While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary display 14 for displaying information about the base wagering game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine 10.
The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives currency and/or credits which are inserted by a player. The value input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin currency (see
The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an option on how to make their game selections. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key 30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, the push buttons 26 may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game.
The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen in
The operation of the base wagering game is displayed to the player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also display the bonus game associated with the base wagering game. The primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the entire display (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome in visual association with at least one payline 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 14 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.
A player begins play of the base wagering game by making a wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The base game consists of a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 32 that indicates one or more outcomes of the base game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly-selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game.
In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in
Turning now to
The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36 and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably, these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.
As seen in
Communications between the controller 34 and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems 50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10 bT, etc.). The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits 46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.
Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise one or more controllers or processors. In
Turning now to
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the cabinet 12 of the gaming machine also includes a lighting assembly 58. The lighting assembly 58 operates to direct (and redirect) light from an internal light source to one or more locations external to the cabinet 12 to draw attention to these locations. The lighting assembly 58 is able to do this without exposing players and other patrons of the casino to live electrical components, thus avoiding potential safety and security problems. In addition, the light produced by the lighting assembly 58 may have multiple colors so that each external location may be illuminated with a different color. Furthermore, the lighting assembly 58 may be controlled so as to synchronize the color, timing, and/or location of the light with certain events occurring in the base and/or bonus game (e.g., a winning outcome, the start of a bonus game, etc.). The synchronization may be effected, for example, by the controller 34 (
In one embodiment, the lighting assembly 58 comprises a light source 60 mounted within the cabinet 12, for example, in the top box 56 or the main body 54. By concealing the light source 60 within the cabinet 12, potential safety and tampering problems as well as any related regulatory issues may be avoided. The light source 60 may be any suitable light source known to those having ordinary skill in the art, including LED (light emitting diode) based light sources as well as more conventional light sources. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the light source 60 may be a single color light source, or it may be a multi-color light source capable of producing lights having several different and distinct colors.
In addition to the light source 60, the lighting assembly 58 also comprises a plurality of light conduits 62a and 62b (only one light conduit 62a is visible in
In operation, various locations external to the cabinet 12 may be specifically illuminated to enhance player appeal and excitement as well as to attract passersby. The illumination may have a single color and/or it may include multiple colors employed simultaneously or sequentially to enhance player appeal and excitement. The illumination may additionally be continuous and/or it may be synchronized with the occurrence of certain events in the wagering game (or the display thereof) to further enhance player appeal and excitement. And as for the external locations, these may include locations in the surrounding area (e.g., adjacent gaming machines, overhead displays, etc.), and/or they may include locations on the exterior surface of the cabinet 12 (e.g., certain images or designs in the artwork, etc.). In some embodiments, the exterior surface of the cabinet 12 may include one or more ornamental objects 64, such as statues and other three-dimensional reproductions of well-known characters (e.g., Arnold the Pig) and/or objects appearing in the theme of the wagering game.
Also present are a plurality of pliable arms 70a and 70b that protrude from the top of the top box 56, for example, near the back thereof. The pliable arms 70a-b serve to house and support the fiber-optic cables 68a-b, which are typically too flexible to support their own weight. In one implementation, the pliable arms 70a-b extend over the top of the top box 56 and bend back around towards the top box 56. This arrangement is particularly useful for directing light to specific locations on the exterior surface of the cabinet 12. Other pliable arm arrangements may of course be used depending on the particular needs of the application. The pliable arms 70a-b may be made of any light weight material, such as aluminum tubing, that can retain a given shape, turn, angle, and so forth. Furthermore, each pliable arm 70a-b may be one continuous piece, or it may be composed of several sections joined together. Threaded ends 72a and 72b on the pliable arms 70a-b allow them to be screwed to the top box 56 via threaded openings (not shown) in the top box 56. These same threaded openings allow the fiber-optic cables 68a-b to pass through the top box 56 and extend to the light board 66.
In some embodiments, a spacer 86 is disposed between the light board 66 and the bottom plate 80 to space apart the fiber-optic cables 68a-b from the lighting elements (e.g., LED) of the light board 66. Specifically, openings (not visible here) in the spacer 86 concentric with the lighting elements, but having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the fiber-optic cables 68a-b, allow light from the lighting elements to shine through to the fiber-optic cables 68a-b while stopping them from touching the lighting elements. As with other components, the spacer 86 may be made of any material suitable for the purpose (e.g., plastic).
The foregoing embodiments have the lighting assembly installed inside the cabinet in order to avoid potential safety issues (e.g., players and patrons contact him live electrical components, etc.). However, an internally-mounted lighting assembly may not be feasible for certain gaming machines (e.g., gaming machines that are already deployed on the casino floor). Accordingly, embodiments of the invention also contemplate a lighting assembly that may be installed outside the cabinet. The electrical components of such an externally-mounted lighting assembly may then be enclosed within a locked and/or tamperproof enclosure to shield players and patrons from inadvertent or deliberate contact. The lighting assembly may then be used to retrofit existing gaming machines or gaming machines that are otherwise unable to house an internally-mounted lighting assembly.
While the invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.