| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080207303 | Presenting Display Objects In A Gaming Machine - An apparatus for lighting display objects in a gaming machine is described herein. In one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a display object to be viewed and a light source to emit light. The gaming machine also includes a light-guiding panel. The light-guiding panel includes an edge to receive the light from the light source and a surface through which the light is reflected. In one embodiment, the surface includes a window through which the display object can be viewed. In one embodiment, the light is substantially uniformly reflected through all but the window of the surface. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080211276 | Speaker System for a Gaming Machine - A system includes a chair having an electrical connection to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device and a speaker package incorporated into the chair and coupled to the electrical connection. The speaker package includes a speaker mounted to a central member between a first shell defining a front cavity and a second shell defining a back cavity. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080248852 | Wagering Game System with Waveguide Projection Display - A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a wedge waveguide display assembly. In one embodiment, the wedge waveguide display assembly comprises a projector operable to project an image and a wedge waveguide assembly operable to reflect the projected image at least twice before the projected image becomes visible on an image screen region of the wedge waveguide display assembly. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080248854 | Gaming Machine Having Electrophoretic Displays and Method Thereof - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and at least one rotatable reel. The reel comprises a reel strip arranged about the periphery of a cage. The reel strip comprises an alterable film for displaying a plurality of symbols. The gaming machine further comprises a controller operative to alter the appearance of at least one of the plurality of symbols displayed on the film. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080280671 | Wagering Game System with Vacuum Fluorescent Display - A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a vacuum fluorescent display assembly comprising at least one vacuum fluorescent display element. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090036197 | GAMING MACHINE HAVING ELECTROPHORETIC DISPLAYS AND METHOD THEREOF - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and at least one rotatable reel. The reel comprises a reel strip arranged about the periphery of a cage. The reel strip, buttons on the machine, a player tracking card, and/or a gaming machine credit ticket may each comprise alterable film for displaying a plurality of indicia, including images, text, and other information. The gaming machine further comprises a controller operative to alter the appearance of items displayed on the film. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090054136 | PERSISTENT STATE SYSTEMS, METHODS AND SOFTWARE - In one example embodiment, a wagering game system includes at least one wagering game computer program operative on the wagering game platform to detect a wager. A persistent state manager software component is operative to read or write persistent state data to and from the wagering game computer program and persistent state media. In one embodiment, the persistent state media is a bar-coded ticket, and in another embodiment an electronic data storage device such as a RFID device. A messaging system allows persistent state media devices to interact with the wagering game. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090075721 | Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels - A method and system of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels includes receiving a wager to play the wagering game. A first set of video images are displayed on a curved surface approximately a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The first set of video images simulates movement of a first set of reel symbols. In response to a triggering event, a second set of video images are displayed on the curved surface. The second set of video images simulate a transitioning from the first set of reel symbols to a second set of reel symbols. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090117977 | Multigame Gaming Machine With Transmissive Display - Gaming machine is disclosed having a primary display and a secondary display mounted over the primary display. In one implementation, the primary display is a mechanical display and the secondary display is a transmissive display. This arrangement allows a wagering game to be displayed on the mechanical display alone, the mechanical display and the transmissive display together, or the transmissive display alone. As a result, players and casino operators have access to multiple wagering games on the same display area of the gaming machine. All three options need not be present on the gaming machine, however, and any two of the three will suffice. It is important, however, that the wagering game displayed on the transmissive display be separate and distinct from the wagering game displayed on the mechanical display. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090162245 | HANDHELD GAMING MACHINE SANITITZING SYSTEM - A sanitizing system for a handheld gaming device is provided. The sanitizing system comprising a housing, a door, a gas supply, and a control system. The housing defines at least a chamber, a gas inlet aperture, and an opening for receiving the handheld gaming device. The door is configured to seal the opening. The gas supply comprises a sanitizing gas and is connected to the gas inlet aperture. The control system is configured to selectively introduce gas from the gas supply into the chamber. