Gaming machine having transparent LCD in front of variable display device, the LCD having a light-guiding plate and a reflective plate

• US 7,220,181 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel; Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/697,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20040171418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 25, 463 40- 42, 463/30, 463/31, 463/34, 273/143.R, 349/58, 349/65, 349/110, 349/111, 349/117, 349/74.1, 349/75.1, 349/75.2, 349/77, 349/61, 349/63
• US Class Current: 463/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

During a slot machine game, game effects are also displayed on a liquid crystal panel 39d provided in a reel display window unit 39, and thus the liquid crystal panel 39d serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Therefore, new effects for the game can be performed on the liquid crystal panel 39d, which facilitates maintaining the novelty of game effects. Further, the openings 5b, 6b and 7b are formed corresponding to the rows of the variable displays of the symbols. Accordingly, by means of the light guiding plates 39g also located between the opening 5b and the opening 6b, and between the opening 6b and the opening 7b, the light from the cold-cathode tubes 40a is guided toward the liquid crystal panel 39d. Consequently by means of the liquid crystal panel 39d in areas between the respective display windows 5-7, light luminance can be obtained.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a variable display device for variably displaying designs in a plurality of rows and emitting light; and

a front display device disposed in front of the variable display device, said front display device including a liquid crystal display panel, a light guiding plate disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the variable display device and having a plurality of transparent areas formed therethrough corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of rows, a light source disposed adjacent a peripheral surface of the light guiding plate and a reflection plate disposed between said variable display device and said light guiding plate for reflecting a light emitted from said light source on said light guiding plate to said liquid crystal display panel;

a memory operative for storing a selection of at least image data;

an image controller operably connected to said memory and said liquid crystal display panel,

wherein light from the light source is guided via the light guiding plate to the liquid crystal display panel and illuminates a partial surface area of the liquid crystal display panel while the light emitted from the variable display device illuminates a remaining surface area of the liquid crystal display panel through respective ones of the plurality of transparent areas of the light guiding plate and

wherein said image controller is operative to cause a selected one of the image data from said memory to be displayed on said liquid crystal display panel in the partial surface area or in the remaining surface area over respective ones of the plurality of transparent areas of the light guiding plate while simultaneously said variable display device variably displays designs in the plurality of rows through the plurality of transparent areas thereby ensuring visibility of said variably displayed designs while the selected one of the image data is displayed on said liquid crystal display panel.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said variable display device is comprised of one or more rotatable reels each having a reel band thereon, on which said designs are drawn.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said gaming machine is a slot machine.

4. A gaming machine comprising:

a variable display device that variably displays designs in a plurality of rows and emits light; and

a front display device disposed in front of the variable display device, said front display device includes a transparent liquid crystal display panel, a light guiding plate disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the variable display device and having a plurality of openings formed therethrough corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of rows, a light source disposed adjacent a peripheral surface of the light guiding plate and a reflection plate disposed between said variable display device and said light guiding plate for reflecting a light emitted from said light source on said light guiding plate to said liquid crystal display panel;

a memory operative for storing a selection of at least image data;

an image controller operably connected to said memory and said liquid crystal display panel,

wherein light from the light source is guided via the light guiding plate to the liquid crystal display panel and illuminates a partial surface area of the liquid crystal display panel while the light emitted from the variable display device illuminates a remaining surface area of the liquid crystal display panel through respective ones of the plurality of openings of the light guiding plate and

wherein said image controller is operative to cause a selected one of the image data from said memory to be displayed on said liquid crystal display panel in the partial surface area or in the remaining surface area over respective ones of the plurality of openings of the light guiding plate while simultaneously said variable display device variably displays designs in the plurality of rows through the plurality of transparent areas thereby ensuring visibility of said variably displayed designs while the selected one of the image data is displayed on said liquid crystal display panel.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein said variable display device is comprised of one or more rotatable reels each having a reel band thereon, on which said designs are drawn.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein said gaming machine is a slot machine.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 4, further comprising:

a transparent antistatic sheet disposed on the rear side of said light guiding plate.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 4, further comprising:

at least one other light source disposed at a side of said reflection plate that opposes the variable display device.