GAMING METHOD HAVING DYNAMICALLY CHANGING IMAGE REEL SYMBOLS

• US 20090131150A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Iverson, Mark N., Stragey, Michael W., Patton, Stephen E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

A method for dynamically changing the graphical content on mechanical slot machine reels is disclosed herein. The system includes mechanical slot reels, flexible display panels, and data transmission techniques which provide for dynamically updating or changing the graphics on the spinning mechanical reels in a slot machine. In one method for dynamically changing graphical reel content, new image content is placed on the reels at any time, even while the reels are spinning. The method may even be used to give the appearance of rotation to a stationary reel.

Claims

1. A method for playing games employing dynamically changing image symbols on the mechanical reels of a mechanical reel gaming machine, the method comprising:

providing a gaming machine cabinet housing a plurality of mechanical reels, each mechanical reel having a flexible display panel attached thereto, wherein the flexible display panels present dynamically changing image symbols at symbol positions on each mechanical reel;

storing the dynamically changing image symbols that are presented on the flexible display panels using a media storage device;

producing the dynamically changing image symbols on the flexible display panels using a video processor;

transmitting power and video data for the flexible display panels from a stationary portion of the gaming machine cabinet to the rotating mechanical reels using a power and data transmission system; and

providing a touch screen system associated with a primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system provides viewing of the mechanical reels through the touch panel, wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction or speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on the rotating mechanical reels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on a stationary portion of the gaming machine cabinet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising one or more secondary displays, wherein each secondary display comprises a touch screen system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more reels by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more images on a flexible display panel by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by using distinct types of touch directions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the speed of touches.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the duration or quantity of touches.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different features by using multiple touches.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selecting one or more paylines, selecting a wager amount for one or more paylines, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating special game play, bonus sequences, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel is curved.

14. A method for playing games employing dynamically changing image symbols on the mechanical reels of a mechanical reel gaming system, the method comprising:

providing at least one gaming machine including a plurality of mechanical reels, each mechanical reel having a flexible display panel attached thereto, wherein the flexible display panels present dynamically changing image symbols at symbol positions on each mechanical reel;

connecting the gaming machine to a gaming server via a network;

storing the dynamically changing image symbols that are presented on the flexible display panels using a media storage device;

producing the dynamically changing image symbols on the flexible display panels using a video processor;

transmitting power and video data for the flexible display panels from a stationary portion of the gaming system to the rotating mechanical reels using a power and data transmission system; and

providing a touch screen system associated with a primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system provides viewing of the mechanical reels through the touch panel, wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction or speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on the rotating mechanical reels.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on a stationary portion of the gaming machine.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on a stationary portion of the gaming system.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising one or more secondary displays, wherein each secondary display comprises a touch screen system.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more reels by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more images on a flexible display panel by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by using distinct types of touch directions.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the speed of touches.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the duration or quantity of touches.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different features by using multiple touches.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selecting one or more paylines, selecting a wager amount for one or more paylines, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating special game play, bonus sequences, or a combination thereof.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen panel is curved.

28. A method for playing games employing dynamically changing image symbols on the mechanical reels of a mechanical reel gaming system, the method comprising:

providing at least one gaming machine including a plurality of mechanical reels, each mechanical reel having a flexible display panel attached thereto, wherein the flexible display panels present dynamically changing image symbols at symbol positions on each mechanical reel;

connecting the gaming machine to a gaming server via a network;

storing the dynamically changing image symbols that are presented on the flexible display panels using a media storage device;

producing dynamically changing image symbols on the flexible display panels using a video processor; and

transmitting power and video data for the flexible display panels from a stationary portion of the gaming system to the rotating mechanical reels using a power and data transmission system.