Patent Grant
7566269
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Gaming devices such as slot machines and video poker machines provide fun and excitement for the player. Gaming, in general, provides an escape from the everyday rigors of life. Gaming devices and gaming establishments use bright lights and exciting sounds to set the gaming world apart from the rest of the world. Gaming devices, in particular, use one or more displays that enable the player to see and play the game. The displays typically portray the action of the game and ultimately indicate whether or not the player wins and often how much the player wins.
Slot machine and other gaming device displays have gone through a number of transitions since their inception. Originally, slot machines displayed purely mechanical reels. While these machines gained enormous popularity, the mechanical nature of the reels limited the number of paystops, which limited the number of different symbols and the number of different winning symbol combinations.
The advent of the computer and the video monitor expanded the possibilities for gaming devices. There are now video poker, video blackjack and other types of video gaming machines. Video displays have also been implemented in slot machines. The video slot machines use computers to randomly generate symbol combinations from an expanded number of different symbols. Video reel strips can include a virtually unlimited number of symbols, which enables a wide variety of different symbol combinations to be employed, including combinations that appear very infrequently and yield high payouts.
With slot machines, the video monitors have also been used to provide bonus or secondary games. Bonus games in wagering gaming machines have become much more prevalent and elaborate in recent years. For example, players play the base game of slot until becoming eligible for a bonus game. The base game temporarily pauses, while the player plays the bonus game. When the player completes the bonus game, the gaming device returns the player to the base game.
It should therefore be appreciated that a single video monitor is often sufficient to provide both the base game of slot and one or more bonus games that become triggered by the slot game. As illustrated in
Video monitors and in particular video-based slot machines are likely going to continue growing in popularity. As the video monitor has been used more and more, however, there has been a growing sentiment that some of the mystique of the old time mechanical gaming devices is lost when mechanical reels and mechanical displays are replaced by a video monitor.
Accordingly, a need exists to provide a wagering gaming device that may use a video monitor, which provides increased flexibility to the gaming device to add more symbols and more elaborate bonus games, while providing some aspect of the gaming device that is mechanical and provides a fun and exciting mechanical display.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having multiple selectable awards displayed by a moving mechanical or electromechanical display mechanism. In one embodiment, the moving display mechanism includes at least one and preferably a plurality of individual symbol display members or meters. Each individual symbol display member or meter is adapted to display at least one symbol, award or outcome. In one embodiment, the symbol(s) displayed by each individual symbol display member are determined, at least in part, based on one or more player interactions or player decisions. In one embodiment, the moving display mechanism is operable to rotate about an axis to sequentially indicate each one of the symbols, awards or outcomes displayed by one of the individual symbol display members. The symbol, award or outcome displayed on the indicated individual symbol display member is provided to the player and the game ends. The present invention therefore provides a rotatable display which includes a plurality of display devices which are each operable to display different symbols, wherein the symbols can be selected by a player and wherein one of the displayed symbols represents an outcome provided to the player.
In one embodiment, the moveable symbol display is movably connected to the gaming device cabinet. The symbol display mechanism may be any suitable shape or size. In one embodiment, the movable symbol display mechanism includes a frame or body. A plurality of individual symbol display members or meters are supported by the body. Each individual symbol display member is operable to display at least one symbol, award or outcome. In one embodiment, one individual symbol display member is suitably attached to each different side or face of the movable symbol display mechanism. In one embodiment, each individual symbol display member includes a separate display device, such as a plasma display, a display based on a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a display based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or any other suitable electronic device or display mechanism. In different embodiments, the displayed symbols are associated with values, multipliers, prizes, free spins, free games, game elements, non-monetary awards or any other suitable type of award or outcome. In one embodiment, the symbol(s) each individual symbol display member displays are based on one or more player interactions or player decisions.
In one embodiment, each separate display device of each individual symbol display member or meter is connected to a suitable electrical signal communicator which is in communication with a processor of the gaming device. In this embodiment, the processor sends one or more electrical signals, via the electrical signal communicator, to each individual symbol display member to transfer power to and to instruct each individual symbol display member to display one or more symbols or outcomes.
