Gaming machin display

Abstract

A gaming machine display ( 14 ) includes a game playing arrangement ( 16 ) mountable in a cabinet ( 62 ) of a gaming machine ( 10 ). An electronically controlled display element ( 50 ) overlies the game playing arrangement ( 16 ) so that, depending on a state of the display element ( 50 ), the game playing arrangement ( 16 ) is visible through the display element ( 50 ).

1 . A gaming machine display which includes: 
 a game playing arrangement mountable in a cabinet of a gaming machine; and    an electronically controlled display element overlying the game playing arrangement, in use, so that, depending on a state of the display element, the game playing arrangement is visible through the display element.    
   
   
       2 . The display of  claim 1  in which the game playing arrangement comprises a mechanical, symbol carrying arrangement.  
   
   
       3 . The display of  claim 2  in which the symbol carrying arrangement comprises a set of rotatable mechanical reels, a plurality of symbols being arranged on an outer periphery of each reel.  
   
   
       4 . The display of  claim 3  in which the display element comprises a display screen overlying the game playing arrangement.  
   
   
       5 . The display of  claim 4  in which the display screen is a multi-layered structure.  
   
   
       6 . The display of  claim 5  in which the structure includes a monitor on which images are to be displayed.  
   
   
       7 . The display of  claim 6  in which the monitor overlies a shutter mechanism.  
   
   
       8 . The display of  claim 7  in which the shutter mechanism is an electronically controlled device that is controllable to vary between a transparent state, in which the game playing arrangement is visible through the device, and an at least partially opaque state, in which the game playing arrangement is at least partially occluded.  
   
   
       9 . The display of  claim 8  which includes a monitor housing defining a plurality of openings, one opening being associated with each reel, a part of the outer periphery of each reel being visible through its associated opening.  
   
   
       10 . The display of  claim 8  in which the electronically controlled device defines a plurality of zones, each zone, in use, overlying one of the reels and each zone being controllable to vary between the transparent state, in which the associated reel is visible through that zone, and an at least partially opaque state, in which said reel is at least partially occluded.  
   
   
       11 . The display of  claim 6  in which a user interface layer overlies the monitor.  
   
   
       12 . The display of  claim 6  in which the multi-layered structure includes an illuminating layer for illuminating the monitor.  
   
   
       13 . The display of  claim 12  in which the illuminating layer comprises a light transferring panel and an illuminating means arranged adjacent at least one edge of the panel.  
   
   
       14 . The display of  claim 1  in which the display element is a flat panel display.  
   
   
       15 . A display element for a gaming machine display, the display element including: 
 a monitor on which images are to be displayed; and    a shutter mechanism underlying the monitor, the shutter mechanism being controllable to vary between a transparent state, in which other images underlying the shutter mechanism, in use, are visible through the monitor, and an at least partially transparent state in which the other images are at least partially occluded when viewed through the monitor.    
   
   
       16 . The display element of  claim 15  which is a multi-layered structure having a user-interface layer overlying the monitor.  
   
   
       17 . The display element of  claim 15  in which the multi-layered structure includes an illuminating layer operatively arranged relative to the monitor to illuminate the monitor.  
   
   
       18 . A method of displaying images on a gaming machine, the method including the steps of: 
 displaying a first set of images on a game playing arrangement mounted in a cabinet of the gaming machine; and    displaying at least one further image on a display element overlying the game playing arrangement.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  which includes controlling a state of the display element to control its transparency to regulate a degree of visibility, if any, of the game playing arrangement through the display element.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  which includes displaying at least one further image overlying an image of the game playing arrangement, said at least one further image being taken into account in determining an outcome of a game played on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  which includes illuminating the display means to enhance the display of said at least one further image on the display means.