A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2006, 2007, WMS Gaming, Inc.
Embodiments of the inventive subject matter relate generally to wagering game machines, and more particularly, to substantially transparent electrical components within a wagering game machine.
Wagering game machine makers continually provide new and entertaining games. Reducing the footprint of wagering game machines allows more machines to be set up on a casino floor, thereby potentially increasing the revenue there from.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the Figures of the accompanying drawings in which:
Systems, apparatus and methods for substantially transparent electrical components (such as transistors) in a wagering game machine are described herein. This description of the embodiments is divided into five sections. The first section describes an example wagering game machine. The second section describes an example of a display of a wagering game machine. The third section described example operations for substantially transparent electrical components in a display of a wagering game machine. The fourth section describes another example game machine and a wagering game architecture. The fifth section provides some general comments
Some embodiments include the incorporation of electrical components, which are substantially transparent to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to human eye, to various parts of a wagering game machine. The electrical components may include simple components, integrated circuits, Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuits, etc. (such as various types of transistors, inductors, resistors, capacitors, inverters, amplifiers, memory cells, processors, digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, etc.). The electrical components may be placed into the different parts of the wagering game machine (such as in the display, art glass, various plastic components, etc.). For example, the control circuitry for the displays may be embedded therein, thereby potentially allowing the wagering game machines to be more compact. In particular, a separate controller card for the display may not be required. Such wagering game machines may have a smaller footprint, thereby enabling more wagering game machines on a casino floor.
The wagering game machine 100 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices, including value input devices 118 and a player input device 124. For output, the wagering game machine 100 includes a primary display 114 for displaying information about a basic wagering game. The primary display 114 can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The wagering game machine 100 also includes a secondary display 116 for displaying wagering game events, wagering game outcomes, and/or signage information. In some embodiments, various types of glass may be used in place or in addition to the secondary display 116. For example, this section of the wagering game machine 100 may be art glass. Lights may be positioned behind the art glass. Accordingly, parts of all of the art glass may be illuminated during operation of the wagering game machine 100. While some components of the wagering game machine 100 are described herein, numerous other elements can exist and can be used in any number or combination to create varying forms of the wagering game machine 100.
The value input devices 118 can take any suitable form and can be located on the front of the housing 112. The value input devices 118 can receive currency and/or credits inserted by a player. The value input devices 118 can include coin acceptors for receiving coin currency and bill acceptors for receiving paper currency. Furthermore, the value input devices 118 can include ticket readers or barcode scanners for reading information stored on vouchers, cards, or other tangible portable storage devices. The vouchers or cards can authorize access to central accounts, which can transfer money to the wagering game machine 100.
The player input device 124 comprises a plurality of push buttons on a button panel 126 for operating the wagering game machine 100. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 124 can comprise a touch screen 128 mounted over the primary display 114 and/or secondary display 116.
The various components of the wagering game machine 100 can be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 112. Alternatively, some of the wagering game machine's components can be located outside of the housing 112, while being communicatively coupled with the wagering game machine 100 using any suitable wired or wireless communication technology.
The operation of the basic wagering game can be displayed to the player on the primary display 114. The primary display 114 can also display a bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display 114 can include a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, light emitting diodes (LEDs), or any other type of display suitable for use in the wagering game machine 100. Alternatively, the primary display 114 can include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome. In
A player begins playing a basic wagering game by making a wager via the value input device 118. The player can initiate play by using the player input device's buttons or touch screen 128. The basic game can include arranging a plurality of symbols along a payline 132, which indicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes can be randomly selected in response to player input. At least one of the outcomes, which can include any variation or combination of symbols, can trigger a bonus game.
In some embodiments, the wagering game machine 100 can also include an information reader 152, which can include a card reader, ticket reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver, or computer readable storage medium interface. In some embodiments, the information reader 152 can be used to award complimentary services, restore game assets, track player habits, etc.
In some embodiments, different parts of the wagering game machine 100 may be made of an electro-luminance material. For example, the secondary display 116, the value input device 118, the information reader 152, the button panel 126, etc.
In some embodiments, various parts of the wagering game 100 may comprise substantially transparent electrical components. These electrical components, which may be embedded on the displays of a wagering game machine, may be part of control circuitry for such displays. For example with reference to
While displayed as a transistor, the electrical components 202 may be any type of electrical component. For example, the electrical components 202 may be substantially transparent capacitors, resistors, inductors, inverters, etc. In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 may be different types of integrated circuits, including Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuits. For example, the electrical components may include processor, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, a smoothing circuitry, shifting circuitry, analog amplifiers, memory cells (such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells), etc. In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 may be thin film transistors (TFT). The electrical components 202 may be representative of integrated circuits, monolithic devices, semiconductor devices, microelectronic devices, etc. In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 are part of a optoelectronic device (such as an active-matrix liquid crystal display).
