Patents Examined by Christopher H Bond
  • Patent number: 7530894
    Abstract: The present invention displays increasing values of two or more wildcard symbols in the symbol matrix. A preferred embodiment called “Up, Up & Way Wilds” displays increasing multiplier values for two or more wildcard symbols used in winning symbol combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel Mordecai Marks, Anthony Mark Singer, Howard Mitchell Marks
  • Patent number: 7435174
    Abstract: A gaming device and method having a pick reduction game. Initially, a plurality of first selections are displayed to the player. A number of picks is displayed to the player where the number of picks is greater than the number of first selections. The player uses the number of picks to pick first selections until the player picks a trigger selection. The number of picks are reduced after each pick by the player. When the player picks the trigger selection, the gaming device displays a plurality of second selections to the player. Each of the second selections is associated with an award. The player picks second selections and receives awards for each picked second selection until there are no picks remaining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Megan N. Schlegel, Randall D. Mead
  • Patent number: 7393277
    Abstract: A pay line system has a novel type of pay line that can be provided in a variety of different display systems, including at least 3×3 reel-type displays, 3×4, 4×3, 3×5, 5×3, 4×5 and 5×4 displays. The pay lines are preferably displayed on 3×5 or 5×3 window formats and comprise “horseshoe” arrays of frames or H-Configuration arrays of frames. The horseshoe arrays may be provided with the horseshoe opening at 180°, 270° with respect to vertical on the screen or with respect to the vertical orientation of a column, and the horseshoe may have three adjacent frames parallel to three of the four sides of the rectangular display created by the columns and rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Kathleen Nylund Jackson
  • Patent number: 7371172
    Abstract: A slot machine includes a reel assembly which has a transparent outer reel and a translucent inner reel disposed coaxially within the outer reel. The outer and inner reels are provided with first exterior surfaces on their periphery, and with second exterior surfaces on their side surfaces. The outer and inner reels are driven independently by a respective motor. In performing a first game, the side surfaces are horizontal so that first outer symbols and first inner symbols carried on each of the first exterior surfaces may be observable. In performing a second game, the side surfaces are perpendicular so that second outer symbols and second inner symbols carried on each of the second exterior surfaces may be observable. Symbol combinations are produced by synthesizing the symbols on the outer reel and the symbols on the inner reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Haruo Inoue
  • Patent number: 7367888
    Abstract: A trust rating factor (TRF) based upon data collected for players participating in previous online games sessions is used in determining official results for an online game session when different results are reported by the participants. Counters corresponding to each of a plurality of parameters related to conditions that arise during or at the end of a game session are employed in determining the TRF for each player. For example, if one of the players may have experienced a packet bombing that interrupted normal data communication, a counter related to that condition will be incremented for all players in the game session. If all of the players report results that are consistent at the end of the game session, the TRF of each player is improved. A separate TRF is determined for each game title in which a player participates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ling Tony Chen, Michael R. Courage, Michal Bortnik
  • Patent number: 7357712
    Abstract: A method of controlling a gaming device is provided in which a set of a plurality of selections is displayed. The player is enabled to pick one of the selections. After one of the selections is picked by the player, an award is generated and provided from an award pool. One of the selections is eliminated from the set. The above steps are repeated until the player's picked selection is the same as the eliminated selection, wherein the set in each repeated step is reduced to include non-eliminated selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Randall D. Mead, Bayard S. Webb, Ryan W. Cuddy, John H. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 7316618
    Abstract: A controller of a portable game machine comprises a steering wheel having a body and a rotary unit; a base for locating a portable game machine; a supporting frame for supporting the seat to the steering wheel; and a steering wheel seat for supporting the rotary unit of the steering wheel to a body. The piezoelectric switch is placed on the base, by mechanic linear power transfer, functions of the portable game machine is controlled by operation the steering wheel. By levers to transfer power, the function keys of the steering wheel are corresponding to function keys of the portable game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Weistech Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 7278916
    Abstract: When a special symbol appears during play of the gaming machine game, the secondary game is initiated. At initiation, a bonus prize is determined by the secondary game microcontroller by consulting a bonus game paytable stored therein where each bonus prize corresponds to a bonus spot on the secondary game. A multi-ended pointer of the secondary game spins around the field of bonus spots and the player is prompted to select which end of the pointer is active. Upon selection of the end—e.g. blue or green—a microcontroller operating the spinner calculates the point at which the spinner will cease to spin so that the selected pointed end is pointing toward the selected bonus prize. The player is given the illusion that he or she controls which bonus prize is won since the green side of the pointer will point to a different bonus prize than the blue side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Boyd, Miles M. Patceg, Perry O. Cobb, Chris E. Hammond, Kevan L. Wilkins, Shannon L. Mason