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090181755 | Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels - A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090275406 | Dynamic user interface in a gaming system - A dynamically re-configurable input panel for a gaming machine, in one implementation, comprises a plurality of electrical contact regions disposed on the input panel and a plurality of display elements associated with the electrical contact regions, wherein information displayed on the display elements is dynamically re-configurable under game machine software control. In one implementation, the plurality of electrical contact regions comprises a plurality of electrical switches. Each of these switches may have a self-contained, re-configurable display element. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090280888 | Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels - A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090286589 | WAGERING GAME MACHINE WITH OLED TRANSMISSIVE LCD - A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered via at least one mechanical reel and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The liquid crystal display has at leas tone transparent portion through which the mechanical reel or reels can be observed. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) element is disposed near the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display, and is operable to selectively emit light or pass light, such that emitted light is passed through the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display when the OLED emits light or the at least one mechanical game object can be observed through the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and the OLED when the OLED passes light. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090298577 | WAGER GAMING NETWORK WITH WIRELESS HOTSPOTS - Embodiments of a wager gaming network that includes handheld wager gaming units and hotspots are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, in a handheld wager gaming unit, a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include wirelessly connecting the handheld wager gaming unit to a wireless access point in a wager gaming network. The method can also include transmitting, via the wireless access point, information from the handheld wager gaming unit to a device on the wager gaming network. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090305767 | MECHANICAL-BASED CONTROL OF VIDEO REELS IN A GAME MACHINE - In some example embodiments, a method includes executing a wagering game that generates instructions for control of a number of mechanical reels. The method also includes converting the instructions for controlling the number of mechanical reels into identifiers of video sequences stored in machine-readable media. The video sequences comprising a display representative of a stop result of the mechanical reels. The method includes retrieving the video sequences from the machine-readable media. The method includes displaying the video sequences on displays for video reels of a wagering game machine. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090312083 | Push-button with integrated or adjacent moveable outcome indicator - A push-button assembly for a gaming terminal implementing a wagering game is provided. The push-button assembly has a push-button actuated by a touch from a player of the wagering game. An outcome indicator indicates a randomly selected outcome in response to the push-button being actuated. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090312095 | Wagering Game With Simulated Mechanical Reels - A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100048288 | MULTIPLE WAGERING GAME DISPLAYS FROM SINGLE INPUT - A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can determine different objects and/or portions within a wagering game video image and split the wagering game video image into multiple video streams containing different parts of the wagering game video image. The operations can then present the multiple video streams on multiple displays. The multiple displays can show the different parts of the wagering game video image appearing as separate and distinct video images. In some embodiments, some of the multiple displays can be placed in front of other displays. The operations can generate transparent masks that allow images to be seen through a display. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100069160 | HANDHELD WAGERING GAME MACHINE AND DOCKING UNIT - Embodiments of a handheld wagering game machine and docking station are described herein. In one embodiment, the wagering game docking station is configured to dock with a handheld wagering game machine. The docking station can include a docking port configured to receive and adjustably hold the handheld wagering game machine at any of a plurality of viewing angles. The docking station can also include a plurality of buttons configured to send input to the handheld wagering game machine. The docking station can also include a mounting member configured to mount the docking station to a surface. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100075750 | Wagering Games Using Multi-Level Gaming Structure - According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system is disclosed including at least one community display and a plurality of personal media terminals. The at least one community display is adapted to display a community event thereon. The plurality of personal media terminals has a player positioning device and a plurality of speakers. At least two of the plurality of speakers are positioned to provide frontal audio to the player positioning device and at least two of the plurality of speakers are positioned to provide rear audio to the player positioning device. The plurality of speakers is positioned so as to provide a 360-degree sound field relative to the player positioning device. The 360-degree sound field for each of the plurality of personal media terminals differs based on the location of the personal media terminal in relation to the community display. