Patents by Inventor Kou Kobayashi
Kou Kobayashi 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).
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Publication number: 20140342800Abstract: Provided is a presentation effect device capable of providing a new presentation effect in which it is possible to change the state where a player can visibly recognize an object to be visibly recognized to the state where a player can visibly recognize the object without any movable member. A presentation effect device is provided with a plate-like panel, an accommodation space partitioned by the plate-like panel, the accommodation space for accommodating an object to be visibly recognized, and an illumination device for illuminating the object to be visibly recognized by a signal from the outside, wherein the plate-like panel is composed of a beam splitter for dividing incoming light into reflection light and transmitted light.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicants: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Kou Kobayashi, Takashi Izawa, Masumi Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20140342796Abstract: A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a reel assembly including a plurality of reels that includes basic reels and an extra reel including a plurality of symbols; and a controller configured to: execute a first lottery with the basic reels in a game round; execute a second lottery to determine whether the extra reel spins in the game round; execute a third lottery to select one of the symbols on the extra reel when it is determined that the extra reel spins in the game round; control the basic reels to spin and stop in the game round; and control the extra reel to start spinning before the basic reels stop spinning in the game round.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta KITAMURA, Hiroki SAITO, Kensaku YOSHIKAWA, Kou KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 8845413Abstract: A gaming machine includes a symbol display device, a top box, and a controller. The symbol display device is capable of variably displaying and then rearranging a plurality of symbols. The top box is disposed at an upper part of the symbol display device and has an illumination target disposed on a front face and a plurality of visual recognition targets disposed therein. The controller is programmed to: variably display and then rearrange symbols on the symbol display device to thereby execute a normal game; execute an animation character acquisition game for acquiring a specific animation character from among a plurality of animation characters in accordance with specific symbols being rearranged in the normal game; and move at least one visual recognition target from among the plurality of visual recognition targets, based on a result of the animation character acquisition game. This configuration enables a player to be given notice in a mode of moving a visual recognition target in the top box.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Jun Hirato, Takeshi Iso, Megumi Shimohata, Kou Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8760554Abstract: An apparatus for processing image, includes an input unit for inputting user operation information, a recording medium for recording moving image data, a data processor for retrieving data recorded on the recording medium and generating display data in response to an input to the input unit, and a display unit for displaying the display data. The data processor selects a frame containing an image of a person's face from a scene as a moving image recording unit recorded on the recording medium, generates a thumbnail image of a face region extracted from the selected frame and displays on the display unit a list of generated thumbnail images arranged in a time-series order.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2008Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Satoshi Ebato, Kenji Tsushio, Tatsuhito Tabuchi, Kou Kobayashi, Yoshihito Okizaki, Shigeru Masuda
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Publication number: 20140024432Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reel for a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: forming an opening in a reel strip on which a plurality of first symbols are printed; forming a second symbol on an optical sheet by vacuum forming the optical sheet to form a symbol piece, the second symbol including a protrusion and a depression; attaching the symbol piece to the reel strip such that the second symbol is exposed through the opening of the reel strip; and attaching the reel strip to a reel frame for the slot machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Jun HIRATO, Kou KOBAYASHI, Motomichi SATO, Takuto NAKAYAMA, Yoshitomo SASAKI, Satoshi JOKO
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Publication number: 20130293739Abstract: An apparatus for processing image, includes an input unit for inputting user operation information, a recording medium for recording moving image data, a data processor for retrieving data recorded on the recording medium and generating display data in response to an input to the input unit, and a display unit for displaying the display data. The data processor selects a frame containing an image of a person's face from a scene as a moving image recording unit recorded on the recording medium, generates a thumbnail image of a face region extracted from the selected frame and displays on the display unit a list of generated thumbnail images arranged in a time-series order.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Satoshi EBATO, Kenji Tsushio, Tatsuhito Tabuchi, Kou Kobayashi, Yoshihito Okizaki, Shigeru Masuda
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Publication number: 20130288793Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes; a cabinet; an upper image display panel which is provided on the cabinet and is a display displaying an effect image regarding a game; a lamp body which is three-dimensionally formed and is a formed object provided on the cabinet to protrude toward the front surface as compared to at least the lower end of the upper image display panel; a sensor configured to detect the player' gesture with respect to the lamp body; a controller used to start the game, and the controller detects the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game and displays an effect image corresponding to the detected player's gesture on the upper image display panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenji ENOKIDO, Kou KOBAYASHI, Hiroki NAKAMURA
