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).

  • Publication number: 20140274300
    Abstract: On a lower image display panel 141, a game result of rearranged of symbols 501 is randomly determined. When the result is winning of a bonus game, individual indication data and common indication data associated with the type of the bonus game are specified. After an indication effect starts based on the common indication data, an indication effect is executed based on the individual indication data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Susumu MIO, Makoto MIYAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20140274293
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that can offer various play patterns and payout patterns without giving the player distrust or uncomfortableness. Upon establishment of a bonus trigger, a main CPU conducts a jackpot challenge lottery; if a jackpot is drawn, conducts another lottery to select either one of the prizes, Credit or Jackpot+Credit; if the prize Credit is drawn, pays out a determined amount to be credited; if the prize Jackpot+Credit is drawn, conducts another lottery for a jackpot prize, and pays out the amount corresponding to the drawn prize and the amount to be credited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Susumu MIO, Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20140274299
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine capable of improving amusingness of a game by varying the continuity of the main game. According to the present invention, a normal mode game in the normal mode is started based on an input of the bet information from the bet input device; the mode is entered from the normal mode to the chance mode when an enter condition is satisfied as a result of referring to the predetermined symbol determination table in the normal mode; a free game is started as a chance mode game in the chance mode; and the mode is returned from the chance mode to the normal mode when an end condition is satisfied as a result of referring to the specific symbol determination table in the chance mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Tatsuya TERANISHI, Akira OSAWA, Hiroki MUNAKATA, Kenji ENOKIDO, Takaki NARITA
  • Patent number: 8827797
    Abstract: In a gaming machine, a speaker outputs music at a predetermined time when it is determined that a result of a game satisfies a predetermined condition. A memory stores a program corresponding to a data sheet including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. The plurality of columns include a reel field being predefined to be associated with the reels and including a command for controlling the reels and a trigger field including a triggering condition for executing a command of a corresponding row in synchronization with the music. A controller determines the result of the game. Each time any one of a plurality of triggering conditions for a plurality of rows is satisfied, the controller controls the reels according to a command of a row having the satisfied triggering condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Ryosuke Takahashi, Tatsuya Teranishi
  • Publication number: 20140248940
    Abstract: A gaming machine 1: variably displays a plurality of symbols on a lower image display panel 141 in response to an external input; randomly determining symbols 501 to be rearranged on the lower image display panel 141; determining one of game results based on the symbols 501 randomly determined; execute a common indication effect common to all the game results; and after common indication effect is executed, executes an individual indication effect according to the game result determined while the symbols are variably displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Kenji ENOKIDO
  • Patent number: 8814655
    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: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Yoichi Kato, Makoto Miyawaki, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20140200064
    Abstract: A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first display unit that includes a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols thereon; and a controller configured to: determine whether a rendering effect activation is selected; execute a game by spinning and stopping the plurality of reels of the display device; and perform a rendering effect on the spinning and stopping of the plurality of reels when it is determined that the rendering effect activation is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio
  • Patent number: 8777734
    Abstract: On a lower image display panel 141, a game result of rearranged of symbols 501 is randomly determined. When the result is winning of a bonus game, individual indication data and common indication data associated with the type of the bonus game are specified. After an indication effect starts based on the common indication data, an indication effect is executed based on the individual indication data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Makoto Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 8764551
    Abstract: A gaming machine 1: variably displays a plurality of symbols on a lower image display panel 141 in response to an external input; randomly determining symbols 501 to be rearranged on the lower image display panel 141; determining one of game results based on the symbols 501 randomly determined; execute a common indication effect common to all the game results; and after common indication effect is executed, executes an individual indication effect according to the game result determined while the symbols are variably displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Kenji Enokido
  • Publication number: 20140141858
    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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicants: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC., UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Takehisa ITAGAKI, Masafumi UCHIDA, Makoto MIYAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20140094254
