Display Device for Gaming Machines

Abstract

A gaming machine reel is provided with a display device comprising a flexible strip of electronically programmable display material secured around the periphery of the reel. Symbols may be selectively displayed on the material by appropriate programming thereof, for example by providing a plurality of addressable pixels on the material each of which may be driven to have a suitable translucence and to display a required color. A rechargeable power source is provided on the reel. The programming of the strip may be effected by a wireless link using either RF or infra-red. As a result, it is easy to allow the playing of a different game on the machine by re-programming the strip for the display of different symbols.

1 . A display device for a reel mechanism of a gaming machine, said reel mechanism comprising a reel defining a periphery, a frame rotatably mounting the reel and a motor arranged to rotate the reel, said display device comprising:
 a flexible strip of electronically programmable display material adapted for the selective display of symbols;   a mounting arrangement for supporting said strip around the periphery of the reel of a reel mechanism; and   communication means adapted to provide drive signals to said strip when supported around the periphery of a reel, whereby selected symbols are displayed at chosen positions on the reel supporting said flexible strip around the periphery thereof.   
   
   
       2 . A display device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strip comprises a strip of flexible liquid crystal display (LCD) material adapted for the display of symbols. 
   
   
       3 . A display device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the flexible strip of LCD material defines a large number of individual pixels each of which is separately addressable whereby a chosen symbol is displayed at a selected location by driving the appropriate pixels to display a chosen color with a chosen translucence. 
   
   
       4 . A display device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the flexible strip of LCD material is divided into a plurality of discrete areas each of said areas having a plurality of separately addressable individual pixels whereby a chosen symbol is displayed in each of those areas by choosing the color and translucence of each pixel in said area. 
   
   
       5 . A display device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the strip has parts external to said discrete areas, and said parts are pre-colored. 
   
   
       6 . A display device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the strip has parts external to said discrete areas, and said parts have relatively few pixels each of a relatively large size whereby the color and translucence of said parts of the strip can be uniformly colored so reducing the addressing requirements of the strip of LCD material. 
   
   
       7 . A display device as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein the reel periphery defines a cylindrical surface, wherein the ends of the strip are arranged for clamping to the reel, such that the strip is curved around the cylindrical surface of the reel. 
   
   
       8 . A display device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said communication means includes a rotary connector adapted to allow the transfer of power and drive signals to the reel, said rotary connector having one connector part mounted on said frame and a second connector part disposed generally centrally on the reel. 
   
   
       9 . A display device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the connector has at least two separate conductors for carrying an electrical signal comprising a multiplexed drive signal superimposed on a DC power signal. 
   
   
       10 . A display device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the communication means comprises a transmitter provided within the gaming machine, a receiver mounted on the reel with which the display device is associated, and one of a radio link and an infra-red link between the transmitter and the receiver. 
   
   
       11 . A display device as claimed in  claim 1  in combination with a reel mechanism including a reel having a hub which supports a peripheral structure, the display device being secured to the peripheral structure for rotation with the reel. 
   
   
       12 . A display device as claimed in  claim 11  and including a rechargeable power source incorporated within the hub of a reel, in a balanced manner. 
   
   
       13 . A display device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein an induction charger is provided for supplying current to the rechargeable power source, the induction charger including an electrical coil provided on the reel and a static magnetic field cut by the coil on rotation of the reel. 
   
   
       14 . A display device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the reel includes a control circuit arranged to control the supply of power and drive signals to the flexible strip of display material. 
   
   
       15 . A display device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the control circuit includes a memory device into which at least one strip configuration is programmed whereby in use the strip displays chosen symbols at the required relative dispositions. 
   
   
       16 . A method of displaying pre-selected symbols at chosen locations on a reel of a gaming machine, which method comprises:
 comprising furnishing a flexible strip of electronically programmable display material around the periphery of the reel,   providing a control circuit on the reel for supplying drive signals to the flexible strip,   providing a power source on the reel for powering the control circuit and flexible strip, and   programming into the control circuit a control program which drives the flexible strip to display the selected symbols at the chosen locations.   
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the programming is performed by a wireless link arranged to load into the control circuit said control program.