Electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”) or gaming devices provide a variety of wagering games such as slot games, video poker games, video blackjack games, roulette games, video bingo games, keno games and other types of games that are frequently offered at casinos and other locations. Play on EGMs typically involves a player establishing a credit balance by inputting money, or another form of monetary credit, and placing a monetary wager (from the credit balance) on one or more outcomes of an instance (or single play) of a primary or base game. In some cases, a player may qualify for a special mode of the base game, a secondary game, or a bonus round of the base game by attaining a certain winning combination or triggering event in, or related to, the base game, or after the player is randomly awarded the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round. In the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round, the player is given an opportunity to win extra game credits, game tokens or other forms of payout. In the case of “game credits” that are awarded during play, the game credits are typically added to a credit meter total on the EGM and can be provided to the player upon completion of a gaming session or when the player wants to “cash out.”
“Slot” type games are often displayed to the player in the form of various symbols arrayed in a row-by-column grid or matrix. Specific matching combinations of symbols along predetermined paths (or paylines) through the matrix indicate the outcome of the game. The display typically highlights winning combinations/outcomes for identification by the player. Matching combinations and their corresponding awards are usually shown in a “pay-table” which is available to the player for reference. Often, the player may vary his/her wager to include differing numbers of paylines and/or the amount bet on each line. By varying the wager, the player may sometimes alter the frequency or number of winning combinations, frequency or number of secondary games, and/or the amount awarded.
Typical games use a random number generator (RNG) to randomly determine the outcome of each game. The game is designed to return a certain percentage of the amount wagered back to the player over the course of many plays or instances of the game, which is generally referred to as return to player (RTP). The RTP and randomness of the RNG ensure the fairness of the games and are highly regulated. Upon initiation of play, the RNG randomly determines a game outcome and symbols are then selected which correspond to that outcome. Notably, some games may include an element of skill on the part of the player and are therefore not entirely random.
Embodiments described herein take the form of an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) having one or more displays, any of which may be formed to have a component passthrough to define a recess in an edge or interior of the display. Alternately, the display may be cut, punched, notched, ground, etched. or otherwise have material removed to create a component passthrough. As used herein, a “component passthrough” is a recess in an otherwise linear edge of a display, or an aperture formed within an area of a display. Component passthroughs may by holes (of any shape or size), cutouts or notches (again, of any shape or size), angled corners, and the like. A component passthrough is discussed herein as being “within” a display; the term “within” encompasses component passthroughs formed on edges of a display or in an area of a display.
The component passthrough within the display acts as a passthrough, permitting light, sound, data signals, wireless protocols, other electromagnetic radiation, and the like to pass from an interior of an EGM to an exterior without being shielded or attenuated by the display or the EGM's housing. Accordingly, certain components of the EGM may be concealed behind the display and within an interior volume of a housing but still communicate with or to an environment external to the EGM. For example, a speaker may be placed behind the EGM's display and transmit audio through the component passthrough to an external environment, thereby concealing the speaker while reducing or eliminating any effect on its outputted audio that would otherwise result from the display's structure blocking or muffling such audio. As yet another example, a sensor may be placed within the interior volume of the EGM's housing and output signals or receive data through the component passthrough. Any suitable sensor, including electromagnetic radiation sensors, data transceivers, audio sensors, and the like, may be positioned within an interior volume defined by a housing and/or at least partially behind a display while transmitting or receiving through the component passthrough. A camera may likewise be so concealed.
Embodiments described herein take the form of an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) having one or more displays, any of which may be formed to have a component passthrough to define a recess in an edge or interior of the display. Alternately, the display may be cut, punched, notched, ground, etched. or otherwise have material removed to create a component passthrough. As used herein, a “component passthrough” is a recess in an otherwise linear edge or corner of a display, or an aperture formed within an area of a display. Component passthroughs may be holes of any shape or size, cutouts or notches (again, of any shape or size), angled corners, and the like. A component passthrough is discussed herein as being “within” a display; the term “within” encompasses component passthroughs formed on edges of a display or in an area of a display.
