System and method for an enhanced gaming device

• US 7,479,065 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Hunsaker, Richard, McAllister, Lawrence, Morrow, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/209,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 463 20- 25, 463 35- 28, 345173-176
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

An enhanced mechanical gaming system (10) utilizes a touch panel (40) as a user control device for mechanical assemblies and game play features which provides users with the enhanced flexibility and interactivity of a video gaming device in a mechanical gaming device environment. The enhanced mechanical gaming system (10) includes a gaming machine assembly (20), a touch sensor assembly (30) incorporating a substantially transparent touch panel (40), a touch panel controller (50), and touch panel software (60). The gaming machine assembly is a standard gaming machine assembly that has been modified to utilize touch-panel components. The touch panel (40) and the sensor assembly (30) produce touch data when activated, and provide viewing of mechanical assemblies behind the touch panel (40). The touch panel controller (50) acts to control and interpret the touch panel (40). The touch panel software (60) controls and interprets the touch data, as well as applying the touch data to interactive applications of the gaming machine assembly (20).

Claims

1. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game and for displaying a plurality of wager denominations; and

a touch screen system associated with the primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system is configured at least for selecting the wager denomination for the game; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising one or more secondary displays, wherein each secondary display comprises a touch screen system.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the primary display presents one or more reels, wherein the primary display is selected from the group consisting of a video display, a plurality of concentric mechanical reels, and a combination of a video display and a plurality of mechanical reels.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more reels by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by using distinct types of touch directions.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the speed of touches.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the duration or quantity of touches.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selecting one or more paylines, selecting a wager amount for one or more paylines, or a combination thereof.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating special game play, activating bonus sequences, or a combination thereof.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system further comprises one or more transducers integrated into the touch screen panel.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the touch screen system further comprises a bezel to protect the transducers.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel further comprises a composite membrane applied to the touch panel.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the composite membrane is mounted behind the touch screen panel.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the composite membrane is composed of glass.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel is curved.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables activation of a selected bonus sequence using a touch panel.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables selection of interactive game features using a touch panel.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables selection of game play elements using a touch panel.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein selection of game play elements using a touch panel comprises selection of a reel for special game play using a touch panel.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables selection of system controls using a touch panel.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the system controls include player service requests.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the system controls include player funds requests.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the system controls include menu entries.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the system enables technician interaction with the menu entries via the touch screen.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen displays technician menus, and wherein the technician menus include reel calibration.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen displays technician menus, and wherein the technician menus include special purpose functions.

27. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game;

a secondary display for displaying one or more game parameters, wherein the game parameters comprise one or more wager denominations; and

a touch screen system associated with the secondary display, the touch screen system configured for selecting one or more game parameters, and the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

28. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the primary display presents one or more reels, wherein the primary display is selected from the group consisting of a video display, a plurality of concentric mechanical reels, and a combination of a video display and a plurality of mechanical reels.

29. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the touch screen system further comprises one or more transducers integrated into the touch screen panel.

30. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the touch screen system further comprises a bezel to protect the transducers.

31. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the touch screen panel further comprises a composite membrane applied to the touch screen panel.

32. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the composite membrane is mounted behind the touch screen panel.

33. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the composite membrane is composed of glass.

34. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the touch screen panel is curved.

35. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the game parameters further comprise one or more paylines, total wager for one or more paylines, or a combination thereof.

36. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the game parameters further comprise special game play activation, bonus sequence activation, player tracking data interface, or a combination thereof.

37. The gaming system of claim 27, further comprising a second touch screen system associated with the primary display, wherein the second touch screen system comprises a second touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent second touch screen panel that produces touch data when activated.

38. The gaming system of claim 37, wherein the second touch screen system further comprises one or more transducers integrated into the second touch screen panel.

39. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the second touch screen system further comprises a bezel to protect the transducers.

40. The gaming system of claim 37, wherein the second touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by using distinct types of touch directions.

41. The gaming system of claim 37, wherein the second touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the speed of touches.

