Infrared displays for human interfaces viewable by camera
View Patent ↗Gaming-related displays present text and graphics viewable with a special visual aid, e.g., a camera phone. The visual aid provides an interface allowing the player to interact with, and be engaged by, the gaming machine and the gaming environment. The text and graphics shown on the visual aid may provide information that adds to the player's experience. For example, a gaming system includes a gaming terminal for a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a light-emitting area emitting a predetermined pattern of invisible light having wavelengths outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The gaming system also includes a visual aid including a sensor and a visual aid display. The visual aid detects, with the sensor, the pattern of invisible light, converts the pattern of invisible light into a pattern of visible light having wavelengths inside the visible electromagnetic spectrum, and displays the pattern of visible light on the visual aid display.
1. A gaming system primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming system comprising:
at least one gaming cabinet housing an electronic display device emitting visible light in patterns associated with the at least one casino wagering game, the electronic display device including an invisible-light-emitting component that emits a predetermined pattern of invisible light having wavelengths outside of the visible electromagnetic spectrum through a screen of the electronic display device;
wherein the predetermined pattern of invisible light, when detected by a visual aid, converted into a corresponding pattern of visible light by the visual aid, and displayed concurrently with the emitted visible light on a display screen of the visual aid, provides additional information associated with the casino wagering game being played on the gaming system.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the emitted visible light includes images of game symbols from the at least one casino wagering game and the pattern of invisible light provides additional information about at least one of the game symbols when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the invisible light has wavelengths in the infrared spectrum.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the visual aid is a camera phone.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of invisible light modifies images that are included in the emitted visible light when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of invisible light enhances game images that are included in the emitted visible light when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
7. A gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:
a gaming cabinet for housing components associated with the at least one casino wagering game;
an electronic display device coupled to the gaming cabinet, the electronic display device including an invisible-light-emitting component configured to emit a predetermined pattern of invisible light through a screen of the electronic display device;
one or more controllers disposed within the gaming cabinet and configured to:
direct the electronic display device to emit visible light in patterns associated with the at least one casino wagering game;
direct the invisible-light-emitting component to emit the predetermined pattern of invisible light, wherein the predetermined pattern of invisible light, when detected by a visual aid, converted into a corresponding pattern of visible light by the visual aid, and displayed concurrently with the emitted visible light on a display screen of the visual aid, provides additional information associated with the casino wagering game being played on the gaming machine.
8. The gaming machine of claim 7 , further comprising a touch screen input device providing player input options, and wherein the pattern of invisible light reveals additional player input options when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
9. The gaming machine of claim 7 , wherein the casino wagering game includes a bonus picking game and wherein the pattern of invisible light provides hints that aid a player during the bonus picking game when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
10. The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the bonus picking game includes a plurality of selectable objects displayed on the electronic display device, and wherein the pattern of invisible light highlights one of the plurality of selectable objects when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
11. The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the pattern of invisible light reveals awards associated with unpicked objects when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
12. The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the pattern of invisible light reveals additional paylines in a reel-spinning game when converted and displayed through the display screen of the visual aid.
13. A method of operating a gaming system primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino game, the gaming system including a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device coupled to the gaming cabinet, the electronic display device including an invisible-light-emitting component, and one or more controllers, the method comprising:
directing, by at least one of the one or more controllers, the electronic display device to emit visible light in patterns associated with the at least one casino wagering game;
directing, by at least one of the one or more controllers, the invisible-light-emitting component to emit a predetermined pattern of invisible light through a screen of the electronic display device, wherein the predetermined pattern of invisible light, when detected by a visual aid, converted into a corresponding pattern of visible light by the visual aid, and displayed concurrently with the emitted visible light on a display screen of the visual aid, provides additional information associated with the casino wagering game being played on the gaming machine.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the emitted visible light includes game images of the casino wagering game and wherein the pattern of invisible light enhances the game images when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pattern of invisible light displays a dynamic video when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the casino wagering game includes a bonus picking game including a plurality of selectable objects displayed on the electronic display device, and wherein the pattern of invisible light provides hints that aid a player during the bonus picking game when converted and displayed on the display screen of the visual aid.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pattern of invisible light reveals additional paylines in a reel-spinning game when viewed through the display screen of the visual aid.