Bi-stable downloadable reel strips

• US 20070054730A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold, LeMay, Steven, Griswold, Chauncey
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Disclosed are gaming machines, gaming machine reels, and configurable reel strips, including related methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, for electronically altering and replacing information shown on a reel of a gaming machine. A reel strip with a configurable surface is provided on the reel. The configurable surface includes a bi-stable material such as electronic paper. The configurable surface of the reel strip has a plurality of configurable regions of the bi-stable material. The configurable regions can be configured to display information such as designated symbols of a game of chance. In this way, the displayed symbols can be replaced without having to physically replace the reel strip or reel. Generally, symbol information is output for display on the configurable regions during a power on state. The bi-stable nature of the configurable regions enables the designated symbols to also be displayed during a power off state.

Claims

1. A gaming machine having a reel with a configurable surface for controlling information shown on the reel for providing a game of chance, the gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a player input device capable of receiving a wager for play of the game of chance;

a master gaming controller configured to provide one or more outcomes of the game of chance;

an output device configured to provide an award for a selected one of the outcomes;

a plurality of reels mounted in the cabinet, at least one of the reels including;

an internal supporting member having a curved surface defining an outer circumferential portion, and

a reel strip mounted on the outer circumferential portion of the internal supporting member, the reel strip having a plurality of configurable regions of bi-stable material defining the configurable surface, the configurable regions capable of being configured to display designated symbols for the game of chance,

the internal supporting member rotatable about an axis to display one of the symbols as a part of the one or more outcomes; and

a controller coupled to the configurable regions of the reel strip, the controller configured to output symbol information designating a symbol to be displayed on one or more of the configurable regions during a power on state in which a power supply is coupled to the one or more configurable regions, the configurable regions capable of displaying the designated symbols during a power off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the configurable regions.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the bi-stable material is electronic paper.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the bi-stable material is color electronic paper.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is a reel output controller.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is the master gaming controller.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the controller includes one or more processors.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more configurable regions include a pattern of pixels.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

communications apparatus coupled to provide the symbol information to the controller.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the communications apparatus includes a slip ring coupled to a brush block.

10. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the communications apparatus includes a wireless receiver capable of receiving the symbol information from a wireless transmitter.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a switching mechanism controlling the coupling and de-coupling of the power supply.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the symbol information is provided in a plurality of dimensions of data.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein one of the dimensions of data identifies the reel.

14. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein one of the dimensions of data identifies the configurable region.

15. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein one or more of the dimensions of data provide the designated symbol.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more of the dimensions of data provide pixel values of designated symbol.

17. A configurable reel adapted to be mounted in a gaming machine cabinet for play of a game of chance, the reel having a configurable surface for controlling information shown on the reel, the reel comprising:

an internal supporting member rotatable about an axis and having a curved surface defining an outer circumferential portion; and

a reel strip mounted on the outer circumferential portion of the internal supporting member, the reel strip having a plurality of configurable regions of bi-stable material defining the configurable surface, the configurable regions capable of being configured to display designated symbols for the game of chance, at least one of the configurable regions capable of being coupled to a processor configured to output symbol information designating a symbol to be displayed on the configurable region during a power on state in which a power supply is coupled to the configurable region, the configurable region capable of displaying the designated symbol during a power off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the configurable region.

18. The configurable reel of claim 17, wherein the bi-stable material is electronic paper.

19. The configurable reel of claim 17, wherein the bi-stable material is color electronic paper.

20. The configurable reel of claim 17, wherein the one or more configurable regions include a pattern of pixels.

21. A configurable gaming system having configurable surfaces for controlling information shown for one or more games of chance, the gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine including;

a cabinet;

a player input device capable of receiving a wager for play of the game of chance;

a master gaming controller configured to provide one or more outcomes of the game of chance;

an output device configured to provide an award for a selected one of the outcomes;

a plurality of reels mounted in the cabinet, at least one of the reels including;

an internal supporting member having a curved surface defining an outer circumferential portion, and

a reel strip mounted on the outer circumferential portion of the internal supporting member, the reel strip having a plurality of configurable regions of bi-stable material defining the configurable surface, the configurable regions capable of being configured to display designated symbols for the game of chance,

the internal supporting member rotatable about an axis to display one of the symbols as a part of the one or more outcomes;

a controller coupled to the configurable regions of the reel strip, the controller configured to output symbol information designating a symbol to be displayed on one or more of the configurable regions during a power on state in which a power supply is coupled to the one or more configurable regions, the configurable regions capable of displaying the designated symbols during a power off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the configurable regions; and

a communications interface coupled to a communications line; and

a host device in communication with the communications interface of the gaming machine through the communications line, the host device configured to send the symbol information to the gaming machine through the communications line.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the host device is a further gaming machine.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the host device is a data processing apparatus selected from the group consisting of a server, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile phone.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the symbol information is a component of game theme information.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the bi-stable material is color electronic paper.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is a reel output controller.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is the master gaming controller.

28. A method of configuring a gaming machine for controlling information shown on a reel having a configurable surface for providing a game of chance, the method comprising:

providing a reel mounted in the cabinet, the reel including an internal supporting member having a curved surface defining an outer circumferential portion, and a reel strip mounted on the outer circumferential portion of the internal supporting member, the reel strip having a plurality of configurable regions of bi-stable material defining the configurable surface, the configurable regions capable of being configured to display designated symbols for the game of chance, the internal supporting member rotatable about an axis to display one of the symbols as a part of the one or more outcomes;

receiving an update message indicating that one or more of the configurable regions are to be configured;

responsive to the update message, providing power to the one or more configurable regions to define a power on state; and

outputting symbol information designating a symbol to be displayed on one or more of the configurable regions during the power on state, the configurable regions capable of displaying the designated symbols during a power off state in which the power is not provided to the configurable regions.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the update message is received from a player input device.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the update message is received from a controller in the gaming machine.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the update message is received from a host device selected from the group consisting of a further gaming machine, a server, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile phone.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

retrieving a symbol list from a memory device, the symbol list providing the symbol information.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the memory device is situated at a remote location with respect to the gaming machine.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the memory device is coupled to the controller.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the symbol information identifies reel stops corresponding to the one or more configurable regions.