AU2006203570C1 - Gaming Device Having a Three Dimensional Display Device - Google Patents

Description

SPECIFICATION TITLE OF INVENTION "GA MING DEVICE HAVING A THREE DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY DEVICE" 5 COPYRIGHT NOTICE A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may cont in material which is subject to copyright protection, The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent doc ment or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent 10 and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more part ularly to a gaming device having a three dimensional display device. 15 Contemporary gaming devices such as slot machines, video poker machines, video blackjack machines and video keno machines, include display devices whict generate two-dimensional images such as visual representations of symbols, characters and other game-related images which appear in primary gaim a, secondary games, help screens, attract modes and other displays of the 20 gam ng devices. Certain known gaming devices generate three dimensional images using tradi ional perceived-type or virtual three dimensional display devices. The virtual three dimensional images involve shading and highlighting techniques as well as perspective techniques for selectively positioning different parts of 25 images to create the perception of depth. These virtual three dimensional image creating techniques cause the human eye to perceive a depth in the image when in fact there is no real depth because the images are physically displ ayed in a single plane on a single display screen. Certain known gaming devices have attempted to generate more realistic 30 apple aring virtual three dimensional representations by using beam splitters and para Iel mirrors. Some of the disadvantages of such techniques are the relat vely large space in the gaming device required to house beam splitters and mirr rs, and the relatively small field of view available to a player. Accordingly, 1 there is a need for a gaming device which generates three dimensional images which are formed in three actual dimensions and which provides three dimensional images in a suitably sized gaming device. In addition, though most gaming devices include one display device, some include two 5 display devices such as an upper display and a lower display or side by side displays to provide two different displays to a player. The gaming devices use these multiple display devices to provide different information to the player or different games to the player. Use of the upper and lower or side by side display devices may for certain players be inconvenient or distracting because the multiple screens require a player to change his or her line of sight from one display 10 device to another. Accordingly, there is a need for a gaming device which includes one display device which enables a player to simultaneously view different images on different screens by looking at and through only one display screen. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 15 According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; a housing 20 an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display; (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and 25 (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, the at least one processor programmed to: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, 30 (b) simultaneously cause the interior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, wherein the at least one primary game functional image displayed by the exterior video display works together with the at least one primary game functional image displayed by the interior video display, and (c) display a sequence of primary game functional images at different locations along 35 an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of primary game functional images is displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of primary game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display. 2 SPEC-860625.doc According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; 5 at least one secondary game operable after an occurrence of a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images; a housing; an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and 10 an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display; (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, 15 the at least one processor programmed to after an occurrence of the triggering event: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, (b) simultaneously cause the interior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, wherein the at least one primary game functional image ?0 displayed by the exterior video display works together with the at least one secondary game functional image displayed by the interior video display, and (c) display a sequence of secondary game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of secondary game functional images is 25 displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of secondary game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: 30 at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; at least one secondary game operable after a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images; a housing; 35 an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and 2a SPEC-880625.doc an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display: (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend 5 through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, the at least one processor programmed to: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, (b) after an occurrence of the triggering event, cause the interior video display to 10 display at least one of the secondary game functional images, and (c) display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is 15 displayed on the exterior video display. According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game 20 including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; at least one secondary game operable after an occurrence of a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images; a housing; an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and 25 controlled by the at least one processor; and an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display; (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend 30 through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, the at least one processor programmed to: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, (b) after an occurrence of the triggering event, cause the interior video display to 35 display at least one of the secondary game functional images, and (c) display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the 2b SPEC-860825 doc interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display. According to still yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device 5 operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; a housing; an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and 10 controlled by the at least one processor; and an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display: (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend 15 through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, the at least one processor programmed to cause: (a) one of the exterior video display and interior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, (b) the other of the exterior video display and interior video display to simultaneously ?0 display information regarding the primary game or primary game functional images, and (c) display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is 25 displayed on the exterior video display. According to even still yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: a game controlled by the at least one processor and operable upon a wager; 30 a first display device controlled by the at least one processor, said first display device operable to display at least a portion of the game; wherein said processor is configured to control a play of the game by: (i) determining if an event occurs in the play of the game, and (ii) if the event occurs in the play of the game: 35 (a) causing the first display device to change at least a portion of the first display device from a non-transparent state to a transparent state, wherein said changed portion of the first display device is operable to generate a display of at least a portion of the game while in the non-transparent state, and wherein the transparent state of said portion of the first display allows a 2c SPEC-80625.doC second display device to be viewed through a plurality of lines of sight extending through the first display device, (b) causing said second display device to generate a display of at least a portion of the game, and 5 display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the first display device and the second display device wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the first display device and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the second display device. 10 According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: a wagering game; a processor which controls the wagering game; I5 a housing; and a display device controlled by the processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and ?0 aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, and wherein the processor is programmed to cause: (i) the exterior display screen to display an image of at least one payline, and (ii) the interior display screen to display a three dimensional image of at least one reel 25 of the wagering game in alignment with the image of the at least one payline, said reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen simultaneously respectively display the images of the at least one payline and the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the at least one payline and the at least one reel through said lines of sight having an actual height, an actual width and a depth. 30 According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: a primary wagering game; at least one processor which controls the primary wagering game; 35 a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and 2d SPEC-86825.doc (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of liens of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, 5 and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause; (i) one of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display information regarding the primary wagering game, and (ii) the other of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a 10 three dimensional image of at least one reel of the primary wagering game, said reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen simultaneously display the information regarding the primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the information regarding the primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel through said lines of sight and 15 having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D. According to a yet still further aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: 20 at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls the wagering game; a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: 25 (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing. 30 wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) one of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and (ii) the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of 35 symbols aligned with the first image of the plurality of symbols on the reel, such that each display screen simultaneously respectively display the first and second images to create a three dimensional representation of the plurality of symbols through said at least one line of sight and 2e SPEC-860625.doc having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are 5 displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. According to an even yet still further aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: 10 at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls said wagering game; a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: 15 (a) an exterior display screen having a predetermined area adapted to be see-through in response to a signal from the processor, and (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, ?O wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) the interior display screen to display a first image of a first portion of a reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon and a third image of a third portion of said reel having a third plurality of symbols thereon, the first image being disconnected from the third image on the interior display screen, and 25 (ii) the exterior display screen to display a second image of a second different portion of said reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon in alignment with said first portion and said third portion, such that the interior display screen and the exterior display screen simultaneously respectively display the first, third and second images to create a three dimensional image of at least a section of the reel including the first portion, the second portion 30 and the third portion, said section having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of the first portion of the reel, the second image of the second portion of the reel and the third image of the third portion of the reel form part of a sequence of 35 game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: 2f SPEC-660825.doc at least one wagering game at least one processor which controls said wagering game; a housing; a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said 5 display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen and (b) first and second interior display screens aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and said first and second interior display screens, said first and second interior display 10 screens each having a display surface mounted in spaced-apart relation to a display surface of the exterior screen, said first interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D1 behind the exterior display screen in the housing, and said second interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D2 behind the exterior display screen in the housing. wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: 15 (i) said first interior display screen to display a first image of a first reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon, (ii) said second interior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, and (iii) the exterior display screen to display a third image of a third reel having a third 20 plurality of symbols thereon, such that the first interior display screen, the second interior display screen, and the exterior display screen simultaneously display the first, second and third images to create a three dimensional image of the first, second and third reels having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein two of the first, second and third images do not overlap, and wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on at 25 least one of the predetermined distances D1 and D2. