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).

  • Publication number: 20090048011
    Abstract: A gaming environment is described. A gaming machine has plural JACKPOTs. If JP symbols are displayed with a predetermined number or above, one of JACKPOT corresponding to the number of the displayed JP symbols will be provided to the player. Since the number of the displayed JP symbols explicitly corresponds to the JACKPOT to be provided, the player can easily under stand the JACKPOT to be provided based on the number of displayed JP symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Yukinori INAMURA, Tetsuya YOKOTA, Yoichi KATO, Arata AJIRO
  • Publication number: 20090017898
    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: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA, Yoichi KATO
  • Publication number: 20090017897
    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 symbols on a display device; (e) each time a predetermined symbol or a predetermined combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, 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; (h) if the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, paying the larger award; and (i) if a combination of symbols different from the specific combination of symbols is displayed on the display device, switching the larger award back to the normal award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20090017900
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20090017901
    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: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa, Yoichi Kato
  • Publication number: 20090017902
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20090017899
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20080280672
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display device, a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) determine a combination of symbols to be displayed on the display device by performing a lottery in response to acceptance of manipulation to start the game by a player; (b) cause the display device to perform a variable display of symbols; (c) cause the display device to perform a statical display of the symbols in accordance with a result of the lottery; (d) when the statical display of the symbols matches a specific combination of symbols, control the memory to cumulatively store points. A number of the points is smaller than a threshold that is required for performing a special program that is adapted to provide profits to the player. When a summation of the points stored in the memory has reached the threshold, the controller executes the special program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20080280675
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display device, a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) determine a combination of symbols to be displayed on the display device by performing a lottery; (b) cause the display device to perform a variable display of symbols; (c) cause the display device to perform a statical display of the symbols in accordance with a result of the lottery; (d) when the statical display of the symbols matches a specific combination of symbols, control the memory to cumulatively store a predetermined number of points. When a summation of the points stored in the memory has reached a threshold as a result of completion of a particular game, the controller allows the player to be continuously in an advantageous situation during games subsequent to the particular game until a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA, Kazumasa YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20080261675
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes reels, motors, an input device, and a controller. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) start a game in response to an input to an input device; (b) determine symbols to be statically displayed on the reels by performing a lottery; (c) transmit a signal to the motors so as to cause the reels to rotate; (d) transmit a signal to the motors so as to cause the reels to come to rest in accordance with a result of the lottery; (e) when the symbols statically displayed matches a predetermined combination of symbols, determine a corresponding amount of award to be paid from credit; and (f) when the symbols statically displayed match a first combination of symbols, determine an amount of award to be paid from the credit for a second combination of symbols differing from the first combination of symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Aruze Corp.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20080261677
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes reels, motors, an input device, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (a) execute a lottery and start a game; (b) transmit a signal to the motors to cause the reels to rotate; (c) transmit a signal to the motors to cause the symbols to come to rest in accordance with a lottery result; (d) when the symbols statically displayed on the reels match a combination of symbols, determine a corresponding amount of award to be paid from credit; (e) when a first combination of symbols occurs, matching none of combinations of symbols, accumulate a point; (f) when a second combination of symbols differing from the first combination of symbols is statically displayed on the display device, determine an amount of award to be paid from the credit in accordance with points; and (g) pay the amount of award determined in (f).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE Corp.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20080261676
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes reels, motors, an input device, a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (a) execute a lottery and start a game in response to an input to the input device; (b) transmit a signal to the motors so as to cause the reels to rotate; (c) transmit a signal to the motors so as to cause symbols to come to rest in accordance with the lottery result; (d) when the symbols statically displayed on the reels match a combination of symbols, determine a corresponding amount of award to be paid from credit; (e) when a condition is satisfied, increase an amount of award to be paid from the credit for a special combination of symbols; and (f) when the special combination of symbols is statically displayed on the reels, pay the increased award preferentially from the credit stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE Corp.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori Inamura, Kazumasa Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20080254871
