Patents Examined by Mark Sager
  • Patent number: 6634943
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device and method having a multi-game bonus scheme. The gaming device includes a controller, a device for providing a plurality of bonus games related by a plurality of bonus picks and a display device adapted to exhibit at least the bonus games and the bonus picks. Preferably the bonus picks are used in each bonus game. The gaming device includes an advancement ladder exhibited by the display device, wherein the advancement ladder includes at least start, ready and go blocks which must be reached before the player is awarded bonus values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 6632141
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having an offer/acceptance type bonus game. One embodiment provides a plurality player selectable selections wherein each selection has an associated offer, anti-terminator or terminator. The gaming device enables the player to pick the selections. If a terminator is associated with the selection, the game ends unless the player has previously picked an anti-terminator associated with a selection. When the player picks an anti-terminator, the processor retains or accumulates the anti-terminator until a terminator is selected. The anti-terminator nullifies the effect of the terminator and allows the game to continue. The present invention accordingly provides a gaming device which includes the combination of an offer acceptance bonus scheme having at least one terminator and at least one anti-terminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bayard S. Webb, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Gregg J. Palmer
  • Patent number: 6626762
    Abstract: A game device in which a game can be started in accordance with the intention of a player is provided. The game device comprises sensors 15 for detecting whether or not a gun type input member 11 is in a stand-by state and a sensor for detecting whether or not targets 3, 4 and 5 are hit, and a time required until the targets 3, 4 and 5 are hit after the gun type input member 11 gets out of a stand-by state is counted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Namco, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Yabushita, Kenichi Muramatsu, Masatoshi Takai, Hiroshi Fujita, Yasuhiro Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 6620047
    Abstract: Improved electronic gaming apparatus, including a cabinet for housing video and sound generating electronics, coin-handling and pay-out mechanism and a video display screen. The display screen is substantially taller than it is wide and preferably has a touch screen associated therewith. Although the displayed video presentation may take any form, the preferred slot machine display embodiment includes graphics replicating the standard play board at top, game board in middle, and principal user input interface below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Allan E. Alcorn, Harry H. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6616543
    Abstract: A launch monitor system including a support structure, a first light-reflecting element disposed on this support structure, a lighting unit and an camera unit. A computer receives signals generated by light patterns received by the camera unit and computes a variety of flight characteristics for the object. The system may be moved back and forth to vary the field-of-view of the camera unit. The system also computes and displays object trajectories from the computed flight characteristics which account for the characteristics of the object and the atmospheric conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: William Gobush, Diane Pelletier, Douglas C. Winfield, Charles Days, Steven Aoyama, Edmund A. Hebert, James Alan Silveira
  • Patent number: 6616533
    Abstract: A video game may be associated with advertising such that when the player mouse clicks on an image element in the course of play of the game, the game play may automatically be paused in one embodiment. Once the game play is paused, an advertising graphical user interface may be displayed that enables the user to purchase items associated with image elements observed in the course of game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Oleg B. Rashkovskiy
  • Patent number: 6612573
    Abstract: An electronic game apparatus includes a display for depicting multiple launch positions and multiple launch power levels for a to-be-launched game object. The display further includes a plurality of game object icons which may be selectively activated to depict the travel of the game object. A launch control includes a control button movable within a multiply fluted guide against the force of a pair of symmetrically positioned springs. A switch contact is carried by the control button and cooperates with a plurality of conductive switch pads. The movable contact of the launch control button and the conductive pads cooperate to provide switch inputs of selection and duration for the game unit as the launch control button is manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel B. Klitsner, Brian P. Clemens
  • Patent number: 6612930
    Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU detects a camera code of a land object at a foot of a player object. According to the camera code, any one is selected of a first virtual camera, a second virtual camera, . . . , a fifth virtual camera. A selected virtual camera is controlled according to a corresponding camera control program. That is, the plurality of virtual cameras provided in a virtual three dimensional space are to be selected by the camera codes contained in the land objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Kawagoe, Yoichi Yamada, Hiroshi Umemiya, Masatoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6609979
    Abstract: A game system comprises a storage device which stores data for reproducing music and data which define a performing procedure corresponding to the music, an operation input device for receiving an operation of a player, a reproduction device for reproducing the music based on the data for reproducing the music, and a performing operation instructing device for instructing the player to do performing operations associated with reproduction of the music onto the operation input device based on the data which define the performing procedure. The system further comprises a practice range setting device for setting a practice range on at least one portion of the music according to an instruction from the player, and a practice instructing device for instructing the player to practice the performing operations included in the practice range based on data corresponding to the practice range set through the practice range setting device in the data which define the performing procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Wada
  • Patent number: 6609975
    Abstract: The progress of each player in playing an auxiliary incentive game simultaneously with a primary card game is controlled and displayed at a gaming table. A prize display is attached to the table and the prize display indicates at least one prize available to the player who accumulates a predetermined number of-bonus points playing the auxiliary game. A player interface unit is positioned on the table adjacent to each player. The player interface unit displays the number of bonus points received by the associated player. A dealer interface unit is positioned on the table adjacent to the dealer. The dealer interface unit includes control elements to allow the dealer to display the bonus points awarded to each player on the associated player interface unit and to activate a prize award control element on the player interface unit. The winning player selects a randomly indexed prize indicated on the prize display by manipulating the prize award control element on his or her player interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas E. Sawyer, Tony A. Crawford