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: at least one wagering game; 30 at least one processor which controls the wagering game; a housing; a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) a transparent first display surface, and 35 (b) a second display surface spaced apart a predetermined distance D behind and aligned with the first display surface in the housing; and Said at least one processor programmed to cause the first display surface and the second display surface to display an image including at least three different portions of a reel having a 2g SPEC-80825 doc plurality of symbols thereon, each portion of said image simultaneously displayed on one of said first and second display surfaces through said line of sight to create a three dimensional image of at least a section of the reel including said portions, said section having a height and a width, and a depth which is based on the distance D, two of the three different portions being displayed 5 disconnected from each other on one of said first and second display surfaces and the remaining portion being displayed on the other of said first and second display surfaces, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the at least three different portions of the reel having a plurality of symbols 10 thereon form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the first display surface and the second display surface. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: 15 at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls the wagering game; a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an exterior display screen having a predetermined see-through area, (b) an interior display screen having a predetermined see-through area spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, an (c) a back light aligned with the exterior and interior display screens, 25 wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) one of said interior display screen and said exterior display screen to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and (ii) the other of interior display screen and said exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of 30 symbols aligned with the first image of said plurality of symbols on the reel, wherein said exterior display screen, said interior display screen and said back light produce a representation of the plurality of symbols in three actual dimensions, wherein the representation has at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D. 35 According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming device comprising: at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls the wagering game; 2h SPEC-8O625 doc a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and 5 (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: 10 (i) one of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a first image of a first reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon, and (ii) the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, such that the interior and exterior display screens simultaneously display the first and second images to create a three 15 dimensional representation of the first and second reels having an actual height, an actual width and an depth, wherein the first and second images do not overlap, and wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second ?0 image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. According to still yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of 25 operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing one of an interior display screen and an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, said interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display 30 screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing; and causing the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of 35 symbols aligned with the first image of the plurality of symbols on the reel, such that each display screen simultaneously respectively displays the first and second images to create a three dimensional representation of the plurality of symbols through said at least one line of sight and 2i SPEC-860625.doc having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are 5 displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. According to even still yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method 10 comprising: causing an interior display screen to display a first image of a first portion of a reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon and a third image of a third portion of said reel having a third plurality of symbols thereon, the first image being disconnected from the third image on the interior display screen, the interior display screen being spaced apart from an exterior display screen, 15 aligned with the exterior display screen, and mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing, the exterior display screen having a predetermined area adapted to be see-through in response to a signal; and causing the exterior display screen to display a second image of a second different portion of said reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon in alignment with said first portion and 20 said third portion, such that the interior display screen and the exterior display screen simultaneously respectively display the first, third and second images to create a three dimensional image of at least a section of the reel including the first portion, the second portion and the third portion, said section having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the 25 predetermined distance D, the first image of the first portion of the reel, the second image of the second portion of the reel and the third image of the third portion of the reel form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. 30 According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing a first interior display screen to display a first image of a first reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon; 35 causing a second interior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, the first and second interior display screens being aligned with an at least partially see-through exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the first and second 2j SPEC-860625doc interior display screens, the first and second interior display screens each having a display surface mounted in spaced-apart relation to a display surface of the exterior screen, the first interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D1 behind the exterior display screen in a housing, and the second interior display screen being mounted a predetermined 5 distance D2 behind the exterior display screen in the housing; and causing the exterior display screen to display a third image of a third reel having a third plurality of symbols thereon, such that the first interior display screen, the second interior display screen, and the exterior display screen simultaneously display the first, second and third images to create a three dimensional image of the first, second and third reels having an actual height, an 10 actual width and a depth, wherein two of the first, second and third images do not overlap, and wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on at least one of the predetermined distances D1 and D2. According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating 15 a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing a transparent first display surface and a second display surface, the second display surface being spaced apart a predetermined distance D behind and aligned with the first display surface in a housing, to display an image including at least three different portions of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, each portion of said image simultaneously displayed on one ?0 of said first and second display surfaces through said line of sight to create a three dimensional image of at least a section of the reel including said portions, said section having a height and a width, and a depth which is based on the distance D, two of the three different portions being displayed disconnected from each other on one of said first and second display surfaces and the remaining portion being displayed on the other of said first and second display surfaces, wherein 25 the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the at least three different portions of the reel having a plurality of symbols thereon form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the first display surface and the second display surface. 30 According to a yet still further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing one of an interior display screen having a predetermined see-through area 35 spaced apart from an exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen, said interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing, and an exterior display screen having a predetermined see-through area to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon; and 2k SPEC-860625.doc causing the other of interior display screen and said exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of symbols aligned with the first image of said plurality of symbols on the reel, wherein said exterior display screen, said interior display screen and a back light aligned with the exterior and interior 5 display screens produce a representation of the plurality of symbols in three actual dimensions, wherein the representation has at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are 10 displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. According to an even yet still further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method 15 comprising: causing one of an interior display screen and an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display a first image of a first reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon, the interior display screen being spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through the see-through part of ?0 the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, the interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing; and causing the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, such that the interior and exterior display screens simultaneously display the first and second images to create a three 25 dimensional representation of the first and second reels having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the first and second images do not overlap, and wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D. 30 According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display an image of at least one payline; and causing an interior display screen, spaced apart from the exterior display screen and 35 aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through the see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, the interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing, to display a three dimensional image of at least one reel of the wagering game in 21 SPEC-8062S.doc alignment with the image of the at least one payline, said reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen simultaneously respectively display the images of the at least one payline and the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the at least one payline and the at least one reel through said 5 lines of sight and having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a 10 gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing one of the interior display screen and an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display information regarding a primary wagering game, the interior display screen being spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior 15 display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing; and causing the other of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a three dimensional image of at least one reel of the primary wagering game, said reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen ?0 simultaneously display the information regarding the primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the information regarding the primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel through said lines of sight and having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D. 25 The present invention overcomes the above shortcomings by providing a gaming device which has a display device which includes a plurality of aligned display surfaces, members or screens which produce three dimensional images. One embodiment of the display device of the present invention includes a plurality of such as two co-acting aligned display screens which form a single display device. In one embodiment, one or more of the display surfaces, members or 30 screens have at least one viewing surface which is or has the capacity to be see-through and preferably transparent. The display surfaces, members or screens are primarily referred to herein as display screens. In one embodiment, the display screens are separated by a predetermined distance to facilitate the creation of images having various depths. Different parts of the three dimensional image are displayed simultaneously on the different display screens. The three 35 dimensional image has actual x, y and z coordinates or dimensions. The z-dimension is the depth or distance which separates the display screens. This display device also is adapted to simultaneously display different images on different screens to provide information to the player in the player's line of site. 2m SPEC-860825 doc More specifically, each display screen provides a viewing surface or face, or a y suitable medium for displaying one or more images (partial or whole) to a play ar. Each display screen is adapted to display portions of the image, images or d fferent images to create the three-dimensional images. Such images thus 5 have actual or physical dimensions (i.e., the images have a width, height and an actuaI depth because of the distance between the different images or parts of the image(s) on different display screens). The width and height are measured alon the x-axis and y-axis on the viewing surfaces or faces of the display scre qns. The depth is measured along the z-axis which extends through 10 mult pie display screens alcmg a line which is generally perpendicular to the faciaI planes of the display screens. In one embodiment, the gaming device of the present invention includes a cabinet or other suitable housing which houses the display device, a touch scre n sensor, and a processor connected to a memory device and adapted to 15 cont ol the operation of the gaming device, including player controls, input devices and the display device. The cabinet can include any suitable frame which supports the display device and the other conventional mechanical and ele rical components of the gaming device. As indicated