Patents Examined by Binh-An D. Nguyen
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Patent number: 7037195Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a time-based bonus system that can be pre-configured to award a certain amount of money to players of networked gaming devices over a certain time period. The amount of bonus money in a bonus pool is predetermined by a casino or other gaming network operator. Additionally, the total amount of bonus money in a particular bonus pool can be divided into multiple smaller bonuses, which can be distributed to many players over the time period in which the bonus pool is operating.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Acres Gaming IncorporatedInventors: Richard J. Schneider, Cara L. Iddings, Lawrence R. Pitman
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Patent number: 7008324Abstract: A wagering device video display system for displaying a presentation on a plurality of display devices. A plurality of gaming devices and video displays are provided. Each video display may be controlled by a video display controller that is adapted to communicate with other video display controllers. When a multi-screen presentation is requested by a gaming device or a game device controller, the video display controllers coordinate among themselves to determine when the presentation will be displayed. Various bonus presentations or attractive presentations may be displayed on a plurality of video screens.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Paltronics, Inc.Inventors: Brad W. Johnson, Vaughn Place
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Patent number: 7004837Abstract: The invention comprises methods and apparatus for modifying or converting a gaming machine to permit fully cash-less or optional cash-less transactions in a manner which avoids changing the existing firmware or software of the gaming machine. In an optional cash-less arrangement, a player selects the form by which finds for added or paid to the machine and/or paid out by machine. The cash-less forms of payment may comprise the acceptance and/or payment of funds or value electronically to a system account, coded card or ticket, smart card, magnetic card and other non-cash elements. In one or more embodiments, the invention consists of hardware and/or software for intercepting and/or emulating any or all combinations of the electronic signals associated with the coin acceptor, cash out button, hopper, serial communication interface(s) and bill acceptor(s) associated with a gaming machine to create optional currency transfers.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2000Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Sierra Design GroupInventors: Robert W. Crowder, Jr., Loren T. Nelson
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Patent number: 7001280Abstract: On displaying, in a video game device, an image of a player character and images of non-player characters, together with one type of background image from at least two or more switchable types of background images, the background images are changed from one to another only while the player character disappears after completion of a particular operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2000Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shinichi Kudo
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Patent number: 7001270Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer game, which, when operating on a computer enables a user, via a user's interface, to perform one or more tasks within a virtual environment, the virtual environment comprising a virtual three dimensional dental image of at least one tooth and the tasks performed by the user leading to the improvement of a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth. The three dimensional dental image employed in the computer game is preferably based on or derived from a real life dental environment. The invention further relates to a storage medium for storing data representation of the above computer game and to a method of playing the computer game of the present invention using a computer.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Cadent Ltd.Inventor: Eldad Taub
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Patent number: 6905406Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reels or cards having several symbols. The symbols include at least two complimentary wild symbols that form resultant wild symbols on related reels or cards. In one embodiment, the resultant wild symbol is similar to a wild symbol and acts as a substitute for other symbols on the reels or cards. In another embodiment, the resultant wild symbol transforms adjacent symbols into wild symbols or other symbols on the reels or cards. In a further embodiment, the resultant wild symbol transforms a predetermined or random number of symbols on the reels or cards into wild symbols or other symbols.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2002Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: IGTInventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, David H. Muir, Gregg J. Palmer
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Patent number: 6866583Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having wild indicator symbols associated with symbols displayed within a display device on a set of reels. The wild indicator symbols may also be associated with a card or plurality of cards within a display device. A processor determines whether the wild indicators will be associated with the symbols or cards and also determines if the wild indicators will be activated. If the wild indicators are activated, the processor transforms those symbols or cards associated with the wild indicators into wild symbols or wild cards.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: IGTInventors: Paulina Glavich, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher
