DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Gaming Device and Electronics

[0026] Referring now to the drawings, two embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B as gaming device 10 a and gaming device 10 b , respectively. Gaming device 10 a and/or gaming device 10 b are generally referred to herein as gaming device 10 . Gaming device 10 in one embodiment has the controls, displays and features of a conventional video poker machine. It is constructed so that a player can operate it while standing or sitting, and gaming device 10 is preferably mounted in a cabinet. However, it should be appreciated that gaming device 10 can be constructed as a pub-style table-top game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably while sitting. Furthermore, gaming device 10 can be constructed with varying cabinet and display designs, as illustrated by the designs shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B .

[0027] Gaming device 10 can incorporate any primary game such as slot, poker, blackjack or keno, and any of the bonus triggering events and bonus games associated with these primary games. The symbols and indicia used on and in gaming device 10 may be in mechanical, electrical, electronic or video form.

[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B , gaming device 10 includes a coin slot 12 and bill acceptor 14 where the player inserts money, coins or tokens. The player can place coins in the coin slot 12 or paper money or ticket vouchers in the bill acceptor 14 . Other devices could be used for accepting payment such as readers or validators for credit cards or debit cards. When a player inserts money in gaming device 10 , a number of credits corresponding to the amount deposited is shown in a credit display 16 . After depositing the appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by pushing a play or deal button 20 . The play or deal button 20 can be any activator used by the player which starts any game or sequence of events in the gaming device.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , gaming device 10 also includes a bet display 22 and a bet one button 24 . The player places a bet by pushing the bet one button 24 . The player can increase the bet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button 24 . When the player pushes the bet one button 24 , the number of credits shown in the credit display 16 decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet display 22 increases by one. Other bet or wager indicators such as a bet max button may also be employed in the gaming device of present invention.

[0030] A player may cash out and thereby receive a number of coins corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out button 18 . When the player cashes out, the player receives the coins in a coin payout tray 28 . The gaming device 10 may employ other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards which keep track of the player's credits.

[0031] Gaming device 10 also includes a plurality of display devices. As shown in FIG. 1 A, one embodiment includes a central display device 30 and also a mechanical display device 60 . FIG. 1B includes a central display device 30 as well as an upper display device 32 and a mechanical display device 60 . The gaming device 10 in one embodiment displays a plurality of cards 34 in video form by the central display device 30 and a plurality of cards 64 in mechanical form by the mechanical display device 60 . The central display device can be any viewing surface such as glass, a video monitor or screen, a liquid crystal display, display plate or any other display mechanism. One preferred representation of the cards 34 is in video form wherein the preferred display device is a video monitor. The cards 64 are also preferably displayed in mechanical form and one preferred display device includes a plurality of display plates 64 . The cards portray one or more decks of cards used in conventional poker games. The display plates may alternatively display a variety of images or symbols such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers, letters or other images which may correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device. Furthermore, the gaming device 10 preferably illustrates speakers 36 for producing sound such as music.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the general electronic configuration of gaming device 10 preferably includes: a processor 38 ; a memory device 40 for storing program code or other data; a central display device 30 ; an upper display device 32 ; a mechanical display device 60 ; a sound card 42 ; a plurality of speakers 36 ; and one or more input devices 44 . The memory device 40 can include random access memory (RAM) 46 for storing event data or other data generated or used during a particular game. The memory device 40 can also include read only memory (ROM) 48 for storing program code which controls the gaming device 10 so that it plays a particular game in accordance with applicable game rules and pay tables. The memory device preferably stores program code which enables the gaming device to play a video poker game.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the player preferably uses the input devices 44 , such as the deal button 20 , the bet one button 24 , the hold cards buttons 24 and the cash out button 18 to input signals into gaming device 10 . In certain instances it is preferable to use a touch screen 50 and an associated touch screen controller 52 instead of a conventional video monitor display device. Touch screen 50 and touch screen controller 52 are connected to a video controller 54 and processor 38 . A player can make decisions and input signals into the gaming device 10 by touching touch screen 50 at the appropriate places. As further illustrated in FIG. 2 , the processor 38 can be connected to coin slot 12 or bill acceptor 14 . The processor 38 can be programmed to require a player to deposit a certain amount of money in order to start the game.

[0034] It should be appreciated that although a processor 38 and memory device 40 are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) or other hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively or alternatively referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside on each gaming device 10 unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a data network such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. The processor 38 and memory device 40 are generally referred to herein as the “computer” or “controller.”