above, the display device of one embodiment of the present 20 invention, which is adapted to receive signals from the processor and to gene rate and display images to a player, includes a plurality of display screens which each generate certain images or portions of images. in one embodiment, the Isplay device includes two display screens, including a first, frontmost or exte ior display screen and a second, underlying or interior display screen. The 25 two display screens are mounted, oriented and aligned within the cabinet in such a manner that at least one and preferably a plurality of lines of sight intersect both of the viewing surfaces or faces of the display screens. In one embodiment, a predetermined distance "D" separates the display surf ces of the two display screens. It should be appreciated that the display 30 screens can be positioned, mounted or stacked with a distance separating the display surfaces and no distance or space separating the display screens.. The display screens are preferably positioned in different planes which are parallel to one another. However, it should be appreciated that the display 3 scre ns can be positioned in planes which are not parallel to one another, provided that at least one (and preferably a plurality) of lines of sight intersect the display surfaces of the plurality of the display screens. Also, the display screens are preferably substantially flat, although it should be appreciated that 5 the display screens can have any suitable shape, such as concave and convex sha es and non-uniform shapes. The two display screens co-act to display one or more three-dimensional image es to the player each comprising a plurality of images and in particular at leas one image on each screen. The display screens may also co-act to 10 disp ay a three dimensional image by separately displaying different parts of the who e image or the display screens. In this embodiment, the frontmost display sore an displays one part, portion or section of the three-dimensional image and the underlying display screen displays another part, portion or section of the three-dimensional image. As a result, the gaming device displays a three 15 dime nsional representation of the whole image to the player. This representation is formed in three physical or actual dimensions: an x-dimension and y-dimension on the exterior display screen and an x-dimension and y-di ension on the interior display screen. The representation of the depth or z dime nsion of the image is at least partially dependent upon or based upon the 20 distance D which separates the two display screens and the x-dimension and y-dirensions on each of the display screens, In a further embodiment, both of the :isplay screens can display virtual three dimensional images, thereby prov ding a multi-dimensional image. It should be appreciated that other vari tions and combinations of variations of displaying images, parts of images, 25 and multiple images are contemplated by the present invention. The depth which a player sees in the three dimensional image or representation is the actual depth D. The gaming device of the present invention can also cause a player to perceive a depth which is based upon or derived from the actual depth D. For example, the gaming device processor 30 can multiply the depth D by a factor to generate a perceived depth which is grea er than or less than the actual depth D. In one such embodiment, the x dimension and y-dimensions on one or all of the display screens can be mod fled to change the apparent depth of the image as seen by the player. 4 In another embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention, the display device includes a first, frontmost or exterior display screen, a second, cent al or intermediate display screen and a third, backmost or interior display scre n. In this embodiment, each display screen can display one or more 5 diffe ent images. The frontmost display screen and the intermediate display scre n preferably have or provide transparent translucent portions. When a player views the display through the frontmost display screen, the player sees a displayed image which includes representations in three actual dimensions. The depth of the image depends in part upon which display screen is used to 10 disp ay the parts of the particular image and spacing of the screens. As indicated above, it should be appreciated that the images generated on each display screen can also be virtual three dimensional images, as well as twodimensional images. The gaming device can display such virtual three dime nsional images on one or more of the display screens. The gaming device 15 of the present invention can use these images to generate any suitable combination of virtual and actual three dimensional images. The gaming device of the present invention can also use both of these types of three dimensional representations to generate a single three-dimensional image. In addition to the three dimensional function of the gaming device, the 20 gam ng device of the present invention can also use the display device to display different images on the different display screens which a player can simultaneously view by looking at and thus through at least the exterior display screen. In one example, the exterior display screen displays a video reel image on one portion of the frontmost display screen while the other portions of the 25 exte ior display screen are transparent. The interior display screen displays a payt ble image and a background image. When the frontmost display screen and he underlying display screen both display their images simultaneously, the player can simultaneously view the overall graphical representation or display of the r el image, paytable image and background image. 30 In another example, the gaming device generates a game image on the exterior display screen and a flashing translucent image on the interior display score n. The game image could, for instance, be reels or one or more wheels, and he underlying flashing image could be a payline or a symbol or message 5 whi provides a player with helpful information such as a hint for playing the gam. In operation. the player could play the game while periodically viewing the bashing image without having to change his or her line of sight or having to inde endently request such information. In a similar embodiment, a background 5 suc as a dealer could be displayed on the interior display screen and cards could be displayed on the exterior display screen. This provides the player with a th e dimensional view of the card game. In one embodiment of the gaming device, the display device includes a press ure sensitive touch screen. This touch screen detects or senses pressure 10 and Iso varying degrees of pressure applied by a player to the touch screen. This pressure is generally applied by the player substantially along the z-axis. Using one or more programs stored within the memory device, the processor of the gaming device enables a player to activate game elements or functions in a conventional manner by providing pressure to that touch screen. 15 In one embodiment, the display screens are relatively flat and thin. For instance, in one embodiment, the display screen may each be an LCD panel with light source (for backlighting) disposed behind the interior LCD panel. In anot er embodiment, the display device includes two display screens which are relat vely flat and thin and backmost interior image or light source. For example, 20 in s ch embodiment, the backmost image or light source may be a cathod ray tube (CRT) or other light source such as a plasma screen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the exterior display screen is aiwa s or has the capacity to be completely or partially see-through such as being translucent or transparent at predetermined times. The interior underlying 25 display screen can have this same capacity, or it can be permanently non trane parent or opaque. When the frontmost display screen is transparent or translucent, a player can see the images displayed on the frontmost display scre n as well as the images located behind the frontmost display screen and particularly the images displayed by the underlying display screen. In one 30 emb diment, if the underlying display screen is also transparent or translucent, the nderlying display screen preferably includes a background image or layer which prevents a player from seeing through the underlying display screen into the interior of the cabinet of the gaming device. 6 In another embodiment of the present invention, a biometric sensor such as a camera or other suitable device is employed to detect the position of head play r. When the player's head moves (i.e., moves left, right, up or down) the ima es on the interior and exterior display screen shift to provide a visual 5 impr passion to the player that the player can look around the object or images on the display device and provides an overall better sense of reality. It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming devi e having a three-dimensional display device. Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a gaming device 10 having a display device which includes multiple display screens, wherein the exte ior display screen is completely or partially transparent or translucent. Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a gaming device whic displays images in three actual dimensions. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent 15 from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accmpanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, ele ents, components, steps and processes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. IA is a perspective view of one embodiment of the gaming device of 20 the resent invention, illustrating a touch screen, an exterior display screen, an inter or display screen and a light source. Figs. 1B and 1C are front views of interior and exterior display screens of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention, wherein the inter or display screen of Fig. 1B displays a reel with symbols and the exterior 25 dispi ay screen displays the symbols of the reel. Fig. 1D is a front view of the two display screens of Figs. 1B and 1C which display the reel with the symbols in three dimensions. Figs. 1E and 1F are front views of the interior and exterior display screens of one embodiment of the gaming device, wherein the back part of one 30 ima e of a reel is illustrated in Fig. 1E and the front part of the image is illust ated in Fig. IF Fig. 1G is a front view of the three-dimensional image of the reel displ ayed on the two display screens of Figs. 1 E and 1 F. 7 Fig. 2A is an exploded front view of separate three dimensional reel ima es displayed by an exterior display screen (left side), an intermediate disp ay screen (middle) and an interior display screen (right side) of one emb diment of the present invention. 5 Fig. 28 is a front view of the three dimensional reel images and display scre ns of Fig. 2A which a player sees when looking at and through the exterior disp ay screen of Fig. 2A. Fig. 3A is an exploded front view of a reel image on the interior display scre n (left side) and a paytable image and payline image on the exterior 10 display screen (right side). Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the reel, payable and payline images on the isplay screens of Fig. 3A which a player sees when looking at and through the exterior display screen of Fig. 3A. Fig. 4A is an exploded front view of a primary set of reels on the exterior 15 disp y screen (left side) and a secondary set of reels on the interior display screen (right side) of one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the sets of reels of Fig. 4A which a player sees when looking at and through the exterior display screen of Fig. 4A. Fig. 5A is a front view of example advertisement and payline on the 20 exte ior display screen (left side) and a set of reels on the interior display screen (righ side) of one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5B is a perspective view of the reel, advertisement and payline of Fig. 5A which a player sees when looking at and through the exterior display scre n of Fig. 5A. 25 Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B are front plan views of the interior and exterior display screens of one embodiment of the gaming device, wherein the interior dispel y screen displays of an image of a dealer and the exterior display screen displays an image of two cards. Fig. 6C is a front plan view of the dealer image and the card image 30 displayed on the two display screens of Figs. 6A and 68. Fig. 6D is a front plan view of a reel displayed on the display screens of the display device of one embodiment of the present invention and a player view ng the reel. 8 Fig. 6E is an exploded front plan views of the images displayed by an exte ior display screen (left side) an intermediate display screen (middle) and an inter or display screen (right side) of one embodiment showing the reel of Fig. 6D displayed to the player if the player moves to the player's left. 5 Fig. 6F is an exploded front plan views of the images displayed by an exte ior display screen (left side) an intermediate display screen (middle) and an inte or display screen (right side) of one embodiment showing the reel of 6D displayed to the player if the player moves to the player's right. Fig. 7A is an exploded perspective view of an exterior flat display screen, 10 an i terror flat display screen and a light source of one embodiment of the pres nt invention. Fig. 7B is a perspective view of an exterior flat display screen, an interior flat c isplay screen, and a cathod ray tube light source of another embodiment of the present invention. 15 Fig. 8A is a perspective view of the gaming device of one embodiment of the resent invention, illustrating a display device which enables a player, by looking at and through the exterior display screen, to view a display which includes different images and information generated by the exterior display screen and the interior display screen. 