Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Jones

Stephen C. Jones 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: 9865140
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Publication number: 20170032628
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Patent number: 9466184
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Publication number: 20150287288
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Publication number: 20130316780
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Patent number: 8517815
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Patent number: 8480088
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a shuffling apparatus to a table is described. A bezel plate has an aperture permitting access to a top aperture in a shuffler apparatus. An aperture in the table top is covered by the bezel plate and a top portion of the shuffler apparatus is accessible through an aperture in the bezel plate. The bezel plate may be captivated to the table top using straps extending through the aperture in the table top and being affixed to the underside of the table top. The shuffler may be supported against the underside of the bezel plate by a bracket affixed to the underside of the table top. Alternatively, the bezel plate may be placed on the table top and the shuffler hung from an underside of the bezel plate by a bracket extending through the aperture in the table top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Shuffle Tech International LLC
    Inventors: Hirohide Toyama, Stephen C. Jones
  • Patent number: 7971881
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. The cards may be removed either through a top aperture through which the cards were introduced into the apparatus or using a removable tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Shuffle Tech International LLC
    Inventors: Hirohide Toyama, Stephen C. Jones
  • Patent number: 7900923
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. One of the compartments may be operable, either manually or by motive means so as to project outside the envelope of the apparatus so as to accept or dispense a deck of cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Shuffle Tech International LLC
    Inventors: Hirohide Toyama, Keith D. Alsberg, Stephen C. Jones
  • Patent number: 7845308
    Abstract: Systems having an in-line microwave heater to heat fluids for processing a substrate are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a microelectronic processing chamber, a reservoir for storing a fluid used to process wafers within the chamber, a supply line for transporting the fluid to the chamber, and a microwave heater arranged along the supply line. The system includes processor executable program instructions for operating the microwave heater at parameters configured to heat fluid within the supply line to a temperature greater than a fluid temperature within the reservoir, such as approximately 20° C. greater than the reservoir fluid temperature. It is noted that the inclusion of an in-line microwave heater is not limited to microelectronic fabrication systems, but may be used for any system in which heated fluids are used for processing a substrate, such as but not limited to electroplating or electroless plating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Corneille, Nancy E. Gilbert, Robert D. Tas, Steven Flanders, Timothy J. Franklin, Jason R. Wright, Stephen C. Jones, Joe Laia
  • Publication number: 20100144423
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Publication number: 20090314188
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a shuffling apparatus to a table is described. A bezel plate has an aperture permitting access to a top aperture in a shuffler apparatus. An aperture in the table top is covered by the bezel plate and a top portion of the shuffler apparatus is accessible through an aperture in the bezel plate. The bezel plate may be captivated to the table top using straps extending through the aperture in the table top and being affixed to the underside of the table top. The shuffler may be supported against the underside of the bezel plate by a bracket affixed to the underside of the table top. Alternatively, the bezel plate may be placed on the table top and the shuffler hung from an underside of the bezel plate by a bracket extending through the aperture in the table top.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Hirohide Toyama, Stephen C. Jones
  • Publication number: 20090307049
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes accessing a data structure that includes information about purchasers, merchants, and financial transactions between the purchasers and the merchants and generating purchaser clusters. Generating purchaser clusters includes clustering the purchasers based on which purchasers make purchases from the same or similar merchants. Each purchaser cluster adopts associations between purchasers belonging to the purchase cluster and merchants from which these purchasers have made purchases. The method also includes generating merchant clusters, where generating the merchant clusters includes clustering merchants based on which merchants are associated with the same or similar purchase clusters and outputting profile information that characterizes typical purchases associated with one or more of the merchant clusters for use in detecting fraudulent transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Frank W. Elliott, JR., Richard Rohwer, Stephen C. Jones, George J. Tucker, Christopher J. Kain, Craig N. Weidert
  • Publication number: 20080284096
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. The cards may be removed either through a top aperture through which the cards were introduced into the apparatus or using a removable tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Hirohide Toyama, Stephen C. Jones
  • Publication number: 20070194524
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. One of the compartments may be operable, either manually or by motive means so as to project outside the envelope of the apparatus so as to accept or dispense a deck of cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Hirohide Toyama, Keith D. Alsberg, Stephen C. Jones
  • Patent number: 6458185
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of a volatile organic compound (VOC) from a process stream by use of a bed of activated carbon is disclosed. In the first step, VOC laden gas passes through to the bed, in a first direction. In the second step, steam passes through the bed in a second direction. The first direction is opposite to the second direction. In the final step, cooling gas, ambient atmospheric air, passes through the bed in the second direction. This process yields greater VOC recovery efficiency and longer cycle life for the bed of activated carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Celanese Acetate LLC
    Inventors: Timothy D. Reiter, Stephen C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5648529
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the recovery of an organic acid. The organic acid is generated from the manufacture of a cellulose ester. The first step of the process is to remove the organic acid from the manufacture of cellulose ester. The acid is in the form of a weak acid stream comprising of the organic acid and water. The weak acid stream is resolved, via a solvent extraction, to form an extractor overhead stream and raffinate stream. The raffinate stream comprises solvent, water, and alcohol. The alcohol is produced in the recovery process by hydrolysis of the solvent after the solvent extraction. The raffinate stream is resolved into a overhead stream and a bottom stream. The overhead stream comprises water, alcohol, and solvent. Excess organic acid is added to the overhead stream to form a feed stream. The feed stream is catalyzed, via ion exchange resins, whereby a portion of the alcohol is esterified to the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Hoechst Celanese Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jones, Denis G. Fallon