Patent Application
20250010172
The present disclosure relates to gaming apparatus and more particularly to roulette gaming apparatus or systems and methods for using the same.
Roulette is a popular game played in gaming establishments. In mechanical versions of the game (versus video generated), a roulette ball is launched into a stationary rim having a single angled annular track encircling a spinning roulette wheel. The spinning wheel rotates in the opposite direction of the rotating roulette ball. The roulette ball rotates around the annular track until friction between the roulette ball and the annular track and gravity cause the ball to lose momentum. Upon losing sufficient momentum, the roulette ball exits the annular track and falls on to the roulette wheel.
Between the track and the roulette wheel, the roulette ball may engage with one or more ball stops (or canoes) intervening between the annular track and the roulette wheel, causing the ball to jump about. Eventually the roulette ball will come to rest in one of the numerous equally spaced ball slots located along a circumference of the roulette wheel. Each ball slot among the equally spaced ball slots is isolated from adjacent ball slots by separators positioned radially outward and corresponds to a particular number and color. The particular number represents a result for the game cycle that began when the roulette ball was launched.
As the roulette ball comes to rest, a marker (or dolly) may be used to mark a betting area (or layout) of a display or a physical horizontal surface that is separate from the roulette mechanism. The dolly identifies the particular number and color on the layout corresponding to the ball slot in which the roulette ball came to rest. Winning and losing selections for that game cycle that had been electronically or physically placed on the selection area prior to a selection close time of that game cycle are then determined according to the result. Once the losing and winning selections are resolved, a new game cycle starts.
Although roulette can be a fun and exciting on its own, there have been numerous attempts to add further fun and excitement by modifying aspects of roulette as structured in different parts of the world. Roulette systems may include a number of numbers on the number circle spaced apart and arranged in different manners. The number circles of roulette wheels typically include at least 36 numbers. Some number circles may include additional numbers and the roulette wheels may include a corresponding number of ball slots, which can change the arrangement of the numbers of the number circle. Number circles including an extra number are typically numbered “0”, two extra numbers are typically numbered “0” and “00”, etc. The zeros numbers are typically green and therefore neither even nor odd.
However, many visual modifications to roulette wheel systems are limited to static changes, such as permanent or semi-permanent modifications to one or more aspects of the device. This may include a color scheme change to the wheel, numbers, pockets, labels, or other areas of the roulette system. Such visual modifications may also require the game to go offline for a period of time, while the modifications are installed on the wheel. This may result in lower profitability and decreased player experience, since less roulette games are available for play. In addition, visual modifications may become outdated after a period of time and/or due to customer familiarity. This may create additional challenges and costs related to selecting visual modifications that are appealing and will generate excitement for the game over time, since any further changes would result in additional costs and servicing time.
A roulette wheel system and method of using are disclosed. A roulette wheel system may include at least one stationary rim, a spinning roulette wheel, an optical display system positioned beneath the at least one rim and the roulette wheel, and a controller. The optical display system may include one or more LEDs or an LCD display. The optical display system is configured to provide a plurality of lighting effects visible through the at least one rim and the roulette wheel. A controller may provide signal content to the optical display system, to produce a lighting effect corresponding to current gaming information. According to the various embodiments, lighting effects may include the simulation of the rotation of numbers and symbols, indicate real-time game information, track a position of a roulette ball, respond to various gaming events, and/or promote interest and excitement towards the game.
These and other features will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The present disclosure describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize, in light of the teachings herein, that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that make up the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein and/or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.
As shown in
The visual display rim 110 may also include the number circle and pockets, all of which may be made of a transparent or semi-transparent material of any color or combination of colors. In some embodiments, the visual display rim 110 may be glass, such as a transparent polycarbonate glass. In other embodiments the visual display may include one or more types of transparent materials, including but not limited to plastics, glass, resins, and other thermoplastic polymers and polycarbonate materials.