20 Fig. 8B is a schematic block diagram of the electronic configuration of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figs. 1A and 8B, the gaming device 10 of one emb diment of the present invention includes a cabinet or housing 12 which 25 hou es a display device 14, touch screen 16 and a processor 132 connected to a memory device 134 and in communication with the display device and the touch screen. The processor controls the operation of gaming device 10 and, in parti lar, the game(s) provided by the gaming device, player inputs using the touc screen, other input devices and the display device 14. It should be 30 appr ciated that the gaming device of the present invention can provide the display device without the touch screen 16. In one embodiment, the display device 14, which, under the control of the proof sor, generates and displays three-dimensional images to a player, 9 inci des a plurality of display screens which each are adapted to generate imag es or parts of images. In one embodiment, the display device 14 includes at least one light source such as a back light which functions with the display sore ns to make the images viewable to the player. In the example illustrated in 5 Fig. 1A, the display device 14 includes two display screens including a first, exte ior or frontmost display screen 18a and a second, interior, backmost or und fying display screen 18b. The two display screens 18a and 18b are moulted and oriented within the cabinet 12 in such a manner that at least one straight line of sight 20 intersects both of the faces or display surfaces of the 10 display screens 18a and 18b. Preferably, the screens are completely aligned as illust ated in Fig. 1A and provide a plurality of straight lines of sight which inter sect both faces of the display screen. A back lighting source 19 is posit ioned behind and aligned with the screens 18a and 1 b The two display screens 18a and 18b are separated by a predetermined 15 dist nce D which is the distance from the display surface of display screen 18a to d play surface of display screen 18b. This distance can be any suitable predetermined distance desired by the gaming device manufacturer. It should be appreciated that in one embodiment, the display screens can be positioned adja .ent to each other such that only the thickness of the display screens 20 sepe rates the display surfaces which provide three-dimensional image. In such case, the distance D depends on the thickness of the exterior display screen. As discussed in more detail below, the exterior display screen 18a is translucent or transparent, or altematively has the capacity to be translucent or tran parent under the control of the processor. As discussed in more detail 25 belo-, the interior display screen 18b can be any suitable device adapted to displ y the images. In one embodiment, the interior display screen is translucent or transparent, or has the capacity to be translucent or transparent. When the exterior display screen 18a is transparent or translucent, a player can see the images displayed on the exterior display screen 18a as well as the 30 images displayed on the interior display screen (ihe., by looking through the tran parent exterior display screen). Accordingly, the present invention can displ y co-acting or overlapping images to a player to enable a player to play a wagering game or provide other game functions or game related functions. In 10 certain embodiments, the present invention also provides three dimensional ima es which comprise corresponding images on each display screen. The corresponding images on each display screen provide an image viewable to a play r which has three actual dimensions based on the distance D between the 5 disp ay surfaces of the display screens. In the embodiment where the interior display screen 18b is transparent or translucent, the interior display screen preferably includes a light source such as a back light source 19. The display screens 18a and 18b are preferably positioned in different but arallel planes. However, it should be appreciated that the display screens 10 18a and 18b can be positioned in planes which are not parallel to one another. Also, the display screens 18a and 18b are preferably substantially flat, although it should be appreciated that the display screens 18a and 18b can have any suit ble shape, such as concave and convex shapes and non-uniform shapes. As illustrated in Figs. IB, IC and 1D, the two display screens 18a and 15 18b co-act to display a three dimensional image on the display device 14 such as a reel 24 of a slot machine. In the example illustrated in Figs.1B, 1C and 1D, he interior display screen 18b displays the image of the reel 24 including the symbols and the exterior display screen 1 Ba displays the symbols 24b. As a resu t, the gaming device 10 displays a three-dimensional image of the reel 24 20 to the player as illustrated in Fig. 1 D. This representation or image is formed in three actual dimensions. The depth or z-dimension of image of the symbols is equ I to or otherwise based on or derived from the distance D which separates display surfaces of the display screens 18a and 18b. This type of three dime nsional representation is relatively highly engaging and interesting to 25 play rs because the image of the reel and specifically symbols on the reel is actually formed or generated in all three dimensions. The depth which a player sees in the three-dimensional image or representation is the actual depth D. Although not shown, the gaming device may also cause a player to perceive a depth which is based upon or derived 30 from the actual depth D. For example, the gaming device can multiply the depth D by a numerical factor to generate a perceived depth which is greater than or less than the actual depth D. It should be understood that the gaming device can include any suitable ratio of the magnitude of the depth perceived by a 11 play r to the magnitude of the actual distance or depth D. It is preferable, how that this ratio be a fractional value equal to or greater than one. The dime nsions of the x- and y-dimensions on each display screen can also be mod fied to change the apparent depth as seen by the player. 5 In Figs. IE, IF and 1G, the display screens co-act to display a three dimensional image of the reel 25. In this example, the interior display screen 18b displays the upper and lower portions 25a and 25b which are not as close to the player, and the exterior display screen 18a displays the central portion 25c f the reel which would be closer to the player. As a result the gaming 10 device displays a three-dimensional image of reel 25 to the player as illustrated in Fi . 1G. This image is formed in three actual dimensions wherein the front portion 25c of the reel is displayed closer on the frontmost screen closer to the player then the rear portions 25a and 25b which are displayed on the interior display screen which are further away from the player. The depth or z 16 dime nsion of the image of the reel 25 is equal to or otherwise based or derived from the distance D which separates the display surfaces of the display screens 18a and 18b. In another embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention illust ated in Figs. 2A and 2B, the display device includes an exterior or 20 front ost display screen 26, a middle or intermediate display screen 28 and an inte or or backmost display screen 30. The frontmost display screen 26 displays a virtual three dimensional first reel image 32 on one portion of the first display screen 26. All other portions of the first display screen 26 are translucent or transparent. The second display screen 28 displays a virtual 25 thred dimensional second reel image 33 on one portion of the second display screen 28, while all other portions of the middle display screen 18 are trans lucent or transparent. The third display screen 30 displays a virtual three dimensional third reel image 34 and a background image 36 covering the entire porU n of the backmost display screen. These three display screens 26, 28 and 30 30 s multaneously display each respective image to enable a player to see the over all virtual three dimensional image of all three reels in a three-dimensional form t by looking through the first display screen 26 of the display device 14 as specifically illustrated in the Fig. 2B. 12 Although it is not readily apparent by viewing Fig, 2B, the overall grape ical representation, image or display (whether still or animated) provides a relat vely highly engaging three-dimensional representation because the three real images are formed in different planes. Specifically, the representation of 5 reel 32 being closer to the player than the reel 33 is based upon and determined by t e actual distance between the first display screen 26 and the second display screen 28, Similarly, the representation of the reel 33 being closer to the player than the reel 34 is based upon and determined by the actual distance (not hown) which separates the second display screen 28 from the third display 10 screen 30. It should be understood that the reels images shown in Figs. 1B to 1G, 2A nd 2B are merely illustrative. In these illustrations, by simultaneously displaying different images (partially or wholly) on different display screens, the over al image the gaming device generates is a three-dimensional 15 representation formed in the three actual dimensions. It should also be appr ciated from these illustrations that the images can be two-dimensional ima es combined to create three-dimensional images or conventional perc ived-type or virtual three dimensional representations which are combined to cr eate three dimensional images. In some instances, the gaming device can 20 use both of these types of representations to generate a three-dimensional imac es. In addition to displaying three dimensional representations, in other emb diments of gaming device, the display device can display different images or in formation on different display screens which a player can view by looking at 25 and through the exterior screen. In one example illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B, the i terror display screen 40b displays a video reel image 42a on one portion of the interior display screen. The exterior display screen 40a displays a paytable imae a 46 and paylines 44. When the exterior display screen 40a and the inter or display screen 40b both display their images simultaneously, the player 30 views the overall graphical representation or display through the frontmost displ y screen 40a, as illustrated in Fig. 3B. In this example, the payliqs..are actually in front of the reels and the paytable is in a place which is in front of the reels 13 in another example illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B, the exterior display sco en 40a displays a video reel image 52a on one portion of the exterior disp ay screen 40a while the other portions of the exterior display screen are tran lucent or transparent. The interior display screen 40b displays another 5 videp reel image 52b. When the exterior display screen 40a and the interior disp ay screen 40b both display such images simultaneously, the player views the verall graphical representation or display through the exterior display scre n 40a, as illustrated in Fig. 4B. The reel image 42a is displayed closer to the player than the reel image 42b. 10 In another example illustrated in Figs. 5A and 5B, the interior display scre n 40b displays a video reel image 42b on one portion of the interior display screen. The exterior display screen 40a displays an advertisement image 54 and a payline image 55. When the frontmost display screen 40a and the und rlying display screen 40b both display such images simultaneously, a 15 play r views the overall graphical representation or display through the exterior display screen 40a, as illustrated in Fig. 5B. In this example, the gaming device ena les a player to simultaneously view the reel image 42b generated on the inter or display screen 40b the payline image 55 generated on the exterior display screen 40a without having to change his or her line of sight. 20 In a further embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figs. 6A, 6B and 6C, the exterior display screen 50a displays a plurality of cards 51 and the [nterior display screen 50b displays a person such as a dealer 52. The display screen 50b also displays a table 53. It should be appreciated that the background of the dealer image in one embodiment could include an image of a 25 casino. When a player views the display device 14 through the front display screen 50a, the player sees the cards 51 on the table 53 which is in front of the dealer 52. This provides a three-dimensional overall image wherein the cards are loser to the player then the dealer and the table. In a further embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 6D, 30 6E and 6F, the gaming device includes a camera or other suitable player sensor 56 which senses the movement of the player and in particular the player's head. In th s embodiment of the present invention, when the player is directly in front of t e display device 14, the gaming device displays the reel 24a and the 14 syr ols 27 on the reel 24a, but not the sides of the reel. Thus, the player sees the Iront of the reel 24a. As illustrated in Fig. 6E, if the player or prayer's head mov as to the left, the camera or other sensor 56 detects this movement and cau es the image of the reel to change such that the player appears to see the 5 left ide of the reel 24a. To accomplish this, the exterior display screen 18a displays the front portion of the reel and the interior display screen 18b displays the left rear portion of the reel. If as illustrated in Fig. 6F, the player moves to the eight, the camera 56 senses this movement and causes the image of the reel to change such that the player sees the right side of the reel 24a. To 10 accc mplish this, the exterior display screen 18a displays the front portion of the reel and the interior display screen 1 8b displays the right rear portion of the reel. The present invention may thus be adapted to provide three-dimensional image es which change based on the player movement to provide a more realistic thre -dimensional image to the player. 