Gaming system having dynamically changing image reel symbols

• US 8,057,305 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• 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: Iverson, Mark N., Stragey, Michael W., Patton, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/360,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20090137311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463 35- 38, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

A system for dynamically changing the graphical content on mechanical slot machine reels is disclosed herein. The system includes mechanical slot reels, flexible display panels, and data transmission techniques which provide for dynamically updating or changing the graphics on the spinning mechanical reels in a slot machine. In one system for dynamically changing graphical reel content, new image content is placed on the reels at any time, even while the reels are spinning. The system may even be used to give the appearance of rotation to a stationary reel.

Claims

1. A mechanical reel gaming machine for playing games employing dynamically changing image symbols on the mechanical reels, the gaming machine comprising:

a gaming machine cabinet housing a plurality of mechanical reels, each mechanical reel having a flexible display panel attached thereto, wherein the flexible display panels present dynamically changing image symbols at symbol positions on each mechanical reel;

a power and data transmission system, wherein the power and data transmission system transmits power and video data for the flexible display panels from a stationary portion of the gaming machine cabinet to the rotating mechanical reels; and

a touch screen system associated with a primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system provides viewing of the mechanical reels through the touch panel, wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction or speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on the rotating mechanical reels.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on a stationary portion of the gaming machine cabinet.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising one or more secondary displays, wherein each secondary display comprises a touch screen system.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more reels by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more images on a flexible display panel by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by using distinct types of touch directions.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the speed of touches.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the duration or quantity of touches.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different features by using multiple touches.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selecting one or more paylines, selecting a wager amount for one or more paylines, or a combination thereof.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating special game play, bonus sequences, or a combination thereof.

13. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel is curved.

14. A mechanical reel gaming system for playing games employing dynamically changing image symbols on the mechanical reels, the gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine including a plurality of mechanical reels, each mechanical reel having a flexible display panel attached thereto, wherein the flexible display panels present dynamically changing image symbols at symbol positions on each mechanical reel;

a gaming server connected to the gaming machine via a network;

a power and data transmission system, wherein the power and data transmission system transmits power and video data for the flexible display panels from a stationary portion of the gaming system to the rotating mechanical reels; and

a touch screen system associated with a primary display, the touch screen system comprising a touch sensor assembly having a substantially transparent touch panel that produces touch data when activated, a touch panel controller for controlling and interpreting the touch data, and touch panel software for controlling and interpreting touch data, wherein the touch screen system provides viewing of the mechanical reels through the touch panel, wherein different types of touch control are enabled in correspondence with the direction or speed in which the touch panel is touched by a user.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on the rotating mechanical reels.

16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on a stationary portion of the gaming machine.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the media storage device and video processor are located on a stationary portion of the gaming system.

18. The gaming system of claim 14, further comprising one or more secondary displays, wherein each secondary display comprises a touch screen system.

19. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more reels by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

20. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selectively starting and stopping one or more images on a flexible display panel by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

21. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by using distinct types of touch directions.

22. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the speed of touches.

23. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different game features by varying the duration or quantity of touches.

24. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating different features by using multiple touches.

25. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for selecting one or more paylines, selecting a wager amount for one or more paylines, or a combination thereof.

26. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen system is configured for activating special game play, bonus sequences, or a combination thereof.

27. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the touch screen panel is curved.

28. A mechanical reel gaming system for playing games employing dynamically changing image symbols on the mechanical reels, the gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine including a plurality of mechanical reels, each mechanical reel having a flexible display panel attached thereto, wherein the flexible display panels present dynamically changing image symbols at symbol positions on each mechanical reel;

a video processor, wherein the video processor produces the dynamically changing image symbols on the flexible display panels; and

a power and data transmission system, wherein the power and data transmission system transmits power and video data for the flexible display panels from a stationary portion of the gaming system to the rotating mechanical reels.