Patents by Inventor Yukinori Inamura

Yukinori Inamura 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: 9251669
    Abstract: On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yukinori Inamura, Yoichi Kato, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9208656
    Abstract: On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yukinori Inamura, Yoichi Kato, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9159201
    Abstract: On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yukinori Inamura, Yoichi Kato, Kazuo Okada, Yuji Miyagawa, Hiroki Nakamura, Takeshi Narita, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20140228092
    Abstract: On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicants: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Yoichi KATO, Kazuo OKADA, Yuji MIYAGAWA, Hiroki NAKAMURA, Takeshi NARITA, Hiromoto YAMAUCHI
  • Patent number: 8702500
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) setting a specific combination of symbols for a free game and an award for the specific combination of symbols that is larger than a normal award according to the cumulatively added points; (g) if a predetermined condition is satisfied, switching the game to a free game; and (h) if the specific combination of symbols is not displayed in the free game but displayed in a subsequent game, paying the larger award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa, Yoichi Kato
  • Publication number: 20140094258
    Abstract: On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America, Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Yoichi Kato, Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20140094250
    Abstract: On the slot machine, a slot game including a base game and free games is caused to proceed on a display. On the base game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than feature symbols and wild symbols, are arranged in succession. On the free game reel strips, on all of a plurality of reels, symbols whose each kind is the same, other than the feature symbols and the wild symbols, are arranged in succession and in addition thereto, only in a case of top symbols whose payout multiplying factor is the highest, the top symbols whose number is larger than a number of top symbols displayed on the base game reel strips are arranged in succession.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: Aruze Gaming America. Inc., Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Yoichi KATO, Kazuo OKADA
  • Patent number: 8684815
    Abstract: A gaming environment is described. In a base game, one or more paylines to be activated and a bet number for the activated paylines are set. If a combination of displayed symbols on the activated payline is a winning combination, an outcome amount is calculated by multiplying a payout number corresponding to the realized winning combination by the bet number, and the calculated outcome amount will be provided to the player. Also, a payout number corresponding to the number of the activated paylines will be additionally provided to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Yukinori Inamura
  • Patent number: 8636580
    Abstract: According to a slot machine of the present invention, a free game is executed when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In the free game, an amount of payout is determined based upon an amount of game media, which is obtained by dividing a total amount of the game media betted in the normal game by the number of BETs. Further, game media of the determined amount of payout are paid out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Inamura, Hiroki Saito
  • Patent number: 8616965
    Abstract: A gaming machine executing the processing of (A) accepting an input for placing a normal bet; (B) accepting an input for placing a side bet different from the normal bet, (C) starting a card game and displaying a player initial card on a display; (D) determining a result of a side game based on the player initial card, when a side bet has been placed; and (E) offering a first payout based on the result of the side game, advancing the card game to determine a result of the card game, and offering a second payout based on the result of the card game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corp., Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukinori Inamura, Kenta Kitamura, Hiroki Munakata
  • Publication number: 20130237309
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) setting a specific combination of symbols for a free game and an award for the specific combination of symbols that is larger than a normal award according to the cumulatively added points; (g) if a predetermined condition is satisfied, switching the game to a free game; and (h) if the specific combination of symbols is not displayed in the free game but displayed in a subsequent game, paying the larger award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA, Yoichi KATO
  • Patent number: 8500549
    Abstract: A slot machine executes rescue pay when a value Ta of a unit game counter reaches Ta max.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Patent number: 8449381
    Abstract: A slot machine executes rescue pay when a value Ta of a unit game counter reaches Ta max.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Patent number: 8435112
    Abstract: In a gaming machine, when a slot game displayed on a screen of a lower liquid crystal display is executed with a maximum wager betted thereon by a player, the controller has the slot game counted by a counter for counting rescue-setting games. When the count value, by the counter, for rescue-setting games reaches a thousand games and no payout of sixty times or higher ever occurs by that time, the controller provides, as a rescue pay, a payout having been increased by increments each of which is equivalent to a part of a wager betted on each of the slot games that have been executed thus far. The controller provides the payout of the rescue pay by paying out medals to the medal tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Patent number: 8342952
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) if the point cumulatively added in step (e) has reached a threshold, performing a lottery to determine a specific combination of symbols; (g) setting an award for the specific combination of symbols that is larger than a normal award; and (h) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, paying the larger award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8323095
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine is provided, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) increasing a winning probability for a specific combination of symbols according to the point cumulatively added in step (e); and (g) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, paying an award corresponding to the specific combination of symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20120289309
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine is provided, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) setting a specific combination of symbols for a free game and an award for the specific combination of symbols that is larger than a normal award according to the cumulatively added points; (g) if a predetermined condition is satisfied, switching the game to a free game; and (h) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device in the free game, paying the larger award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa, Yoichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8298071
    Abstract: A slot machine of the present invention is provided with a plurality of BET input devices with each of which a player can bet game media in a different amount. The number of times that a game is played is counted in association with the BET input device with which a BET has been inputted in that game. A predetermined profit is offered based on the number of times counted in association with the BET input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa, Yoichi Kato, Tatsuya Teranishi, Shinji Ogino, Hiroki Saito, Fumiya Abe, Nakayasu Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 8287360
    Abstract: A method for playing a game with a gaming machine is provided, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving a signal indicating an instruction of starting a game; (b) starting the game; (c) executing the game; (d) displaying a plurality of symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device as a result of the game, adding a predetermined point; (f) if the point cumulatively added in step (e) has reached a threshold, performing a lottery to determine a payout rate for a specific combination of symbols prior to the step (d); and (g) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, multiplying an award entitled to the specific combination of symbols by the payout rate determined in the step (f) and paying the resulting amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 8282469
    Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention comprises: a gaming portion where plural dice roll and stop; a memory; a station having an input device accepting a normal BET and a side BET that can be placed on the order of whether the total value of the outcomes of the dice in each game of a plurality of games is even or odd; and a controller programmed to execute the processing of (F) determining whether the total value of the outcomes of the plurality of dice is even or odd, (G) storing even-odd information showing the even or odd value determined in the processing (F) into the memory, and (H) offering a special payout, when the accepted side BET matches the order of even or odd values determined by the stored even-odd information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Yukinori Inamura