Gaming systems and methods for display flicker reduction

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

an auxiliary lighting assembly coupled to the cabinet, the auxiliary lighting assembly comprising at least one light-emitting device;

a display device coupled to the cabinet, wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is coupled to the cabinet adjacent to the display device; and

a display controller in communication with the display device and the auxiliary lighting assembly, the display controller configured to:

transmit a display pulse signal and display data to the display device to cause the display device to present display content associated with one or more casino wagering games by selectively emitting light based on the display pulse signal, the display pulse signal defining an active period of light emission and an inactive period without light emission;

generate an auxiliary lighting pulse signal based at least partially on one or more signal characteristics of the display pulse signal;

synchronize the auxiliary lighting pulse signal with the display pulse signal, the synchronized lighting pulse signal being phase offset from the display pulse signal between 90° and 270°; and

transmit the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal to the auxiliary lighting assembly to cause the auxiliary lighting assembly to selectively emit light based on the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal, wherein the phase offset between the display pulse signal and the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal causes the auxiliary lighting assembly to emit light during at least a portion of the inactive period of the display device.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the phase offset approximately 180°.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the phase offset of the synchronized lighting pulse signal causes the auxiliary lighting assembly to be inactive during the active period of the display device.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is coupled to the cabinet proximate to a periphery of the display device.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is configured to emit emotive lighting associated with the one or more casino wagering games based at least partially on a lighting control signal generated by logic circuitry of the gaming machine.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly comprises a first lighting subassembly and a second lighting subassembly and the auxiliary lighting pulse signal comprises a first lighting pulse signal and a second lighting pulse signal, and wherein the first lighting subassembly is configured to selectively emit light based on the first lighting pulse signal and the second lighting subassembly is configured to selectively emit light based on the second lighting pulse signal.

7. The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the first lighting pulse signal is synchronized to the display pulse signal at a first phase offset and the second lighting pulse signal is synchronized to the display pulse signal at a second phase offset different from the first phase offset.

8. A method for reducing flicker caused by display devices using a gaming system, the gaming system including a cabinet, an auxiliary lighting assembly coupled to the cabinet and including at least one light-emitting device, a display device coupled to the cabinet, and a display controller in communication with the display device and the auxiliary lighting assembly, wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is coupled to the cabinet adjacent to the display device, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the display controller, a display pulse signal and display data to the display device to cause the display device to present display content associated with one or more casino wagering games by selectively emitting light based on the display pulse signal, the display pulse signal defining an active period of light emission and an inactive period without light emission;

generating, by the display controller, an auxiliary lighting pulse signal based at least partially on one or more signal characteristics of the display pulse signal;

synchronizing, by the display controller, the auxiliary lighting pulse signal with the display pulse signal, the synchronized lighting pulse signal being phase offset from the display pulse signal between 90° and 270°; and

transmitting, by the display controller, the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal to the auxiliary lighting assembly to cause the auxiliary lighting assembly to selectively emit light based on the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal, wherein the phase offset between the display pulse signal and the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal causes the auxiliary lighting assembly to emit light during at least a portion of the inactive period of the display device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the phase offset is approximately 180°.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the phase offset of the synchronized lighting pulse signal causes the auxiliary lighting assembly to be inactive during the active period of the display device.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is coupled to the cabinet proximate to a periphery of the display device.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is coupled to the cabinet proximate to each peripheral edge of the display device.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is configured to emit emotive lighting associated with the one or more casino wagering games based at least partially on a lighting control signal generated by logic circuitry of the gaming machine.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly comprises a first lighting subassembly and a second lighting subassembly and the auxiliary lighting pulse signal comprises a first lighting pulse signal and a second lighting pulse signal, and wherein the first lighting subassembly is configured to selectively emit light based on the first lighting pulse signal and the second lighting subassembly is configured to selectively emit light based on the second lighting pulse signal.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first lighting pulse signal is synchronized to the display pulse signal at a first phase offset and the second lighting pulse signal is synchronized to the display pulse signal at a second phase offset different from the first phase offset.

16. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a cabinet, a display device, and an auxiliary lighting assembly comprising at least one light-emitting device, wherein the display device is coupled to the cabinet and the auxiliary lighting assembly is coupled to the cabinet adjacent to the display device; and

a display controller in communication with the display device and the auxiliary lighting assembly, the display controller configured to:

transmit a display pulse signal and display data to the display device to cause the display device to present display content associated with one or more casino wagering games by selectively emitting light based on the display pulse signal, the display pulse signal defining an active period of light emission and an inactive period without light emission;

generate an auxiliary lighting pulse signal based at least partially on one or more signal characteristics of the display pulse signal;

synchronize the auxiliary lighting pulse signal with the display pulse signal, the synchronized lighting pulse signal being phase offset from the display pulse signal between 90° and 270°; and

transmit the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal to the auxiliary lighting assembly to cause the auxiliary lighting assembly to selectively emit light based on the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal, wherein the phase offset between the display pulse signal and the synchronized auxiliary lighting pulse signal causes the auxiliary lighting assembly to emit light during at least a portion of the inactive period of the display device.

17. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the phase offset is approximately 180°.

18. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly is coupled to the cabinet proximate to a periphery of the display device.

19. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the gaming machine includes the display controller.

20. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary lighting assembly comprises a first lighting subassembly and a second lighting subassembly and the auxiliary lighting pulse signal comprises a first lighting pulse signal and a second lighting pulse signal, and wherein the first lighting subassembly is configured to selectively emit light based on the first lighting pulse signal and the second lighting subassembly is configured to selectively emit light based on the second lighting pulse signal.