In one embodiment, the symbol display mechanism is operable, under the control of the processor, to move or rotate relative to the housing. That is, the movable symbol display mechanism is moveable or rotatable about an axis relative to the housing. In different embodiments, the symbol display mechanism rotates about a substantially horizontal axis, a substantially vertical axis or any other suitable axis. It should be appreciated that any suitable method of moving or rotating the symbol display mechanism may be employed in accordance with the present invention.
In one embodiment, the movable symbol display mechanism is mounted on an axle and rotatable via at least one drive mechanism. The axle is fixed or connected to the housing and defines the axis which the moveable symbol display mechanism rotates about. In one embodiment, the drive mechanism includes a moveable plate assembly. The moveable plate assembly is connected to one end of the body and operable to rotate the body on the axle. In one embodiment, a transversely extending member, such as a support pin is connected on an opposite end of the body. In this embodiment, the transversely extending member is connected to the housing and provides additional support as the body rotates about the axle.
In one embodiment, upon a suitable triggering event, the gaming device displays or provides a plurality of player selectable selections. Each selection is associated with an award, however, the award associated with each selection is not initially displayed to the player. The gaming device also provides the player a number of picks of the selections. For example, the number of picks is equal to the number of individual symbol display members of the symbol display mechanism.
In one embodiment, the player is enabled to pick one of the selections and the gaming device reveals the award or other outcome associated with the player picked selection. In this embodiment, after revealing the award associated with the player picked selection, the revealed award is associated with at least one of the individual symbol display members. That is, the revealed award associated with the picked selection is displayed by at least one of the individual symbol display members as an award symbol. For example, if a player picked selection is revealed to be associated with an award of fifty, then at least one of the individual symbol display members of the symbol display mechanism will be associated with and display the revealed award of fifty. It should be appreciated that, as described below, the award ultimately provided to the player is selected from the awards associated with the individual symbol display members of the symbol display mechanism. Thus, the revealed awards form a set of awards and any award provided to the player is selected from the formed set of revealed awards. In one embodiment, any award provided to the player is randomly selected from the set of revealed awards.
After associating the revealed award with at least one of the individual symbol display members, the gaming device determines if the player has any picks of the selections remaining. If the player does not have any picks of the selections remaining, the game proceeds to the award indication or award selection phase of the game as described in more detail below.
If the player has at least one pick of the selections remaining, the gaming device enables the player to pick another one of the selections. As described above, the gaming device reveals the award associated with the player picked selection, associates the revealed award with at least one of the individual symbol display members and determines if the player has any picks of the selections remaining. This process continues, as described above, until the player has no picks of the selections remaining. It should appreciated that, in one embodiment, prior to displaying each award associated with each subsequently picked selection, the gaming device partially rotates the symbol display mechanism such that another one of the individual symbol display members is viewable by the player.
When the player has no picks of the selections remaining, the gaming device proceeds to the award indication phase or stage of the game. In the award indication phase, the gaming device causes the symbol display mechanism to rotate about the axle. As the symbol display mechanism rotates, each of the revealed award which are associated with the individual symbol display members of the symbol display mechanism are temporarily displayed to the player.
The symbol display mechanism eventually stops rotating to indicate at least one of the individual symbol display members. The award associated with the indicated individual symbol display member (i.e., one of the awards associated with one of the previously player picked selections) is provided to the player and the game ends. In one embodiment, the indicated individual symbol display member is the individual symbol display member in the line of sight of the player. In another embodiment, the symbol display mechanism includes at least one symbol indicator which is operable to indicate one of the individual symbol display members.
In one embodiment, the symbol display mechanism, the individual symbol display members and the other components in the gaming device are based on a theme associated with the gaming device. It should be appreciated that the symbol display mechanism, the individual symbol display members and the other components of the gaming device may thus be any suitable size and shape and may be based on any suitable theme. It should also be appreciated that the mechanical display of the present invention may be employed in a primary game, a secondary game, in any other suitable game or in an attract, award or any other mode.
The present invention provides a game with an award generated or selected using at least one electromechanical device wherein the set of awards adapted to be generated by the electromechanical device are selected based, at least in part, on one or more player interactions.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures.
Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention is illustrated in
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, part or all of the program code and/or operating data described above can be stored in a detachable or removable memory device, including, but not limited to, a suitable cartridge, disk or CD ROM. A player can use such a removable memory device in a desktop, a laptop personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other computerized platform. The processor and memory device may be collectively referred to herein as a “computer” or “controller.”
In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gaming device randomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes based on probability data. That is, each award or other game outcome is associated with a probability and the gaming device generates the award or other game outcome to be provided to the player based on the associated probabilities. In this embodiment, since the gaming device generates outcomes randomly or based upon a probability calculation, there is no certainty that the gaming device will provide the player with any specific award or other game outcome.
In another embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gaming device employs a predetermined or finite set or pool of awards or other game outcomes. In this embodiment, as each award or other game outcome is provided to the player, the gaming device removes the provided award or other game outcome from the predetermined set or pool. Once removed from the set or pool, the specific provided award or other game outcome cannot be provided to the player again. In this type of embodiment, the gaming device provides players with all of the available awards or other game outcomes over the course of the play cycle and guarantees a designated amount of actual wins and losses.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
As seen in
The display devices may include, without limitation, a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LED), a display based on organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) or any other suitable electronic device or display mechanism. In one embodiment, as described in more detail below, the display device includes a touch-screen with an associated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of any suitable configuration, such as a square, a rectangle or an elongated rectangle.
The display devices of the gaming device are configured to display at least one and preferably a plurality of games or other suitable images, symbols and indicia such as any visual representation or exhibition of the movement of objects such as mechanical, virtual or video reels and wheels, dynamic lighting, video images and images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards, tournament advertisements, promotions and the like.
In one alternative embodiment, the symbols, images and indicia displayed on or by the display device may be in mechanical form as described in more detail below. That is, the display device may include any suitable electromechanical device which preferable moves one or more mechanical objects, such as one or more mechanical rotatable wheels, reels or dice, configured to display at least one and preferably a plurality of games or other suitable images, symbols or indicia.
In one embodiment, the gaming device includes one or more motion controllers 60 in communication with the processor. The processor is operable to control the output of the motion controllers which are operable to control one or more motion producing devices 62. The motion producing devices 62 can be any combination of motors, servo motors, AC/DC motors or any other type of device that outputs a rotating member. The motion controllers 60 typically include printed circuit boards or stand alone enclosures that receive high level commands from the processor. The motion controller 60 converts the high level commands, for example, into a number of step pulses, which in turn are converted into motor currents. The stepper motor or other type of motion producing device 62 receives the currents, wherein the currents cause, for example, a rotor to turn within a stator a precise and desired amount.
The controllers 60 and motion devices 62 produce motion control scheme that includes complex movements of multiple parts. That scheme is programmed into the memory device and carried out by the processor at the appropriate time in the sequence of the game, be it a base, bonus, bonus triggering or progressive sequence of gaming device. Moreover, multiple programs can be implemented in the memory device, wherein the processor runs the appropriate program at the appropriate time, and wherein the moving display mechanism described below can perform or move differently, e.g., faster, slower or in different rotational directions at different times or points in the game. The motion control programs, in one embodiment, interface with one or more random generation devices, typically software based items, to produce randomly displayed outcomes on the displays of the present invention.
As illustrated in
As seen in
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, one input device is a cash out button 38. The player may push the cash out button and cash out to receive a cash payment or other suitable form of payment corresponding to the number of remaining credits. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, the player receives the coins or tokens in a coin payout tray 40. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, the player may receive other payout mechanisms such as tickets or credit slips which are redeemable by a cashier or funded to the player's electronically recordable identification card.
In one embodiment, as mentioned above and seen in
The gaming device may further include a plurality of communication ports for enabling communication of the processor with external peripherals, such as external video sources, expansion buses, game or other displays, an SCSI port or a key pad.
