Patent Application
20130023330
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to gaming machines having rhythmic reels.
Gaming machines have been developed having various features to capture and maintain player interest. Traditionally, gaming machines garner player interest by providing the player with the opportunity to win cash awards based upon a player's wager. Accordingly, various types of games or game features have been developed to provide players with the opportunity to win large sums of money for a small wager. For example, games may include one or more bonus games or the opportunity to win progressive jackpots in order to maintain player interest.
Additionally, over the years, gaming machines have grown in sophistication and features to maintain player interest. For example, the mechanical reels of traditional gaming machines have been replaced with video depictions of spinning reels. These video gaming machines provide a richer gaming experience for players by including graphics or animation as part of the game. Nevertheless, mechanical gaming machines continue to be successful even though there are physical limitations as to the features that may be provided on a mechanical gaming machine. For example, symbols on the mechanical reels are located at fixed positions on the reels so that the symbols cannot be readily moved or animated. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for slot machine variants that provide a player with enhanced excitement without departing from the original slot machine gaming concept.
Briefly, and in general terms, various embodiments are directed to gaming machines having mechanical reels having variable spin rates in order to provide rhythmic effects. In one embodiment, the rhythmic effect is stopping the reels at predetermined intervals. In another embodiment, the rhythmic effect is the result of increasing the spin duration of subsequent reels to generate player anticipation. In yet another embodiment, the rhythmic effect is stopping all the mechanical reels at approximately the same time.
In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for independently controlling the movement of each of a plurality of mechanical reels in a gaming machine. The method includes: activating a game on a gaming machine, the game machine having at least a first reel, a second reel, and a third reel, wherein each of the reels includes an outer edge having indicia displayed thereon; generating a game outcome, wherein the game outcome dictates a particular final position for the first reel, second reel and third reel; designating a spin duration for each of the plurality of reels; determining a spin profile for each of the plurality of reels based upon the game outcome and spin duration of each of the plurality of reels, wherein the spin profile causes each of the plurality of reels to stop such that a first time interval interposed between a first stopping reel and a second stopping reel is shorter than a second time interval interposed between the second stopping reel and a third stopping reel when the game outcome is a winning outcome; initiating spinning of the first reel, second reel, and third reel substantially at a same time, wherein the first reel, second reel, and the third reel are spun according to the corresponding spin profile; and stopping each of the reels at the final position according to the spin profile.
Another method is directed to controlling the movement of each mechanical reel in a gaming machine. This method includes: activating a game on a gaming machine, the game machine having at least a first reel, a second reel, and a third reel, wherein each of the reels includes an outer edge having indicia displayed thereon; generating a game outcome, wherein the game outcome dictates a particular final position for the first reel, second reel and third reel; designating a spin duration for each of the plurality of reels; determining a spin profile for each of the plurality of reels based upon the game outcome, wherein the spin profile causes each of the plurality of reels to stop such that a first time interval interposed between a first stopping reel and a second stopping reel is shorter than a second time interval interposed between the second stopping reel and a third stopping reel when the game outcome is a winning outcome; initiating spinning of the first reel, second reel, and third reel substantially at a same time, wherein the first reel, second reel, and the third reel are spun according to the corresponding spin profile, wherein the appropriate spin profile corresponding to each reel includes a time period for accelerating the corresponding reel to a final velocity, a time period for maintaining the final velocity of the reel, and a time period for decelerating the reel to its final position; and stopping each of the reels at the final position according to the spin profile.
In still another method, the movement of each reel in a gaming machine is controlled to synchronize the stopping of the reels. This method includes: providing a plurality of mechanical reels each having indicia provided on an outer surface of each of the reels; generating a game outcome and determining a spin duration for each of the plurality of reels using a game controller; determining an overall game duration using the spin durations from the plurality of reels; independently spinning each reel using stepper motors, wherein the one or more stepper motors are operatively coupled to the mechanical reels; and determining a spin profile for each reel based upon the game outcome and the spin duration using the reel control unit, wherein the appropriate spin profile corresponding to each reel includes a time period for accelerating the corresponding reel to a final velocity, a time period for maintaining the final velocity of the reel, and a time period for decelerating the reel to its final position; wherein a reel control unit is in communication with the one or more stepper motors and the game controller, and wherein the spin profile causes each of the plurality of reels to stop.
Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, the features of the various embodiments.
