Reel and video combination machine

• US 8,715,058 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Pennington, Richard M., Griswold, Chauncey W., Wells, William R., Mattice, Harold E., Wilder, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiva, Frank M
• Application Number:
  US12/245,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20090036208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 463/32, 463/31, 463/20, 463/33, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for displaying game related information on gaming machines. The gaming machines include two or more game presentation devices such as rotating reels, video display screens, touch screens, etc. One or more of these game presentation devices can be moved into and out of position with respect to other game presentation devices. This may allow, among other things, flexibility in presenting different types of games or different game features within a single game.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

an external cabinet defining an interior region of the gaming machine, the external cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components within or about the interior region;

a processor configured to execute instructions from memory that permit game play on the gaming machine;

a reel presentation device mounted to or within said external cabinet;

a video display device positioned in front of and along a common line of sight with respect to the reel presentation device such that a player, while positioned for playing a game on the gaming machine, can view either the video display device or the reel presentation device through a viewing window of said external cabinet along the common line of sight;

game presentation logic for execution on the processor to present video information on the video display device pertinent to said game play on the gaming machine; and

a mechanism configured to move both the video display device and the reel presentation device into and out of a viewing position along the common line of sight, such that the video display device and the reel presentation device can be moved to a different location within said external cabinet wherein they are no longer viewable by a player through said viewing window.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a curved surface of a digital display device.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reel presentation device comprises mechanically rotatable reels.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a video reel display.

5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the video reel display and the video display device are configured to cooperate in displaying three-dimensional visual output that has an actual three-dimensional depth along the common line of sight.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a multilayer display.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the video display device comprises a non-transparent liquid crystal display.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game play comprises playing a slot game.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game play comprises playing a game of chance selected from the group of a video card game, baccarat, video pachinko, a lottery, keno, and a bingo game.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a motor drive configured to move the video display device into and out of the common line of sight.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a motor drive configured to move the reel presentation device into and out of the common line of sight.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game presentation logic comprises instructions for controlling a display of symbols on the reel presentation device.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the reel presentation device comprises an OLED device for displaying the symbols.

14. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the reel presentation device comprises an OLED device on a mechanical reel.

15. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the reel presentation device comprises an electroluminescent display for displaying the symbols.

16. The gaming machine of claim 12, further comprising a projection-type display device configured to cast an image of reel symbols onto the reel presentation device.

17. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen proximately located along the common line of sight and positioned to allow a player to select game options by touching regions on the video display device along the common line of sight.

18. A method of presenting a game on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

determining that an aspect of a game is to be displayed on either (a) a reel presentation device mounted to or within a cabinet of the gaming machine or (b) a video display device positioned in front of and along a common line of sight with respect to the reel presentation device such that a player, while positioned for playing a game on the gaming machine, can view either the video display device or the reel presentation device along the common line of sight through viewing window of said cabinet;

moving both the video display device and the reel presentation device into and out of position along the common line of sight depending upon the aspect of the game to be displayed, such that the video display device and the reel presentation device can be moved to a different location within said cabinet wherein they are no longer viewable by a player through said viewing window; and

executing instructions that permit game play on the gaming machine.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the game machine further comprises game presentation logic for execution on a processor of the gaming machine, wherein the game presentation logic is configured to present video information on the video display device pertinent to said game play on the gaming machine.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising a mechanism configured to move both the video display device and the reel presentation device into and out of position along the common line of sight.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a curved surface of a digital display device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the reel presentation device comprises mechanically rotatable reels.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein determining that an aspect of a game is to be displayed comprises determining which of two different types of game is to be displayed and

wherein moving the video display device and the reel presentation device into and out of position is determined based on the type of game to be displayed.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the reel presentation device is moved into position along the common line of sight when a slot game type is selected.

25. A system comprising one or more gaming machines on a network, wherein at least one of the gaming machines comprises:

an external cabinet defining an interior region of the gaming machine, the external cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components within or about the interior region;

a processor configured to execute instructions from memory that permit game play on the gaming machine;

a reel presentation device mounted to or within said external cabinet;

a video display device positioned in front of and along a common line of sight with respect to the reel presentation device such that a player, while positioned for playing a game on the gaming machine, can view either the video display device or the reel presentation device along the common line of sight through a viewing window of said external cabinet;

game presentation logic for execution on the processor to present video information on the video display device pertinent to said game play on the gaming machine; and

a mechanism configured to move both the video display device and the reel presentation device into and out of a viewing position along the common line of sight, such that the video display device and the reel presentation device can be moved to a different location within said external cabinet wherein they are no longer viewable by a player through said viewing window.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a curved surface of a digital display device.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the reel presentation device comprises mechanically rotatable reels.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a video reel display.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the video reel display and the video display device are configured to cooperate in displaying three-dimensional visual output that has an actual three-dimensional depth along the common line of sight.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the video display device comprises a non-transparent liquid crystal display.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the mechanism comprises a motor drive configured to move the video display device into and out of the common line of sight.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the mechanism comprises a motor drive configured to move the reel presentation device into and out of the common line of sight.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one gaming machine further comprises a touch screen proximately located along the common line of sight and positioned to allow a player to select game options by touching regions on the video display device along the common line of sight.

