Method and apparatus for controlling a display on a light device in a gaming unit

Abstract

A gaming machine having a light device coupled to the gaming machine by a peripheral bus connection. The gaming machine capable of reading a pattern file, containing a light pattern display. The gaming machine further capable of sending the light display pattern to a light device controller via the peripheral bus connection. The light device controller capable of parsing the light display pattern, interpreting the pattern to be capable of generation on the light device, and causing the pattern to be generated on the light device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming apparatus, comprising: 
 a display unit that is capable of generating video images;    a value input device;    a light bezel having a plurality of independently operable lights, said independently operable lights being capable of displaying visual colors;    a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said 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 pachinko board and a pachinko ball if said game comprises video pachinko,  
 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 gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to read a light display pattern file stored in said first memory, said light display pattern file having a first light display pattern and a second light display pattern, each of said light display patterns having color illumination data for illuminating said plurality of lights; and  
   a light bezel controller operatively coupled to said light bezel and operatively coupled to said gaming unit controller via a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral bus connection, said light bezel controller comprising a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said light bezel controller being programmed to receive one of said light display patterns from said gaming unit controller,  
 said light bezel controller being programmed to read said illumination data contained within said light display pattern, and  
 said light bezel controller being programmed to cause the light display pattern to be generated on said light bezel by illuminating said plurality of lights in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         2 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , said light bezel controller being programmed to adapt said illumination data contained within said light display pattern to allow said illumination data to be capable of being generated on said plurality of lights of said light bezel.  
     
     
         3 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , said light bezel controller being programmed to adapt said illumination data contained within said light display pattern to allow said illumination data to be capable of being generated on a second light bezel having a second plurality of lights.  
     
     
         4 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , said gaming unit controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device to attract a player to said gaming unit.  
     
     
         5 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , said gaming unit controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device to inform a player of said gaming unit of the status of a game play.  
     
     
         6 . A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in  claim 1 , said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.  
     
     
         7 . A gaming system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.  
     
     
         8 . A gaming apparatus, comprising: 
 a display unit that is capable of generating video images;    a value input device;    a peripheral bus connection adapted to operatively couple said gaming apparatus with a light device, said light device having a plurality of independently operable lights;    a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said 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 pachinko board and a pachinko ball if said game comprises video pachinko,  
 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 gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game,  
 said gaming unit controller being programmed to read a light display pattern file stored in said first memory, said light display pattern file having a first light display pattern and a second light display pattern, each of said light display patterns having color illumination data for illuminating said plurality of lights; and  
   a light device controller operatively coupled to said light device and operatively coupled to said gaming unit controller via said peripheral bus connection, said light device controller comprising a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said light device controller being programmed to receive one of said light display patterns from said gaming unit controller,  
 said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data contained within said light display pattern, and  
 said light device controller being programmed to cause the light display pattern to be generated on said light device by illuminating said plurality of lights in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         9 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , said light device controller being programmed to adapt said illumination data contained within said light display pattern to allow said illumination data to be capable of being generated on said plurality of lights of said light device.  
     
     
         10 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , said light device controller being programmed to adapt said illumination data contained within said light display pattern to allow said illumination data to be capable of being generated on a second light device having a second plurality of lights, wherein the second light device is operatively coupled to said gaming machine via said peripheral bus connection.  
     
     
         11 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 8  wherein said controller is programmed to send said light display pattern to said light device controller via said peripheral bus connection.  
     
     
         12 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said peripheral bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral bus connection.  
     
     
         13 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said light device comprises a light bezel.  
     
     
         14 . A gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , said gaming unit controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device to attract a player to said gaming unit.  
     
     
         15 . A slot machine, comprising: 
 a plurality of gaming reels;    a value input device;    a light device having at least one independently operable light;    a slot machine controller operatively coupled to said gaming reels and said value input device, said slot machine controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said slot machine controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,  
 said slot machine controller being programmed to cause said gaming reels to rotate and stop, representing a game,  
 said slot machine controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game,  
 said slot machine controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device, and  
 said slot machine controller being programmed to read a light display pattern file stored in said first memory, said light display pattern file having a first light display pattern and a second light display pattern, each of said light display patterns having color illumination data for illuminating said at least one independently operable light; and  
   a light device controller operatively coupled to said light device and operatively coupled to said slot machine controller via a peripheral bus connection, said light device controller comprising a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said light device controller being programmed to receive one of said light display patterns from said slot machine controller,  
 said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data contained within said light display pattern, and  
 said light device controller being programmed to cause the light display pattern to be generated on said light device by illuminating said at least independently operable light in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         16 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 15  wherein said peripheral bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral bus connection.  
     
     
         17 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said light device comprises a light bezel.  
     
     
         18 . A slot machine as defined in  claim 15 , said slot machine controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device to attract a player to said gaming unit.  
     
     
         19 . A pachinko gaming apparatus, comprising: 
 a pachinko board element;    a plurality of pachinko ball elements;    a value input device;    a light device having a plurality of independently operable lights;    a pachinko gaming controller operatively coupled to said pachinko board element and said value input device, said pachinko gaming controller comprising a first processor and a first memory operatively coupled to said first processor, 
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to allow a person to initiate a pachinko game by causing at least one of said plurality of pachinko ball elements to contact said pachinko board element,  
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said pachinko game,  
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device, and  
 said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to read a light display pattern file stored in said first memory, said light display pattern file having a first light display pattern and a second light display pattern, each of said light display patterns having color illumination data for illuminating said plurality of lights; and  
   a light device controller operatively coupled to said light device and operatively coupled to said pachinko gaming controller via a peripheral bus connection, said light device controller comprising a second processor and a second memory operatively coupled to said second processor, 
 said light device controller being programmed to receive one of said light display patterns from said pachinko gaming controller,  
 said light device controller being programmed to read said illumination data contained within said light display pattern, and  
 said light device controller being programmed to cause the light display pattern to be generated on said light device by illuminating said plurality of lights in accordance with said illumination data.  
   
     
     
         20 . A pachinko gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 19  wherein said peripheral bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral bus connection.  
     
     
         21 . A pachinko gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said light device comprises a light bezel.  
     
     
         22 . A pachinko gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , said pachinko gaming controller being programmed to initiate a light display on said light device to attract a player to said gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         23 . A pachinko gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said pachinko machine additionally comprises a display, and wherein said pachinko board element comprises an image of a pachinko board on said display  
     
     
         24 . A pachinko machine as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of pachinko ball elements comprises images of pachinko balls on said display.