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Patent number: 6866587Abstract: A system for the remote monitoring or modification, whether temporary or permanent, of a running application's attributes. These attributes include, for example, art, sound, music, text, environmental variables or artificial intelligence parameters, program source code, program pseudo code, program compiled code or any other computerized attributes. The application is enabled so that there is the ability to dynamically monitor an application's internal data, components and functionality via a remote station and/or dynamically save application usage data while that application is executing. Further, this program has the ability to temporarily or permanently change internal settings and attributes of the application and add extra functionality to the application. If charges or added functionality are permanent, they can be used when the application is executed.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Auran Holdings Pty Ltd.Inventor: Greg Lane
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Patent number: 6852031Abstract: A disclosed smart card includes a processor and memory configured to execute a number of gaming applications, such as a bonus game application, a progressive game application, a voucher application and a paytable application, and communicate with a master gaming controller on the gaming machine. Gaming instructions, generated during the execution of one or more of the gaming application on the smart card, may be used to affect game play on the gaming machine. The gaming instructions for various gaming services may be supplied to gaming machines operating in a “stand alone” mode or gaming machine connected to some type of dedicated network. In addition, the smart card may store game components including audio game components and video game components that may be downloaded into a gaming machine and incorporated into a game presentation on the gaming machine. The smart card may be utilized at many different venues including casinos, hotels, bars, restaurants and retail stores.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: IGTInventor: Richard E Rowe
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Patent number: 6851187Abstract: A method for splitting a piezoelectric device used in substitution for dicing for shortening the processing time as compared to a case of using the dicing to improve productivity to enable the shape of the piezoelectric device more suited to the emission shape of a solution to be achieved, and a method for manufacturing a printer device whereby a narrower nozzle pitch may be achieved. A resist 201 is formed at a pre-set position on a major surface of the piezoelectric device 43 bonded to a vibrating plate. Using this resist 201 as a mask, powders or particles are sprayed onto the piezoelectric device 43 for removing the portion of the piezoelectric device 43 not carrying the resist 201 to form the piezoelectric device 35 of a desired shape at a pre-set position.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Koichiro Kishima
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Patent number: 6848995Abstract: A system to determine a product to be offered to a casino player based on player data and on an approximate maximum price for which the product may be sold through a retail channel. Advantageously, a potential increase in a casino's profit due to a product offer can be determined using the player data, and an approximate maximum profit attainable through sale of the product through a retail channel can be determined based on the determined price. As a result, a product to offer can be determined in a manner which maximizes casino profit.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2000Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Walker Digital, LLCInventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Russell Pratt Sammon, Magdalena Mik, Nandu A. Talwalkar
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Patent number: 6843726Abstract: A game system is provided with a converting means including a voice input member, such as a microphone, for allowing the game player or his/her friend to input voices and for converting the inputted voices into electrical signal data, a sound data storage for storing the electrical signal data obtained by the conversion together with predetermined sound-relating data corresponding to contents of instructions, a sound generator for generating voices from the corresponding electrical signal data when a game player makes a motion in response to the content of instruction, and a device for evaluating a game result based on the content of instruction. Accordingly, a sound output type game system which can provide more interesting and enjoyable games can be realized.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2000Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Konami CorporationInventors: Mitsuhiro Nomi, Satoshi Ueno, Yasuhiro Noguchi
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Patent number: 6843724Abstract: An electronic amusement device and a method for operating the device are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a slot machine server controls a secondary game of chance played at a client slot machine. The server receives a player identifier corresponding to a player and a client identifier corresponding to a client slot machine. The server retrieves registration data relating to a secondary game of chance corresponding to the player identifier and the client identifier. The server further receives an outcome from the client slot machine and analyzes the outcome based on game requirements associated with the secondary game of chance, thereby determining whether the outcome satisfies at least one of the game requirements. Once all of the game requirements have been satisfied, the server updates a session status indicating the completion of the game requirements.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2004Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Walker Digital, LLCInventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Magdalena Mik, Stephen C. Tulley, Robert R. Lech
