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(11) | EP 0 501 727 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Gaming or amusement machines |
| (57) A gaming or amusement machine comprises a die or similar symbol carrying body ( 1)
which can be orientated with respect to axes passing through the body ( 1) to present
symbols at a viewing station (D) in the machine. Drive means ( 6, 7) is provided to
move the body between different presentation positions in which different symbols
are presented to the viewing station (D) and sensor means ( 8, 9) detects the orientation
of the body ( 1) and produces signals indicative of the symbol presented to the viewing
station (D). Control means ( 12) receives signals from the sensor means and controls
the drive means ( 6, 7) so that the symbol presented to the viewing station (D) is
known to the control means and controlled by it. Driving the body ( 1) to present
random faces of the body to the viewing station (D) provides a game of chance. |
[0002] It is well known to display symbols, such as representations of fruits, playing cards and so on, within amusement machines using mechanically-rotating reel mechanisms with the symbols arranged around the periphery of a rotating drum assembly, as in the so-called "fruit machine". It is also known to display as part of such machines other symbols, in particular dice, which have associations with other forms of gaming, in order to represent such other games within the framework of a fruit machine game.
[0003] However, there is a considerable difference between the appearance of a three-dimensional dice and its representations on a two-dimensional surface of a reel strip, and such representations are not as popular with the players of such games as perhaps they would be were the representation more realistic.
[0004] We have already proposed improvements in the symbols used in fruit machines, for example in our patent application GB 8918448.5 in which the symbols have a three dimensional profile. A representation of a dice can be made three dimensional in this way, but it only has one face visible to the user.
[0005] According to the invention a gaming or amusement machine in which symbols are presented at a viewing station comprises a dice or other multi-faceted symbol-carrying body, sensor means adapted to detect the orientation of the dice with respect to a viewing station and adapted to produce signals indicative of the facet or symbol presented to the viewing station by the dice, drive means adapted to move the dice between different presentation positions in which different facets of the dice are presented to the viewing station, and control means which receives signals from the sensor means and controls the drive means so that the facet or symbol presented to the viewing station is known to the control means and controlled by it.
[0007] It is true that dice-throwing devices per-se are known in which a dice is contained within a transparent box and is impelled into the air by the action of a sharp blow or impact upon its base, usually derived from a solenoid. Detecting means within the box can determine which face of the dice is uppermost. This idea can be extended to a collection of several dice to form a complete game in its own right. The "throwing" of the dice is to all intents and purposes a random event. Often within a gaming or amusement machine it is desired to pre-determine the outcome of a game, or at least to influence it so that it is pseudo-random in a controllable manner. This is not possible with known dice-throwing machines and so they are not suitable for use in fruit machines and are not considered to be of any importance in the field of fruit machines.
[0008] Preferably the dice or body is angularly movable about a first axis so as to present in turn a number of its facets to the viewing station. It is preferably movable to a changed axis-orientation state in which the orientation of the first axis relative to the viewing station is changed so that subsequent angular movement of the dice about the first axis presents one or more different facets to the viewing station which cannot be seen readily with the first axis in its original orientation.
[0009] The movement of the first axis from its first orientation relative to the viewing station to its changed orientation may comprise an angular movement of the first axis relative to the viewing station.
[0011] The movement of the first axis to the changed axis-orientation state may comprise rotation of the first axis through at least substantially 90 degrees about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. Such a movement may comprise angular movement of substantially 90 degrees.
[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a dice or other multi-faceted symbol-presenting body mechanism adapted for incorporation in a gaming or amusement machine, the mechanism comprising the body, sensor means adapted to detect the orientation of the body and adapted to produce signals indicative of the orientation of the body, drive means adapted to move the body between different presentation positions in which the body has different orientations, and control means which receives signals from the sensor means and controls the drive means so that the facet or symbol presented by the body to a viewing station is known to the control means and controlled by it.
[0014] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:-
Figure 1 shows a fruit machine incorporating the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates the dice mechanism of the fruit machine of Figure 1 in schematic detail; and
Figure 3 shows an alternative dice mechanism.
[0015] A fruit machine M has a coin input slot, a payout tray, a reel display R comprising three reels, a feature display F indicating game features such as "trail" features and/or "skill-shot" features (terms known in the art and discussed in some of our earlier patent applications), and a dice display, or viewing station, D.
[0016] The dice display D comprises a cube 1 representing the dice rotationally mounted at two diagonally opposed vertices by a rod 2 held by bearings 14 and 15 in a frame arrangement 3 supported by suitable idler pulleys 4 and a drive pulley 5. Drive means are provided for the rod 2 by a motor 6, and for the pulley 5 by a motor 7. The cube 1 can be rotated through 360 degrees by the motor 6 and rod 2, and the frame 3 can be rotated by at least 90 degrees by the motor 7 and pulley 5. Photoelectric sensors 8 and 9 pick up position-identifying information from suitable sensor components 10 and 11 affixed to the cube drive rod 2 and frame 3 respectively, so that the absolute position of the cube 1 can be determined by control means 12, which also controls the motors 6 and 7. Appropriate drive signals are generated by the control means 12 and fed to motors 6 and 7 and in conjunction with the positional feedback information from sensor components 10 and 11 the control means 12 can arrange for any of the six faces of the cube to be presented to the player of the machine at the viewing station, the player viewing the cube from a viewing position along the line 13. In use the cube would rest in any of six "index" positions, in which one of its faces is presented perpendicularly to the player along viewing line 13. Motion may be imparted to the dice in order to alter the displayed face during a game by use of the motors 6 and 7.
