Gaming device having an unveiling award mechanical secondary display

• US 7,238,109 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kaminkow, Joseph E., McGahn, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US10/629,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20040023710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/30, 463/31, 463/46, 463 9- 13, 463/47, 463 40- 42, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/143.R, 273/269, 273/271, 273/273, 273/142.B, 283/903
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming device, which awards an initial award to a player, discloses to a player that a higher valued enticement award is available and selectable, and enables the player to selectively swap the initial award for an opportunity to select the enticement award. The game preferably discloses the value of the initial award and the enticement award. The game masks the enticement award in a pattern along with one or more masked consolation awards, the consolation awards having values less than the value of the initial award. The game reveals the awards using a secondary display having mechanical doors that open and close.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a secondary game controlled by the processor and associated with the primary game;

said secondary game including a plurality of symbols

a primary display supported by the cabinet, said primary display adapted to display the primary game;

a secondary display supported by the cabinet, said secondary display adapted to display the secondary game;

at least one movable member which selectively masks said secondary display; and

at least one actuator operable to move the movable member to reveal the secondary display after a designated instruction to reveal the secondary display is sent from the server to the processor,

said processor programmed to randomly determine said symbols displayed by the secondary display, wherein said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of any symbols displayed by the secondary display.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor is programmed to cause the actuator to move said movable member to reveal said secondary display upon the occurrence of said triggering event and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of movable members which mask the secondary display, wherein said actuator is operable to cause said movable members to move to reveal the secondary display after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of movable members which mask the secondary display and a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is operable to cause one of the movable members to move to reveal the secondary display after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of symbols adapted to be displayed by said secondary display, wherein at least one of said symbols is revealed when said moveable member is moved to reveal said secondary display.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein said plurality of symbols includes a plurality of award indicia.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one speaker operable to generate a sound effect when the movable member reveals said secondary display.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a player activated device, wherein the actuator causes said movable member to reveal said secondary display after a player activated device is activated and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display is selected from the group consisting of:

a video monitor, a television screen, a dot matrix display, a cathode ray tube, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, and a electro-luminescent display.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein said mechanical reel displays at least one award indicia.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said movable roller displays at least one award indicia.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein said movable wheel displays at least one award indicia.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a directional indicator displable by said primary display to direct a player to said secondary display.

17. A gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device comprising:

a housing;

a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;

a secondary game controlled by the processor and associated with the primary game;

said secondary game including a plurality of symbols

a primary display mounted in said housing, the primary display adapted to display the primary game;

a secondary display mounted in said housing, the secondary display adapted to display the secondary game;

a directional indicator adapted to be displayed by said primary display, said directional indicator adapted to direct the player to said secondary display;

at least one movable member connected to the housing which is operable to selectively mask said secondary display;

at least one actuator operable to cause said movable member to reveal the secondary display; and

said processor operable to cause said directional indicator to direct the player to said secondary display, and cause the actuator to cause the movable member to reveal said secondary display after a designated instruction to reveal the secondary display is sent from the server to the processor, wherein said processor is programmed to randomly determine said symbols displayed by the secondary display, and said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of any symbols displayed by the secondary display.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes a plurality of symbols, wherein said processor is operable to cause said secondary display to display said determined symbol after said directional indicator directs the player to said secondary display.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein said plurality of symbols include award indicia.

20. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said movable member is formed from a non-transparent material.

21. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor is operable to cause the actuator to cause the movable member to reveal said secondary display upon the occurrence of said triggering event and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

22. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes a player activated device, wherein the actuator causes said movable member to reveal said secondary display after the player activated device is activated and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

23. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes at least one speaker which said processor causes to generate a sound effect when the movable member reveals said secondary display.

24. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said secondary display is selected from the group consisting of:

a video monitor, a television screen, a dot matrix display, a cathode ray tube, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, and a electro-luminescent display.

25. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein said mechanical reel displays at least one award indicia.

27. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller.

28. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein said movable roller displays at least one award indicia.

29. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel.

30. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein said movable wheel displays at least one award indicia.

31. A gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device comprising:

a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager;

a secondary game controlled by the processor and associated with the primary game;

a primary display device including a first display, said primary display device adapted to display the primary game;

a secondary display device including a second display, said secondary display device adapted to display the secondary game;

a movable first member masking a first portion of the second display;

a movable second member masking a second portion of the second display;

at least one actuator operable to cause said first and second members to selectively reveal said masked portions of said second display;

a plurality of symbols; and

said processor operable to randomly select one of said plurality of symbols, cause said secondary display device to display said selected symbol, and cause the actuator to move said first member and said second member to reveal said second display after a designated instruction to reveal the second display is sent from the server to the processor, wherein said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of any symbols displayed by the secondary display device.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said first member and second member are formed of a non-transparent material.

33. The gaming device of claim 31, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor is operable to cause the actuator to move said first member and second member to reveal said second display upon the occurrence of said triggering event and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

34. The gaming device of claim 31, which includes a player activated device, wherein the actuator causes said first member and said second member to reveal said second display after the player activated device is activated and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

35. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said second display is selected from the group consisting of:

a video monitor, a television screen, a dot matrix display, a cathode ray tube, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, and a electro-luminescent display.

36. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said second display includes at least one mechanical reel.

37. The gaming device of claim 36, wherein said mechanical reel displays at least one award indicia.

38. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said second display includes at least one movable roller.

39. The gaming device of claim 38, wherein said movable roller displays at least one symbol which is an award indicia.

40. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said second display includes at least one movable wheel.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein said movable wheel displays at least one symbol which is an award indicia.

42. The gaming device of claim 31, which includes at least one speaker which said processor is operable to cause to generate a sound effect when said first member and said second member reveal said second display.

43. A gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device comprising:

a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager;

a secondary game controlled by the processor and associated with said primary game;

said secondary game including a plurality of symbols

a first display adapted to display the primary game;

a second display juxtaposed next to said first display, said second display adapted to display the secondary game;

a directional indicator adapted to be displayed by said first display and to direct a player to said second display;

a slideable first member which masks a first portion of the second display;

a slideable second member which masks a second portion of the second display;

a first motor connected to said first member;

a second motor connected to said second member; and

said processor operable to cause said directional indicator to direct the player to said second display, and to cause the first motor and second motor to respectively slide said first member and said second member to reveal said masked first and second portions of the second display after a designated instruction to reveal the second display is sent from the server to the processor;

said processor programmed to randomly determine said symbols displayed by the second display, wherein said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of any symbols displayed by the second display.

44. The gaming device of claim 43, which includes a plurality of symbols from which said processor is operable to select one of said symbols and cause said symbol to be displayed by second display after said directional indicator directs the player to said second display and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

45. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein said plurality of symbols include award indicia.

46. The gaming device of claim 43, which includes a first sensing device and a second sensing device, wherein the first sensing device is operable to send a signal to the processor to cause said processor to stop the first motor from sliding the first member, and the second sensing device is operable to send a signal to the processor to causes said processor to stop the second motor from sliding the second member.

47. The gaming device of claim 46, wherein said first sensing device and second sensing device include a pair of optical switches which are positioned to detect when said second display is revealed.

48. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein said first member and second member are formed of a non-transparent material.

49. The gaming device of claim 43, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor is operable to cause the first and second motor to respectively slide said first member and said second member to reveal said second display upon the occurrence of said triggering event and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

50. The gaming device of claim 43, which includes a player activated device connected to the processor, wherein said processor is operable to cause the first motor and second motor to respectively slide said first member and said second member to reveal said second display when the player activated device is activated and after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

51. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the second display includes a medium exhibiting a plurality of symbols which is coupled between a drive roller connected to said processor and a follower roller so that one of the symbols is shown in said second display, wherein said processor is operable to cause the drive roller to move said medium so that a symbol on said medium selected by said processor is displayed by said second display.

