Random number generator based roulette wheel

• US 7,762,883 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Gadda, Chris, Mattice, Harold E., Stockdale, James, Wilder, Richard, Griswold, Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager; M.
• Application Number:
  US11/713,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20080214264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/00 Roulette games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/043 using concentric discs or rings
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

The invention provides for the use of a random number generator in a roulette wheel to play a game of roulette. The gaming apparatus may have a random number generator, a roulette wheel, and means for controlling the roulette wheel to indicate a first winning number corresponding to a first random number generated by the random number generator. The roulette wheel may have a top ring, outer ring, separator ring, and an inner ring and each ring may be decoupled from each outer to spin in different directions.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a random number generator configured to generate at least one random number;

a roulette wheel;

means for rotating the roulette wheel;

means for spinning a roulette ball into the roulette wheel;

means for detecting a location of the roulette ball; and

means for controlling the roulette wheel based on the location of the roulette ball to indicate a first winning number corresponding with a first random number generated by the random number generator.

2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the roulette wheel to indicate a second winning number corresponding with a second random number generated by the random number generator.

3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roulette wheel comprises:

an outer ring indicating a first plurality of numbers; and

a separator ring configured to rotate inside the outer ring, the separator ring comprising a plurality of slots for receiving the roulette ball, each of the plurality of slots corresponding to one of the first plurality of numbers,

wherein the detecting means is capable of detecting a receiving slot of the separator ring that received the roulette ball, and

wherein the controlling means is capable of controlling the separator ring to match the receiving slot with the first winning number on the outer ring.

4. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roulette wheel comprises:

an inner ring indicating a first plurality of numbers; and

a separator ring configured to rotate outside the inner ring, the separator ring comprising a plurality of slots for receiving the roulette ball, each of the plurality of slots corresponding with one of the first plurality of numbers,

wherein the detecting means is capable of detecting a receiving slot of the separator ring that received the roulette ball, and

wherein the controlling means is capable of controlling the separator ring to match the receiving slot with the first winning number on the inner ring.

5. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roulette wheel comprises a separator ring comprising a plurality of slots for receiving the roulette ball;

wherein the detecting means is capable of detecting a receiving slot of the separator ring that has received the roulette ball; and

wherein the controlling means comprises

a display device configured to display numbers adjacent the separator ring and to display the first winning number adjacent to the receiving slot.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the roulette wheel comprises:

an outer ring indicating a first plurality of numbers;

an inner ring indicating a second plurality of numbers; and

a separator ring configured to rotate inside the outer ring and outside the inner ring, the separator ring comprising a plurality of slots for receiving the roulette ball,

wherein the controlling means is capable of

controlling the separator ring, the inner ring, and the outer ring to match the receiving slot with the first winning number on the outer ring and the second winning number on the inner ring.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the separator ring and the outer ring are both configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the separator ring is configured to rotate in a first direction and the outer ring is configured to rotate in a second direction.

9. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detection means comprises a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors disposed in a slot of the separator ring.

10. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection means comprises an optical detector for detecting a position of the roulette ball.

11. The gaming apparatus of claim 5, wherein the display device comprises electronic paper.

12. The gaming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inner ring is configured to rotate independently of the outer ring.

13. The gaming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the separator ring and the inner ring are configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

14. The gaming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the separator ring is configured to rotate in a first direction and the inner ring is configured to rotate in a second direction.

15. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roulette wheel comprises:

a top ring having a pointer;

an outer ring indicating a plurality of numbers configured to rotate inside the top ring; and

a separator ring configured to rotate inside the outer ring, the separator ring comprising a plurality of slots for receiving the roulette ball, each of the plurality of slots corresponding with one of the plurality of numbers,

wherein the controlling means comprises;

means for controlling the top ring to match the first winning number on the outer ring to the pointer on the top ring, and

means for controlling the separator ring to match the receiving slot with a second winning number on the outer ring.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the top ring is configured to rotate in a first direction, the outer ring is configured to rotate in a second direction, and the separator ring is configured to rotate in a third direction.

17. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a roulette wheel having a separator ring configured to rotate inside an outer ring;

at least one motor coupled to the roulette wheel to spin the roulette wheel;

a processor coupled to the motor to initiate and halt the motor;

a random number generator coupled to the processor to generate a plurality of numbers; and

at least one sensor coupled to the roulette wheel and processor to determine a position of a roulette ball;

wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the roulette ball and control the roulette wheel to indicate a first winning number corresponding to a first random number generated by the random number generator.

18. The gaming apparatus of claim 17, the separator ring comprising a plurality of slots for receiving the roulette ball and the outer ring indicating a first plurality of numbers.

19. The gaming apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a first motor coupled to the outer ring and a second motor coupled to the separator ring.

20. The gaming apparatus of claim 19, wherein the outer ring and the separator ring are configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

21. The gaming apparatus of claim 19, wherein the outer ring is configured to rotate in a first direction and the separator ring is configured to rotate in a second direction.

22. The gaming apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an inner ring indicating a second plurality of numbers, the inner ring configured to rotate inside the separator ring.

23. The gaming apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a third motor coupled to the inner ring.

24. The gaming apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the roulette ball and control the roulette wheel to indicate a second winning number from the second plurality of numbers corresponding to a second random number generated by the random number generator.

25. The gaming apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor to detect the position of the roulette ball in the separator ring.

26. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises an electromagnet coupled to an underside of each of the plurality of slots.

27. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the outer ring further comprises a display configured to display the first plurality of numbers.

28. The gaming apparatus of claim 27, wherein the display is made of electronic paper.

29. A method for generating a random number in a roulette game, comprising:

generating at least one random number from a random number generator;

rotating a roulette wheel;

spinning a roulette ball into the roulette wheel;

detecting the location of the roulette ball in the roulette wheel when the roulette ball comes to a stop;

ceasing rotation of the roulette wheel to indicate a first winning number corresponding with a first random number generated by the random number generator.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the rotating further comprises rotating a separator ring in a first direction and the outer ring in a second direction, the separator ring configured to spin inside the outer ring, wherein the outer ring indicates a first plurality of numbers and the separator ring comprises a plurality of slots to receive the roulette ball.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising spinning the separator ring in a first direction and the outer ring in a second direction.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising ceasing rotation of the outer ring and the separator ring to indicate the first winning number.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising spinning an inner ring inside the separator ring, the inner ring having a second plurality of numbers.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising ceasing rotation of the inner ring to indicate a second winning number corresponding to a second random number generated by the random number generator.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the spinning further comprises injecting air to spin the roulette ball in the roulette wheel.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the detecting further comprises engaging an electromagnet coupled to the roulette wheel.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the ceasing further comprises detecting a tilt state.