Patents by Inventor Kenta Kitamura

Kenta Kitamura 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: 9218725
    Abstract: A gaming machine which can control the tempo of the game to refresh the player while maintaining continuity of the game, enhancing entertainingness and amusement of the game, and encouraging the player's sense of achievements. The input unit receives an instruction related to a game. The memory stores a first symbol determination table causing that a specific symbol appears among rearranged symbols on the symbol display unit with a first probability and a second symbol determination table causing that the specific symbol appears among the rearranged symbols with a second probability higher than the first probability. The controller starts the game in response to the instruction received through the input unit to execute the game in a normal mode and shifting the normal mode to a chance mode according to the game result in the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Osawa, Tatsuya Teranishi, Takeshi Iso, Kenta Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9214070
    Abstract: A gaming machine randomly determines symbols to be rearranged on a reel unit in a game in a normal mode, based on a predetermined probability. The gaming machine determines whether the determined symbols include a chance symbol. When it is determined that the symbols include a chance symbol, the gaming machine randomly determines an expecting degree and conducts the shifting to a chance mode. In the game in the chance mode, the gaming machine randomly determines the symbols to be rearranged on the reel unit based on the probability corresponding to the determined expecting degree. When the game is run for a predetermined number of times, the gaming machine ends the chance mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Akira Osawa
  • Publication number: 20150356816
    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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Masumi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 9208654
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine provided with a mechanical reel, which expands the variation of the pattern of rearrangement of symbols. The gaming machine includes a reel assembly M1 including a plurality of reels bearing a plurality of symbols on the outer surface thereof, and a backlight device M7 for illuminating each of the reels from inside. The plurality of symbols includes a variable symbol CS for representing various symbols in response to the color of light emitted from the backlight device M7. The variable symbol CS represents a first symbol upon the backlight device M7 emitting first color light, and represents a second symbol upon the backlight device M7 emitting second color light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kondo, Akira Osawa, Jun Hirato, Kenta Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9208657
    Abstract: Provided is a slot machine which prevents two continuous symbols from coming to be continuous even by conducting a rewriting process. In a case where the one part of the symbol columns is stopped and displayed in the display frame of a symbol display area 4, when a continuous symbol (CHANCE symbol 403) stopped displayed in the display frame of the symbol display area 4 is present in an upstream direction of the scrolling display outside of the display frame of the symbol display area 4, conducted is a delay process in which the rewriting process is conducted for a portion of the symbol column which is present upstream of a position P1 of the continuous symbol (CHANCE symbol 403) in the scrolling display being present in the upstream direction of the scrolling display outside of the display frame of the symbol display area 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20150332544
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine having a reel strip that enables the player to speedily and easily see whether a wining pattern is completed. The reel strip for the gaming machine includes a symbol area including a winning element symbol based on which winning or not is determined and a blank area including a blank symbol irrelevant to determination of winning; the symbol area and the blank area are disposed adjacent to each other and the blank area is formed seamlessly with the symbol area as a part of the symbol area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Kou KOBAYASHI, Susumu MIO, Ai GENDA
  • Publication number: 20150332545
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that can prevent the player from getting bored with symbol effects until the symbols have been rearranged. The gaming machine randomly determines symbols to be rearranged in a display region, identifies an arrangement pattern of special symbols in the display region determined with the symbols determined in the symbol determination processing, and determines symbol effects by motion of symbols from start of movement until completion of rearrangement of the symbols based on the arrangement pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Susumu MIO, Ai GENDA
  • Publication number: 20150325083
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that offers wider applicability and more enjoyment. To this end, a slot machine 1 configured to run a normal game and a free game which develops from the normal game, includes a storage device storing a free game payout table and a normal game payout table, wherein a maximum payout obtainable in the normal game is higher than a maximum payout obtainable in the free game, and a chance of winning the maximum payout in the normal game is higher than a chance of winning the maximum payout in the free game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Susumu Mio, Kazunori Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 9183698
    Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention includes: a light application device configured to apply visible light representing visual information which enables recognition of information related to games on a reel band, The or each of one or more reels has a mirror layer which reflects the visible light from the light application device. The light application device is disposed in an area outside the window frame of the display window so that the visible light is applied to the reel, on the side of the reel band, and is used as a front light device that emits visible light which is not representing the visual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERISAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kondo, Jun Hirato, Kenta Kitamura, Takehisa Itagaki
  • Patent number: 9159197
    Abstract: On a lower image display panel 141, a game result of a game of rearranging symbols 501 is randomly determined. When the game result is winning of a bonus game, a first bonus game in which an in-bonus game such as a free game is executed more than once is executed. When the game result of the in-bonus game in the first bonus game is bonus winning, an indication effect indicating the winning of a second bonus game is executed during the execution of the first bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Makoto Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 9159188
