Granted Patent B1

US 8,784,206 · App. 13/447,210 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Abstract

Claims (71)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting a three-dimensional image of wagering game content via a display associated with a wagering game machine;

estimating, via at least one of one or more processors, a degree of alteration to a stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by a change in a lateral position of a chair connected to the wagering game machine; and

after estimating the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image, altering, via at least one of the one or more processors, a presentation of the three-dimensional image based on the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by the change in the lateral position of the chair.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the estimating the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by the change in the lateral position of the chair connected to the wagering game machine comprises:

receiving one or more signals from the chair connected to the wagering game machine, wherein the one or more signals indicate the change in the lateral position of the chair;

estimating a degree of change of a lateral position of an occupant of the chair based on the one or more signals from the chair; and

based on the degree of change of the lateral position of the occupant, calculating a degree of parallax shift to apply to the presentation of the three-dimensional image to maintain a stereoscopic effect that appeared via the display prior to the change to the lateral position of the occupant of the chair.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the altering the presentation of the three-dimensional image further comprises:

based on the degree of parallax shift, modifying the stereoscopic effect of the presentation of the three-dimensional image proportional to the degree of change of the lateral position of the occupant of the chair.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the modifying the stereoscopic effect of the presentation of the three-dimensional image comprises:

modifying an orientation of an element of the display, at a location of the display associated with the three-dimensional image, proportional to the degree of change of the lateral position of the occupant of the chair.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the element is one or more of a parallax barrier and a lenticular lens.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the modifying the stereoscopic effect of the presentation of the three-dimensional image comprises:

modifying a presentation of two sets of pixels, at a location of the display associated with the three-dimensional image, proportional to the degree of change of the lateral position of the occupant of the chair, where the two sets of pixels are associated with two versions of the three-dimensional image which are offset from each other an amount that produces the stereoscopic effect of the three-dimensional image.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the estimating the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by the change in the lateral position of the chair connected to the wagering game machine comprises:

detecting an event from the wagering game content, wherein the wagering game content is configured to automatically move the chair in response to the event; and

estimating a degree of lateral change in position of the chair based on the event.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a wagering game module configured to, via the processor,

present a three-dimensional image of wagering game content at a display associated with a wagering game machine, wherein a chair is connected to the wagering game machine, and wherein the chair has a range of motion in a lateral direction,

detect a movement of the chair to a limit of the range of motion in the lateral direction, and

after detection of the movement of the chair to the limit of the range of motion in the lateral direction, alter a presentation of the three-dimensional image to cause a change in parallax effect to a view of the three-dimensional image beyond what appears to be based on the movement of the chair to the limit of the range of motion in the lateral direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the wagering game module is further configured to,

increase a stereoscopic depth effect to the wagering game content a first amount in proportion to a change of viewing perspective of the display in response to the movement of the chair to the limit of the range of motion in the lateral direction, and

after the chair moves to the limit of the range of motion in the lateral direction, increase the stereoscopic depth effect a second amount to cause the change in the parallax effect to the view of the three-dimensional image beyond what appears to be based on the movement of the chair to the limit of the range of motion in the lateral direction.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the wagering game module is further configured to,

rotate the presentation of the three-dimensional image in response to the lateral direction of the movement of the chair.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the wagering game module is further configured to,

alter the presentation of the three-dimensional image to change in three-dimensional appearance in agreement with a degree of velocity of the movement of the chair associated with the lateral movement of the chair.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the wagering game module is further configured to,

determine a degree of head motion of an occupant of the chair caused by the movement of the chair, and

alter the presentation of the three-dimensional image based on the degree of head motion caused by the movement of the chair.

13. An apparatus comprising:

means for presenting a stereoscopic three-dimensional effect of wagering game content via a display associated with a wagering game machine, wherein the stereoscopic three-dimensional effect is presented based on a position of at least a portion of an observer in relation to the display;

means for detecting machine-generated output by a device associated with one or more of the wagering game machine and the observer, wherein the device is configured to cause a lateral movement of the at least the portion of the observer relative to a perpendicular surface of the display;

means for predicting a change in position of the at least the portion of the observer based on the detecting of the machine-generated output by the device; and

means for modifying the stereoscopic three-dimensional effect in response to the predicting the change in position of the at least the portion of the observer based on the detecting of the machine-generated output by the device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least the portion of the observer are one or more eyes of the observer, wherein the at least the portion of the observer is in contact with the device, and wherein the means for predicting the change in position of the at least the portion of the observer comprises:

means for measuring movement of the device; and

means for generating an estimate of a degree of movement of the eyes of the observer based on the measuring of the lateral movement of the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the device is one or more of a treadmill, a sports equipment prop, a rotating apparatus, an enclosure, a pod, a cockpit, a helmet, and a chair.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the device is configured to emit one or more of a liquid or gas to cause the at least the portion of the observer to move.

17. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices configured to store instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations to

provide, for presentation via a display associated with a wagering game machine, a three-dimensional image of wagering game content;

estimate a degree of alteration to a stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by a change in a lateral position of a chair connected to the wagering game machine, and

after estimating the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image, alter a presentation of the three-dimensional image based on the estimated degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by the change in the lateral position of the chair.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform the operation to estimate the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by the change in the lateral position of the chair connected to the wagering game machine include instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations to:

receive one or more signals from the chair connected to the wagering game machine;

estimate a degree of change of lateral position of an occupant of the chair based on the one or more signals from the chair; and

calculate a degree of modification that would be required to apply to the presentation of the three-dimensional image to maintain a stereoscopic effect presented via the display prior to the change of the lateral position of the occupant of the chair.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform the operation to alter the presentation of the three-dimensional image includes one or more instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform one or more operations to:

modify a stereoscopic effect of the presentation of the three-dimensional image proportional to the degree of change of the lateral position of the occupant of the chair.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform the operation to modify the stereoscopic effect of the presentation of the three-dimensional image includes one or more instructions which, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform one or more operations to:

modify an orientation of an element of the display, at a location of the display associated with the three-dimensional image, proportional to the degree of change of the lateral position of the occupant of the chair.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the element is one or more of a parallax barrier and a lenticular lens.

22. One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors cause the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

providing, for presentation via a display associated with a wagering game machine, a three-dimensional image of wagering game content;

estimating a degree of alteration to a stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by a change in a lateral position of a chair connected to the wagering game machine; and

after estimating the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image, altering a presentation of the three-dimensional image based on the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by the change in the lateral position of the chair.

23. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 22 , wherein the operation of estimating the degree of alteration to the stereoscopic view of the three-dimensional image caused by the change in the lateral position of the chair connected to the wagering game machine includes operations comprising:

detecting an event from the wagering game content, wherein the wagering game content is configured to automatically move the chair in response to the event;

estimating a degree of lateral change in the lateral position of the chair based on the event; and

calculating a degree of modification that would be required to apply to the presentation of the three-dimensional image to maintain a stereoscopic effect presented via the display from a viewing angle associated with the chair prior to the change of the lateral position of the chair.

24. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 23 , wherein the operation of altering the presentation of the three-dimensional image includes an operation comprising:

modifying the stereoscopic effect of the presentation of the three-dimensional image proportional to the degree of change of the lateral position of the chair.

25. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 24 , wherein the operation of modifying the stereoscopic effect of the presentation of the three-dimensional image comprises:

modifying a presentation of two sets of pixels, at a location of the display associated with the three-dimensional image, proportional to the degree of change of the lateral position of the chair, wherein the two sets of pixels are associated with two versions of the three-dimensional image which are offset from each other an amount that produces the stereoscopic effect of the three-dimensional image.

Assignments (8)