The component passthrough within the display permits light, sound, data signals, wireless protocols, other electromagnetic radiation, and the like to pass from an interior volume of an EGM to an exterior without being shielded or attenuated by the display or the EGM's housing. Accordingly, certain components of the EGM may be concealed behind the display and within the interior volume of the housing but still communicate with or to an environment external to the EGM. For example, a speaker may be placed behind the EGM's display and transmit audio through the component passthrough to an external environment, thereby concealing the speaker while reducing or eliminating any effect on its outputted audio that would otherwise result from the display's structure blocking or muffling such audio. As yet another example, a sensor may be placed within the EGM's housing and output signals or receive data through the component passthrough. Any suitable sensor, including electromagnetic radiation sensors, data transceivers, audio sensors, and the like, may be positioned within an interior volume of the housing and/or at least partially behind a display while transmitting or receiving through the component passthrough. A camera may likewise be so concealed.
In some embodiments, all or a portion of: a ticket printer; bill validator, card reader, or digital payment mechanism (or other wager acceptance mechanism); player tracking system; or other gaming component may be concealed behind the display and accessible through the component passthrough. For example, a slot may be exposed by the component passthrough to accept a bill, ticket, card, or the like, while other portions of the wager acceptance mechanism that are connected to the slot are concealed by the display.
The component passthrough may be visible to a player or other observer in certain embodiments. In other embodiments, the component passthrough may be visually opaque and appear as part of a border around, or region within, a display. In some embodiments the component passthrough may be positioned in a portion of the display that is not illuminated during gameplay so that its existence is generally concealed. Although the component passthrough may be visually opaque, it may be generally transparent to other frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and/or sound waves (whether generally or within a certain frequency band).
In some embodiments, the component passthrough may function as an access to a component behind the display. For example, a port, latch, cover, or the like may be positioned within or beneath the component passthrough, and so within an interior volume of an EGM housing, and may provide a technician or operator access to an internal volume of the EGM, or to one or more components within the EGM. In such embodiments, a glass, cover, or other overlying portion of the display may be cut to mimic or mirror the component passthrough, while in other embodiments the component passthrough may be formed only in an LED or LCD panel itself (or another light-emitting layer, along with any suitable substrates).
Communication between the gaming devices 104A-104X and the server computers 102, and among the gaming devices 104A-104X, may be direct or indirect using one or more communication protocols. As an example, gaming devices 104A-104X and the server computers 102 can communicate over one or more communication networks, such as over the Internet through a website maintained by a computer on a remote server or over an online data network including commercial online service providers, Internet service providers, private networks (e.g., local area networks and enterprise networks), and the like (e.g., wide area networks). The communication networks could allow gaming devices 104A-104X to communicate with one another and/or the server computers 102 using a variety of communication-based technologies, such as radio frequency (RF) (e.g., wireless fidelity (WiFi®) and Bluetooth®), cable TV, satellite links and the like.
In some implementation, server computers 102 may not be necessary and/or preferred. For example, in one or more implementations, a stand-alone gaming device such as gaming device 104A, gaming device 104B or any of the other gaming devices 104C-104X can implement one or more aspects of the present disclosure. However, it is typical to find multiple EGMs connected to networks implemented with one or more of the different server computers 102 described herein.
The server computers 102 may include a central determination gaming system server 106, a ticket-in-ticket-out (TITO) system server 108, a player tracking system server 110, a progressive system server 112, and/or a casino management system server 114. Gaming devices 104A-104X may include features to enable operation of any or all servers for use by the player and/or operator (e.g., the casino, resort, gaming establishment, tavern, pub, etc.). For example, game outcomes may be generated on a central determination gaming system server 106 and then transmitted over the network to any of a group of remote terminals or remote gaming devices 104A-104X that utilize the game outcomes and display the results to the players.
Gaming device 104A is often of a cabinet construction which may be aligned in rows or banks of similar devices for placement and operation on a casino floor. The gaming device 104A often includes a main door which provides access to the interior of the cabinet. Gaming device 104A typically includes a button area or button deck 120 accessible by a player that is configured with input switches or buttons 122, an access channel for a bill validator 124, and/or an access channel for a ticket-out printer 126.
