Multi-player, multi-touch table for use in wagering game systems

• US 8,147,316 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Arezina, Vladimir I., Burak, Gilbert J. Q., Gagner, Mark B., Gomez, Benjamin T., Jaffe, Joel R., Palermo, James V., Rasmussen, James M., Rigsby, Gene, Schwartz, Richard T., Sylla, Craig J., Thomas, Alfred, Loose, Timothy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Roland
• Application Number:
  US12/444,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20100130280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463/37, 463/39, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means

Abstract

A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface.

Claims

1. A multi-player gaming system comprising:

at least one input device for receiving a wager initiating a wagering game, the wagering game including one or more randomly selected game outcomes;

a display surface displaying images associated with the wagering game;

a first identification device associated with a first player;

a second identification device associated with a second player;

a contact sensing device positioned adjacent to the display surface, the contact sensing device detecting first contact data when the first player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the first contact data with the first player, the contact sensing device detecting second contact data when the second player contacts the display surface and associating the second contact data with the second player, and the contact sensing device transmitting the detected first and second contact data to the first and second identification devices, respectively; and

a controller in communication with the first and second identification devices and the display surface, the controller being programmed to;

receive the detected first and second contact data from the respective identification devices, and determine a first wagering-game function and a second wagering-game function of a plurality of known functions, the first and second wagering-game functions corresponding to the first and second contact data, respectively;

execute, during the wagering game, the first wagering-game function associated with the first player; and

execute, during the wagering game, the second wagering-game function associated with the second player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the contact sensing device includes an array of antennas positioned under the display surface, each of the antennas emitting a positional signal indicative of a position on the display surface.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first and second identification devices each include a receiver, the receivers capacitively coupled to the respective first and second players.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the receivers each include a wireless interface for communication with the controller.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the contact sensing device includes:

a plurality of infrared LEDs or photodiodes arrayed about a perimeter of the display surface;

a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) device having a transparent substrate, the display surface;

a video projector for displaying images relative to the transparent substrate; and

a video camera for capturing scattered light at multiple points of contact on the transparent substrate.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the contact sensing device includes a multipoint touch screen having a plurality of capacitive electrodes arrayed relative to a transparent substrate, the multipoint touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display surface.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the display surface is a liquid crystal display that is positioned substantially horizontal relative to ground.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller causes a graphical object to be displayed on the display surface, wherein the first player contacts the graphical object to move the graphical object to a first location on the display surface and the second player contacts the graphical object to move the graphical object to a second location on the display surface.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is a turn-based game including the first wagering-game function initiated by the first player followed by the second wagering-game function initiated by the second player.

10. A method of conducting a multi-player wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising:

receiving a wager initiating a wagering game, the wagering game including one or more randomly selected game outcomes;

displaying the wagering game on a display surface in proximity to a first and a second player;

detecting, via a contact sensing device positioned adjacent to the display surface;

contact by the first player on the display surface during the wagering game and generating, via the contact sensing device, first contact data associated with the first player;

detecting, via the contact sensing device, contact by the second player on the display surface during the wagering game and generating, via the contact sensing device, second contact data associated with the second player;

transmitting, to a first identification device associated with the first player, the first contact data, and transmitting, to a second identification device associated with the second player, the second contact data;

determining, via one or more processors, a first wagering-game function and a second wagering-game function of a plurality of known functions, the first and second wagering-game functions corresponding to the first and second contact data, respectively; and

executing, via the one or more processors during the wagering game, the first and second wagering-game functions; and

associating the wagering-game functions with the first player or the second player based on the corresponding contact data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting further includes positioning an array of antennas on the display surface and emitting a positional signal indicative of a position on the display surface from each of the antennas.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the contact sensing device includes a multipoint touch screen having a plurality of capacitive electrodes arrayed relative to a transparent substrate, the multipoint touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display surface.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing a third and fourth game function based on subsequent contacts on the display surface made by one or more of the first, the second, and other players.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the wagering game is a turn-based game including the first wagering-game function initiated by the first player followed by the second wagering-game function initiated by the second player.

