Enhanced reel gaming system with touch controls

• US 8,323,093 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: McAllister, Lawrence C., Morrow, James W., Hunsaker, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torimiro, Adetokunbo
• Application Number:
  US13/365,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 463 18- 20, 463/46, 273/143, 345/156
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

An enhanced gaming system utilizes a touch panel as a user control device for game play features which provides users with the enhanced flexibility and interactivity of a video gaming device in a gaming device environment. The enhanced gaming system includes a set of reels, a panel, and a user control device. The panel overlays a set of reels. The set of reels are visible through at least one portion of the panel. The user control interface includes a substantially transparent touch panel overlaying the reels. In one embodiment, the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin direction in correspondence with direction in which the touch panel is touched by the user. In another aspect, the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin speed in correspondence with the speed in which the user touches the touch panel.

Claims

1. An enhanced gaming system comprising:

a set of reels;

a panel overlaying the set of reels, the set of reels visible through at least one portion of the panel; and

a user control interface comprising a substantially transparent touch panel overlaying the reels, wherein the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin direction in correspondence with direction in which the touch panel is touched by the user.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the user control interface enables selectively starting and stopping the reels by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the user control interface enables activating different game features by using distinct types, directions, and durations of touches.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the user control interface enables selectively activating features and system controls by touching the touch panel at particular points.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the features that are activated by the user control interface include at least one of selection of denomination of game play, selection of one reel for special game play, selection of game play elements, selection of interactive game features, activation of a selected bonus sequence, requesting service and selection of system controls.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the system controls comprise at least one of player service requests, player funds requests, and menu entries.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the one or more of the menu entries include mechanical reel calibration.

8. An enhanced gaming system comprising:

a set of reels;

a panel overlaying the set of reels, the set of reels visible through at least one portion of the panel; and

a user control interface comprising a substantially transparent touch panel overlaying the reels, wherein the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin speed in correspondence with the speed in which the user touches the touch panel with a sliding motion.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the user control interface enables selectively starting and stopping the reels by touching the touch panel at a particular point.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the user control interface enables activating different game features by using distinct types, directions, and durations of touches.

11. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the user control interface enables selectively activating features and system controls by touching the touch panel at particular points.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the features that are activated by the user control interface include at least one of selection of denomination of game play, selection of one reel for special game play, selection of game play elements, selection of interactive game features, activation of a selected bonus sequence, requesting service and selection of system controls.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the system controls comprise at least one of player service requests, player funds requests, and menu entries.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the one or more of the menu entries include mechanical reel calibration.