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Gaming machineRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Chance DevicesGaming machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070158904, Gaming machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a Divisional Application of the patent application Ser. No.: 10/697,080, filed Oct. 31, 2003, which is based on Priority Document JP-2002-336276 filed on Nov. 20, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF TECHOLOGY [0002] This invention relates to a gaming machine comprising a transparent electric display panel disposed in front of variable display means for variably displaying designs. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0003] Conventionally, this type of gaming machine includes, for example, a slot machine. The slot machine comprises three reels embedded behind its front panel. Each reel comprises a reel band affixed on the outer periphery of its reel drum, and various designs are drawn on the outer periphery of the reel band. These designs may be viewed by a player through three windows formed in the front panel. [0004] A slot machine game is started when the player's operation of a start lever causes each reel to rotate and a moving sequence of designs is variably displayed in each window. Subsequently, the player's operation of a stop button causes each reel to stop rotating, and designs corresponding to the operation timing of the stop button are stop-displayed in each window. At this time, if any predetermined combination of designs is stop-displayed in the windows, a winning occurs. [0005] During the game, the slot machine game provides effects such as blinking lamps embedded in each reel or displaying character designs on a liquid crystal display device provided below the windows of the front panel. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In conventional gaming machines described above, the novelty of game effects is maintained by changing the blinking pattern of the lamps embedded in the reels, changing effect contents given by character designs displayed on the liquid crystal display device, or otherwise. However, in the conventional gaming machines described above, the machine components of the gaming machine for effecting game effects have been well-established. Accordingly, there are some difficulties in maintaining the novelty of game effects. [0007] To solve these problems, this invention provides a gaming machine comprising: variable display means for variably displaying designs; a transparent liquid crystal display panel disposed in front of the variable display means through which the variable display means is able to be seen; a liquid crystal holder for holding the periphery of the display unit of the liquid crystal display panel; a light guiding plate for guiding light emitted from a light source to the rear side of the liquid crystal display panel; diffusion means for diffusing the light guided by the light guiding plate to equalize the light which illuminates the liquid crystal display panel; a black base frame attached in front of the machine for supporting the liquid crystal holder, light guiding plate and diffusion means such that the front of the display unit of the liquid crystal display panel has an opening; a transparent plate disposed in front of the base frame for closing the opening; and a rear holder for holding the liquid crystal holder, light guiding plate and diffusion means supported by the base frame on the base frame from behind, and for reflecting the light emitted on the light guiding plate to the side of the liquid crystal display panel, the rear holder having one or more windows allowing the designs variably displayed in the variable display means to be observed. [0008] According to this configuration, the liquid crystal display panel disposed in front of the variable display means for variably displaying designs serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Further, since the base frame located in front of the liquid crystal display panel is black-colored, any light incident on the base frame is not easy to be reflected on the liquid crystal display panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; [0010] FIG. 2 shows how the pay lines depicted on the display windows of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment are sequentially activated; [0011] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the reel display window unit of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; [0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the reel display window unit shown in FIG. 3; [0013] FIG. 5 shows symbols drawn on the outer periphery of the reels of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; [0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a rotatable reel unit of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; [0015] FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are perspective views showing a structure of a rotatable reel constituting the rotatable reel unit shown in FIG. 6; [0016] FIG. 8 shows a symbol combination drawn on a payout display unit of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; [0017] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration arranged on a main control board of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; and [0018] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration arranged on a sub-control board of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Gaming machine... Full patent description for Gaming machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gaming machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Gaming machine or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Signature velocity reduction device and method Next Patent Application: Fundraising system and method thereof Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Gaming machine patent info. 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