In
In many configurations, the gaming device 104A may have a main display 128 (e.g., video display monitor) mounted to, or above, the gaming display area 118. The main display 128 can be a high-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma, light emitting diode (LED), or organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel which may be flat or curved as shown, a cathode ray tube, or other conventional electronically controlled video monitor. Typically, the display 128 includes a light-emitting layer or “display layer” on which images are shown and a cover layer over the light-emitting layer. As discussed in more detail herein, the display 128 (or any other display) may include a component passthrough, behind which another component of the EGM may be located.
In some implementations, the bill validator 124, which is one example of a wager acceptance mechanism, may also function as a “ticket-in” reader that allows the player to use a casino issued credit ticket to load credits onto the gaming device 104A (e.g., in a cashless ticket (“TITO”) system). In such cashless implementations, the gaming device 104A may also include a “ticket-out” printer 126 for outputting a credit ticket when a “cash out” button is pressed. Cashless TITO systems are used to generate and track unique bar-codes or other indicators printed on tickets to allow players to avoid the use of bills and coins by loading credits using a ticket reader and cashing out credits using a ticket-out printer 126 on the gaming device 104A. The gaming device 104A can have hardware meters for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring the player credit balance. In addition, there can be additional meters that record the total amount of money wagered on the gaming device, total amount of money deposited, total amount of money withdrawn, total amount of winnings on gaming device 104A.
In some implementations, a player tracking card reader 144, a transceiver for wireless communication with a mobile device (e.g., a player's smartphone), a keypad 146, and/or an illuminated display 148 for reading, receiving, entering, and/or displaying player tracking information is provided in gaming device 104A. In such implementations, a game controller within the gaming device 104A can communicate with the player tracking system server 110 to send and receive player tracking information.
Gaming device 104A may also include a bonus topper wheel 134. When bonus play is triggered (e.g., by a player achieving a particular outcome or set of outcomes in the primary game), bonus topper wheel 134 is operative to spin and stop with indicator arrow 136 indicating the outcome of the bonus game. Bonus topper wheel 134 is typically used to play a bonus game, but it could also be incorporated into play of the base or primary game.
A candle 138 may be mounted on the top of gaming device 104A and may be activated by a player (e.g., using a switch or one of buttons 122) to indicate to operations staff that gaming device 104A has experienced a malfunction or the player requires service. The candle 138 is also often used to indicate a jackpot has been won and to alert staff that a hand payout of an award may be needed.
There may also be one or more information panels 152 which may be a back-lit, silkscreened glass panel with lettering to indicate general game information including, for example, a game denomination (e.g., $0.25 or $1), pay lines, pay tables, and/or various game related graphics. In some implementations, the information panel(s) 152 may be implemented as an additional video display.
Gaming devices 104A have traditionally also included a handle 132 typically mounted to the side of main cabinet 116 which may be used to initiate game play.
Many or all the above described components can be controlled by circuitry (e.g., a game controller) housed inside the main cabinet 116 of the gaming device 104A, the details of which are shown in
An alternative example gaming device 104B illustrated in
Example gaming device 104B includes a main cabinet 116 including a main door which opens to provide access to the interior of the gaming device 104B. The main or service door is typically used by service personnel to refill the ticket-out printer 126 and collect bills and tickets inserted into the bill validator 124. The main or service door may also be accessed to reset the machine, verify and/or upgrade the software, and for general maintenance operations.
Another example gaming device 104C shown is the Helix™ model gaming device manufactured by Aristocrat® Technologies, Inc. Gaming device 104C includes a main display 128A that is in a landscape orientation. Although not illustrated by the front view provided, the main display 128A may have a curvature radius from top to bottom, or alternatively from side to side. In some implementations, main display 128A is a flat panel display. Main display 128A is typically used for primary game play while secondary display 128B is typically used for bonus game play, to show game features or attraction activities while the game is not in play or any other information or media desired by the game designer or operator. In some implementations, example gaming device 104C may also include speakers 142 to output various audio such as game sound, background music, etc.
