Wagering game machine with OLED transmissive LCD
View Patent ↗A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered via at least one mechanical reel and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The liquid crystal display has at leas tone transparent portion through which the mechanical reel or reels can be observed. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) element is disposed near the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display, and is operable to selectively emit light or pass light, such that emitted light is passed through the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display when the OLED emits light or the at least one mechanical game object can be observed through the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and the OLED when the OLED passes light.
1. A computerized wagering game system, comprising:
a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;
a liquid crystal display (LCD) having at least one transparent portion through which at least one object can be observed, as well as an opaque portion; and
an organic light emitting diode disposed between the at least one object and the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display, and operable to selectively emit light or not emit light, such that the emitted light is passed through the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display when the organic light emitting diode emits the light and game graphics displayed across the at least one transparent portion and the opaque portion of the LCD appear relatively uniform when the organic light emitting diode emits the light, and the at least one object can be observed through the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and the organic light emitting diode when the organic light emitting diode does not emit the light.
2. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1 , wherein the organic light emitting diode changes between emitting light and not emitting light in response to application of a voltage signal.
3. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one object is a mechanical reel slot machine symbol reel.
4. The computerized wagering game system of claim 3 , further comprising at least one light configured to selectively illuminate the mechanical reel slot machine symbol reel.
5. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1 , wherein the organic light emitting diode serves as a dust shield for the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display.
6. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1 , wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises a polymer.
7. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1 , wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises a monochromatic white organic light emitting diode.
8. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one object is disposed within the plane of the liquid crystal display and near the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display.
9. A method of operating a computerized wagering game system, comprising:
presenting a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;
displaying an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD) having at least one transparent portion through which at least one object can be observed, as well as an opaque portion; and
selectively lighting an organic light emitting diode disposed between the at least one object and the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and operable to selectively emit light or not emit light, such that emitted light is passed through the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display when the organic light emitting diode emits the light and game graphics displayed across the at least one tranparent portion and the opaque portion of the LCD appear relatively uniform when the organic light emitting diode emits the light, and the at least one object can be observed through the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and the organic light emitting diode when the organic light emitting diode does not emit the light.
10. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 9 , wherein the organic light emitting diode changes between emitting light and not emitting light in response to application of a voltage signal.
11. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one object is a mechanical reel slot machine symbol reel.
12. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 11 , further comprising selectively illuminating at least one light configured to illuminate the mechanical reel slot machine symbol reel.
13. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 9 , wherein the organic light emitting diode serves as a dust shield for the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display.
14. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 9 , wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises a polymer.
15. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 9 , wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises a monochromatic white organic light emitting diode.
16. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the object is disposed within the plane of the liquid crystal display and near the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display.
17. A display panel apparatus, comprising:
a liquid crystal display (LCD) having at least one transparent portion through which an object can be observed, as well as an opaque portion; and
an organic light emitting diode disposed between the object and the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and operable to selectively emit light or not emit light, such that emitted light is passed through the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display when the organic light emitting diode emits the light and game graphics displayed across the at least one transparent portion and the opaque portion of the LCD appear relatively uniform when the organic light emitting diode emits the light, and the object can be observed through the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and the organic light emitting diode when the organic light emitting diode does not emit the light.
18. The display panel apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the organic light emitting diode changes between emitting light and not emitting light in response to application of a voltage signal.
19. The display panel apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the organic light emitting diode serves as a dust shield for the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display.
20. The display panel apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises a polymer.
21. The display panel apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises a monochromatic white organic light emitting diode.
22. The display panel apparatus of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the object is disposed within the plane of the liquid crystal display and near the at least one transparent portion of the liquid crystal display.
23. A computerized wagering game system, comprising:
at least one object for presenting a wagering game event;
a liquid crystal display (LCD) having at least one transmissive portion positioned in front of the at least one object, as well as an opaque portion; and
an organic light emitting diode (OLED) element positioned between the at least one object and the at least one transmissive portion of the LCD, the OLED element being selectively operable to emit light or not emit light,
wherein in response to the OLED element emitting light, the emitted light passes through the at least one transmissive portion of the LCD to illuminate game graphics displayed thereon and obscure the at least one object, and the game graphics displayed across the at least one transmissive portion and the opaque portion of the LCD appear relatively uniform, and wherein response to the OLED element not emitting light, the at least one object can be observed through the at least one transmissive portion of the LCD.
24. The computerized wagering game system of claim 23 , whererin in response to the OLED element emitting light, the game graphics on the at least one transmissive portion of the LCD form a visually continuous image with graphics on a remainder of the LCD.
25. The computerized wagering game system of claim 23 , wherein in response to the OLED element emitting light, the game graphics displayed across the at least one transmissive portion of the LCD and a remainder of the LCD appear relatively uniform.
26. The computerized wagering game system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one object includes a symbol-bearing reel.
27. The computerized wagering game system of claim 23 , wherein the LCD includes an LCD panel backed by a diffusion layer in the opaque portion and backed by the OLED element in the at least one transmissive portion, the LCD including a backlight directing light toward the diffusion layer.