In one embodiment, as seen in
In one embodiment, the gaming machine may include a player or other sensor, such as a camera in communication with the processor (and possibly controlled by the processor) that is selectively positioned to acquire an image of a player actively using the gaming device and/or the surrounding area of the gaming device. In one embodiment, the camera may be configured to selectively acquire still or moving (e.g., video) images and may be configured to acquire the images in either an analog, digital or other suitable format. The display device may be configured to display the image acquired by the camera as well as display the visible manifestation of the game in split screen or picture-in-picture fashion. For example, the camera may acquire an image of the player and that image can be incorporated into the primary and/or secondary game as a game image, symbol or indicia.
The gaming device can incorporate any suitable wagering primary or base game. The gaming machine or device of the present invention may include some or all of the features of conventional gaming machines or devices. The primary or base game may comprise any suitable reel-type game, card game, number game or other game of chance susceptible to representation in an electronic or electromechanical form which produces a random outcome based on probability data upon activation of the game from a wager made by the player. That is, different primary wagering games, such as video poker games, video blackjack games, video keno, video bingo or any other suitable primary or base game may be implemented into the present invention.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, a base or primary game may be a poker game wherein the gaming device enables the player to play a conventional game of video poker and initially deals five cards, all face up, from a virtual deck of fifty-two cards. Cards may be dealt as in a traditional game of cards or in the case of the gaming device, the cards may be randomly selected from a predetermined number of cards. If the player wishes to draw, the player selects the cards to hold by using one or more input devices, such as pressing related hold buttons or touching a corresponding area on a touch-screen. After the player presses the deal button, the processor of the gaming device removes the unwanted or discarded cards from the display and deals replacement cards from the remaining cards in the deck. This results in a final five-card hand. The processor of the gaming device compares the final five-card hand to a payout table which utilizes conventional poker hand rankings to determine the winning hands. Award based on a winning hand and the credits wagered is provided to the player.
In another embodiment, the base or primary game may be a multi-hand version of video poker. In this embodiment, the player is dealt at least two hands of cards. In one such embodiment, the cards in all of the dealt hands are the same cards. In one embodiment each hand of cards is associated with its own deck of cards. The player chooses the cards to hold in a primary hand. The held cards in the primary hand are also held in the other hands of cards. The remaining non-held cards are removed from each displayed hand and replaced with randomly dealt cards. Since the replacement cards are randomly dealt independently for each hand, the replacement cards will usually be different for each hand. The poker hand rankings are then determined hand by hand and awards are provided to the player.
In one embodiment, a base or primary game may be a keno game wherein the gaming device displays a plurality of selectable indicia or numbers on at least one of the display devices. In this embodiment, the player selects at least one and preferably a plurality of the selectable indicia or numbers by using an input device or by using the touch-screen. The gaming device then displays a series of drawn numbers to determine an amount of matches, if any, between the player's selected numbers and the gaming device's drawn numbers. The player is provided an award, if any, based on the amount of determined matches.
In one embodiment, in addition to winning credits in a base or primary game, the gaming device may also give players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus or secondary game or bonus or secondary round. The bonus or secondary game enables the player to obtain a bonus prize or payout in addition to the prize or payout, if any, obtained from the base or primary game. In general, a bonus or secondary game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the base or primary game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the base or primary game and is accompanied with more attractive or unusual features than the base or primary game.
In one embodiment, the bonus or secondary game may be any type of suitable game, either similar to or completely different from the base or primary game. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a program code which causes the processor to automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved a triggering event, a qualifying condition or other designated game event in the base or primary game. In one embodiment, the triggering event or qualifying condition may be a selected outcome in the primary game or a particular arrangement of one or more indicia on a display device in the primary game, such as the number seven appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline in the primary slot game embodiment seen in
In one embodiment, once a player has qualified for a bonus game, the player may subsequently enhance their bonus game participation by returning to the base or primary game for continued play. Thus, for each bonus qualifying event, such as a bonus symbol, that the player obtains, a given number of bonus game wagering points or credits may be accumulated in a “bonus meter” programmed to accrue the bonus wagering credits or entries toward eventual participation in a bonus game. The occurrence of multiple bonus qualifying events in the primary game may result in an arithmetic or geometric increase in the number of bonus wagering credits awarded. In one embodiment, extra bonus wagering credits may be redeemed during the bonus game to extend play of the bonus game.
