Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20050032571?dq=2296019
Timestamp: 2018-01-24 02:04:21
Document Index: 52308075

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 16', 'art 18', 'art 19', 'art 16', 'art 18', 'art 19', 'art 18', 'art 19']

Patent US20050032571 - Gaming machine - Google Patents
The game result display means of the gaming machine includes the reels and the liquid crystal display device arranged at a more front side than the display areas of the reels when seen from the front side of the gaming machine, and the liquid crystal display device has light transmitting symbols capable...http://www.google.com/patents/US20050032571?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20050032571 - Gaming machine
Publication number US20050032571 A1
Application number US 10/697,249
Publication number 10697249, 697249, US 2005/0032571 A1, US 2005/032571 A1, US 20050032571 A1, US 20050032571A1, US 2005032571 A1, US 2005032571A1, US-A1-20050032571, US-A1-2005032571, US2005/0032571A1, US2005/032571A1, US20050032571 A1, US20050032571A1, US2005032571 A1, US2005032571A1
Inventors Masaaki Asonuma
Original Assignee Masaaki Asonuma
Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (141), Classifications (4)
US 20050032571 A1
The game result display means of the gaming machine includes the reels and the liquid crystal display device arranged at a more front side than the display areas of the reels when seen from the front side of the gaming machine, and the liquid crystal display device has light transmitting symbols capable of displaying display contents of the reels therethrough and variably displays the light transmitting symbols thereon.
wherein the game result display means includes first display means and second display means arranged at a more front side than a display area of the first display means when seen from a front side of the gaming machine, and
wherein the second display means has light transmitting symbols capable of displaying display contents of the first display means therethrough, and the light transmitting symbols are variably displayed on the second display means.
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the light transmitting symbols have specific shapes.
3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising rear illumination means for illuminating the first display means from a rear side thereof.
light transmitting mode memory means for storing a plurality of display modes of images including the light transmitting symbols; and
light transmitting mode select means for selecting one or a plurality of display modes among the display modes stored in the light transmitting mode memory means;
wherein the second display means displays an image including the display area based on a selected result by the light transmitting mode select means.
5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first display means includes a plurality of symbol display parts capable of variably displaying one or a plurality of symbols and conducting stop display thereof, and
wherein the light transmitting symbols correspond to areas which are driven so that the player sees and recognizes a part of the symbol display parts.
And it is known a gaming machine that predetermined waiting images are displayed under power turning on state of the gaming machine during a non-gaming state from an end of a game to a start of the next game, in order to inform the player that games can be started by inserting coins.
However, in the above mentioned gaming machine, images are merely displayed, therefore there is a case lacking for interest for games.
The object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine which is constructed to include first display means and second display means arranged at a more front side than a display area of the first display means when seeing a front side of the gaming machine, light transmitting symbols of the second display means being variably displayed so as to be able to see a part of the first display means, thereby interest for games can be enhanced.
The gaming machine of the present invention comprises: game result display means for displaying a game result thereon; and beneficial state generating means (for example, the CPU 43 mentioned later) for generating a beneficial state for a player when a predetermined game result is displayed on the game result display means; wherein the game result display means includes first display means (for example, the reels 3L, 3C, 3R mentioned later) and second display means (for example, the liquid crystal display device 31 mentioned later) arranged at a more front side than a display area of the first display means when seen from a front side of the gaming machine, and wherein the second display means has light transmitting symbols (for example the fireworks 92 mentioned later) capable of displaying display contents of the first display means therethrough, and the light transmitting symbols are variably displayed on the second display means.
In the gaming machine of the present invention, the light transmitting symbols may have specific shapes.
The gaming machine may further comprise rear illumination means for illuminating the first display means from a rear side thereof
The gaming machine may further comprise: light transmitting mode memory means (for example, the image ROM 86 mentioned later) for storing a plurality of display modes of images including the light transmitting symbols; and light transmitting mode select means (for example, the sub-CPU 73 mentioned later) for selecting one or a plurality of display modes among the display modes stored in the light transmitting mode memory means; wherein the second display means displays an image including the display area based on a selected result by the light transmitting mode select means.
