Lighting system for gaming devices

• US 7,232,127 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company Incorporated (Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service)
• Inventors: Seelig, Jerald C., Henshaw, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US10/663,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138.2, 273/143.R, 463 16- 33
• US Class Current: 273/143.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

A reel device for a gaming machine comprising a chassis configured to support the reel device and a reel structure attached to the chassis. The reel structure has a hub, a frame, and a spoke attached to the hub and the frame. The frame preferably defines the periphery of the reel structure. The periphery of the reel structure preferably has media adapted to display a symbol to a game player. The reel may further have a board attached to the chassis and a plurality of light-emitting diodes positioned on the board, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes is adapted to transmit light to at least a portion of the media.

Claims

1. A reel device comprising:

(A) a chassis;

(B) an actuator attached to the chassis;

(C) a reel structure rotatably attached to the chassis, the reel structure comprising;

(a) a hub;

(b) a frame defining the periphery of the reel structure, the periphery of the reel structure comprising media adapted to display a symbol to a game player;

(D) a board attached to the chassis; and

(E) a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned on the board, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is adapted to transmit light to at least a portion of the media, the plurality of light emitting diodes being more densely spaced in one portion of the board than another portion of the board.

2. The reel device of claim 1, the reel structure further comprising a spoke attached to the hub and frame.

3. The reel device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes emit different colors than another portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes.

4. The reel device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes may be illuminated individually.

5. The reel device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes may form illuminated numbers, characters, symbols or letters.

6. The reel device of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes comprise a indium gallium arsenide or gallium nitride light emitting diode.

7. The reel device of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes comprise an organic light emitting diode.

8. The reel device of claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the light emitting diodes, wherein the controller selectively illuminates the light emitting diodes.

9. The reel device of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the light emitting diodes emit light at more than one wavelength of emission being selected by the controller.

10. The reel device of claim 1, wherein the more densely spaced light emitting diodes are used to convey a game outcome.

11. The reel device of claim 1, wherein the more densely spaced light emitting diodes transmit brighter light to the media.

12. A reel device comprising:

(A) a rotatable reel;

(B) media attached to the rotatable reel;

(C) an actuator coupled to the reel, the actuator configured to rotate the reel;

(D) a controller, the controller in communication with actuator and configured to cause the actuator to rotate the reel in accordance with a random game outcome; and

(E) a plurality of light emitting diodes in communication with the controller and positioned proximate the media, the plurality of light emitting diodes adapted to transmit light on at least a portion of the media, the plurality of light emitting diodes being arranged in variable densities proximate the media, wherein the transmission of light on the media at least partially conveys the random game outcome.

13. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the media is at least partially transparent.

14. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the media is at least partially translucent.

15. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the media has an outer surface and an inner surface and is configured to transmit light from the inner surface to the outer surface, wherein the light emitting diodes are positioned to transmit light to the inner surface of the media.

16. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the reel rotates about the light emitting diodes.

17. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the media is disposed about the circumference of the reel.

18. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the media comprises a plurality of indicia.

19. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the more densely spaced light emitting diodes are used to convey the random game outcome.

20. The reel device of claim 12, wherein the more densely spaced light emitting diodes transmit brighter light to the media.

21. A reel device comprising:

(A) chassis means;

(B) reel means mounted with the chassis means for displaying a media;

(C) actuator means connected with the reel means for moving the reel means; and

(D) light means mounted proximate the reel means for illuminating the media, the light means having a first portion of lights having a first density and a second portion of lights having a second density.

22. The reel device of claim 21, wherein the light means further comprises a third portion of lights having a third density and a fourth portion of lights having a fourth density.

23. The reel device of claim 21, wherein the light means further comprises a printed circuit board and a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the printed circuit board.

24. The reel device of claim 23, wherein the first portion of lights correspond to a first area on the printed circuit board and the second portion of lights corresponds to a second area on the printed circuit board.

25. The reel device of claim 21, further comprising controller means in communication with the light means for controlling illumination of the light means.

26. The reel device of claim 21, wherein the media includes a plurality of indicia, at least one of the indicia conveying a game outcome.

27. The reel device of claim 21, wherein the light means are mounted adjacent the reel means such that light can be transmitted through the media.

28. The reel device of claim 21, wherein the first and second density of lights are used to at least partially convey a game outcome.

29. The reel device of claim 21, wherein the first density of lights are more closely spaced and the second density of lights are less closely spaced.