Simulation of mechanical reels of gaming machines

• US 8,092,304 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hedrick, Randy, Chudd, Russell, Beadell, John Leagh, Nesemeier, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US11/557,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463 19- 22, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Techniques for simulating mechanical reels are disclosed. The techniques are especially suitable for simulating mechanical reels typically used for reel-based games in gaming machines (or units). Image of at least one rotating mechanical reel can be projected on at least one projection surface to effectively simulate at least one mechanical reel. The image can be projected on multiple rotating projection surfaces (or reels) to give a closer illusion of a mechanical reel-based game. Projection can be accomplished by using a projection system coupled to one or more processors that processes projection data.

Claims

1. A gaming machine operable for playing a reel-based game, said gaming machine comprising:

at least one projection surface for displaying images associated with said reel-based game, said projection surface extending across substantially all of a cylindrical surface defined by a circumference and width of a reel on said gaming machine; and

a projection system configured to project said images on said at least one projection surface when said gaming machine is operable for playing said reel-based game, wherein said projection system is further configured to project said images on said at least one projection surface in a manner that simulates rotation of at least one mechanical reel, wherein said at least one projection surface is configured to rotate and wherein said projection system is configured to project said images onto said at least one projection surface as said at least one projection surface rotates, wherein said projection system comprises one or more projection engines and one or more lenses, wherein at least one lens is configured with a variable radius, and wherein said projection system is configured to optically project said images on said projection surface which are visible from a first point of view without requiring that said projection system be visible from said first point of view.

2. A gaming machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said images include one or more symbols or indicia.

3. A gaming machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said gaming machine is further operable to obtain projection data that can be used by said projection system to project said images on said at least one projection surface.

4. A gaming machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said projection of said images is coordinated with said rotation in a manner that simulates said rotation of said at least one mechanical reel.

5. A gaming machine as recited in claim 4, wherein said reel rotates about a horizontal axis.

6. A gaming machine as recited in claim 4, wherein said reel rotates about a vertical axis.

7. A gaming machine as recited in claim 4, wherein said gaming machine further comprises:

a rotation engine configured to rotate said reel, wherein said rotation engine is configured in an external configuration with respect to said at least one reel, thereby allowing said reel to be driven externally.

8. A gaming machine as recited in claim 7, wherein said rotation engine includes a stepper motor or a DC motor that engages one or more gears, pulleys and/or friction wheels to rotate said reel.

9. A gaming machine as recited in claim 7, wherein said gaming machine further comprises one or more support blocks or bearings configured to support said at least one reel.

10. A gaming machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one lens includes a lens configured with a constant radius, and wherein said projection system is configured to use pixel warping to project said images.

11. A gaming machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more projection engines comprise a digital light processing (DLP) projector or a liquid crystal display (LCD) projector.

12. An apparatus for simulating a mechanical reel reel-based game that can be played in connection with a plurality of mechanical reels configured to rotate with images affixed to said plurality of mechanical reels, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of projection reels configured to rotate, each projection reel comprising a projection surface extending across substantially all of a cylindrical surface defined by a circumference and width of said projection reel; and

a projection system operable to project said images onto said plurality of projection reels as said plurality of projection reels rotate, wherein said projection system comprises one or more projection engines and one or more lenses, wherein at least one lens is configured with a variable radius, and wherein said projection system is configured to optically project said images on said projection reels which are visible from a first point of view without requiring that said projection system be visible from said first point of view.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said apparatus is a gaming machine.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of projection reels includes two (2), three (3), four (4) or five (5) projection reels, and wherein said projection system includes one projector configured to project said images.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said projector is positioned in a central location with respect to said plurality of projection reels.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more projection engines comprise a DLP projector or an LCD projector.

17. A computer-implemented method for playing a reel-based game on a gaming machine, said method comprising:

obtaining projection data for projecting at least one image; and

projecting, based on said projection data, said at least one image on at least one projection surface, said projection surface extending across substantially all of a cylindrical surface defined by a circumference and width of a reel on said gaming machine, wherein said projecting displays said at least one image on said at least one projection surface in a manner that simulates rotation of at least one mechanical reel, wherein said gaming machine comprises one or more projection engines and one or more lenses, wherein at least one lens is configured with a variable radius, and wherein said projection system is configured to optically project said images on said projection surface which are visible from a first point of view without requiring that said projection system be visible from said first point of view;

rotating said at least one projection surface during said projecting.

18. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one image includes one or more symbols or indicia.

19. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein said gaming machine is further operable to obtain said projection data used to project said at least one image on said at least one projection surface.

20. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, wherein said one or more projection engines comprise a DLP projector or an LCD projector.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer program code for playing a reel-based game, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for obtaining projection data for projecting at least one image via one or more projection engines and one or more lenses, wherein at least one lens is configured with a variable radius; and

computer program code for projecting, based on said projection data, said at least one image on at least one rotatable projection surface as said at least one rotatable projection surface rotates in a manner that simulates rotation of at least one mechanical reel, said rotatable projection surface extending across substantially all of a cylindrical surface defined by a circumference and width of a reel on said gaming machine, and wherein said projection system is configured to optically project said images on said projection surface which are visible from a first point of view without requiring that said projection system be visible from said first point of view.

22. A gaming machine for playing a reel-based game, the gaming machine comprising:

at least one rotatable projection surface for displaying images associated with the reel-based game, said projection surface extending across substantially all of a cylindrical surface defined by a circumference and width of a reel on said gaming machine, the images described by image data downloadable to the gaming machine from a central server; and

a projection system configured to project the images on the at least one rotatable projection surface when the gaming machine is operable for playing the reel-based game and while the at least one rotatable projection surface is rotating, wherein the projection system is further configured to project the images on the at least one rotatable projection surface in a manner that simulates rotation of at least one mechanical reel, and wherein said projection system comprises one or more projection engines and one or more lenses, wherein at least one lens is configured with a variable radius, and wherein said projection system is configured to optically project said images on said projection surface which are visible from a first point of view without requiring that said projection system be visible from said first point of view.

23. A gaming machine as recited in claim 22, wherein said one or more projection engines comprise a DLP projector or an LCD projector.