Gaming system having retractable gaming unit

• US 8,118,681 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold E., Gadda, Chris, Griswold, Chan, Stockdale, James, Wilder, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre Eddy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kamal, Shahid
• Application Number:
  US11/786,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/16, 463/23, 463/46, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects

Abstract

Various aspects are directed to a gaming system configured or designed for use with a bar top or table top. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may include a movable gaming unit, the movable gaming unit which is operable to be lowered below an upper surface of the bar top or table top, and which is operable to be raised, at least partially, above the upper surface of the bar top or table top. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may be operable to control a wager-based game played on the gaming system. The gaming system may be further operable to lower the gaming unit below the upper surface of the bar top or table top in response to detecting at least one first condition or event. The gaming system may be further operable to raise a first portion of the gaming unit above the upper surface of the bar top or table top in response to detecting at least one second condition or event.

Claims

1. A gaming system configured or designed for use with a bar top or table top, the gaming system comprising:

a master gaming controller;

memory;

at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in a gaming network; and

a movable gaming device comprising an electronic display device for displaying a wager-based game played on the gaming system, the movable gaming device being operable to be lowered below an upper surface of the bar top or table top, the movable gaming device being further operable to be raised, at least partially, above the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

the gaming system being operable to;

control the wager-based game played on the gaming system;

detect an occurrence of at least one first condition or event for triggering lowering of the gaming device below the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

identify a first set of criteria which is to be satisfied before allowing the gaming device to be lowered;

determine whether the first set of criteria is satisfied;

delay lowering of the gaming device in response to determining that the first set of criteria is not satisfied, wherein the first set of criteria includes a first criteria specifying a non-detection of conditions which results in harm or injury to the gaming system when the gaming device is lowered; and

raise a first portion of the gaming device above the upper surface of the bar top or table top in response to detecting at least one second condition or event.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising an input mechanism for receiving cash or an indicia of credit.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the electronic display device is a non-CRT type electronic display device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the electronic display device is one of:

an LCD electronic display device, an OLED electronic display device, an LED electronic display device, and a plasma electronic display device.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a keyboard device which is removably attachable to the gaming device;

the keyboard device including a internal rechargeable power source.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user input device movably attached to the gaming device;

the user input device including a first side which includes a first plurality of keys or switches arranged to form a button panel type interface; and

the user input device including a second side which includes a second plurality of keys or switches arranged to form a keyboard type interface.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a virtual keyboard system, the virtual keyboard system comprising;

a light source;

a pattern projector operable to project an image of a keyboard interface on a surface; and

at least one sensor system operable to detect user movements relative to the projected image, and to generate user input data using at least a portion of the detected user movements.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a virtual player panel system, the virtual player panel system comprising;

a light source;

a pattern projector operable to project an image of a button type player panel interface on a surface; and

at least one sensor system operable to detect user movements relative to the projected image, and to generate user input data using at least a portion of the detected user movements.

9. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting an occurrence of at least one condition or event which may automatically trigger movement of the gaming device.

10. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting an occurrence of at least one condition or event which may automatically prevent movement of the gaming device.

11. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting an occurrence of at least one condition or event which may automatically trigger movement of the gaming device;

wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of;

a light sensor, a moisture sensor, and a pressure sensor.

12. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting plate mounted into a portion of the bar top or table top, the mounting plate including an opening defined therein for receiving the movable gaming device;

the opening being configured or designed to enable at least the first portion the gaming device to be raised above the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

the opening being further configured or designed to enable the gaming device to be lowered below the upper surface of the bar top or table top.

13. A method of operating a bar top or table top gaming system, the method comprising:

controlling a wager-based game played on the gaming system;

detecting an occurrence of at least one first condition or event for triggering lowering of a gaming device below an upper surface of a bar top or table top;

identifying a first set of criteria which is to be satisfied before allowing the gaming device to be lowered;

determining whether the first set of criteria is satisfied;

delaying lowering of the gaming device in response to determining that the first set of criteria is not satisfied, wherein the first set of criteria includes a first criteria specifying a non-detection of conditions which results in harm or injury to the gaming system when the gaming device is lowered; and

raising a first portion of the gaming device above the upper surface of the bar top or table top in response to detecting at least one second condition or event.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining, before the gaming device is lowered, whether there are any transactions to be completed before the gaming device is lowered.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining, before the gaming device is lowered, whether there are any transactions to be completed before the gaming device is lowered; and

delaying lowering of the gaming device in response to detecting a first uncompleted transaction that is to be completed before the gaming device is lowered.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting an occurrence of the at least one second condition or event for triggering raising of at least a portion of the gaming device above the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

identifying a second set of criteria which is to be satisfied before allowing the gaming device to be raised;

determining whether the second set of criteria is satisfied;

delaying raising of the gaming device in response to determining that the second set of criteria is not satisfied; and

raising the gaming device in response to determining that the second set of criteria is satisfied.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting an occurrence of the at least one second condition or event for triggering raising of at least a portion of the gaming device above the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

identifying a second set of criteria which is to be satisfied before allowing the gaming device to be raised;

determining whether the second set of criteria is satisfied; and

delaying raising of the gaming device in response to determining that the second set of criteria is not satisfied;

wherein the second set of criteria includes a first criteria specifying a non-detection of conditions which may result in harm or injury to the gaming system if the gaming device were to be raised.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting an occurrence of the at least one second condition or event for triggering raising of at least a portion of the gaming device above the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

identifying a second set of criteria which is to be satisfied before allowing the gaming device to be raised;

determining whether the second set of criteria is satisfied; and

delaying raising of the gaming device in response to determining that the second set of criteria is not satisfied;

wherein the second set of criteria includes a first criteria specifying a non-detection of conditions which may result in harm or injury to a person if the gaming device were to be raised.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting an occurrence of the at least one second condition or event for triggering raising of at least a portion of the gaming device above the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

identifying a second set of criteria which is to be satisfied before allowing the gaming device to be raised;

determining whether the second set of criteria is satisfied; and

delaying raising of the gaming unit in response to determining that the second set of criteria is not satisfied;

wherein the second set of criteria includes a first criteria specifying a non-detection of conditions which may result in corruption or loss of critical data if the gaming device were to be raised.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting an occurrence of the at least one second condition or event for triggering raising of at least a portion of the gaming device above the upper surface of the bar top or table top;

identifying a second set of criteria which is to be satisfied before allowing the gaming device to be raised; and

determining whether the second set of criteria is satisfied; and

delaying raising of the gaming device in response to determining that the second set of criteria is not satisfied;

wherein the second set of criteria includes a first criteria specifying a non-detection of conditions which may result in harm or injury to an object if the gaming device were to be raised.