In one embodiment, no separate entry fee or buy in for a bonus game need be employed. That is, a player may not purchase an entry into a bonus game. The player must win or earn entry through play of the primary game, thereby encouraging play of the primary game. In another embodiment, qualification of the bonus or secondary game could be accomplished through a simple “buy in” by the player if, for example, the player has been unsuccessful at qualifying for the bonus game through other specified activities.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the game outcome provided to the player is determined by a central server or controller and provided to the player at the gaming device of the present invention. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of such gaming devices are in communication with the central server or controller. Upon a player initiating game play at one of the gaming devices, the initiated gaming device communicates a game outcome request to the central server or controller.
In one embodiment, the central server or controller receives the game outcome request and randomly generates a game outcome for the primary game based on probability data. In another embodiment, the central server or controller randomly generates a game outcome for the secondary game based on probability data. In another embodiment, the central server or controller randomly generates a game outcome for both the primary game and the secondary game based on probability data. In this embodiment, the central server or controller is capable of storing and utilizing program code or other data similar to the processor and memory device of the gaming device.
In an alternative embodiment, the central server or controller maintains one or more predetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes. In this embodiment, the central server or controller receives the game outcome request and independently selects a predetermined game outcome from a set or pool of game outcomes. The central server or controller flags or marks the selected game outcome as used. Once a game outcome is flagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from the set or pool and cannot be selected by the central controller or server upon another wager. The provided game outcome can include a primary game outcome, a secondary game outcome, primary and secondary game outcomes, or a series of game outcomes such a free games.
The central server or controller communicates the generated or selected game outcome to the initiated gaming device. The gaming device receives the generated or selected game outcome and provides the game outcome to the player. In an alternative embodiment, how the generated or selected game outcome is to be presented or displayed to the player, such as a reel symbol combination of a slot machine or a hand of cards dealt in a card game, is also determined by the central server or controller and communicated to the initiated gaming device to be presented or displayed to the player. Central production or control can assist a gaming establishment or other entity in maintaining appropriate records, controlling gaming, reducing and/or preventing cheating or electronic or other errors, reducing or eliminating win-loss volatility and the like.
In another embodiment, one or more of the gaming devices of the present invention are in communication with a central server or controller for monitoring purposes only. That is, each individual gaming device randomly generates the game outcomes to be provided to the player and the central server or controller monitors the activities and events occurring on the plurality of gaming devices. In one embodiment, the gaming network includes a real-time or an on-line accounting and gaming information system operably coupled to the central server or controller. The accounting and gaming information system of this embodiment includes a player database for storing player profiles, a player tracking module for tracking players and a credit system for providing automated casino transactions.
A plurality of the gaming devices of the present invention are capable of being connected to a data network. In one embodiment, the data network is a local area network (LAN), in which one or more of the gaming devices are substantially proximate to each other and an on-site central server or controller as in, for example, a gaming establishment or a portion of a gaming establishment. In another embodiment, the data network is a wide area network (WAN) in which one or more of the gaming devices are in communication with at least one off-site central server or controller. In this embodiment, the plurality of gaming devices may be located in a different part of the gaming establishment or within a different gaming establishment than the off-site central server or controller. Thus, the WAN may include an off-site central server or controller and an off-site gaming device located within gaming establishments in the same geographic area, such as a city or state. The WAN gaming system of the present invention may be substantially identical to the LAN gaming system described above, although the number of gaming devices in each system may vary relative to each other.
In another embodiment, the data network is an internet or intranet. In this embodiment, the operation of the gaming device can be viewed at the gaming device with at least one internet browser. In this embodiment, operation of the gaming device and accumulation of credits may be accomplished with only a connection to the central server or controller (the internet/intranet server or webserver) through a conventional phone or other data transmission line, digital signal line (DSL), T-1 line, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, wireless gateway or other suitable connection. In this embodiment, players may access an internet game page from any location where an internet connection and computer, or other internet facilitator are available. The expansion in the number of computers and number and speed of internet connections in recent years increases opportunities for players to play from an ever-increasing number of remote sites. It should be appreciated that enhanced bandwidth of digital wireless communications may render such technology suitable for some or all communications according to the present invention, particularly if such communications are encrypted. Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing the sophistication and response of the display and interaction with the player.