15 These examples illustrate the capability of the gaming device of the pres nt invention to enable a player to view different types of information and diffe ent types of images by looking at and through the exterior display screen. In c rtain of the illustrated examples, the images displayed on the different display screens are positioned such that the images do not overlap (that is, the 20 images are not superimposed). In certain other illustrated embodiments the images overlap. It should also be appreciated that the images displayed on the display screen can fade-in fade out or pulsate to create additional affects. In cert in embodiments, a player can view different images and different types of infor ation in a single line of sight. It should be appreciated that the present 25 invention specifically contemplates different combinations of different images and o-acting images on the plurality of display screens. The present invention cont mplates different game functional images on each display screen or parts of game functional images on the display screens. The following table shows example image combinations of alternative embodiments of the present 30 invention. Exterior Display Screen Interior Display Screen Reels Including Symbols Reels Including Symbols Reels Including Symbols Paytable For Symbols 15 Paytable for Symbols Reels Including Symbols Reels Including Symbols information Regarding Primary Game or Other Information Including Textual, Graphic or other Information Primary or Base Game Secondary or Bonus Game(s) Secondary or Bonus Game Primary or Base Game Secondary or Bonus Game Information Regarding Secondary or Bonus Game such as Instructions, Hints and Directions 1i' Part of Primary Game 2 0d Part of Primary Game 1* Part of Secondary Game 2 nd Part of Secondary Came Video Cards Video Cards Image Image Enhancement First Primary Game Second Primary Game First Secondary Game Second Secondary Game One embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention, includes a pr ssure sensitive touch screen 16 such as a conventional touch screen. These touch screens preferably include suitable resistance and capacitance 5 elecSronics necessary to detect pressure. Electrical connections between the touc screen and the gaming device processor enable the processor to detect a player pressing on an area of the display screen and how hard a player is pus ing on a particular area of the display screen. In an alternative emb diment, the display screen Include the electronics suitable for detecting 10 and ensing varying degrees of z-axis pressure from a player. Executing one or more programs stored within the memory device, the processor enables a player to activate the exterior display screen by providing a pressure to the touch screen. It should also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the player can also activate intermediate or interim display screens by applying 15 higher levels of pressure to the touch screen. This functionality enables a play r to reach one or more underlying display screens by providing varying put ngonapatiulr ra f hedipayscee. nanaleratv leve s of pressure to the touch screen. This type of touch screen is com nercially available from EL Touch Systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes a plur lity of relatively flat display screens. As illustrated in Fig. 7A, one 5 emb-diment of the display device 64 includes two display screens 66a and 66b intersectable by at least one straight line of sight 60b. The exterior and the inte or display screen 66a and 66b are or have the capacity to be completely tran parent or translucent. This embodiment includes a light source 68. As illustrated in Fig. 7B, display device 76 includes two display screens 72a, 72b 10 and a cathod ray tube 72c which are all intersectable by at least one straight line of sight 74b. In one embodiment, the display screens are relatively flat and thin, pref rably three-sixteenths of an inch (.476 ems) in thickness. In one embodiment, the relatively flat and thin display screens, having transparent or 15 translucent capacities, are liquid crystal diodes (LCDs). It should be app rciated that the display screen can be any suitable display screens such as lead lanthanum include titanate (PLZT) panel technology or any other suitable tech ology which involves a matrix of selectively operable light modulating struck tures, commonly known as pixels or picture elements. 20 Various companies have developed relatively flat display screens which have the capacity to be transparent or translucent. One such company is Tralas Tec nologies, Inc., which sells display screens which employ time multiplex optical shutter (TMOS) technology. This TMOS display technology involves: (a) sole tively controlled pixels which shutter light out of a light guidance substrate 25 by violating the light guidance conditions of the substrate; and (b) a system for repe tedly causing such violation in a time multiplex fashion. The display scre ns which embody TMOS technology are inherently transparent and they can be switched to display colors in any pixel area. Certain TMOS display technology is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,319,491. 30 Another company, Deep Video Imaging Ltd., produces display screens whic have the capability of being translucent or transparent, The display screens sold by Deep Video Imaging Ltd. include 2 (TFT) LCD panels. One prod jot sold by Deep Video Imaging Ltd. is a display device which includes a 17 plur lity of TFT LCD panels positioned within the display device. It should be appreciated that the gaming device of the present invention can employ any suitable display material or display screen which has the capacity to be tran parent or translucent. For example, such a display screen can include 5 holo graphic shutters or other suitable technology. An example of another embodiment of the gaming device where the pres nt invention is employed is illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B. Here, gaming device 100 includes a cabinet 12 which houses a display device 14. Display device 14 displays an overall graphical representation or display 104 to a 10 play r. Graphical representation or display 104 includes a video reel image 106, an informational or advertisement image 108, a credit display 110 and a bet display 112. The video reel image 106 includes a plurality of video or virtual reels 107. The information image includes information regarding a coming attra tion which is a slot tournament on July 8 to 10. 15 Though it is not apparent by viewing Fig. 8A, the display device 14 inclu es an exterior display screen and an interior display screen. The exterior display screen displays the video reel image 106, credit display 110 and bet display 112 on its lower portion while all other portions of the exterior display screen are transparent or translucent. The interior display screen displays the 20 adve rtisement 108 on its upper portion. Gaming device 100 preferably has the controls, displays and features of a co ventional slot or other gaming machine. It is constructed so that a player can operate it while standing or sitting, and gaming device 100 is preferably mou ited on a console. However, it should be appreciated that gaming device 25 100 can be constructed as a pub-style table-top game (not shown) which a play r can operate preferably while sitting. Gaming device 100 can incorporate any primary game such as slot, blackjack, poker and keno, any of their bonus trigg ring events and any of their bonus games. The symbols and indicia used on a id in gaming device 100 are in electronic, virtual or video form. 30 As illustrated in Fig. 8A, gaming device 100 includes a currency acceptor such as a coin slot 114 and bill acceptor 116 where the player inserts money, coins or tokens. The player can place coins in the currency acceptor such as a coin slot 114 or paper money or ticket vouchers in the bill acceptor 116. Other 18 devic s could be used for accepting payment such as readers or validators for credit cards or debit cards. When a player inserts money in gaming device 100, a number of credits corresponding to the amount deposited is shown in a credit dispi y 110. After depositing the appropriate amount of money, a player can 5 begin the game by pulling pull arm 118 or pushing play button 120. Play button 120 :an be any play activator used by the player which starts any game or seq unce of events in the gaming device. As shown in Fig. 8A, gaming device 100 also includes a bet button 124. The player places a bet by pushing the bet one button 124. The player can 10 inc so the bet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button 124. When the player pushes the bet one button 124, the number of credits sho n in the credit display 110 decreases by one, and the number of credits sho n in the bet display 112 increases by one. Although not shown, the gam ng device can also include bet max, select line, bet per line and other 15 conventional wager indicators. A player may cash out between games and thereby receive a number of coin corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out butt n 126. When the player cashes out, the player receives the coins in a coin payc ut tray 128. The gaming device 100 may employ other payout mechanisms 20 such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards which keep track of the players credits. Furthermore, gaming device 100 preferably includes speakers 130 for making sounds or playing music. As illustrated in Fig. 8B, the general electronic configuration of gaming devi 100 preferably includes: a processor 132; a data storage device or 25 me ory device 134 for storing computer programs, code or other data; a display device; a sound card 136; a plurality of speakers 130; and one or more input devices 138. The processor 132 is preferably a microprocessor or microcontroller-based platform which is capable of causing the display device 14 o the present invention to display images such as symbols, cards, images of 30 people, characters, places, and objects which function in the gaming device. Data storage or memory device 134 can include any suitable software and/or hard ware, including, without limitation, any tape or any disk, such as a CD RON, floppy disk, hard disk or any other optical or magnetic disk. The data 19 stor ge or memory device 134 can include random access memory (RAM) 140 for storing event data or other data generated or used during a particular game. The data storage or memory device 134 can also include read only memory (RO/) 142 for storing program code which controls the gaming device 100 so 5 that t plays a particular game in accordance with applicable game rules and pay tables. As illustrated further in Fig. 88, the player preferably uses the input devi es 138, such as pull arm 118, play button 120, the bet one button 112 and the ash out button 126 to input signals into gaming device 100. As described 10 above, in certain embodiments one or more of these functions could also be emp oyed on a touch screen. In such embodiments, gaming device 100 incl es a touch screen controller 16 which is connected to a video controller 146 and processor 132. A player can make decisions and input signals into the gam ng device 100 by touching the appropriate locations on the touch screen 15 disp ay. As further illustrated in Fig. 83, the processor 132 is connected to curry ncy acceptor such as the coin slot 114 or bill acceptor 116. The processor 132 can be programmed to require a player to deposit a certain amount of mon ay in order to start the game. It should be appreciated that although a processor 132 and memory 20 devi e 134 are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integ rated circuits (ASIC's) or other hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively or alternatively referred to herein as a "processor"). Furthermore, although the processor 132 and memory device 134 preferably 25 resi e on each gaming device 100 unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a Dlaying station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WA ), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. The processor 132 and memory device 134 are at times generally referred to herein as the 30 "co puter" or "controller. With reference to Figs. 8A and 8B, to operate the gaming device 100 in one embodiment the player must insert the appropriate amount of money or toke s at coin slot 114 or bill acceptor 116 and then pull the pull arm 118 or 20 pus the play button 120. The video reels 107 will then begin to spin. Eventually, the individual reels 107 will come to a stop. As long as the player has credits remaining, the player can spin the reels 107 again. Depending upon whe re the reels 107 stop, the player may or may not win additional credits. 5 In addition to winning credits in this manner, the gaming device 100 may also give players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus round, This type of gaming device 100 will include a program which will automatically begin a bonus rou d game when the player has achieved a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can be a particular arrangement of one or more indicia 10 on a display device. As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in Fig. 8A, the qualifying condition could be the number seven appearing on three adjacent reel 107 along a payline 148. It should be appreciated that the present inve ition can include one or more paylines, such as payline 148, wherein the payl nes can be horizontal, diagonal or any combination thereof. 15 The gaming device of the present invention can be used to play any type of pirmary game, bonus round game or other game. In one embodiment, the gam ng device includes a game which enables a player to have inputs and interaction which are associated with a depth or z-dimension extending into and through the face of the frontmost display surface. This type of three 20 dime nsional game play can be suitable for wagering games which, by their origi al design, are three-dimensional, such as blackjack, poker, roulette, and othe casino games including, but not limited to, skill and perceived-skill games. Other r wagering games can enable a player to cause different events to occur base d upon how hard the player pushes on the touch screen. For example, a 25 player could cause reels or objects to move faster by pressing harder on the exte or touch screen. In these types of games, the gaming device can enable the player to interact in the three dimensions by varying the amount of pressure the layer applies to the frontmost display screen (which operates as a three dimensional sensing touch screen, as described earlier). 30 In another embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to play two or m re games on two or more display screens at the same time or at different times. For example, a player can play two related games on two of the display screens simultaneously. In another example, once a player deposits currency 21 to iitiate the gaming device, the gaming device may enable the player to chose fron one or more games to play on different display screens. In yet another exarnple, the gaming device can include a multi-level bonus scheme which enables a player to advance to different bonus rounds which are displayed and 5 play d on different display screens. As indicated above, the gaming device of the present invention can also enahe players to view information and graphics generated on one display scre n playing a game which is generated on another display screen. Such info ation and graphics can include game paytables, game-related 10 info ation, entertaining graphics, background, history or game theme-related info ation or information not related to the game, such as advertisements. The gam ngq device can display this information and graphics adjacent to a game, und meath or behind a game or on top of a game. For example, a gaming devie could display a reel game on the frontmost display screen and also 15 disp ay paylines on an underlying display screen, and the paylines could fade in and ado out periodically. Thus, it should be appreciated that different game function images or part of images are displayed on the different display screens and can co-act to displ y one or more three dimensional images to the player. 20 While the present invention has been described in connection with what is pr gently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but n the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arra gements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. It is thus to be 25 und rstood that modifications and variations in the present invention may be mad without departing from the novel aspects of this invention as defined in the aims, and that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the clain . 22

