Wagering game with multi-point gesture sensing device

• US 8,062,115 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Prohl, Anthony, Thomas, Alfred, Shimabukuro, Jorge L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar; Omkar
• Application Number:
  US12/226,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20090191946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/30, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen

Abstract

A gaming machine having a multipoint sensing device capable of sensing a multipoint gesture, which includes at least two simultaneously touched points. One or both of the points can serve as an initial starting point for a gesture, which represents a continuous movement across the multipoint sensing device. The multipoint sensing device produces data representing a multipoint gesture, which data is analyzed to determine a wagering-game function to be executed. For example, the wagering-game function may be selecting a payline by touching two distinct points in a slot-type wagering game. Another function may be increasing a bonus award by dragging two fingers in opposite directions. Yet another function may be selecting a bonus award amount by holding one finger while dragging another finger to aim at a target representing multiple bonus award amounts, one of those amounts being revealed to the player upon release of the other finger.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

an input device for receiving a signal representing a wager associated with a wagering game;

a video display for displaying the wagering game and a randomly selected outcome thereof;

a multipoint sensing device positioned adjacent to the video display and having an output for outputting multipoint input data indicative of a multipoint input relative to the video display such that the multipoint input corresponds to at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by the multipoint sensing device, wherein the multipoint input includes a gesture made by at least one of the contact points; and

a controller coupled to the multipoint sensing device and the video display, the controller being programmed to;

determine a distance between the at least two distinct contact points;

cause the video display to display a graphic that appears to move at a velocity related to the distance and in a direction related to the positions of the at least two distinct contact points, wherein the graphic has more than one degree of freedom of movement; and

execute a predetermined wagering-game function that causes an award to be revealed on the video display in a manner that appears to have been influenced by the graphic, the award being determined by the randomly selected outcome.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the multipoint sensing device includes a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) device having a transparent substrate, the video display including a video projector for displaying images relative to the transparent substrate and a video camera for capturing scattered light at multiple points of contact on the transparent pane.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the multipoint sensing device is a multipoint touch screen that includes a plurality of capacitive electrodes arrayed relative to a transparent substrate, the multipoint touch screen overlaying at least a portion of the display.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the video display is of a liquid crystal type.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a handheld gaming machine.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the multipoint input data is indicative of any one or more of a direction, a size, an acceleration, and a pressure of the gesture sensed by the multipoint sensing device.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is a bonus game, and wherein the award is a bonus award.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the predetermined wagering-game function includes a selection of a payline.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the predetermined wagering-game function includes an amount to wager per payline.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the predetermined wagering-game function includes a selection of the award.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the video display to display a motion trail with the multipoint input sensed by the multipoint sensing device as at least one contact point is being moved relative to the multipoint sensing device to form the gesture.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the multipoint input corresponds to a point that is touched relative to the multipoint sensing device and held there while touching another point, dragging that other point relative to the multipoint sensing device, and releasing that other point thereby causing the graphic to appear to move.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the award is revealed to the player as a function of the respective coordinates of the touched point and the released point.

14. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the multipoint input data is indicative of a pressure applied to the other of the contact points while the at least one contact point is moved relative to the multipoint sensing device.

15. The gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is further programmed to determine whether the pressure is sufficiently applied to cause the graphic to be made to move.

16. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the graphic is a projectile that is launched at a plurality of targets, the controller being further programmed to cause the projectile to appear to hit one of the plurality of targets corresponding to the award to be revealed, wherein the award is determined before the projectile is caused to appear to move.

17. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the graphic has no influence of the randomly determined outcome.

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

receiving a signal representing a wager associated with a wagering game;

responsive to the receiving, causing a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game to be determined;

identifying at least one multipoint gesture based on data received from a multipoint sensing device, the multipoint gesture being formed from at least one of at least two distinct contact points sensed simultaneously by the multipoint sensing device;

determining a distance between the at least two distinct contact points;

displaying on a video display of the gaming machine a graphic that appears to move at a velocity as a function of the distance and in a direction as a function of the relative positions of the at least two distinct contact points wherein the graphic has more than one degree of freedom of movement; and

causing an award to be revealed on the video display in a manner that appears to have been influenced by the graphic, the award being determined by the randomly selected outcome.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising causing a controller of the gaming machine to determine, responsive to the identifying, a wagering-game function and to execute the wagering-game function.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising comparing the data with data representing a wagering-game function, the modifying including executing the wagering-game function responsive to the comparing.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one multipoint gesture includes at least two gestures moved simultaneously relative to the multipoint sensing device and having two distinct initial touch points.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one multipoint gesture includes at least a first touch point held relative to the multipoint sensing device while simultaneously at least a second touch point, distinct from the first touch point, is gestured relative to the multipoint sensing device.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the displaying further comprises displaying an animation synchronized with the at least one multipoint gesture sensed by the multipoint sensing device.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining any one or more of a direction, size, acceleration, and pressure associated with the at least one multipoint gesture, and responsive thereto, causing a wagering-game function to be executed.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one multipoint gesture includes a second multipoint gesture, the method further comprising associating, responsive to the identifying, a selection of a payline with the second multipoint gesture.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one multipoint gesture includes a second multipoint gesture, the method further comprising associating, responsive to the identifying, a number of wagers per payline with the second multipoint gesture.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising associating, responsive to the identifying, a selection of the award with the at least one multipoint gesture.

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a handheld gaming machine to perform the method of claim 18.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the data is indicative of a pressure applied to a first of the contact points while the other of the contact points is moved relative to the multipoint sensing device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining whether the pressure is sufficiently applied to cause the graphic to be made to move.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the graphic is a projectile that is launched at a plurality of targets, the method further comprising causing the projectile to appear to hit one of the plurality of targets corresponding to the award to be revealed, wherein the award is determined before the projectile is caused to appear to move.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the multipoint gesture has no influence of the randomly determined outcome.

33. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a wager input for a wagering game;

determining a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game having an associated award;

responsive to determining the randomly selected outcome, receiving data from a multipoint sensing device indicative of at least one multipoint gesture, the multipoint gesture including at least two points simultaneously touched relative to the multipoint sensing device;

determining a distance between the at least two points;

displaying on a video display of the gaming machine a graphic;

responsive to detecting that at least one of the two at least points is no longer being touched relative to the multipoint sensing device, causing the graphic to appear to move at a velocity and a direction, the velocity being related to the distance and the direction being related to the positions of the at least two points, wherein the graphic has more than one degree of freedom of movement, the graphic causing the award to be revealed on the video display, wherein the gesture has no influence on the randomly selected outcome that produced the award.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the multipoint gesture includes at least one gesture originating at one of the at least two points.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the graphic appears to interact with another graphic on the video display to cause the award to be revealed.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the data is indicative of a pressure applied to a first of the contact points.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising determining whether the pressure is sufficiently applied to influence the graphic.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the wagering game is a bonus game and wherein the award is a bonus award.