In another embodiment, a plurality of gaming devices at one or more gaming sites may be networked to a central server in a progressive configuration, as known in the art, wherein a portion of each wager to initiate a base or primary game may be allocated to bonus or secondary event awards. In one embodiment, a host site computer is coupled to a plurality of the central servers at a variety of mutually remote gaming sites for providing a multi-site linked progressive automated gaming system. In one embodiment, a host site computer may serve gaming devices distributed throughout a number of properties at different geographical locations including, for example, different locations within a city or different cities within a state.
In one embodiment, the host site computer is maintained for the overall operation and control of the system. In this embodiment, a host site computer oversees the entire progressive gaming system and is the master for computing all progressive jackpots. All participating gaming sites report to, and receive information from, the host site computer. Each central server computer is responsible for all data communication between the gaming device hardware and software and the host site computer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device includes a secondary display, such as a mechanical display device, including a housing 100. The secondary display is suitably connected to or mounted to the top of the cabinet of a gaming device. As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the housing includes a rotatable symbol display mechanism 102. The rotatable symbol display mechanism may be any suitable shape or size. The rotatable symbol display mechanism 102 includes a plurality of individual symbol display members 104a, 104b and 104c. Each individual symbol display member is operable to display at least one symbol, award or outcome 106. It should be appreciated that the mechanical display device 100 may be employed as part of a primary or base game, a secondary or bonus game, or as part of any suitable game, attract mode or other suitable use. It should also be appreciated that any suitable moving symbol display mechanism, such as one or more mechanical rotatable wheels, reels or dice, may be employed in accordance with the present invention.
Referring now to
Each separate display device of each individual symbol display member or meter is connected to a suitable electrical signal communicator which is in communication with the processor of the gaming device. In one embodiment, the processor sends one or more electrical signals, via the electrical signal communicator to each individual symbol display member to transfer power to and cause each individual symbol display member to display one or more symbols or outcomes. In another embodiment, one signal is sent to the individual symbol display members to transfer power and another signal is sent to the individual symbol display members to cause each individual symbol display member to display one or more symbols or outcomes.
The rotatable symbol display mechanism is operable, under the control of the processor, to rotate relative to the housing. The rotatable symbol display mechanism rotates on an axle 112 which defines an axis. In different embodiments, the defined axis is substantially horizontal, substantially vertical or any other suitable axis.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the moveable base plate 114a is manufactured using a durable material such as stainless steel or other suitable metal. It should be appreciated that the base plate may be manufactured using any suitable material. The base plate 114a also includes a plate support 116 extending generally transversely from the base plate. In one embodiment, the plate support 116 is connected to a plate flange 118 which is connected to the moveable plate 114a. The plate flange 118 adds further stability to the attachment between the plate support and the plate. In another embodiment, the plate support 116 is integrally formed with the plate.
In one embodiment, the plate support 116 is inserted into and is rotatably connected to the housing 100 and rotates or moves relative to the housing. An actuator, such as an electric motor, stepper motor or any other suitable motor or the like (not shown) is coupled with an end of the plate support 116 (the end opposite to the end connected to the body of the rotatable symbol display mechanism). The actuator is operable to move or rotate the plate support and thereby move or rotate the base plate 114a and the body connected to the base plate in a clockwise direction, a counterclockwise direction or in any suitable combination of directions.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the plate assembly includes a slip disk 114c, which is positioned in the center of the circuit board plate 114b and is mounted to the top end of a first gear support 126. Specifically, the slip disk 114c includes a fixed or stationary slip disk member 128a and a moveable slip disk member 128b. The fixed slip disk member 128a is connected or attached to the top end of the first gear support 126. Therefore, the fixed slip disk member 128a remains stationary during the movement of the base plate 114a. The moveable slip disk member 128b is positioned adjacent to the fixed slip disk member 128a and rotates or moves with respect to the fixed slip disk member 128a. In one embodiment, the moveable slip disk member 128b is connected or mounted to the base plate 114a using suitable connectors. The moveable slip disk member 128b therefore moves in sync with or in accordance with the movement of the base plate 114a.