As best seen in
The optical display system may serve to display text, numbers, icons, flashes, colors, or any of a variety and combination of lighting effects, which will be visible on or through the visual display rim 110, the roulette wheel 150, and the pockets 130. As further disclosed herein, the optical display system 210 may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, the optical display system 210 includes a display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). A combination of various lighting elements may be applied to create a desired visual effect for the display rim 110. For example, the optical display system may include an LCD screen installed along the bottom of the rim 110, roulette wheel 150, or pockets 130, and one or more LEDs providing additional visual effects.
In embodiments, the number circle area may display the numbers 0-36 as shown on the number circle 19 of
In various embodiments, the optical display system 210 may be directly attached to the bottom side of the visual display rim 110 and/or the roulette wheel 150. In some examples the optical display system 210 may be a removable element. In other examples, the optical display system 210 may be formed as part of the visual display rim 110, the roulette wheel 150, and/or pockets 130. The display rim 110 may additionally have one or more recesses, protrusions, mounts, or other physical elements to attach and/or remove the optical display system 210. For example, support bracket 240, as best seen in
A removable and/or interchangeable optical display system may enable efficient replacements or repairs of lighting elements, which would lead to less time that the game is offline. A variety of optical display systems may enable additional lighting display combinations, which could make a game more attractive to current and potential players.
In embodiments, the display rim 110, the number circle area 150 and pockets 130 may be tilted 21° above a horizontal plane of the roulette wheel. Any other tilt angle, or no tilt angle, may be used to position the display rim 110 and its components.
The visual display rim 110 and the roulette wheel 150 may also be removable elements, fitted into the area between the outer wall 310 and the spacer element 230. For example, the visual display rim 110 may sit in a defined groove 320 formed by one or more elements of the roulette wheel system (e.g., outer wall 310, spacer element 320, etc.). The groove 320 may be extended to include the number circle area and the pockets 130. This capability may introduce greater variety to the roulette gaming system. For example, different visual display rims 110 may include different colors, materials, with canoe shapes, sizes, colors, or other physical elements, and the roulette wheel 150 and pockets 130 could be modified in ways that may add to the excitement and visual attraction of the game.
The controller may communicate with one or more sensors and devices to control a lighting sequence or visual effect. As discussed herein, a sensor may indicate a current status or the game, a position of the roulette ball 316 (e.g., within a launch tube 140, within a pocket 130), contact with a gaming element, such as canoe 120, or any other aspect of the roulette gaming system. For example, a sensor may provide real-time feedback to the controller, e.g., related to a position of the roulette ball, and lighting sequences may correspond to the real-time feedback, e.g., tracking, highlighting, or otherwise indicating a position of the roulette ball.
In an example, a first lighting sequence may occur while the roulette ball 316 is spinning within the track 315, a second lighting sequence may occur when the roulette ball 316 leaves the track 315, and a third lighting sequence may occur when the ball 316 has landed within a pocket 130. A sensor, e.g., sensor 410, may be an optic sensor, which may identify a presence of a ball 316 in the track 315 and within a particular pocket 130 (as shown in
The visual display rim 110 and/or roulette wheel 150 and the corresponding optical display system(s) may highlight an arrow, number, identifier, or other lighting effect to indicate the pocket with the roulette ball. In another example, when a sensor (e.g., pressure, force, position, etc.) indicates contact of the roulette ball with a canoe 120, a lighting effect may be triggered, such as highlighting the canoe, or other visual or color effect on the display rim. To further enhance the roulette mechanism and make it easier for players to identify the pocket in which a roulette ball has landed lighting could be provided to light up the pocket sensed to contain the ball. Again, the lighting could be triggered by a sensor 410 detecting the roulette ball in or not in different locations, such as a pocket.
In some embodiments, the optical display system 210 may display information, such as player information, gaming information, a current score, current winnings, a bet, number of players, a date, time, name, game type, winning numbers, winning bets, and the like. In some examples, the optical display system may cause the visual display rim 110 and/or the roulette wheel 150 and/or pockets 130 to be a certain color or combination of colors for a period of time. In various embodiments, sound effects may accompany one or more visual displays provided on the visual display rim 110, the roulette wheel 150, and the pockets 130.