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Publication number: 20130288797Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes: a lamp body provided with LEDs so that the lighting state thereof is viewable from the outside; a sensor configured to detect a player's gesture with respect to the lamp body 132; and a controller used to start a game, the controller starting the detection of the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game, and causing the LEDs to emit light in a light emission mode in sync with the detected player's gesture while the player's gesture is being detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Kenji ENOKIDO, Kou KOBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20130288792Abstract: A gaming machine with more gaming excitement is provided. The gaming machine includes: a cabinet; an upper image display panel which is provided on the cabinet and displays an effect image concerning a game; a lamp body unit which includes a lamp body which is a formed object and a sensor configured to detect the player's gesture with respect to the lamp body and is provided at a position different from the upper image display panel when viewed from the front surface of the cabinet; and a controller used to start the game, and the controller detects the player's gesture by the sensor at a timing corresponding to the state of the game and displays an effect image corresponding to the detected player's gesture on the upper image display panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Kenta Kitamura, Kenji Enokido, Keita Shimura, Kou Kobayashi, Hiroki Nakamura
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Publication number: 20130260858Abstract: A cylindrical reel for a slot machine, which includes a plurality of symbols having different patterns is provided. A reel according to an embodiment includes: a reel frame configured to receive rotational force from a rotational axis of a motor; a reel stripe disposed on an entire circumference of the reel frame and having a front surface including a group of the symbols thereon; a symbol piece including: a first surface having a flange shape; and a second surface protruding from the first surface and including one of the plurality of symbols thereon, wherein the reel stripe has at a least one opening exposing the second surface of the symbol piece, and the first surface of the symbol piece is attached to a rear surface of the reel stripe.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicants: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC., Universal Entertainment CorporationInventors: Jun HIRATO, Kou Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8260090Abstract: An apparatus for processing an image includes an input unit for inputting user operation information, a recording medium for recording moving image data, a data processor for retrieving data recorded on the recording medium and generating display data in response to an input to the input unit, and a display unit for displaying the display data. The data processor generates a contracted image of an image selected at predetermined time intervals from a scene as a moving image recording unit recorded on the recording medium and displays on the display unit a list of generated contracted images arranged in a time-series order.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Satoshi Ebato, Kenji Yoshida, Tatsuhito Tabuchi, Kou Kobayashi, Yoshihito Okizaki, Shigeru Masuda
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Patent number: 8238711Abstract: An image pickup device includes an image pickup including an image pickup lens system and an image pickup element operable to obtain a pickup image; a recording device operable to record image data based on the pickup image to a predetermined recording medium; a reproducing section operable to reproduce the image data recorded in the recording medium; and a reproduction controller operable to control switching between an image pickup mode in which the image pickup operation by the image pickup and recording of the image data by the recording device are possible, and a reproduction mode in which the reproduction of the image data by the reproducing section is possible, to control the reproduction of the image data based on a last recorded image when the mode is changed to the reproduction mode for the first time after recording of the image data in the image pickup mode, and to control the reproduction of the image data based on a point at which the reproduction has been terminated in the previous reproductionType: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Watanabe, Tetsuo Morimoto, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20120163761Abstract: An image processing device, includes: a highlight extracted video creation unit creating a highlight extracted video, by obtaining a plurality of video files, obtained by extracting a highlight of each video file; and a highlight extracted video storage unit storing the highlight extracted video as one data file.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Takanori Minamino, Kou Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8081866Abstract: A playback apparatus includes a classified region selecting section that selects a classified region at random from among a plurality of classified regions on a recording medium, the recording medium including recorded data managed such that a plurality of pieces of unit data belong to corresponding classified regions serving as data storage logical regions generated in accordance with a predetermined classification rule; a unit data selecting section that selects a piece of unit data from among the pieces of unit data that belong to the selected classified region; a reading section that reads from the recording medium the selected piece of unit data in order to play back the selected piece of unit data; and an execution controller that controls the repeated execution of a series of selecting and reading operations including selection of a classified region, selection of a piece of unit data, and reading of the selected piece of unit data.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Watanabe, Tetsuo Morimoto, Kou Kobayashi, Kenichiro Imai, Yoshinobu Matsumoto
