Touch screen displays with physical buttons for gaming devices

• US 8,262,480 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cohen, Alexander C., Rodgers, Paulina, B-Jensen, Janna, Griswold, Chauncey, Beadell, Leagh, Tedsen, Kirk, Waller, Daniel, Stockdale, James, Goodman, John, Garamendi, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US12/617,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/29, 463 16- 21, 463/30, 463 36- 37, 463/42, 463/46, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/138.A, 273/139, 273/143.R, 273/148.R, 273/237, 273/269, 273/301, 200/5.D, 200/5.E, 200/43.18, 200/50.36, 200295-296, 200/276.1, 200/314, 200/341, 200/345, 200/412, 200/417, 200/422, 200/510, 200/520, 200/530, 345/156, 345173-174, 345178-180, 73/11.9, 73/12.3, 73/15.6, 403/15, 404/64, 744/733, 744/83.PB
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2014 Manually operated selector [e.g., remotely controlled device, lever, push button, rotary dial, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20244 Push button

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for providing input for playing a game of chance. A gaming machine includes a touch screen display. The touch screen display is configured to display input selections, auxiliary input selections, and auxiliary data. The touch screen display is further configured to receive game input corresponding to the input selections and auxiliary input corresponding to the auxiliary input selections. The received game input and auxiliary input are transmitted to a controller of the gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming machine configured for playing one or more wager-based games of chance, comprising:

a controller configured to output one or more games of chance;

a main display configured to display the one or more games of chance;

a value input device configured to accept an indication of a wager for playing the one or more games of chance; and

a hybrid touch screen display including;

a display,

a touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display, an electroactive polymer, and

at least one physical button overlaying at least a portion of the display, the electroactive polymer situated between the at least one physical button and the display, the at least one physical button having a depressed level in which the at least one physical button activates the electroactive polymer and having a raised level in which the at least one physical button does not activate the electroactive polymer, the electroactive polymer being configured to vibrate at different frequencies to control the tactile feel of the at least one physical button in response to an event occurring during play of the game of chance, the event being independent of the depressed level,

the hybrid touch screen display configured to;

a) display one or more input selections for playing a game of chance using the display, at least one of the input selections visible on or through the at least one physical button,

b) receive game input corresponding to the at least one input selection visible on or through the at least one physical button so as to cause the electroactive polymer to be deformed, activated, and to produce a signal, and

c) transmit the signal corresponding to the received game input to the controller.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein game input corresponding to the one or more input selections other than the at least one input selection visible on or through the at least one physical button is received from the touch screen.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, the hybrid touch screen display further including:

a polymer controller, wherein the electroactive polymer is configured to vibrate at different frequencies to control the tactile feel of the at least one physical button in response to input from the polymer controller.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, the hybrid touch screen display further including:

a polymer controller, wherein the electroactive polymer is alterable, in response to input from the polymer controller, to change the tactile feel of the at least one physical button when it is transitioning from the raised level to the depressed level.

5. A gaming machine configured for playing one or more wager-based games of chance, comprising:

a controller configured to output one or more games of chance;

a main display configured to display the one or more games of chance;

a value input device configured to accept an indication of a wager for playing the one or more games of chance;

an auxiliary display configured to display at least one input selection for playing a game of chance; and

a button panel adjacent to the auxiliary display, the button panel including;

at least one physical button corresponding to the at least one input selection, the at least one physical button having a top surface with which a player may interact and a bottom surface,

an electroactive polymer associated with the bottom surface of the at least one physical button,

the at least one physical button further having a depressed level in which the at least one physical button activates the electroactive polymer and a raised level in which the at least one physical button does not activate the electroactive polymer, the electroactive polymer being configured to vibrate at different frequencies to control the tactile feel of the at least one physical button in response to an event occurring during play of the game of chance, the event being independent of the depressed level,

the button panel configured to;

a) receive game input corresponding to the at least one input selection corresponding to the at least one physical button so as to cause the electroactive polymer to be deformed, activated, and to produce a signal,

b) transmit the signal corresponding to the received game input to the controller.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5, the button panel further including:

a polymer controller, wherein the electroactive polymer is configured to vibrate at different frequencies to control the tactile feel of the at least one physical button in response to input from the polymer controller.

7. The gaming machine of claim 5, the button panel further including:

a polymer controller, wherein the electroactive polymer is alterable, in response to input from the polymer controller, to change the tactile feel of the at least one physical button when it is transitioning from the raised level to the depressed level.