Wagering gaming device providing physical stimulation responses to various components of the gaming device

• US 7,331,868 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Beaulieu, Nicole M., Jones, Aaron T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Application Number:
  US10/244,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20040166930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143.R, 463/16, 463/20, 463/30, 463 37- 38
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A wagering gaming device that physically stimulates an input device of the gaming device to stimulate a player. The input device, includes a component stimulator and an actuation member. The input devices sends a signal or plurality of signals to a processor upon actuation of the actuation member of the input device. The processor sends an electronic signal to the component stimulator. The component stimulator causes the physical stimulation of the actuation member. The player feels this movement, which may be in correlation to the image being displayed by a display device. This physical stimulation of an input device may be employed in any suitable manner in relation to a game in a wagering gaming device.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

at least one display device operable to display the game;

at least one player input device which includes a component stimulator and a touch screen panel; and

a processor which communicates with the display device and the input device and is programmed;

(a) to cause an indication to a player that the player is required to make an input using the touch screen panel;

(b) to determine whether to cause the component stimulator to move the touch screen panel for said required player input; and

(c) if the determination is to cause the component stimulator to move the touch screen panel, upon receipt of the required player input, to send a signal to the component stimulator which causes the component stimulator to move the touch screen panel.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel of the input device is activatable in response to a game event in said game.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the component stimulator causes a vibration of the touch screen panel of the input device.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the component stimulator causes a pulsation of the touch screen panel of the input device.

5. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

a cabinet;

a display monitor supported by the cabinet operable to display the game;

a touch screen panel supported by the cabinet;

a touch screen controller connected to the touch screen panel;

at least one component stimulator connected to the touch screen panel; and

a processor operable to control the display monitor and is programmed to;

(a) cause an indication to a player that the player is required to make an input using the touch screen panel;

(b) determine whether to cause the component stimulator to physically stimulate the touch screen panel for said required player input; and

(c) if said determination is to cause the component stimulator to physically stimulate the touch screen panel, upon receipt of said required player input, send a signal to the component stimulator which causes the component stimulator to physically stimulate the touch screen panel.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the component stimulator is operable to make the touch screen panel vibrate.

7. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the component stimulator is operable to make the touch screen panel pulsate.

8. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the component stimulator stimulates the touch screen panel upon occurrence of the player actuation of the touch screen panel upon an occurrence of a game event.

9. A method for operating a wagering gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a game on a display device;

(b) indicating to a player that the player is required to make an input using a touch screen panel of an input device;

(c) enabling the actuation of the touch screen panel;

(d) determining whether to cause a component stimulator to move the touch screen panel for said required player input; and

(e) if the determination is to cause the component stimulator to move the touch screen panel, upon receipt of said required player input, sending a signal from a processor to the component stimulator which causes the component stimulator to physically stimulate the touch screen panel of the input device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein indicating to the player that the player is required to make the input using the touch screen panel of the input device is in response to a game event of a wagering game.

11. The method of claim 9, which includes the component stimulator vibrating the touch screen panel of the input device.

12. The method of claim 9, which includes the component stimulator pulsating the touch screen panel of the input device.

13. A method for operating a wagering gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) displaying an image -on a touch screen panel of a display device;

(b) indicating to a player that the player is required to make an input using the touch screen panel;

(c) enabling the player to actuate the touch screen panel;

(d) determining whether to send a signal to a component stimulator for said required player input; and

(e) if said determination is to send the signal to the component stimulator, upon receipt of said required player input and upon receipt of said signal, physically actuating the touch screen panel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein actuating the touch screen panel includes vibrating the touch screen panel.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein actuating the touch screen panel includes pulsating the touch screen panel.

16. A method for operating a wagering gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) displaying an image on a display device;

(b) indicating to a player that the player is required to make an input using a touch screen panel of an input device;

(c) enabling the player to actuate the touch screen panel of the input device;

(d) determining whether to cause a component stimulator to move the touch screen panel of the input device for said required player input; and

(e) if the determination is to cause the component stimulator to move the touch screen panel of the input device, upon said required player input, causing the component stimulator to move the touch screen panel of the input device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein moving of the touch screen panel includes pulsating the touch screen pane.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein moving the touch screen panel includes vibrating the touch screen panel.

19. A gaming device comprising:

a base game operable upon a wager;

a bonus game;

a cabinet;

a display monitor supported by the cabinet operable to display the base game and bonus game;

a touch screen panel supported by the cabinet;

a touch screen controller connected to the touch screen panel;

at least one component stimulator connected to the touch screen panel; and

a processor operable to control the display monitor and upon a triggering event associated with the base game is programmed to;

(a) cause a display of the bonus game,

(b) cause an indication to a player that the player is required to make an input using the touch screen panel,

(c) determine whether to cause the component stimulator to physically stimulate the touch screen panel for said required player input, and

(d) if said determination is to cause the component stimulator to physically stimulate the touch screen panel, upon receipt of said required player input, send a signal to the component stimulator which causes the component stimulator to move the touch screen panel.