Patent Publication Number: US-2009227369-A1

Title: Amusement Device Having a Configurable Display for Presenting Games Having Different Aspect Ratios

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to electronic amusement devices and systems. More particularly, one embodiment is directed to an electronic amusement device wherein a display screen and an application running on the amusement device have different aspect ratios. Another embodiment is directed to an electronic amusement device wherein a screen and a bezel comprise an individual assembly. A still further embodiment is directed to an amusement system having a credit card transaction terminal separate from the amusement device. 
     Amusement devices having electronic games for computers and touchscreens or other types of amusement devices are generally well known in the art. Amusement devices, such as game machines, which allow a user to select games from a video display are well known in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,787 (“Itkis”); 5,575,717 (“Houriet, Jr., et al.”); 5,743,799 (“Houriet, Jr., et al.”), the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, each of which shows a touchscreen for making a game selection from a menu of games. Such game machines or amusement devices typically operate upon input of currency (i.e., coin, token, paper money, credit/debit cards or the like) and are installed in locations such as bars, restaurants, airports, shopping malls, video arcades, casinos or the like. The game choices may include card games, sports games, games of skill, games of chance, action games, trivia games, or the like. 
     Electronic amusement devices have typically housed display screens following the standard television aspect ratio of 4:3. Applications, including games or the like, were therefore presented to the user on the screen in the 4:3 format, leaving no empty space. However, there has been a trend toward manufacturing display screens having a “widescreen” format, usually a ratio of 16:9 or 16:10. Despite the shift toward widescreen amusement devices, many games, especially older games, are still presented on the screen in 4:3 format. As a result, manufacturers are forced to either stretch the game picture to fit the entire screen, thereby distorting the images, or present the game in 4:3 format with empty space on either side of the screen (known as pillarboxing). 
     In addition, users of electronic games are generally provided with one or more physical controls, such as a joystick, keyboard, trackball, pushbuttons, or the like, for controlling play of the game. With the development of touchscreen technology, there has been a further trend toward using virtual controls, i.e., manipulatable on-screen images capable of mimicking the inputs of a joystick, trackball, or the like. 
     The perimeter of the touchscreen is typically surrounded by a plastic cover or bezel. The touchscreen and bezel are assembled together as separate piece. As a result, the screen and bezel have a relatively high profile. Additionally, the seal between the touchscreen and the bezel may not be water-tight, allowing fluid to seep into the space between and potentially damaging the touchscreen assembly. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide an amusement device capable having a widescreen display that is capable of maximizing the use of the display area without distorting application images. It is further desirable to provide an amusement device with a water-tight touchscreen display having a lower profile. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, various embodiments of the present invention comprise an amusement device including a display screen having a first aspect ratio and a touchscreen. The amusement device is operable by a user upon receipt by a currency input of at least one of coins, currency, and a credit card/debit card. A controller is configured to select and execute at least one application program and at least one virtual control application. The at least one application program is configured to display at least one first image on the display screen in a second aspect ratio. The at least one first image is displayed in the second aspect ratio in a first portion of the display screen. The second aspect ratio is different than the first aspect ratio. The at least one virtual control application is configured to display at least one second image in the second portion of the display screen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an amusement device in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an amusement device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a prior art screenshot of a game image having a 4:3 aspect ratio displayed on an amusement device having a widescreen aspect ratio; 
         FIG. 2B  is another prior art screenshot of a game image designed for a 4:3 aspect ratio displayed on an amusement device having a widescreen aspect ratio; 
         FIG. 3  is a screenshot of a game image having a 4:3 aspect ratio and a virtual control image in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a screenshot of a game image having a 4:3 aspect ratio and peripheral advertising in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a screenshot of a game image having a 4:3 aspect ratio, a virtual control image, and peripheral advertising in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view of a touchscreen assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the touchscreen assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the amusement device and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Additionally, the words “a” and “an”, as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, mean “at least one.” Further, the terms “coin” or “currency” should not be construed as limiting and can be used herein to mean all forms of coin and paper currency from any country as well as proprietary tokens, game cards, credit cards, debit cards, chits, or other representative forms of credit and/or payment. 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in  FIG. 1A  a first preferred embodiment of an amusement device  10 A. The amusement device  10 A includes a controller U 1  and a memory U 2 . The memory U 2  can be any known or suitable memory device such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash RAM, hard disk, optical disk, or the like. The amusement device  10 A further includes a video display  12 A that is operatively connected to the controller U 1 . The amusement device  10 A also includes at least one input component  14 A that receives value in order to establish one or more playable credits. The value received may be at least one of currency, coins, tokens, chits, credits, credit cards/debit cards or the like. Although only one input component  14 A is shown, the amusement device  10 A may include more than one input component  14 A to give a user an option for payment, for permitting multiple players, or the like. Preferably, the amusement device  10 A is made operable upon actuation of the input component  14 A, for example, the user may only select and play an electronic game once value is received at the input component  14 A and/or one or more playable credits are issued to the user. However, free selections may be offered at the discretion of an operator of the amusement device  10 A. 
