US20080274793A1 - Lighting system for gaming devices and method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes several gaming devices. Lights are mounted in association with the gaming devices. A controller is in communication with the gaming devices and the lights. The controller is configured to receive a wager from the gaming devices and to play a base game on the gaming devices. The lights are operated in a first mode during a qualifying period. The controller determines if the qualifying period has ended and determines a set of the gaming devices that have qualified during the qualifying period. The controller further allows the set of gaming devices to play a community game during a community period and operates the lights in a second mode during the community period. A community game prize can be awarded.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED AND CO-PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/744,766, filed on May 4, 2007. The contents of the foregoing applications are herein incorporated by reference in entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to gaming devices and, more particularly, to gaming devices that can be arranged to play a community game using attractive lighting displays.
BACKGROUND
• Gaming devices are well known in the art and a large variety of gaming devices have been developed. In general, gaming devices allow users or players to play a game. In many casino-type gaming devices, the outcome of the game depends, at least in part, on a randomly generated event. For example, a gaming device may use a random number generator to generate a random or pseudo-random number. The random number may then be compared to a pre-defined table to determine the outcome of the event. If the random number falls within a certain range of numbers on the table, the player may win a pre-defined prize. The table may also contain display information that allows the gaming device to generate a display that corresponds to the outcome of the game. The gaming device may present the outcome of the game on a large variety of display devices, such as mechanical spinning reels or video screens.
• Reel-type gaming devices have been used in gaming for more than one hundred years. Traditional reel-type gaming devices have three mechanical reels that rotate around a common horizontal axis. A reel strip is attached around the circumference of each reel and the reel strips display a plurality of symbols. During normal operation, the reels are spun and stopped to display an outcome of the game. As each reel comes to a stop, a symbol on the perimeter of each reel strip is displayed on the front of the gaming device. Some gaming devices indicate a winning outcome by aligning pre-determined symbols on one or more pre-determined pay lines.
• Gaming devices that are more interesting generate more player interest and excitement. This increased interest and excitement causes players to play longer, which results in more revenue for the game operator. For this purpose, many gaming devices utilize light to enhance their displays and to attract the attention of players. Many different kinds of lights and lighting effects have been developed for gaming devices. While lights have been used in conjunction with gaming devices, new and innovative applications of efficient and effective lighting systems are desirable to enhance the gaming experience.
SUMMARY OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
• Advantages
• The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages:
• provide a gaming device that utilizes light emitting diodes;
• provide a reel device that utilizes light emitting diodes;
• provide a reel device that utilizes light emitting diodes that have various beam angles and output power levels;
• provide a reel device that utilizes light emitting diodes to backlight a flexible belt;
• provide a reel device that utilizes different colored light emitting diodes to convey game information;
• provide a gaming device that provides a community game;
• provide a gaming device that operates lights in different modes according to the present using of the game;
• provide a gaming network that can download light operation instructions from a server;
• provide a lighting system for a network of games that can be operated in a coordinated manner;
• provide game designers more flexibility in designing community games;
• provide a visually distinct, but easily understood, gaming display;
• provide a gaming device that adds to player excitement, satisfaction and interaction with a group of game players; and
• provide a gaming device that is interesting to a player and results in longer playing time.
• These and other advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and abstract.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
• In at least one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a gaming apparatus that includes several gaming devices. Several lights are mounted in association with the gaming devices. A controller is in communication with the gaming devices and the lights. The controller is configured to receive a wager from the gaming devices and to play a base game on the gaming devices. The lights are operated in a first mode during a qualifying period. The controller also determines if the qualifying period has ended and if the qualifying period has ended, determines a set of the gaming devices that have qualified during the qualifying period. The controller further allows the set of gaming devices to play a community game during a community period and operates the lights in a second mode during the community period. A community game prize can be awarded.
• In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of gaming. According to the method, wagers are received from several gaming devices and a base game is played on the gaming devices. Several lights are operated in a first mode during a qualifying period. It is determined if the qualifying period has ended. If the qualifying period has ended, a subset of the gaming devices that have qualified for further play during the qualifying period is determined. A community game is played on the subset of gaming devices during a community game period. The lights are operated in a second mode during the community game period. At least one community game prize is awarded. The community game prize is awarded by one of the subset of gaming devices.
• The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of one embodiment of the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1A is substantially an isometric view of a gaming device that utilizes a spinning reel display.
• FIG. 1B is substantially a schematic diagram of a portion of the gaming device ofFIG. 1A.
• FIG. 2 is substantially an exploded view of an embodiment of a lighting system of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is substantially a perspective view of the lighting system ofFIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 is substantially a front elevational view of an LED board.
• FIG. 5 is substantially a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for driving the light emitting diodes.
• FIG. 6 is substantially a front elevational view of an LED board having various light emitting diode beam angles and output power levels.
• FIG. 7 is substantially a side view ofFIG. 6.
• FIG. 8 is substantially a front elevational view of an LED board having various-light emitting diode colors.
• FIG. 9 is substantially a front view of several gaming reels showing a game outcome.
• FIG. 10 is substantially a front view of several gaming reels showing another game outcome.
• FIG. 11 is substantially a perspective view of the lighting system ofFIG. 2 used to backlight a flexible belt.
• FIG. 12 is substantially a front view of several of the gaming devices ofFIG. 1A assembled into a bank or community of gaming devices.
• FIG. 13 is substantially a schematic diagram of the community of gaming devices ofFIG. 13 connected in a network.