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Patent number: 8009961Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a stream data obtaining unit that obtains stream data; a file generating unit that converts the obtained stream data into a predetermined format to generate stream files; a recording unit that records the generated stream files; and an index file generating unit that generates an index file including a plurality of pieces of file information each including first link information linking to each of the stream files recorded in the recording unit. In response to an instruction to register a bookmark during the obtaining of the stream data, a bookmark information registering unit stores bookmark information regarding the bookmark in a memory, records the stream files in the recording unit, records the bookmark information in the recording unit, and records second link information linking to the bookmark information in the piece of file information for the recorded stream file associated with the bookmark.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Watanabe, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi, Tetsuo Morimoto, Ryoko Tokuda
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Publication number: 20110117998Abstract: A gaming machine includes a symbol display device, a top box, and a controller. The symbol display device is capable of variably displaying and then rearranging a plurality of symbols. The top box is disposed at an upper part of the symbol display device and has an illumination target disposed on a front face and a plurality of visual recognition targets disposed therein. The controller is programmed to: variably display and then rearrange symbols on the symbol display device to thereby execute a normal game; execute an animation character acquisition game for acquiring a specific animation character from among a plurality of animation characters in accordance with specific symbols being rearranged in the normal game; and move at least one visual recognition target from among the plurality of visual recognition targets, based on a result of the animation character acquisition game. This configuration enables a player to be given notice in a mode of moving a visual recognition target in the top box.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicants: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.Inventors: Jun Hirato, Takeshi Iso, Megumi Shimohata, Kou Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7929029Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject, a recording unit configured to record one of still image data and video image data captured by the image capturing unit on a storage medium in the form of an image file, a generating unit configured to generate a management file used for managing the image file recorded on the storage medium, and a registering unit configured to register an identifier of the image file recorded on the storage medium in the management file on a capture date basis in the order of capture time.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsuo Morimoto, Katsuhiko Watanabe, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20110064376Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject, a recording unit configured to record one of still image data and video image data captured by the image capturing unit on a storage medium in the form of an image file, a generating unit configured to generate a management file used for managing the image file recorded on the storage medium, and a registering unit configured to register an identifier of the image file recorded on the storage medium in the management file on a capture date basis in the order of capture time.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuo Morimoto, Katsuhiko Watanabe, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20110013036Abstract: An image pickup device includes an image pickup including an image pickup lens system and an image pickup element operable to obtain a pickup image; a recording device operable to record image data based on the pickup image to a predetermined recording medium; a reproducing section operable to reproduce the image data recorded in the recording medium; and a reproduction controller operable to control switching between an image pickup mode in which the image pickup operation by the image pickup and recording of the image data by the recording device are possible, and a reproduction mode in which the reproduction of the image data by the reproducing section is possible, to control the reproduction of the image data based on a last recorded image when the mode is changed to the reproduction mode for the first time after recording of the image data in the image pickup mode, and to control the reproduction of the image data based on a point at which the reproduction has been terminated in the previous reproductionType: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Watanabe, Tetsuo Morimoto, Kenichiro Imai, Kou Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7860821Abstract: In an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and a content output apparatus which are connected to each other, the content output apparatus is configured to include a function identification file creation unit adapted to, in accordance with a button operation by a user, create a function identification file for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a predetermined function, and a file storage unit adapted to store the function identification file in a storage unit, and the information processing apparatus is configured to include a detector adapted to detect a connection of the content output apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and a controller adapted to, after detecting the connection of the content output apparatus, start an application program to execute the function depending on the presence/absence of the function identification file in the storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroki Takakura, Shiro Miyagi, Kou Kobayashi, Tetsuo Morimoto, Kenichiro Imai, Katsuhiko Watanabe, Koichi Uchida