Gaming machine having a molded curved display

• US 8,012,021 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Frank R., Crowder, Robert W. Jr., McAllister, Lawrence C., Wudtke, Karl E., Bernard, Vernon H. II, Vallejo, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/463,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463 31- 34, 345/87
• US Class Current: 463/34
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• 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

Gaming machines having video depictions of one or more mechanical reels projected onto a curved display are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a curved transparent material having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a radius of curvature similar to a mechanical reel. The curved transparent material further includes a glossy finish on the outer surface of the curved transparent material to provide a reflective surface. The gaming machine also includes a light emitting diode projector for projecting video images of one or more reels onto the inner surface of the curved transparent material. The gaming machine also has a liquid crystal display having an opening in which the curved transparent material extends through the opening of the opening of the liquid crystal display.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a curved transparent material having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a radius of curvature similar to a mechanical reel, the curved transparent material further having a glossy finish on the outer surface of the curved transparent material to provide a reflective surface;

a flat transparent material positioned around the perimeter of the curved transparent material, the flat transparent material presenting game information; and

a light emitting diode projector for projecting video images of one or more reels onto the inner surface of the curved transparent material, and the light emitting diode projector projecting game information onto the flat transparent material.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen positioned in front of the curved transparent material, the touch screen producing touch data when activated.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the touch screen is in communication with a touch screen system including a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen directly coupled to the outer surface of the curved transparent material and the flat transparent material.

5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the touch screen is in communication with a touch screen system including a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a secondary display positioned above the curved display, wherein the light emitting diode projector projects one or more images onto the secondary display.

7. A gaming machine, comprising:

a gaming cabinet defining an interior space of the gaming machine;

a sealed projection enclosure positioned within the interior space of the gaming cabinet, the sealed projection enclosure comprising;

a curved transparent material provided on a front surface of the projection enclosure,

a light emitting diode projector provided within a base of the projection enclosure, the light emitting diode projecting video images of one or more reels onto the curved transparent material, and

a first mirror positioned in the front of the projection enclosure, the first mirror spaced apart from the light emitting diode projector,

a second mirror positioned in the back of the projection enclosure,

wherein the video images from the light emitting diode projector are reflected off the first and second mirrors onto the curved transparent material; and

a touch screen positioned in front of the curved transparent material, the touch screen producing touch data when activated.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, further comprising a liquid crystal display having an opening, wherein the curved transparent material extends through the opening of the opening of the liquid crystal display.

9. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the touch screen is directly coupled to the curved transparent material.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the touch screen is in communication with a touch screen system including a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data.

11. The gaming machine of claim 7, further comprising a secondary display positioned above the curved display, wherein the light emitting diode projector projects one or more images onto the secondary display.

12. A self-contained projection system for a gaming machine, the self-contained projection system comprising:

an enclosure having one or more walls with a light absorbing coating applied thereon;

a piece of curved material approximating a radius of curvature similar to a mechanical reel, the curved material being transparent and having an outer surface and an inner surface, the curved material coupled to the front of the enclosure;

a light emitting diode projector fixed within the enclosure, the light emitting diode projector presenting images of one or more reels on the curved material; and

one or more mirrors positioned between the piece of curved material and the light emitting diode, the mirrors reflecting the image of the one or more reels on the curved material.

13. The projection system of claim 12, further comprising a video display screen having an opening, wherein the curved material extends through the opening of the opening of the video display screen.

14. The gaming machine of claim 12, further comprising a touch screen associated with the curved transparent material, the touch screen producing touch data when activated.

15. The gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the touch screen is in communication with a touch screen system including a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data.