    Abstract: A method of generating data for controlling an operation of a gaming machine is provided. The gaming machine includes a reel, a first driver for driving the reel, a rendering device, and a second driver for driving the rendering device. A data sheet including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns is provided. Columns include a trigger field, a reel field being predefined to be associated with the first driver, and an effect field being predefined to be associated with the second driver. When a first command for controlling the first driver is input to in the reel field of the first set of rows, and at least one second command for controlling the second driver is input to the effect field of the first set of rows, the second command is executed in synchronization with the first command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Kenta Kitamura, Hiroatsu Ike, Yuki Terada, Toshihiko Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9153103
    Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes: a symbol display device configured to display a result of a game by rearranging symbols in cells forming a matrix; and a controller used to start a base game requiring betting, a free game not requiring betting, and a plurality of types of bonus games. The controller is programmed to execute the steps of: executing a base game of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged in the symbol display device; determining whether a specific symbol is to be rearranged in a predetermined region of the symbol display device, the predetermined region including at least one cell; executing a free game of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged in the symbol display device; determining whether the specific symbol is to be rearranged in the predetermined region; and executing any one of the types of the bonus games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Kenji Enokido, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20150279167
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine which can provide games that are prevented from progressing monotonously and thus can provide a player with a feeling of tension, thereby facilitating the consumption of more gaming media. A currently played chance game is discontinued and the chance game is started afresh from the first game under the condition that a second symbol appears on a symbol display unit upon the number of games being less than a predetermined number in the chance game mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Tatsuya TERANISHI, Masumi FUJISAWA
  • Patent number: 9126112
    Abstract: A display device for a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a shutter assembly configured to cover and uncover the display panel at least in part, the shutter assembly including a first sliding door configured to move along a guide; and a driving unit configured to drive the first sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Joko, Hiroatsu Ike, Kenta Kitamura, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9129491
    Abstract: The controller of the gaming machine executing processing operations of: (a) determining a magnification of a respective one of plural kinds of colors which are produced in a color displayable manner by means of the multiple color light emitting backlight and then displaying on the display; (b) determining a light emitting color by means of the multiple color light emitting backlight and then controlling light emission in the determined color; and (c) executing a payout of a number which is obtained by multiplying the magnification that corresponds to the color determined in the processing (b), from among the magnifications of the respective colors, the magnifications being determined in the processing (a), for a payment that corresponds to the pattern of the specific symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Takehisa Itagaki, Masafumi Uchida, Makoto Miyawaki
  • Publication number: 20150243126
    Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention includes: a light application device configured to apply visible light representing visual information which enables recognition of information related to games on a reel band, The or each of one or more reels has a mirror layer which reflects the visible light from the light application device. The light application device is disposed in an area outside the window frame of the display window so that the visible light is applied to the reel, on the side of the reel band, and is used as a front light device that emits visible light which is not representing the visual information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshinori KONDO, Jun HIRATO, Kenta KITAMURA, Takehisa ITAGAKI
  • Patent number: 9117344
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine including gaming terminals having high payout rate without increasing loss on the management side. When a result of a base game associated with a payout is obtained, the gaming machine determines whether at least a competing game condition associated with the payout is satisfied or not and, when it is determined that the competing game condition is satisfied, sets neighboring gaming terminals as opponents. When the opponent participates in a competing game, a competing game for winning a payout by competing against the opponent is run. According to a result of the competing game, at least a part of the payout is given to the winner of the competing game, and no payout is given to the loser of the competing game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9111423
    Abstract: A gaming machine executes a process of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged on a reel unit. The gaming machine executes a process of determining a combination formed by the symbols. The gaming machine executes a process of selecting from a plurality of choices an indication effect which is executed before the rearrangement of the symbols on the reel unit, based on the determined combination. The gaming machine executes a process of executing the selected indication effect by a notification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Akira Osawa, Kenji Enokido
  • Patent number: 9098977
    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: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Masumi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 9087439
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine which can provide games that are prevented from progressing monotonously and thus can provide a player with a feeling of tension, thereby facilitating the consumption of more gaming media. A currently played chance game is discontinued and the chance game is started afresh from the first game under the condition that a second symbol appears on a symbol display unit upon the number of games being less than a predetermined number in the chance game mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Masumi Fujisawa