[0035] With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 , to operate the gaming device 10 , in one embodiment the player must insert the appropriate amount of money or tokens at coin slot 12 or bill acceptor 14 and then push the deal button 20 . In one embodiment, the processor 38 enables the player to play a conventional game of video poker. In another embodiment, the controller enables a player to play a multi-hand version of video poker. In one embodiment, in either a bonus scheme or the primary game, the mechanical display 60 is used to display a gaming card 64 used in the primary or bonus game. In one embodiment, the mechanical display 60 is used to display the award(s) or value(s) which are provided to the player.

The Mechanical Display Device

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device 10 includes a primary display 30 , and a secondary mechanical display 60 as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B . The secondary mechanical display is preferably connected to the top of the gaming device cabinet. The secondary mechanical display includes a housing 62 which supports an axle 66 along which a number of display plates 64 are suitably connected as shown in FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, each display plate 64 is pivotally or rotatably connected to the axle 66 so that each display plate 64 may move to a horizontal, vertical or other suitable position as shown in FIG. 4 .

[0037] The display plates 64 in at least one position are horizontally aligned with each other as shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 5 . Thus, in at least one position, a player will only see the entire image displayed by the front most display plate 64 as shown in FIG. 3 . The front most display plate at least partially blocks from the view of the player the display plates which are behind the front most display plate.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one actuator 68 is connected to or coupled with each of the display plates 64 as shown in FIG. 6 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the display plates 64 may be connected directly to the actuators 68 and are not connected to an axle. Such actuators 68 may in one embodiment be supported by the housing. It should be appreciated that the actuator may be any suitable device which causes the display plates to rotate such as a solenoid, a motor, a stepper motor, a biasing device (such as a spring or weighted means) or a combination of these devices.

[0039] The actuators 68 cause the display plates 64 to rotate independently of each other as shown in FIG. 7 . Each display plate 64 may move to any suitable position, horizontal, vertical or at a non-horizontal or vertical angle, irrespective of the positions of the other display plates 64 . Since each of the display plates 64 may also move independently of the other display plates 64 , multiple display plates could moving in different directions and at different rates and at different times.

[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, the processor 38 is in communication with the primary display 30 which displays a game and following a triggering event in the game, the processor 38 selects an image associated with one of the display plates 64 to be displayed. The processor 38 then determines which of the display plates 64 displays the selected image. The processor 38 causes the display plates 64 in front of the display plate 64 displaying the selected image to rotate and reveal that display plate 64 displaying the selected image as shown. In FIG. 8 , the display plate including the Six of Hearts 64 c and the display plate including the Five of Clubs 64 b move to reveal the selected display plate which includes the Ace of Diamonds 64 a . In an alternative embodiment, the display plate having the selected image could also move. In a further alternative embodiment, all of the displays plates can move. In such embodiment, the selected display plate will ultimately stop in a position viewable by the player and indicated to be the selected display plate. In one alternative embodiment, the display plate having the selected image moves out of alignment with the other display plates.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, the images displayed by the display plates are cards used in a conventional poker game. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be used in other card games or in other types of games. The processor enables a player to play a video poker game or some other card game using at least one display and upon a triggering event in the video card game, the processor selects one of the cards to be displayed by the mechanical display. The processor then determines which display plate displays the selected card and causes the display plates in front of the selected symbol to move in order to reveal the selected card to a player.

[0042] It should be appreciated that the cards displayed by the mechanical display could be used in a variety of ways, such as wild cards, or additional cards given to the player during the course of the card game.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display plates 64 display images other than conventional gaming card symbols. The images displayed by the display plates include a plurality of value symbol as illustrated in FIG. 9 . The housing 60 encloses the display plates 64 and the housing 60 itself displays images or symbols relating to the theme of the game played on the gaming device. The gaming device in this embodiment includes a non-viewable area 70 , wherein the images displayed by the display plates 64 , which are in a position in the non-viewable area 70 , are hidden from the view of the player. In one embodiment, the processor 38 causes the display plates 64 to remain hidden from the view of the player until one or more of the images displayed by the display plates 64 are selected. The processor causes the display plate or plates 64 displaying the selected image or images to move into an area 72 where the player can view the selected image(s). As illustrated by FIG. 9 , the player can view a plurality of value symbols. The display plates 64 are in a plurality of positions where the player can view the selected images simultaneously. In this manner the player will feel excitement and anticipation as one or more of the value symbols displayed by the display plates 64 may be awarded to the player.

[0044] In one embodiment of the present invention, the display plates are in initial positions wherein a player can view the images displayed by each display plate. The processor selects the image(s) to be displayed to the player and causes the display plates displaying the non-selected images to move into a position in the non-viewable area, so that the only images the player sees are the images selected by the processor.

[0045] It should thus be understood that the mechanical display of the present invention can be used with a variety of gaming devices such as video poker machines, slot machines, blackjack machines, and keno machines.

[0046] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the pending claims.