15. A multi-player gaming system comprising:

at least one input device for receiving a wager initiating a wagering game;

a display surface displaying images associated with the wagering game;

a first identification device associated with a first player and a second identification device associated with a second player;

a multipoint sensing device adjacent the display surface, the multipoint sensing device detecting first contact data when the first player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the first contact data with the first player, the multipoint sensing device detecting second contact data when the second player contacts the display surface and associating the second contact data with the second player, the multipoint sensing device transmitting the detected first and second contact data to the first and second identification devices, respectively, the multipoint sensing device further producing, during the wagering game, gesture data indicative of at least one of the first and second players contacting the display surface at at least two distinct contact points on the display surface detected simultaneously by the multipoint sensing device; and

one or more processors coupled to the multipoint sensing device and to the display surface, the one or more processors being programmed to cause the gaming system to execute one or more wagering-game functions associated with one or more of the gesture data, the first contact data, and the second contact data during the wagering game.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the multipoint sensing device includes a multipoint touch screen having a plurality of capacitive electrodes arrayed relative to a transparent substrate, the multipoint touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display surface.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the multipoint sensing device includes a plurality of infrared LEDs and photodiodes arrayed about a perimeter of the display, a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) device having a transparent substrate, a video projector for displaying images relative to the transparent substrate and a video camera for capturing scattered light at multiple points of contact on the transparent substrate.

18. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the multipoint sensing device is a multipoint touch screen that includes a plurality of capacitive electrodes arrayed relative to a transparent substrate, the multipoint touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display surface.

19. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to cause the display surface to display at least one graphic as the at least two distinct contact points are detected by the multipoint sensing device.

20. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the display surface is a liquid crystal display that is positioned substantially horizontally relative to ground.

21. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the wagering game includes a randomly selected game outcome that is related to inputs from multiple players detected by the multipoint sensing device.

22. A method of playing a multi-player wagering gaming comprising:

receiving, via at least one input device, a wager to play the wagering game;

displaying, via a display surface, images associated with the wagering game;

detecting, via a multipoint sensing device, first contact data when a first player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the first contact data with the first player;

detecting, via the multipoint sensing device, second contact data when a second player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the second contact data with the second player;

producing, via the multipoint sensing device, gesture data indicative of at least one of the first and second players contacting the display surface at at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game, the gesture data being associated with the corresponding at least one of the first and second players;

transmitting, via the multipoint sensing device, the first and second contact data and associated gesture data to a first identification device associated with the first player and a second identification device associated with the second player, the transmitted data being transmitted to the respective identification devices based on the player associated with the transmitted data; and

causing, via one or more processors connected for communication to the identification devices, the multipoint sensing device, and the display surface, one or more wagering-game functions associated with one or more of the transmitted gesture data, first contact data, and second contact data, to be executed during the wagering game.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second identification devices each include a receiver, the receivers capacitively coupled to the respective first and second players.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the receivers each include a wireless interface for communication with the one or more processors.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying at least one graphic as the at least two distinct contact points are detected.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the wagering game includes a randomly selected game outcome that is related to inputs from multiple players detected by the multipoint sensing device.

27. A multi-player wagering game method, comprising:

receiving, via at least one input device, a wager to play the wagering game;

displaying, via a display surface, images associated with the wagering game;

detecting, via a multipoint sensing device, first contact data when a first player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the first contact data with the first player;

detecting, via the multipoint sensing device, second contact data when a second player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the second contact data with the second player;

producing, via the multipoint sensing device, gesture data indicative of at least one of the first and second players contacting the display surface at at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game, the gesture data being associated with the corresponding first or second player;

detecting, via the multipoint sensing device, a physical object placed on the display surface;

producing object data indicative of a characteristic associated with the physical object;

transmitting, via the multipoint sensing device, the first and second contact data to a first identification device associated with the first player and a second identification device associated with the second player, respectively, the transmitted data being transmitted to the respective identification devices based on the player associated with the transmitted data; and

causing, via one or more processors connected for communication to the identification devices, one or more wagering-game functions associated with one or more of the transmitted gesture data, first contact data, second contact data, and object data, to be executed in response to the detecting during the wagering game.

28. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 27, wherein the one or more wagering-game functions are related to the wagering game, and the characteristic associated with the physical object is at least one of shape, size, and weight, the method further comprising transferring an amount of funds to a memory device coupled to the one or more processors responsive to the one or more wagering-game functions being executed.

29. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 27, wherein the characteristic of the physical object is an angle of rotation of the physical object relative to a point defined relative to the display surface, the method further comprising:

detecting, via the first multipoint sensing device, the angle of rotation of the physical object as it is rotated relative to the display surface;

displaying, relative to the display surface, an image related to the wagering game, the image being displayed from a first viewing angle;

changing the first viewing angle to produce a second viewing angle that is related to the angle of rotation of the physical object; and

displaying the image from the second viewing angle.

30. A multi-player wagering game method, comprising:

receiving, via at least one input device, a wager to play the wagering game;

displaying, via a display surface, images associated with the wagering game;

detecting a portable electronic device placed on the display surface;

wirelessly connecting, for communication with a memory device, the portable electronic device and the memory device;

detecting, via a multipoint sensing device, first contact data when a first player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the first contact data with the first player;

detecting, via the multipoint sensing device, second contact data when a second player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associated the first contact data with the second player;

producing, via the multipoint sensing device, gesture data indicative of at least one of the first and second players contacting the display surface at at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game, the gesture data being associated with the corresponding player;

transmitting, via the multipoint sensing device, the first contact data, second contact data, and associated gesture data, to a first identification device associated with the first player and a second identification device associated with the second player, the transmitted data being transmitted to the respective identification devices based on the player associated with the transmitted data; and

causing, via one or more processors connected for communication to the identification devices, one or more wagering-game functions associated with one or more of the transmitted gesture data, first contact data, and second contact data, to be executed in response to the detecting during the wagering game, wherein the one or more wagering-game functions includes communicating data between the memory device and the portable electronic device.

31. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 30, wherein the data communicated between the memory device and the portable electronic device includes at least one of emails, messages, webpages, marketing data, an amount of funds, or player preferences.

32. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 30, further comprising defining a region of the display surface and determining whether the portable electronic device is within the region.

33. A multi-player wagering game method, comprising:

receiving, via at least one input device, a wager to play the wagering game;

displaying, via a display surface, images associated with the wagering game;

detecting a physical object placed on the display surface during the wagering game;

detecting, via a multipoint sensing device, first contact data when a first player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associating the first contact data with the first player;

detecting, via the multipoint sensing device, second contact data when a second player contacts the display surface during the wagering game and associated the first contact data with the second player;

producing, via the multipoint sensing device, gesture data indicative of at least one of the first and second players contacting the display surface at at least two distinct contact points simultaneously during the wagering game, the gesture data being associated with the corresponding player;

transmitting, via the multipoint sensing device, the first and second contact data to a first identification device associated with the first player and a second identification device associated with the second player, respectively, the transmitted data being transmitted to the respective identification devices based on the player associated with the transmitted data;

defining a plurality of regions on the display surface;

defining an active first region of the plurality corresponding to which one of the plurality of regions the physical object was placed;

storing a plurality of predetermined wagering-game functions in a memory device connected for communication to one or more processors;

associating a different predetermined function of the plurality of predetermined wagering-game functions with each of the plurality of regions; and

executing, via the one or more processors, the predetermined wagering-game function associated with the active first region during the wagering game.

34. The multi-player wagering game method of claim 33, the method further comprising moving the physical object to a second region of the plurality of regions, determining to which one of the plurality of regions the physical object was moved in order to define an active second region distinct from the first active region, and, responsive thereto, executing the predetermined wagering-game function associated with the active second region.