Many different types of games, including mechanical slot games, video slot games, video poker, video black jack, video pachinko, keno, bingo, and lottery, may be provided with or implemented within the depicted gaming devices 104A-104C and other similar gaming devices. Each gaming device may also be operable to provide many different games. Games may be differentiated according to themes, sounds, graphics, type of game (e.g., slot game vs. card game vs. game with aspects of skill), denomination, number of paylines, maximum jackpot, progressive or non-progressive, bonus games, and may be deployed for operation in Class 2 or Class 3, etc.
The games available for play on the gaming device 200 are controlled by a game controller 202 that includes one or more processors 204. Processor 204 represents a general-purpose processor, a specialized processor intended to perform certain functional tasks, or a combination thereof. As an example, processor 204 can be a central processing unit (CPU) that has one or more multi-core processing units and memory mediums (e.g., cache memory) that function as buffers and/or temporary storage for data. Alternatively, processor 204 can be a specialized processor, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), graphics processing unit (GPU), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP), or another type of hardware accelerator. In another example, processor 204 is a system on chip (SoC) that combines and integrates one or more general-purpose processors and/or one or more specialized processors. Although
Memory 208 can store one or more game programs 206 that provide program instructions and/or data for carrying out various implementations (e.g., game mechanics) described herein. Stated another way, game program 206 represents an executable program stored in any portion or component of memory 208. In one or more implementations, game program 206 is embodied in the form of source code that includes human-readable statements written in a programming language or machine code that contains numerical instructions recognizable by a suitable execution system, such as a processor 204 in a game controller or other system. Examples of executable programs include: (1) a compiled program that can be translated into machine code in a format that can be loaded into a random access portion of memory 208 and run by processor 204; (2) source code that may be expressed in proper format such as object code that is capable of being loaded into a random access portion of memory 208 and executed by processor 204; and (3) source code that may be interpreted by another executable program to generate instructions in a random access portion of memory 208 to be executed by processor 204. In many instances, the processor 204 is electronically connected to the wager acceptance mechanism and/or a server to process an item of value (such as a ticket, credit balance, credit card transaction, money, or the like) by a player and provide credit to play games on or through the EGM in the amount of the wager.
Alternatively, game programs 206 can be set up to generate one or more game instances based on instructions and/or data that gaming device 200 exchanges with one or more remote gaming devices, such as a central determination gaming system server 106 (not shown in
Gaming devices, such as gaming device 200, are highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in many cases, gaming device 200 is operable to award monetary awards (e.g., typically dispensed in the form of a redeemable voucher). Therefore, to satisfy security and regulatory requirements in a gaming environment, hardware and software architectures are implemented in gaming devices 200 that differ significantly from those of general-purpose computers. Adapting general purpose computers to function as gaming devices 200 is not simple or straightforward because of: (1) the regulatory requirements for gaming devices 200, (2) the harsh environment in which gaming devices 200 operate, (3) security requirements, (4) fault tolerance requirements, and (5) the requirement for additional special purpose componentry enabling functionality of an EGM. These differences require substantial engineering effort with respect to game design implementation, game mechanics, hardware components, and software.
One regulatory requirement for games running on gaming device 200 generally involves complying with a certain level of randomness. Typically, gaming jurisdictions mandate that gaming devices 200 satisfy a minimum level of randomness without specifying how a gaming device 200 should achieve this level of randomness. To comply,
In
Another regulatory requirement for running games on gaming device 200 includes ensuring a certain level of RTP. Similar to the randomness requirement discussed above, numerous gaming jurisdictions also mandate that gaming device 200 provides a minimum level of RTP (e.g., RTP of at least 75%). A game can use one or more lookup tables (also called weighted tables) as part of a technical solution that satisfies regulatory requirements for randomness and RTP. In particular, a lookup table can integrate game features (e.g., trigger events for special modes or bonus games; newly introduced game elements such as extra reels, new symbols, or new cards; stop positions for dynamic game elements such as spinning reels, spinning wheels, or shifting reels; or card selections from a deck) with random numbers generated by one or more RNGs, so as to achieve a given level of volatility for a target level of RTP. (In general, volatility refers to the frequency or probability of an event such as a special mode, payout, etc. For example, for a target level of RTP, a higher-volatility game may have a lower payout most of the time with an occasional bonus having a very high payout, while a lower-volatility game has a steadier payout with more frequent bonuses of smaller amounts.) Configuring a lookup table can involve engineering decisions with respect to how RNG outcomes are mapped to game outcomes for a given game feature, while still satisfying regulatory requirements for RTP. Configuring a lookup table can also involve engineering decisions about whether different game features are combined in a given entry of the lookup table or split between different entries (for the respective game features), while still satisfying regulatory requirements for RTP and allowing for varying levels of game volatility.
