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US 2004/0171423 A1Published application
Apparatus for revealing a hidden visual element in a gaming unit
OwnerRobert Silva, Chris Lundy +2inventors
InventorsRobert Silva, Chris Lundy, Garrett Olson, Jason Kremer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gaming machine having a second display unit and a light valve coupled to the gaming machine to hide and reveal the second display unit. The gaming machine capable of displaying gaming indicia upon on the second display unit. The gaming machine further capable of controlling the transparency of the light valve so as to hide and reveal the gaming indicia as desired.
Claims19
A gaming apparatus, comprising:
- a value input device;
- a first display unit that is capable of generating video images;
- a second display unit capable of displaying gaming indicia;
- a light valve operatively mounted over said second display unit, said light valve being capable of changing between a substantially opaque configuration wherein said second display unit is substantially hidden from the view of a gaming player and a substantially transparent configuration wherein said second display unit is revealed to the view of said gaming player;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to said first display unit, said value input device, said second display unit, and said light valve, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
- said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
- said controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said first display unit, said video image representing one of the following games:
- video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,
- said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,
- said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,
- said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,
- said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,
- said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo,
- said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game,
- said controller being programmed to cause said gaming indicia to be displayed by said second display unit, and
- said controller being programmed to cause said light valve display unit to change between said substantially opaque configuration and said substantially transparent configuration.
14 more elements
A slot machine, comprising:
- a plurality of slot machine reels, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of symbols thereon;
- a value input device;
- a display unit capable of displaying gaming indicia;
- a light valve operatively mounted over said display unit, said light valve being capable of changing between a substantially opaque configuration wherein said second display unit is substantially hidden from the view of a player, and a substantially transparent configuration wherein said second display unit is revealed to the view of said player;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to said slot machine reels, said value input device, said display unit, and said light valve, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
- said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager on a game,
- said controller being programmed to cause said slot machine reels to rotate and stop,
- said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game, and
- said controller being programmed to cause said light valve display unit to change between said substantially opaque configuration and said substantially transparent configuration.
7 more elements
A slot machine, comprising:
- a plurality of slot machine reels, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of symbols thereon;
- a value input device;
- gaming indicia capable of being viewed by a player of said slot machine;
- a light valve operatively mounted over said gaming indicia, said light valve being capable of changing between a substantially transparent state wherein said gaming indicia are visible to said player, a semi-opaque state wherein said gaming indicia are visible to said player and wherein said gaming indicia have a changed appearance, and a substantially opaque state wherein said gaming indicia are substantially hidden from the view of said player;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to said slot machine reels, said value input device, and said light valve, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
- said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
- said controller being programmed to cause said slot machine reels to rotate and stop, representing a game,
- said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game, and
- said controller being programmed to cause said light valve display unit to change between said substantially transparent state, said semi-opaque state, and said substantially opaque state.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.