Claims (105)

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: 5 at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; a housing an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and 10 an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display; (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, 15 the at least one processor programmed to: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, (b) simultaneously cause the interior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, wherein the at least one primary game functional image ?0 displayed by the exterior video display works together with the at least one primary game functional image displayed by the interior video display, and (c) display a sequence of primary game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of primary game functional images is displayed on 25 the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of primary game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display.

2. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are different. 30

3. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially the same.

4. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images 35 include a plurality of reels.

5. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels. 23 SPEC-8825 doc

6. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

7. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the entire exterior video display is selected from 5 the group consisting of: a transparent video display; a translucent video display; a video display having a transparent state; and a video display having a translucent state.

8. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the at least one of the primary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display provides a first part of the primary game, and 10 wherein the at least one of the primary game functional images displayed by the interior video display provides a second part of the primary game.

9. The gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the primary game functional images include a plurality of symbols, and the processor is programmed to cause the exterior video display to 15 display a plurality of the symbols in a play of the primary game and to cause the interior video display to display a plurality of the symbols in said play of the primary game.

10. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: ?0 at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; at least one secondary game operable after an occurrence of a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images; a housing; 25 an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display; (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and 30 (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, the at least one processor programmed to after an occurrence of the triggering event: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, 35 (b) simultaneously cause the interior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, wherein the at least one primary game functional image displayed by the exterior video display works together with the at least one secondary game functional image displayed by the interior video display, and 24 SPEC-80625.doc (c) display a sequence of secondary game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of secondary game functional images is displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of secondary game 5 functional images is displayed on the exterior video display.

11. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the triggering event can occur in the primary game. 10

12. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are different.

13. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially 15 the same.

14. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images includes a plurality of reels. 20

15. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the plurality of secondary game functional images includes a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

16. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through. 25

17. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of: a transparent video display; a translucent video display; a video display having a transparent state; and a video display having a translucent state.

18. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the at least one of the secondary game functional 30 images displayed by the exterior video display provides a first part of the secondary game, and wherein the at least one of the secondary functions images displayed by the interior video display provides a second part of the secondary game.

19. The gaming device of Claim 10, wherein the secondary game functional images include a 35 plurality of symbols, and the processor is programmed to cause the exterior video display to display a plurality of the symbol in a play of the secondary game, and to cause the interior video display to display a plurality of the symbols in said play of the secondary game. 25 SPEC-880625.doc

20. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; 5 at least one secondary game operable after a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images; a housing; an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and 10 an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display: (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, 15 the at least one processor programmed to: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game functional images, (b) after an occurrence of the triggering event, cause the interior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, and ?0 (c) display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display. 25

21. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein the triggering event can occur in the primary game.

22. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the 30 exterior video display and the interior video display are different.

23. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially the same. 35

24. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels. 26 SPEC-880825 doc

25. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

26. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through. 5

27. The gaming device of Claim 20, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of: a transparent video display; a translucent video display; a video display having a transparent state; and a video display having a translucent state. 10

28. A gaming device under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; at least one secondary game operable after a triggering event, said secondary game including a plurality of displayable secondary game functional images; 15 a housing; an at least partially see-through exterior video display controlled by the at least one processor; and an interior video display controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display: 0 (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, the at least one processor programmed to: (a) cause the exterior video display to display at least one of the primary game 25 functional images, (b) after an occurrence of the triggering event, cause the interior video display to display at least one of the secondary game functional images, and (c) display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video 30 display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display.

29. The gaming device of Claim 28, wherein the triggering event can occur in the primary 35 game.

30. The gaming device of Claim 28, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are different. 27 SPEC-80625doc

31. The gaming device of Claim 28, wherein the plurality of functional images displayed by the exterior video display and the interior video display are at least partially the same. 5

32. The gaming device of Claim 28, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels.

33. The gaming device of Claim 29, wherein the plurality of functional images include a plurality of reels and a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels. 10

34. The gaming device of Claim 29, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

35. The gaming device of Claim 29, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of: a transparent video display; a translucent video display; a video display 15 having a transparent state; and a video display having a translucent state.

