Single source visual image display distribution on a gaming machine

• US 7,488,252 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Griswold, Chauncey W., Wilder, Richard L., Mattice, Harold E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/982,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 34, 463/46, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/138.2, 273/148.B, 359/630, 359/631
• US Class Current: 463/31
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for displaying multiple visual images from a single source at a gaming machine are disclosed. A reversible display device at the gaming machine presents multiple visual images from an LCD cell or other core display component. Virtual curtains alternate between blocking and permitting the display of visual images at various surfaces of the reversible display device. For an LCD cell or similar component needing a separate illumination source, illumination components alternate on and off in coordinated fashion with the virtual curtains, and are arranged to reflect light through the LCD cell in one direction to display one visual image at one surface and then in an opposite direction to display another visual image at the opposite surface. Lenses, mirrors and other optical devices redirect or alter a visual image from a surface such that it is not viewed directly from the display device itself.

Claims

1. A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, comprising:

an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein;

a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components and adapted to control one or more aspects of said game;

a reversible liquid crystal display device in communication with said master gaming controller, located within or about said exterior housing and configured to display a first visual image from a first surface and a second visual image from a second surface opposite said first surface, said display device having at least one liquid crystal display cell, a plurality of illumination components and a plurality of virtual curtains adapted to alternate between reflecting light into said liquid crystal display cell and permitting light from said liquid crystal display cell to pass therethrough; and

one or more optical devices adapted to redirect at least one of said first and second visual images such that the redirected visual image is not viewed directly from said liquid crystal display cell.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said one or more optical devices include at least one lens.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said one or more optical devices include at least one mirror.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein said at least one mirror includes a parabolic mirror adapted to redirect and enlarge said redirected visual image.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said first visual image and said second visual image are simultaneously viewable by the same viewer.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein said first visual image and said second visual image are positioned as adjacent to one another.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said first visual image is viewable directly from said reversible liquid crystal display device at a first viewing position, while said second visual image is redirected by one or more mirrors to create a virtual liquid crystal display device that is also viewable from said first viewing position.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein said second visual image is enlarged by one or more lenses interposed between said liquid crystal display device and said first viewing position.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein said redirecting and enlarging of said second visual image results in said first visual image and said second visual image being positioned as adjacent to one another.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein control of said adjacent first visual image and said second visual image is coordinated to create at least one coherent image that spans at least a portion of both visual images.

11. A gaming system adapted for accepting wagers, playing games based on the wagers and granting payouts based on the results of the games, comprising:

a plurality of input and output devices adapted to accept wagers, play games and grant payouts based on the results of the games;

a master gaming controller in communication with one or more of said plurality of input and output devices, said master gaming controller adapted to control one or more aspects of said games; and

a reversible liquid crystal display device in communication with said master gaming controller and configured to display a first visual image of a gaming event from a first surface to a first player at a first viewing position and a second visual image of a gaming event from a second surface opposite said first surface to a second player at a second viewing position separate from said first viewing position, said display device having at least one liquid crystal display cell, a plurality of illumination components and a plurality of virtual curtains adapted to alternate between reflecting light into said liquid crystal display cell and permitting light from said liquid crystal display cell to pass therethrough.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein said first visual image of a gaming event and said second visual image of a gaming event depict two separate and unrelated gaming events being played simultaneously by different players.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein said two separate and unrelated gaming events being played simultaneously by different players are both controlled by said master gaming controller.

14. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein said first visual image of a gaming event and said second visual image of a gaming event depict the same gaming event.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein said first visual image and said second visual image depict different visual representations of said gaming event.

16. The gaming system of claim 11, further including:

one or more optical devices adapted to redirect at least one of said first and second visual images such that the redirected visual image is not viewed directly from said reversible liquid crystal display device.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein said one or more optical devices include at least one lens, at least one mirror, or both.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said first and second visual images is enlarged by one or more lenses interposed between said liquid crystal display device and its respective viewing position.

19. A method of displaying visual images at a gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, the method comprising:

providing a gaming machine having an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein, a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components and adapted to control one or more aspects of said game, and a reversible liquid crystal display device in communication with said master gaming controller, located within or about said exterior housing and configured to display one visual image from a first surface and another visual image from a second surface opposite said first surface, said liquid crystal display device having a first liquid crystal display cell, a plurality of illumination components and first and second virtual curtains;

communicating a first visual image to said first liquid crystal display cell;

communicating a second visual image to said first liquid crystal display cell;

opening said first virtual curtain, such that light from said first liquid crystal display cell can substantially pass therethrough;

closing said second virtual curtain, such that light from said first liquid crystal display cell cannot substantially pass therethrough;

displaying said first visual image for a first time interval from said first surface of said liquid crystal display device while said first virtual curtain is open and said second virtual curtain is closed;

closing said first virtual curtain, such that light from said liquid crystal display cell cannot substantially pass therethrough;

opening said second virtual curtain, such that light from said liquid crystal display cell can substantially pass therethrough; and

displaying said second visual image for a second time interval from said second surface of said liquid crystal display device while said first virtual curtain is closed and said second virtual curtain is open.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first visual image and said second visual image depict the same gaming event.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first visual image and said second visual image depict different visual representations of said gaming event.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said first visual image and said second visual image depict two separate and unrelated gaming events being played simultaneously by different players.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said two separate and unrelated gaming events being played simultaneously by different players are both controlled by said master gaming controller.

