Systems, methods, and devices for operating wagering game machines with enhanced user interfaces

• US 9,576,422 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Bowers, Travis L., Fester, Christopher T., Garvey, Jesse L., Ralston, Samuel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US14/254,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20140315619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for operating wagering game machines are disclosed. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a first display device that is configured to display aspects of the wagering game. The first display device includes a touchscreen configured to receive user inputs. The gaming machine also includes a second display device that is configured to display a plurality of user-selectable elements. The second display device is further configured to display a selection mechanism in response to a first user input received from a user via the touchscreen of the first display device. The second display device is also configured, in response to a second user input received from the user via the touchscreen of the first display device, to display the selection mechanism selecting at least one of the displayed user-selectable elements.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine primarily dedicated to conducting a casino wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:

a gaming cabinet configured to house electronic components;

game-logic circuitry disposed within the gaming cabinet;

a first display device coupled to the gaming cabinet;

a second display device coupled to the gaming cabinet;

one or more controllers; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more controllers, causes the gaming machine to;

conduct, using the game-logic circuitry, play of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on one or more random elements generated by a random element generator;

display, using the first display device, aspects of the casino wagering game, the first display device including a touchscreen configured to receive physical inputs from a user and transform the physical inputs into electronic data signals; and

display, using the second display device, a plurality of user-selectable operator setup options, each of the user-selectable operator setup options being adapted to configure operation of the gaming machine, the second display device being further configured to display a selection mechanism in response to a first user input received from a user via the touchscreen of the first display device; and

display, using the second display device, in response to a second user input received from the user via the touchscreen of the first display device, the selection mechanism selecting at least one of the displayed user-selectable operator setup options.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the second display device is further configured, in response to a third user input received from the user via the touchscreen of the first display device, to display the selection mechanism moving towards and then designating one of the user-selectable operator setup options prior to selecting the user-selectable operator setup options.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first user input includes the user touching the touchscreen of the first display device, and the second user input includes the user releasing the touching of the touchscreen.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the user-selectable operator setup options are provided in an administrator configuration menu displayed by the second display device.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the selection mechanism is a display-generated cursor.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the selection mechanism is not displayed by the second display device until the first user input is received from the user via the touchscreen of the first display device.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the second display device is characterized by a lack of a touchscreen.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen of the first display device is absolutely mapped to the display area of the second display device such that each touch-sensitive location of the touchscreen corresponds to a respective location of the selection mechanism displayed on the second display device.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen of the first display device is relatively mapped to the display area of the second display device such that the user can enter inputs on any touch-sensitive location of the touchscreen or any touch-sensitive location within a select subsection of the touchscreen to control the selection mechanism displayed on the second display device.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first display device is configured to display randomly determined base-game outcomes of the wagering game, and the second display device is configured to display randomly determined bonus-game outcomes of the wagering game.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first display device includes a transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) device that is positioned in front of a plurality of electro-mechanical reels.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the transmissive LCD device includes a window portion through which the mechanical reels are visible, the transmissive LCD device being operable to display images on select portions thereof except on the window portion.

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

an electronic slot machine with a gaming cabinet;

an electronic input device coupled to the gaming cabinet and configured to receive player inputs to play the wagering game and output electronic signals indicative thereof;

a first display device coupled to the gaming cabinet and configured to display aspects of the wagering game, the first display device including a touchscreen configured to sense user inputs and output electronic signals indicative thereof;

a second display device coupled to the gaming cabinet and configured to display aspects of the wagering game and a variety of user-selectable operator setup options;

one or more random element generators configured to generate one or more random elements associated with play of the wagering game;

one or more processors operatively connected to the first display device and the second display devices to transmit signals therebetween; and

one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to;

receive, by use of the electronic input device of the electronic slot machine, an electronic signal as an indication of a wager from the player to play the wagering game;

responsive to the received indication of the wager, determine an outcome of the wagering game based, at least in part, on a random element generated by at least one of the one or more random element generators;

direct the first display device to display the outcome of the wagering game;

transmit an award to the player in response to the outcome meeting at least one predetermined award criterion;

direct the second display device to display the user-selectable operator setup options;

responsive to a first signal from the touchscreen of the first display device indicating receipt of a first user input, direct the second display device to display a selection mechanism; and

responsive to a second signal from the touchscreen of the first display device indicating receipt of a second user input, direct the second display device to display the selection mechanism selecting at least one of the user-selectable operator setup options.

14. A method of operating an electronic gaming machine primarily dedicated to conducting a wagering game, the gaming machine having a cabinet housing electronic components operable for conducting the wagering game, one or more electronic input devices coupled to the gaming cabinet and configured to receive one or more physical inputs from a player and generate one or more electronic data signals indicative thereof, one or more electronic display devices coupled to the gaming cabinet and configured to display aspects of the wagering game, one or more controllers, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more controllers, causes the gaming machine to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical input from a player as an indication of a wager to play the wagering game;

initiating, via at least one of the one or more controllers, the wagering game in response to the received wager;

determining, via at least one of the one or more controllers, an outcome of the wagering game based, at least in part, on one or more random elements generated by at least one of one or more random element generators;

displaying, via a first of the one or more display devices, the randomly determined outcome of the wagering game, the first display device including a touchscreen configured to receive physical inputs from a user and transform the physical inputs into electronic data signals;

directing, via at least one of the one or more processors, a second of the one or more display devices to display a plurality of user-selectable operator setup options, each of the operator setup options being adapted to configure operation of the gaming machine;

receiving, via the touchscreen of the first display device, a first user input;

responsive to receipt of the first user input via the touchscreen of the first display device, directing the second display device to display a selection mechanism;

receiving, via the touchscreen of the first display device, a second user input; and

responsive to receipt of the second user input via the touchscreen of the first display device, directing the second display device to display the selection mechanism selecting at least one of the user-selectable operator setup options.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, via the touchscreen of the first display device, a third user input; and

responsive to receipt of the third user input via the touchscreen of the first display device, directing the second display device to display the selection mechanism moving towards and then designating one of the user-selectable operator setup options prior to selecting the user-selectable element.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first user input includes the user touching the touchscreen of the first display device, and the second user input includes the user releasing the touching of the touchscreen.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the user-selectable operator setup options are provided in an administrator configuration menu displayed by the second display device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the touchscreen of the first display device is absolutely mapped to the display area of the second display device such that each touch-sensitive location of the touchscreen corresponds to a respective location of the selection mechanism displayed on the second display device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first display device includes a transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) device that is positioned in front of a plurality of mechanical reels.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first display device is configured to display randomly determined base-game outcomes of the wagering game, and the second display device is configured to display randomly determined bonus-game outcomes of the wagering game.