Gaming machine with superimposed display image

• US 7,510,475 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Loose, Timothy C., Rothschild, Wayne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiva; Frank M
• Application Number:
  US10/704,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20040198485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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 gaming machine comprises a primary gaming display for presenting the outcome of a wagering or bonus game and a video display. In response to a wager, an outcome is generated and displayed in a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon primary game display. The video image may be interactive with the primary game display and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Claims

1. A gaming machine for playing one or more wagering games comprising:

a primary game display operable to display a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including a generic symbol; and

a secondary game display operable to display images spaced away from and overlaying the primary game display, the secondary game display (i) providing a first supplemental thematic indicia superimposed over the generic symbol of the plurality of symbols to create a first thematic symbol constituted from the first thematic indicia and the generic symbol, the first thematic symbol being used to indicate a first randomly selected outcome and (ii) providing a second supplemental thematic indicia superimposed over the generic symbol of the plurality of symbols to create a second thematic symbol constituted from the second thematic indicia and the generic symbol, said second thematic symbol being used to indicate a second randomly selected outcome, and wherein said first thematic symbol and said second thematic symbol are associated with themes in the one or more wagering games.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first supplemental thematic indicia indicates the value of the generic symbol.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises a slot machine having a plurality of reels on the primary game display and the generic symbol comprises a position on a reel of the slot machine.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the primary game display includes a wheel having a plurality of positions and the generic symbol comprises a position on the wheel.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the generic symbol comprises a symbol on a backlit game board.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the secondary display is operable to move the first and second supplemental thematic indicia in synchronization with a movement of the generic symbol.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first supplemental thematic indicia comprises a live video stream superimposed onto the generic symbol.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the primary game display comprises a video display.

9. A gaming machine comprising:

a primary game display for displaying a plurality of symbols for indicating randomly selected outcomes of a wagering game, the plurality of symbols including a blank symbol; and

a secondary game display operable to (i) provide a first video symbol superimposed onto the blank symbol such that the first video symbol, in conjunction with other ones of the plurality of symbols, indicates a first randomly selected outcome of the wagering game and (ii) provide a second video symbol superimposed onto the blank symbol such that the second video symbol, in conjunction with other ones of the plurality of symbols, indicates a second randomly selected outcome of the wagering game.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the plurality of symbols on the primary game display are located on a plurality of mechanical reels.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the first video symbol moves in synchronized movement with one of the plurality of mechanical reels having the blank symbol.

12. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the first video symbol is animated to depict transformation of the blank symbol to the first video symbol.

13. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the first video symbol and the second video symbol are indicative of a theme of the wagering game.

14. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the first video symbol includes value-related indicia.

15. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the blank symbol is a solid white area.

16. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the secondary game display is a flat panel transmissive display overlaying the primary display.

17. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:

displaying, via a primary game display of the gaming machine, a plurality of symbols including a blank symbol;

displaying, via a secondary game display of the gaming machine, a first video symbol overlaying and spatially separated from the blank symbol, the first video symbol and other symbols from the plurality of symbols forming a symbol combination for indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and

awarding any payout associated with the symbol combination.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying the plurality of symbols on the primary game display includes moving a plurality of mechanical reels.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first video symbol moves with synchronized movement with respect to one of the plurality of mechanical reels having the blank symbol.

20. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the secondary game display is a flat panel transmissive display overlaying the primary display.