Patent Application
20250118132
The invention relates to display devices such as video display monitors used to display various graphic elements associated with a game available for play through a gaming machine. More particularly, the invention relates to devices that integrate one or more audio speakers with a display device.
The sound quality of audio generated during the course of play at a gaming machine such as a video or mechanical reel-type game (commonly referred to as a “slot machine”) has become an important aspect of the overall playing experience. Thus modern gaming machines commonly include sophisticated audio amplifiers connected to drive various audio speakers in the course of play. The placement of audio speakers for maximum audio performance without interfering with the various display devices included in a gaming machine can become an issue particularly in gaming machines that include display devices located over a large area of the front-facing surfaces. In some cases, tall video display devices arranged in a portrait orientation may cover virtually all of the front area of a gaming machine above the button deck of the gaming machine. In other cases, a number of relatively smaller video display devices may be arranged on a gaming machine cabinet to cover most if not all of the front area of a gaming machine above the button deck of the gaming machine. The display devices included in a gaming machine may also include mechanical devices such as spinnable reels or wheels that are located behind a transparent or selectively light transmissive front cover. All of these display arrangements in a gaming machine may leave little room above the gaming machine button deck for forward facing audio speakers.
It is an object of the invention to provide a display assembly that integrates one or more audio speakers with one or more display devices. Another object of the invention is to provide a gaming machine including one or more display assemblies including an integrated audio speaker or multiple integrated speakers.
Display assemblies according to a first aspect of the present invention include a display assembly housing, a display device, a front cover, and an audio speaker assembly. The front cover has a front cover peripheral edge that defines a front cover area and is secured over a display assembly housing front opening. This display assembly housing front opening represents an opening to a display assembly housing volume defined by the display assembly housing. The display device, which may be an LCD video monitor or similar device, is mounted within the display assembly housing volume and defines a display device area aligning with a first area of the front cover. Display assemblies according to this first aspect of the invention further include a speaker opening in the front cover. The speaker opening is defined by a speaker opening peripheral edge that lies entirely within the front cover area so that the speaker opening is spaced apart from the front cover peripheral edge. The audio speaker assembly is mounted within the display assembly housing volume so that a sound output area of the audio speaker assembly aligns with the speaker opening in the front cover.
A second aspect of the invention encompasses gaming machines that include a display assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
In some implementations according to either the first or second aspect of the invention, the display assembly may also include an accent lighting strip mounted within the display assembly housing volume so that an area of the accent lighting strip aligns with a boarder accent light area of the front cover adjacent to a portion of the front cover peripheral edge. In these implementations, the speaker opening may be located between the first area of the front cover and the boarder accent light area of the front cover.
The audio speaker assembly in some embodiments of the display assembly may include an elongated speaker enclosure located within the display assembly housing volume so as to extend along an edge of the display device area. Of course, some embodiments may include at least one additional speaker opening in the front cover similarly spaced apart from the front cover peripheral edge, and with an additional audio speaker assembly similarly mounted within the display assembly housing volume with respect to the additional speaker opening. Two or perhaps more speaker assemblies may be mounted in the display assembly housing volume so that the longitudinal axes of the elongated speaker enclosures align, at least in plan view from the front of the display assembly.
The front cover in a display assembly according to either the first or second aspects described above may include a transparent layer that extends throughout the front cover area aside from the first speaker opening. For example, the front cover may comprise a glass or acrylic panel shaped so that the panel peripheral edge aligns with the display assembly housing front opening. Where the front cover includes a transparent layer that extends throughout the front cover area, an opaque covering may surround each speaker opening and also align with an area defined by the respective elongated (or other shaped) speaker enclosure so that the speaker enclosure is not visible through the front cover from the front of the display assembly.
These and other aspects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of representative embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
Although lower display assembly 114 in this example gaming machine is not shown as including an integrated audio speaker in accordance with the present invention, other gaming machines may include a display assembly in accordance with aspects of the present invention in the position of lower display assembly 114. This may be in lieu of or in addition to the display assembly 103 with integrated audio speakers. More generally, a display assembly with one or more integrated audio speakers may be included at essentially any position on a gaming machine within the scope of the present invention.
Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciate that other basic electronic components will be included in gaming machine 100 such as a power supply, cooling systems for the various system components, and other devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional devices are omitted from the drawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail.
All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in
Numerous other variations in the gaming machine internal structure and system may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, a gaming machine in some embodiments of the present invention may rely on one or more data processors located remotely from the gaming machine itself. Embodiments of the present invention may include no processor such as CPU 205 or graphics processor such as 215 at the gaming machine and may instead rely on one or more remote processors. Thus unless specifically stated otherwise, the designation “gaming machine” is used in this disclosure and the accompanying claims to designate a system of devices that operate together to provide the indicated functions. A “gaming machine” may include a gaming machine such as gaming machine 100 shown in
It will also be appreciated that graphics processors are also commonly a part of modern computer systems. Although separate graphics processor 215 is shown for controlling display devices 220 and 222, CPU 205 or a graphics processor packaged with or included with CPU 205 may control all of the display devices directly without any separately packaged graphics processor. The invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of processing devices for controlling the display devices included with gaming machine 100, including the display device included with a display assembly in accordance with the present invention. Also, a gaming machine implementing the present invention is not limited to any particular number of video display devices or any particular types of display devices. Also, the display device areas 106 and 120 in
Control of display devices 220 and 222 will include a suitable driving signal for driving the respective display. Such a driving signal may include any video signal format or standard that the respective display device is adapted to receive. For example, a DisplayPort, HDMI, or DVI signal may be used to drive a respective one of the displays to provide the desired images. Of course, each display will commonly receive operating power separately from the display driving signal. The above-noted video standards also incorporate digital audio signals for driving audio speakers such as speakers associated with audio speaker assemblies 225a and 225b included with display assembly 103. Alternatively to providing an audio input for audio speaker assemblies 225a and 225b through a DisplayPort, HDMI, or DVI signal for example, the signals for driving audio speaker assemblies 225a and 225b associated with display assembly 103 may be provided directly from audio controller 209 via a suitable connection not shown in
In the illustrated gaming machine 100, CPU 205 executes software, that is, program code represented at 204 in the figure, that ultimately controls the entire gaming machine including the receipt of player inputs and the presentation of the graphics or information displayed through the display devices 220 and 222 and any other display devices associated with the gaming machine. This program code may include various data structures defining various assets (such as graphics assets for example) employed in the course of presenting the given game at gaming machine 100. CPU 205 also executes software related to communications handled through network controller 210, and software related to various peripheral devices such as those connected to the system through audio controller 209, serial interface 211, and touch screen controller 217. CPU 205 may also execute software to perform accounting functions associated with game play. Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile memory or storage device 207 may comprise mass storage device providing storage for game software (program code) prior to loading into random access memory 206 for execution, or for programs and program assets not in use or for other data generated or used in the course of gaming machine operation. Network controller 210 provides an interface to other components of a gaming system in which gaming machine 100 may be included.
It should be noted that the invention is not limited to gaming machines employing the specially configured general purpose processing devices and personal computer-type arrangement of processing devices and interfaces shown in example gaming machine 100. Other gaming machines through which the invention may be implemented may include one or more special purpose processing devices to perform the various processing steps for implementing the invention.
The example gaming machine 100 is shown in
Referring now to
The example gaming network 300 shown in
EGM configuration and messaging server 306 may provide game and non-game content and operational software for use by the gaming machines 100 in the course of providing games and while the gaming machines are unused and in an idle state. For example, server 306 may control the distribution of game software and graphic control assets to the gaming machines as well as advertising messages and other messages that may be presented using a display device of a gaming machine 100.
Tournament server 307 may be included in the system for controlling or coordinating tournament functions. These functions may include maintaining tournament player scores and ranking during the course of tournament play and communicating this information to the various gaming machines 100 participating in the tournament. Tournament server 307 may also function to enroll players in tournaments, schedule tournaments, and maintain the time remaining in the various tournaments.
Progressive server 308 may maintain progressive pools for progressive games that may be available through the various gaming machines 100. In some implementations, progressive server 308 may simply receive communications indicating contribution amounts that have been determined by processes executing at the various gaming machines 100 or elsewhere in the gaming network. Alternatively, progressive server 308 may perform processes to determine the contribution amounts for incrementing the various progressive pools that may be maintained. Progressive server 308 may also periodically communicate current pool values back to the various gaming machines 100 and may participate in communicating awarded progressive prize amounts to the gaming machines and in adjusting the progressive prize pools accordingly. In some implementations, progressive server 308 may also determine or participate in determining when a progressive prize triggering event occurs.
Accounting server 311 may receive gaming data from each of the networked gaming devices, perform audit functions, and provide data for analytical programs. Player account server 309 may maintain player account records, and store persistent player data such as accumulated player points and/or player preferences (for example, game personalizing selections or options).
Example gaming network 300 also includes a gaming website 314 that may be hosted through web server 312 and may be accessible by players via the Internet. One or more games may be displayed and played by a player through a player device 316 such as a wired or wireless personal computer or handheld wireless device (for example, an Android® operating system smart phone, Apple® iPhone® smart phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), iPad® or other tablet computer, etc.). To enter website 314, a player may log in with a user name that may, for example, be associated with the player's account information stored on player account server 309. Once logged in to website 314 the player may play various games on the website. Also, website 314 may allow the player to make various personalizing selections and save the information so it is available for use during the player's next gaming session at a casino establishment having the gaming machines 100.
Gaming network 300 illustrated in
The views of
As shown best in
Numerous variations are possible in a display device assembly with one or more integrated audio speakers in accordance with the present invention. For example, although oval openings 112 are shown in
As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Also, it should be understood that the terms “about,” “substantially,” and like terms used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit.
Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the following claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).
In the above descriptions and the following claims, terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” and the like are used with reference to the orientation of the figures unless specifically stated otherwise.
The term “each” may be used in the following claims for convenience in describing characteristics or features of multiple elements, and any such use of the term “each” is in the inclusive sense unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, if a claim defines two or more elements as “each” having a characteristic or feature, the use of the term “each” is not intended to exclude from the claim scope a situation having a third one of the elements which does not have the defined characteristic or feature.
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in some instances, one or more features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. More generally, the various features described herein may be used in any working combination.
Applicant claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/542,934 filed Oct. 6, 2023, and entitled “Integrated Display Device and Audio speaker.” The entire content of this provisional application is incorporated herein by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63542934 | Oct 2023 | US |
