Slot machine with reel-based persistence-of-vision effects
A gaming device in accordance with some implementations includes a housing, a reel-spin initiation member, and a reel configured to spin in response to a user actuation of the reel-spin initiation member, the reel including a peripheral member having a plurality of symbols thereon and an array of light-emitting elements coupled to the reel. The gaming device also includes a controller coupled to the array of light-emitting elements and configured to selectively illuminate respective light-emitting elements of the array of light-emitting elements while the reel is rotating to produce an animated visual element.
1 . A system, the system comprising:
at least one reel;
an array of light-emitting elements;
a moveable structure configured to oscillate the array of light-emitting elements along a path at least in part corresponding to a user-viewable area through which a portion of the at least one reel is visible; and
a controller configured to selectively illuminate at least one light-emitting element of the array of light-emitting elements to produce an animation effect.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the moveable structure comprises an auxiliary peripheral member; and
the auxiliary peripheral member is positioned outside of a periphery of the at least one reel and configured to offset the array of light-emitting elements from the periphery of the at least one reel by a distance.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the distance is less than 11 mm.
4 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a wireless power transfer system configured to wirelessly provide power to the moveable structure.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is coupled to the moveable structure, and further comprising:
a transmitter coupled to a non-moving structure; and
a receiver coupled to the controller and to the moveable structure.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable structure and the at least one reel both move along the path.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a wireless communication system configured to receive information about when to display a visual element via the array of light-emitting elements.
8 . A gaming device comprising:
at least one reel;
a moveable structure configured to move a light array back and forth at least in part corresponding to a user-viewable area through which a portion of the at least one reel is visible; a conductor configured to provide power to the light array; and
a controller configured to selectively illuminate at least one light-emitting element of the light array during movement of the moveable structure to produce an animation effect.
9 . The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the moveable structure comprises a spoke.
10 . The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to produce the animation effect by a persistence of vision optical technique.
11 . The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the light array includes a row of discrete tri-color LEDs.
12 . The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the animation effect includes displaying at least one symbol associated with a virtual gameplay other than a symbol of the at least one reel.
13 . The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the moveable structure comprises an actuator.
14 . The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the animation effect is produced by:
illuminating the light array according to a first illumination pattern;
ceasing to illuminate the light array according to the first illumination pattern; and
illuminating the light array according to a second illumination pattern different from the first illumination pattern.
15 . The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to produce video-like animation.
16 . A gaming system, comprising:
a housing defining a user-viewable area;
at least one reel positioned within the housing at least partially within the user-viewable area;
a moveable light structure positioned within the housing and comprising a light array having light-emitting elements, the moveable light structure configured to move the light array within the user-viewable area through which a portion of the at least one reel is visible; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the light-emitting elements, the controller configured to selectively illuminate at least one of the light-emitting elements to produce an animated visual element that depicts movement.
17 . The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is operable to generate animated light effects over the user-viewable area while the at least one reel does not move.
18 . The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the light-emitting elements are configured to produce the animated visual element that depicts movement via an illumination pattern.
19 . The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein:
the light array is a first light array; and
the gaming system further comprises a second light array.
20 . The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the moveable light structure comprises a motor configured to move the light array.