Gaming machine having electrophoretic displays and method thereof

Abstract

A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and at least one rotatable reel. The reel comprises a reel strip arranged about the periphery of a cage. The reel strip comprises an alterable film for displaying a plurality of symbols. The gaming machine further comprises a controller operative to alter the appearance of at least one of the plurality of symbols displayed on the film.

1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a value input device for receiving a wager;    at least one rotatable reel, the reel comprising a reel strip arranged about the periphery of a cage, the reel strip comprising an alterable film for displaying a plurality of symbols,    a controller operative to alter the appearance of at least one of the plurality of symbols displayed on the film.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a data source in communication with the film, the data source controlled by the controller.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises a plurality of charged particles positioned between a top electrode and a bottom electrode.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the top electrode is either transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of charged particles comprises a plurality of positively charged particles and a plurality of negatively charged particles suspended in a fluid.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid is either transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the positively charged particles and the negatively charged particles are of at least two different colors.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom electrode comprises a plurality of charge points, wherein a plurality of charged particles is positioned adjacent to at least one charge point.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 8 , wherein each charge point imparts either a positive or negative charge on adjacent charged particles.  
   
   
       10 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 receiving a wager from a player;    rotating at least one rotatable reel, the reel including a plurality of symbols, the reel comprising a reel strip arranged about the periphery of a cage, the reel strip comprising an alterable film for displaying a plurality of symbols, the film comprising a plurality of charged particles positioned between a top electrode and a bottom electrode; and    altering the appearance of at least one of the plurality of symbols displayed on the film.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the charged particles are repelled by at least one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the altering step comprises modifying a charge on at least a portion of one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode to cause the first portion of charged particles to be repelled.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the top electrode is either transparent or translucent such that at least a portion of the charged particles are visible through the top electrode.  
   
   
       14 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a value input device for receiving a wager;    a housing;    a display for displaying a plurality of symbols, the symbols indicating a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of possible outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome;    at least one electrophoretic film forming an alterable display; and    a controller operative to alter the appearance of the film.    
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein the film is positioned on at least one button supported by the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein the film is positioned on the housing to display signage associated with a theme of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein the controller causes a data source to alter the appearance of an image displayed on the film.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is operative to download a first image and a second image from one or more external systems, wherein the controller configures the film to selectively display either the first image or the second image.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein the first image is associated with a first theme of the gaming machine and the second image is associated with a second theme of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       20 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of  claim 10.