Patents by Inventor Darren Maya

Darren Maya has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060068898
    Abstract: A wagering gaming system, method and apparatus including a card purchased with an amount of money which a player may use to place wagers in gaming machines. The card is useable in a select gaming machines at a select gaming establishments. The card provides an additional game related benefit or game related incentive for the player using the card. The game related benefit or game related incentive is not provided to players who do not use the card. The game related benefit or game related incentive can be any suitable game related benefit or game related incentive such as an additional opportunity in a bonus game or an additional available award in a bonus game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventor: Darren Maya
  • Patent number: 7001278
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Darren Maya, Marc Mierau, Ryan W. Cuddy, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20050143170
    Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Darren Maya, Marc Mierau, Ryan Cuddy, Anthony Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20050054441
    Abstract: A gaming device and a method for operating the gaming device including enabling a player to select music to be played during a game. The music selections include music recordings within general music classifications such as genre and style and music recordings within specific classifications such as artist or group, album or song. The game presents the music classification selections for player selection at any point before, during or after the game. In one embodiment, the music recordings within the music classification selected by the player and played by the gaming device are incorporated into the theme of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Kristopher Landrum, Darren Maya, Marc Mierau
  • Publication number: 20040082378
    Abstract: A gaming device that incorporates mechanical display devices to provide a player-selectable award feature that may be implemented with a primary or bonus game. The gaming device randomly generates a plurality of digit positions or places of an award and enables the player to pick which position or digit receives a first randomly generated number, which digit receives a second randomly generated number, etc., until each of the positions have a number, whereby the gaming device determines the player's original award. The player can elect to modify the original award using a plurality of methods to create an ultimate award. The gaming device display the digits, digit positions, and modification methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Lance R. Peterson, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist, Darren Maya, Robert N. Silva, Randall D. Mead
  • Publication number: 20040082374
    Abstract: A gaming device including a game having a plurality of matingly interconnected indicators which are in the form of puzzle pieces that form a puzzle, and a plurality of masked selections associated with the puzzle pieces. The gaming device enables a player picks the selections to reveal one or more of the puzzle pieces in the puzzle. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides an award for each puzzle piece revealed in the puzzle. The player continues to pick selections until the player obtains a designated combination or section of puzzle pieces. After completing the designated combination, the gaming device provides the player with any awards associated with the puzzle pieces in the designated combination. In one embodiment, the gaming device also provides the player with the awards associated with any matingly interconnected puzzle pieces previously selected by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Darren Maya, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20040077403
    Abstract: A gaming device having a game which involves the disclosure of various values to a player in increments. The player selects one or more symbols, and the game incrementally discloses values associated with such symbols. The gaming device determines an amount based on the disclosed values. In addition, the gaming device enables the player to affect the award based on this amount by making one or more inputs. This type of gaming device increases player excitement and enjoyment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Darren Maya, Joseph E. Kaminkow
  • Publication number: 20040072615
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a plurality of start values. The player selects one of the start values, as part of a game sequence. During the game sequence, the gaming device increments the start value to an apparent award. The gaming device in one embodiment enables the player to keep the apparent award or trade it for another apparent award. The other apparent award in one embodiment is derived from one of the other start values. After one or more keep or trade sequences, the player achieves one of the apparent awards. The gaming device then performs a sequence in which the apparent award changes into an actual award. The gaming device provides the actual award to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Darren Maya, Marc Mierau, Ryan W. Cuddy, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20040023707
    Abstract: A processor controlled gaming device having a display device, wherein the display device shows the player an offer, enables the player to keep the offer and provides a predefined number of chances for the player to change a component of or upgrade the offer. The player may use all the chances, wherein the game awards the final offer or keep any one of the initial or intermediate offers. In a general embodiment, the game displays a plurality of masked values and a plurality of displayed values on the display device. The initial offer is a combination and preferably an addition of each of the displayed values. The game in one preferred general embodiment allows the player to select the displayed value to mask and thus remove from the offer and the masked value to reveal and add to the offer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Darren Maya, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist
  • Publication number: 20030036422
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device that has a player selectable award feature that may be implemented with a primary or bonus game. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled gaming device that randomly generates a plurality of positions or digits of an award and enables the player to pick which position or digit receives a first randomly generated number, which digit receives a second randomly generated number, etc., until each of the positions have a number, whereby the gaming device determines the player's ultimate award. This sequence or feature may be employed in a bonus game, in a known base or primary game or in any stand alone game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist, Darren Maya, Robert N. Silva
  • Publication number: 20030036419
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device that has an award modification function for player selectable awards that may be implemented with a primary or bonus game. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled gaming device that randomly generates a plurality of positions or digits of an award and enables the player to pick which position or digit receives a first randomly generated number, which digit receives a second randomly generated number, etc., until each of the positions have a number, whereby the gaming device determines the player's ultimate award. The present invention further provides a plurality of modification methods for modifying the digits of the award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist, Darren Maya, Robert N. Silva, William J. Bussick