Electronic-field communication for gaming environment amplification

Abstract

An electronic gaming system with a visual display system has a player input station for at least entering wagers on an underlying wagering event. The system includes a processor providing signal content to the visual display system. The player input station further has an electronic-field communication input device that is simultaneously responsive to a player's hand movements in three dimensions and with respect to velocity. A communication link exists from the electronic-field communication input device to the processor and then to the visual display system to provide image signals transmitted from the processor to the visual display system. The image signals are varied in response to sensed hand movements in at least one of the three dimensions and velocity, wherein the visual display system displays an image varied in response to sensed hand movements. The caused variations have no effect on a random outcome in the underlying wagering event.

1 . An electronic gaming system having a player input station for at least entering wagers on an underlying wagering event, comprising:
 a processor configured to perform non-outcome altering operations and outcome altering operations associated with the wagering event, wherein the outcome altering operations are based on a random outcome;   the player input station further comprising an electronic-field communication input device that is simultaneously responsive to a player's hand movements in three dimensions and with respect to velocity; and   a communication link between the electronic-field communication input device and the processor, the processor performing the non-outcome altering operations, the non-outcome altering operations configured to be varied in response to sensed hand movements in at least one of the three dimensions and velocity, wherein the non-outcome altering operations have no effect on the random outcome and no effect on the outcome altering operations.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical system configured to operate at different speeds, wherein the non-outcome altering operations comprise at least one of varying a speed of the mechanical system. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical system includes a dice generator, the dice generator communicatively coupled to the electronic-field communication input device and configured to throw or shake a pair of dice, wherein the non-outcome altering operations comprise at least one of varying a speed of the dice throw, varying a height of the dice throw, or varying a speed of the dice shake. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the electronic-field communication input system comprises multiple antennae in a component embedded on the gaming system, the multiple antenna comprising at least two horizontally sensitive antennae and at least one vertically sensitive antenna. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the player's hand has a transmitting or responsive device thereon which communicates the player's hand movement to the electronic-field communication input device. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , further comprising a player input panel, wherein the electronic-field communication input device is located on the player input panel. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein individual player positions at the electronic gaming system further comprise a value-in-value-out credit creation component including one or more of a) a ticket-in-ticket-out system having a ticket-reading scanner and ticket printer, b) a currency validation system having a motor drive to advance currency past a scanner and c) a near field communication monetary service system. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical system includes a roulette wheel, the roulette wheel communicatively coupled to the electronic-field communication input device and configured to spin about a central axis, wherein the non-outcome altering operations comprise varying a speed at which the roulette wheel spins about the central axis. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic-field communication input system comprises multiple antennae in a component embedded on the gaming system, the multiple antenna comprising at least two horizontally sensitive antennae and at least one vertically sensitive antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the player's hand has a transmitting or responsive device thereon which communicates the player's hand movement to the electronic-field communication input device. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , further comprising a player input panel, wherein the electronic-field communication input device is located on the player input panel. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein individual player positions at the electronic gaming system further comprise a value-in-value-out credit creation component including one or more of a) a ticket-in-ticket-out system having a ticket-reading scanner and ticket printer, b) a currency validation system having a motor drive to advance currency past a scanner and c) a near field communication monetary service system. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic-field communication input system comprises multiple antennae in a component embedded on the gaming system, the multiple antenna comprising at least two horizontally sensitive antennae and at least one vertically sensitive antenna. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the player's hand has a transmitting or responsive device thereon which communicates the player's hand movement to the electronic-field communication input device. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitting or responsive device includes a radio frequency identification tag which communicates the player's hand movement to the electronic-field communication input device. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising a player input panel, wherein the electronic-field communication input device is located on the player input panel. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein individual player positions at the electronic gaming system further comprise a value-in-value-out credit creation component including one or more of a) a ticket-in-ticket-out system having a ticket-reading scanner and ticket printer, b) a currency validation system having a motor drive to advance currency past a scanner and c) a near field communication monetary service system. 
     
     
         18 . A method of enhancing wagering experience at a gaming apparatus comprising:
 before or after placing a wager on a random outcome wagering event at the gaming apparatus, the wager credited against stored credit deposited by through the value-in-value out credit creation component comprising the electronic gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein a player at the player position moves or places a hand or in electronic-field communication responsive distances from the electronic-field communication input device, wherein movement of placement of the player's hand in near-field communication responsive distances from the near-field communication input device causes the processor to perform the non-outcome altering operations.   
     
     
         19 . A method of enhancing wagering experience at a gaming apparatus, comprising:
 before or after placing a wager on a random outcome wagering event at the gaming apparatus comprising the electronic gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a player at the player position moves or places a hand in electronic-field communication responsive distances from the electronic-field communication input device, wherein movement of placement of the player's hand in near-field communication responsive distances from the electronic-field communication input device causes the processor to perform the non-outcome altering operations.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a mechanical system configured to operate at different speeds, wherein the non-outcome altering operations comprise at least one of varying a speed of the mechanical system.