Patents Assigned to Konami Gaming, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11640749
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller determines a player skill level value associated with the player based on player skill operations received during game play and accesses RTP value data to determine an RTP value based on the determined player skill level value and the received wager amount. The controller generates a plurality of primary awards as a function of the determined RTP value, displays a primary award selection screen to select a primary award from the plurality of primary awards, and adjust the credit balance based on the player selected primary award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Delekta, Michael Kuhlmann, Satoshi Suda
  • Patent number: 11640750
    Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a game control unit programmed to display a game screen including a primary game area a plurality of primary game reels and a bonus feature event area including a plurality of bonus prize cells. Each bonus prize cell is configured to display a randomly selected bonus prize, and is operable as one of an active bonus prize cell and an inactive bonus prize cell. Each bonus prize cell is associated with a wager amount value. The game control unit initiates an instance of the game by receiving a wager being placed on the game by the player, selecting bonus prize cells having associated wager amount values equal to or less than the wager amount of the received wager, and operating the selected bonus prize cells as active bonus prize cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bland, Yuji Ohno
  • Publication number: 20230113391
    Abstract: A networked casino management computer system is described herein. The networked casino management computer system includes a facial recognition system and a casino management server. The facial recognition system is programmed receive a facial image from an imaging device, access a biometric database and select a face ID matching the received facial image, and transmit the selected face ID and location information associated with the imaging device to the casino management system. The casino management system is programmed to access a player database and identify a player record associated with the selected face ID, identify a device located within the casino that is associated with the imaging device, and record activity of the identified device to the identified player record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Soukup, Edward Sepich, Jeffrey George, Jason Bertsch
  • Patent number: 11625983
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a first display area with a first grid of cells, and a second display area with a second grid of cells. The first symbol display area includes a first plurality of cells arranged in a first grid. The control unit randomly establishes a bonus pattern of symbols in the second grid of cells and copies the bonus pattern of symbols into the first grid of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 11625990
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine that can provide a novel game in which the game progression is varied, a method, and a program for providing a game. In the gaming machine 1, the symbol blocks B1 and B2 displayed in the block display region 66 move in the directions D1 and D2, which intersect in the direction of reel rotation, when moving in the symbol display region 60. That is, the symbol blocks B1 and B2 are added to the movement in the direction of reel rotation, and also move in a direction orthogonal to the direction of reel rotation. Therefore, compared to a case in which a symbol block moves in the direction of reel rotation, prediction by a player of the positions where the symbol blocks B1 and B2 are finally disposed is difficult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11605262
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display first and second display areas. A number of free bonus may be awarded during a primary game. During the free spins, any occurrences of a predetermined symbol is copied to the second display area. After the free spins, a secondary bonus may be provided using the second display area and the copied symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11600132
    Abstract: A projection surface gaming system for projecting video images onto a physical gaming table is described herein. The projection surface gaming system includes a video projection device, an object sensing system, and a controller including a processor. The processor is programmed to execute an algorithm including the steps of projecting a first image on a surface of the physical gaming table using the video projection device, detecting a player's interaction with an area of the physical gaming table displaying the first image using the object sensing system, and projecting a second image on the surface of the gaming table in response to detecting the player's interaction with the area of the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Soukup, Sina Miri
  • Patent number: 11587390
    Abstract: A gaming system including one or more gaming machines provides a game to one or more players. The game includes a primary game and a bonus game with first and second features. In the first feature a plurality of objects are presented to a player. The player is allowed to select one of the objects and an associated award may be awarded. Any unselected objects are added to an escrow meter. In the second feature, the player is allowed to select one or more of the escrow objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Ohno, Satoshi Suda, Yuji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11551513
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides a game feature. The gaming machine includes an operation unit, a display unit, a memory device and a game control unit. The operation unit receives an operation input of the player. The display unit is configured to display a game screen including computer generated graphics. The memory device stores a game execution program including computer instructions for generating the game feature. The game control unit executes the game execution program to provide the game feature and is coupled to the operation unit, the display unit and the memory device. The game control unit includes a processor programmed to display a game feature structure on the game screen on the display unit. The game feature structure includes a wheel having a plurality of wedges. Each wedge has an associated indicia. The indicia are from a set of indicia which includes a plurality of prize symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Majgan Beria, John Pariseau
  • Patent number: 11544992
    Abstract: A gaming machine including a modular cabinet system is described herein. The modular cabinet system includes a cabinet stand assembly, a control unit housing mounted on the cabinet stand assembly, and a display unit support assembly mounted to the control unit housing. The control unit housing defines an interior cavity enclosing a game control unit assembly of the gaming machine. The display unit support assembly includes a primary display support member and a primary bracket assembly slidably coupled to the primary display support member. The primary display support member defines an interior equipment cavity configured to receive the primary bracket assembly therein. The primary bracket assembly is coupled to a primary display unit of the gaming machine to support the primary display unit from the primary display support member and to allow the primary display unit to move with respect to the primary display support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Ocampo, Norio Tone
