Gaming machine and method using touch screen

• US 6,210,279 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Dickinson, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/347,484
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138.1, 273/269, 273/DIG. 28, 273/460, 463/36, 463/37, 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

An improved gaming machine having a touch screen applied to an outer face of a CRT display and a limited number of push-button actuators. Either the touch screen or the push-button actuators can be used for controlling play as well as selecting one of several games that can be played on the machine. By using a touch screen on the video display device, the player of the game of the machine can use either the touch screen or the push-button actuators to change the playable game elements, such as discarding and drawing new cards when playing poker. The touch screen and associated electronics are arranged and programmed so that multiple touch fields are defined on the surface of the screen, which, by manually touching, can be used for playing games, such as keno, which require more actuators than there are push buttons on the machine. The touch fields on the touch screen are identified by generating appropriately located instruction images on the CRT display, which are visible through the transparent touch screen. The touch screen is directly applied; e.g. bonded, to the CRT screen.

Claims

1. A machine for use in electronically playing a game comprising:

a CRT display device having a display surface for images;

a housing mounting the display device for viewing from a front of the machine;

means for generating playable game elements which form images on the CRT display surface; and

at least one push-button actuator mounted on the housing and a touch screen operatively coupled with said display device and said generating means for changing the playable game elements and thereby change the images on the CRT display surface.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the push-button actuator is located between the CRT display device and a front end of the housing.

3. An amusement machine for playing a game comprising a housing;

a CRT display mounted to the housing and viewable by a player positioned in front of the CRT;

a touch screen operatively coupled with the CRT;

a plurality of push-button actuators on the housing; and

a processor operatively coupled with the touch fields, the push buttons and the CRT display for generating play commands for playing the game by generating game command signals in response to touching selected ones of the touch fields or depressing selected ones of the push-button actuators and for displaying on the CRT display playable game elements in response to the touching of a touch field or the depressing of a push-button actuator, the number of push buttons and the number of touch fields being sufficient to play the game with either the push buttons or the touch fields.

4. A machine for use by a person to electronically play a game comprising:

a CRT display device having a display surface for images and adapted to be within reach of the person when the person plays the game;

a device for generating the images on the CRT display surface, the images representing playable game elements; and

means coupled with the CRT device and the generating means for changing the playable game elements, the changing means including a touch screen and at least one push-button actuator located between the touch screen and the person playing the game.

5. An amusement machine permitting a player to electronically play a game by touching a touch screen or operating a push-button actuator, the machine comprising:

a housing;

a CRT display including a touch screen mounted to the housing and having a display surface;

a number of push-button actuators being sufficient to play at least some element of the game mounted on the housing; and

play control means operatively coupled with the push-button actuators, the CRT display and the touch screen permitting the player to issue game playing commands the results of which are displayed on the display surface.

6. A method of playing a game on a machine having a CRT display, a touch screen operatively coupled with the CRT screen and a push button operatively coupled with the touch screen and the CRT screen so that images appearing on the screen can optionally be changed with the push button and the touch screen;

the method comprising the steps of playing the game by optionally touching one of the touch screen and the push button; and

changing the images appearing on the display device in response to touching the push button or the touch screen and in accordance with the rules for the game being played.

7. An amusement machine for playing a game comprising a housing;

a CRT display mounted to the housing and viewable by a player positioned in front of the CRT;

a touch screen operatively coupled with the CRT;

a plurality of push-button actuators on the housing; and

a processor operatively coupled with the touch fields, the push buttons and the CRT display for generating play commands for playing the game by generating game command signals in response to touching selected ones of the touch fields or depressing selected ones of the push-button actuators and for displaying on the CRT display playable game elements in response to the touching of a touch field or the depressing of a push-button actuator, the number of push buttons and the number of touch fields being sufficient to play the game with either the push buttons, the touch fields, or a combination of both, permitting at least one play command to be generated with either a push button or a touch filed.