Virtual input system

• US 8,398,488 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US13/077,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20110212778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device, such as for a gaming machine, for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator is disclosed. The device comprises a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator and a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a display device;

a wager input device;

an interactive game surface device (IGSD) configured to detect physical movement of one or more objects without requiring physical contact with the one or more objects; and

a gaming controller configured to;

receive an indication of a wager in association with the wager input device,

display a game image on the display device, the game image including content in a first state;

receive data from the IGSD indicating a detected physical movement,

modify the display of the game image to show the content in a second state different from the first state, and

determine a game outcome corresponding to the game image of the content in the second state.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the content comprises a wheel, the wheel being in motion in the first state, and the wheel being stopped in the second state.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the wheel is hemispherical.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the content comprises one or more doors, the one or more doors being closed in the first state, the one or more doors being open in the second state.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, the one or more doors being mechanical doors.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the content comprises one or more reels, the one or more reels being in motion in the first state, the one or more reels being stopped in the second state.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the physical movement of the one or more objects comprises a gesture of a player.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the gesture of the player comprises the movement of a part of the player towards the game image.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the IGSD comprises a Doppler radar sensor.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the IGSD comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the IGSD comprises an infrared camera.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the IGSD comprises an infrared laser scanning sensor.

13. A method comprising:

providing a wagering game on a gaming system;

receiving an indication of a wager in association with a wager input device of the gaming system;

displaying a game image on a display device of the gaming system, wherein the game image including content in a first state;

detecting physical movement of one or more objects using an interactive game surface device (IGSD) configured to detect physical movement of the one or more objects without requiring physical contact with the one or more objects;

receiving data from the IGSD indicating the physical movement;

modifying the game image to display the content in a second state different from the first state; and

determine a game outcome corresponding to the game image of the content in the second state.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the content comprises a wheel, the wheel being in motion in the first state, and the wheel being stopped in the second state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wheel is hemispherical.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the content comprises one or more doors, the one or more doors being closed in the first state, the one or more doors being open in the second state.

17. The method of claim 16, the one or more doors being mechanical doors.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the content comprises one or more reels, the one or more reels being in motion in the first state, the one or more reels being stopped in the second state.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the physical movement of the one or more objects comprises a gesture of a player.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the gesture of the player comprises the movement of a part of the player towards the game image.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the IGSD comprises a Doppler radar sensor.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the IGSD comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the IGSD comprises an infrared camera.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the IGSD comprises an infrared laser scanning sensor.