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to gaming machines and methods for independently controlling the movement of each of the mechanical reels to enhance the gaming experience of the player. More specifically, the rotational velocity of each mechanical reel may be varied so that each reel may be stopped after a controlled period of time. As a result, the reels may be controlled to produce patterned and non-patterned reel movements. For example, patterned reel movements may include rhythmic reel effects. In one embodiment, the rhythmic effects are the result of having a substantially similar time interval interposed between each stopping reel. Rhythmic effects may also be the result of increasing or decreasing the time interval interposed between each stopping reel. In other embodiments, the rhythmic effects are the result of synchronizing the reel stops with music and/or to a simple tempo. Additionally, the rhythmic effects include synchronizing and simultaneously stopping all the reels.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts throughout the drawings, and more particularly to
As shown in
The stepper motors 18 of the gaming machine 10 are controlled and monitored by the RCU 20. More specifically, the RCU 20 is responsible for determining the spin profile for each reel 12. In order to determine the appropriate spin profile, the RCU 20 calculates the distance between the current and final position of each reel. Based upon the spin distance and the desired spin duration of each reel, the RCU 20 then determines a spin profile for each reel 12.
The spin profiles provide the stepper motors 18 with the number and duration of motor steps for each reel spin phase. The reel spin phase includes an acceleration phase, a steady-state phase, and a deceleration phase. Optionally, the spin profile may include an adjustment phase. The adjustment phase includes one or more reel revolutions. The overall spin duration of the reels 12 can be calculated by summing the durations of each motor step during the different reel spin phases. The acceleration phase includes the rate and duration of the acceleration of the reel to a final velocity. The final velocity of the reel is maintained during the steady-state phase. The deceleration phase includes the rate and duration of deceleration of the reel to the stop position. The adjustment phase includes any additional reel revolutions required to provide the desired spin duration and/or to assure that the reels 12 stop in a particular sequence.
In one embodiment, the spin profiles are stored on a hard drive, flash memory or other solid-state, non-volatile memory such as, but not limited to, EPROM, EEPROM, or DRAM. In another embodiment, the spin profiles are contained in the RCU software. In yet another embodiment, the game controller 22, RCU 20, or other gaming machine component calculates the desired spin profile.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the game controller 22 includes a random number generator 24 that determines a game outcome, wherein the game outcome is a combination of indicia. In alternate embodiments, the game controller 22 may use a pseudo-random number generator or a weighted random number generator to determine the game outcome. In yet another embodiment, the random number generator 24 (or pseudo-random number generator or weighted random number generator) is a separate component in communication with the game controller 22.
As shown in
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that not all gaming machines 10 will have all these components and may have other components in addition to, or in lieu of, those components mentioned here. Furthermore, while these components are viewed and described separately, various components may be integrated into a single unit in some embodiments.
In addition to the gaming machines, disclosed above, various methods of independently controlling each mechanical reel 12 in a gaming machine 10 are disclosed herein. Referring now to
In another method, the process for selecting the best spin profile to cover the required spin distance in the allotted time period is as follows: (1) the RCU 20 receives final reel positions for each reel and a desired spin duration for each reel; (2) the RCU calculates the distance, in steps, between the current reel position and the final reel position; (3) the RCU then determines the time required to move the reel the calculated distance at full speed by multiplying the calculated distance (i.e., the number of steps) by the step duration at a final reel velocity; (4) the RCU determines the time required to turn the reel one revolution using a spin profile that includes acceleration, final velocity, and deceleration of the reel; (5) the RCU determines the time required to turn the reel one revolution at full speed (i.e., the duration of an extra revolution); (6) the RCU sums the time durations of steps (2) and (3) (i.e., the calculated spin duration); (7) the RCU compares the calculated spin duration to the desired overall spin duration; and (8) if the calculated spin duration is within one half of the time of the time duration of one full-speed revolution (i.e., time duration of step (5)), the spin duration value is stored in the RCU 20 for later comparison. Otherwise, the time duration for one full-speed revolution (i.e., time duration of step (5)) is added to the calculated spin duration (i.e., the result from step (6)) until the calculated spin duration is within one half of the time duration of one full-speed revolution. This process is repeated for each spin profile stored in the RCU 20 until the RCU determines the spin profile that provides a spin duration that most closely matches the desired spin duration. This process is carried out for each reel 12 in the gaming machine 10 prior to spinning the reels.
In another method, a look-up table may be used to determine the spin durations. In one embodiment, the look-up table includes a list of values corresponding to the acceleration and deceleration durations. As previously mentioned, accelerating to a particular velocity comprises a plurality of motor steps having varying durations (i.e., long duration to short duration). The look-up table includes the total time to accelerate a reel to a particular final velocity (i.e., the sum of all the steps to achieve a desired final velocity). Accordingly, the RCU 20 can access the look-up table and determine the duration of the acceleration phase in lieu of calculating the duration of the acceleration phase. In one embodiment, the look-up table only includes durations for the acceleration phase because the acceleration and deceleration rates are the same (albeit in reverse directions). As a result, the acceleration and deceleration phases have the same duration. In another embodiment, the look-up table includes durations for both the acceleration and deceleration phases because the acceleration and deceleration phases have different acceleration and deceleration rates, respectively.
