Patents by Inventor Hiromoto Yamauchi

Hiromoto Yamauchi 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).

  • Patent number: 10417876
    Abstract: A gaming machine that is capable of providing information relevant to a winning combination to a player before spinning of a respective one of reels stops in a unit game is provided. When the player's operation is made, in the case where the predetermined symbol is displayed in the effect reel display region 410, symbol arrays of the effect reels are scrolled in an upward direction or in a downward direction and then the predetermined symbol is displayed at the to-be-stopped position, or alternatively, in the case where the predetermined symbol is not displayed, scrolling is controlled so that a symbol displayed immediately after the above situation is replaced with the predetermined symbol and then the predetermined symbol appears from an upper part of the effect reel display region 410, and stops at the to-be-stopped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Hiroki Nakamura, Takeshi Narita, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10186107
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming machine capable of providing new gaming characteristics: the number of active lines is changeable to vary a winning probability. A slot machine controls a lower image display panel having a symbol display area in which some of symbols arranged in symbol arrays are respectively rearranged in display blocks in accordance with the game. The slot machine rearranges, on a one to one basis, the symbols in the display blocks arranged in a matrix of M columns by N rows. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the slot machine adds display blocks to the matrix in the symbol display area to form a matrix of M columns by N+? rows, and sets additional active lines in the expanded display frame, the number of the additional active lines being calculated by multiplying the number of the added rows ? by a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Yuki Terada, Kensaku Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10134237
    Abstract: A gaming machine which makes it possible to improve monotonous game play is provided. A gaming machine includes: a display device configured to display a game result by rearranging symbols arranged on video reels; a storage device configured to store a normal mode video reel on which the symbols including a predetermined symbol are arranged and a chance mode video reel on which the number of the predetermined symbol is larger than the number of the predetermined symbol on the normal mode video reel; and a controller configured to perform switching between a game in a normal mode using the normal mode video reel and a game in a chance mode using the chance mode video reel, when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Yukinori Inamura, Yoichi Kato, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Yukihiro Kawakami, Masahiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9792777
    Abstract: Symbols to be rearranged on the lower image display panel are randomly selected. When the combination of the rearranged symbols results in the establishment of a bonus trigger, how many BONUS symbols are included in the combination of the symbols is counted. Random determination based on a free game number random determination table is executed for a number of times corresponding to the counted number of the BONUS symbols. The randomly-determined total number of times of execution of the free game is awarded as the number of times of execution of the free game. Furthermore, when the number of the BONUS symbols including the combination of the symbols resulting in the establishment of the bonus game trigger is 15, the right to execute the free game 50 times is awarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Hideko Aoki, Toshitaka Suzuki, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9747756
    Abstract: As a normal game, symbols to be rearranged on a lower image display panel 141 are randomly determined, and the determined symbols are rearranged. When the combination of the rearranged symbols achieves bonus trigger, how many bonus symbol 167 is included in the symbols achieving the bonus trigger is included is determined. For the number of times corresponding the determined number of the bonus symbol 167, random determination is executed based on the bonus game number random determination table 192. The total sum of the numbers of times of execution of the free game having been awarded is awarded as the number of times of execution of the free game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiromoto Yamauchi, Hiroki Nakamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Hideko Aoki, Toshitaka Suzuki, Takehisa Itagaki, Yoichi Kato, Yukihiro Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20170243445
    Abstract: When a normal game is executed and a benefit awarded as a result of the game is the right to execute a free game, video reel groups of types A to E are randomly associated with first to fifth video reels 3a to 3e, respectively, a player selects one of the first to fifth video reels 3a to 3e, the type of the video reel group associated with the selected video reel is set as a video reel 3 used in the free game, and the free game is executed by using the selected video reel 3. After the free game is executed 6 times, whether to award the right to execute the free game again is randomly determined, and the right to execute the free game 6 times is awarded if it is determined that the right to execute the free game is awarded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Takehisa ITAGAKI, Masahiro YOSHIDA, Yukihiro KAWAKAMI, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI, Hiroshi TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 9721436
    Abstract: When a normal game is executed and a benefit awarded as a result of the game is the right to execute a free game, video reel groups of types A to E are randomly associated with first to fifth video reels 3a to 3e, respectively, a player selects one of the first to fifth video reels 3a to 3e, the type of the video reel group associated with the selected video reel is set as a video reel 3 used in the free game, and the free game is executed by using the selected video reel 3. After the free game is executed 6 times, whether to award the right to execute the free game again is randomly determined, and the right to execute the free game 6 times is awarded if it is determined that the right to execute the free game is awarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Takehisa Itagaki, Masahiro Yoshida, Yukihiro Kawakami, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9633517
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine employing a free game system which provides an enhanced game element. The gaming machine determines the number of adding free game based on a game number lottery table under the condition that a first symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game, and adds a preset number of free game under the condition that a second symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Masumi Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20170092048
    Abstract: A gaming machine which makes it possible to improve monotonous game play is provided. A gaming machine includes: a display device configured to display a game result by rearranging symbols arranged on video reels; a storage device configured to store a normal mode video reel on which the symbols including a predetermined symbol are arranged and a chance mode video reel on which the number of the predetermined symbol is larger than the number of the predetermined symbol on the normal mode video reel; and a controller configured to perform switching between a game in a normal mode using the normal mode video reel and a game in a chance mode using the chance mode video reel, when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Yukinori INAMURA, Yoichi KATO, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI, Yukihiro KAWAKAMI, Masahiro YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20170092050
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming machine capable of providing new gaming characteristics: the number of active lines is changeable to vary a winning probability. A slot machine controls a lower image display panel having a symbol display area in which some of symbols arranged in symbol arrays are respectively rearranged in display blocks in accordance with the game. The slot machine rearranges, on a one to one basis, the symbols in the display blocks arranged in a matrix of M columns by N rows. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the slot machine adds display blocks to the matrix in the symbol display area to form a matrix of M columns by N+? rows, and sets additional active lines in the expanded display frame, the number of the additional active lines being calculated by multiplying the number of the added rows ? by a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI, Yuki TERADA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9589419