In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 may have an optical transmission of approximately 50% or greater, relative to the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 may have an optical transmission of approximately 70% or greater, relative to the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 may have an optical transmission of approximately 90% or greater, relative to the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
In some embodiments, the material of the electrical components 202 may include substantially transparent materials (such as ZnO, SnO2, or In2O3). For example, the electrical components 202 may be transistors that comprise a channel layer that is substantially transparent. The material of the channel layer may include ZnO, SnO2, or In2O3. In some embodiments, the material ZnO, SnO2, or In2O3 may be formed by annealing (such as rapid thermal annealing). In some embodiments, a layer of ZnO, SnO2, or In2O3 may be deposited using sputter deposition. Such a fabrication may occur in an atmosphere that includes a sputter gas and a film-modifying gas. Sputter gases may include Ar, Ne, etc.
In some embodiments, the film-modifying gas may include an oxidative gas whose molecules, atoms or ions are incorporated into the film so that they occupy oxygen vacancies or deficiencies in the film. Oxidative gases may include O2, N2O, etc. Another film-modifying gas may be a dopant gas whose molecules, atoms or ions are incorporated into the film so that they increase the resistivity of the film. Dopant gases may include N2, NH3, etc.
The electrical components 202 may be a transistor having a channel layer (as described above). A thickness of the channel layer may be in a range of approximately 10 to about 500 nm. A length of the channel layer may be in a range of approximately 1,000 to about 100,000 nm.
In some embodiments, the material of the electrical components 202 may include substantially transparent materials (such as aluminum-titanium oxide (Al2O3/TiO2), Al2O3, MgO, SiO2, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride). For example, the electrical components 202 may be transistors that comprise a gate layer that is substantially transparent. In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 may include a gate layer that is adjacent to the channel layer (described above). The gate layer may include substantially transparent materials (such as aluminum-titanium oxide (Al2O3/TiO2), Al2O3, MgO, SiO2, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride). In some embodiments, the thickness of the gate insulator layer may be in a range of approximately 10 to 300 nm.
In some embodiments, the material of the electrical components 202 may include substantially transparent materials (such as indium-tin oxide (ITO), ZnO, SnO2 and In2O3). For example, the electrical components 202 may include field effect transistors (FETs) that include source/drain terminals. In some embodiments, the source/drain terminals may include n-type conductors such as indium-tin oxide (ITO), ZnO, SnO2, In2O3 etc. Especially useful materials for the source and drain are those that can inject (and extract) electrons into the channel layer insulating material. In some embodiments, the source/drain terminals may include electron injection materials include indium-tin oxide, LaB6, and ZnO:Al.
In some embodiments, the material of the electrical components 202 may include substantially transparent materials (such as indium-tin oxide (ITO), ZnO, SnO2, and In2O3). For example, the electrical components 202 may include a gate electrode that may include substantially transparent, n-type conductors such as indium-tin oxide (ITO), ZnO, SnO2, In2O3, etc. The thickness of the gate electrode may be in a range of approximately 50 to 1000 nm. The gate electrode may be introduced into the structure by chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, evaporation and/or doping.
In some embodiments, the electrical components 202 may be used in an active-matrix liquid crystal display. The electrical components 202 may be embedded in the display and used to control pixels therein. For example, the electrical components 202 may be transistors that are coupled to a pixel, thereby forming a transistor/pixel cell. A drain electrode of the transistor may be coupled to the pixel. A gate electrode of the transistor may be coupled to a control line that receives an on/off control signal for the transistor. A source electrode of the transistor is coupled to a data line that receives a signal for controlling the pixel. Therefore, in operations, a wagering game application may be executed. An output of the execution may be a game display signal to control the display. The game display signal may be transmitted to the substantially transparent transistors in the display. The transistors may control the pixels based on the game display signal (such as on/off, color output, etc.).
While the electrical components have been described as being embedded in a display, embodiments are not so limited. In some embodiments, the electrical components may be applied on various plastic substrates in the wagering game machine. For example, the electrical components may be within reel strips in the mechanical reel wagering game machines. In some embodiments, the electrical components may be embedded in the bezels that surround various components of the wagering game machine. For example, the electrical components may be in the bezels of the value input devices 118, the information reader 152, etc. Accordingly, the control circuitry for illuminating such bezels may be embedded therein. The bezels may be composed of different material.(such as glass, plastic, metal, etc.).