The lighting elements of the visual display rim 110, the roulette wheel 150, and the pockets 130 may be programmed to automatically run through a lighting sequence(s) and/or produce certain lighting effects when an event occurs during the operation of the roulette system. For example, certain lighting combinations may occur when there is not an active game being played. Flashing lights and colors may be used to attract players to the game. During gameplay, the system may show a current player name and other player or gaming information. Certain lighting and/or sound effects may enhance gameplay, or keep the player's attention, for example. Additional enhancement features include the ability to shine light through one or more crystals embedded in the visual display rim 110, a canoe 120, or other rim element or the roulette wheel 150 or pockets 130 during a game or when a roulette ball lands in a pocket, such as by highlighting the corresponding number or symbol within the number circle area or shining a light through the pocket so to further indicate the outcome of each game or for some other reason.
When the light sources 510 are placed under the roulette wheel 150, lightguides 520 may be used to guide light from the light sources to a surface. The surface may be a surface of the visual display rim or a surface of the roulette wheel 150. As shown in
Regardless of whether the light sources and lightguides are in arrays or circles, in each case, some portion of the light sources and lightguides correspond to each pocket 130 so that gaming information unique to each pocket may be illustrated for that pocket. The gaming information may include pocket labels, numbers (e.g., 0, 00, 1-37, etc.), bonus information, and other information depending on the nature of the roulette game being played. The lighting sources may change before, during, and after gaming events, to convey different gaming information throughout a gaming cycle, i.e., from a start to a finish of each game. Such gaming information may include identifying a winning pocket, a bonus associated with one or more pockets, and any numbers having an associated bet.
A sequence of lighting effects may be generated throughout a game cycle. For example, a first set of lighting effects, such as gameplay rules, betting information and bonuses, bet types, numbers, and symbols may be provided at the start of a game, such as during a betting period. A second set of lighting effects, for example, pocket number labels, may be provided after the betting period closes and throughout the roulette ball launch and wheel spin cycle. A third set of lighting effects, such as a winning number, may be provided after a roulette ball comes to rest in a pocket and a winning number and/or other bets are determined, indicating the end of a game cycle. Embodiments may include variations to communicate one or more of a roulette ball position, a number, a symbol, a color, a bonus, a winning outcome, and an animation.
The polymer material of the base 610 may be opaque so to prevent light from one light source from leaking through the base material to any adjacent light source, i.e., to isolate each light source, and to channel light from the light source through the corresponding hole in the base. Each light guide among the plurality of lightguide elements 620 which may formed of a transparent or largely transparent material so that light from the corresponding light source is channeled through the corresponding hole in the base and through the column of material of the light guide, thereby guiding the light to the surface.
Within number circle area 810, numbers and symbols corresponding to each pocket are displayed by the lighting sources and project to a surface of the visual display rim or roulette wheel by the lightguides. The number circle area 810 shows standard roulette wheel numbers and other symbols, such as a diamond, which may indicate a bonus and otherwise correspond with a bet option at an associated betting area. The central number, e.g., on the cone 160, may indicate a past or current winning number or symbol, for example, “32”. At area 820, light sources in the number wheel area indicate a bonus, e.g., 1×-500×, associated with each pocket. The lighting display on the cone 160 may indicate a past, current, or upcoming bonus amount, such as “200×”.
In some examples, the lighting sources may alternate between displaying pocket numbers and associated bonuses. The lighting sources 510 may also provide various lighting effects (e.g., colors, symbols, animations, brightness, etc.) to provide a source of attraction and keep players attentive to the present game. Such features may also help communicate game rules, bonus play information, and the like, to assist new players and introduce new gaming features. These lighting features may be provided along with other lighting effects and animations on the stationary rim, as previously discussed herein. The optical display system may generate lighting effects on the stationary rim (e.g., a transparent, stationary rim) sequentially, alternately, and/or concurrently with any lighting effects on the rotatable roulette wheel and the cone.
The present disclosure describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize, in light of the teachings herein, that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that make up the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein and/or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.
Some of the techniques described above can be implemented on a computing device associated with a gaming device (e.g., a roulette mechanism), a plurality of computing devices associated with a plurality of gaming devices, a controller in communication with the gaming device(s) (e.g., a controller configured to synchronize the gaming devices(s)), or a plurality of controllers in communication with the gaming device(s). Additionally, some of the techniques may be distributed between the computing device(s) and the controller(s).