[0017] The cube may be illuminated from within, power for this purpose being advantageously passed down opposing projecting sides of the cube supporting rods 2, this being split inside the cube into two parts made of a suitable conducting medium. The electrical connections then being made by means of wires attached to the supporting bearings 14 and 15 on the outer frame, and the outer frame 3 being suitably insulated at least two parts of its circumference. Alternatively, electrical connections 18 and 19 could be made to suitable points on the frame 3 as shown in Figure 2, again with insulating parts 16 and 17 of the frame being provided. The motor 6 moves around with the frame 3, or a coupling capable of accommodating the motion is provided.
[0018] Various alternative embodiments are possible within the framework of this invention. For instance, the symbols depicted do not necessarily need to represent a dice and could be any other desired symbols such as fruits, playing cards or indeed just blocks of different colour. The surface of such symbols could be formed in relief in a manner outlined in our British patent application GB 89184448. 5.
[0019] The supported body which in the example is cubic could be any desired geometrical polygon with an appropriate adjustment being made to the control means to provide the requisite index positions in order to be able to present each symbol to the player's view. The body could have curved surfaces arid could even be a sphere.
[0020] The positional feedback could be by optical, magnetic or other suitable means. The rotational drive for the supported body could be by means of an integral electric motor of the stepper (or other) kind supported on the cuter frame and directly driving the rod as described, or by means of a friction drive onto an extension of the support rod.
[0021] An alternative support frame for the dice is shown in Figure 3 and comprises a skeletal frame of two wires 20 and 21 (of suitable strength) as shown in Figure 3, attached to bearing points 14′ and 15′ of rod 2′, and formed so that they come together at a suitable drive point 22 such that an equivalent rotation in the same plane as that described for frame 3 would be achieved by means of a direct drive motor 23 instead of an intermediate pulley. The wires 20 and 21 sweep out a cone at the vertex 22 of which the motor 23 is situated and the axis 24 of the cone is perpendicular to a plane 25 equivalent to frame 3 already described.
[0022] Internal illumination means of the body 1′ could be provided in a similar manner to that of the first embodiment by providing insulating sections of the wires 20 and 21.
[0023] The use of the terms "wires" and "frames" in the above descriptions could be interchanged and the required physical spatial arrangements could of course be made by means of plastic or metal mouldings, wires, or other fabrications as may be convenient as long as the required insulating or conducting properties, as appropriate, were preserved.
[0024] The reels of the fruit machine may have a symbol the appearance of which in the win line, or in the reel display R, enables the player to play a dice game with the dice display D. Alternatively or additionally the achievement of a feature of a trail or skillshot of the feature display F may entitle the player to play a dice game.
1. A gaming or amusement machine in which symbols are presented at a viewing station
comprising a die or other multi-faceted symbol-carrying body (1), sensor means ( 8,
9) adapted to detect the orientation of the die ( 1) with respect to a viewing station
(D) and adapted to produce signals indicative of the facet or symbol presented to
the viewing station (D) by the die ( 1), drive means ( 6, 7) adapted to move the die
( 1) between different presentation positions in which different facets of the die
( 1) are presented to the viewing station (D), and control means ( 12) which receives
signals from the sensor means ( 8, 9) and controls the drive means ( 6, 7) so that
the facet or symbol presented to the viewing station (D) is known to the control means
( 8, 9) and controlled by it.
2. A machine according to claim 1 characterised in that the die or body ( 1) is angularly
movable about a first axis so as to present in turn a number of its facets to the
viewing station (D).
3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the die or body (
1) is movable to a changed axis-orientation state in which the orientation of the
first axis relative to the viewing station (D) is changed so that subsequent angular
movement of the die ( 1) about the first axis presents one or more different facets
to the viewing station (D) which cannot be seen readily with the first axis in its
original orientation.
4. A machine according to claim 3 characterised in that the movement of the first axis
from its first orientation relative to the viewing station (D) to its changed orientation
may comprise an angular movement of the first axis relative to the viewing station
(D).
5. A machine according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that the movement of the
first axis to the changed axis-orientation state may comprise rotation of the first
axis through at least substantially 90 degrees about a second axis substantially perpendicular
to the first axis.
6. A machine according to any of claims 3 to 5 characterised in that the movement comprises
angular movement of substantially 90 degrees.
7. A machine according to any of claims 2 to 6 characterised in that the first axis passes
through opposed vertices of the die or body ( 1).
8. A machine according to any preceding claim characterised in that the die or body (
1) is internally illuminated.
9. A die or other multi-faceted symbol-presenting body mechanism adapted for incorporation
in a gaming or amusement machine, the mechanism comprising the body ( 1), sensor means
( 8, 9) adapted to detect the orientation of the body ( 1) and adapted to produce
signals indicative of the orientation of the body, drive means ( 6, 7) adapted to
move the body between different presentation positions in which the body ( 1) has
different orientations, and control means ( 12) which receives signals from the sensor
means ( 8, 9) and controls the drive means ( 6, 7) so that the facet or symbol presented
by the body ( 1) to a viewing station (D) is known to the control means ( 12) and
controlled by it.
10. A method of presenting a symbol to the user of a gaming or amusement machine comprising
using a die or multi-faceted symbol - presenting body in accordance with claim 9.