Portable Wagering Game With Vibrational Cues and Feedback Mechanism

• US 20100160016A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B., Shimabukuro, Jorge L., Greenberg, Jacob C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,210,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2014 Manually operated selector [e.g., remotely controlled device, lever, push button, rotary dial, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20244 Push button

Abstract

A handheld gaming machine including one or more actuators for providing vibrational cues or feedback during play of a wagering game to indicate the occurrence of a wagering-game event, such as a change in game rules, an input of a wager, and the like. The change in game rules may include a change in the odds of winning an award during the wagering game, a change in the type of award that can be awarded during the wagering game, eligibility for bonus play, or eligibility to accumulate one or more game elements associated with the wagering game. The vibration can be consistent with a wagering-game theme and can accompany or be a substitute for concurrently played audio sounds. The actuator(s) may include a haptic device such as a haptic touchscreen that overlays the display or an electromagnetic coil acting upon an unbalanced mass.

Claims

1. A handheld gaming machine, comprising:

an input device for receiving a wager to initiate a wagering game;

a video display for displaying the wagering game on the handheld gaming machine;

at least one actuator; and

a controller coupled to the video display and to the actuator, the controller programmed to cause the wagering game to be displayed on the video display and to cause the actuator to produce a vibration that indicates the occurrence of a wagering-game event.

2. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the wagering-game event includes a change in game rules.

3. The handheld gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the change in game rules comprises a change in the odds of winning an award during the wagering game.

4. The handheld gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the change in game rules comprises a change in the type of award that can be awarded during the wagering game.

5. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the vibration is consistent with a theme of the wagering game.

6. The handheld gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the theme is part of a slot wagering game and the vibration is a series of vibrations that simulate the tactile sensation of multiple reels decelerating and coming to a stop.

7. The handheld gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the theme is part of a roulette wagering game and the vibration is a series of vibrations that simulate the 5 tactile sensation of a spinning roulette wheel.

8. The handheld gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the theme is part of a card wagering game and the vibration simulates the tactile sensation of a card being placed upon a surface.

9. The handheld gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the vibration 0 indicating a change in game rules is produced independent of changes between normal game play and bonus round game play of the wagering game.

10. The handheld gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the change in game rules comprises eligibility for bonus play.

11. The handheld gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the change in game rules comprises eligibility to accumulate one or more game elements associated with the wagering game.

12. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes a haptic touch screen.

13. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes an electromagnetic coil coupled to a movable mass.

14. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to generate sounds through one or more speakers on the handheld gaming machine, the sounds and the vibration being synchronized to indicate the wagering-game event.

15. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the vibration is generated according to a vibrating profile which includes a vibration pattern, amplitude, and duration.

16. The handheld gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the vibrating profile further includes information representing an axis of rotation of the at least one actuator in three-dimensional space.

17. The handheld gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the vibration pattern includes multiple frequency components.

18. The handheld gaming machine of claim 17, wherein at least some of the multiple frequency components are out-of-phase relative to one another.

19. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the wagering-game event includes the receipt of the wager by the input device.

20. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes two actuators.

21. The handheld gaming machine of claim 20, wherein the two actuators are rotatable about an axis in three-dimensional space.

22. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator is coupled to a housing of the handheld gaming machine.

23. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes three actuators, each actuator being positioned along an axis that is different from the other two actuators.

24. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one 5 actuator includes four actuators.

25. The handheld gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes a permanent magnet coupled to a movable mass.

26. A method of conducting a wagering game on a handheld gaming machine, the method comprising:

receiving a wager to initiate a wagering game;

displaying the wagering game on the handheld gaming machine; and

indicating the occurrence of a wagering-game event by causing an actuator in the handheld gaming device to move a movable structure.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the wagering-game event includes a is change in game rules.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the change in game rules comprises a change in the odds of winning an award during the wagering game.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the change in game rules comprises a change in the type of award that can be awarded during the wagering game.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the vibration indicating a change in game rules is a vibration consistent with a theme of the wagering game.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the vibration indicating a change in game rules is produced independent of changes between normal game play and bonus round game play of the wagering game.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the change in game rules comprises eligibility for bonus play.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the change in game rules comprises eligibility to accumulate one or more game elements associated with the wagering game.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising generating sounds through one or more speakers on the handheld gaming machine, the sounds and the vibration being synchronized to indicate the wagering-game event.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising retrieving a vibrating profile corresponding to the wagering-game event and transmitting to the vibration device the vibrating profile, the vibrating profile being indicative of a vibration pattern, vibrating amplitude, and vibrating duration.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the wagering-game event includes the receipt of the wager by the input device.

37. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a handheld gaming machine to perform the method of claim 26.