Multi-projector gaming table

• US 8,430,405 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B., Loose, Timothy C., Rasmussen, James M., Thomas, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US12/945,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20110115158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 898 Days
• Field of Search: 273/274, 273/284, 273/287, 273/309, 463/1, 463/34, 345/7, 345/9, 345/158, 345/418
• US Class Current: 273/274
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means

Abstract

Electronic wagering game tables (a.k.a. e-tables) are described herein. Some embodiments include a wagering game table for presenting a wagering game. The wagering game table can include a projection surface, and a first projector configured to present, at a first resolution, a first background image on the projection surface, wherein the first background image is associated with the wagering game and includes elements of the wagering game that are shared by the plurality of players, and wherein the first background image includes blank areas that are not substantially illuminated with content from the first projector. The wagering game table can also include a plurality other projectors configured to present, at a second resolution, wagering game content in the plurality of blank areas, wherein the wagering game content indicates results of the wagering game.

Claims

1. A wagering game table for presenting a wagering game, the wagering game table comprising;

a projection surface;

a first projector configured to present, at a first resolution, a first background image on the projection surface, wherein the first background image is associated with the wagering game and includes elements of the wagering game that are shared by the plurality of players, and wherein the first background image includes blank areas that are not substantially illuminated with content from the first projector;

a plurality other projectors configured to present, at a second resolution, wagering game content in the plurality of blank areas, wherein the wagering game content indicates results of the wagering game.

2. The wagering game table of claim 1, wherein the second resolution is higher than the first resolution.

3. The wagering game table of claim 1, wherein the projection surface forms a non-planar shape in which sections of the projection surface are at different heights, and wherein one or more of the other projectors have different focal lengths.

4. The wagering game table of claim 1 further comprising a second projector configured to present, at the first resolution, a second background image that combines with the first background image to form a composite background image that includes the elements of the wagering game.

5. The wagering game table of claim 1 further comprising

a projection controller configured to

determine locations of players at the wagering game table;

and

adjust locations of the plurality of blank areas on the projection surface based on the locations of the players.

6. A wagering game table for presenting a community wagering game, the wagering game table comprising:

a projection surface divided into player areas and a common area, wherein the projection surface is configured for rear projection;

a first plurality of projectors configured to project, at a first resolution, a plurality of images in the common areas, wherein the plurality of images combine together to form community content representing game elements of the community wagering game;

a second plurality of projectors configured to project, at a second resolution, player-specific content in the player areas, wherein the player-specific content in each of the player areas is associated with a player at the wagering game table, and wherein the player-specific content includes results of wagering games that are separate from the community wagering game; and

a wagering game controller configured to select the plurality of images and determine results for the community wagering game.

7. The wagering game table of claim 6, wherein the projection surface forms a three-dimensional non-planar shape, and wherein the second plurality of projectors are configured to project the player-specific content onto the non-planar shape at different focal lengths.

8. The wagering game table of claim 6, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

9. The wagering game table of claim 6, wherein community content and player specific-content are rendered at 1920×

1080 resolution.

10. The wagering game table of claim 6, wherein community content includes markings indicating where to place, as part of the community wagering game, physical game pieces on the projection surface.

11. A method for dynamically rearranging player areas on a projection surface of an electronic wagering game table, the method comprising:

projecting, at a first resolution, a first group of player-specific images in player areas of the projection surface, wherein the player areas reside at a first group of locations on the projection surface, and wherein the player-specific images in each player area are associated with one of a plurality of players at the electronic wagering game table;

projecting, at a second resolution, a first group of community images in a community area of the projection surface, wherein the community images are associated with all of the plurality of players at the electronic wagering game table;

processing input associated with the player and community areas;

initiating, based on the input, a community wagering game;

resizing the player areas;

moving the player areas to reside at a second group of locations on the projection surface;

resizing the common area on the projection surface;

projecting, at the second resolution, on the projection surface in the common area, a second group of community images that indicate results of the community wagering game;

projecting, on the projection surface, at the first resolution, in the player areas residing at the second group of locations, a second group of player-specific images indicating player account information resulting from the community wagering game.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the resizing of the common area includes enlarging the common area.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the resizing of the player areas includes shrinking the player areas.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the community wagering game includes tangible game elements used in conjunction with graphical game elements.

16. A method for presenting a wagering game on an electronic wagering game table, the method comprising:

projecting, using a plurality of projectors configured at a first display resolution, community content on a first projection surface of the electronic wagering game table, wherein the community content includes markings indicating areas in which tangible game pieces are played, wherein the tangible game pieces are used in playing the wagering game;

projecting, using a plurality of projections configured at a second resolution, player-specific content on other projection surfaces of the electronic wagering game table, wherein the other projection surfaces correspond to player positions at the electronic wagering game table, and wherein the player-specific content indicates wagers placed by each player at the electronic wagering game table;

determining results for the wagering game;

projecting, using the plurality of projections configured at the second resolution, additional player-specific content on the other projection surfaces, wherein the additional player-specific content indicates results of the wagering game and financial information resulting from the wagering game.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the other projection surfaces are oriented in a different plane than the first projection surface, and wherein the other projection surfaces are retained by bezels.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the tangible game pieces include playing cards.

19. The method of claim 16 further including:

receiving input about the tangible game pieces.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first resolution is lower than the second resolution.

21. An apparatus capable of dynamically rearranging player areas on a projection surface of an electronic wagering game table, the method comprising:

means for projecting, at a first resolution, a first group of player-specific images in player areas of the projection surface, wherein the player areas reside at a first group of locations on the projection surface, and wherein the player-specific images are associated with players at the electronic wagering game table;

means for projecting, at a second resolution, a first group of community images in a community area of the projection surface, wherein the community images are associated with a plurality of players at the electronic wagering game table;

means for processing input associated with the player and community areas;

means for initiating, based on the input, a community wagering game;

means for resizing the player areas;

means for moving the player areas to reside at a second group of locations on the projection surface;

means for resizing the common area on the projection surface;

means for projecting, at the second resolution, on the projection surface in the common area, a second group of community images that indicate results of the community wagering game;

means for projecting, at the first resolution, on the projection surface in the player areas residing at the second group of locations, a second group of player-specific images indicating player account updates resulting from the community wagering game.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for resizing of the common area includes enlarging the common area.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for resizing of the player areas includes shrinking the player areas.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the community wagering game includes tangible game elements used in conjunction with graphical game elements.