       FIG. 1B  shows another or second amusement device  10 B in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The second amusement device  10 B also includes a controller U 1 , a memory U 2 , a display  12 B, and an input component  14 B. Preferably, the video displays  12 A,  12 B are touchscreen video displays configured to accept touch input. The first amusement device  10 A is a free-standing or floor-standing apparatus, whereas the second amusement device  10 B is a table-top or counter-top apparatus. However, the amusement devices  10 A,  10 B may be arranged in any configuration including table mount, wall mount, pole mount, and the like without departing from the invention. 
     For convenience, the amusement devices  10 A,  10 B will be referred to hereinafter simply as “amusement device  10 .” 
     Turning now to the operation of the amusement device  10 , the memory U 2  stores one or more application programs, such as electronic games, a music or video jukebox program, or the like, and a system control program. However, the one or more application programs may also be stored remotely. The controller U 1  controls the touchscreen display  12  based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory U 2  and based upon inputs from the touchscreen display  12 . As used herein, the system control program refers to all of the software functions outside of the application program files including an operating system, display control, input control, sound drivers, and the like. Other input devices which may be connected to the amusement device  10  include a pushbutton(s), a trackball or touchpad, a mouse, a joy-stick, a foot-pedal, a voice recognition system, a keypad or keyboard, and the like. But, preferably, the input device is the touchscreen display  12 . 
     The amusement device  10  includes an operating mode and a setup mode. When the operating mode is selected, a player or user is selectively permitted to access the application programs. When the setup mode is selected, the owner/operator is permitted to make system setup adjustments. To switch from the operating mode to the setup mode, a mode selector pushbutton (hardware not shown) is provided that is typically concealed from the users. The mode selector pushbutton may be implemented as a hidden software feature, but preferably the mode selector pushbutton is a simple pushbutton that is disposed inside a housing of the amusement device  10 . In the setup mode, the owner/operator may also make adjustments to the game features as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the controller U 1  controls the display  12  based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory U 2  and based upon inputs of the user. The display  12  preferably has a “widescreen” aspect ratio. Such ratios may include, for example, 16:9, 16:10, 1.85:1, 2.35:1, or the like. The controller U 1  is configured to select and execute at least one application program. The application program is preferably configured to display at least one first image on the display  12  in a second aspect ratio different than the display  12  aspect ratio, such as 4:3. 
     As described above, prior art amusement devices encountered difficulties in presenting a game configured to display images in a different aspect ratio than the display screen. For example,  FIG. 2A  is a prior art screenshot  200   a  from an amusement device  10 . The controller U 1  is executing an application program (e.g., an electronic game) that is configured to display the game image  202   a  in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Since the screen  200   a  has a widescreen aspect ratio, black bars  201   a  on either side of the game image  202   a  are effectively dead space. In  FIG. 2B , the game image  202   b  is stretched to fill the entire screen  200   b . The dead space found in  FIG. 2A  is eliminated, but the game images  202   b  are now horizontally distorted. 
       FIG. 3  is a screenshot  300  from an amusement device  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The screen  300  presents the game image  302  in its proper 4:3 format. The screen  300  includes a remainder portion  304  that is not occupied by the game image  302 . Rather than allow the remainder portion  304  to become dead space, the controller U 1  executes at least one secondary application to provide at least one secondary application image  306  in the remainder portion  304 . In  FIG. 3 , the secondary application is a virtual control application configured to display a “virtual controller” image  306 . The virtual control application may include a virtual trackball and corresponding trackball image  307  and/or virtual pushbuttons and corresponding button images  308  for manipulating the electronic game. Other virtual inputs and corresponding images not shown may be included, such as a virtual mouse, virtual joystick, or the like. The virtual control application and control image  306  may be provided as the sole input for the electronic game, but may also be in addition to other physical input devices as described above. 