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine which is capable of realizing an appropriate balance between players' profits and slot machine providers' profits. When a first number of bets have been selected, a control device executes a first basic unitary game which completes when a first time interval has elapsed after starting the game. When a second number of bets have been selected, the control device executes a second basic unitary game which completes when a second time interval shorter than the first time interval has elapsed after starting the game. On the basis of the fact that the first basic unitary game has been executed, the control device executes a first progressive game in which a first payout rate can be realized. On the basis of the fact that the second basic unitary game has been executed, the control device executes a second progressive game in which a second payout rate higher than the first payout rate can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Miyawaki, Masafumi Uchida, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9576439
    Abstract: A gaming machine that is capable of achieving respectively different game patterns at a time of a bonus game is provided. A main CPU displays a selection screen in a case where a feature game trigger is established, and causes a player to select either one of a free game and a roulette game. In a case where the free game is selected, a total of values that correspond to BONUS symbols that correspond to the feature game trigger is determined as the number of free games. The main CPU conducts lottery processing for determination of symbols and lottery processing for determination of BONUS symbol values. The values that correspond to the BONUS symbols are added on one by one basis, and a progress of obtaining the number of free games is displayed as effect on a video display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Yoichi Kato, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9495843
    Abstract: When a trigger condition is established in a normal game, a gaming machine 300 executes a process of shifting to a bonus game in which a re-trigger condition which is less stringent than the trigger condition may be established, a process of executing a free game at least once in the bonus game, and a process of increasing the payout rate of the free game in the bonus game when the re-trigger condition is established in the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Takehisa Itagaki, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Yoichi Kato, Yukihiro Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20160292957
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that achieves a uniform pay rate for the player with any number of activated paylines even though the gaming machine shows a symbol over a plurality of reel strips. The gaming machine selects a kind of element symbols from a plurality of kinds of element symbols based on the number of paylines activated with an input device, reconfigures symbol arrays to be displayed by replacing to-be replaced symbols included in the symbol arrays with the selected kind of element symbols, starts scrolling the to-be displayed symbol arrays while showing the selected kind of element symbols in the second display manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Kenji ENOKIDO, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI, Takaki NARITA
  • Patent number: 9373217
    Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has: a display device 12 configured to display a plurality of symbols to be continuously arranged; and a controller 30. The controller 30 executes the processing operations of: (a1) executing game processing and then according to a result of the game processing, determining whether or not to scroll at least one array of the symbols; (a2) scrolling the symbol array according to a result of the determination; and (a3) carrying out processing according to a result of the scroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Yoichi Kato, Makoto Miyawaki, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20160093172
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a display device; a storage device configured to store payout data indicative of relation between symbols and payouts; a controller configured to modify a setting of the group of reel strips, at a time of the second game so that the symbol arrays used in the second game leads to a higher expectation value for a payout determined based on a single set of the payout data, as compared with the symbol arrays used in the base game; and an input device for entering a selection of selectable targets displayed on the display device, the selectable targets including a selectable target corresponding to success and a selectable target corresponding to fail. When a payout is determined in the second game and the selectable target corresponding to success is selected through the input device, the controller executes a process of upgrading the payout through a predetermined calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI, Susumu MIO
  • Publication number: 20160086429
    Abstract: There are provided highly entertaining games. A gaming machine includes: a lower image display panel configured to variably display a plurality of symbol arrays with a plurality of symbols including normal symbols and special symbols each of which regarded as any one of the normal symbols, and then display a game result by rearranging the symbols in a symbol display region containing a matrix of display blocks, and a game controller configured to run the game, and award, to a player, a payout according to the game result. Before the variable displaying is started, the game controller determines a plurality of symbols to be rearranged on the lower image display panel, and when the special symbol included in the symbols determined satisfy a predetermined condition, executes a process of determining whether to perform the predetermined indication effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Kenji Enokido, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20160078712
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine which is capable of continuously providing a player with a feeling of expectation in a feature game mode. The gaming machine includes: a display for displaying a game in a base game mode and for displaying a unit game in a feature game mode being different from the base game mode; and a controller for determining a payout in the unit game in the feature game mode, (A-1-1) displaying order in which a plurality of unit games in the feature game mode are displayed is determined, and (A-1-2) the displaying order is rearranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Takehisa ITAGAKI, Yuuki TERADA, Yuji MIYAGAWA, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160063803
    Abstract: A slot machine 1 is provided with a table storage which is configured to store a free game type table in which A type to E type are associated with video reels, respectively, in the A type to E type the numbers of times of execution of the free game being associated with payouts for the game result so that the number of times of execution of the free game decreases as the payout for the game result increases, and the symbols being laid out in the video reels so that the video reels are identical with one another in overall expectation of the payout when the free game is executed for the number of times in accordance with the payout for the game result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Bungo Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20160042609
    Abstract: A gaming machine in which an overall payout rate can be adjusted to be consistent even if a fixed jackpot value which is awarded when a predetermined condition is established is changed is provided. In a slot machine 1, a fixed jackpot value—feature random determination probability setting table is used. This table includes fixed jackpot values and feature random determination probabilities each of which defines a probability of shifting from a normal game to a feature game The feature random determination probabilities are associated with the respective fixed jackpot values so that the feature random determination probability decreases as the associated fixed jackpot value increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Shinichi KAWASHIMA, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI, Bungo MATSUMURA