In the concrete embodiment of the present invention, the first display means includes a plurality of symbol display parts (for example, reels 3L, 3C, 3R mentioned later) capable of variably displaying one or a plurality of symbols and conducting stop display thereof, and wherein the light transmitting symbols correspond to areas which are driven so that the player sees and recognizes a part of the symbol (for example, the reel sheet mentioned later) display parts.
In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the game result display means is constructed to include the first display means and the second display means arranged at a more front side than the display area of the first display means when seeing the front side of the gaming machine, and the second display means has the light transmitting symbols capable of displaying the display contents of the first display means therethrough and variably displays the light transmitting symbols thereon, thereby interest for games can be enhanced.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining function of the LED lamps and fluorescent lamps.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing demonstration display contents.
The panel display unit 2 a comprises a bonus game information display part 16, BET lamps 17 a ˜17 c, a payout display part 18 and a credit display part 19. Here, the bonus display part 16 is constructed from 7-segment LEDs and displays the game information during the bonus game. The 1-BET lamp 17 a, 2-BET lamp 17 b and MAX-BET lamp 17 c are turned on according to the medal number betted to conduct the game. The 1-BET lamp 17 a is turned on when the betted medal number is “1”. The 2-BET lamp 17 b is turned on when the betted medal number is “2”. And the MAX-BET lamp 17 c is turned on when the betted medal number is “3”. The payout display part 18 and the credit display part 19 are constructed from 7-segment LEDs respectively. The payout display part 18 displays the payout medal number when the winning is materialized. The credit display part 19 displays the medal number accumulated (credited).
The liquid crystal display device 31 is constructed from a protect glass 32, a display plate 33, a liquid crystal panel 34, a light guide plate 35, a reflection film 36, fluorescent lamps 37 a, 37 b, 38 a, 38 b functioning as so-called white light sources (capable of emitting light including light having all wavelengths with a predetermined ratio so that specific colors are inconspicuous to eyes of persons), lamp holders 39 a ˜39 h and a flexible circuit board (not shown) comprising a table carrier package (TCP) mounting an IC for driving the liquid crystal panel, the TCP being connected to a terminal portion of the liquid crystal panel 34. The liquid crystal display device 31 is arranged at a more front side than the display areas of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R (more front side than the display planes thereof) so as to spread over the reels 3L, 3C, 3R. And the reels 3L, 3C, 3R and the liquid crystal display device 31 are independently arranged (with a predetermined distance therebetween).
The protect glass 32 and the display plate 33 are made of light transmittable material. The protect glass 32 is provided with an object to protect the liquid crystal panel 34. At the areas corresponding to the panel display unit 2 a of the display plate 33 and the fixed display unit 2 c, images are described. Here, various display parts positioned at the rear side of the area in the display plate 33 corresponding to the panel display unit 2 a and electric circuits for operating the BET lamps 17 a ˜17 c are omitted to show.
Further, with reference to FIG. 10, display examples in the liquid crystal display unit 2 b will be described. Here, in the liquid crystal display unit 2 b of the embodiment, after it is continued for a predetermined time interval (for example, one minute) a state (abbreviated “non-gaming state” hereinafter) that medal inserting operation and operation of the BET switch 5 (abbreviated as “BET operation” hereinafter) are not conducted after one game is finished (for example, rotation of all reels is stopped), demonstration display (waiting image display) is basically conducted. This demonstration display indicates a display for notifying a state that the gaming machine is in a waiting state for the player. And existence or nonexistence of the demonstration display and display patterns (modes) are changed according to the internal winning combination and the like. Hereinafter, “demonstration” is abbreviated as “demo”.
Although detailed description will be explained later, the liquid crystal display device 31 moves and displays visible areas (fireworks 92, 93 mentioned later) on the liquid crystal panel, a part of the first display means capable of being seen and recognized through the visible areas in cooperation with the light transmittable part. This visible areas (light transmitting symbols) have predetermined shapes (concretely, the shape indicating “fireworks”). That is to say, it is provided in the second display means the light transmitting symbols through which the player can see and confirm the first display means and the light transmitting symbols can be variably displayed, thereby display in the first display means and display in the second display means can be mutually combined and displayed. Thus, it can be done variegated effect display, which cannot be realized previously.
