Wagering game systems, wagering gaming machines, and wagering gaming chairs having haptic and thermal feedback

• US 9,058,714 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamlin, Vernon W., Aoki, Dion K., Bleich, Charles R., Burke, Mary M., Jaffe, Joel R., Loose, Timothy C., Sylla, Craig J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL, SHAUNA-KAY N
• Application Number:
  US13/477,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20120302302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof

Abstract

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes at least one input device configured to receive a wager, at least one display device configured to display a wagering game, one or more thermal devices configured to produce a thermal effect, at least one controller in operative communication with the one or more thermal devices, at least one memory device storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the at least one controller, the one or more thermal devices to produce a thermal effect according to an aspect of the wagering game.

Claims

1. A gaming system primarily dedicated to conducting a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming cabinet configured to house electronic components operable for conducting the wagering game;

at least one electronic input device coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet and configured to receive a physical input from a player as an indication of a wager, and further configured to transform the physical input into an electronic data signal;

at least one electronic display device coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet and configured to display a plurality of player-selectable options for the wagering game;

at least one electronic random element generator configured to generate random elements associated with randomly determined outcomes of the wagering game;

at least one gaming chair adjacent the at least one gaming cabinet;

a plurality of discrete thermal devices coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet or the at least one gaming chair, or both, the discrete thermal devices being configured to produce a thermal effect;

at least one controller in operative communication with the discrete thermal devices; and

at least one memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one controller, cause each of the discrete thermal devices to produce a distinct thermal effect that provides an indication of a volatility for each of the plurality of player-selectable options of the wagering game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming cabinet includes a button panel with a plurality of player-input buttons, the one or more of the discrete thermal devices being disposed in the player-input buttons of the gaming cabinet.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the discrete thermal devices are disposed in a backrest portion of the at least one gaming chair.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to synchronize actuation of the discrete thermal devices to thereby create a sensation of a thermal pattern.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the discrete thermal devices comprise one or more thermoelectric devices.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising at least one thermal sensor in operative communication with the at least one controller to form a thermal feedback system, the thermal feedback system including the at least one thermal sensor, the at least one controller, and one or more of the discrete thermal devices, the at least one controller being configured to adjust the thermal effects produced by the one or more of the discrete thermal devices based on one or more signals received by the at least one controller from the at least one thermal sensor.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a thermal display device configured to undergo a physical change in response to the thermal effect produced by the one or more thermal devices.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising at least one player input button coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet, at least one of the discrete thermal devices being disposed in the at least one player input button such that the player can physically touch the at least one discrete thermal device.

9. A gaming chair for a wagering game system configured to conduct a wagering game, the gaming chair comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest portion;

a base connected to and supporting the seat portion and the backrest portion;

a plurality of discrete thermal devices coupled to the seat portion or the backrest portion, or both, and configured to produce a thermal effect;

at least one controller in operative communication with the thermal devices, the at least one controller being configured to actuate the thermal devices in response to randomly determined events occurring in the wagering game; and

at least one thermal sensor in operative communication with the at least one controller to form a thermal feedback system, the at least one controller being configured to adjust the thermal effect produced by the thermal devices based on one or more signals received by the at least one controller from the at least one thermal sensor.

10. The gaming chair of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the thermal devices is disposed within, an armrest portion or a thermal apron portion of the gaming chair.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of discrete thermal devices comprises an array of thermal devices, and the at least one controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of thermal devices to thereby create at least one of a sensation of a thermal pattern and a simulated movement of a thermal effect.

12. The gaming chair of claim 9, wherein the at least one thermal sensor is configured to measure an ambient temperature.

13. The gaming chair of claim 9, wherein the at least one thermal sensor is located near at least one of the discrete thermal devices.

14. A method of conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system primarily dedicated to conducting casino wagering games, the method comprising:

receiving, via at least one electronic input device, a physical input from a player as an indication of a wager to initiate the wagering game;

initiating the wagering game, via at least one processor, in response to an electronic data signal generated by the at least one electronic input device responsive to the physical input from the player;

randomly determining, via the at least one processor and based, at least in part, on a random element generated by at least one electronic random element generator, an outcome of the wagering game from a plurality of wagering-game outcomes;

displaying, via at least one electronic display device, the randomly determined outcome of the wagering game; and

synchronously actuating a plurality of discrete thermal devices coupled to at least one gaming cabinet or at least one gaming chair, or both, to produce a thermal effect that provides a precursory cue facilitating a skill mechanic of the player during a skill-based feature of the wagering game.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the thermal effect facilitates the skill mechanic by indicating an optimal time for actuating an input.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a likelihood of an advantageous symbol appearing in a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game is increased if the input is actuated during the optimal time.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the thermal effect further facilitates the skill mechanic by indicating a suboptimal time for actuating the input.