• FIG. 14 is substantially a flowchart of a gaming method of the present invention.
• FIG. 15 is substantially a front view of a community game in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 16 is substantially a schematic diagram of the community game ofFIG. 15.
• FIG. 17 is substantially a flowchart of another gaming method of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
• In the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Gaming Device
• The present invention comprises a lighting system for use with a gaming device.FIG. 1A illustrates agaming device10.Gaming device10 may included a primary orbase game apparatus20 and abonus game apparatus30.Gaming device10 may comprise a case orhousing24, a reel-type game display22, having a plurality ofdisplay sections35, ahandle26, avalue acceptor28, acoin bin30, and agame controller32A.
• Althoughdisplay22 is shown with threedisplay sections35, a greater or lesser number of sections may be used. At least one symbol or indicia41 per reel can be displayed to a player, or multiple indicia41 on each reel can be displayed to a player. For example, a 3×3 matrix of 9 indicia41 could be displayed. In certain embodiments, eachdisplay section35 displays onereel37. Alternatively, more or fewer reels could be displayed perdisplay section35.Display sections35 could be omitted and allreels37 displayed indisplay area22.
• In at least one embodiment of the present invention, eachreel37 has a plurality of indicia41 appearing on the outer surface of the reel. The combinations of indicia41 displayed to the player determine winning and losing combinations. Apay line39 may be added to the display to aid the player in seeing the alignment of indicia41 used to determine whether the player has won.
• Case24 may hold gaming device components. Avalue acceptor28 may accept various forms of value, including cash and coins, from a game player. The value acceptor may accept tokens, paper currency, magnetic cards, and vouchers. Acoin bin30 may hold coins that may be dispensed after a winning event has occurred.
• Gaming device20 may include wager input means, such asbuttons45, for a player to input a wager to be played on a particular round of game play.Handle26 may be used by the game player to initiate play ongaming device20.Handle26 may be pulled by the game player to start the game. Other input devices, such as abutton43, may also be provided for initiating play.
• Once a game is activated,reels37 spin or rotate around a common, usually horizontal, rotational axis (not shown).Controller32A determines a game outcome and causesreels37 to display the appropriate symbols or indicia41 insections35. A winning combination or arrangement of symbols41 preferably corresponds to a display on pay table40. If the combination determined bycontroller32A is a winning outcome, the player is awarded a prize.Display area22 may comprise a primary game.Display area22 may comprise moveable mechanical reels or may be a video display that simulates a rotating reel.
• Game apparatus20 may be controlled by anelectronic controller32A (seeFIG. 1B) that utilizes arandom number generator33A (FIG. 1B). The random number generator produces a random or pseudo random number for each game. The outcome of the game may be determined by comparing the random number to a table of outcomes stored in a memory and accessed bycontroller32A. A number of different tables of outcomes may be used and different tables may be used for different games. The tables can be designed so that different prizes have different probabilities of being awarded. Such design techniques are well known in gaming. Examples of such designs are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,419, issued to Telnaes, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,465, issued to Durham.
• Gaming device20 may also include abonus game apparatus30 that is mounted in association withprimary game apparatus20. The bonus game may be triggered by a bonus qualifying or activating event, as is known in the art, such as the display of aparticular symbol53 onreel37. If the game being played is poker based, the bonus qualifying event may be occurrence of a certain hand, such as a royal flush. Furthermore, a bonus qualifying event may occur when a player accumulates a number of symbols or game outcomes over a number of separate game plays.
• The bonus game may entitle a player to such prizes as additional monetary prizes, goods and/or services, or a bonus multiplier by which a player's winnings are multiplied. The bonus game may be activated by a separate input device, such asbutton55, or could be activated by the same means used to activate the primary game, including input device41 and/or handle26. Adisplay59 such as a credit meter can be used to display prizes won onbonus game apparatus30.
• Bonus game apparatus30 can include arotating wheel50. Rotatingwheel50 may be divided into several pie shaped sections orsegments52.Various indicia54 can be displayed insegments52.Indicia54 can show a game outcome in the form of a prize to be awarded to a game player. Anindicator58 such as an arrow can indicate one of the indicia as a game outcome. Rotatingwheel50 may start to rotate and then stop. Rotatingwheel50 may rotate clock-wise or counter-clockwise. Rotatingwheel50 can be coupled to a rotary actuator51 (FIG. 1B) in order to rotatewheel50.Rotary actuator51 can be any suitable type of actuator including stepper motors and electric motors. The combination of one ofindicia54 andindicator58 can indicate a game outcome.Indicia54 can be monetary amounts or may be a multiplier of a base game payout or may be physical prizes such as tickets to a show or restaurant passes. After rotatingwheel50 has stopped and indicated a game outcome, the credits won may be added tocredit meter59.
• In an embodiment, rotatingwheel50 may be replaced by a video display. The video display can be any suitable display including video displays, plasma displays, LCD displays, LED meters and the like. The video display may be a single display or can be more than one display.
• Bonus game apparatus30 may be activated upon the occurrence of a bonus qualifying event inprimary game apparatus20. For example, a bonus qualifying event may comprise displaying aparticular bonus symbol53 onreels35. Activation ofbonus game apparatus30 may include activation of lights and sounds and activation ofplayer input device55.Player input device55 may have to be depressed by a player in order to start rotation ofwheel50.
• Turning now toFIG. 1B,primary game apparatus20 comprises acontroller32A that is adapted to control the operation of the game apparatus.Controller32A may be one or more micro-computers or processor boards.Random number generator33A may be in communication withcontroller32A.Random number generator33A is capable of randomly generating a random number and providing the random number tocontroller32A.Controller32A is further in communication withinput device43, and a light emitting diode (LED) printedcircuit board63 that contains lights orlight emitting diodes88.Controller32A may also be in communication withsensors34 that can detect the position ofreels35.Controller32A andrandom number generator33A may be a single processor or processor board.
• Bonus game apparatus30 may communicate withprimary game apparatus20 bycontroller32A communicating withcontroller32B.Controller32B can be in communication withinput device55,actuator51,sensor56, random number generator33B,indicator58 anddisplay59.
• Random number generator33B may randomly determine a bonus prize is to be awarded andcontroller32B may movewheel50 to indicate the bonus prize that has been won.Controller32B directsactuator51 to rotate and stopwheel50 such that the desired game outcome is aligned withindicator58.Indicator58 may comprise lights thatcontroller32B may turn on.Controller32B may then causedisplay59 to display the bonus prize, if any, that the player has won.
• Backlit Reels

