GAMING SYSTEM HAVING DISPLAYS WITH INTEGRATED IMAGE CAPTURE CAPABLITIES

• US 20110014975A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Pacey, Larry J., Velu, Muthu, Vega, Miguel A., Grabiec, Jacek, Loose, Timothy C., Jaffe, Joel R., Hornik, Jeremy M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving at least one wager and a display for displaying a wagering game. The display includes an integrated image capture device for visually capturing objects proximate the display. The system further comprises at least one controller operative to (i) detect the presence of at least a first object proximate the display, (ii) cause the image capture device to visually capture the first object and create a stored image thereof, (iii) graphically integrate the stored image of the first object into the wagering game, and (iv) display one or more outcomes of the wagering game which include one or more symbols comprising at least a portion of the stored image.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a wager input device configured to receive at least one wager;

a display configured to display a wagering game, the display including a video display device with an image capture device integral therewith, the image capture device being configured to optically capture objects proximate the display; and

at least one controller operative to;

detect the presence of at least a first object proximate the display,

cause the image capture device to optically capture the first object and create a stored image thereof,

graphically integrate the stored image of the first object into the wagering game, and

display one or more outcomes of the wagering game which include one or more symbols comprising at least a portion of the stored image.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device optically captures portions of the first object that overly and directly contact the video display device.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further operative to detect whether the first object is within a predetermined range of distances from the display.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to graphically depict an image capture area on the video display device.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the image capture device lies within the image capture area.

6. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising:

receiving a wager;

detecting at least a first object overlying a first display, the first display including a video display device with an image capture device integral therewith, the image capture device being configured to scan portions of the first object proximate to the first display;

optically capturing the first object via the image capture device and creating a stored image thereof;

evaluating one or more graphical criteria of the stored image to assess an ability to integrate the first object into the wagering game;

creating at least one custom symbol comprising at least a portion of the stored image; and

displaying one or more outcomes of the wagering game which include the at least one custom symbol.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the image capture device comprises an optical scanner.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the optical scanner comprises a plurality of image sensors positioned and interspersed within a plurality of pixels of the display.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the display and integrated image capture device comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) with an array of pixel cells, the array of pixel cells including a first plurality of transistors operable to output images from the LCD, and the array of pixel cells further including a second plurality of transistors collectively configured to capture an image of the portions of the first object proximate the LCD.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the detecting step includes detecting the first object within an image capture area of the display.

11-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A gaming system comprising:

a wager input device configured to receive at least one wager;

a first display configured to display a wagering game, the first display including an integrated optical scanner configured to scan objects proximate an image capture area of the first display;

at least one server storing digital security information thereon;

a portable digital security device having a second display thereon; and

at least one controller operative to;

generate and display a digital key on the second display,

detect the digital security device proximate the first display with the second display positioned within the image capture area;

cause the optical scanner to scan the digital key displayed on the second display and create a scanned digital key therefrom;

compare the scanned digital key with the stored digital security information to either authenticate or reject a user of the digital security device; and

if the user is authenticated, permit the user to access the gaming system.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the digital key comprises alphanumeric information.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the digital key comprises graphics.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the digital key comprises a series of digital images.

20. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the at least one controller is further operative to determine a role for the user and provide access to the system to the user commensurate with the role.

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

detecting receipt of at least a first wager from a first player;

in response thereto, displaying on at least one display one or more plays of a first wagering game;

upon the conclusion of a gaming session, printing and providing a ticket to the first player, the ticket including indicia thereon associated with a credit balance belonging to the first player;

upon commencement of a subsequent gaming session, detecting the ticket within an image capture area of a first display and scanning the indicia on the ticket via an optical scanner integrated within the first display;

recalling the credit balance associated with the ticket;

detecting receipt of at least a second wager deducted from the credit balance; and

displaying on the first display one or more plays of a second wagering game.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display having a plurality of pixels.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the optical scanner comprises a plurality of image sensors positioned and interspersed amongst the plurality of pixels.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the indicia comprises a bar code.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising deactivating the ticket.