     The control image  306  may be specific to the electronic game currently being played, that is, the control element images  307 ,  308  may be tailored exclusively for manipulation of the specific game. For example, the trackball image  307  may only be displayed or provided for games in which a trackball is necessary. The control image  306  may also be constantly displayed for all electronic games or other applications. For example, the trackball image  307  and pushbutton images  308  may be displayed by the amusement device  10  for all application programs, whether or not a particular control element image  307 ,  308  is used for the current application program. 
     When using a virtual input, such as a virtual trackball, it may be difficult for a user to determine that his or her hand is correctly positioned over the trackball image  307  without looking at the trackball image  307 . This may hinder the user&#39;s ability to play the game. Therefore, the display  12  may preferably be provided with at least one textured element (not shown) to aid the user in determining hand placement on the touchscreen  12 . The textured element may be a bump, ridge, divot, cavity, or the like in the screen  12  that enables the user to find the trackball image  307  or other element of the control image  306  somatically rather than visually. 
     In preferred embodiments, the control image  306  is movable to a location on the screen  300  desired by the user. For example, the control image  306  in  FIG. 3  is located on the right side of the screen  300 . A left-handed user may desire to have the control image  306  on the left side of the screen  300 , thus moving the game image  302  to the right side of the screen  300 . The user may use any method known in the art for positioning the control image  306  to a desired location on the screen  300  not occupied by the game image  302 . For example, the user may “drag and drop” the control image  306  (or the game image  302 ) from one location on the screen  300  to another. There may also be physical or virtual buttons or switches (not shown) for selecting from pre-designated locations to position the control image  306 . In certain preferred embodiments, the elements of the control image  306  may be divided among different screen  300  areas. For example, one or more of the pushbutton images  308  may be located on the left side of the screen  300  and the trackball image  307  may be located on the right side of the screen  300 , with the game image  302  being located in the center of the screen  300 . 
     In accordance with the virtual control application and control image  306 , the display  12  may preferably be configured to accept simultaneous input from at least two locations on the touchscreen  12 . For example, a user may preferably touch the trackball image  307  and a pushbutton image  308  simultaneously and have the input from both locations on the touchscreen  12  be accepted by the controller U 1 . The user may thus, for example, move a game character on the display  12  (via the trackball) and fire (via the pushbutton) simultaneously within the context of the game. 
       FIG. 4  is a screenshot  400  from an amusement device  10  in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The screen  400  presents the game image  402  in its proper 4:3 format and includes the remainder portion  404 . In  FIG. 4 , the secondary application is an advertisement application providing an ad image  406  that occupies the entire remainder portion  404  of the screen  400 . Alternatively, the advertisement application may provide a plurality of ad images  406  simultaneously visible in the remainder portion  404 . Still further, the advertisement application may provide one or more ad images  406  presented to the user in the remainder portion  404  on a rotating basis, i.e., the ad image  406  may change intermittently as desired by the operator or advertiser. 
     The advertisement application and corresponding ad image  406  are preferably user interactive. For example, the ad image  406  includes a purchase button  409 . A user may select the purchase button  409  if he or she desires to purchase the advertised product and may be presented with, for example, an internet or network ordering page. In addition, a user may be able to touch different portions of the ad image  406  to learn more about the product, view demonstrations, proceed to a shopping web site, or the like. For embodiments having interactive advertisements, the application program should be paused or halted to allow the user to proceed with researching or purchasing the product. The application program may resume once the transaction is complete. 
     In preferred embodiments, the ad image  406  is movable to a location on the screen  400  desired by the user. For example, the ad image  406  in  FIG. 4  is located on the left side of the screen  400 , but may be optionally located by the user to the right side of the screen  400 . The user may use any method known in the art for positioning the ad image  406  to a desired location on the screen  400  not occupied by the game image  402 . For example, the user may “drag and drop” the ad image  406  (or the game image  402 ) from one location on the screen  400  to another. There may also be physical or virtual buttons or switches (not shown) for selecting from pre-designated locations to position the ad image  406 . In certain preferred embodiments, the ad image  406  may include one or more ads divided among different screen  400  areas. For example, one or more ads may be located on the left side of the screen  400  and other ads may be located on the right side of the screen  400 , with the game image  402  being located in the center of the screen  400 . 