Claims (20)

1. A gaming apparatus comprising:

(A) a plurality of gaming devices;

(B) a plurality of lights mounted in association with the gaming devices;

(C) a controller in communication with the gaming devices and the lights, the controller being configured to:

(a) receive a wager from the gaming devices;

(b) play a first game on the gaming devices;

(c) operate the lights in a first mode during a first period;

(d) determine if the first period has ended;

(e) if the first period has ended, determine a set of the gaming devices that have qualified during the first period;

(f) allow the set of gaming devices to play a second game during a second period;

(g) operate the lights in a second mode during the second period; and

(h) award at least one prize.

2. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first period is a qualifying period of time and the second period is a community game period of time.

3. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the lights are mounted to the gaming devices.

4. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein each of the gaming devices has a plurality of reels, the lights being configured to backlight at least one of the reels.

5. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the lights are operated in a third mode during awarding of the prize.

6. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the lights are operated in a fourth mode during an attraction period.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim I, further comprising:

(a) retrieving a software program from a server for a game;

(b) storing the software program;

(c) running the software program on the controller; and

(d) operating the lights according lo the software program.

8. A method of gaming, not all necessarily in the order shown comprising:

(A) receiving wagers from a plurality of gaming devices;

(B) playing a first game on the gaming devices;

(C) operating a plurality of lights in a first mode during a first period;

(D) determining if the first period has ended;

(E) if the first period has ended, determining a subset of the gaming devices that have qualified during the first period;

(F) playing a second game on the subset of gaming devices during a second period;

(G) operating the lights in a second mode during the second period; and

(H) awarding at least one prize.

9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the prize is awarded by at least one of the subset of gaming devices.

10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the gaming devices that have not qualified are allowed to play the first game during the second period.

11. The method ofclaim 8, wherein each of the gaming devices has a plurality of reels, the lights being configured to backlight at least one of the reels.

12. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising operating the lights in a third mode during awarding of the prize.

13. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising operating the lights in a fourth mode during an attraction period.

14. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising:

(a) retrieving a software program from a server for a game;

(b) storing the software program;

(c) running the software program on a controller; and

(d) operating the lights according to the software program.

15. A gaming apparatus comprising:

(A) primary game means for allowing a plurality of players to play a plurality of primary games;

(B) community game means for allowing at least a portion of the players to play a plurality of community games;

(C) communication means for allowing the primary and community game means to communicate;

(D) indicating means for indicating an operating mode of the primary and community game means;

(E) selection means for selecting a subset of the primary game means to play the community game means; and

(F) award means for awarding at least one prize.

16. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the indicating means indicates that the primary game means are in a qualifying mode.

17. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the indicating means indicates that the community game means are in a community game mode.

18. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the indicating means indicates that the game means are in a prize awarding mode.

19. The gaming apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the indicating means comprises means for backlighting a reel.

20. A gaming apparatus comprising:

(A) a plurality of gaming devices, each of the gaming devices having a controller, the controller being adapted to control the operation of the gaming device;

(B) a plurality of lights mounted in association with the gaming devices, each of the lights being in communication with one of the controllers;

(C) a server in communication with each of the controllers, the server being configured to:

(a) download game instructions to the controllers;

(b) download light operating instructions to the controllers;

(c) allow the controllers to operate the gaming devices according to the game instructions;

(d) allow the controllers to operate the lights according to the light operating instructions; and

(e) award at least one prize.

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