Light emitting interface displays for a gaming machine

• US 20070093290A1
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Winans, Ron, Ollins, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A disclosed thin light-emitting interface displays may be mounted to a surface on the gaming machine. The light-emitting elements used in the interface displays may be provided from electro-luminescent elements, organic light emitting diode (OLED) elements and combinations thereof. The thin light-emitting interface displays may be used to input and output gaming information on the gaming machine. The gaming information that is input and output via the interface display may be used to provide: 1) a game of chance played on the gaming machine, 2) player tracking services, 3) game services available on the gaming machine and 4) attract features. In one embodiment, a game input interface display is provided with a plurality of input buttons where a number and a format of the input buttons are dynamically configurable for different types of games of chance played on the gaming machine

Claims

1. An interface display for inputting and outputting information on a gaming machine, the interface display comprising:

a substrate;

an input area for inputting information for a game of chance on the gaming machine;

a plurality of sensors for detecting selection of the input area;

an electro-luminescent skin including a plurality of electro-luminescent elements formed in a light emitting layer on the substrate, the electro-luminescent skin dynamically configurable to display different graphical patterns associated with different game themes; and

a controller coupled to control output of one of the graphical patterns responsive to selection of an associated one of the game themes for display on the electro-luminescent skin.

2. The interface display of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electro-luminescent skin is coupled to display bonus game information.

3. The interface display of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electro-luminescent skin is coupled to display gaming information.

4. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the selected one game theme defines a bonus game theme.

5. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the selected one game theme is associated with the game of chance.

6. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the different game themes relate to the game of chance.

7. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the different games themes relate to different games of chance.

8. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the game of chance is selected from the group consisting of video slot games, mechanical slot games, video black jack games, video poker games, video keno games, video pachinko games, video card games, and combinations thereof.

9. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the interface display is coupled to one selected from the group consisting of a secondary display, a main display, an information panel, and a player tracking unit.

10. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the interface display is one selected from the group consisting of a secondary display, a main display, an information panel, and a player tracking display.

11. The interface display of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electro-luminescent elements are formed in a matrix.

12. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electro-luminescent elements are arranged in a plurality of stacked layers.

13. The interface display of claim 1, wherein the input area is coupled to receive player tracking information.

14. The interface display of claim 1, wherein a portion of the electro-luminescent skin is coupled to display one or more selected from the group consisting of:

game information, bonus game information, account information, operating instructions, prize information, entertainment service information, casino promotions, entertainment choices, player tracking information, status information, metering information, and player status information.

15. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming machine cabinet;

a master gaming controller controlling one or more games of chance played on the gaming machine, the master gaming controller located in the gaming machine cabinet;

a main display for displaying the game of chance; and

an interface display for inputting and outputting information, the interface display including;

an input area for inputting information,

a plurality of sensors for detecting selection of the input area,

an electro-luminescent skin including a plurality of electro-luminescent elements formed in a light emitting layer on the substrate, the electro-luminescent skin dynamically configurable to display different graphical patterns associated with different game themes, and

a controller coupled to control output of one of the graphical patterns responsive to selection of an associated one of the game themes for display on the electro-luminescent skin.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein a portion of the electro-luminescent skin is coupled to display bonus game information.

17. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the selected one game theme defines a bonus game theme.

18. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the interface display is coupled to one selected from the group consisting of a secondary display, the main display, an information panel, and a player tracking unit.

19. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the interface display is one selected from the group consisting of a secondary display, an information panel, and a player tracking display.

20. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein a portion of the electro-luminescent skin is coupled to display one or more selected from the group consisting of:

game information, bonus game information, account information, operating instructions, prize information, entertainment service information, casino promotions, entertainment choices, player tracking information, status information, metering information, and player status information.

21. A gaming machine comprising:

a gaming machine cabinet;

a master gaming controller controlling one or more games of chance played on the gaming machine, the master gaming controller located in the gaming machine cabinet;

a main display for displaying the game of chance; and

a secondary display for displaying a bonus game responsive to play of the game of chance, the secondary display including;

a substrate,

an input area for inputting information,

a plurality of sensors for detecting selection of the input area,

an electro-luminescent skin including a plurality of electro-luminescent elements formed in a light emitting layer on the substrate, the electro-luminescent skin dynamically configurable to display different graphical patterns associated with different game themes, and

a controller coupled to control output of one of the graphical patterns responsive to selection of an associated one of the game themes for display on the electro-luminescent skin.

22. The gaming machine of claim 21, wherein the bonus game is of the same type as the game of chance.

23. The gaming machine of claim 21, wherein the bonus game is of a different type as the game of chance.

24. The gaming machine of claim 21, wherein the bonus game is selected from the group consisting of video slot games, mechanical slot games, video black jack games, video poker games, video keno games, video pachinko games, video card games, and combinations thereof.

25. A method for selecting and outputting a game theme on an interface display of a gaming machine, method comprising:

providing the interface display, the interface display having;

a substrate,

an input area for inputting information for a game of chance on the gaming machine,

a plurality of sensors for detecting selection of the input area, and

an electro-luminescent skin including a plurality of electro-luminescent elements formed in a light emitting layer on the substrate, the electro-luminescent skin dynamically configurable to display different graphical patterns associated with different game themes; and

receiving a selection of one of the game themes; and

controlling output of an associated one of the graphical patterns responsive to selection of the one game theme for display on the electro-luminescent skin.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the selection is received from the input area of the interface display.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the selection is received from a controller.