Patents Assigned to Universal Entertainment Corporation
  • Patent number: 9646446
    Abstract: A game system includes: a bill identifying apparatus for identifying bills of different currencies and an amount of the bills and then outputting data representing the identified result; a player tracking device which is integrated with each of gaming machines, for converting data outputted from the bill identifying apparatus to credit data for executing a game, based on an exchange rate; and an information card device which is integrated with the player tracking device, the information card device causing an information card to store data equivalent to an amount awarded to a player in accordance with a game result of the gaming machines and sending out the credit data for executing the game to the gaming machines, based on the data equivalent to the amount read from the information card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Jun Fujimoto, Takao Nireki, Kunihiro Manabe, Noritoshi Kukita
  • Patent number: 9640023
    Abstract: Provided is a gaming machine that is able to offer a variety of gaming patterns with avoidance of monotony during a free game that is a game played in a bonus game. A gaming machine, when a free game trigger is established, performs a control of shifting a game from a base game to a free game. In the free game, symbols are displayed in rotation and stopped in a symbol display region 4 in accordance with a result of a symbol lottery. When a top symbol is displayed in rotation in the symbol display region 4, the top symbol is scrolled at a speed lower than the other symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takehisa Itagaki, Yuji Miyagawa, Naoki Terada
  • Patent number: 9633524
    Abstract: A gaming machine stores an effect combination table in which each of predetermined combination conditions of symbols has probabilities associated with respective effect combinations each constituted by one or more indication effect. The gaming machine executes a process of randomly determining the symbols to be rearranged on the reel unit. The gaming machine executes a process of determining to which one of the combination conditions the combination of the determined symbols corresponds. The gaming machine executes a process of selecting an effect combination table based on the corresponding combination condition and randomly selecting one effect combination from a plurality of effect combinations based on the probabilities in the selected effect combination table. The gaming machine executes a process of executing an indication effect indicated by the selected effect combination, by means of the notification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Akira Osawa
  • Patent number: 9633517
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine employing a free game system which provides an enhanced game element. The gaming machine determines the number of adding free game based on a game number lottery table under the condition that a first symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game, and adds a preset number of free game under the condition that a second symbol is rearranged in the symbol display unit in the free game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Hiromoto Yamauchi, Masumi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 9607478
    Abstract: A plurality of gaming terminals provided in a parallel manner, a plurality of upper displays which are provided in a parallel manner independently from the gaming terminals and form a single common effect display screen, a plurality of display controllers controlling image display on the respective upper displays, and a center controller controlling the display controllers are provided. The center controller controls the display controllers so that the upper displays perform image display as one common effect display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Kenta Sugano, Daisyun Okamoto, Masumi Fujisawa, Takehisa Itagaki
  • Patent number: 9600955
    Abstract: A controller of a gaming machine executes a normal round of a game to spin reels of a first display, and triggers a chance round of the game when a result of the normal round satisfies a predetermined condition. The controller displays a wheel and a plurality of touch areas on a second display, and the wheel includes a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas corresponding to a number of free rounds. When any one of the touch areas is touched and slid by a player, the controller spinning the wheel in a direction corresponding to the slid touch area, and randomly determines a number of free rounds. The controller stops the wheel at a position of an area that corresponds to the determined number of free rounds among the plurality of areas, and provides free rounds having the determined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Tatsuya Teranishi, Takeshi Kada, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9600964
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a symbol display device, a top box, and a controller. The symbol display device is capable of variably displaying and then rearranging a plurality of symbols. The top box is disposed at an upper part of the symbol display device and has an illumination target disposed on a front face and a plurality of visual recognition targets disposed therein. The controller is programmed to: variably display and then rearrange symbols on the symbol display device to thereby execute a normal game; execute an animation character acquisition game for acquiring a specific animation character from among a plurality of animation characters in accordance with specific symbols being rearranged in the normal game; and move at least one visual recognition target from among the plurality of visual recognition targets, based on a result of the animation character acquisition game. This configuration enables a player to be given notice in a mode of moving a visual recognition target in the top box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Hirato, Takeshi Iso, Megumi Shimohata, Kou Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9589425
    Abstract: Provided is a slot machine capable of reducing unfairness which may result between a player who has made an investment and a player who has not made an investment and allowing a player to proceed with a game by making an investment in expectation of a jackpot at ease. Each money amount which is constant is accumulated independently of a number of bets each time betting is conducted, and upon winning a jackpot, a money amount calculated by multiplying a money amount accumulated until then by a multiplying factor based on the number of bets is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kato, Hiroaki Kashima, Naoya Shirai, Masumi Fujisawa, Hiroki Nakamura, Takeshi Aoki, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9589419
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine which is capable of realizing an appropriate balance between players' profits and slot machine providers' profits. When a first number of bets have been selected, a control device executes a first basic unitary game which completes when a first time interval has elapsed after starting the game. When a second number of bets have been selected, the control device executes a second basic unitary game which completes when a second time interval shorter than the first time interval has elapsed after starting the game. On the basis of the fact that the first basic unitary game has been executed, the control device executes a first progressive game in which a first payout rate can be realized. On the basis of the fact that the second basic unitary game has been executed, the control device executes a second progressive game in which a second payout rate higher than the first payout rate can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Miyawaki, Masafumi Uchida, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9576432