24. The method of claim 19, further including the steps of:

providing one or more optical devices within said gaming machine; and

arranging at least one of said one or more optical devices to redirect at least one of said first and second visual images such that the redirected visual image is not viewed directly from said reversible liquid crystal display device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said one or more optical devices include at least one lens, at least one mirror, or both.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said one or more optical devices include a parabolic mirror adapted to redirect and enlarge said redirected visual image.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said arranging step results in said first and second visual images being simultaneously viewable by the same viewer.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said arranging step results in said first visual image and said second visual image being positioned as adjacent to one another.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said arranging step results in said first visual image being viewable directly from said reversible liquid crystal display device at a first viewing position, while said second visual image is redirected by said one or more optical devices to create a virtual liquid crystal display device that is also viewable from said first viewing position.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said arranging step results in said second visual image being enlarged by one or more lenses interposed between said liquid crystal display device and said first viewing position.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said redirecting and enlarging of said second visual image results in said first visual image and said second visual image being positioned as adjacent to one another, and further including the step of:

coordinating the control of said adjacent first visual image and said second visual image such that at least one coherent image that spans at least a portion of both visual images is produced.

32. The method of claim 19, further including the steps of:

providing a second liquid crystal display cell within said liquid crystal display device and positioned adjacent to said first liquid crystal display cell;

communicating a third visual image to said second liquid crystal display cell; and

displaying said third visual image during said first time interval from said first surface of said liquid crystal display device while said first virtual curtain is open and said second virtual curtain is closed.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said first and third images are displayed simultaneously from said first surface of said liquid crystal display device, wherein said third image overlaps at least a portion of said first image to form a combination image, and wherein at least a portion of said combination image displayed from said first surface appears to be three dimensional.

34. The method of claim 32, further including the steps of:

communicating a fourth visual image to said second liquid crystal display cell; and

displaying said fourth visual image during said second time interval from said second surface of said liquid crystal display device while said first virtual curtain is closed and said second virtual curtain is open.

35. A gaming system adapted for accepting wagers, playing games based on the wagers and granting payouts based on the results of the games, comprising:

a plurality of input and output devices adapted to accept wagers, play games and grant payouts based on the results of the games;

a master gaming controller in communication with one or more of said plurality of input and output devices, said master gaming controller adapted to control one or more aspects of said games; and

a reversible liquid crystal display device in communication with said master gaming controller and configured to display one visual image of a gaming event from a first surface to a first player at a first viewing position and another visual image of a gaming event from a second surface opposite said first surface to a second player at a second viewing position separate from said first viewing position, said display device having a first liquid crystal display cell, a second liquid crystal display cell, a plurality of illumination components and a plurality of virtual curtains adapted to alternate between reflecting light into said first liquid crystal display cell and permitting light from said first liquid crystal display cell to pass therethrough,

wherein said first liquid crystal display cell is positioned adjacent to said second liquid crystal display cell such that light passing through both said first liquid crystal display cell having a first visual image therein and said second liquid crystal display cell having a second visual image therein forms a combination image of said first and second visual images at said first surface of said liquid crystal display device.

36. The gaming system of claim 35, wherein said first and second visual images are displayed simultaneously from said first surface, wherein said first image overlaps at least a portion of said second image to form said combination image, and wherein at least a portion of said combination image appears to be three dimensional.

37. A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, comprising:

an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein;

a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components and adapted to control one or more aspects of said game;

a reversible display device located within or about said exterior housing and in communication with said master gaming controller, said reversible display device being adapted to display a plurality of visual images and including a plurality of display surfaces and a plurality of virtual curtains disposed about said plurality of display surfaces, wherein at least one of said plurality of virtual curtains is adapted to alternate between permitting and blocking the display of at least one of said plurality of visual images from one of said plurality of display surfaces; and

one or more optical devices located within or about said exterior housing and adapted to alter the display of at least one of said plurality of visual images.

38. The gaming machine of claim 37, wherein said reversible display device includes a display component selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, a plasma display, a field emission display, a digital light processing display, and an electroluminescence display.

39. The gaming machine of claim 37, wherein said reversible display device further includes at least one core display component adapted to generate at least two of said plurality of visual images.

40. The gaming machine of claim 39, wherein said at least one core display component comprises a liquid crystal display cell.

41. The gaming machine of claim 37, wherein said one or more optical devices include at least one lens, at least one mirror, or both.

42. The gaming machine of claim 37, wherein said one or more optical devices alter the display of at least one of said plurality of visual images by redirecting said at least one of said plurality of visual images.

43. The gaming machine of claim 37, wherein at least two of said plurality of visual images are simultaneously viewable by the same viewer.