Gaming machine with reel strips having an organic light emitting diode display

Abstract

An OLED display is used in a reel-type gaming machine. In one embodiment, only a section of a reel strip is replaced by an OLED display. The section may display one or more symbols. In another embodiment, OLED displays are curved to resemble reels, and the reels do not move. The LEDs on the OLED displays are energized (scrolled) in such a way as to simulate the movement of symbols on reels rotated by a motor. Programmable displays other than OLEDs may also be used. In one embodiment, conventional rotating reels, or any reel incorporating an OLED, are viewable behind a transparent display window. The display window is a transparent electronic display that can be controlled to display any opaque or translucent image in front of the reels. The display window may also be a touch screen. A touch screen that does not display may also be used as a display window, and areas of the touch screen are touched by the player to make selections such as to hold a reel or a symbol for the next spin. In another embodiment, the display glass in areas other than the transparent openings for viewing the reels may be a programmable display to enable the display glass to display any programmed images.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel, a portion of the periphery of at least one reel being formed of an electronic display having pixels such that at least one symbol around the periphery of a reel is displayed by the electronic display, a remainder of the periphery displaying symbols not including an electronic display; and    a motor associated with each reel for rotating each reel and stopping each reel so that at least one symbol from each reel is displayed to a player.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic display is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic display only displays one symbol.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic display changes based on the status of a game being played.  
     
     
         6 . A gaming method comprising: 
 rotating a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel, a portion of the periphery of at least one reel being formed of an electronic display, a remainder of the periphery displaying symbols not including an electronic display;    energizing the electronic display such that at least one symbol around the periphery of the at least one reel is displayed by the electronic display;    stopping each reel so that at least one symbol from each reel is displayed to a player; and    granting an award to the player based on the symbols displayed after the reels have stopped rotating.    
     
     
         7 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel, at least a portion of the periphery of at least one reel being formed of an electronic display, wherein the reels do not rotate during a game; and    a display controller that controls the electronic display such that symbols displayed by the electronic display appear to be moving on a rotating reel.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the reels are partial reels.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the electronic display is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         11 . A gaming method for a gaming device, the gaming device comprising a plurality of curved reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel, at least a portion of the periphery of at least one reel being formed of an electronic display, the method comprising: 
 controlling the electronic display such that symbols displayed by the electronic display appear to be moving on a rotating reel without rotating the reel having the display.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the electronic display comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the electronic display comprises a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the reels are partial reels.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 controlling the electronic display to make the reel having the electronic display appear to stop rotating; and  
 granting an award to the player based on symbol combinations across the reels.  
 
     
     
         16 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel; and    a display window in front of the reels through which the reels are viewed by a player, the display window being a display panel that is controlled to display images.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the display panel is electronically controlled.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the display window is a touch screen for receiving a player's input by the player touching an area of the touch screen.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the display panel displays images corresponding to choices a player is to make in playing a game.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the choices comprise holding a position of one or more symbols for a next spin of the reels.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the player touches a portion of the touch screen corresponding to a particular reel to initiate a function relating to that reel.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the reels rotate.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the reels comprise an electronic display.  
     
     
         24 . A gaming method for a gaming device, the gaming device comprising a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel and a display window in front of the reels through which the reels are viewed by a player, the method comprising: 
 controlling the display window in front of the reels to display images.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the display window is controlled to designate choices to be made by the player regarding the game.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the display window is controlled to identify one or more symbols.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein controlling the display comprises electronically controlling the display.  
     
     
         28 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel; and    a window in front of the reels through which the reels are viewed by a player, the window being a touch screen for receiving player input.    
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the touch screen is also a display panel for displaying images in front of the reels.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29  wherein the display panel is electronically controlled.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 28  further comprising a player touching an area of the touch screen in front of a particular reel or symbol to perform a function related to that particular reel or symbol.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31  wherein the function comprises holding a position of one or more symbols for a next spin of the reels.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the reels rotate.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the reels comprise an electronic display.  
     
     
         35 . A gaming method for a gaming device, the gaming device comprising a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols on the periphery of each reel and a display window in front of the reels through which the reels are viewed by a player, the method comprising: 
 detecting a touch position by the player on the window to make a selection; and    performing a function associated with the touch position.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the window is controlled to display choices to be made by the player regarding the game, the method further comprising the player touching one of the displayed choices on the touch screen.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the player touches an area on the touch screen in front of a reel to designate the reel or a symbol on the reel.  
     
     
         38 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a main display for displaying a game to a player; and    a display panel forming part of a housing for the main display, at least a portion of the display panel being a programmable electronic display.    
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38  wherein the electronic display is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.  
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 38  wherein the electronic display changes depending on the status of the game.  
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 38  wherein the display panel displays a logo of the game.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 38  wherein the display panel retains its display image even when power has been turned off at the gaming machine.