52. The gaming device of claim 51, wherein said plurality of symbols include award indicia.

53. The gaming device of claim 43, which includes at least one speaker which said processor is operable to cause to generate a sound effect when the said first member and said second member reveal said second display.

54. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the second display includes a paystop display which includes at least one mechanical reel which exhibits a plurality of symbols and at least one of said symbols is displayed by said second display.

55. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the second display includes a spinning wheel which exhibits a plurality of symbols and at least one of said symbols is displayed by said second display.

56. A gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager;

a secondary game controlled by the processor and associated with the primary game;

said secondary game including a plurality of symbols

a primary display supported by the cabinet, the primary display adapted to display the primary game;

a secondary display supported by the cabinet, the secondary display adapted to display the secondary game;

at least one movable member having a closed position at which said movable member masks the secondary display and an open position at which said movable member reveals the secondary display;

means for moving said movable member between the closed position and the open position after a designated instruction to reveal the secondary display is sent from the server to the processor;

wherein said processor is programmed to randomly determine said symbols displayed by the secondary display, and said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of any symbols displayed by the secondary display.

57. A method for operating a gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device having a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager, a secondary game controlled by the processor and associated with said primary game, a primary display adapted to display the primary game and a secondary display adapted to display the secondary game, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a designated instruction to reveal the secondary display sent from the server to the processor;

(b) causing the processor to randomly determine at least one symbol to display on the secondary display;

(c) unmasking the secondary display with at least one moveable member; and

(d) displaying said symbol on the secondary display, wherein said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of any symbols displayed on the secondary display.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said plurality of symbols includes award indicia.

59. The method of claim 57, which includes generating a sound effect during revealing said symbol displayed on the secondary display.

60. The method of claim 57, which includes displaying an indication for directing a player to the secondary display.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel displaying at least one of said symbols.

62. The gaming device of claim 57, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller displaying at least one of said symbols.

63. The gaming device of claim 57, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel displaying at least one of said symbols.

64. A method for operating a gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device having a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager and a secondary game controlled by the processor and associated with said primary game, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a designated instruction to reveal a secondary display sent from the server to the processor;

(b) unmasking said secondary display with at least one slideable member to display a secondary display juxtaposed adjacent to a primary display, wherein the primary display is adapted to display the primary game and the secondary display is adapted to display the secondary game;

(c) causing the processor to randomly select a symbol from a plurality of symbols; and

(d) displaying said symbol on said secondary display, wherein said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of the symbol displayed on the secondary display.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said plurality of symbols includes award indicia.

66. The method of claim 64, which includes generating a sound effect during revealing said symbol displayed on the secondary display.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel displaying at least one of said symbols.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable reel displaying at least one of said symbols.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller displaying at least one of said symbols.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel displaying at least one of said symbols.

71. A gaming device operable under control of a processor and in communication with a remote server through a data network, said gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a primary game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager;

a primary wagering game display supported by the cabinet and operable to display said primary wagering game;

a secondary game controlled by the processor and operable after a triggering event in said primary wagering game;

a secondary game display supported by the cabinet and operable to display at least part of the secondary game;

an award adapted to be provided to the player, said award obtainable in the secondary game and displayable by the secondary game display, wherein said processor is programmed to randomly determine said award displayed by the secondary display;

a first movable member which selectively masks a portion of said secondary game display; and

a first actuator operable to move the first movable member to unmask the secondary game display after a designated instruction to reveal the secondary display is sent from the server to the processor, wherein said designated instruction sent from the server to the processor is independent of the award displayed by the secondary display.

72. The gaming device of claim 71, which includes a second movable member which selectively masks a portion of the secondary display, and a second actuator operable to move the second movable member to unmask the secondary game display after the designated instruction is sent from the server to the processor.

73. The gaming device of claim 72, wherein the award is a higher value enticement award which is selectable by the player.