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Patent number: 6840860Abstract: The present invention provides a printing and dispensing bonusing system for electronic gaming devices, particularly a casino gaming device, which includes at least one detection device which is adapted for connection to an electronic apparatus, the detection device operative to detect selected event occurrences on an electronic apparatus and output event occurrence notification signals upon detection of an event. An event detection sampling device is connected in information transmission connection with the detection device, the event detection sampling device operative to detect and receive event occurrence notification signals from the detection devices, analyze the received event occurrence notification signals and output event occurrence information signals including information specifying selected event occurrences.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2000Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Inventor: Douglas M. Okuniewicz
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Patent number: 6827645Abstract: Provides a game processing apparatus capable of getting players more excited about playing games. For that reason, the game processing apparatus of the present invention processes games on the basis of players' operating signals, and is equipped with processing circuits (10), which process the above-mentioned games on the basis of operating signals supplied from input devices (2b) operated by the players, and which generate the image data for these games. When an operating signal equivalent to a player's victory declaration is input from an input device (2b), the processing circuits (10) process subsequent operating signals input by the player as invalid signals until a prescribed condition is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega EnterprisesInventors: Masamoto Morita, Akiyoshi Shinpo, Akira Nishino, Tooru Ohara, Shuntarou Tanaka, Yuuichi Matsuoka
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Patent number: 6820313Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ultrasound transducer (60), which includes forming a plate into a hollow spherical cap by deformation, wherein the plate is initially in the form of a disc of a composite piezoelectric material. The step of forming is preceded by at least one slit (70) into the plate, wherein the at least one slit has a radial orientation and extends from the peripheral edge (72) of the disc (20) towards its center (C). After the step of forming, two facing, oppositely situated free edges (74, 76) which bound the slit (70) are substantially in contact with one another so as to minimize internal stresses in the cap caused by the deformation. A transducer obtained by such a method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Maurice G. Gauchet
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Patent number: 6811491Abstract: A video game system includes an output screen, a video game controller, video game software, and an interactive video game controller adapter. The video game controller has control buttons for inputting commands to manipulate images output to the screen. The video game software interfaces between the video game controller and the screen. The interactive video game controller adapter is attached to the video game controller and is shaped to represent the unique characteristics of a particular video game. The adapter has input controls shaped to simulate the real-life activity emulated by the video game. The appropriate control buttons of the video game controller are activated when the corresponding input controls of the adapter are activated.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Inventors: Gary Levenberg, Brian Clemens, Dan Klitsner
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Patent number: 6811484Abstract: The inventions herein relate to novel games of chance and apparatus and methods for their play. In one embodiment, a multi-level game of chance is played by presenting the player with multiple options, where there is at least one positive option and at least one negative option. By way of example, at each level the player selects one of four boxes, where two have a monetary amount, and one has a strike. Optionally, the fourth box may comprise a ‘mystery box’, which requires a decision within a decision. When presented with the mystery box, the player may elect to open it or not. If they do not open it, game play resumes at the existing game level. If they open it, one of multiple options is presented, including a positive option and a negative option. In the preferred embodiment, the positive option could include: a multiplier of the winnings of the player, e.g., a double of the money in the player's account, or the updating of the safe level for the player.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLCInventors: Randall Mark Katz, Gary Dawson
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Patent number: 6811492Abstract: A digital camera accessory is provided for use with a game system having a processing system to execute a video game program and player controls operable by a user to generate video game control signals. The digital camera accessory includes an image sensor for capturing video images, communication circuitry configured to transmit the captured video images, and a connector that, in use, electrically connects the digital camera accessory to the game system.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Arakawa, Donald W. James, David McCarten
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Patent number: 6805349Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a wild activation symbol displayed on a set of reels or set of cards within a display device. The processor causes other symbols or cards to become wild within the display device when the wild termination symbol is displayed. When the wild activation symbol is displayed, the present invention may also provide a wild termination symbol on the set of reels or the set of cards within a display device. The processor may then stop symbols or cards from becoming wild based on the position of the wild termination symbol.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: IGTInventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Paulina Glavich