Optically sensitive display for a gaming apparatus

• US 8,529,341 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Griswold, Chauncey W., Mattice, Harold E., Wilder, Richard L., Gadda, Christian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US10/899,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,332 Days
• Field of Search: 463 29- 31, 463/37, 463/40, 463/42, 463/43, 345/104
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming apparatus may include a controller operatively coupled to a display unit and a value input device. The controller may include a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and may be programmed to cause the display unit to generate a game display. The display unit may include an optically sensitive control panel operatively coupled to the controller, and the controller may be programmed to cause the optically sensitive control panel to read an image and to cause the optically sensitive control panel to generate a display of one or more game controls. An optically sensitive video display screen, and the controller may be programmed to cause the display unit to read an image via the optically sensitive video display screen and to cause the display unit to generate the game display on the optically sensitive video display screen.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

an optically sensitive display screen comprising a plurality of display pixels, each display pixel including a plurality of display subpixels and a plurality of optically sensitive subpixels, each display pixel configured to emit light with a color spectrum formed by combining light emitted by each display subpixel of the display pixel, each optically sensitive subpixel configured to detect light, and the optically sensitive display screen configured to display images via the light emitted by the plurality of display pixels and to read images via light detected by the optically sensitive subpixels;

a value input device; and

a controller operatively coupled to the optically sensitive display screen and the value input device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to generate a display of one or more game controls operable for performance of a game routine output on the gaming apparatus and to affect a value payout associated with the game routine when selected,

the controller being programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to read an image of a fingerprint of a finger of a player when the finger is used to select one of the game controls displayed by the optically sensitive display screen,

the controller being programmed to compare a characteristic of the fingerprint image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a player identification stored in the memory,

the controller being programmed to determine the value payout associated with an outcome of the game.

2. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to compare the characteristic of the fingerprint image with the corresponding characteristic for each of the game controls selected by the player.

3. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to prevent the player from playing the game if the characteristic of the fingerprint image does not match the corresponding characteristic.

4. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein one or more areas of the optically sensitive screen relating to the one or more game controls comprise touch-sensitive areas.

5. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to produce a game display on the optically sensitive display screen.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display subpixels in the plurality of display subpixels for each display pixel each emit a different color of light.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of display subpixels for each display pixel includes a first display subpixel, a second display subpixel, and a third display subpixel, wherein the first display subpixel emits red light, wherein the second display pixel emits green light, and wherein the third display subpixel emits blue light.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, the optically sensitive display screen further comprising a plurality of non-optically sensitive display pixels, each non-optically sensitive display pixel including a plurality of display subpixels and not including any optically-sensitive subpixels, wherein:

each non-optically sensitive display pixel is configured to emit light with a color spectrum formed by combining light emitted by each display subpixel of the non-optically sensitive display pixel, and

the optically sensitive display screen is configured to display a first image in a display region utilizing light emitted by both the display pixels and the non-optically sensitive display pixels, thereby resulting in an optically sensitive display screen with an optically sensitive region located within, and not coextensive with, the display region.

9. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

an optically sensitive display screen comprising a plurality of display pixels and a plurality of non-optically sensitive display pixels, wherein;

each display pixel includes a plurality of display subpixels and a plurality of optically sensitive subpixels, wherein;

each optically sensitive subpixel is configured to detect light, and

each display pixel is configured to emit light with a color spectrum formed by combining light emitted by each display subpixel of the display pixel,

each non-optically sensitive display pixel includes a plurality of display subpixels and does not include any optically-sensitive subpixels, wherein each non-optically sensitive display pixel is configured to emit light with a color spectrum formed by combining light emitted by each display subpixel of the non-optically sensitive display pixel, and

the optically sensitive display screen is configured to display a first image in a display region utilizing light emitted by both the display pixels and the non-optically sensitive display pixels, thereby resulting in an optically sensitive display screen with an optically sensitive first area located within, and not coextensive with, the display region, wherein the optically sensitive display screen is adapted to simultaneously display a portion of the image in the first area and read a second image in the first area;

a value input device; and

a controller operatively coupled to the optically sensitive display screen and the value input device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to generate a display of the first image, the first image comprising one or more game controls operable for performance of a game routine output on the gaming apparatus and to affect a value payout associated with the game routine when selected, the game routine configured to produce an instance of one of the following games;

poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo,

the controller being programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to read the second image in response to receiving an input from the one or more game controls,

the controller being programmed to determine the value payout associated with an outcome of the instance.

10. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the gaming apparatus comprises a video display unit that is capable of generating video images.

11. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 10,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards to be displayed if the game comprises video poker,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels to be displayed if the game comprises video slots,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards to be displayed if the game comprises video blackjack,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers to be displayed if the game comprises video keno,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a bingo grid to be displayed if the game comprises video bingo.

12. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the gaming apparatus comprises at least one mechanical slot machine reel.

13. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, comprising one or more areas of the optically sensitive display screen in addition to the first area, each area of the one or more areas in addition to the first area adapted to display an image of a game control and read an image from the area displaying the game control when the game control is selected and wherein the one or more areas comprise touch-sensitive areas.

14. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to read an image of an object positioned over the one or more game controls.

15. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9,

wherein the second image comprises a player identification image,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to read the player identification image, and

wherein the controller is programmed to compare a characteristic of the player identification image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a player identification stored in the memory.

16. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9,

wherein the second image comprises a fingerprint image of a player,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to read the fingerprint image of the player.

17. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16,

wherein the controller is programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to read the fingerprint image when the fingerprint is positioned over the one or more game controls,

wherein the controller is programmed to compare a characteristic of the fingerprint image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a player identification stored in the memory for each game control activated by the player.

18. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the controller is programmed to prevent the player from playing the game if the characteristic of the fingerprint image does not match the corresponding characteristic.

19. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the optically sensitive display screen comprises a liquid crystal display unit.

20. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the optically sensitive display screen comprises a low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistor liquid crystal display unit.

21. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to generate a display of the second image.

22. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 9, the gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

23. The gaming system as defined in claim 22, wherein the gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.

24. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

an optically sensitive display screen comprising a plurality of display pixels, each display pixel including a plurality of display subpixels and a plurality of optically sensitive subpixels, each display pixel configured to emit light with a color spectrum formed by combining light emitted by each display subpixel of the display pixel, each optically sensitive subpixel configured to detect light, the optically sensitive display screen configured to display images via the light emitted by the plurality of display pixels and to read images via light detected by the optically sensitive subpixels, and the optically sensitive display screen adapted to simultaneously display a first image in a first area and read a second image in the first area;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to the optically sensitive display screen and the value input device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to generate a display of the first image, the first image depicting one or more game controls operable for performance of a slots game output on the gaming apparatus and to affect a value payout associated with the slots game when selected, the one or more game controls configured to receive input for the slots game,

the controller being programmed to cause the optically sensitive display screen to read the second image of an object placed on the first area of the optically sensitive display screen in response to a selection of a game control by a player,

the controller being programmed to receive data representing a payline selection made by the player,

the controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of the slots game, and

the controller being programmed to determine the outcome of the slots game based on a configuration of the slot machine symbols.

25. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the controller is programmed to cause a video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels to be displayed by the optically sensitive video display screen.

26. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the gaming apparatus further comprises at least one mechanical slot machine reel.

27. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the controller is programmed to receive payline data representing a number of paylines selected by the player.

28. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 24,

wherein the second image comprises a fingerprint image when a finger of the player is positioned over the one or more game controls, and

wherein the controller is programmed to compare a characteristic of the fingerprint image with a corresponding characteristic relating to the a player identification stored in the memory for each game control activated by the player.

29. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 24, the gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

30. A gaming method, comprising:

causing a control display of one or more game controls to be generated on an optically sensitive display screen comprising a plurality of display pixels, each display pixel including a plurality of display subpixels and a plurality of optically sensitive subpixels, each display pixel configured to emit light with a color spectrum formed by combining light emitted by each display subpixel of the display pixel, each optically sensitive subpixel configured to detect light, and the optically sensitive display screen configured to display images via the light emitted by the plurality of display pixels and to read images via light detected by the optically sensitive subpixels, the optically sensitive display screen having a combined display and read region, the game controls configured for receiving input regarding a wager or operable for performance of a game routine output on a gaming machine and to affect a value payout associated with the game routine when selected;

reading an image of a player identification when the player identification is positioned over the one or more game controls in response to a selection of one of the one or more game controls by a player;

comparing a characteristic of the player identification image with a corresponding characteristic relating to a stored player identification;

causing a game display of a game routine for one of the following games to be generated on the optically sensitive video display unit;

poker, blackjack, slots, keno or bingo; and

determining the value payout associated with an outcome of the game represented by the game display.

31. The gaming method as defined in claim 30, wherein the player identification comprises a fingerprint of the player, wherein reading an image comprises reading an image of the fingerprint when a finger associated with the fingerprint is positioned over the one or more game controls.

32. The gaming method as defined in claim 31, additionally comprising comparing the characteristic of the fingerprint image with the corresponding characteristic for each game control activated by the player.

33. The gaming method as defined in claim 30, additionally comprising preventing the player from playing the game if the characteristic of the player identification image does not match the corresponding characteristic.

34. The gaming method as defined in claim 30, wherein causing a game display to be generated comprises causing the game display to be generated on the optically sensitive display unit.