18. A gaming system primarily dedicated to conducting a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming cabinet configured to house electronic components operable for conducting the wagering game;

at least one electronic input device coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet and configured to receive a physical input from a player as an indication of a wager, and further configured to transform the physical input into an electronic data signal;

at least one electronic display device coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet and configured to display randomly determined outcomes of the wagering game;

at least one gaming chair adjacent the at least one gaming cabinet;

a plurality of discrete thermal devices coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet or the at least one gaming chair, or both, the discrete thermal devices being configured to produce a thermal effect;

at least one controller in operative communication with the discrete thermal devices; and

at least one memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one controller, cause each of the discrete thermal devices to produce a distinct thermal effect that at least one of (i) provides a precursory cue facilitating a skill mechanic of the player during a skill-based feature of the wagering game, or (ii) indicates a volatility for each of a plurality of player selectable options of the wagering game.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the thermal effect facilitates the skill mechanic by indicating an optimal time for actuating an input.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the input is at least one player input button, one or more of the discrete thermal devices being disposed in the at least one player input button.

21. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein one or more of the discrete thermal devices comprise one or more thermoelectric devices.

22. A method of conducting a casino wagering game on a wagering game system primarily dedicated to conducting casino wagering games, the method comprising:

receiving, via at least one electronic input device, a physical input from a player as an indication of a wager to initiate the casino wagering game;

initiating the casino wagering game, via at least one processor, in response to an electronic data signal generated by the at least one electronic input device responsive to the physical input from the player;

randomly determining, via the at least one processor and based, at least in part, on a random element generated by at least one electronic random element generator, an outcome of the wagering game from a plurality of wagering-game outcomes;

displaying, via at least one electronic display device, the randomly determined outcome of the wagering game; and

synchronously actuating a plurality of discrete thermal devices coupled to at least one gaming cabinet or at least one gaming chair, or both, to produce a plurality of thermal effects that each indicates a volatility for one of a plurality of player selectable options of the wagering game.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the indication of the state of the one or more spinning reels of the wagering game is an indication of one or more potential winning outcomes or game events that can be achieved when all of the one or more spinning reels stop.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the indication of the state of the one or more spinning reels is an indication of an anticipation spin.

25. A gaming system primarily dedicated to conducting a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming cabinet configured to house electronic components operable for conducting the wagering game;

at least one electronic input device coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet and configured to receive a physical input from a player as an indication of a wager, and further configured to transform the physical input into an electronic data signal;

at least one electronic display device coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet and configured to display a plurality of player-selectable options for the wagering game;

at least one gaming chair adjacent the at least one gaming cabinet;

a plurality of discrete thermal devices coupled to the at least one gaming cabinet or the at least one gaming chair, or both, the discrete thermal devices being configured to produce a thermal effect;

at least one controller in operative communication with the discrete thermal devices; and

at least one memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one controller, cause each of the discrete thermal devices to produce a distinct thermal effect that provides an indication of the state of one of a plurality of spinning symbol-bearing reels to facilitate a skill mechanic of the player during a skill-based feature of the wagering game.

26. A gaming chair for a wagering game system configured to conduct a wagering game, the gaming chair comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest portion;

a base connected to and supporting the seat portion and the backrest portion;

a plurality of discrete thermal devices coupled to the seat portion or the backrest portion, or both, and configured to produce a thermal effect; and

at least one controller in operative communication with the thermal devices, the at least one controller being configured to actuate each of the thermal devices to produce a distinct thermal effect that provides at least one of (i) an indication of a volatility for each of a plurality of player selectable options of the wagering game, (ii) an indication of the state of one of a plurality of spinning symbol-bearing reels to facilitate a skill mechanic of the player during a skill-based feature of the wagering game, or (iii) a precursory cue facilitating a skill mechanic of the player during a skill-based feature of the wagering game.