  • Patent number: 6607439
    Abstract: An off-line remote lottery system which enables players to purchase instant-type lottery game outcomes from a randomized prize data stream in a central computer, and view the outcomes on remotely disposed gaming computers which do not require an on-line connection during play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Schneier, Jay S. Walker, James Jorasch
  • Patent number: 6604946
    Abstract: A non-lethal small arms analogous projectile 10 and reader-target for use in sporting, amusement, or training applications is described, wherein the non-lethal projectile 10 contains encoded information and means for transmitting the encoded information upon coinciding with the reader-target 22. The non-lethal projectile 10 contains a transmitter or transponder 18 which is activated upon coinciding with the reader-target 22, communicating data 42 to a receiver 36 within the reader-target which can then operate hit-indicating means 24, and transfer the data to a computer via contact, or wireless, connection for further analysis and interpretation. The non-lethal projectile 10 can be formed in any of a variety of shapes for use in many diverse applications and can be encased in a resilient, energy-absorbing material to withstand many reuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Mike Glen Oakes
  • Patent number: 6599186
    Abstract: A system and process for generating, distributing, and processing lottery tickets guaranteed to win a drawing-based prize. Tickets are appropriately priced, and are validated at point of sale by a central server in which the ticket information is stored. Subsequent to each lottery drawing, the winning lottery numbers are compared to the entries in a never-lose ticket database to determine if any of the entries match the winning number. Winning entries are appropriately identified and tagged as inactive, while entries that have not yet won a drawing-based prize remain active for future drawings. Ticket pricing methodology is provided for appropriately pricing never-lose tickets. A method and apparatus are further provided whereby a ticket holder may query the status of a never-lose ticket directly from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Thomas M. Sparico, James A. Jorasch
  • Patent number: 6599185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and gaming device having a multiple selection and award distribution bonus scheme. A selection is chosen from a group of selections. The present invention determines awards for distribution to the selection. Once determined, the awards are distributed to the selection and a player is provided with the awards. The present invention preferably utilizes a number of award pools in order to determine the award distribution. This award pool determination is based on, for example, a number of probability tables associated with the award pools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Randall D. Mead, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 6599192
    Abstract: The present invention is a gaming device and preferably a bonus round game of a gaming device that provides an offer/acceptance game, wherein the player preferably knows all the necessary information to make an informed decision whether to risk a currently held award and attempt to obtain a higher value award. The game determines the success or failure of a game event regardless of whether the player risks the offer award. If the player keeps an offer award, the game still displays a success or failure outcome, so that the player can see what the player missed, good or bad. The game also includes a plurality of levels or offers, wherein the player can sequentially trade up a currently held offer award a plurality of preferably predetermined times. The game is preferably embodied in a plurality of sequentially more difficult motorcycle jumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Bayard S. Webb
  • Patent number: 6599189
    Abstract: Machine for conducting a random drawing comprising at least one object randomly displaceable in space. A sensor is adapted to be impacted by the at least one object. At least two electric signals are generated by the machine. At least one of the at least two electric signals is a cyclically generated signal. At least another of the two electric signals is generated when the at least one object impacts the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Clotaire Raoul Georges Chateau
  • Patent number: 6595854
    Abstract: A gaming device having a bonus round with multiple selection groups. The bonus round does not end upon an “end-bonus” selection; rather, the bonus round ends upon the selection of a predetermined number of selections from the last or final selection group. In one embodiment, the number of selections is determined from a selection group preceding the final selection group. Prior to determining the number of final selection group picks, the game provides the player with at least one selection group in which the player selects award indicators until selecting an indicator that advances the player to the next selection group. Player excitement and enjoyment is enhanced because the present invention provides the player with multiple opportunities to achieve game credits and because the player is guaranteed to have at least one opportunity to select from the final selection group. In one embodiment, the final selection group has larger values than the previous selection groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird, Paulina Glavich, Bayard S. Webb, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 6595858
    Abstract: An image-display game system with an idea of monsters' virus infection comprises an information storage medium 10A in which a game program is stored, an actuator 22, a processor 23 for information processing responding to the actuator 22 and based on the program, an image display 27, and a temporal writable/readable storage 12, 25 including an infection data region 12c where data indicating whether or not the character has been virus infected is stored. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, data is written into at least one infection data region corresponding to the captured characters stored in the temporal storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., GAME FREAK Inc., Creatures, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tajiri, Tsunekazu Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6595859
    Abstract: An Internet marketing method and game is designed for promoting access to the web site which hosts the game, and to keep potential consumers occupied on the web site for exposure to several different advertisements, or to a few advertisements repeatedly. The inventive game is centered around a “point and click” system in which a screen display is provided which includes a game image made up of a large number of individual pixels. A player is encouraged to randomly select a pixel or image area location on the game image which selected pixel or image area location is then compared to one or more stored prize winning pixel or image area locations. Players are encouraged to play the game as many times as they like, and with each play, one or more advertisements are displayed on the screen outside of the picture, and on losing response pages with each additional “play” of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Virtumundo, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott W. Lynn
  • Patent number: 6585595
    Abstract: Disclosed is an input device (controller) for inputting signals to a game apparatus using a computer. The input device includes a vibration generating device, the vibration state of which can be set in correspondence with the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Soma