    Abstract: A slot machine executes rescue pay when a value Ta of a unit game counter reaches Ta max.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Aruze Corp.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Publication number: 20080254857
    Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention comprising: a controller programmed to conduct processing of; (A) determining, when game media in number corresponding to a natural-number multiple of a predetermined minimum BET unit are BET on a plurality of BET objects of which game results are determined independently of each other, a value of BETTING on each of the BET objects based on the amount of game media BET and the number of the BET objects, and the game results of the respective BET objects, determining an amount of a payout for each of the BET objects on the basis of the value of BETTING and the game result thereof, and determining an amount of an expected payout for a single unit game by summing up the amounts of the payouts; (B) determining a fractional value obtained by division of the amount of the expected payout for the single unit game determined in the processing (A) by the minimum BET unit; (C) paying out, to a player, an amount determined by subtraction of the fractional value determined in the
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori Inamura
  • Publication number: 20080254869
    Abstract: A gaming machine executes a unit game in which it is determined whether or not an outcome of the unit game is worth awarding a payout. The gaming machine includes a lower LCD for displaying images relating to the unit games, a counter for accumulating a count-value with successive unit games and resetting the count-value when a predefined reset condition is met, and a controller. The controller provides a predefined payout to a player when the outcome of the unit game turns out to be a specific outcome. The controller also receives a wager for an insurance pay. Furthermore, the controller provides a progressive bonus to the player when the count-value reaches a predefined value in the unit game with a wager for the insurance pay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Aruze Corp.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Publication number: 20080254864
    Abstract: The gaming machine according to the present invention includes a controller programmed to conduct the processing of; (A) determining, when game media in number corresponding to a natural-number multiple of a predetermined minimum BET unit are BET on a plurality of BET objects of which game results are determined independently of each other, a value of BETTING on each of said BET objects based on the amount of game media BET and the number of said BET objects, and said game results of said respective BET objects, determining an amount of a payout for each of the BET objects on the basis of said value of BETTING and said game result thereof, and determining an amount of an expected payout for a single unit game by summing up the amounts of the payouts; (B) determining a fractional value obtained by division of the amount of the expected payout for the single unit game determined in said processing (A) by said minimum BET unit; (C) paying out, to a player, game media in amount determined by subtraction of the fr
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Publication number: 20080254865
    Abstract: A gaming machine according to the present invention includes a controller programmed to conduct the following processing of; (A) executing a game, in which game media are paid out, when a predetermined condition is satisfied after game media are BET, (B) shifting a mode to an insurance mode from a non-insurance mode, on condition that game media have been inserted, (C) accumulatively storing the game media BET and/or inserted, (D) counting the number of games executed after shifting to said insurance mode, (E) shifting to said non-insurance mode, when the number of games reaches a number of games corresponding to the number of inserted game media, and (F) paying out the game media accumulatively stored, when the number of games reaches a specific number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE Corp.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Publication number: 20080254859
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display configured to display an image concerning a unit game for determining whether or not a play result deserves a payout, a counter configured to be reset under a predetermined condition and to increment a count value every time the unit game is executed, and a controller. The controller performs control to execute a second game when a play result of the unit game satisfies a specific play result. The controller performs control to receive a bet, as a prerequisite for getting an insurance-pay, made on an arbitrary number of the unit games set as a group, and to execute a second game when the count value reaches a predetermined value in the group of the unit games on each of which a bet as a prerequisite for getting an insurance-pay is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Aruze Corp.
    Inventors: Jun Fujimoto, Yukinori Inamura
  • Publication number: 20080254868
    Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention comprising: a controller programmed to conduct processing of; (A) determining, when game media in number corresponding to a natural-number multiple of a predetermined minimum BET unit are BET on a plurality of BET objects of which game results are determined independently of each other, a value of BETTING on each of the BET objects based on the amount of game media BET and the number of the BET objects, and the game results of the respective BET objects, determining an amount of a payout for each of the BET objects on the basis of the value of BETTING and the game result thereof, and determining an amount of an expected payout for a single unit game by summing up the amounts of the payouts; (B) determining a fractional value obtained by division of the amount of the expected payout for the single unit game determined in the processing (A) by the minimum BET unit; (C) paying out, to a player, an amount determined by subtraction of the fractional value determined in the
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ARUZE CORP.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori INAMURA
  • Publication number: 20080254875
    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: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Aruze Corp.
    Inventors: Jun FUJIMOTO, Yukinori Inamura