Gaming machine having display with sensory feedback

• US 20080132313A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Alfred, Rasmussen, James M., Rigsby, Gene, Burak, Gilbert J.Q.
• Granted Patent: US 8,500,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable

Abstract

A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes the steps of displaying a selectable game element on a display and associating each potential outcome associated with the selectable game element with a predetermined haptic output selected from a plurality of predetermined haptic device outputs. The method also includes the steps of selecting the selectable game element to reveal an outcome associated therewith and causing a haptic device to output the predetermined haptic output corresponding to the outcome of the selectable game element.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display a selectable game element;

associating each potential outcome associated with the selectable game element with one predetermined haptic output selected from a plurality of predetermined haptic device outputs;

selecting the selectable game element to reveal an outcome associated therewith;

causing a haptic device to output the one predetermined haptic output corresponding to the outcome of the selectable game element.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the haptic device is haptic display.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the haptic display comprises at least one transparent piezo-electric element disposed on a viewing surface of the display.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the haptic display comprises a plurality of piezo-electric elements disposed adjacent the display.

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

continuously providing an output from the haptic device for so long as a user maintains contact with the user-selectable game element.

6. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display a user-selectable element;

associating the user-selectable element and a user-selectable game element; and

conditionally activating the haptic device in response to a user'"'"'s concurrent selection of the interlocked user-selectable element and user-selectable game element.

7. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display a plurality of user-selectable game elements comprising at least a first user-selectable game element and a second user-selectable game element; and

conditionally activating the haptic device in response to a user'"'"'s concurrent selection of the first and second user-selectable game elements.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the haptic device comprises at least one of a piezoelectric, electrostrictor, and magnetostrictor material.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the display-based haptic device comprises at least one of a rheological fluid, a wet electroactive polymer, and a conductive polymer.

10. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising.

a display;

a haptic device connected to a gaming machine input device configured to receive a user input; and

a controller coupled to the display and the haptic device configured, upon execution of associated instructions, to

display randomly selected outcomes on the display;

display at least one user-selectable game element on the display; and

activate the haptic device in response to a user selection of the at least one user-selectable game element.

11. A gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the haptic device comprises a display-integrated haptic device disposed adjacent a display surface of the display.

12. A gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the haptic device comprises at least one of a haptic pen, button, joystick, mouse, display, finger, helmet, vest, belt, suit, boot, and glove.

13. A gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the haptic device comprises a plurality of piezo-electric elements disposed adjacent a periphery of the display.

14. A gaming machine according to claim 11, wherein the haptic device comprises at least one of a electrostrictor, magnetostrictor, rheological fluid, wet electroactive polymer, and conductive polymer.

15. A wagering game for a gaming machine, the wagering game comprising an instruction set configured, upon processing by a processor, to perform steps comprising:

associating each potential game element outcome with one of a plurality of output signals to a haptic device;

determining a wagering game outcome by comparing a set of game element outcomes to an award schedule;

outputting an output signal to the haptic device corresponding to a wagering game outcome; and

activating the haptic device in response to the output signal.

16. A haptic button assembly comprising:

a button frame;

a transmissive element disposed within the button frame, the transmissive element comprising a conductive element or a conductive surface forming a capacitive path from an upper surface of the transmissive element to a conductive element on a lower surface of the transmissive element;

a motive element disposed adjacent to the transmissive element to selectively apply kinetic energy to the transmissive element; and

a substrate comprising a capacitive sensing element in contact with the conductive element on the lower surface of the transmissive element.

17. A button assembly comprising:

an electrically non-conductive button frame;

a transmissive element disposed within the button frame, the transmissive element comprising a conductive element or a conductive surface forming a capacitive path from an upper surface of the transmissive element to a conductive element on a lower surface of the transmissive element; and

a substrate comprising a capacitive sensing element in contact with the conductive element on the lower surface of the transmissive element so as to establish a capacitive path between the capacitive sensing element and the upper surface of the transmissive element.

18. A button assembly according to claim 17, further comprising:

an OLED, LCD, active matrix display, passive matrix display, fluorescent display, or e-paper display disposed under the transmissive element so as to be viewable through the transmissive element.

19. A button assembly according to claim 18, wherein the transmissive element is movably disposed relative to the button frame.