Gaming machine having a curved display

• US 8,137,185 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Crowder, Robert W. Jr., Bernard, Vernon H. II, Wudtke, Karl E., Anderson, Frank R., McAllister, Lawrence C., Vallejo, John Vallejo R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickey, Thomas L
• Application Number:
  US12/271,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 312/7.2, 463/20, 463/30, 463/31, 463/34, 463/46
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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

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 light emitting diode projector for projecting video images of one or more reels onto the inner surface of the curved transparent material; and

a liquid crystal display having an opening, wherein the curved transparent material extends through the opening of the liquid crystal display.

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 secondary display positioned above the curved display, wherein the light emitting diode projector projects one or more images onto the secondary display.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a lens positioned in front of the light emitting diode projector.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the lens is a short-throw lens or an anamorphic lens.

7. A gaming machine, comprising:

a piece of 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;

a light emitting diode projector for projecting video images of one or more reels onto the curved transparent material;

a lens positioned between the light emitting diode projector and the curved transparent material;

a front-coated mirror positioned between the light emitting diode projector and the curved transparent material, the front-coated mirror reflecting the video images from the light emitting diode projector onto the curved transparent material; and

a liquid crystal display having an opening, wherein the curved transparent material extends through the opening of the liquid crystal display.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, further comprising a touch screen positioned in front of the curved transparent material, the touch screen producing touch data when activated.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8, 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.

10. 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.

11. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the lens is a short-throw lens.

12. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the lens is an anamorphic lens.

13. A gaming machine, comprising:

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;

a light emitting diode projector for projecting images of one or more reels on the curved material;

a video display screen having an opening, wherein the curved material extends through the opening of the video display screen; and

a secondary display positioned above the curved material, wherein the light emitting diode projector projects one or more video images onto the secondary display.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the curved material further includes a glossy finish applied to the outer surface of the curved material to provide a reflective surface.

15. The gaming machine of claim 13, further comprising a lens positioned in front of the light emitting diode projector.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the lens is a short-throw lens or an anamorphic lens.

17. The gaming machine of claim 13, further comprising a touch screen positioned in front of the curved transparent material, the touch screen producing touch data when activated.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, 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.