Gaming device having a three dimensional display device

• US 7,951,001 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgamer; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiva; Frank M
• Application Number:
  US11/167,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,164 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/33, 463/31, 463/32, 349/73
• US Class Current: 463/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes

Abstract

A wagering gaming device having a three-dimensional display device which includes a plurality display screens. The display screens display three dimensional images having an height, actual width and depth.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images;

a housing;

an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and

an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display;

(i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and

(ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display,

the at least one processor programmed to;

(a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, and

(b) simultaneously cause the interior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, wherein the at least one primary game functional image displayed by the exterior video display works together with the at least one primary game functional image displayed by the interior video display to display a winning condition, wherein a first part of the winning condition is displayed on the exterior video display and a second part of the winning condition is displayed on the interior video display, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to display a sequence of primary game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of primary game functional images is displayed on the interior video display along a first portion of the apparent path of motion and a second portion of the sequence of primary game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display along a second portion of the apparent path of motion connected to the first portion of the apparent path of motion.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are different.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially the same.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images include a plurality of reels.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of:

a transparent video display;

a translucent video display;

a video display having a transparent state; and

a video display having a translucent state.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the primary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display provides a first part of the primary game, and wherein the at least one of the primary game functional images displayed by the interior video display provides a second part of the primary game.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the primary game functional images include a plurality of symbols, and the processor is programmed to cause the exterior video display to display a plurality of the symbols in a play of the primary game and to cause the interior video display to display a plurality of the symbols in said play of the primary game.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the winning condition is a qualifying condition.

11. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images;

at least one secondary game operable after an occurrence of a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images;

a housing;

an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and

an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display;

(i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and

(ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display,

the at least one processor programmed to after an occurrence of the triggering event;

(a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, and

(b) simultaneously cause the interior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, wherein the at least one secondary game functional image displayed by the exterior video display works together with the at least one secondary game functional image displayed by the interior video display to display a winning condition, wherein a first part of the winning condition is displayed on the exterior video display and a second part of the winning condition is displayed on the interior video display screen, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to display a sequence of secondary game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of secondary game functional images is displayed on the interior video display along a first portion of the apparent path of motion and a second portion of the sequence of secondary game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display along a second portion of the apparent path of motion connected to the first portion of the apparent path of motion.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the triggering event can occur in the primary game.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are different.

14. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially the same.

15. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images include a plurality of reels.

16. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

17. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

18. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of:

a transparent video display;

a translucent video display;

a video display having a transparent state; and

a video display having a translucent state.

19. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the secondary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display provides a first part of the secondary game, and wherein the at least one of the secondary game functional images displayed by the interior video display provides a second part of the secondary game.

20. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the secondary game functional images include a plurality of symbols, and the processor is programmed to cause the exterior video display to display a plurality of the symbol in a play of the secondary game, and to cause the interior video display to display a plurality of the symbols in said play of the secondary game.

21. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the winning condition is a qualifying condition.

22. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images;

at least one secondary game operable after a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images;

a housing;

an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and

an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display;

(i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and

(ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display,

the at least one processor programmed to;

(a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, and

(b) after an occurrence of the triggering event, cause the interior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, wherein the at least one of the primary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the at least one of the secondary game functional images displayed by the interior video display at least one winning condition, wherein a first part of the at least one winning condition is displayed on the exterior video display and a second part of the at least one winning condition is displayed on the interior video display, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed only on the interior video display along a first portion of the apparent path of motion and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed only on the exterior video display along a second portion of the apparent path of motion connected to the first portion of the apparent path of motion.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the triggering event can occur in the primary game.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are different.

25. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially the same.

26. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels.

27. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

28. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

29. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of:

a transparent video display;

a translucent video display;

a video display having a transparent state; and

a video display having a translucent state.

30. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the winning condition is a qualifying condition.

31. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images;

at least one secondary game operable after a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images;

a housing;

an at least partially see-through exterior video display controlled by the at least one processor; and

an interior video display controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display;

(i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and

(ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display,

the at least one processor programmed to;

(a) cause the interior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, and

(b) after an occurrence of the triggering event, cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, wherein the at least one of the primary game functional images displayed by the interior video display and the at least one of the secondary game functional images displayed by the exterior video screen display one winning condition, wherein a first part of the at least one winning condition is displayed on the exterior video display and a second part of the at least one winning condition is displayed on the interior video display, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed only on the interior video display along a first portion of the apparent path of motion and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed only on the exterior video display along a second portion of the apparent path of motion connected to the first portion of the apparent path of motion.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the triggering event can occur in the primary game.

33. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are different.

34. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially the same.

35. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels.

36. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

37. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

38. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of:

a transparent video display;

a translucent video display;

a video display having a transparent state; and

a video display having a translucent state.

39. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the winning condition is a qualifying condition.

40. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images;

a housing;

an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and

an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display;

(i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and

(ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display,

the at least one processor programmed to cause;

(a) one of the exterior video display and interior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, and

(b) the other of the exterior video display and interior video display to simultaneously display information regarding the primary game or primary game functional images, wherein the at least one of the primary game functional images displayed by one of the exterior and interior video display works together with the simultaneously displayed information regarding the primary game or primary game functional images to display a winning condition, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the interior video display along a first portion of the apparent path of motion and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display along a second portion of the apparent path of motion connected to the first portion of the apparent path of motion.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the information includes a paytable for the primary game.

42. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images include a plurality of reels.

43. The gaming device of claim 42, wherein the information includes a paytable for the reels.

44. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

45. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the information includes a paytable for the symbols.

46. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

47. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of:

a transparent video display;

a translucent video display;

a video display having a transparent state; and

a video display having a translucent state.

48. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the winning condition is a qualifying condition.

49. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the at least one processor and operable upon a wager;

a first display device controlled by the at least one processor, said first display device operable to display at least a portion of the game;

wherein said processor is configured to control a play of the game by;

(i) determining if an event occurs in the play of the game, and

(ii) if the event occurs in the play of the game;

(a) causing the first display device to change at least a portion of the first display device from a non-transparent state to a transparent state, wherein said changed portion of the first display device is operable to generate a display of at least a portion of the game while in the non-transparent state, and wherein the transparent state of said first portion of the first display allows a second display device to be viewed through a plurality of lines of sight extending through the first display device, and

(b) causing said second display device to generate a display of at least a portion of the game, wherein the portion of the game displayed by the second display and a portion of the game displayed by the first display in the transparent state work together to display at least one winning condition wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video first display device and the second display device wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed only on the second display device along a first portion of the apparent path of motion and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed only on the first display device along a second portion of the apparent path of motion connected to the first portion of the apparent path of motion.