In one embodiment, suitable electrical wiring is connected to the processor at one end. The opposite end of the wiring is inserted into and through the center of the first gear support 126 and is connected to a main wire connector 130 of the fixed slip disk member 128a. In one embodiment, the fixed slip disk member 128a includes a plurality of electrical connectors or electrical contacts (not shown) on the bottom side of the fixed slip disk member which electrically contact similar electrical contacts on the top surface or side (not shown) of the moveable slip disk member 128b. The slip disk 114c thereby enables electrical signals from the processor and power to be transferred or communicated to the slip disk and specifically to the fixed slip disk member 128a (and subsequently to the signal receiver of the body) when the base plate 114a, circuit board plate 114b and moveable slip disk member 128b are moving or rotating. It should be appreciated that as illustrated in
In another embodiment, the body rotates via the rotation of an axle. In this embodiment, one end of the axle is connected to the body and the opposite end of the axle is inserted into and is rotatably connected to the housing 100 and rotates or moves relative to the housing. An actuator, such as an electric motor, stepper motor or any other suitable motor or the like (not shown) is coupled with an end of the axle (the end opposite to the end connected to the body of the rotatable symbol display mechanism). The actuator is operable to move or rotate the axle in a clockwise direction, a counterclockwise direction or in any suitable combination of directions. In this embodiment, the gaming device utilizes one or more slip disks to transfer electric signals between the rotating body and the processor of the gaming device. It should be appreciated that any suitable method of rotating the symbol display mechanism may be employed in accordance with the present invention.
As illustrated in
Referring now to
In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device provides a plurality of selectable selections 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d, 202e and 202f. In one embodiment, each selection is associated with an award, however, the award associated with each selection is not initially displayed to the player. The awards may be values, prizes, modifiers or multipliers, free spins, free games, game elements or any other suitable type of award or outcome.
In one embodiment, each of the awards are different. In another embodiment, a plurality of the awards are different. In another embodiment, each of the awards are the same. In one embodiment, each of the awards associated with the selections is selected from one or more pools of awards. In another embodiment, each of the awards is selected from one or more ranges of awards. In another embodiment, each of the awards is associated with a probability and each of the awards is selected based on the associated probabilities. In different embodiments, the awards are predetermined, randomly determined, determined based on the player's wager in a primary game, determined from the occurrence of one or more symbols in a primary game or determined based on any other suitable method.
The gaming device also provides the player a number of picks of the selections. The provided number of picks is displayed to the player in a pick remaining display device 204. In one embodiment, the number of picks is equal to the number of individual symbol display members of the rotatable symbol display mechanism. In alternative embodiments, the number of picks may be less than or greater than the number of individual symbol display members. In different embodiments, the number of picks of the selections is predetermined, randomly determined, determined based on the player's wager in a primary game, determined from the occurrence of one or more symbols in a primary game or determined based on any other suitable method.
In one embodiment, the player is enabled to pick one of the selections and the gaming device reveals the award associated with the player picked selection. As illustrated in
Additionally, upon the player picking one of the selections, the award associated with the picked selection is associated with one of the individual symbol display members. That is, the revealed award associated with the picked selection is displayed as one of the symbols, awards or outcomes adapted to be selected or generated by the rotatable symbol display mechanism. As the player picked selection 202b and the gaming device revealed an award value of seventy-five associated with picked selection 202b, the revealed award value of seventy-five is associated with and displayed by one of individual symbol display members 104a as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the revealed award associated with the player picked selection is associated with and displayed by at least one individual symbol display member. In another embodiment, the revealed award associated with the player picked selection is associated with and displayed by a plurality of the individual symbol display members. In another embodiment, the revealed award associated with the player picked selection is associated with and displayed by each of the individual symbol display members. In other embodiments, the individual symbol display member the revealed award is associated with and displayed by is predetermined, randomly determined, determined based on the player's wager in a primary game, determined from the occurrence of one or more symbols in a primary game or determined based on any other suitable method.