Further, since the light transmitting symbols have predetermined shapes, the player can play games with more enjoyment than in previous cases. And in a case that the predetermined shapes are symbols displayed on the first display means, it can make the player have expectation to occurrence of the beneficial state that a predetermined winning combination or a specific winning combination may be materialized according to the predetermined shapes.
And if it is constructed that the player can see and confirm a part of the first symbol display part through the light transmitting symbols, the player will play games with very high expectation when the player can see a part of bonus winning symbol behind the light transmitting symbols. Thereby, interest for games conducted in the game machine can be improved.
Here, the BET operation and start operation are conducted, and “cherry small combination” is determined as the internal winning combination. Further, the symbols are variably displayed on the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R and stop operation of the symbols is done. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10 (1), the symbols are stopped and displayed on the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R. Here, “cherry small combination” is materialized. In FIG. 10 (1), symbols on the reel sheet are partially omitted to show. After stop display of the symbols is conducted and the non-gaming state is continued for one minute, the “demo” display is done in the effect display area 23 as shown in FIG. 10 (2). Concretely, two fireworks 91 and 92 are displayed in the effect display area 23 while moving. The fireworks 91 are moved and displayed in the effect display area 23 and the fireworks 92 are moved and displayed over the symbol display area 21R, the window frame display area 22R and the effect display area 23. These fireworks are moved and displayed based on moving images. Here, a part of the reel sheet can be seen and recognized through the fireworks 92 displayed on the symbol display area 21R.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10 (3), supposed that the center of the fireworks 93 are positioned at the central part of the symbol display area 21C, when the fireworks 93 are moved and displayed over the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R, the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, 22R and the effect display area 23, the player can see and confirm a part of the symbol (cherry symbol), which is stopped at the central part of the symbol display area 21C, through a part indicating the fireworks 93.
As mentioned above, the visible area (the fireworks 92, 93), through which the reel sheet as a part of the first display means can be seen and recognized through the light transmittable part on the liquid crystal panel 34 by the liquid crystal display device 31, is moved and displayed. Thereby, it can make the player have interest about what symbols are stopped and displayed and interest for games can be raised. And since the visible area has the shape indicating the fireworks, the player can enjoy the effect by the displayed fireworks and it can make the player have interest about the symbols and the like which can be seen and recognized through the shape indicating the fireworks. Here, in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R, a part of the shape in the fireworks 93 is indicated by white display. That is to say, a part of the shape in the fireworks 93 is displayed by forming the area in which the liquid crystal is not driven. And the player can clearly see and recognize the symbol according to the shape indicating the fireworks by providing the mentioned rear illumination means. Further, since the rear illumination means illuminating the mentioned first illumination means from the rear side thereof is provided, the player can clearly see and recognize the display contents of the first display means, the contents being seen and recognized through the light transmitting symbols, and it can make the player have expectation that a predetermined beneficial state or a specific beneficial state may occur, by combining the display contents of the first display means with the shape of the light transmitting symbol.
Further, since the player is, in general, very interested in the mode of symbols which are stopped and displayed, when the fireworks are moved and displayed so as to be able to see and recognize the symbol, it can make the player have more interest for games.
Though description is done according to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this description.
The above mentioned second display means may be constructed from the liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal panel, the light transmitting means arranged at the rear side of the liquid crystal panel, individual illumination means for producing light entering in the light transmitting means and the reflection means for reflecting light entered in the light transmitting means toward the liquid crystal panel arranged at the front side of the light transmitting means, and area in a part of the reflection means may be made light transmittable, thereby the visible area through which a part of the first display means can be seen and recognized through the light transmittable part on the liquid crystal panel may be moved and displayed.