34. A gaming machine comprising:

an external cabinet defining an interior region of the gaming machine, the external cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components within or about the interior region;

a processor configured to execute instructions from memory that permit game play on the gaming machine;

a reel presentation device mounted to or within said external cabinet;

a video display device positioned in front of and along a common line of sight with respect to the reel presentation device such that a user, while positioned for playing a game on the gaming machine, can view both video display device and the reel presentation device along the common line of sight through a viewing window of said external cabinet;

game presentation logic for execution on the processor to (i) determine which of multiple available game types to present on the video display device, and (ii) present video display data for the game types determined in (i) to be played on the gaming machine; and

a mechanism configured to move either the video display device or the reel presentation device into and out of position along the common line of sight based on the determination made by the game presentation logic as to which of the multiple available game types is to be presented on the video display device, such that both the video display device and the reel presentation device can be moved to a different location within said external cabinet wherein they are no longer viewable by a user through said viewing window.

35. The gaming machine of claim 34, further comprising instructions for downloading to the gaming machine, code for playing a game and digital video data for output on the digital display device.

36. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the game presentation logic comprises instructions for selecting one of multiple stored games for play on the gaming machine.

37. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the reel presentation device comprises mechanically rotatable reels.

38. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a video reel display.

39. The gaming machine of claim 38, wherein the video reel display and the video display device are configured to cooperate in displaying three-dimensional visual output that has an actual three-dimensional depth along the common line of sight.

40. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the video display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

41. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the game play comprises playing a slot game.

42. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the reel presentation device comprises an OLED device for displaying the symbols.

43. The gaming machine of claim 34, further comprising a projection-type display device configured to cast an image of reel symbols onto the reel presentation device.

44. The gaming machine of claim 34, further comprising a touch screen proximately located along the common line of sight and positioned to allow a player to select options presented on the video display device along the common line of sight.

45. A method of displaying information pertaining to game play in a game of chance in a gaming machine having a video display device and a reel presentation device positioned along a common line of sight such that a user, while positioned for playing a game on the gaming machine, can view both video display device and the reel presentation device along the common line of sight through a viewing window of a cabinet of the gaming machine, the method comprising:

(a) determining which of multiple available game types, including at least one slot game, to present on the video display device;

(b) moving either the video display device and the reel presentation device into and out of position along the common line of sight based on the determination made as to which of the multiple available game types is to be presented on the video display device, such that both the video display device and the reel presentation device can be moved to a different location within said cabinet wherein the are no longer viewable by a user through said viewing window; and

(c) presenting video display data for the game types determined in (a) to be played on the gaming machine.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the reel presentation device comprises mechanically rotatable reels.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the reel presentation device comprises a video reel display.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising presenting data to the video reel display and the video display device to cause display of a three-dimensional visual output that has an actual three-dimensional depth along the common line of sight.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the multiple available game types comprise, in addition to the slot game, at least one of a video card game, baccarat, video pachinko, a lottery, keno, and a bingo game.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising controlling a display of symbols on the reel presentation device.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising processing information provided from a touch screen proximately located along the common line of sight and positioned to allow a player to select options presented on the video display device.

52. A system comprising one or more gaming machines on a network, wherein at least one of the gaming machines comprises:

(a) a processor configured to execute instructions from memory that permit game play on the gaming machine;

(b) a reel presentation device mounted to or within an external cabinet;

(c) a video display device positioned in front of and along a common line of sight with respect to the reel presentation device such that a user, while positioned for playing a game on the gaming machine, can view both video display device and the reel presentation device along the common line of sight through a viewing window of a cabinet of a gaming machine;

(d) game presentation logic for (i) determining which of multiple available game types to present on the video display device, and (ii) presenting video display data for the game types determined in (i) to be played on the gaming machine; and

(e) a mechanism configured to move either the video display device or the reel presentation device into and out of position along the common line of sight based on the determination made by the game presentation logic as to which of the multiple available game types is to be presented on the video display device, such that both the video display device and the reel presentation device can be moved to a different location within said cabinet wherein they are no longer viewable by a user through said viewing window.

53. The system of claim 52, further comprising a server on the network, which server provides information for executing game plays on at least one of the gaming machines.

54. The system of claim 52, further comprising a server on the network, which server provides downloadable games for execution on at least one of the one or more gaming machines.

55. The system of claim 52, comprising at least two gaming machines on the network, wherein the at least two gaming machines share said multiple available game types.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the game presentation logic of the gaming machine further comprises logic for presenting game information in 3-dimensional images on the video display device in conjunction with the reel display.

57. The system of claim 52, wherein the reel presentation device comprises mechanically rotatable reels.

58. The system of claim 52, wherein the one or more reels or the reel presentation device comprises a video reel display.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the video reel display and the video display device are configured to cooperate in displaying three-dimensional visual output that has an actual three-dimensional depth along the common line of sight.

60. The system of claim 52, wherein the video display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

61. The system of claim 52, wherein the game play comprises playing a slot game.

62. The system of claim 52, wherein the reel presentation device comprises an OLED device for displaying the symbols.

63. The system of claim 52, further comprising a projection-type display device configured to cast an image of reel symbols onto the reel presentation device.