Gaming machine

• US 8,216,068 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Kishi, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rustemeyer, Malina K
• Application Number:
  US12/018,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming machine according to one embodiment of the invention has a rotating reel display device that variably displays a plurality of kinds of identification information required for a game, and a transmissive liquid crystal display device 30 that enables symbol information of the rotating reel display device to be visually recognized and that is subjected to non-glare treatment on its surface. Then, a covering member 50 to enhance transmittance is attached to the surface portion of the transmissive liquid crystal display device 30.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a variable display device configured to variably display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels associated with an outcome of a wagering game;

a transmissive display device adjacent the variable display device and configured to transition between a transmissive state, wherein at least a portion of the symbol-bearing reels is visible through the transmissive display device, and a non-transmissive state, wherein the portion of the symbol-bearing reels is visibly obstructed by the transmissive display device;

a polarizing layer adjacent the transmissive display device, the polarizing layer being configured to diffuse light; and

a covering layer adjacent the polarizing layer and configured to enhance transmittance of light from the transmissive display device through the polarizing layer, the covering layer including a film attached to a surface of the polarizing layer via an adhesive liquid, the adhesive liquid including a material with a refractive index substantially the same as a refractive index of the polarizing layer.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the film is transparent and the adhesive liquid is translucent.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer is attached to an area of the transmissive display device to thereby increase visual recognition of the portion of the symbol-bearing reels of the variable display device through the polarizing layer and the transmissive display device when in the transmissive state.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive liquid is located between the film and the surface of the polarizing layer, and is filled substantially uniformly in concavo-convex portions on the surface of the film.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive liquid is attached to the film on a side thereof intermediate the film and polarizing layer.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein after coating the film with the adhesive liquid, the film is attached to the surface of the polarizing layer.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive display device includes a transmissive liquid crystal display panel.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing layer includes a polarizing film with a surface subjected to non-glare treatment.

9. The gaming machine according to claim 8, wherein the covering layer is attached to the surface of the polarizing film subjected to the non-glare treatment.

10. The gaming machine according to claim 9, wherein the film is a transparent PET film and the adhesive liquid is translucent.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer is attached only to a portion or portions of the transmissive display device through which the portion of the symbol-bearing reels is visible when the transmissive display device is in the transmissive state.

12. A gaming terminal for displaying an outcome of a wagering game, the outcome being randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes, the gaming terminal comprising:

a variable display device configured to display a plurality of reels each having a plurality of symbols associated with the outcome of the wagering game;

a transmissive display device in front of the variable display device, at least some portions of the transmissive display device being selectively operable to transition between a transmissive condition, whereat a portion of the symbol-bearing reels is visible through the transmissive display device, and a non-transmissive condition, whereat the portion of the symbol-bearing reels is visibly obstructed by the transmissive display device;

a polarizing layer attached to the transmissive display device on a side thereof opposite the variable display device, the polarizing layer being configured to diffuse light; and

a cover layer attached to the polarizing layer, the cover layer being configured to suppress the diffusion of light in the polarizing layer, the cover layer including a film attached to the polarizing layer via a liquid adhesive, the liquid adhesive including a material with a refractive index substantially the same as a refractive index of the polarizing layer.

13. The gaming terminal of claim 12, wherein the polarizing layer includes a surface with a non-glare treatment, and wherein the film is attached to the surface of the polarizing layer with the non-glare treatment.

14. The gaming terminal of claim 12, wherein the liquid adhesive is translucent and the film is transparent.

15. The gaming terminal of claim 12, wherein the film is a transparent polymeric film.

16. The gaming terminal of claim 12, wherein a surface of the film to which the liquid adhesive is applied is substantially flat.

17. The gaming terminal of claim 13, wherein the non-glare treatment includes asperities on the surface of the polarizing layer, and wherein the liquid adhesive is applied substantially evenly over the asperities on the surface of the polarizing layer.

18. The gaming terminal of claim 12, wherein the film and the liquid adhesive collaboratively offset diffuse reflection and diffuse refraction of light in the polarizing layer.

19. The gaming terminal of claim 12, wherein the cover layer is attached to only selected areas of the polarizing layer corresponding to the at least some portions of the transmissive display device that are selectively operable to transition between the transmissive and non-transmissive conditions.

20. A display assembly for a wagering game terminal, the display assembly comprising:

a variable display device configured to variably display and stop display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels, each of the reels having a plurality of symbols associated with an outcome of a wagering game, the outcome being randomly selected from a plurality of wagering game outcomes;

a transmissive display device configured to mount in front of the variable display device, one or more selected portions of the transmissive display device being operable to transition between a transmissive condition, whereat a portion of the symbol-bearing reels is visible through the transmissive display device, and a non-transmissive condition, whereat the portion of the symbol-bearing reels is visibly obscured by the transmissive display device;

a polarizing layer attached to a surface of the transmissive display device on a side thereof opposite the variable display device, the polarizing layer being configured to diffuse light; and

a cover layer attached to a surface of the polarizing layer, the cover layer being configured to suppress the diffusion of light of the polarizing layer, the cover layer including a film attached to the surface of the polarizing layer via a liquid adhesive, the liquid adhesive including a material with a refractive index substantially the same as a refractive index of the polarizing layer.

21. The display assembly of claim 20, wherein the film is transparent and the liquid adhesive is translucent.

22. The display assembly of claim 20, wherein a surface of the film to which the liquid adhesive is applied is substantially flat.

23. The display assembly of claim 20, wherein the surface of the polarizing layer to which the cover layer is attached includes a non-glare treatment comprising asperities, and wherein the liquid adhesive is applied substantially evenly over the asperities on the surface of the polarizing layer.

24. The display assembly of claim 20, wherein the cover layer is attached to only selected areas of the polarizing layer corresponding to the selected portions of the transmissive display device that are operable to transition between the transmissive and non-transmissive conditions.

25. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

an input device configured to receive an input from a player;

a controller configured to determine outcomes of the wagering game, each of the outcomes being randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes;

a variable display device configured to display a plurality of symbols associated with the outcomes of the wagering game; and

a front display device disposed adjacent the variable display device, the front display device including;

a transmissive liquid crystal panel through which the plurality of symbols displayed by the variable display device can be seen;

a light guiding plate disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the variable display device, the light guiding plate being configured to transmit at least a portion of light emitted from a light source to the liquid crystal panel;

a polarizing layer on a surface of the transmissive liquid crystal panel, the polarizing layer including a surface treatment configured to diffuse light and thereby reduce glare; and

a diffusion-suppressing layer on a surface of the polarizing layer, the diffusion-suppressing layer being configured suppress at least a portion of the diffused light of the polarizing layer and thereby enhance translucency, the diffusion-suppressing layer including a film attached to the surface of the polarizing layer via a liquid adhesive, the liquid adhesive including a material with a refractive index substantially the same as a refractive index of the polarizing layer.