36. A gaming device under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: at least one primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said primary game including a plurality of displayable primary game functional images; 20 a housing; an at least partially see-through exterior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor; and an interior video display supported by the housing and controlled by the at least one processor, said interior video display: 25 (i) spaced apart from the exterior video display, and (ii) aligned with the exterior video display such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior video display and the interior video display, the at least one processor programmed to cause: (a) one of the exterior video display and interior video display to display at least one of 30 the primary game functional images, (b) the other of the exterior video display and interior video display to simultaneously display information regarding the primary game or primary game functional images, and (c) display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior video display and the exterior video 35 display wherein a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the interior video display and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the exterior video display. 28 SPEC-860625.doc

37. The gaming device of Claim 36, wherein the information includes a play table for the primary game.

38. The gaming device of Claim 36, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images 5 include a plurality of reels.

39. The gaming device of Claim 36, wherein the information includes a paytable for the reels.

40. The gaming device of Claim 36, wherein the plurality of primary game functional images 10 include a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels.

41. The gaming device of Claim 36, wherein the information includes a paytable for the symbols. 15

42. The gaming device of Claim 36, wherein the entire exterior video display is see-through.

43. The gaming device of Claim 36, wherein the exterior video display is selected from the group consisting of: a transparent video display; a translucent video display; a video display having a transparent state; and a video display having a translucent state. 20

44. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising: a game controlled by the at least one processor and operable upon a wager; a first display device controlled by the at least one processor, said first display device 25 operable to display at least a portion of the game; wherein said processor is configured to control a play of the game by: (i) determining if an event occurs in the play of the game, and (ii) if the event occurs in the play of the game: (a) causing the first display device to change at least a portion of the first display 30 device from a non-transparent state to a transparent state, wherein said changed portion of the first display device is operable to generate a display of at least a portion of the game while in the non-transparent state, and wherein the transparent state of said portion of the first display allows a second display device to be viewed through a plurality of lines of sight extending through the first display device, 35 (b) causing said second display device to generate a display of at least a portion of the game, and display a sequence of game functional images at different locations along an apparent path of motion associated with both the first display device and the second display device wherein 29 SPEC-860625 doc a first portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the first display device and a second portion of the sequence of game functional images is displayed on the second display device. 5

45. A gaming device comprising: a wagering game; at least one processor which controls the wagering game; a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said 10 display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display 15 screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) the exterior display screen to display an image of at least one payline, and (ii) the interior display screen to display a three dimensional image of at least one reel 20 of the wagering game in alignment with the image of the at least one payline, said reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen simultaneously respectively display the images of the at least one payline and the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the at least one payline and the at least one reel through said lines of sight and having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the 25 depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D.

46. The gaming device of Claim 38, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause the exterior display screen to display an image of a paytable. 30

47. A gaming device comprising: a primary wagering game; at least one processor which controls the primary wagering game; a housing; and 35 a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and 30 SPEC-880625 doc (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, 5 and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) one of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display information regarding the primary wagering game, and (ii) the other of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a 10 three dimensional image of at least one reel of the primary wagering game, said reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen simultaneously display the information regarding the primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the information regarding the primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel through said lines of sight and 15 having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D.

48. A gaming device comprising: at least one wagering game; 20 at least one processor which controls the wagering game; a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and 25 (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: 30 (iii) one of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and (iv) the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of symbols aligned with the first image of the plurality of symbols on the reel, such that each display 35 screen simultaneously respectively display the first and second images to create a three dimensional representation of the plurality of symbols through said at least one line of sight and having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, 31 SPEC-S80625.doc wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. 5

49. The gaming device of Claim 48, wherein the interior display screen is aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through area of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen. 10

50. The gaming device of Claim 48, wherein the entire exterior display screen is see-through.

51. The gaming device of Claim 48, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is equal to the predetermined distance D. 15

52. The gaming device of Claim 48, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is also partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display screen.

53. The gaming device of Claim 48, wherein the three dimensional representation also ?0 includes a perceived depth based on the predetermined distance D.

54. The gaming device of Claim 53, wherein the perceived depth is greater in magnitude than the predetermined distance D. 25

55. The gaming device of Claim 48, wherein the exterior display screen is selected from the group consisting of: a transparent display screen; a translucent display screen; a display screen having a transparent state; and a display screen having a translucent state.

56. A gaming device comprising: 30 at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls said wagering game; a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: 35 (a) an exterior display screen having a predetermined area adapted to be see-through in response to a signal from the processor, and 32 SPEC-8W6625.doc (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: 5 (i) the interior display screen to display a first image of a first portion of a reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon and a third image of a third portion of said reel having a third plurality of symbols thereon, the first image being disconnected from the third image on the interior display screen, and (ii) the exterior display screen to display a second image of a second different portion 10 of said reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon in alignment with said first portion and said third portion, such that the interior display screen and the exterior display screen simultaneously respectively display the first, third and second images to create a three dimensional image of at least a section of the reel including the first portion, the second portion and the third portion, said section having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein 15 the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of the first portion of the reel, the second image of the second portion of the reel and the third image of the third portion of the reel form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both ?0 the interior display screen and the exterior display screen.

57. The gaming device of Claim 56, wherein interior display screen is aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through area of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen. 25

58. The gaming device of Claim 56, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is equal to the distance D.

59. The gaming device of Claim 56, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is also 30 partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display screen.

60. The gaming device of Claim 56, wherein the three dimensional image also includes a perceived depth based in part on the distance D. 35

61. The gaming device of Claim 60, wherein the perceived depth is greater in magnitude than the distance D. 33 SPEC-860825 doc

62. A gaming device comprising: at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls said wagering game; a housing; 5 a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen and (b) first and second interior display screens aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display 10 screen and said first and second interior display screens, said first and second interior display screens each having a display surface mounted in spaced-apart relation to a display surface of the exterior screen, said first interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D1 behind the exterior display screen in the housing, and said second interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D2 behind the exterior display screen in the housing, 15 wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) said first interior display screen to display a first image of a first reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon, (ii) said second interior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, and 0 (iii) the exterior display screen to display a third image of a third reel having a third plurality of symbols thereon, such that the first interior display screen, the second interior display screen, and the exterior display screen simultaneously display the first, second and third images to create a three dimensional image of the first, second and third reels having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein two of the first, second and third images do not overlap, and 25 wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on at least one of the predetermined distances D1 and D2.

63. The gaming device of Claim 62, wherein the first and second interior display screens are aligned with the exterior display screen to create a plurality of lines of sight extending through said 30 see-through part of the exterior display screen and the first and second interior display screens.

64. The gaming device of Claim 62, wherein the depth of at least part of the three dimensional image is equal to said at least one of the predetermined distances D1 and D2. 35

65. The gaming device of Claim 62, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is also partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display screen. 34 SPEC-S825doc

66. The gaming device of Claim 62, wherein the three dimensional representation also includes a perceived depth based on the distance D.

67. The gaming device of Claim 66, wherein the perceived depth is greater in magnitude than 5 the distance D.

68. A gaming device comprising: at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls the wagering game; 10 a housing; a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) a transparent first display surface, and (b) a second display surface spaced apart a predetermined distance D behind and 15 aligned with the first display surface in the housing; and said at least one processor programmed to cause the first display surface and the second display surface to display an image including at least three different portions of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, each portion of said image simultaneously displayed on one of said first and second display surfaces through said line of sight to create a three dimensional image of 20 at least a section of the reel including said portions, said section having a height and a width, and a depth which is based on the distance D, two of the three different portions being displayed disconnected from each other on one of said first and second display surfaces and the remaining portion being displayed on the other of said first and second display surfaces, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined 25 distance D, wherein the at least three different portions of the reel having a plurality of symbols thereon form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the first display surface and the second display surface. 30

69. The gaming device of Claim 68, wherein said second display surface is aligned with the first display surface such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said first display surface and the second display surface.

70. The gaming device of Claim 68, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is 35 equal to the distance D. 35 SPEC-880625 doc

71. The gaming device of Claim 68, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is also partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display surface. 5

72. The gaming device of Claim 68, wherein the three dimensional depth of the three dimensional image has a perceived depth greater in magnitude than the distance D.

73. A gaming device comprising: at least one wagering game; 10 at least one processor which controls the wagering game; a housing; and a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an exterior display screen having a predetermined see-through area, 15 (b) an interior display screen having a predetermined see-through area spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, and (c) a back light aligned with the exterior and interior display screens, 20 wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) one of said interior display screen and said exterior display screen to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and (ii) the other of interior display screen and said exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of 25 symbols aligned with the first image of said plurality of symbols on the reel, wherein said exterior display screen, said interior display screen and said back light produce a representation of the plurality of symbols in three actual dimensions, wherein the representation has at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second 30 image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen.

