Gaming machine reel having a flexible dynamic display

• US 8,002,624 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold, Paulsen, Craig, Hedrick, Joseph R., Wilder, Richard, Griswold, Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US09/964,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,617 Days
• Field of Search: 463 20- 22, 463 30- 31, 463/16, 463/34, 463/39, 463/40, 463/42, 40446-452
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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

Abstract

A gaming machine, specifically a slot machine, having a viewing region through which one or more internal reels are visible. The internal reels having a flexible display, mounted on the outer circumferential region of the reel, capable of displaying an infinite number of different indicia to a player of the machine. By allowing an infinite number of indicia to be displayed, the gaming machine may be programmed with a variety of gaming options and payouts.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a value-input device configured to receive a medium of value;

an input device configured to receive a wager;

a display driver;

a controller;

a reel rotatable about an axis; and

a motor capable of rotating said reel about said axis, and operatively coupled to the controller;

said reel comprising

a support mechanism having an outer circumference; and

at least one flexible display panel capable of being shaped to mount to said outer circumference, said at least one flexible display panel mounted to said outer circumference, and comprising at least one of a liquid crystal display or light emitting diode display configured to display indicia;

wherein;

the display driver is configured to control at least a portion of the displayed indicia, said display driver being electrically connected to the flexible display panel and configured to receive instructions from the controller; and

the controller is operatively coupled to said value-input device, said input device, and said display driver, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, and configured to i) choose an initial indicia to display on the at least one flexible display panel;

ii) instruct the display driver to display the chosen indicia;

iii) detect a deposit of the medium of value;

iv) detect a wager;

v) determine game play indicia;

vi) instruct the display driver to display the game play indicia;

vii) cause said motor to spin said reel;

viii) determine a game outcome;

ix) cause said motor to stop said reel according to said determined outcome, and, as the reel is being stopped, instruct the display driver to change from displaying game play indicia to displaying indicia representative of the determined outcome; and

x) determine a value associated with the determined outcome.

2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to display gaming instructions on the at least one flexible display panel.

3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to display a simulation of game play on the at least one flexible display panel.

4. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to change the game play indicia on the gaming apparatus.

5. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicia are selected based upon an amount of value received at the gaming apparatus.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional reel.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reel further comprises a slip ring drum rotatable about said axis of said reel, wherein said slip ring drum includes a plurality of electrical conductors;

and a plurality of electrically conductive brushes operatively coupled to said slip ring drum.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to be programmed to change the indicia displayed on the at least one flexible display prior to initiating the wager-based game, during the play of the wager-based game or after the play of the wager-based game.

9. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a value-input device configured to receive a medium of value;

an input device configured to receive a wager;

a display driver;

a controller; and

a reel rotatable about an axis, the reel comprising;

a support mechanism having an outer circumference; and

at least one flexible display panel capable of being shaped to mount to said outer circumference, said at least one flexible display panel mounted to said outer circumference, and comprising at least one of a liquid crystal display or light emitting diode display configured to display indicia;

wherein;

the display driver is configured to control at least a portion of the displayed indicia, said display driver being configured to receive instructions from the controller; and

the controller is operatively coupled to said value-input device and said input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, and configured to i) choose an initial indicia to display on the at least one flexible display panel, ii) instruct the display driver to display the chosen indicia, iii) detect the medium of value received via the input device, iv) after detecting the medium of value received, determine game play indicia, v) instruct the display driver to display the game play indicia, vi) cause a motor to spin said reel;

vii) determine a value associated with an outcome of a wager-based game played on the gaming apparatus, and viii) cause said motor to stop said reel according to the outcome, and, as the reel is being stopped, instruct the display driver to change from displaying game play indicia to displaying indicia representative of the outcome.

10. The gaming apparatus of claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to change the game play indicia on the gaming apparatus.

11. The gaming apparatus of claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to display gaming instructions or a simulation of game play on the at least one flexible display.

12. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is further programmed to control a spin of the reel using the motor.

13. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display driver is mounted to the reel such that the display driver rotates when the reel rotates.

14. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicia are selected based upon an amount of value received at the gaming apparatus.

15. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one additional reel.

16. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reel further comprises a slip ring drum rotatable about said axis of said reel, wherein said slip ring drum includes a plurality of electrical conductors;

and a plurality of electrically conductive brushes operatively coupled to said slip ring drum.

17. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to be programmed to change the indicia displayed on the at least one flexible display prior to initiating the wager-based game, during the play of the wager-based game or after the play of the wager-based game.

18. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a reel rotatable about an axis and having an outer circumference; and

at least one flexible display panel capable of being shaped to mount to said outer circumference, said at least one flexible display panel mounted to said outer circumference, and comprising at least one of a liquid crystal display or light emitting diode display configured to display indicia;

wherein;

the controller is operatively coupled to said at least one flexible display panel, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor and configured to i) choose an initial indicia to display on the at least one flexible display panel, ii) cause the at least one flexible display panel to display the chosen indicia, iii) determine game play indicia, iv) cause a motor to spin said reel;

v) determine a value associated with an outcome of a wager-based game played on the gaming apparatus, and vi) cause said motor to stop said reel according to the outcome, and, as the reel is being stopped, instruct the display driver to change from displaying game play indicia to displaying indicia representative of the outcome.

19. The gaming apparatus of claim 18 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to display gaming instructions or a simulation of game play on the at least one flexible display.

20. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is further programmed to control a spin of the reel using the motor.

21. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a display driver adapted to cause display of the indicia on the at least one flexible display responsive to instructions from the controller.

22. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the indicia are selected based upon an amount of value received at the gaming apparatus.

23. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, further comprising at least one additional reel.

24. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the reel further comprises a slip ring drum rotatable about said axis of said reel, wherein said slip ring drum includes a plurality of electrical conductors;

and a plurality of electrically conductive brushes operatively coupled to said slip ring drum.

25. The gaming apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to be programmed to change the indicia displayed on the at least one flexible display prior to initiating the wager-based game, during the play of the wager-based game or after the play of the wager-based game.

26. The gaming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the display driver is mounted to the reel such that it rotates when the reel rotates.

27. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a value-input device configured to receive a medium of value;

an input device configured to receive a wager;

a display driver;

a controller; and

a reel rotatable about an axis, the reel comprising;

a support mechanism having an outer circumference; and

at least one display panel mounted on said outer circumference, said at least one display panel substantially conforming to a curvature of the outer circumference, said at least one display panel comprising at least one of a liquid crystal display or light emitting diode display configured to display indicia;

wherein;

the controller comprises a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor; and

the display driver is configured to control at least a portion of the displayed indicia, the display driver being configured to receive instructions from the controller; and

the controller is operatively coupled to said value-input device, said input device, and said display driver, configured to be programmed to i) choose an initial indicia to display on the at least one display panel, ii) instruct the display driver to display the chosen indicia, iii) detect the medium of value received via the input device, iv) after detecting the medium of value received, determine game play indicia, v) instruct the display driver to display the game play indicia, vi) cause a motor to spin said reel;

vii) determine a value associated with an outcome of a wager-based game played on the gaming apparatus, and viii) cause said motor to stop said reel according to the outcome, and, as the reel is being stopped, instruct the display driver to change from displaying game play indicia to displaying indicia representative of the outcome.

28. The gaming apparatus of claim 27, wherein said display panel is flexible.

29. The gaming apparatus of claim 27 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to change the game play indicia on the gaming apparatus.

30. The gaming apparatus of claim 27 wherein said controller is configured to be programmed to display gaming instructions or a simulation of game play on the display.

31. The gaming apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller is further programmed to control a spin of the reel using the motor.

32. The gaming apparatus of claim 27, wherein the reel further comprises a slip ring drum rotatable about said axis of said reel, wherein said slip ring drum includes a plurality of electrical conductors;

and a plurality of electrically conductive brushes operatively coupled to said slip ring drum.

33. The gaming apparatus of claim 27, wherein the display driver is mounted to the reel such that the display driver rotates when the reel rotates.

34. The gaming apparatus of claim 27, wherein the indicia is selected based upon an amount of value received at the gaming apparatus.

35. The gaming apparatus of claim 27, further comprising at least one additional reel.