       FIG. 5  is a screenshot  500  from an amusement device  10  in accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention. The screen  500  presents the game image  502  in its proper 4:3 format and includes the remainder portion  504 . The controller U 1  is executing a plurality of secondary applications to provide multiple secondary application images  506   a ,  506   b . For example, an advertisement application provides an ad image  506   a  (as described above with respect to  FIG. 4 ) on the left side of the screen  500 , a virtual control application provides a control image  506   b  (as described above with respect to  FIG. 3 ) on the right side of the screen  500 , and the game image  502  is presented in the center of the screen  500 . As described above, in preferred embodiments, both the ad image  506   a  and the control image  506   b  are movable to locations on the screen  500  desired by the user. For example, the user may choose to locate the ad image  506   a  and the control image  506   b  on the same side of the screen  500 . 
     It is understood by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the descriptions provided above. For example, the application program may be one or more of an electronic game, music or video jukebox controller, web browser, streaming media file, electronic mail or the like. Similarly, the secondary applications may include virtual control applications, advertisement applications, virtual light display applications, movies, music, web browser, electronic mail, pager, messaging, or the like. Additionally, the aspect ratio of the image displayed by the application program is not limited to 4:3, and may encompass any aspect ratio that is different from the screen aspect ratio and leaves available screen space. For example, an application program having a ratio of 2.35:1 will leave available space at the top and bottom of a 16:9 screen. 
     In preferred embodiments, the amusement device  10  utilizes a water-tight touchscreen display  12  having a low profile. For example,  FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of an assembly  600  for use in the touchscreen display  12 . The assembly  600  includes a bezel  650  and a touch sensor  652 . The bezel  650  is composed of a frame  650   a  defining an opening  650   b  for the display  12 . The frame  650   a  is preferably constructed of a plastic or other durable material. The touch sensor  652  is preferably a projective capacitive type sensor, although other types (e.g, resistive, infrared, or the like) may be used. 
     The touch sensor  652  is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the bezel  650  using a strong front adhesive layer  654 , such as an acrylic foam tape or the like. The front adhesive layer  654  preferably corresponds to the shape of the frame  650   a  such that the opening  650   b  is not obscured by the front adhesive layer  654 . Similarly, a perimeter of the touch sensor  652  is preferably smaller than a perimeter of the bezel  650 , leaving a portion of the front adhesive layer  654  exposed for use in, for example, affixing the assembly  600  to the amusement device  10 . 
     A rear gasket  656  is disposed on a side of the touch sensor  652  opposite the bezel  650 . The rear gasket  656  provides a seal between the touch sensor  652  and the display  12 . A rear adhesive layer  658  is also affixed around a perimeter of the touch sensor  652  on the side opposite the bezel  650 . The rear adhesive layer  658  may be used, for example, to affix the assembly  600  to the amusement device  10 , and is preferably of the same type as the front adhesive layer  654 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the completed assembly  600 , wherein the bezel  650  and touch sensor  652  are permanently or semi-permanently adhered to one another for installation as a single unit onto a display  12  of the amusement device  10 . A tail  670  of the touch sensor  652  provides an electrical connection between the touch sensor  652  and the amusement device  10 . In preferred embodiments, the assembly  600  may provide a “plug and play” functionality, wherein the assembly  600  may be simply mounted onto the display  12 , the tail  670  may be connected, and the amusement device  10  would thereafter be instantly operable. As viewed in  FIG. 7 , the assembly  600  provides a lower profile than conventional touchscreen installations. 
     The amusement device  10  may also include other functionality and features such as music jukebox, video jukebox, multimedia player, Internet browsing, broadcast media viewing, time based rental mode, non-prize tournaments, prize-based tournaments, head-to-head competitions, prize-based lotteries, ticket dispensing, prize dispensing, debit/credit card charging, phone card dispensing, e-mail, photography, placing customer orders, communicating with other amusement devices, and the like. 
     The amusement device  10  may also provide for remote or local access for accounting and/or bookkeeping purposes. The amusement device  10  may include a local connector for uploading to a hand-held or portable computer or removable memory for receiving accounting or other data. The amusement device  10  may include accounting and bookkeeping screens accessible by an operator through set up screens and/or through password protection. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.