Gaming System Mechanical Reel Video Display Shutter Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaming systems, such as stepper machines and video machines, while providing entertainment, lack alternatives to maintain or increase player enjoyment and offer limited flexibility in symbol manipulation and game modes.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that combines mechanical reels with a video display device and a shutter device, allowing for the controlled display of either mechanical or virtual reels, enabling the system to switch between them seamlessly, thereby providing a base game using mechanical reels and a special game mode using virtual reels, with the option to modify lighting and symbol arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gaming system uses only mechanical reels, then the system provides traditional gaming experience, but the system lacks flexibility in symbol manipulation and game modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines mechanical reels with a video display device in a single gaming system. The video display device can show virtual reels that overlay or replace the mechanical reels, allowing the system to switch between traditional mechanical gaming and enhanced digital gaming modes. This merging enables both mechanical authenticity and digital flexibility within one system.
Solution Approach 2:
The video display device serves multiple functions: it can display information about the mechanical reels, show virtual reels that replicate or enhance the mechanical reels, and provide additional game information. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt between different game modes without requiring separate systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a gaming system uses only video display with virtual reels, then the system offers flexibility in symbol manipulation, but the system loses the tactile and visual appeal of mechanical reels
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges virtual reels displayed on video with physical mechanical reels. The video display device can show virtual representations that overlay the mechanical reels or replace them when the shutter conceals the mechanical components. This allows the system to provide both tactile mechanical appeal and flexible digital symbol manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter device acts as an intermediary between the mechanical reels and the video display. It can selectively conceal or reveal the mechanical reels, allowing the system to switch between presenting mechanical authenticity and digital flexibility. This intermediary enables seamless transitions between different gaming modes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system switches between mechanical reels and virtual reels, then the system provides varied game modes, but the system increases complexity in controlling display devices and shutters
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter device serves as a simple intermediary mechanism that binary switches between mechanical and virtual reel display modes. By using this single controlling element, the system manages complexity while providing varied game modes. The shutter's simple open/closed states correspond to clear mode transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the display configuration based on game mode requirements. The video display device and shutter work together to dynamically switch between showing mechanical reels, virtual reels, or combinations thereof. This dynamic adaptability allows varied game modes without requiring complex permanent configurations.
4Measurement precision
If the video display device is always opaque to conceal mechanical reels, then the system can display virtual reels clearly, but the system loses the ability to show mechanical reel details
Solution Approach 1:
The video display device dynamically changes its state between transparent and opaque based on game mode requirements. When virtual reels need to be displayed clearly, the video becomes opaque; when mechanical reel details need to be visible, the video becomes transparent. This dynamic state change allows the system to optimize for either virtual or mechanical display as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter device and video display transparency work together as coordinated intermediaries to control what the player sees. When the shutter is closed, the video can be opaque to show virtual reels; when the shutter is open, the video becomes transparent to reveal mechanical reels. This coordinated control provides clear virtual reel display while preserving mechanical reel visibility when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system is disclosed that comprises at least one mechanical reel, and a video display device disposed over the at least one mechanical reel. The video display device is controllable to display for each mechanical reel a virtual reel representative of the mechanical reel, and so as to be disposed in an operative first state wherein the at least one virtual reel is viewable on the video display device, or a substantially transparent second state. The gaming system also comprises a shutter device positioned between the video display device and the at least one mechanical reel and disposable in a first state wherein the at least one mechanical reel is revealed or a second state wherein the at least one mechanical reel is concealed. During use, either the mechanical reel(s) or the virtual reel(s) representative of the mechanical reel(s) are viewable by a player.