Gaming machine and display device therefor

• US 20080261674A9
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming machine capable of maintaining the interest of a player even when the gaming machine does not work normally. For, example, a slot machine (10) comprises a display device (30) for displaying an image, and an image state control unit for controlling the display device (30) to display an image relating to a game. The slot machine (10) may be characterized in that the image state control unit controls the display device into a predetermined state upon determination that an image signal relating to the image provided to the display device fails to satisfy a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display device for displaying an image relating to a game; and

an image state control unit for controlling the image to be displayed,

wherein the image state control unit controls the display device into a predetermined state upon determination that an image signal relating to the image provided to the display device fails to satisfy a predetermined condition.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the image state control unit converts the image signal and provides the image signal as an enlarged image signal to the display device.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a rotatable reel with a plurality of symbols drawn on an outer periphery thereof being disposed behind the display device such that at least a part of the symbols is visible through the display device when the display device is controlled to show the image in the predetermined state.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light for illuminating at least a part of the symbols when the display device is controlled into the predetermined state.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 3, further comprising a control device for controlling the display device such that at least the part of the symbols becomes more visible when the display device is controlled in the predetermined state.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the display device is substantially light transparent when the display device does not function normally or malfunctions.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the display device shows the image such that at least a part of the plurality of symbols is visible when the display device does not function normally or malfunctions.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the image state control unit is positioned above the display device.

9. A display device for a gaming machine comprising:

a display device for displaying an image corresponding to a provided image signal; and

an image state control unit for controlling the image by receiving the image signal and transmitting the image signal to the display device,

wherein the image state control unit controls the display device into a predetermined state when it is determined that the image signal relating to the image being provided to the display device fails to satisfy a predetermined condition.

10. A gaming machine comprising:

display means for displaying an image;

display control means for causing the display means to display the image relating to a game; and

image state control means for controlling the display means into a predetermined state when it is determined that the image signal fails to satisfy a predetermined condition upon receiving an image signal, as data relating to the image, transmitted from the display control means.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the image state control means converts the image signal and transmits the image signal as an enlarged image signal to the display means.

12. The gaming machine according to claim 10, comprising symbol variable display means being disposed behind the display means for displaying a plurality of symbols such that at least a part of the symbol variable display means is visible through the display means when the display means is controlled into the predetermined state.

13. The gaming machine according to claim 10, further comprising visibility control means for controlling the display means more visible when the display means is controlled into the predetermined state.