In a basic configuration, the computing system may include at least a processor, a system memory, a storage device, input/output peripherals, communication peripherals, and an interface bus. Instructions stored in the memory may be executed by the processor to perform a variety of methods and operations, including the shooter selection and console mirroring, as described above. The computing system components may be present in the gaming device, in a server or other component of a network, or distributed between some combinations of such devices.
The interface bus is configured to communicate, transmit, and transfer data, controls, and commands between the various components of the electronic device. The system memory and the storage device comprise computer readable storage media, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, hard-drives, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, flash memory, and other tangible storage media. Any of such computer readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions or program codes embodying aspects of the disclosure. Additionally, the system memory comprises an operation system and applications. The processor is configured to execute the stored instructions and can comprise, for example, a logical processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, and the like.
The system memory and the storage device may also comprise computer readable signal media. A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein. Such a propagated signal may take any of variety of forms including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use in connection with the computing system.
Further, the input and output peripherals include user interfaces such as a keyboard, screen, microphone, speaker, other input/output devices, and computing components such as digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters, graphical processing units, serial ports, parallel ports, and universal serial bus. The input/output peripherals may also include a variety of sensors, such as light, proximity, GPS, magnetic field, altitude, and velocity/acceleration. RSSI, and distance sensors, as well as other types of sensors. The input/output peripherals may be connected to the processor through any of the ports coupled to the interface bus.
The user interfaces can be configured to allow a user of the computing system to interact with the computing system. For example, the computing system may include instructions that, when executed, cause the computing system to generate a user interface and carry out other methods and operations that the user can use to provide input to the computing system and to receive an output from the computing system.
This user interface may be in the form of a graphical user interface that is rendered at the screen and that is coupled with audio transmitted on the speaker and microphone and input received at the keyboard. In an embodiment, the user interface can be locally generated at the computing system. In another embodiment, the user interface may be hosted on a remote computing system and rendered at the computing system. For example, the server may generate the user interface and may transmit information related thereto to the computing device that, in turn, renders the user interface to the user. The computing device may, for example, execute a browser or an application that exposes an application program interface (API) at the server to access the user interface hosted on the server.
Finally, the communication peripherals of the computing system are configured to facilitate communication between the computing system and other computing systems (e.g., between the computing device and the server) over a communications network. The communication peripherals include, for example, a network interface controller, modem, various modulators/demodulators and encoders/decoders, wireless and wired interface cards, antenna, and the like.
The communication network includes a network of any type that is suitable for providing communications between the computing device and the server and may comprise a combination of discrete networks which may use different technologies. For example, the communications network includes a cellular network, a WiFi/broadband network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephony network, a fiber-optic network, or combinations thereof. In an example embodiment, the communication network includes the Internet and any networks adapted to communicate with the Internet. The communications network may be also configured as a means for transmitting data between the computing device and the server.
The techniques described above may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code modules executed by one or more computers or computer processors. The code modules may be stored on any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or computer storage device, such as hard drives, solid state memory, optical disc, and/or the like. The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly in application-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processes and process steps may be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any type of non-transitory computer storage such as, e.g., volatile or non-volatile storage.
In an embodiment, a roulette wheel system, comprising: a stationary rim upon which a roulette ball is launched during a game cycle; a roulette wheel configured to rotate separate from the stationary rim, the stationary rim being positioned above and sloping downwards toward the roulette wheel; a plurality of pockets configured to rotate with the roulette wheel, a pocket among the plurality of pockets configured to hold the roulette ball at an end of the game cycle; an optical display system comprising a plurality of lighting elements configured to generate a lighting effect including gaming information corresponding to each pocket among the plurality of pockets during the game cycle; a lightguide including a base and a plurality of lightguide elements, the lightguide extending from the optical display system to a surface area, each lightguide element among the plurality of lightguide elements positioned over a lighting element among the plurality of lighting elements; and a controller providing signal content to the optical display system, the signal content producing the lighting effect.
