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

• US 7,578,741 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Griswold, Chauncey W., Wilder, Richard L., Beaulieu, Nicole M., Jones, Aaron T., Mattice, Harold E., Gadda, Christian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torimiro; Adetokunbo
• Application Number:
  US10/938,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/37, 463/38
• 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 cabinet;

a display device supported by the cabinet;

at least one player input device supported by the cabinet and including a component stimulator and an actuation member, wherein the actuation member includes a plurality of sections; and

a processor programmed to control a game operable upon a wager by a player and configured with the display device and the input device to enable the player to actuate said input device, to cause the component stimulator to physically move at least one but not all of the sections of the actuation member of the input device and provide an outcome of the game to the player based, at least in part, on said player actuation of said input device.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the component stimulator moves at least one of the sections of the actuation member in the form of a vibration.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the component stimulator moves at least one of the sections of the actuation member in the form of a pulsation.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cause an illumination of at least one of the sections of the actuation member.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein upon player actuation of one of the sections, the component stimulator moves said section.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein upon player actuation of one of the sections, the component stimulator moves a section across from said actuated section.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein upon player actuation of one of the sections, the component stimulator moves at least one section adjacent to said actuated section.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said player actuation changes a function in said wagering game.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of the sections are associated with a different game event.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein upon player actuation of one of the sections, the component stimulator moves a different section than said actuated section.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of:

a button, a lever, a mouse, a trackball and a joystick.

12. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a display device supported by the cabinet;

at least one button supported by the cabinet and including a component stimulator and an actuation member, wherein the actuation member includes a plurality of sections; and

a processor programmed to control a game operable upon a wager by a player and configured with the display device and the button to enable the player to actuate at least one of the sections, to cause the component stimulator to physically move at least one but not all of the sections of the actuation member of the button and to provide a game outcome to the player based, at least in part, on said player actuation.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the component stimulator moves at least one of the sections of the actuation member in the form of a vibration.

14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the component stimulator moves at least one of the sections of the actuation member in the form of a pulsation.

15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to cause an illumination of at least one of the sections of the actuation member.

16. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein upon player actuation of one of the sections, the component stimulator moves said section.

17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein upon player actuation of one of the sections, the component stimulator moves a section across from said actuated section.

18. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said player actuation changes a function in said wagering game.

19. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the component stimulator moves at least one of the sections of the actuation member in response to a game event.

20. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the component stimulator moves at least one of the sections of the actuation member in a direction opposite of the player actuation of at least one of the sections.

21. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the sections is associated with a game function.

22. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein each of the sections is associated with a different game function.

23. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein upon player actuation of one of the sections, the component stimulator moves a different section than said actuated section.

24. A method of operating a wagering gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) initiating a game upon a wager by a player;

(b) enabling the player to actuate an input device, wherein said input device which includes a component stimulator and an actuation member, wherein the actuation member includes a plurality of sections;

(c) causing the component stimulator to physically move at least one but not all of the sections of the actuation member of the input device; and

(d) providing the player with a game outcome, wherein the game outcome is based, at least in part, on the player actuation of the input device.

25. The method of claim 24, which includes moving one of the sections upon player actuation of said section.

26. The method of claim 24, which includes, upon player actuation of one of the sections, moving at least one of the sections across from said actuated section.

27. The method of claim 24, which includes, upon player actuation of one of the sections, moving at least one of the sections adjacent to said actuated section.

28. The method of claim 24, which includes moving at least one of the sections in response to a game event.

29. The method of claim 24, which includes illuminating at least one of the sections.

30. The method of claim 24, which includes vibrating at least one of said sections.

31. The method of claim 24, which includes pulsating at least one of said sections.

32. The method of claim 24, which includes illuminating at least one of said sections.

33. The method of claim 24, which includes changing a function of the game in response to the player actuation of the input device.