DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR DYNAMICALLY SIMULATING A COMPONENT OF A WAGERING GAME

• US 20110319152A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Ross, Kenneth M., Hayes, Sean E., Caporusso, Vito M., Perez, Emilio D., Rodriguez, Norma C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/00 Games not otherwise provided for aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00 ; miscellaneous sporting games A63B67/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming device is presented that includes a wager input device for receiving wagers from players to play a wagering game, and a display for displaying outcomes of the wagering game. The gaming device also includes a multi-layer composite lighting assembly with a first light-emitting layer, a second light-emitting layer, and a spacer. The first light-emitting layer emits light of a first color in a first direction, whereas the second light-emitting layer emits light of a second color in a second direction. The spacer, which is interposed between the first and second light-emitting layers, diffuses and focuses light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through the light emitted by the first light-emitting layer to thereby create a three-dimensional simulation of a component of the wagering game.

Claims

1. A gaming device for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a wager input device configured to receive a wager from a player to play the wagering game;

a display configured to display an outcome of the wagering game; and

a multi-layer composite lighting assembly, including;

a first light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a first color in a first direction;

a second light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a second color in a second direction, the second color being different from the first color, and the second direction being different from the first direction; and

a spacer interposed between the first and second light-emitting layers, the spacer being configured to receive and focus the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through the light emitted by the first light-emitting layer thereby creating a three-dimensional simulation of a component of the wagering game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises a sheet of optical fibers with first ends of the optical fibers in optical communication with a first light source and second ends of the optical fibers extending transversely across the spacer.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the second light-emitting layer comprises a second sheet of optical fibers with first ends of the optical fibers in optical communication with a second light source and second ends of the optical fibers extending transversely across the spacer.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of individual optical fibers, a first end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being bundled together to form a tail with a distal tip in optical communication with a first light source, and a second end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being juxtaposed to form a sheet extending transversely across the spacer.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises an edge-lit display with a light source optically coupled to a non-emissive panel.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a plate defining therethrough at least one channel, the at least one channel optically coupling the second light-emitting layer with the first light-emitting layer.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the second light-emitting layer includes discrete light sources projecting light through the at least one channel.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises at least one optical light pipe optically coupling the second light-emitting layer with the first light-emitting layer.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the multi-layer composite lighting assembly further comprises an optical diffuser interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the spacer.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the multi-layer composite lighting assembly further comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the spacer.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting layer is adhered to a first side of the spacer and the second light-emitting layer is adhered to a second side of the spacer opposite the first side thereof.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting layer has a surface emanating the first color, the second light-emitting layer projecting light through the surface of the first light-emitting layer with substantially no blending of the first and second colors.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the component of the wagering game includes at least one gambling die, and wherein rolling of the at least one gambling die is simulated by varying the light output of at least one of the first and second light-emitting layers.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcome of the wagering game is dependent, at least in part, upon the simulated component of the wagering game created by the multi-layer composite lighting assembly.

16. A gaming system comprising:

at least one wager input device configured to receive a wager from a player to play a wagering game;

at least one display device configured to display an outcome of the wagering game;

at least one controller configured to execute the wagering game; and

a multi-layer composite lighting assembly, including;

a first light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a first color in a first direction;

a second light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a second color in a second direction, the second color being different from the first color, and the second direction being different from the first direction; and

a spacer interposed between and operatively attached to the first and second light-emitting layers, the spacer being configured to diffuse light emitted by the second light-emitting layer and focus light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through light emitted by the first light-emitting layer.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of individual optical fibers, a first end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being bundled together to form a tail with a distal tip thereof in optical communication with a first light source, and a second end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being juxtaposed to form a sheet extending transversely across the spacer.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the second light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) each of which is generally orthogonally oriented with respect to the second end of the plurality of individual optical fibers.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the spacer comprises a translucent plate defining therethrough a plurality of channels, each of the channels optically coupling at least one of the LEDs of the second light-emitting layer with the second end of the first light-emitting layer.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the multi-layer composite lighting assembly further comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the spacer.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the first light-emitting layer is adhered directly to the PET layer, the PET layer is adhered directly to the spacer, and the spacer is adhered directly to the second light-emitting layer.

22. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the multi-layer composite lighting assembly creates a three-dimensional simulation of a component of the wagering game.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the component of the wagering game includes at least one gambling die, and wherein rolling of the at least one gambling die is simulated by varying the light output of at least one of the first and second light-emitting layers.

24. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the outcome of the wagering game is dependent, at least in part, upon the simulated component of the wagering game created by the multi-layer composite lighting assembly.

25. A method for playing a wagering game on a gaming system, comprising:

initiating the wagering game using at least one processor;

creating a three-dimensional simulation of a component of the wagering game, including;

generating a surface of a first color via a first light-emitting layer of a multi-layer composite lighting assembly;

emitting light of a second color distinct from the first color via a second light-emitting layer of the multi-layer composite lighting assembly;

diffusing the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer via a spacer of the multi-layer composite lighting assembly; and

focusing the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through the surface generated by the first light-emitting layer via the spacer;

randomly determining, via at least one processor, an outcome of the wagering game; and

causing at least one display device to display the wagering game outcome.

26. A computer program product comprising a non-transient computer readable medium having an instruction set borne thereby, the instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by one or more controllers, the acts of:

initiating a wagering game using at least one processor;

causing at least one processor to;

command a first light-emitting layer of a multi-layer composite lighting assembly to generate a surface of a first color;

command a second light-emitting layer of the multi-layer composite lighting assembly to emit a second color distinct from the first color, the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer being diffused through a spacer of the multi-layer composite lighting assembly, and the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer being focused through the surface generated by the first light-emitting layer;

command at least one of the first and second light-emitting layers to vary the light output thereof to thereby create a three-dimensional simulation of a component of the wagering game;

randomly determine an outcome of the wagering game; and

cause at least one display device to display the wagering game outcome.