Casino gambling apparatus with person detection

• US 6,645,078 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAPRON, AARON J
• Application Number:
  US09/785,729
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30-35, 463/12-13, 463/16-22, 463/36-38, 463/42, 463/41.4, 713/186, 250/336--39, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A casino gambling unit may include a display unit capable of generating video images, a detection apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a person by detecting radiation from the person, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the detection apparatus. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image representing a video gambling game to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the video gambling game and a value payout associated with the outcome of the video gambling game, and to cause an attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images displayed on the display to be performed in response to detection of the presence of a person.

Claims

1. A casino gambling system comprising:

a first gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a detection apparatus capable of detecting a direction of movement of a person; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said detection apparatus, said gambling unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said gambling unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gambling unit controller being programmed to cause a video image associated with a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit, and

said gambling unit controller being programmed to determine an outcome and a value payout for said video gambling game;

a second gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gambling unit, said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said second gambling unit,

said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit being programmed to cause a video image associated with a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit of said second gambling unit, and

said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit being programmed to determine an outcome and a value payout for said video gambling game associated with said video image displayed on said display unit of said second gambling unit;

a third gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of third gambling unit, said gambling unit controller of third gambling unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of third gambling unit,

said gambling unit controller of said third gambling unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gambling unit controller of said third gambling unit being programmed to cause a video image associated with a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit of said third gambling unit, and

said gambling unit controller of said third gambling unit being programmed to determine an outcome and a value payout for said video gambling game associated with said video image displayed on said display unit of said third gambling unit; and

a central controller operatively coupled to said first, second and third gambling units, said central controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said central controller,

said central controller being programmed to receive a first signal from said first gambling unit in response to said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit detecting movement of a person in a first direction,

said central controller being programmed to receive a second signal from said first gambling unit in response to said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit detecting movement of a person in a second direction,

said central controller being programmed to transmit a response signal to said second gambling unit in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said response signal causing said second gambling unit to perform an operation, and

said central controller being programmed to transmit a response signal to said third gambling unit in response to receipt of said second signal from said first gambling unit, said response signal transmitted to said third gambling unit causing said third gambling unit to perform an operation.

2. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 1 wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to perform an attract sequence in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images or one or more audio segments.

3. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 1 wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to perform an attract sequence in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images and one or more audio segments.

4. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit is programmed to perform a screen-saver sequence, and wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to terminate said screen-saver sequence and initiate an attract sequence in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit.

5. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit is programmed to perform a screen-saver sequence comprising a plurality of video images without the generation of sound, and wherein said central controller is programmed to cause, in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said second gambling unit to terminate said screen-saver sequence and initiate an attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images and one or more audio segments.

6. A casino gambling system comprising:

a first gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a detection apparatus capable of detecting a direction of movement of a person; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said detection apparatus, said gambling unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said gambling unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, and

said gambling unit controller being programmed to cause a video image associated with a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit;

a second gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gambling unit, said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said second gambling unit,

said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, and

said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit being programmed to cause a video image associated with a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit of said second gambling unit;

a third gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of third gambling unit, said gambling unit controller of third gambling unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of third gambling unit,

said gambling unit controller of said third gambling unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, and

said gambling unit controller of said third gambling unit being programmed to cause a video image associated with a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit of said third gambling unit;

a central controller operatively coupled to said first, second and third gambling units, said central controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said central controller,

said central controller being programmed to receive a first signal from said first gambling unit in response to said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit detecting movement of a person in a first direction,

said central controller being programmed to receive a second signal from said first gambling unit in response to said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit detecting movement of a person in a second direction,

said central controller being programmed to transmit a response signal to said second gambling unit in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said response signal causing said second gambling unit to display a video image or generate an audible output, and

said central controller being programmed to transmit a response signal to said third gambling unit in response to receipt of said second signal from said first gambling unit, said response signal transmitted to said third gambling unit causing said third gambling unit to display a video image or generate an audible output.

7. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 6 wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to perform an attract sequence in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images or one or more audio segments.

8. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 6 wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to perform an attract sequence in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images and one or more audio segments.

9. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 6, wherein said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit is programmed to perform a screen-saver sequence, and wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to terminate said screen-saver sequence and initiate an attract sequence in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit.

10. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 6, wherein said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit is programmed to perform a screen-saver sequence comprising a plurality of video images without the generation of sound, and wherein said central controller is programmed to cause, in response to receipt of said first signal from said first gambling unit, said second gambling unit to terminate said screen-saver sequence and initiate an attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images and one or more audio segments.

15. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 6, wherein said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit is programmed to perform a screen-saver sequence comprising a plurality of video images without the generation of sound, and wherein said central controller is programmed to cause, in response to detection of the person by said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit, said second gambling unit to terminate said screen-saver sequence and to initiate an attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images and one or more sound segments.

11. A casino gambling system comprising:

a first gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a detection apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a person; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said detection apparatus, said gambling unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said gambling unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, and

said gambling unit controller being programmed to cause a video image relating to a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit; and

a second gambling unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images; and

a gambling unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gambling unit, said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said second gambling unit,

said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, and

said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit being programmed to cause a video image associated with a video gambling game to be generated on said display unit of said second gambling unit; and

a central controller operatively coupled to said first gambling unit and said second gambling unit, said central controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said central controller,

said central controller being programmed to receive a person-detect signal from said first gambling unit in response to said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit detecting the presence of a person, and

said central controller being programmed to transmit a response signal to said second gambling unit to cause said second gambling unit to display a video image or generate an audible output in response to detection of the person by said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit.

12. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 11 wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to perform an attract sequence in response to detection of the person by said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit, said attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images or one or more sound segments.

13. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 11 wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to perform an attract sequence in response to detection of the person by said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit, said attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images and one or more sound segments.

14. A casino gambling system as defined in claim 11, wherein said gambling unit controller of said second gambling unit is programmed to perform a screen-saver sequence, and wherein said central controller is programmed to cause said second gambling unit to terminate said screen-saver sequence and to initiate an attract sequence in response to detection of the person by said detection apparatus of said first gambling unit.