Patents by Inventor Yoshitomo Sasaki

Yoshitomo Sasaki 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: 10049527
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a power source unit; a game control device; a reporting device; a first temperature sensor provided to the power source unit, which monitors whether the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than a first threshold temperature; a second temperature sensor provided to the power source unit, which monitors whether the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than a second threshold temperature higher than the first threshold temperature; and a power control device which performs an abnormal-situation process which causes the reporting device to inform the occurrence of an abnormal situation, when the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than the first threshold temperature, and perform a power-supply stopping process which stops power supply to the devices, when the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than the second threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kawashima, Yoshitomo Sasaki, Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Masumi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9997008
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9865120
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9842460
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine whose casing is made compact with a reduced number of components of a radiation mechanism. A slot machine comprising a casing 411 accommodating therein a security cage SK having therein a APX motherboard AM and having a shelf board R21, wherein the APX motherboard has a control unit (not-shown CPU), and a fan configured to cool the control unit; an air hole 411i is formed on a side surface of the casing 411; the shelf board R21 has a hollow portion; and the hollow portion serves as an air intake duct which, with an aide of a negative pressure generated in the security cage SK by the fan, supplies an external air from the air hole 411i to the security cage SK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Sasaki, Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Hiromichi Ikeda, Akira Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9792775
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Hirato, Kou Kobayashi, Motomichi Sato, Takuto Nakayama, Yoshitomo Sasaki, Satoshi Joko
  • Patent number: 9792758
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a casing top having an upper door device capable of being opened/closed; a casing bottom having a lower door device capable of being opened/closed; an upper door lock mechanism capable of locking the upper door device; and an lower door lock mechanism capable of locking the lower door device, wherein the upper door lock mechanism is provided inside the casing bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kawashima, Yoshitomo Sasaki, Hiromichi Ikeda, Akira Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9530286
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20160335854
    Abstract: An object is to provide a gaming machine capable of facilitating the enhancement of the player's interest in a repeat random determination. The controller 220 executes the following steps of (1a) to (1d): (1a) selecting one slot 202 through random determination; (1b) when a multiplier upgrade slot 202a (repeat random determination slot) is selected in the step (1a), executing the step (1a) again; (1c) increasing a wheel multiplier (roulette multiplier) when the multiplier upgrade slot 202a is selected in the step (1a), and increasing the wheel multiplier each time the multiplier upgrade slot 202a is selected; and (1d) when a payout slot is selected in the step (1a), a payout is determined in accordance with the wheel multiplier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Kenta KITAMURA, Tatsuya TERANISHI, Kazunori OTSUKA, Akira OSAWA, Hiroatsu IKE, Yoshitomo SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20160005266
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a casing top having an upper door device capable of being opened/closed; a casing bottom having a lower door device capable of being opened/closed; an upper door lock mechanism capable of locking the upper door device; and an lower door lock mechanism capable of locking the lower door device, wherein the upper door lock mechanism is provided inside the casing bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keisuke KAWASHIMA, Yoshitomo Sasaki, Hiromichi Ikeda, Akira Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20160005265
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine whose casing is made compact with a reduced number of components of a radiation mechanism. A slot machine comprising a casing 411 accommodating therein a security cage SK having therein a APX motherboard AM and having a shelf board R21, wherein the APX motherboard has a control unit (not-shown CPU), and a fan configured to cool the control unit; an air hole 411i is formed on a side surface of the casing 411; the shelf board R21 has a hollow portion; and the hollow portion serves as an air intake duct which, with an aide of a negative pressure generated in the security cage SK by the fan, supplies an external air from the air hole 411i to the security cage SK.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshitomo SASAKI, Tatsuhiko TANIMURA, Hiromichi IKEDA, Akira SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20160005267
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a power source unit; a game control device; a reporting device; a first temperature sensor provided to the power source unit, which monitors whether the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than a first threshold temperature; a second temperature sensor provided to the power source unit, which monitors whether the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than a second threshold temperature higher than the first threshold temperature; and a power control device which performs an abnormal-situation process which causes the reporting device to inform the occurrence of an abnormal situation, when the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than the first threshold temperature, and perform a power-supply stopping process which stops power supply to the devices, when the temperature of the power source unit is at or higher than the second threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keisuke KAWASHIMA, Yoshitomo SASAKI, Tatsuhiko TANIMURA, Masumi SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160004370
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a motherboard unit having a substrate on which a semiconductor device is mounted, the semiconductor device being a single package sealing therein a main processor having a CPU function for executing a game processing and sub processor capable of executing video processing, wherein the motherboard unit is connected to a power supply unit, the main processor and the sub processor are connected to each other via a bus of a certain communication protocol, and the main processor, at a time of powering on by the power supply unit, preferentially activates the sub processor as a GPU for executing graphics processing which is a part of the game processing, before a connection destination of a bus of a communication protocol other than the certain communication protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keisuke KAWASHIMA, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoko Aikawa, Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Yoshitomo Sasaki, Akira Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20150317868
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20150317867
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20150317869
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9053614
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8926438
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine having a cabinet. Between the back as a back face and the right side face of the sides of the cabinet, the gaming machine has a right end side, which is formed by cutting a plane parallel to the gravitational direction in a manner to join lines spaced at predetermined distances in the individual directions of the back and the right side face from a line of intersection, on which the back and the right side face intersect when extended. The gaming machine also has a left end side between the back and a left side face. Moreover, the right end side and the left end side are symmetric with respect to a plane dividing the cabinet equally to the right and left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Sasaki, Akira Shimizu, Katsuhiro Kido, Kenta Kitamura, Hideaki Kishi, Hiroatsu Ike
  • Publication number: 20140287813
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8764549
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a reel having an outer circumferential surface on which symbols are lined up; a reel driving mechanism which rotates the reel to rearrange the symbols; a magnet which is provided in the reel driving mechanism to change an external magnetic field in accordance with the rotation of the reel; a magnetic force detecting mechanism which detects a magnetic force of the external magnetic field so as to output a magnetic force detection signal; a reel setting unit by which the magnetic force detection signal and arrangement positions of the symbols are associated with one another; and a reel drive control unit which controls the reel driving mechanism so that the symbols are rearranged in a predetermined arrangement based on the magnetic force detection signal and the arrangement positions of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Tanimura, Noritoshi Kukita, Hiroatsu Ike, Yoshitomo Sasaki
  • Patent number: RE46738
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine having a cabinet. Between the back as a back face and the right side face of the sides of the cabinet, the gaming machine has a right end side, which is formed by cutting a plane parallel to the gravitational direction in a manner to join lines spaced at predetermined distances in the individual directions of the back and the right side face from a line of intersection, on which the back and the right side face intersect when extended. The gaming machine also has a left end side between the back and a left side face. Moreover, the right end side and the left end side are symmetric with respect to a plane dividing the cabinet equally to the right and left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Sasaki, Akira Shimizu, Katsuhiro Kido, Kenta Kitamura, Hideaki Kishi, Hiroatsu Ike