When a player wishes to play the gaming device 200, he/she can insert cash or a ticket voucher through a coin acceptor (not shown) or bill validator or other wager acceptance mechanism 234 to establish a credit balance on the gaming device. The credit balance is used by the player to place wagers on instances of the game and to receive credit awards based on the outcome of winning instances. The credit balance is decreased by the amount of each wager and increased upon a win. The player can add additional credits to the balance at any time. The player may also optionally insert a loyalty club card into the card reader 230. During the game, the player views with one or more UIs, the game outcome on one or more of the primary game display 240 and secondary game display 242. Other game and prize information may also be displayed.
For each game instance, a player may make selections, which may affect play of the game. For example, the player may vary the total amount wagered by selecting the amount bet per line and the number of lines played. In many games, the player is asked to initiate or select options during course of game play (such as spinning a wheel to begin a bonus round or select various items during a feature game). The player may make these selections using the player-input buttons 236, the primary game display 240, which may be a touch screen, or using some other device which enables a player to input information into the gaming device 200.
During certain game events, the gaming device 200 may display visual and auditory effects that can be perceived by the player. These effects add to the excitement of a game, which makes a player more likely to enjoy the playing experience. Auditory effects include various sounds that are projected by the speakers 220. Visual effects include flashing lights, strobing lights or other patterns displayed from lights on the gaming device 200 or from lights behind the information panel 152 (
When the player is done, he/she cashes out the credit balance (typically by pressing a cash out button to receive a ticket from the ticket printer 222). The ticket may be “cashed-in” for money or inserted into another machine to establish a credit balance for play.
Additionally, or alternatively, gaming devices 104A-104X and 200 can include or be coupled to one or more wireless transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers (not shown in
Although
According to some examples, the mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for stand-alone determination of game outcomes. However, in some alternative implementations the mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured to receive game outcomes from another device, such as the central determination gaming system server 106, one of the EGMs 104, etc.
Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured to accept monetary credits from a credit or debit card, via a wireless interface (e.g., via a wireless payment app), via tickets, via a patron casino account, etc. However, some mobile gaming devices 256 may not be configured to accept monetary credits via a credit or debit card. Some mobile gaming devices 256 may include a ticket reader and/or a ticket printer whereas some mobile gaming devices 256 may not, depending on the particular implementation.
In some implementations, the casino 251 may include one or more kiosks 260 that are configured to facilitate monetary transactions involving the mobile gaming devices 256, which may include cash out and/or cash in transactions. The kiosks 260 may be configured for wired and/or wireless communication with the mobile gaming devices 256. The kiosks 260 may be configured to accept monetary credits from casino patrons 262 and/or to dispense monetary credits to casino patrons 262 via cash, a credit or debit card, via a wireless interface (e.g., via a wireless payment app), via tickets, etc. According to some examples, the kiosks 260 may be configured to accept monetary credits from a casino patron and to provide a corresponding amount of monetary credits to a mobile gaming device 256 for wagering purposes, e.g., via a wireless link such as a near-field communications link. In some such examples, when a casino patron 262 is ready to cash out, the casino patron 262 may select a cash out option provided by a mobile gaming device 256, which may include a real button or a virtual button (e.g., a button provided via a graphical user interface) in some instances. In some such examples, the mobile gaming device 256 may send a “cash out” signal to a kiosk 260 via a wireless link in response to receiving a “cash out” indication from a casino patron. The kiosk 260 may provide monetary credits to the casino patron 262 corresponding to the “cash out” signal, which may be in the form of cash, a credit ticket, a credit transmitted to a financial account corresponding to the casino patron, etc.
In some implementations, a cash-in process and/or a cash-out process may be facilitated by the TITO system server 108. For example, the TITO system server 108 may control, or at least authorize, ticket-in and ticket-out transactions that involve a mobile gaming device 256 and/or a kiosk 260.
Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for receiving and/or transmitting player loyalty information. For example, some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for wireless communication with the player tracking system server 110. Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured for receiving and/or transmitting player loyalty information via wireless communication with a patron's player loyalty card, a patron's smartphone, etc.
According to some implementations, a mobile gaming device 256 may be configured to provide safeguards that prevent the mobile gaming device 256 from being used by an unauthorized person. For example, some mobile gaming devices 256 may include one or more biometric sensors and may be configured to receive input via the biometric sensor(s) to verify the identity of an authorized patron. Some mobile gaming devices 256 may be configured to function only within a predetermined or configurable area, such as a casino gaming area.
In this example, a gaming data center 276 includes various devices that are configured to provide online wagering games via the networks 417. The gaming data center 276 is capable of communication with the networks 417 via the gateway 272. In this example, switches 278 and routers 280 are configured to provide network connectivity for devices of the gaming data center 276, including storage devices 282a, servers 284a and one or more workstations 570a. The servers 284a may, for example, be configured to provide access to a library of games for online game play. In some examples, code for executing at least some of the games may initially be stored on one or more of the storage devices 282a. The code may be subsequently loaded onto a server 284a after selection by a player via an EUD and communication of that selection from the EUD via the networks 417. The server 284a onto which code for the selected game has been loaded may provide the game according to selections made by a player and indicated via the player's EUD. In other examples, code for executing at least some of the games may initially be stored on one or more of the servers 284a. Although only one gaming data center 276 is shown in
In this example, a financial institution data center 270 is also configured for communication via the networks 417. Here, the financial institution data center 270 includes servers 284b, storage devices 282b, and one or more workstations 286b. According to this example, the financial institution data center 270 is configured to maintain financial accounts, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, loan accounts, etc. In some implementations one or more of the authorized users 274a-274c may maintain at least one financial account with the financial institution that is serviced via the financial institution data center 270.
According to some implementations, the gaming data center 276 may be configured to provide online wagering games in which money may be won or lost. According to some such implementations, one or more of the servers 284a may be configured to monitor player credit balances, which may be expressed in game credits, in currency units, or in any other appropriate manner. In some implementations, the server(s) 284a may be configured to obtain financial credits from and/or provide financial credits to one or more financial institutions, according to a player's “cash in” selections, wagering game results and a player's “cash out” instructions. According to some such implementations, the server(s) 284a may be configured to electronically credit or debit the account of a player that is maintained by a financial institution, e.g., an account that is maintained via the financial institution data center 270. The server(s) 284a may, in some examples, be configured to maintain an audit record of such transactions.
In some alternative implementations, the gaming data center 276 may be configured to provide online wagering games for which credits may not be exchanged for cash or the equivalent. In some such examples, players may purchase game credits for online game play, but may not “cash out” for monetary credit after a gaming session. Moreover, although the financial institution data center 270 and the gaming data center 276 include their own servers and storage devices in this example, in some examples the financial institution data center 270 and/or the gaming data center 276 may use offsite “cloud-based” servers and/or storage devices. In some alternative examples, the financial institution data center 270 and/or the gaming data center 276 may rely entirely on cloud-based servers.
One or more types of devices in the gaming data center 276 (or elsewhere) may be capable of executing middleware, e.g., for data management and/or device communication. Authentication information, player tracking information, etc., including but not limited to information obtained by EUDs 264 and/or other information regarding authorized users of EUDs 264 (including but not limited to the authorized users 274a-274c), may be stored on storage devices 282 and/or servers 284. Other game-related information and/or software, such as information and/or software relating to leaderboards, players currently playing a game, game themes, game-related promotions, game competitions, etc., also may be stored on storage devices 282 and/or servers 284. In some implementations, some such game-related software may be available as “apps” and may be downloadable (e.g., from the gaming data center 276) by authorized users.
In some examples, authorized users and/or entities (such as representatives of gaming regulatory authorities) may obtain gaming-related information via the gaming data center 276. One or more other devices (such EUDs 264 or devices of the gaming data center 276) may act as intermediaries for such data feeds. Such devices may, for example, be capable of applying data filtering algorithms, executing data summary and/or analysis software, etc. In some implementations, data filtering, summary and/or analysis software may be available as “apps” and downloadable by authorized users.