In the case where a particular spin duration is required, the total time duration for all the phases of the spin profile is calculated. The RCU 20 may add additional revolutions, as required, until the total spin duration approximates the desired spin duration. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the exact spin duration is controllable to the time required to spin a reel one half of one revolution. For example, if the spin profile causes the reel to spin one revolution in 720 milliseconds, the accuracy of the spin profile is 360 milliseconds because the optimized spin profile may place the required reel symbol up to 180° away from the payline (i.e., desired stopping position) at the desired stop time.
In the previously discussed methods, each reel 12 spins at least one full revolution. That is, the reel 12 will spin a full revolution in addition to the distance between the current reel position and the final reel position. In another method, the reel spin profiles may be configured to allow the reels 12 to spin less than a full revolution. For example, if the difference between the current and the final reel position is % of a revolution, the spin profiles may be designed to allow for a spin distance of % of a revolution.
In these above-disclosed methods, the spin profiles are selected so that the stop interval between each reel spin is approximately the same duration regardless of the distance travelled by each reel. Having approximately equal stop intervals between each reel creates a rhythmic effect in that the reels stop at regular intervals. Accordingly, the rhythmic spinning is more soothing and less stressful to a game player so that a game player can play the gaming machines for a longer period of time without becoming fatigued.
Because each reel spin duration may be controlled, the spin profiles of each reel may be altered to vary the overall duration of the game. For example, the overall game duration may be increased by lengthening the spin duration of each reel by adding reel revolutions. Alternatively, the game duration may be increased by reducing the maximum velocity of the reels or by increasing the stop duration between each reel. Likewise, the game duration may be shortened by increasing the maximum velocity of the reels or decreasing the stop duration between each reel. Accordingly, the game programmer or manufacturer may be able to control the length of each game. Thus, it is possible to provide a gaming machine having more game plays in a given period of time as compared to conventional gaming machines. In another embodiment, the game player may be able to increase or decrease the game duration by activating one or more buttons or other input devices (e.g., toggle switch or slide bar) to select a game length. In yet another embodiment, the gaming machine 10 may be networked to a host network thereby allowing a casino operator to increase or decrease the game duration. Accordingly, the casino operator may be able to decrease the game duration during peak times of the day.
In another method, the reels 12 may have spin profiles where the stop intervals increase for each subsequent reel. For example, for a gaming machine having five reels, the stop duration between the first and second reels is shorter in duration as compared to other stop durations, and the stop duration between the fourth and fifth reels is the longest in duration. In another method, the reel duration increases as the game progresses when there is the potential for a particular winning combination. For example, the first reel may have a normal spin duration and stops at a “7”, the second reel may spin for a longer duration if the stop position is another “7”, and the third reel may spin for an even longer time regardless of the outcome. In another method, the third reel may only spin for a longer duration when the last symbol produces a winning outcome. That is, in the previous example, the third reel will only have a long spin duration if the last symbol produces a winning combination (i.e., the last symbol is a “7” or a “wild symbol”). By increasing the spin duration for subsequent reels, player anticipation builds thereby enhancing the player's enjoyment of the game. In an alternate method, the reels 12 may have spin profiles where the spin durations decrease for each subsequent reel.
In another method, the reels may have spin profiles where there is a programmed delay for subsequent reels. That is, after the first reel is spun, there is a time delay before the next reel is spun. The delay before spinning each reel may be controlled by the RCU 20. In yet another method, the reels 12 may be spun in descending order of spin duration. That is, the reel 12 with the longest spin duration is spun first and the reel with the shortest spin duration is spun last. In this method, the reels 12 may stop at the same time even though the reels have different spin durations.
In one method, the reels 12 may have spin profiles where the reels stop in sequential order. For example, in one exemplary spin profile, the reels stop sequentially from left to right. In another exemplary spin profile, the reels stop sequentially from right to left. In yet another spin profile, the reels stop in random order.
In another method, the reels 12 may have a spin profile that causes the reels to stop at approximately the same time.
The information for each reel is then processed by the reel driver software. The reels 12 are then spun and the acceleration and/or velocity of each reel are varied to synchronize the reels to their final positions. As shown in
As shown in
The previous method of synchronizing the reels, as exemplified by
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the claimed invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/271,585, filed Oct. 12, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/217,862, filed Aug. 31, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,910, issued Nov. 1, 2011, entitled GAMING MACHINES HAVING RHYTHMIC REELS, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13271585 | Oct 2011 | US |
| Child | 13621606 | US | |
| Parent | 11217862 | Aug 2005 | US |
| Child | 13271585 | US |