42. The gaming system of claim 37, wherein the second touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the duration of touches.

43. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary game display;

a plurality of secondary displays, wherein each secondary display corresponds to a particular wager denomination value;

a plurality of touch screen systems, wherein each touch screen system is associated with one secondary display, each touch screen system comprising a touch assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated;

a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch panel controller is in communication with each of the touch screen systems; and

touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

44. The gaming system of claim 43, wherein the primary game display presents one or more reels, wherein the primary game display is selected from the group consisting of a video display, a plurality of concentric mechanical reels, and a combination of a video display and a plurality of mechanical reels.

45. The gaming system of claim 43, further comprising a second touch screen system associated with the primary game display, wherein the second touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more reels, selecting one or more paylines for the game, activating a bonus game, activating a bonus feature, or a combination thereof.

46. The gaming system of claim 45, wherein the second touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by using distinct types of touch directions.

47. The gaming system of claim 45, wherein the second touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the speed of touches.

48. The gaming system of claim 45, wherein the second touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the duration of touches.

49. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

means for displaying a game and gaming related information, where the gaming information related information includes wager denominations; and

means for sensing the displaying means being touched by a user, wherein the touch sensing means enable selecting a wager denomination by touching the displaying means, wherein the touch sensing means further comprises;

a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated,

touch panel software for examining and interpreting the touch data, and

means for controlling gaming features from interpreted touch data, wherein the gaming features include at least selecting the wager denomination for the game; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

50. The gaming system of claim 49, further comprising a means for controlling game play features.

51. The gaming system of claim 49, further comprising a means for controlling non-game play features.

52. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game; and

a touch screen system associated with the primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system is configured at least for selecting the wager denomination for the game;

wherein the system enables activation of a selected bonus sequence using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

53. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game; and

a touch screen system associated with the primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system is configured at least for selecting the wager denomination for the game;

wherein the system enables selection of interactive game features using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

54. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game; and

a touch screen system associated with the primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system is configured at least for selecting the wager denomination for the game;

wherein the system enables selection of game play elements using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein selection of game play elements using a touch panel comprises selection of a reel for special game play using a touch panel.

56. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game; and

a touch screen system associated with the primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system is configured at least for selecting the wager denomination for the game;

wherein the system enables selection of system controls using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the system controls include player service requests.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the system controls include player funds requests.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the system controls include menu entries.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the system enables technician interaction with the menu entries via the touch screen.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein the touch screen displays technician menus, and wherein the technician menus include reel calibration.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the touch screen displays technician menus, and wherein the technician menus include special purpose functions.

63. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game;

a secondary display for displaying one or more game parameters; and

a touch screen system associated with the secondary display, the touch screen system configured for selecting one or more game parameters, and the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data;

wherein the system enables activation of a selected bonus sequence using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

64. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game;

a secondary display for displaying one or more game parameters; and

a touch screen system associated with the secondary display, the touch screen system configured for selecting one or more game parameters, and the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data;

wherein the system enables selection of interactive game features using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

65. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game;

a secondary display for displaying one or more game parameters; and

a touch screen system associated with the secondary display, the touch screen system configured for selecting one or more game parameters, and the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data;

wherein the system enables selection of game play elements using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein selection of game play elements using a touch panel comprises selection of a reel for special game play using a touch panel.

67. An enhanced, mechanical gaming system using touch panels as user control devices, the system comprising:

a primary display for displaying a game;

a secondary display for displaying one or more game parameters; and

a touch screen system associated with the secondary display, the touch screen system configured for selecting one or more game parameters, and the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data;

wherein the system enables selection of system controls using a touch panel; and

wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction and speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the system controls include player service requests.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the system controls include player funds requests.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein the system controls include menu entries.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the system enables technician interaction with the menu entries via the touch screen.

72. The system of claim 67, wherein the touch screen displays technician menus, and wherein the technician menus include reel calibration.

73. The system of claim 67, wherein the touch screen displays technician menus, and wherein the technician menus include special purpose functions.