    Abstract: A game is executed in a normal round, in a first-type free round, and in a second-type free round. The normal round is executed with a first symbol set including a plurality of symbols. The first-type free round is executed with a second symbol set that includes at least one first symbol in addition to the symbols in the first symbol set. The second-type free round is executed with a third symbol set that includes at least one second symbol in addition to the symbols in the first symbol set, the at least one second symbol being different from the at least one first symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZA GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kato, Hiroki Nakamura, Masumi Fujisawa, Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 9576421
    Abstract: A plurality of gaming terminals each having a terminal display on which a plurality of symbols are provided, a plurality of upper displays forming a single common effect display screen which is constituted by gaming terminal areas corresponding to the respective gaming terminals, and a center controller are provided. When the common game starts, the center controller displays a common game start effect image on a common effect display screen and transmits a common game start effect image display command to the gaming terminals so that the common game start effect image divided for respective gaming terminal areas is displayed on the terminal display of each of the gaming terminals corresponding to the gaming terminal areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Kenta Sugano, Daisyun Okamoto, Masumi Fujisawa, Takehisa Itagaki
  • Patent number: 9576441
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine which can provide games that are prevented from progressing monotonously and thus can provide a player with a feeling of tension, thereby facilitating the consumption of more gaming media. A currently played chance game is discontinued and the chance game is started afresh from the first game under the condition that a second symbol appears on a symbol display unit upon the number of games being less than a predetermined number in the chance game mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Kitamura, Tatsuya Teranishi, Masumi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 9576439
    Abstract: A gaming machine that is capable of achieving respectively different game patterns at a time of a bonus game is provided. A main CPU displays a selection screen in a case where a feature game trigger is established, and causes a player to select either one of a free game and a roulette game. In a case where the free game is selected, a total of values that correspond to BONUS symbols that correspond to the feature game trigger is determined as the number of free games. The main CPU conducts lottery processing for determination of symbols and lottery processing for determination of BONUS symbol values. The values that correspond to the BONUS symbols are added on one by one basis, and a progress of obtaining the number of free games is displayed as effect on a video display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Kenta Kitamura, Susumu Mio, Yoichi Kato, Hiromoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9558616
    Abstract: The gaming machine includes: a cabinet having a display window; one or more reels disposed in the cabinet so that the or each reel is visible from outside the cabinet through the display window, the or each of the one or more reels being provided with a reel band having symbols; and a light application device configured to apply visible light representing visual information which enables recognition of information related to games to the reel band. The or each of one or more reels has a mirror layer which reflects the visible light from the light application device. The light application device is disposed in an area outside the window frame of the display window so that the visible light is applied to the reel, on the side of the reel band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Universal Entertainment Corporation, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kondo, Jun Hirato, Kenta Kitamura, Takehisa Itagaki
  • Patent number: 9547951
    Abstract: The currency-value converter according to the present invention transmits amount-of-converted-currency data indicating the amount of basic currency identified based on the type of this currency, the amount of the currency and the exchange rate, to a controller installed in a gaming machine, when the type of currency accepted through a currency validator is not the basic currency. The exchange rate is a rate in which a correspondence relationship between an amount of the basic currency and an amount of another type of currency other than the basic currency is set for each type of currency other than the basic currency. Then, a game is played at the gaming machine based on the transmitted amount-of-converted currency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Fujimoto
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9530165
    Abstract: A financial transaction system includes: an ATM process substituting server connected to a backbone server that executes a user accounting process through a communication mechanism capable of concealing content of communication; and a transaction screen WEB server connected to the ATM process substituting server and capable of connecting to a user communication terminal. The transaction screen WEB server transmits, to the communication terminal, transaction screen data for the user to input transaction necessary information, receives, from the communication terminal, transaction necessary information data inputted in accordance with the transaction screen data, and transmits the transaction necessary information data to the ATM process substituting server. The ATM process substituting server transmits the transaction necessary information data to the backbone server and transmits a message requesting the user for a specified transaction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9520019
    Abstract: When a trigger condition is established in a normal game, the following processes are executed: a process of shifting to a bonus game in which a re-trigger condition which is less stringent than the trigger condition may be established; and when the re-trigger condition is established in the bonus game, a process of adding another bonus game having a smaller benefit than the bonus game and executing the another bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Takehisa Itagaki, Yoichi Kato, Toshitaka Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9520026
    Abstract: A game system that is capable of performing a game by employing an information card in place of a conventional paper-based system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Jun Fujimoto, Takao Nireki, Kunihiro Manabe, Noritoshi Kukita
  • Patent number: 9520027
    Abstract: In a gaming machine, a display displays a jackpot challenge for providing a progressive payout. A controller executes each round of a game, determines an event to be performed in each round, determines whether a determined event belongs to predetermined events capable of providing any one icon of a plurality of icons, performs the determined event and determine a result of a performed event, obtains an icon of the performed event when the performed event belongs to the predetermined events and the result of the performed event is to award the icon of the performed event to a player, triggers the jackpot challenge when the plurality of icons are obtained, and executes the jackpot challenge to determine whether to award the progressive payout to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masumi Fujisawa, Hiroki Munakata, Kenji Enokido, Takehisa Itagaki, Masaya Honda, Daisyun Okamoto