In some embodiments, the electrical components may be embedded in various types of glass in the wagering game machine. For example, the wagering game machine may include art glass that may be illuminated during operation. Accordingly, these electrical components for the control of the illumination may be embedded in the art glass. In some embodiments, the electrical components may be representative of at least part of a touch sensor. For example, electrical components of the touch sensors may be embedded in the art glass, buttons, displays, etc on the wagering game machine.
In some embodiments, the electrical components may be embedded in electro-luminance material. For example, the electrical components may be in electro-luminance material used for the secondary display 116, the value input device 118, the information reader 152, the button panel 126, etc.
The substantially transparent electrical components may be operated in a number of applications in a wagering game machine.
At block 302, a game display signal is received by control circuitry that includes at least one substantially transparent electrical component embedded in a display of a wagering game device. The game display signal is an output from execution of a wagering game in the wagering game machine. In some embodiments, a processor may be executing an application for the wagering game (for example see the wagering game machine architecture illustrated in
At block 304, the display of the wagering game machine is controlled, using the control circuitry, based on the game display signal. As described above, for example, one or more transistor/pixel cells may be part of the display of the wagering game machine. The transistors may be substantially transparent and controlling the pixels (on/off, color output, etc.). The operations of the flow diagram 300 are complete.
Another application of the substantially transparent electrical components may relate to processing/controlling of input from a touch screen on a wagering game machine.
At block 402, an input is received from a user of a wagering game being executed on a wagering game machine. The input is received by control circuitry having at least one substantially transparent electrical component embedded in a touch screen display of a wagering game machine. With reference to
At block 404, the input from the user is transmitted, by the control circuitry, to an application that executes the wagering game. In some embodiments, a processor may be executing an application for the wagering game (for example see the wagering game machine architecture illustrated in
In some embodiments, the operations of the flow diagram 300 and the flow diagram 400 may be practiced together. Similar operations by control circuitry embedded in other displays on the wagering game machine may be performed. For example, substantially transparent electrical components may control the pixels (e.g., on/off, color output, etc.) on the display of the graphical button.
Other types of wagering game machines may include substantially transparent electrical components.
The player-accessible value input device 518 can comprise, for example, a slot located on the front, side, or top of the casing 512 configured to receive credit from a stored-value card (e.g., casino card, smart card, debit card, credit card, etc.) inserted by a player. The player-accessible value input device 518 can also comprise a sensor (e.g., an RF sensor) configured to sense a signal (e.g., an RF signal) output by a transmitter (e.g., an RF transmitter) carried by a player. The player-accessible value input device 518 can also or alternatively include a ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit or funds storage device. The credit ticket or card can also authorize access to a central account, which can transfer money to the wagering game machine 510.
Still other player-accessible value input devices 518 can require the use of touch keys 530 on the touch-screen display (e.g., primary display 514 and/or secondary display 516) or player input devices 524. Upon entry of player identification information and, preferably, secondary authorization information (e.g., a password, PIN number, stored value card number, predefined key sequences, etc.), the player can be permitted to access a player's account. As one potential optional security feature, the wagering game machine 510 can be configured to permit a player to only access an account the player has specifically set up for the wagering game machine 510. Other conventional security features can also be utilized to, for example, prevent unauthorized access to a player's account, to minimize an impact of any unauthorized access to a player's account, or to prevent unauthorized access to any personal information or funds temporarily stored on the wagering game machine 510.
The player-accessible value input device 518 can itself comprise or utilize a biometric player information reader which permits the player to access available funds on a player's account, either alone or in combination with another of the aforementioned player-accessible value input devices 518. In an embodiment wherein the player-accessible value input device 518 comprises a biometric player information reader, transactions such as an input of value to the wagering game machine 510, a transfer of value from one player account or source to an account associated with the wagering game machine 510, or the execution of another transaction, for example, could all be authorized by a biometric reading, which could comprise a plurality of biometric readings, from the biometric device.
Alternatively, to enhance security, a transaction can be optionally enabled only by a two-step process in which a secondary source confirms the identity indicated by a primary source. For example, a player-accessible value input device 518 comprising a biometric player information reader can require a confirmatory entry from another biometric player information reader 552, or from another source, such as a credit card, debit card, player ID card, fob key, PIN number, password, hotel room key, etc. Thus, a transaction can be enabled by, for example, a combination of the personal identification input (e.g., biometric input) with a secret PIN number, or a combination of a biometric input with a fob input, or a combination of a fob input with a PIN number, or a combination of a credit card input with a biometric input. Essentially, any two independent sources of identity, one of which is secure or personal to the player (e.g., biometric readings, PIN number, password, etc.) could be utilized to provide enhanced security prior to the electronic transfer of any funds. In another aspect, the value input device 518 can be provided remotely from the wagering game machine 510.