In the embodiment, wherein the surface is one of a surface of the stationary rim and a surface of the roulette wheel.
In the embodiment, wherein the base is an opaque plate having a plurality of holes formed in the plate, each hole among the plurality of holes corresponding to a lighting element, each hole permitting light from the lighting element to pass through the hole without passing to an adjoining lighting element.
In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of lightguide elements are transparent and each lightguide element among the plurality of lightguide elements corresponds to a hole in the base, wherein each lightguide element passes light from the corresponding hole to the surface.
In the embodiment, wherein each lightguide element is positioned in the corresponding hole.
In the embodiment, wherein each lightguide element is positioned over the corresponding hole.
In the embodiment, wherein the lighting effect communicates at least one of a position of the roulette ball, a number, a symbol, a color, a bonus, a winning outcome, and an animation.
In the embodiment, wherein the optical display system is one of an array and a continuous circle.
In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of lighting elements comprises at least one of: an LED array, a projection device, and a liquid crystal display.
In the embodiment, wherein the lighting effect produces visible symbols along a perimeter of the plurality of pockets.
In the embodiment, further comprising a cone covering a central portion of the roulette wheel, and wherein the optical display system further produces, based on the signal content from the controller, gaming information on the cone.
In the embodiment, wherein the gaming information shows at least one of a pocket symbol, a winning amount, and a bonus value.
In an embodiment, a method, comprising: receiving gaming information from at least one sensor associated with a roulette wheel system, the roulette wheel system comprising a stationary rim upon which a roulette ball is launched during a game cycle, a roulette wheel configured to rotate separate from the stationary rim, the stationary rim being positioned above and sloping downwards toward the roulette wheel, and a plurality of pockets configured to rotate with the roulette wheel, a pocket among the plurality of pockets configured to hold the roulette ball at an end of the game cycle; determining, by a controller, a lighting effect responsive to the gaming information; and producing, by an optical display system and a lightguide the lighting effect on a surface, the optical display system comprising a plurality of lighting elements configured to generate the lighting effect including gaming information corresponding to each pocket among the plurality of pockets during the game cycle, the lightguide including a base and a plurality of lightguide elements, the lightguide extending from the optical display system to the surface area, each lightguide element among the plurality of lightguide elements positioned over a lighting element among the plurality of lighting elements.
In the embodiment, wherein the surface is one of a surface of the stationary rim and a surface of the roulette wheel.
In the embodiment, wherein the base is an opaque plate having a plurality of holes formed in the plate, each hole among the plurality of holes corresponding to a lighting element, each hole permitting light from the lighting element to pass through the hole without passing to an adjoining lighting element.
In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of lightguide elements are transparent and each lightguide element among the plurality of lightguide elements corresponds to a hole in the base, wherein each lightguide element passes light from the corresponding hole to the surface.
In the embodiment, wherein each lightguide element is positioned in the corresponding hole.
In the embodiment, wherein each lightguide element is positioned over the corresponding hole.
In the embodiment, wherein the lighting effect communicates at least one of a position of the roulette ball, a number, a symbol, a color, a bonus, a winning outcome, and an animation.
In the embodiment, further comprising a cone covering a central portion of the roulette wheel, and wherein the optical display system further produces, based on the signal content from the controller, gaming information on the cone, wherein the gaming information shows at least one of a pocket symbol, a winning amount, and a bonus value.
As previously noted, the various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described blocks or states may be performed in an order other than that specifically disclosed, or multiple blocks or states may be combined in a single block or state. The example blocks or states may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Blocks or states may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.
The present disclosure describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize, in light of the teachings herein, that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that make up the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein and/or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.
The terms and descriptions used above are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that those and many other variations, enhancements and modifications of the concepts described herein are possible without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined only by the following claims and their equivalents.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/603,990, filed Mar. 13, 2024, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/319,238, filed May 17, 2023, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/483,246, filed Feb. 3, 2023, each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63483246 | Feb 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18603990 | Mar 2024 | US |
| Child | 18893852 | US | |
| Parent | 18319238 | May 2023 | US |
| Child | 18603990 | US |
