Controlling auto-stereo three-dimensional depth of a game symbol according to a determined position relative to a display area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9922491-B2
Application number	US-201514965067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Dec 14, 2010
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

Gaming devices and methods are set forth which provide for face or body tracking to provide a three-dimensional effect to at least apportion of the content displayed. A first video display overlays at least a portion of a second video display. The first display is adapted to be controlled to be transparent or display vertical lenticular lines. The second display displays video content. In response to a command the first display assumes a lenticular configuration to cooperate with the display of video content on the second display to provide a three dimensional effect.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
presenting, via an auto-stereo electronic display device of the gaming system, auto-stereo images of a game symbol on a virtual surface of a virtual slot reel in a display area of the auto-stereo electronic display device, wherein the game symbol and the virtual slot reel are associated with an electronic wagering game;
determining, via at least one of one or more electronic processing units of the gaming system, a position of the game symbol relative to the display area;
electronically rendering, by a graphics processing unit, via the auto-stereo electronic display device, the auto-stereo images of the game symbol with an auto-stereo three-dimensional depth relative to the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel causing at least a portion of the game symbol to appear above the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel with a degree of the auto-stereo three-dimensional depth that corresponds to the determined position of the game symbol relative to the display area; and
causing the degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth to change in value according to a change in position of the game symbol as the virtual slot reel moves in the display area.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the causing the at least the portion of the game symbol to be above the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel comprises:
providing a three-dimensional motion parallax effect for the virtual slot reel; and
presenting, via the auto-stereo electronic display device, the game symbol as an auto-stereo image affixed in relation to the virtual surface as the game symbol moves with the virtual slot reel, wherein the degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth corresponds to the three-dimensional motion parallax effect.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining, via at least one of the one or more electronic processing units of the gaming system, an additional position of the game symbol relative to the display area after the virtual slot reel has rotated in position; and
causing the game symbol to be visually positioned above the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel with an additional degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth that corresponds to the additional determined position, wherein the additional degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth is different from the degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the determined position of the game symbol is furthest from a position of a head of an individual in front of the auto-stereo electronic display device, wherein the additional determined position of the game symbol is closest to the position of the head, and wherein the degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth is greater than the additional degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth decreases to the additional degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth as the game symbol moves from a top of the display area to a center of the display area.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
selecting the game symbol based on a value for the game symbol according to one or more of a pay table or a game outcome for the electronic wagering game; and
causing the auto-stereo three-dimensional depth to be proportional to the value for the game symbol.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the electronically rendering the auto-stereo images of the game symbol comprises causing an entirety of the game symbol to appear above the virtual surface while simultaneously causing at least a portion of a second game symbol to appear planar with the virtual surface.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
determining, based on data received from a sensor of a head tracking device of the gaming system, that a head of an individual is in a first position viewing the game symbol straight on in front of the auto-stereo electronic display device, wherein based on the head being in the first position, the game symbol appears to have no auto-stereo three-dimensional depth effect relative to the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel; and
determining, based on the data, a change in position of the head to a second position different from the first position, wherein the electronically rendering the auto-stereo images of the game symbol with the auto-stereo three-dimensional depth effect is in response to determining the change in the position of the head to the second position.

9. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more electronic processing units of a gaming system cause the gaming system to perform operations comprising:
presenting, via an auto-stereo electronic display device of the gaming system, auto-stereo images of virtual game symbols associated with a virtual surface of a virtual slot reel in a display area of the auto-stereo electronic display device, wherein the virtual game symbols and the virtual slot reel with an electronic wagering game;
determining movement of a position of a game symbol of the virtual game symbols relative to the display area as the game symbol moves with a rotation of the virtual slot reel; and
electronically rendering, by a graphics processor associated with the auto-stereo electronic display device, the auto-stereo images of the game symbol with an auto-stereo three-dimensional depth effect relative to the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel causing at least a portion of the game symbol to appear above the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel with a degree of auto-stereo three-dimensional depth that dynamically changes to correspond to the determined movement of the position of the game symbol relative to the display area.

10. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 9 , said operations further comprising:
determining that a first value of the game symbol is different from a second value of an additional game symbol of the virtual game symbols;
causing a second portion of the game symbol to appear attached to the virtual surface;
causing the at least the portion of the game symbol to visually extend the virtual surface with a first degree of autostereoscopic depth proportional to the first value; and
causing the additional game symbol to visually extend above the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel with a second degree of autostereoscopic three-dimensional depth proportional to the second value.

11. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 9 , said operations further comprising:
causing an appearance of the game symbol appear above the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel in response to a game event; and
causing the appearance of the game symbol to pulse into the virtual surface of the virtual slot reel after the game symbol appears above the virtual surface.

12. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 11 , wherein the game event comprises one or more of a winning outcome, an anticipated outcome, a bonus game event, a determination that the game symbol is a given graphic, or an event that pulses the auto-stereo three-dimensional depth for the game symbol.

13. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 9 , said operations comprising:
providing a three-dimensional motion parallax effect for the virtual slot reel; and
presenting, via the auto-stereo electronic display device, the game symbol as an auto-stereo three-dimensional image affixed in relation to the virtual sur

Assignees

• Bally Gaming Inc

Inventors

• Kelly Bryan M
• Patton Stephen Earl
• Martin Sean
• Lyons Martin
• Ang Rod
• Hedrick Randy

Classifications

• A63F2300/1087

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera · CPC title

• G07F17/3267

  Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games · CPC title

• H04N13/305

  using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses · CPC title

• A63F2300/6661

  for changing the position of the virtual camera · CPC title

• G07F17/3213 Primary

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title