The UI system 302 includes one or more UIs that a player can interact with. The UI system 302 could include one or more game play UIs 304, one or more bonus game play UIs 308, and one or more multiplayer UIs 312, where each UI type includes one or more mechanical UIs and/or graphical UIs (GUIs). In other words, game play UI 304, bonus game play UI 308, and the multiplayer UI 312 may utilize a variety of UI elements, such as mechanical UI elements (e.g., physical “spin” button or mechanical reels) and/or GUI elements (e.g., virtual reels shown on a video display or a virtual button deck) to receive player inputs and/or present game play to a player. Using
The game play UI 304 represents a UI that a player typically interfaces with for a base game. During a game instance of a base game, the game play UI elements 306A-306N (e.g., GUI elements depicting one or more virtual reels) are shown and/or made available to a user. In a subsequent game instance, the UI system 302 could transition out of the base game to one or more bonus games. The bonus game play UI 308 represents a UI that utilizes bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N for a player to interact with and/or view during a bonus game. In one or more implementations, at least some of the game play UI element 306A-306N are similar to the bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N. In other implementations, the game play UI element 306A-306N can differ from the bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N.
Based on the player inputs, the UI system 302 could generate RNG calls to a game processing backend system 314. As an example, the UI system 302 could use one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) to generate the RNG calls. To process the RNG calls, the RNG engine 316 could utilize gaming RNG 318 and/or non-gaming RNGs 319A-319N. Gaming RNG 318 could corresponds to RNG 212 or hardware RNG 244 shown in
The RNG conversion engine 320 processes each RNG outcome from RNG engine 316 and converts the RNG outcome to a UI outcome that is feedback to the UI system 302. With reference to
After generating the UI outcome, the game processing backend system 314 sends the UI outcome to the UI system 302. Examples of UI outcomes are symbols to display on a video reel or reel stops for a mechanical reel. In one example, if the UI outcome is for a base game, the UI system 302 updates one or more game play UI elements 306A-306N, such as symbols, for the game play UI 304. In another example, if the UI outcome is for a bonus game, the UI system could update one or more bonus game play UI elements 310A-310N (e.g., symbols) for the bonus game play UI 308. In response to updating the appropriate UI, the player may subsequently provide additional player inputs to initiate a subsequent game instance that progresses through the game processing pipeline.
Generally, an EGM 104 may include a display 128 (whether a primary display 128A, secondary display 128B, or both) that incorporates a component passthrough. The display 128 may be formed from a display layer and a cover. The display layer emits light to form images, text, animations or the like while the cover overlays the display layer. The display layer may be a liquid crystal layer, light-emitting diode layer, organic light-emitting diode layer, and so on. The cover is typically made from glass, plastic, synthetic sapphire, or another optically transparent, protective material. The cover may be transparent to other frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and/or sound.
The component passthrough is typically formed in the display layer and sits beneath the cover. The cover, by contrast, overlies both the display layer and the component passthrough in many embodiments (e.g., the component passthrough is formed in the display layer but not the cover). However, in some embodiments, the component passthrough may extend through both the display layer and the cover. For example, where a gaming component such as a player tracking system, bill validator 124, and/or ticket-out printer 126, other wager acceptance mechanism, and the like are positioned at least partially behind the display 128, the component passthrough may extend through the display layer and cover to permit a player to insert or accept a bill, credit card, player card, or ticket into an input or output of the gaming component while concealing a majority of the component within the EGM 104 and behind the display 128. This permits a relatively bulky or large gaming component to be partially or fully concealed from a player's view while permitting the gaming component to perform its function, such as accepting a wager, tracking play of a player, providing a ticket or other credit instrument to a player, detecting a player's approach or departure, and so on.
As yet another example, one or more reels or playing elements, or other gaming components, of a game executing on the EGM 104 may extend through a component passthrough defined in the display layer but not in the cover. This may be useful to prevent the player from touching or physically interacting with the gaming component while still permitting the gaming component to perform its function. In the example where the gaming component is a reel or set of reels of a slot-type game, the reels may be viewed by the player but shielded from player touch or tampering by the cover.
