Patents by Inventor William R. Wells

William R. Wells 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: 8079593
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a self-contained dice shaker assembly. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of one or more dice and a sensor assembly in communication with the container interior. The sensor assembly may be configured to monitor, in accordance with one or more predetermined parameters, the shake quality of the dice in the container during a shaking event. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include an identification assembly operable to identify the outcome of a respective outcome face of each die associated with the outcome of a shaking event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, William R. Wells
  • Patent number: 8070594
    Abstract: A machine having a card processing assembly. The machine has a plurality of card holders connectable to the card processing assembly. One card holder is configured to hold data cards associated with one condition. At least one other card holder is configured to hold data cards associated with another condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hedrick, William R. Wells, Franco Crivelli, Greg Parrott
  • Patent number: 8061913
    Abstract: A machine having a card processing assembly. The card processing assembly has a card drive and a heating device. The heating device is operable to cause a human-readable symbol to be viewable on a data card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Eric Meyerhofer, Joseph R. Hedrick, William R. Wells, Franco Crivelli
  • Patent number: 8057296
    Abstract: A gaming device having a card management system which is operable to manage a plurality of circulating data cards. The gaming device includes a card read-write device for reading data cards, a plurality of vertically-stacked card holders for holding a plurality of data cards and one or more card transporters for moving data cards to and from the card holders. The gaming device is operable with a portable card changeover machine. The present invention increases the convenience and efficiency for playing and managing gaming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph R. Hedrick, William R. Wells, Franco Crivelli, Greg Parrott
  • Patent number: 8057302
    Abstract: A modularized gaming machine operable to receive wagers on a play of a game of chance is described. The modularized gaming machine may include a base gaming module that can operate independently or can be coupled to additional gaming modules. In one embodiment, the base gaming module may include a security monitoring system operable to determine a security configuration including error conditions that depends on features of gaming modules coupled to the base gaming module. In another embodiment, the security monitoring system may be operable to monitor a fixed security configuration that is independent of the configuration of the modularized gaming machine. The fixed security configuration may anticipate input from security devices that are unconnected in a particular configuration of the modularized gaming machine. In these instances, a signal mechanism may provide information to the security monitoring system to ensure a non-error condition for unconnected security devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William R. Wells, Chauncey W. Griswold, Ricky Lew, Christian E. Gadda, Richard L. Wilder, Harold E. Mattice
  • Patent number: 8033902
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus comprising a display unit capable of generating video images is described. The display unit can be a flat panel display with aspect ratio having a magnitude greater than or equal to 16/10. A wager-based game can be provided on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventors: William R. Wells, Chauncey W. Griswold
  • Publication number: 20110243631
    Abstract: A machine having a card processing assembly. The card processing assembly has a card drive and a heating device. The heating device is operable to cause a human-readable symbol to be viewable on a data card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Eric Meyerhofer, Joseph R. Hedrick, William R. Wells, Franco Crivelli
  • Publication number: 20110233273
    Abstract: A machine having a card processing assembly. The card processing assembly has a card drive and a heating device. The heating device is operable to cause a human-readable symbol to be viewable on a data card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Eric Meyerhofer, Joseph R. Hedrick, William R. Wells, Franco Crivelli
  • Publication number: 20110212778
    Abstract: For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device, such as for a gaming machine, for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator is disclosed. The device comprises a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator and a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20110195787
    Abstract: A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LEAP FORWARD GAMING
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20110195788
    Abstract: A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LEAP FORWARD GAMING
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20110195789
    Abstract: A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LEAP FORWARD GAMING
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20110195792
    Abstract: A gaming device for a gaming machine is described. The gaming device can be configured to implement commands related to performing maintenance operations on the gaming machine. The commands can be initiated from a remote device, such as mobile device, separate from the gaming machine and the gaming device. In one embodiment, the gaming peripheral can be coupled to a power switching device on the gaming machine. A number of devices on the gaming machine, such as game controller, can be configured to receive power that is routed through the power switching device. The gaming device can be configured to receive a command from a remote device to cycle power on the gaming machine using the power switching device. In one example, the power can be cycled on the gaming machine to clear an error condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LEAP FORWARD GAMING
    Inventors: William R. Wells, Ali Saffari
  • Publication number: 20110195775
    Abstract: A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LEAP FORWARD GAMING
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20110195786
    Abstract: A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LEAP FORWARD GAMING
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20110118013
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a rotating object that has at least one configurable surface that may be configured electronically. The rotating object may be synchronized with a video display. Configurable surfaces can use bistable materials, electroluminescent materials, LCDs, LEDs, OLEDs, projection, or other techniques. The appearance of the rotating object is changed without physically changing the rotating object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Harold E. Mattice, William R. Wells, Chauncey W. Griswold, Christian E. Gadda, Richard L. Wilder, James W. Stockdale
  • Patent number: 7942744
    Abstract: For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device, such as for a gaming machine, for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator is disclosed. The device comprises a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator and a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Patent number: 7878910
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods that cast an image into a person's eye from a retinal image system included with a gaming machine. The gaming machine includes a retinal image system located within or about the external cabinet and configured to cast an image toward an eye of a person near the gaming machine. The gaming machine also includes an eye detection system configured to locate the eye relative to a position of a projection component of the retinal image system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: William R. Wells
  • Publication number: 20110018194
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a self-contained dice shaker assembly. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of one or more dice and a sensor assembly in communication with the container interior. The sensor assembly may be configured to monitor, in accordance with one or more predetermined parameters, the shake quality of the dice in the container during a shaking event. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include an identification assembly operable to identify the outcome of a respective outcome face of each die associated with the outcome of a shaking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, William R. Wells
  • Patent number: 7867083
    Abstract: In a method of operating an authentication server, where the authentication server operatively coupled to a network, a request to determine whether a person is allowed to play a game on a gaming system may be received from a computer via the network. The request may include biometric data associated with the person. The received biometric data may be compared with data in a database that includes biometric data of persons allowed to play games on the gaming system. It may be determined whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system based on the comparison of the received biometric data with the data in the database. A message may be transmitted to the computer via the network that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system. Additionally, it may be determined whether a gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location for playing the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: William R. Wells, Harold E. Mattice, Chauncey W. Griswold, Richard L. Wilder