  • Patent number: 11521457
    Abstract: A networked computer system for use in a casino property is described herein. The networked computer system includes a near field communication (NFC) reader coupled to a gaming device and a player tracking server. The player tracking server is programmed to receive an NFC signal including a user ID, access a plurality of user account records and select a matching user account record having a corresponding user ID matching the received user ID, retrieve account information included in the matching user account record, and display the account information on the gaming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Sepich, Thomas E. Soukup, Jeffrey George
  • Patent number: 11521456
    Abstract: A plurality of gaming machines to perform an integrated operation in cooperation with one another is provided. A gaming machine constituting a group of gaming machines includes a display that displays a game screen including predetermined computer graphics cooperated with the other gaming machines included in the group of gaming machines, a storage device that stores a gaming machine identifier, common graphic data, and a plurality of virtual camera coordinates associated with identifiers, and a controller, and the controller constructs a three-dimensional model in common with the other gaming machines on the basis of a timer value synchronized by communicating with the other gaming machines and the common graphic data, and configures the predetermined computer graphics by performing perspective transformation on the three-dimensional model using the virtual camera coordinates associated with the identifier as a point of view, and causes the predetermined computer graphics to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Narumi Kazama, Hironobu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11521460
    Abstract: A networked computer system is described herein. The networked computer system includes a casino management system coupled to a plurality of devices located within a casino and a facial recognition system. The facial recognition system is programmed to receive facial image from an imaging device positioned within the casino property, access a biometric database and selecting a face ID matching the received facial image, and transmit the selected face ID and location information associated with the imaging device to the casino management system. The casino management system is programmed to identify a player account record associated with the selected face ID, identify a device located within the casino that is associated with the imaging device, and record activity of the identified device to the identified player account record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Soukup, Edward Sepich, Jeffrey George, Jason Bertsch
  • Patent number: 11468745
    Abstract: A method of allowing a player to play a gaming machine is described herein. The method includes displaying, on a display device, a game including at least one reel. The at least one reel includes a plurality of symbol positions that have a plurality of normal symbols positions and a plurality of special symbol positions. The outcome of a game is randomly generated and displayed on the display device. The method also includes randomly determining a number of special symbol positions being displayed with the at least one reel and spinning and stopping the at least one reel to display the generated game outcome, wherein the at least one reel includes the plurality of symbol positions having the determined number of special symbol positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Lee
  • Patent number: 11455864
    Abstract: A networked casino management computer system is described herein. The networked casino management computer system includes a facial recognition system and a casino management server. The facial recognition system is programmed receive a facial image from an imaging device, access a biometric database and select a face ID matching the received facial image, and transmit the selected face ID and location information associated with the imaging device to the casino management system. The casino management system is programmed to access a player database and identify a player record associated with the selected face ID, identify a device located within the casino that is associated with the imaging device, and record activity of the identified device to the identified player record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Soukup, Edward Sepich, Jeffrey George, Jason Bertsch
  • Patent number: 11335168
    Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit programmed to initiate an instance of a primary game and spin and stop virtual reel strips to display an outcome of the primary game. The control unit detects an appearance of a winning combination of game symbols in the outcome and provides an initial award based on the winning combination, and detects an appearance of the collect symbol and a credit prize symbol in the outcome, determines an amount of credits associated with the credit prize symbol, and a bonus award including the determined amount of credits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Suda, William Langston
  • Patent number: 11328557
    Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a first feature symbol display area, a second feature symbol display area and a third feature display area. Each display area includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The control unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and is configured to provide a primary game and a feature game. The three display areas are used in the feature game in turn. Any appearance of a predetermined symbol in one of the display areas is copied in to the next display area(s) in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11308763
    Abstract: A bonus device and method are set forth for gaming machines. The bonus device is configured as a two dimensional display or three dimensional object, such as a sphere, box, or football shape, which can be controlled to rotate, spin or move to display a bonus. The bonus device is embedded with display technology that allows the bonus amounts, to change upon certain conditions in the base game such as an increased number of credits wagered, combinations achieved in the base game, or other random occurrences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Mayeroff
  • Patent number: 11282347
    Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit that displays a plurality of symbols in a determination area, changes and stops a plurality of symbols displayed on the display unit according to an operation of a player received from an operation unit, and a control unit that pays a payout according to the symbol stopped inside of the determination area, a control unit displays an object that shows a symbol inside of a virtual three-dimensional space that extends a column of the determination area in a depth direction on the display unit, aligns a plurality of objects in a depth direction in a non-determination area and the determination area, and changes a plurality of symbols by moving the plurality of objects along in a depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shiraishi
  • Patent number: D974481
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Ocampo, Norio Tone, Scott Allen Clear