Patent Application
20240119784
This disclosure relates to bezels that may be used for video display devices, particularly gaming machine video displays, to define a segregated graphic area of the display device.
Electronic gaming machines such as those used in casinos and other gaming establishments are produced in numerous different configurations that implement a wide array of game features intended to increase player interest and enjoyment. In addition to mechanical display elements such as mechanical reels or wheels, modern gaming machines make wide use of various video display devices to display various aspects of game play. The video display devices of a gaming machine may be controlled to show video simulations of spinning elements such as reels or wheels, and numerous other types of game-play related graphics.
Gaming machines that include a mechanical prize wheel, for example, commonly house the mechanical prize wheel and a motor for spinning the wheel in a part of the gaming machine cabinet specifically configured to house the prize wheel with various trim structures and lighting elements located around the periphery of the prize wheel. This arrangement of surrounding trim and lighting elements may also be used for a video display device that is used to display a video simulation of a spinning prize wheel.
In view of the specially configured cabinet and surrounding trim pieces used for both mechanical prize wheels and video simulated prize wheels, a gaming machine configured for such a wheel feature can only be used for games that include such a feature. This limited use for a wheel-configured gaming machine has the effect in increasing inventory and production costs because differently configured gaming machines must be produced and stocked for games including a wheel feature and for games that do not include a wheel feature.
It is an object of the invention to provide an auxiliary bezel assembly that may be installed on a video display device of a gaming machine to define a bezel-segregated graphic area on the underlying video display device. Other objects of the invention include providing gaming machines configured with an auxiliary bezel assembly and providing methods for converting a gaming machine to provide a bezel-segregated graphic area.
An auxiliary bezel assembly according to one aspect of the present invention is adapted for use with a video display device that defines a video display area bordered by a first-side display edge structure and a second-side display edge structure. Such an auxiliary bezel assembly includes first-side and second-side attachment structures, an auxiliary bezel, and first-side and second-side attachment features. The auxiliary bezel defines an auxiliary bezel display area and is connected to the first-side attachment structure at a first side of the auxiliary bezel display area and to the second-side attachment structure at a second side of the auxiliary bezel display area. The first-side and second-side attachment structures are spaced apart across the auxiliary bezel display area so that when the auxiliary bezel is placed in an operating position on the video display device the auxiliary bezel display area overlays a portion of the video display area with the first-side attachment structure extending along a portion of the first-side display edge structure and the second-side attachment structure extending along a portion of the second-side display edge structure. The first-side and second-side attachment features each include an arrangement by which the respective attachment structure is connectable to the video display device when the auxiliary bezel in the operating position on the video display device.
An auxiliary bezel assembly according to this first aspect of the invention has the advantage that it may be installed on a gaming machine video display device to define a bezel-segregated graphic area within the display area of the video display device. The video display device may then be controlled to show desired graphics in the bezel-segregated graphic area. For example, a rectangular-shaped video display device may be modified with an auxiliary bezel assembly according the first aspect of the invention to define a circular display area within which the video display device may be controlled by the gaming machine to display a prize wheel that may be animated to spin as part of a game presentation at the gaming machine. Installing the auxiliary bezel assembly requires no change to the gaming machine cabinet and thus the gaming machine may be converted back to the full rectangular display area simply by removing the auxiliary bezel from the video display device.
A second aspect of the invention encompasses gaming machines on which an auxiliary bezel assembly according to the first aspect of the invention is installed.
In implementations according to the first or second aspects of the invention, the auxiliary bezel assembly may further include an auxiliary bezel back cover connected to the auxiliary bezel. The auxiliary bezel back cover may include a first-side cover extension forming part of the first-side attachment structure and a second-side cover extension forming part of the second-side attachment structure. Such an auxiliary bezel back cover may be formed in one piece with a cover center section adapted to mate with the auxiliary bezel in a back cover operating position in which an open area defined by the auxiliary bezel back cover aligns with the auxiliary bezel display area. The auxiliary bezel back cover in some implementations is formed from sheet metal with the first-side cover extension and second-side cover extension bent to extend transverse to a plane of the cover center section.
An auxiliary bezel assembly according to either of the first and second aspects of the invention my include a lighting assembly with one or more light emitting elements. In these implementations, a lighting control wiring assembly is operatively connected to the one or more light emitting elements and extends within the auxiliary bezel assembly from the lighting assembly and through a lighting control opening formed in either the first-side attachment structure or the second-side attachment structure. A light diffuser may be positioned on the auxiliary bezel to align with the lighting assembly. For example, such a light diffuser and lighting assembly may be used to implement a wheel pointer in a game to designate a selected wheel segment shown within the auxiliary bezel display area.
A third aspect of the invention encompasses methods for converting a gaming machine to define a bezel-segregated graphic area. Methods according to this third aspect include positioning an auxiliary bezel assembly on the video display device in an operating position in which an auxiliary bezel display area defined by the auxiliary bezel assembly overlays a portion of a display area defined by the video display device. Also in this operating position, a first-side attachment structure of the auxiliary bezel assembly extends along a portion of a first-side display edge structure of the video display device and a second-side attachment structure of the auxiliary bezel assembly extends along a portion of a second-side display edge structure of the video display device. The methods further include operatively connecting a driver end of a lighting control wiring assembly to an auxiliary bezel light driver circuit. The lighting control wiring assembly is routed from a lighting assembly of the auxiliary bezel assembly, through the auxiliary bezel assembly, and through a lighting control opening formed in either the first-side attachment structure and the second-side attachment structure. The methods then include securing the first-side attachment structure to the video display device through a first-side display edge structure of the video display device and securing the second-side attachment structure to the video display device through a second-side display edge structure of the video display device.
