MULTI-PLAYER, MULTI-TOUCH TABLE FOR USE IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS

• US 20100130280A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rigsby, Gene, Palermo, James V., Burak, Gilbert J.Q., Sylla, Craig H., Schwartz, Richard T., Gagner, Mark B., Loose, Timothy C., Jaffe, Joel R., Thomas, Alfred, Gomez, Benjamin T., Rasmussen, James M., Arezina, Vladimir I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means

Abstract

A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface.

Claims

1. A multi-player gaming system comprising:

an input device for receiving a wager associated with a wagering game;

a display surface displaying the wagering game and a randomly selected outcome thereof;

a first identification device associated with a first player to receive contact data when the first player contacts the display surface during the wagering game;

a second identification device associated with a second player to receive contact data when the second player contacts the display surface during the wagering game;

a contact sensing device positioned adjacent to the display surface to transmit contact data to the first and second identification devices; and

a controller in communication with the first and second identification devices and the display surface, the controller being programmed to execute during the wagering game a wagering-game function associated with the contact data and associating the wagering-game function with the first player or the second player based on the contact data.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the contact sensing device includes an array of antennas positioned under the display surface, each of the antennas emitting a positional signal indicative of a position on the display surface.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first and second identification devices each include a receiver, the receivers capacitively coupled to the respective first and second players.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the receivers include a wireless interface for communication with the controller.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the contact sensing device includes:

a plurality of infrared LEDs or photodiodes arrayed about a perimeter of the display surface;

a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) device having a transparent substrate, the display surface;

a video projector for displaying images relative to the transparent substrate; and

a video camera for capturing scattered light at multiple points of contact on the transparent substrate.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the contact sensing device includes a multipoint touch screen having a plurality of capacitive electrodes arrayed relative to a transparent substrate, the multipoint touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display surface.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the display surface is a liquid crystal display that is positioned substantially horizontal relative to ground.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wagering game includes a function based on contacts made by at least the first and second players.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller causes a graphical object to be displayed on the display surface, wherein the first player contacts the graphical object to move the graphical object to a first location on the display surface and the second player contacts the graphical object to move the graphical object to a second location on the display surface.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is a turn-based game allowing a game function initiated by the first player followed by a second game function initiated by the second player.

5. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

14-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of conducting a multi-player wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising:

receiving a wager associated with a wagering game;

displaying the wagering game on a display surface in proximity to a first and a second player;

sensing contact by the first player on the display surface during the wagering game and generating a first contact data signal;

sensing contact by the second player on the display surface during the wagering game and generating a second contact data signal;

performing during the wagering game a wagering-game function associated with either the first contact data signal or the second contact data signal; and

associating the wagering-game function with the first player or the second player based on the received contact data signals.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensing contact further includes positioning an array of antennas on the display surface and emitting a positional signal indicative of a position on the display surface from each of the antennas.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising sending the first and second contact data signals to a controller.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising performing a second game function based on contacts made by at least the first and second players.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the wagering game is a turn based game allowing a game function initiated by the first player followed by a second game function initiated by the second player.

24-27. -27. (canceled)

30. A multi-player gaming system comprising:

a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game;

a display surface in sufficient proximity to at least a first and a second player to allow contact of the display surface by the first and second players during the wagering game;

a first multipoint sensing device adjacent the display and producing, during the wagering game, data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by the first multipoint sensing device; and

a controller coupled to the first multipoint sensing device and to the display, the controller being programmed to cause a wagering-game function associated with the multipoint input data to be executed during the wagering game.

32. The gaming system of claim 30, further comprising:

a second multipoint sensing device adjacent to the display and producing data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by the second multipoint sensing device; and

wherein the display surface has a first region associated with the first multipoint sensing device and a second region associated with the second multipoint sensing device, wherein the controller is programmed to associate the data from the first multipoint sensing device with the first player and the data from the second multipoint device with the second player.

33. The gaming system of claim 32, further comprising:

a third multipoint sensing device adjacent the display surface and producing data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by the third multipoint sensing device; and

wherein the display includes a common area associated with the third multipoint sensing device.

34. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the first multipoint sensing device includes a plurality of infrared LEDs and photodiodes arrayed about a perimeter of the display, a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) device having a transparent substrate, a video projector for displaying images relative to the transparent substrate and a video camera for capturing scattered light at multiple points of contact on the transparent substrate.

35. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the first multipoint sensing device is a multipoint touch screen that includes a plurality of capacitive electrodes arrayed relative to a transparent substrate, the multipoint touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display surface.

37. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the display surface to display at least one graphic as the at least two distinct contact points are sensed by the multipoint sensing device.

38. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the display surface is a liquid crystal display that is positioned substantially horizontally relative to ground.

40. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the wagering game includes a randomly selected game outcome that is related to inputs from multiple players sensed by the multipoint sensing device.

31. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

41-43. -43. (canceled)

44. A method of playing a multi-player wagering gaming comprising:

receiving a wager to play the wagering game;

positioning a display surface in sufficient proximity to at least a first and a second player to allow contact of the display surface by the first and second players;

sensing at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game;

producing, during the wagering game, data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by a first multipoint sensing device; and

causing a wagering-game function associated with the multipoint input data to be executed during the wagering game.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

sensing a second multi-point contact;

producing data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by the second multipoint sensing device;

associating a first region of the display surface with the first multipoint contact;

associating a second region with the second multipoint contact;

associating the first multipoint contact with the first player; and

associating the second multipoint contact with the second player.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

sensing a third multipoint contact indicative of at least two distinct contact points; and

providing a common area associated the third multipoint contact.

51. The method of claim 44, further comprising displaying at least one graphic as the at least two distinct contact points are sensed.

53. The method of claim 44, wherein the wagering game includes a randomly selected game outcome that is related to inputs from multiple players sensed by the multipoint sensing device.

47-50. -50. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

54-61. -61. (canceled)

63. A multi-player wagering game method, comprising:

receiving a wager to play the wagering game;

providing a display surface in sufficient proximity to at least a first player to allow contact of the display surface by the first player;

sensing at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game;

producing, during the wagering game, data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by a first multipoint sensing device coupled to a controller;

sensing a physical object placed on the display surface;

producing data indicative of a characteristic associated with the physical object; and

responsive to the producing, causing a predetermined function to be executed in response to the sensing during the wagering game, the predetermined function receiving the data indicative of the characteristic associated with the physical object.

64. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 63, wherein the predetermined function is related to the wagering game and the characteristic is at least one of shape, size, or weight, the method further comprising transferring an amount of funds to a memory coupled to the controller responsive to the predetermined function being executed, wherein the sensing the at least two distinct contact points simultaneously includes sensing a distinct contact point by the first player and sensing another distinct contact point by a second player.

65. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 63, wherein the characteristic is an angle of rotation of the physical object relative to a point defined relative to the display surface, the method further comprising:

sensing via the first multipoint sensing device the angle of rotation of the physical object as it is rotated relative to the display surface;

displaying relative to the display surface an image related to the wagering game, the image being displayed from a first viewing angle;

changing the first viewing angle to produce a second viewing angle that is related to the angle of rotation of the physical object; and

displaying the image from the second viewing angle.

66. A multi-player wagering game method, comprising:

receiving a wager to play the wagering game;

providing a display surface in sufficient proximity to at least a first player to allow contact of the display surface by the first player;

sensing a portable electronic device placed on the display surface;

sensing at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game;

producing, during the wagering game, data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by a first multipoint sensing device coupled to a controller;

responsive to the producing, causing a predetermined function to be executed in response to the sensing during the wagering game, the predetermined function receiving the data indicative of the characteristic associated with the physical object, wherein the predetermined function includes communicating data between a memory device coupled to the controller and the portable electronic device.

68. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 66, wherein the data includes at least one of emails, messages, webpages, marketing data, an amount of funds, or player preferences.

69. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 66, further comprising defining relative to the display surface a region, the sensing the portable electronic device including determining whether the portable electronic device is within the region, wherein the sensing the at least two distinct contact points simultaneously includes sensing a distinct contact point by the first player and sensing another distinct contact point by a second player.

67. (canceled)

70. A multi-player wagering game method, comprising:

receiving a wager to play the wagering game;

providing a display surface in sufficient proximity to at least a first player to allow contact of the display surface by the first player;

sensing a physical object placed on the display surface during the wagering game;

sensing at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game;

producing, during the wagering game, data indicative of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by a first multipoint sensing device coupled to a controller;

defining a plurality of regions on the display surface;

determining in which one of the plurality of regions the physical object was placed to define an active first region;

storing a plurality of predetermined functions in a memory coupled to the controller;

associating a different predetermined function of the plurality of predetermined functions with each of the plurality of regions; and

responsive to the determining, executing the predetermined function associated with the active first region during the wagering game.

71. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 70, wherein the plurality of predetermined functions include different wagering functions related to the wagering game, the method further comprising determining in which one of the plurality of regions the physical object was placed to define an active second region distinct from the first active region, and, responsive thereto, executing the wagering function associated with the active second region, wherein the sensing the at least two distinct contact points simultaneously includes sensing a distinct contact point by the first player and sensing another distinct contact point by a second player.

72-75. -75. (canceled)