The player input device 524 comprises a plurality of push buttons on a button panel for operating the wagering game machine 510. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 524 can comprise a touch screen mounted to a primary display 514 and/or secondary display 516. In some embodiments, the touch screen is matched to a display screen having one or more selectable touch keys 530 selectable by a user's touching of the associated area of the screen using a finger or a tool, such as a stylus pointer. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen at an appropriate touch key 530 or by pressing an appropriate push button on the button panel. The touch keys 530 can be used to implement the same functions as push buttons. Alternatively, the push buttons 526 can provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys 530 can allow for input needed for another aspect of the game. The various components of the wagering game machine 510 can be connected directly to, or contained within, the casing 512, as seen in
The operation of the basic wagering game on the wagering game machine 510 is displayed to the player on the primary display 514. The primary display 514 can also display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display 514 preferably takes the form of a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the wagering game machine 510. The size of the primary display 514 can vary from, for example, about a 2-3″ display to a 15″ or 17″ display. In at least some embodiments, the primary display 514 is a 7″-10″ display. In some embodiments, the size of the primary display can be increased. Optionally, coatings or removable films or sheets can be applied to the display to provide desired characteristics (e.g., anti-scratch, anti-glare, bacterially-resistant and anti-microbial films, etc.). In at least some embodiments, the primary display 514 and/or secondary display 516 can have a 16:9 aspect ratio or other aspect ratio (e.g., 4:3). The primary display 514 and/or secondary display 516 can also each have different resolutions, different color schemes, and different aspect ratios.
As with the free standing embodiments a wagering gaming machine, a player begins play of the basic wagering game on the wagering game machine 510 by making a wager (e.g., via the value input device 518 or an assignment of credits stored on the handheld gaming machine via the touch screen keys 530, player input device 524, or buttons 526) on the wagering game machine 510. In some embodiments, the basic game can comprise a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 532 that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes can be randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly selected outcomes can be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game.
In some embodiments, the player-accessible value input device 518 of the wagering game machine 510 can double as a player information reader 552 that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating the player's identity (e.g., reading a player's credit card, player ID card, smart card, etc.). The player information reader 552 can alternatively or also comprise a bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable storage medium interface. In some embodiments, the player information reader 552 comprises a biometric sensing device.
As described above, substantially transparent electrical components may communicate with other electronics in a wagering game machine architecture (such as a processor executing a wagering game application).
The CPU 626 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 622, which facilitates communication between the wagering game machine's components. The I/O bus 622 is connected to a payout mechanism 608, primary display 610, secondary display 612, value input device 614, player input device 616, information reader 618, and storage unit 630. The player input device 616 can include the value input device 614 to the extent the player input device 616 is used to place wagers. The I/O bus 622 is also connected to an external system interface 624, which is connected to external systems 604 (e.g., wagering game networks).
In some embodiments, the wagering game machine 606 can include additional peripheral devices and/or more than one of each component shown in
In some embodiments, any of the components of the wagering game machine 606 (e.g., the wagering game unit 632) can include hardware, firmware, and/or software for performing the operations described herein. Machine-readable media includes any mechanism that provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a wagering game machine, computer, etc.). For example, tangible machine-readable media includes read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory machines, etc. Machine-readable media also includes any media suitable for transmitting software over a network.
In this detailed description, reference is made to specific examples by way of drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventive subject matter, and serve to illustrate how the inventive subject matter can be applied to various purposes or embodiments. Other embodiments are included within the inventive subject matter, as logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes can be made to the example embodiments described herein. Features or limitations of various embodiments described herein, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the inventive subject matter as a whole, and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, and application are not limiting as a whole, but serve only to define these example embodiments. This detailed description does not, therefore, limit embodiments of the invention, which are defined only by the appended claims.
Each of the embodiments described herein are contemplated as falling within the inventive subject matter, which is set forth in the following claims.
This patent application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/864,994 filed Nov. 9, 2006 and entitled “SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSPARENT ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITHIN A WAGERING GAME MACHINE”, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US07/23501 | 11/8/2007 | WO | 00 | 4/27/2009 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60864994 | Nov 2006 | US |