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 microcapsules 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 microcapsules comprise 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, each microcapsule is 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 an adjacent microcapsule. 
   
   
       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 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 microcapsules positioned between a top electrode and a bottom electrode, the bottom electrode comprising a plurality of charge points; and   altering the appearance of at least one of the plurality of symbols displayed on the film.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each microcapsule comprises a first charged particle bearing a first color and a second oppositely charged particle bearing a second color. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the altering step comprises modifying a charge on at least one charge point to cause one of the first and second particles to be repelled generally towards the top electrode and the other of the first and second particles to be attracted generally towards the charge point. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the top electrode is either transparent or translucent and if the first particle is repelled the first color is 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 .