74. A gaming device comprising: 35 at least one wagering game; at least one processor which controls the wagering game; a housing; and 36 SPEC-860625.doc a display device controlled by the at least one processor and mounted in the housing, said display device including: (a) an at least partially see-through exterior display screen, and (b) an interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and 5 aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in the housing, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause: (i) one of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a first 10 image of a first reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon, and (ii) the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, such that the interior and exterior display screens simultaneously display the first and second images to create a three dimensional representation of the first and second reels having an actual height, an actual width 15 and an depth, wherein the first and second images do not overlap, and wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D.

75. The gaming device of Claim 62, further comprising: a player sensor, wherein the player 20 sensor senses a location of a player, wherein the processor causes the first image and the second image to change in response to a change in the location of the player sensed by the player sensor.

76. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, 25 said method comprising: causing one of an interior display screen and an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, said interior display screen spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior 30 display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing; and causing the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of symbols aligned with the first image of the plurality of symbols on the reel, such that each display 35 screen simultaneously respectively displays the first and second images to create a three dimensional representation of the plurality of symbols through said at least one line of sight and having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, 37 SPEC-860625.doc wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. 5

77. The method of Claim 76, which includes causing a plurality of lines of sight to extend through said see-through area of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen.

78. The method of Claim 76, which includes causing the depth of the three dimensional 10 representation to be equal to the predetermined distance D.

79. The method of Claim 76, which includes causing the depth of the three dimensional representation to be partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display screen. 15

80. The method of Claim 76, which includes causing the three dimensional representation to include a perceived depth based on the predetermined distance D.

81. The method of Claim 80, which includes causing the perceived depth to be greater in ?0 magnitude than the predetermined distance D.

82. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing an interior display screen to display a first image of a first portion of a reel having 25 a first plurality of symbols thereon and a third image of a third portion of said reel having a third plurality of symbols thereon, the first image being disconnected from the third image on the interior display screen, the interior display screen being spaced apart from an exterior display screen, aligned with the exterior display screen, and mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing, the exterior display screen having a predetermined area 30 adapted to be see-through in response to a signal; and causing the exterior display screen to display a second image of a second different portion of said reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon in alignment with said first portion and said third portion, such that the interior display screen and the exterior display screen simultaneously respectively display the first, third and second images to create a three 35 dimensional image of at least a section of the reel including the first portion, the second portion and the third portion, said section having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, 38 SPEC-880625 aoc wherein the first image of the first portion of the reel, the second image of the second portion of the reel and the third image of the third portion of the reel form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and the exterior display screen. 5

83. The method of Claim 82, which includes causing a plurality of lines of sight to extend through said see-through area of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen.

84. The method of Claim 82, which includes causing the depth of the three dimensional image 10 to be equal to the distance D.

85. The method of Claim 82, which includes causing the depth of the three dimensional image to be partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display screen. 15

86. The method of Claim 82, which includes causing the three dimensional image to include a perceived depth based in part on the distance D.

87. The method of Claim 86, which includes causing the perceived depth to be greater in ?0 magnitude than the distance D.

88. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing a first interior display screen to display a first image of a first reel having a first 25 plurality of symbols thereon; causing a second interior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, the first and second interior display screens being aligned with an at least partially see-through exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the first and second 30 interior display screens, the first and second interior display screens each having a display surface mounted in spaced-apart relation to a display surface of the exterior screen, the first interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D1 behind the exterior display screen in a housing, and the second interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D2 behind the exterior display screen in the housing; and 35 causing the exterior display screen to display a third image of a third reel having a third plurality of symbols thereon, such that the first interior display screen, the second interior display screen, and the exterior display screen simultaneously display the first, second and third images to create a three dimensional image of the first, second and third reels having an actual height, an 39 SPEC-880625.doc actual width and a depth, wherein two of the first, second and third images do not overlap, and wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on at least one of the predetermined distances D1 and D2. 5

89. The method of Claim 88, which includes causing a plurality of lines of sight to extend through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the first and second interior display screens.

90. The method of Claim 88, which includes causing the depth of at least part of the three 10 dimensional image to be equal to said at least one of the predetermined distances D1 and D2.

91. The method of Claim 88, which includes causing the depth of the three dimensional image to be partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display screen. 15

92. The method of Claim 88, which includes causing the three dimensional representation to include a perceived depth based on the distance D.

93. The method of Claim 92, which includes causing the perceived depth to be greater in ?0 magnitude than the distance D.

94. The method of Claim 88, which includes causing a location of a player to be determined and causing the first image and the second image to change in response to a change in the location of the player. 25

95. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing a transparent first display surface and a second display surface, the second display surface being spaced apart a predetermined distance D behind and aligned with the first 30 display surface in a housing, to display an image including at least three different portions of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, each portion of said image simultaneously displayed on one of said first and second display surfaces through said line of sight to create a three dimensional image of at least a section of the reel including said portions, said section having a height and a width, and a depth which is based on the distance D, two of the three different portions being 35 displayed disconnected from each other on one of said first and second display surfaces and the remaining portion being displayed on the other of said first and second display surfaces, wherein the depth of the three dimensional image is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, 40 SPEC-860825doc wherein the at least three different portions of the reel having a plurality of symbols thereon form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the first display surface and the second display surface. 5

96. The method of Claim 95, which includes causing a plurality of lines of sight to extend through the first display surface and the second display surface.

97. The method of Claim 95, which includes causing the depth of the three dimensional image to be equal to the distance D. 10

98. The method of Claim 95, which includes causing the depth of the three dimensional image to be partly a perceived depth based on the height and width of each part of the image on each display surface. 15

99. The method of Claim 95, which includes causing the three dimensional depth of the three dimensional image to have a perceived depth greater in magnitude than the distance D.

100. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: 20 causing one of an interior display screen having a predetermined see-through area spaced apart from an exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen, said interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing, and an exterior display screen having a predetermined see-through area to display a first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon; and 25 causing the other of interior display screen and said exterior display screen to display a second image of said same plurality of symbols, said second image of said same plurality of symbols aligned with the first image of said plurality of symbols on the reel, wherein said exterior display screen, said interior display screen and a back light aligned with the exterior and interior display screens produce a representation of the plurality of symbols in three actual dimensions, 30 wherein the representation has at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D, wherein the first image of a reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, and the second image of the same plurality of symbols form part of a sequence of game functional images that are displayed along an apparent path of motion associated with both the interior display screen and 35 the exterior display screen.

101. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: 41 SPEC-86625.doc causing one of an interior display screen and an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display a first image of a first reel having a first plurality of symbols thereon, the interior display screen being spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that at least one line of sight extends through the see-through part of 5 the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, the interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing; and causing the other of the interior display screen and exterior display screen to display a second image of a second reel having a second plurality of symbols thereon, such that the interior and exterior display screens simultaneously display the first and second images to create a three 10 dimensional representation of the first and second reels having an actual height, an actual width and an depth, wherein the first and second images do not overlap, and wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D. 15

102. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display an image of at least one payline; and causing an interior display screen, spaced apart from the exterior display screen and 20 aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through the see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, the interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing, to display a three dimensional image of at least one reel of the wagering game in alignment with the image of the at least one payline, said reel having a plurality of symbols 25 thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen simultaneously respectively display the images of the at least one payline and the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the at least one payline and the at least one reel through said lines of sight and having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined 30 distance D.

103. The method of Claim 102, which includes causing the exterior display screen to display an image of a paytable. 35

104. A method of operating a gaming device configured to provide at least one wagering game, said method comprising: causing one of the interior display screen and an at least partially see-through exterior display screen to display information regarding a primary wagering game, the interior display 42 SPEC-680625.doc screen being spaced apart from the exterior display screen and aligned with the exterior display screen such that a plurality of lines of sight extend through said see-through part of the exterior display screen and the interior display screen, said interior display screen being mounted a predetermined distance D behind the exterior display screen in a housing; and 5 causing the other of the interior display screen and the exterior display screen to display a three dimensional image of at least one reel of the primary wagering game, said reel having a plurality of symbols thereon, such that the exterior display screen and the interior display screen simultaneously display the information regarding the primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel to create a three dimensional representation of the information regarding the 10 primary wagering game and the image of the at least one reel through said lines of sight and having an actual height, an actual width and a depth, wherein the depth of the three dimensional representation is at least partly an actual depth based on the predetermined distance D.

105. A gaming device substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the I 5 accompanying figures. 43 SPEC-86025.doc