Mechanically rotating wheel with changeable image
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming machine comprising:
- a gaming machine controller configured to control game play on said gaming machine;
a main display; and
a wheel assembly rotatably coupled to said gaming machine, said wheel assembly comprising;
a front portion divided into a plurality of segments configured to present indicia to a player of the gaming machine, wherein the plurality of segments form a planar structure, wherein the planar structure has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the indicia are visible to the player on the outer surface, wherein the planar structure is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation passes through the planar structure; and
at least one projector configured to;
rotate with said wheel assembly about the axis of rotation; and
project an image across at least a portion of said inner surface during game play such that the image is visible from a perspective of a player of the gaming machine, the front portion and the inner surface corresponding to at least a portion of a circular major surface of the wheel assembly.
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Abstract
A gaming machine includes a gaming machine controller configured to control game play on the gaming machine, and a wheel assembly rotatably coupled to the gaming machine controller. The wheel assembly includes a front portion having an inner surface and at least one projector, wherein the at least one projector is configured to rotate with the wheel assembly and to project an image across at least a portion of the inner surface during game play.
63 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A gaming machine comprising:
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a gaming machine controller configured to control game play on said gaming machine; a main display; and a wheel assembly rotatably coupled to said gaming machine, said wheel assembly comprising; a front portion divided into a plurality of segments configured to present indicia to a player of the gaming machine, wherein the plurality of segments form a planar structure, wherein the planar structure has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the indicia are visible to the player on the outer surface, wherein the planar structure is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation passes through the planar structure; and at least one projector configured to; rotate with said wheel assembly about the axis of rotation; and project an image across at least a portion of said inner surface during game play such that the image is visible from a perspective of a player of the gaming machine, the front portion and the inner surface corresponding to at least a portion of a circular major surface of the wheel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wheel assembly for use with a gaming machine, said wheel assembly comprising:
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a stepper motor configured to rotate said wheel assembly; a front portion divided into a plurality of segments configured to present indicia to a player, wherein the plurality of segments form a planar structure, wherein the planar structure has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the indicia are visible to the player on the outer surface, and wherein the planar structure is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation; and a presentation means configured to visibly present an image across at least a portion of said front portion and to rotate with said wheel assembly about the axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A gaming method comprising:
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receiving a game selection at a gaming machine, the game selection associated with at least one image; transmitting, from a gaming machine controller of the gaming machine, the at least one image to a wheel assembly within the gaming machine, the wheel assembly including a front portion divided into a plurality of segments configured to present indicia to a player of the gaming machine, wherein the plurality of segments form a planar structure, wherein the planar structure has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the planar structure is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation such that the axis of rotation passes through the planar structure, and the wheel assembly further including at least one projector; projecting the at least one image, by the at least one projector, across at least a portion of the inner surface; and rotating the wheel assembly, including the at least one projector and the planar structure, during display of the at least one image. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming machines; a wheel assembly configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, said wheel assembly comprising;
a front portion divided into a plurality of segments configured to present indicia to players of the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the front portion comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, the front portion being disk-shaped, wherein the plurality of gaming machines are positioned about a circumference of the wheel assembly; andat least one projector configured to rotate with said wheel assembly and to project an image across at least a portion of said inner surface; and a controller coupled to said plurality of gaming machines and to said wheel assembly, said controller configured to initiate rotation of said wheel assembly about the axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A gaming method comprising:
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accepting a wager made by a player using at least one of a plurality of gaming machines; enabling play of a game at the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the game is associated with at least one image; transmitting the at least one image to at least a portion of a disk-shaped portion of a wheel assembly, wherein the plurality of gaming machines are positioned about a circumference of the wheel assembly; presenting the at least one image across at least a portion of a surface of the wheel assembly by at least one projector of the wheel assembly; and rotating the wheel assembly, including the disk-shaped portion and the at least one projector, during display of the at least one image. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification