Gaming apparatus with an optical wireless system

• US 7,867,092 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/118,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,200 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 22, 463 29- 31, 463 39- 42, 463/46, 398/45, 398/49, 398/50, 398/58, 398/59, 398/107, 398 66- 70, 398/106, 398115-118, 398127-130, 398/135, 398/138, 398/140, 398/165, 398/167.5, 359/350, 370/310, 370/310.1, 370/310.2, 370/312, 370/313, 370/328, 370/498, 370/536
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A casino gaming unit may include a display unit that is capable of generating video images, a value input device, a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device, an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception, and an optical communication controller coupled to the optical communication transceiver and the gaming unit controller. The gaming unit controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the game, and a value payout associated with the outcome of the game. The optical communication controller may facilitate wireless data communication with an optical communication transceivers of one or more devices at locations remote from the gaming unit.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a first gaming unit comprising;

a housing;

a candle coupled to said housing;

an optical communication transceiver disposed in said candle, said optical communication transceiver being capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said optical communication transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, both of which are disposed in the candle;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said optical communication controller being programmed to allow wireless data reception of computer programs;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

a second gaming unit comprising;

a housing;

a candle coupled to said housing of said second gaming unit;

an optical communication transceiver disposed in said candle of said second gaming unit, said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit being capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, both of which are disposed in the candle of said second gaming unit;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow wireless data communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow wireless data reception of computer programs;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gaming unit and said value input device of said second gaming unit, said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit of said second gaming unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image; and

a routing device that is capable of point-to-multipoint communication, said routing device comprising;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

a routing device controller comprising a processor and a memory, said routing device controller being programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units.

2. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise a fast infrared (FIR) transceiver.

3. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise a serial infrared (SIR) transceiver.

4. A gaming system comprising:

a first gaming unit comprising;

a housing;

a candle coupled to said housing;

an optical communication transceiver disposed in said candle, said optical communication transceiver being capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said optical communication transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, both of which are disposed in the candle;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

a second gaming unit comprising;

a housing;

a candle coupled to said housing of said second gaming unit;

an optical communication transceiver disposed in said candle of said second gaming unit, said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit being capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, both of which are disposed in the candle of said second gaming unit;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow wireless data communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gaming unit and said value input device of said second gaming unit, said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit of said second gaming unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image; and

a routing device comprising;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

a routing device controller comprising a processor and a memory, said routing device controller being programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units.

5. The gaming system as defined in claim 4, wherein said routing device controller is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit, wherein said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said routing device, wherein said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit, and wherein said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of first second gaming unit.

6. The gaming system as defined in claim 4, wherein said routing device controller is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit and said optical communication transceiver of second gaming unit, wherein said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said routing device, and wherein said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said routing device.

7. A gaming system comprising:

a first gaming unit comprising;

a housing;

a candle coupled to said housing;

an optical communication transceiver disposed in said candle, said optical communication transceiver being capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said optical communication transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, both of which are disposed in the candle;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

a second gaming unit comprising;

a housing;

a candle coupled to said housing of said second gaming unit;

an optical communication transceiver disposed in said candle of said second gaming unit, said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit being capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said optical communication transceiver of said

second gaming unit comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, both of which are disposed in the candle of said second gaming unit;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit and said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow wireless data communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gaming unit and said value input device of said second gaming unit, said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said second gaming unit,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit of said second gaming unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

a common optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said common optical communication transceiver being optically coupled to said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units; and

a common controller operatively coupled to said common optical communication transceiver, said common controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said common controller, said common controller being programmed to facilitate communication between said common optical communication transceiver and said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units.

8. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a candle coupled to said housing;

an optical communication transceiver disposed in said candle, said optical communication transceiver being capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said optical communication transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, both of which are disposed in the candle;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said optical communication controller being programmed to allow wireless data communication with an optical communication transceiver of another device at a location remote from said gaming apparatus;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game.

9. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device, and wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a second gaming unit.

10. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device.

11. A gaming unit in a casino gaming network, comprising:

a housing;

a master gaming controller;

memory;

a first display;

a candle unit comprising a first visible light source and a first wireless transceiver being operable to transmit wireless data signals and operable to receive wireless data signals;

the first wireless transceiver being implemented as an integrated optical communication transceiver comprising a photoemissive device operable to generate infrared light and a photoreceptor device operable to detect or receive infrared light;

the gaming device being operable to;

control a wager-based game played on the gaming unit;

engage in direct bi-directional wireless communication, via the first wireless transceiver, with at least one other device of the casino gaming network.

12. The gaming unit of claim 11 being further operable to:

engage in direct bi-directional wireless communication, via the first wireless transceiver, with a second gaming unit using the first wireless communication interface; and

engage in direct bi-directional wireless communication, via the first wireless transceiver, with an optical routing device.