Gaming machine with iridescent or fluorescent indicia

• US 8,323,113 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kaminkow, Joseph E., Falconer, Neil D., Goins, Jamie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/120,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,890 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 30- 31, 463/47, 463/46, 273/143.R, 283/85, 283/92, 235/491, 427/157
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming machine has a display panel with permanent indicia and optionally also adapted for display of transient indicia which act with the permanent indicia as part of the gaming played on the machine. At least a portion of the permanent indicia may comprise an ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of activating light, typically ultraviolet radiation. A source of the activating light is positioned to irradiate the permanent indicia portions. A controller is typically present for activating the activating light source in a predetermined manner which correlates with one or more events taking place in the particular game being played on the machine.

Claims

1. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine in which said gaming machine is equipped to play a game having a bonus round, said controller activating said ultraviolet light sources upon occurrence of the bonus round as the game is playing.

2. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide, different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine in which the display panel comprises a glass partition.

3. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide, different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine in which said sources of ultraviolet light comprise a plurality of ultraviolet lights spaced from each other within said housing.

4. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine in which said display panel comprises a liquid crystal display screen.

5. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine which is adapted for display of transient indicia in addition to said non-moveable permanent image as a part of the gaming played on said machine.

6. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine; and

a visible light source for illuminating said non-moveable display panel, the gaming machine in which said gaming machine is equipped to play a game having a bonus round, said controller activating said ultraviolet light sources upon occurrence of the bonus round as the game is playing.

7. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine; and

a visible light source for illuminating said non-moveable display panel, the gaming machine in which the display panel comprises a glass partition.

8. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine; and

a visible light source for illuminating said non-moveable display panel, the gaming machine in which said sources of ultraviolet light comprise a plurality of ultraviolet lights spaced from each other within said housing.

9. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine; and

a visible light source for illuminating said non-moveable display panel, the gaming machine in which said display panel comprises a liquid crystal display screen.

10. A gaming machine which comprises:

a housing;

said housing have a non-moveable display panel;

said non-moveable display panel carrying a non-moveable permanent image that remains non-moveable as viewed by the player;

said non-moveable permanent image comprising an iridescent ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of ultraviolet light;

a first source of ultraviolet light positioned to irradiate said non-moveable permanent image, said first source comprising ultraviolet light of a first frequency, with one portion of said non-moveable permanent image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said first frequency;

a second source of ultraviolet light comprising ultraviolet light of a different frequency from said first frequency, with another portion of said non-moveable permanent Image being sensitive to ultraviolet light at said other frequency, to provide different responses to ultraviolet irradiation by the respective non-moveable permanent image portions; and

a controller for activating said ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined manner correlating with one or more events taking place in a particular game being played on said machine; and

a visible light source for illuminating said non-moveable display panel, the gaming machine which is adapted for display of transient indicia in addition to said non-moveable permanent image as a part of the gaming played on said machine.