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100081502 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED TRANSMISSIVITY OF LCD PANEL - A gaming system includes a first display configured to display the random outcome of the wagering game, and a second display disposed to overlay at least a portion of the first display. The second display includes a transmissive liquid crystal display defining a transmissive window behind which a corresponding portion of the first display is positioned. The liquid crystal display further includes a polarizing film having a plurality of patterned features generally aligned with the transmissive window. The polarizing film is at least partially removed in the area of the patterned features to enhance transmissivity of the liquid crystal display. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100099483 | Gaming Machine Having Position Sensor For Mechanical Reel Modularity - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a display, a reel mounted for rotation relative to the display, the reel having a plurality of display symbols thereon, a plurality of light cups stationary relative to the display for illuminating symbols on the reel in the direction of the display, a sensor to detect the position of the light cups relative to the display and generate position information, and a controller in communication with the sensor operative to receive the position information from the sensor and determine the position of the light cups relative to the reel from the position information. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100099501 | PROTECTING WAGERING GAME MACHINES FROM ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE - Techniques for protecting wagering game machines from electrostatic discharge are described herein. In some embodiment, a wagering game machine includes a wagering game controller configured to present wagering games upon which monetary value can be wagered. The wagering game machine can also include a button panel that includes a first printed circuit board (PCB) connected to an electrical ground and a second PCB connected to the first PCB by a conductive connector. The button panel can also include a display device connected to the second PCB, an actuator connected to the second PCB, a cap in contact with the actuator, wherein the display device is visible through the cap, and a bezel to retain the cap, where the bezel is coupled to a panel. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100113143 | SECURING MOBILE WAGERING GAME MACHINES - Systems and methods for securing mobile wagering game machines are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes detecting, in a mobile wagering game machine, a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include presenting the wagering game and detecting a security breach of the mobile wagering game machine. In some embodiments, after detecting the security breach, the method includes deleting authentication information stored in the mobile wagering game machine. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100130278 | WAGERING GAME MACHINE WITH CONTACTLESS POWER TRANSMISSION - A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a wireless power module. The power module is operable to provide power to a wagering game component via a power signal traveling through a nonconductive medium. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100130280 | MULTI-PLAYER, MULTI-TOUCH TABLE FOR USE IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100190552 | LCD DISPLAY FOR GAMING DEVICE WITH INCREASED APPARENT BRIGHTNESS - A display system in which a display assembly has enhanced apparent brightness when viewed through a second display overlaying the display assembly. The display assembly includes a liquid crystal (LC) based projector having a light source and a polarizing film that polarizes the light. A curved projection screen is positioned in front of the LC-based projector to receive polarized light and display a wagering game. The second display is positioned to overlay at least a portion of the curved projection screen such that at least part of the second display is visible through the second display when the polarized light from the projection screen is permitted to pass through the second display. The second display includes a liquid crystal layer and a front polarizing film that affects whether the polarized light is permitted to pass through or is blocked. An apparent brightness increase of 30% or more is achieved compared to conventional displays that include both a front and rear polarizer. The second display can also include a rear polarizer. The polarization of the polarized light must match the polarization of the light through the rear polarizer so that the liquid crystal layer is illuminated with uniformly polarized light. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100234099 | WAGERING GAME SYSTEM WITH DOCKING STATIONS - This description describes wagering game systems that include docking stations. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a presentation unit configured to present a wagering game and a docking controller configured to detect when the apparatus is docked with a docking station and to detect when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station. The apparatus can also include a docking port, the docking port including at least one of a dock power unit configured to receive power via the docking station and a dock communication unit configured to receive wagering game content associated with the wagering game, the dock communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the apparatus is docked with the docking station. The apparatus can also include a wireless communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the docking controller when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100248809 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING CONFIGURABLE MECHANICAL REELS - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device, a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game, and a controller operatively coupled to the display and the wager input device to operate in a plurality of selectable game modes of which a selected one is a current game mode. The display has an array of reel strips. Each of the selectable game modes is respectively associated with a subset of the reel strips of the array. A first game mode of the plurality of selectable game modes has at least one reel strip that differs from at least one reel strip of a second game mode of the plurality of selectable game modes. The second game mode has at least one reel strip that differs from at least one reel strip of the first game mode. The controller is operative to cause the display to selectively conceal all of the reel strips other than that subset of the reel strips associated with the current game mode, for example, by causing movement of a reel window or reel strips with respect to the other, or by adjusting the opacity of one or more controllable-opacity segments. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100279757 | WAGERING GAME WITH A TABLE-GAME CONFIGURATION - A gaming system projects video images representing a tangible object related to a wagering game, such as roulette, onto a contoured display surface. The contoured display surface has a shape that corresponds to the tangible object, such as a roulette wheel. The contoured display surface may also have at least one moving section that corresponds with movement of the tangible object. A controller in communication with the projector is programmed to cause the projector to project video images that at least partially depict a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The gaming system provides the visual appeal, entertainment value, and dynamic nature of video images while retaining physical features that players typically expect when playing roulette. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100291992 | SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING INPUT IN A WAGERING GAME MACHINE - Systems and methods for processing input in a wagering game machine are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a button panel for a wagering game machine. The button panel comprises a main button circuit board. The button panel also comprises at least one socket mounted to the main button circuit board. The button panel comprises a number of display components plugged into the at least one socket, wherein each display component comprises a display coupled to a display circuit board, wherein at least one switch used to determine a button press is mounted on each display circuit board. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20110003630 | GAMING MACHINE ELECTROPHORETIC APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Apparatus, system, and methods may include a value input device for receiving a wager, a housing attached to the value input device, at least one rotatable reel attached to the housing, the reel comprising a reel strip arranged about a periphery of a cage, and a controller attached to the housing and operatively coupled to an input device to alter appearance of a first part of an electrophoretic image display attached to at least one of a player tracking card or a credit ticket that can be read by the input device. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110111840 | Methods of Receiving Electronic Wagers in a Wagering Game Via a Handheld Electronic Wager Input Device - A gaming system for conducting a multi-player wagering game includes a multi-touch table surface that is touched by a handheld electronic wager input device (EWID) carried by a player for placing wagers on a wagering game displayed on the multi-touch table surface. Each EWID carried by a player has an associated unique identification code, linked to the respective player's account. Players indicate an amount to be wagered by touching the EWID to designated wager amount areas, then place the wager by touching the EWID to a designated wagering area. Because each EWID is uniquely associable with distinct player accounts, the gaming system can support any number of players placing wagers. The funds remain safe in the player account and no funds are stored on the EWID. Only the identification code is detected, which is compared with the associated player account before allowing that player to place wagers. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110111845 | Gaming System Having Banking And Redemption Of Progressive Award Enhancements - A method of operating a wagering game comprises displaying the wagering game and at least one progressive award, receiving a wager to play the wagering game, and upon the occurrence of a first triggering event, offering the at least one progressive award. The method further comprises determining whether or not the at least one progressive award has been accepted, and if the at least one progressive award has not been accepted, banking a progressive enhancement. The method further comprises, upon the occurrence of a second triggering event, applying the progressive enhancement to the at least one progressive award. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110115158 | MULTI-PROJECTOR GAMING TABLE - Electronic wagering game tables (a.k.a. e-tables) are described herein. Some embodiments include a wagering game table for presenting a wagering game. The wagering game table can include a projection surface, and a first projector configured to present, at a first resolution, a first background image on the projection surface, wherein the first background image is associated with the wagering game and includes elements of the wagering game that are shared by the plurality of players, and wherein the first background image includes blank areas that are not substantially illuminated with content from the first projector. The wagering game table can also include a plurality other projectors configured to present, at a second resolution, wagering game content in the plurality of blank areas, wherein the wagering game content indicates results of the wagering game. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110124401 | ASSOCIATING PORTABLE WAGERING GAME MACHINES WITH A STATIONARY WAGERING GAME MACHINE - Embodiments of a portable wagering game machine and a stationary wagering game machine are described herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of portable wagering game machines are associated with a stationary wagering game machine. Group wagering game data is displayed on the stationary wagering game machine. The group wagering game data includes wagering game content for viewing by multiple players. At each of the plurality of portable wagering game machines, individual wagering game data is displayed. The individual wagering game data and the group wagering game data relate to a wagering game. | 05-26-2011 |
