Gaming system and gaming devices with holographic projection feature

Abstract

A gaming system is provided that includes a gaming device which has at least one input device to receive an input from a player and at least one display device to relay gaming information to the player. The gaming system further includes a holographic image system configured to project a holographic image into a space outside of the gaming device. The holographic image system may be associated with a single gaming device, or which a plurality of gaming devices, such as a bank of gaming machines.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a gaming device comprising at least one input device to receive an input from a player and   at least one display device to relay gaming information to the player,   a holographic image projector configured to project a holographic image into a space outside of the gaming device, where the holographic image is projected and formed horizontally and outwardly spaced from a frontmost vertical plane of the gaming device; and   an image content server in communication with the gaming device and in communication with the holographic image projector, the image content server receives a triggering signal from the gaming device and controls an image projected by the holographic image projector in response to the triggering signal.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying signage associated with the gaming device; and the holographic image projector is configured to project a plurality of holographic images in response to the triggering signal to project a holographic image that creates a three dimensional moving image projected surrounding the identifying signage. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the holographic image projector is configured to project at least one holographic image into a space vertically above a playing position of the gaming device. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , where the holographic image is related to gaming play. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , where the holographic image indicates an award has been won by the player. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising a camera for detecting a location of a player's hand relative to the holographic image. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the holographic image projector is installed remotely from the gaming device. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming system comprising:
 a gaming device comprising at least one input device to receive an input from a player and at least one display device to relay gaming information to the player; and   a holographic image projector remotely located from the gaming device and in communication with the gaming device and configured to project a holographic image into a space outside of the gaming device, where the holographic image is projected and formed horizontally and outwardly spaced from a frontmost vertical plane of the gaming device.   
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an image content server in communication with the gaming device and in communication with the holographic image projector, the image content server receives a triggering signal from the gaming device and controls an image projected by the holographic image projector in response to a triggering signal.   
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the triggering signal is related to a status of the gaming device. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the holographic image projector is configured to project at least one holographic image into a space vertically above a playing position of the gaming device. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , where the holographic image is related to game play. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , where the holographic image indicates an award has been won by the player. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , further comprising a camera for detecting a location of a player's hand relative to the holographic image. 
     
     
         15 . An immersive gaming environment comprising:
 at least two gaming devices, the gaming devices providing gaming play for two distinct types of games;   a holographic image projector configured to project a holographic image into a space outside of the gaming devices and where the holographic image is projected and formed horizontally and outwardly spaced from a frontmost vertical plane of one of the gaming devices;   wherein the holographic image projector projects a plurality of holographic images with at least one holographic image being associated with a triggering event; and   wherein the holographic images are projected into a space vertically above a playing position of at least one of the gaming devices.   
     
     
         16 . The immersive gaming environment of  claim 15  wherein the triggering event comprises a winning outcome at a gaming device. 
     
     
         17 . The immersive gaming environment of  claim 15  wherein the triggering event comprises an attract mode. 
     
     
         18 . The immersive gaming environment of  claim 15  wherein a first gaming device comprises a slot machine and a second gaming device comprises a gaming table. 
     
     
         19 . The immersive gaming environment of  claim 15  further comprising:
 an identifying signage associated with at least one of the gaming devices; and 
 the holographic image projector responds to the triggering event to project a holographic image that creates a three dimensional moving image projected surrounding the identifying signage. 
 
     
     
         20 . The immersive gaming environment of  claim 15  further comprising:
 an image content server in communication with the gaming devices and in communication with the holographic image projector, wherein the image content server receives a triggering signal representing the triggering event and controls the holographic image projector in response to the received triggering signal.