Patents by Inventor Masumi Fujisawa

Masumi Fujisawa 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: 20240112535
    Abstract: In one aspect, an improved craps system may comprise at least one camera and a dealer station having at least one dealer station memory, at least one dealer station display device, and at least one dealer station processor in communication with the at least one camera. The at least one dealer station processor may be configured to receive the information from the camera regarding the throw of dice and determine, based upon the information, whether the throw complies with one or more requirements for a proper throw of dice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yoko AIKAWA, Hiromichi IKEDA, Hiroatsu IKE, Shinya HASHIDUME, Waduthantiri Rasika Arunapriya DE SILVA, Shunichi FUJITA, Masumi FUJISAWA, Yukinori INAMURA
  • Patent number: 10510212
    Abstract: A gaming machine which makes it possible to avoid monotonous game play is provided. At the start of each game play, gaming machine executes processes of: randomly selecting one of symbol random determination tables in which a probability of rearrangement of each symbol on each reel is defined, based on a symbol random determination table determination table in which a probability of random selection of one of the symbol random determination tables for each of the random determination tables; a symbol random determination process of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged based on the selected symbol random determination table; and displaying the determined symbols on a display device by rearranging the reels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Yukinori Inamura, Kenta Kitamura
  • 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: 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: 9881463
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Hidekazu Suzuki, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9865131
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Kensaku Yoshikawa, Susumu Mio, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9842473
    Abstract: After determining that a game state is a non-play state, it is determined whether or not a credit required for a play has been inputted within a predetermined time period. When the credit has not been inputted within the predetermined time period, a display mode in which a plurality of different bonus ranks are displayed on a middle image display panel in a first state in which a bonus or bonuses are likely to be obtained by a drawing and in a second state in which the bonus or bonuses are not obtained thereby is switched to a display mode in which all of the plurality of bonus ranks displayed in display areas are displayed in either of the first state or the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: Masumi Fujisawa
  • 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: 20170200346
    Abstract: A gaming machine which relieves the monotony of the game is provided. The game machine executes the processes of: (1A) randomly determining symbols for a normal mode, which will be rearranged on the display device based on a predetermined symbol random determination table; (1B) rearranging and displaying the symbols determined in the process (1A) on the display device; (1C) in cases where the symbols rearranged on the display device form a specific symbol combination, randomly determining symbols for a high-probability mode, which will be rearranged on the display device based on a symbol random determination table which specifies a higher probability of rearrangement for a predetermined symbol than that specified in the symbol random determination table used in a previous game; (1D) rearranging and displaying the symbols determined in the process (1C) on the display device; (1E) repeating the processes of (1C) and (1D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Yukinori INAMURA, Kenta KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170200345
    Abstract: A gaming machine which makes it possible to avoid monotonous game play is provided. A gaming machine executes: (1A) a symbol random determination process of randomly selecting a symbol to be rearranged from symbols on a predetermined reel, based on a predetermined symbol random determination table; (1B) a process of selecting one of the symbol random determination tables, with reference to the symbol selected in the symbol random determination process and the symbol random determination table selection table; and (1C) a symbol random determination process of randomly selecting a symbol to be rearranged from symbols on a reel which is to be rearranged after the predetermined reel, based on the symbol random determination table selected in the process (1B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Yukinori Inamura, Kenta Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9691231
    Abstract: Probability of prize occurrence is easily controlled without provision of a blank between symbols on a reel. A gaming machine 300 includes a lower image display panel 141 configured to variable-display symbol arrays 170 each including a plurality of normal symbols 501 and a plurality of crest symbols 502 arranged among the normal symbols 501, and then rearrange the normal symbols 501 and the blank symbols 502 in a symbol display region 150 having a matrix of cells. The gaming machine 300 generates a line win or a scatter win when the normal symbols 501 are rearranged on the lower image display panel 141 in a predetermined manner, and generates a crest win which is lower than the line win and the scatter win when a predetermined number or more of the crest symbols 502 are rearranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Hiroki Saito
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9607478
    Abstract: A plurality of gaming terminals provided in a parallel manner, a plurality of upper displays which are provided in a parallel manner independently from the gaming terminals and form a single common effect display screen, a plurality of display controllers controlling image display on the respective upper displays, and a center controller controlling the display controllers are provided. The center controller controls the display controllers so that the upper displays perform image display as one common effect display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Kenta Sugano, Daisyun Okamoto, Masumi Fujisawa, Takehisa Itagaki
  • Patent number: 9600955
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Tatsuya Teranishi, Takeshi Kada, Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20170069170
    Abstract: A gaming machine which makes it possible to avoid monotonous game play is provided. At the start of each game play, gaming machine executes processes of: randomly selecting one of symbol random determination tables in which a probability of rearrangement of each symbol on each reel is defined, based on a symbol random determination table determination table in which a probability of random selection of one of the symbol random determination tables for each of the random determination tables; a symbol random determination process of randomly determining symbols to be rearranged based on the selected symbol random determination table; and displaying the determined symbols on a display device by rearranging the reels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Masumi FUJISAWA, Yukinori INAMURA, Kenta KITAMURA
  • Patent number: 9589425
    Abstract: Provided is a slot machine capable of reducing unfairness which may result between a player who has made an investment and a player who has not made an investment and allowing a player to proceed with a game by making an investment in expectation of a jackpot at ease. Each money amount which is constant is accumulated independently of a number of bets each time betting is conducted, and upon winning a jackpot, a money amount calculated by multiplying a money amount accumulated until then by a multiplying factor based on the number of bets is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kato, Hiroaki Kashima, Naoya Shirai, Masumi Fujisawa, Hiroki Nakamura, Takeshi Aoki, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9576441
    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: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Masumi Fujisawa
  • 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