Wheel indicators

• US 7,878,506 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oltmann, J. Richard, Kelly, Matthew F., Petermeier, Norman B., Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu; Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US12/072,921
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138.1, 273/139, 273141 R-142 K, 273/138.2
• US Class Current: 273/138.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/0052 with a playstation for each participant, each with a separate playing field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/045 using a rotating wheel and a fixed indicator, e.g. fortune wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0058 electric A63F7/027, A63F7/3065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3297 Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment a game includes a rotating wheel and illumination effects, both under microprocessor control. In another exemplary embodiment, a wheel indicator includes a wheel, a motor for rotating the wheel, a plurality of lamps, and a microprocessor providing commands capable of causing the motor to rotate the wheel and the lamps to illuminate the display. In another exemplary embodiment, a method for controlling a wheel and illumination display includes providing a motorized wheel, providing a plurality of lamps, and providing a microprocessor and program instructions stored in ROM coupled to said microprocessor for controlling a rotational position of said wheel and for generating light effects from said lamps.

Claims

1. A game comprising:

wheel means including a substantially flat, circular disk adapted to axially rotate, where said wheel means is provided with a plurality of segments, where each segment of said plurality of segments is visible to a user at all times and where each segment of said plurality of segments provides a display of information;

wheel control means operative to selectively control the rotational position of said wheel means; and

light means which does not overlay said wheel means and which is operative to illuminate said position of said wheel means without affecting the visibility of said plurality of segments.

2. A game as recited in claim 1 wherein said light means are illumination-lamps.

3. A game as recited in claim 1 further comprising a pointer which points to a segment when said wheel means is stationary.

4. A game as recited in claim 1 wherein said wheel means is a physical wheel.

5. A game as recited in claim 4 wherein said light means is not attached to said physical wheel.

6. A game as recited in claim 1 wherein said wheel means is an image of a wheel.

7. A game as recited in claim 6 wherein said image of a wheel is displayed on a video screen.

8. A game with wheel display comprising:

a substantially circular wheel display provided with a plurality of segments displaying information, where each segment of said plurality of segments is simultaneously visible to a user;

a controller operative to selectively control a rotational position of said wheel display; and

a light-emitting device which does not overlay said wheel and which is operative to illuminate said wheel without affecting the visibility of said plurality of segments.

9. A game as recited in claim 8 wherein said light-emitting device includes an illumination lamp.

10. A game as recited in claim 8 further comprising a pointer which points to a segment when said wheel display is stationary.

11. A game as recited in claim 8 wherein said light is related to a rotation of said wheel display.

12. A game as recited in claim 8 wherein said light is not related to a rotation of said wheel display.

13. A game as recited in claim 8 wherein said light is related to a stationary position of said wheel display.

14. A game as recited in claim 8 wherein said wheel display is a physical wheel.

15. A game as recited in claim 14 wherein said light-emitting device is not attached to said physical wheel.

16. A game as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a motor coupled to said wheel to rotate said wheel around an axis of rotation, said motor further coupled to said controller;

an award dispenser coupled to said controller; and

wherein said wheel is capable of rotating about said axis of rotation, at least fractionally, in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

17. A game as recited in claim 16, further comprising a rotational position sensor detecting a rotational position of said wheel and providing a signal to said controller.

18. A game as recited in claim 16, wherein said controller further communicates with a game which includes at least an element of chance.

19. A game as recited in claim 8 wherein said wheel display is an image of a wheel.

20. A game as recited in claim 19 wherein said image of a wheel is displayed on a video screen.