Certain embodiments may conceal a component or a majority of a component, such as a gaming component, beneath a display while an input or output of the component operates through the component passthrough 410. The input or output of the component may be flush with the display layer or cover of the display 400 (or otherwise extend into the component passthrough) or may be beneath the display layer or cover (e.g., recessed from the display 400). As a first example, where the gaming component is a bill validator, the bill acceptor (e.g., input) of the validator may extend through a component passthrough 410 defined in both the display layer and cover of a display 400. As another example, where the gaming component is a player tracking system using RFID, NFC, Bluetooth or the like to track a player's activity, the component passthrough 410 may extend through a display layer but not a cover of the display while the gaming component is positioned fully or partially beneath the display 400.
Although the component passthrough 410 is shown as formed at or on an edge 420 of the display 400, in some embodiments the component passthrough may be formed at or in a corner. In such embodiments, the component passthrough may extend from one edge to an adjacent edge, and a bounding surface of the component passthrough (e.g., the surface extending from edge to edge) may be flat, curved, stepped, or any other suitable shape.
As previously mentioned, a component passthrough 410 may be formed in a display layer of a display and covered by a cover layer of the display 400. In some embodiments where this is the case, a portion of the cover layer overlaying the component passthrough 410 may be painted, screened, impregnated or otherwise treated (through vapor deposition, for example) with an optically opaque material that is transparent, or semi-transparent, to other frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and/or sound. The optically opaque material may be colored to match the color of the display layer when it is inactive (e.g., black) or colored to match adjacent portions of the display layer when the display layer is active. This may effectively optically conceal the component passthrough 410 and any component beneath the passthrough from player view.
In other embodiments, the component passthrough 410 may be filled with an optically opaque material that is transparent to other frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and/or sound. In such embodiments, the component passthrough 410 may extend through both the display layer and the cover of the display 400. It should be appreciated that any component passthrough of any embodiment discussed herein may be treated or filled with such material.
In some embodiments and as shown in
Although the component passthrough is shown as a notch in a display, it may take any of a variety of forms. For example, the component passthrough 610 may be a trilobe formed in a display 600, as shown in
As shown in
Further, in some embodiments the component passthrough 1110 may have a stepped or angled profile or cross-section. For example, the component passthrough 1110 may be larger in cross-section in the display layer than in the cover layer, or may step or angle within a single such layer. This may permit an electronic component 1140 having elements proud of a primary surface to be accommodated by the component passthrough 1110 while taking up less space within the EGM 1150 than if the component passthrough were of uniform cross-section.
In some embodiments the electronic component 1140 may protrude through the component passthrough 1110. The electronic component 1140, which may be a gaming component, may be proud of the display surface (e.g., proud of the cover) or may be proud of the display layer surface. The electronic component 1140 may protrude through the component passthrough 1110 when it is to be seen by a player (as when the component is a reel in a slot-type game or a playing field of a wagering game) or to be physically interacted with by the player (as when the component is a TITO component, a wagering acceptance mechanism, or the like).
Further, multiple displays may be incorporated into a single EGM and each such display may have its own component passthrough. One example configuration is shown in
Although notches and other component passthroughs are shown herein as voids within a display, certain embodiments may fill such component passthroughs with a material. This material may be optically transparent in certain embodiments, for example where the internal component is a light sensor or provides some type of light output. As another option, the material may be optically opaque but transparent to sound or electromagnetic waves of certain frequencies (for example, other than those in the visible spectrum), thereby permitting the internal electronic component to output signals of these frequencies or receive signals of these frequencies without substantial attenuation or degradation.
While the disclosure has been described with respect to the figures and certain embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Any variation and derivation from the above description and figures are included in the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/726,394, titled “Electronic Gaming Machine with Display Having Component Passthrough” filed Apr. 21, 2022, which claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/211,915, titled “Electronic Gaming Machine with Display Having Component Passthrough” filed on Jun. 17, 2021.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63211915 | Jun 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17726394 | Apr 2022 | US |
Child | 18671836 | US |