These and other aspects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of representative embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciate that other basic electronic components will be included in gaming machine 100 such as a power supply, cooling systems for the various system components, audio amplifiers, and other devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional devices are omitted from the drawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail.
All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in
Numerous other variations in the gaming machine internal structure and system may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, a gaming machine in some embodiments of the present invention may rely on one or more data processors located remotely from the gaming machine itself. Embodiments of the present invention may include no processor such as CPU 205 or graphics processor such as 215 at the gaming machine, and may instead rely on one or more remote processors. Thus unless specifically stated otherwise, the designation “gaming machine” is used in this disclosure and the accompanying claims to designate a system of devices that operate together to provide the indicated functions. A “gaming machine” may include a gaming machine such as gaming machine 100 shown in
It will also be appreciated that graphics processors are also commonly a part of modern computer systems. Although separate graphics processor 215 is shown for controlling primary video display device 104, CPU 205 or a graphics processor packaged with or included with CPU 205 may control all of the display devices directly without any separately packaged graphics processor. The invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of processing devices for controlling the video display devices included with gaming machine 100. Also, a gaming machine implementing the present invention is not limited to any particular number of video display devices or other types of display devices. While display devices 104 and 106 are shown in the example implementation, the display device area may be arranged differently than the portrait orientation shown or may be an area of a single display device.
In the illustrated gaming machine 100, CPU 205 executes software, that is, program code, that ultimately controls the entire gaming machine including the receipt of player inputs and the presentation of the graphics or information displayed according to the invention through the display devices 104 and 106 and other display devices associated with the gaming machine. CPU 205 also executes software related to communications handled through network controller 210, and software related to various peripheral devices such as those connected to the system through audio controller 209, serial interface 211, and touch screen controller 217. CPU 205 may also execute software to perform accounting functions associated with game play. Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile memory or storage device 207 may comprise mass storage device providing storage for game software (program code) prior to loading into random access memory 206 for execution, or for programs and program assets not in use or for other data generated or used in the course of gaming machine operation. Network controller 210 provides an interface to other components of a gaming system in which gaming machine 100 may be included.
It should be noted that the invention is not limited to gaming machines employing the personal computer-type arrangement of processing devices and interfaces shown in example gaming machine 100. Other gaming machines through which the invention may be implemented may include one or more special purpose processing devices to perform the various processing steps for implementing the invention. Unlike general purpose processing devices such as CPU 205, that may comprise an Intel® or AMD® processor for example, these special purpose processing devices may not employ operational program code to direct the various processing steps.
Reel Assembly 213 is shown in the diagrammatic representation of
Referring now to
The example auxiliary bezel assembly 112 also includes an auxiliary bezel back cover 310 having a first-side cover extension 312 and first-side fastener sleeves 313. As shown in the perspective of
The exploded view of
The exploded view of
Referring now to
Example auxiliary bezel 300 and auxiliary bezel back cover 310 are adapted to be assembled together in the connected position to form the bezel assembly 112 in
The method of attaching example auxiliary bezel assembly 112 to gaming machine 100 may now be described with reference particularly to
In implementations such as that shown in the example where lights and or potentially other electronic devices are included in the auxiliary bezel assembly, the wiring (such as wiring assembly 326) for those electronic components may be routed through the bezel assembly in the area between auxiliary bezel 300 and back cover 310 to one side of the bezel assembly where the wire may be routed further through wire routing opening 316 or 318 and then 330 or 332 to reach the interior of cabinet 102 (shown in
Numerous variations are possible relative to example auxiliary bezel assembly 112 shown in the figures. In some implementations, the auxiliary bezel such as bezel 300 may be sufficiently rigid without a cover such as back cover 310 that extends the entire width of the assembly. In these cases the auxiliary bezel assembly may include no back cover. Of course the display area defined by an auxiliary bezel assembly within the scope of the invention need not be a circular area. The auxiliary bezel assembly may be configured to segregate an area of any shape on an underlying display device. These and other variations are possible within the scope of the invention.
Variations are also possible in a gaming machine with which the auxiliary bezel assembly may be used. In particular, an auxiliary bezel assembly according to the present invention is not limited to use with a display device arrangement such as that shown in the figures. Although the example gaming machine includes bezels at the first and second sides of the display devices 104 and 106, an auxiliary bezel assembly in accordance with the present invention is compatible with other display device structures. For example, a display device may be housed in an assembly with no bezel per se, that is, with no trim piece that covers a peripheral front surface of the display device. In these cases, an auxiliary bezel assembly according to the present invention may attach to a side housing for the display device. Furthermore, the attachment features of a bezel assembly within the scope of the present invention may comprises clamping structures that clamp on to a display device.
Where an auxiliary bezel is adapted to used with a gaming display device that includes an edge bezel of some thickness covering the edge of the display device, the auxiliary bezel may be configured to accommodate the thickness of that edge bezel while still lying essentially flush against the outer front surface of the display area of the display device. The example gaming machine 100 in
As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Also, it should be understood that the terms “about,” “substantially,” and like terms used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit.
Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the following claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).
The term “each” may be used in the following claims for convenience in describing characteristics or features of multiple elements, and any such use of the term “each” is in the inclusive sense unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, if a claim defines two or more elements as “each” having a characteristic or feature, the use of the term “each” is not intended to exclude from the claim scope a situation having a third one of the elements which does not have the defined characteristic or feature.
The above-described representative embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in some instances, one or more features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. More generally, the various features described herein may be used in any working combination.
