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display unit.

31. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said optically sensitive video display screen comprises a low temperature polysilicon thin film transistor liquid crystal display unit.

32. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said controller is programmed to cause said display unit to generate a display of said second image on said optically sensitive video display screen.

33. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said controller is programmed to cause said display unit to generate said game display on said optically sensitive video display screen.

34. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 8, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

35. A gaming system as defined in claim 34, wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.

36. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit comprising an optically sensitive video display screen;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to cause said display unit to read an image of an object placed on said optically sensitive display screen,

said controller being programmed to receive data representing a payline selection made by a player,

said controller being programmed to cause a game display to be generated by said display unit on said optically sensitive video display screen, said game display comprising images of a plurality of slot machine symbols each of which is associated with a respective slot machine reel,

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said slots game, said controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols.

37. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels to be displayed by said display unit on said optically sensitive video display screen.

38. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said display unit further comprises at least one mechanical slot machine reel.

39. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said controller is programmed to receive payline data representing a number of paylines selected by the player.

40. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said optically sensitive video display screen comprises an array of pixel elements, at least one optical sensor element for each pixel element in said array and at least one display element for each pixel element in said array.

41. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 36,

wherein said image comprises a player identification,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive video display screen to read said player identification image,

wherein said controller is programmed to compare a characteristic of said player identification image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a player identification stored in said memory.

42. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 36,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive video display screen to generate a display of one or more game controls,

wherein said controller is programmed to cause said optically sensitive video display screen to read said fingerprint image when said fingerprint is positioned over said one or more game controls,

wherein said controller is programmed to compare a characteristic of said fingerprint image with a corresponding characteristic relating to said a player identification stored in said memory for each game control activated by said player.

43. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 36, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

44. A gaming method, comprising:

causing a control display of one or more game controls to be generated on an optically sensitive video display unit;

reading an image of a player identification when said identification is positioned over said optically sensitive video display unit;

comparing a characteristic of said player identification image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a stored player identification;

causing a game display of one of the following games to be generated;

poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo,

determining a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image.

45. A gaming method as defined in claim 44, wherein said player identification comprises a fingerprint of said player, wherein reading an image comprises reading an image of said fingerprint when said fingerprint is positioned over said one or more game controls.

46. A gaming method as defined in claim 45, additionally comprising comparing said characteristic of said fingerprint image with said corresponding characteristic for each game control activated by said player.

47. A gaming method as defined in claim 44, additionally comprising preventing said player from player said game if said characteristic of said player identification image does not match said corresponding characteristic.

48. A gaming method as defined in claim 44, wherein causing a game display to be generated comprises causing said game display to be generated on said optically sensitive video display unit.