After displaying the revealed award as one of the individual symbol display members, the gaming device determines if the player has any picks of the selections remaining. If the player has at least one pick of the selections remaining, in one embodiment, the gaming device partially rotates the rotatable symbol display mechanism such that another individual symbol display member is viewable by the player. In another embodiment, the gaming device rotates the rotatable symbol display mechanism such that a randomly selected individual symbol display member is viewable by the player. In this example, the gaming device partially rotated the symbol display mechanism such that individual symbol display member 104b is viewable by the player.
After rotating the rotatable symbol display mechanism, the gaming device enables the player to pick another one of the selections and the award associated with the picked selection is revealed to the player. In this example, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the gaming device provides the same plurality of selections for the player to select from for each pick. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides a different plurality of selections for the player to select from for each pick. In another embodiment, the gaming device modifies or alters the plurality of selections the player is enabled to pick from for each pick. In another embodiment, the gaming device reassociates the player picked selection with a different award and reshuffles the plurality of selections.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
After displaying the revealed award as one of the individual symbol display members, the gaming device again determines if at least one pick of the selections remains. Since no picks of the selections remain, the gaming device proceeds to the next phase or stage of the game. It should be appreciated that, as the award ultimately provided to the player is selected from the awards associated with the individual symbol display members, the player is enabled to select or form a set of potential awards during the player selection phase of the game.
In the next phase of the game, as illustrated in
In one alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), as the rotatable symbol display mechanism is rotating, the gaming device provides a plurality of selectable symbols. Each symbol is associated with an award, in this example a multiplier, however, the award associated with each symbol is not initially displayed to the player. In this embodiment, the gaming device enables the player to pick one of the symbols. Upon picking one of the symbols, the award associated with that picked symbol is revealed to the player. The revealed multiplier will function to modify the award indicated by the award indicator. For example, if during the rotation of the symbol display mechanism, the player picks a symbol associated with a modifier of five, the indicated award of two-hundred-twenty-five is modified by the revealed modifier of five to form a total award of one-thousand-one-hundred-twenty-five. The total award is provided to the player and the game ends.
In an alternative embodiment, at least one selection is associated with a terminator of the selection phase of the game. In this embodiment, if the player picked selection is associated with a terminator, the gaming device terminates the selection phase and proceeds to the mechanical device award selection phase of the game. In one embodiment, if the player picked selection reveals a terminator and all of the individual symbol display members are not associated with and display an award, the gaming device randomly associates an award with each individual symbol display member that is not previously associated with an award. In another embodiment, if the player picked selection reveals a terminator and all of the individual symbol display members are not associated with and display an award, the gaming device does not associate any awards (or associates a consolation award) with the individual symbol display member that are not previously associated with an award. In this embodiment, if the symbol display mechanism indicates one of the individual symbol display members not associated with an award, the game ends and the player is not provided an award. In another embodiment, if the symbol display mechanism indicates one of the individual symbol display members not associated with an award, the gaming device re-rotates the symbol display mechanism until the symbol display mechanism indicates an individual symbol display member which is associated with an award.
In an alternative embodiment, if the player has at least one pick of the selections remaining and each of the individual symbol display members are already associated with and display an award, the gaming device is operable to reassociate the revealed award associated with the player's most recently picked selection with one or more of the individual symbol display members.
In another embodiment, the player is enabled to accept or reject each revealed award prior to that revealed award being associated with and displayed by at least one of the individual symbol display members. In this embodiment, the player is provided a designated number of rejections of revealed awards. In different embodiments, the designated number of rejections of revealed awards is predetermined, randomly determined, determined based on the player's wager in a primary game, determined from the occurrence of one or more symbols in a primary game or determined based on any other suitable method.
In one embodiment, as each award associated with a player picked selection is revealed, the gaming device determines if the player has at least one rejection of a revealed award remaining. If the player has at least one rejection of a revealed award remaining, the player is enabled to accept or reject the revealed award. If the player rejects the revealed award, the revealed award is not associated with and displayed by at least one of the individual symbol display members and the player is enabled to pick another one of the selections to reveal another award. If the player accepts the revealed award or the player has zero rejections of revealed awards remaining, as described above, the revealed award is associated with and displayed by at least one of the individual symbol display members.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
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