Patents Examined by John M Hotaing, II
  • Patent number: 7780511
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided for playing a wagering game. The gaming machine includes a wager-input device and at least one display for displaying a bonus game of the wagering game. The bonus game has a plurality of outcomes. A probability of winning a certain one or more of the plurality of outcomes varies in response to an occurrence of a predetermined event during the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Casey, Phillip B. Gelber, Lisa M. Helfer, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 7708640
    Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a controller for selecting a game outcome from a plurality of game outcomes and a persistence-of-vision display for displaying the game outcome. The wagering game may, for example, be slots, poker, keno, bingo, blackjack, or roulette, and may be a basic game or a bonus game. The POV display may, for example, be a 360 degree display or a display employing a rapidly moving structure such as a wand, a hoop, a fan, or a disc. A 360 degree display is shaped generally like a cylinder and displays the game outcome with 2D imagery that is generated by selectively illuminating LEDs spinning in a circular direction about a surface of the cylinder. A display employing a rapidly moving structure has disposed about the periphery of the structure a plurality of LEDs that are selectively illuminated as the structure is moved in a direction that is cyclical, orbital, horizontal, vertical, arced, circular, or rotational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. Q. Burak, Daniel P. Fiden
  • Patent number: 7479064
    Abstract: An operating apparatus for game machine includes a depressing member, and a main body of the depressing member is provided with three engaging protrusions and two depressing protrusions that downwardly protrude. For example, the two depressing protrusions are provided between the three engaging protrusions. In response to a beating operation by a player, the right side of the depressing member is depressed, and then, an engaging portion of the engaging protrusion at the left side is engaged with a rear surface of an upper surface panel. Accordingly, the depressing member is sure to be depressed at the right side without being upwardly actuated, and a rubber switch depressed by the depressing protrusion is brought into contact with a board. At this time, a contact provided on the board and a contact provided on the rubber switch are brought into contact with each other, and an operation signal according to the beating operation is output to the game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Namco Limited
    Inventors: Noboru Wakitani, Junji Takamoto, Takeshi Nagareda, Kuniaki Ito, Hideo Nagata, Hiroshi Igarashi, Akio Onda