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine which does not bore the player through reel actions until completion of rearrangement of symbols. Under the condition where predetermined symbols are aligned on a payline when the symbols of a first scroll line of at least one of a plurality of scroll lines are being scrolled and symbols on the remaining second scroll lines are stopped, the gaming machine changes scrolling motion of symbols of the first scroll line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Susumu MIO, Hidekazu SUZUKI, Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20140094253
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine which holds a player's attention until symbols are rearranged by reel actions. The operation of the scroll of symbols of a first scroll line is changed under a condition that predetermined symbols are arranged on a pay line in a state where symbols of at least one first scroll line among a plurality of scroll lines are scrolled and symbols of remaining second scroll lines are stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun HIRATO, Motomichi SATO, Kenta KITAMURA, Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20140094251
    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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20140087816
    Abstract: A controller of a gaming machine executes a normal round of a game to spin reels of a first display, and triggers a chance round of the game when a result of the normal round satisfies a predetermined condition. The controller displays a wheel and a plurality of touch areas on a second display, and the wheel includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to a number of free rounds. When any one of the touch areas is touched and slid by a player, the controller spinning the wheel in a direction corresponding to the slid touch area, and randomly determines a number of free rounds. The controller stops the wheel at a position of an area that corresponds to the determined number of free rounds among the plurality of areas, and provides free rounds having the determined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Masumi Fujisawa, Tatsuya Teranishi, Takeshi Kada, Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20140087817
    Abstract: In a gaming machine, a speaker outputs music at a predetermined time when it is determined that a result of a game satisfies a predetermined condition. A memory stores a program corresponding to a data sheet including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns The plurality of columns include a reel field being predefined to be associated with the reels and including a command for controlling the reels and a trigger field including a triggering condition for executing a command of a corresponding row in synchronization with the music. A controller determines the result of the game. Each time any one of a plurality of triggering conditions for a plurality of rows is satisfied, the controller controls the reels according to a command of a row having the satisfied triggering condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Aruze Gaming (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Ryosuke Takahashi, Tatsuya Teranishi
  • Publication number: 20140066164
    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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Aruze Gaming (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo OKADA, Kenta Kitamura, Hiroatsu Ike, Yuki Terada, Toshihiko Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140045573
    Abstract: A slot machine 10 executes the processes of: (a1) executing a base game in which the symbols 501 are rearranged on the reel device M1 and a base payout is awarded in accordance with the rearrange symbols 501; (a2) when the symbols 501 are rearranged in the base game so that a predetermined condition is satisfied, displaying, on the upper image display panel 131, the roulette which selects one classification symbol 602 out of the classification symbols 602; and (a3) when one classification symbol 602 is selected out of the classification symbols 602, executing a bonus game which corresponds to the selected classification symbol 602 and is any one of first to fifth bonus games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Yoshikawa, Kenta Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8647189
    Abstract: A game function which is capable of achieving high entertainability is provided. In a case where an instruction for selecting any of a plurality of bet types is inputted via an input device, information for description of the bet type is displayed based upon information data according to the bet type selected by the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenta Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8622807
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine that is capable of realistically informing a player of a payout rate, and that is capable of having a variety of entertainment properties by means of a variety of games. The gaming machine is adapted to display a specific symbol that can be employed in place of another symbol, so as to be substituted for any of symbols to be scrolled, by means of random determination, in a bonus game, to thereby able to cause a possibility that a prize to be awarded to a player increases every time a specific symbol is entered and then visually display a state that is indicative of such possible increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8622802
    Abstract: A gaming machine according to an embodiment includes a symbol display and a controller. The symbol display configured to display an arrangement and a rendering movement of a plurality of symbols for a game, and the plurality of symbols including first and second symbols different from each other. The controller is configured to receive an input from a player, to determine whether a time of the input from the player is within a predetermined time duration during the rendering movement when the rendering movement satisfies a first condition, the predetermined time duration starting at a predetermined frame before the first symbol reaches at a predetermined position, and to stop a group of the symbols including the first symbol in response to the input from the player when the time of the input is within the predetermined time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Hiroatsu Ike, Akira Osawa