Further, moving velocity of the above mentioned visible area (the fireworks in the embodiment) may be differently changed. And a plurality of the visible areas with different moving velocity may be provided and the displayed visible area may be determined according to situations in the game. Further, shape of the visible area may be changed or the visible area may be moved and displayed while changing the shape thereof.
Further, the visible area may be moved and displayed based on a predetermined operation by the player and the like persons (including clerk, salesperson). And the visible area may be easily moved and displayed according to the predetermined operation by the player. For example, moving velocity, number, color, pattern, or shape (outline shape, inner shape) of the visible area may be changed according to the predetermined operation by the player, expectation value (information concerning with the game), so-called stock number and the like.
Further, the visible area may be constructed so as to start of moving and display thereof during variable displaying of the symbol display means (the above mentioned reels), at substantially same timing of start of the variable displaying, during stop displaying of the symbols and at substantially same timing of stop displaying of the symbols.
Further, a plurality of the visible areas may be moved and displayed. And these visible areas may have different moving velocity and shape, respectively.
Further, it may be provided the light transmitting mode memory means (for example, the image ROM 86) for storing a plurality of display modes of images (for example, characters and the like) including the visible area and the light transmitting mode select means (the sub-CPU 73) for selecting one or plural display modes among the plural display modes stored in the light transmitting mode memory means, the second display means may display the image including the visible area based on the selected result by the light transmitting mode select means. Thereby, various display modes can be displayed and the player does not lose interest for the displayed contents. As a result, interest for games can be more highly raised.
Further, since it is constructed so that display control of a plurality of the light transmitting symbols can be done, variegated effect display can be conducted. And in a case that the specific light transmitting symbol is provided and when the specific winning combination is selected by the winning combination select means the specific light transmitting symbol is displayed with a more higher probability than a case that the specific winning combination is not selected, the player plays games with very high expectation when the specific light transmitting symbol is displayed, thereby interest for games conducted in the game machine can be improved.
Further, it is enough that the symbol display area can display the symbol of the first display means, and may be constructed from only member capable of displaying symbols (transparent glass or transparent resin) in which liquid crystal is not provided in the symbol display area.
And it is enough that the above mentioned light transmitting symbols has a predetermined shape and the player can see and recognize the first display means through the light transmitting symbol. Further, it may be constructed that the light transmitting symbol is able to variably display by enlargement, reduction or change in shape thereof. And the gaming machine may be constructed so that a plurality of variable display modes can be controlled to display and one or plural variable display modes are selected among the above mentioned plural variable display modes according to the winning combination selected by the winning combination select means, the winning combination which is internally won but not materialized or random number lottery and the like, and the light transmitting symbol is variably displayed based on the selected variable display mode. In that case, the player can see and recognize various light transmitting symbols themselves or the symbols displayed on the first display means through the light transmitting symbols. Thus, variegated effect display can be conducted and thereby interest for games conducted in the gaming machine can be improved.
Further, while variably displaying the light transmitting symbol, light transmittability (easiness to see the first display means) thereof may be varied. And the light transmitting symbol may have the same light transmittability thereover and the light transmittability in plural stages. As the concrete example, the light transmitting symbol may be constructed so as to have high light transmittability (easier to see the first display means) at circumferential part of the center thereof and low light transmittability (harder to see the first display means) at a part according that such part is apart from the circumferential part of the center thereof. Also in the thus constructed case, variegated effect display can be conducted.
Further, the light transmittability of the light transmitting symbol may be constructed so as to vary in time series (by stages or continuously according to elapsing of time). In that case, velocity or direction in varying of the light transmittability may be changed. Thereby, more profound effect can be realized.
And the gaming machine may be constructed so that the light transmittability of the light transmitting symbol is changed according to the winning combination selected by the winning combination select means, the winning combination which is internally won but not materialized or random number lottery and the like. Substantially at the same time, movement and size of the light transmitting symbol may be changed. Thereby, the player see change in display of the light transmitting symbol while expecting occurrence of the beneficial state, thus not only effect but also interest for games can be improved.
US20060262253 * May 11, 2006 Nov 23, 2006 Kenichiro Teramoto Liquid crystal display device