Patents Examined by Marle A. Sager
  • Patent number: 6110039
    Abstract: A shooting game machine includes: a display device having a display screen for displaying a target; a hitting device which hits the target; a reference disposed in the vicinity of the display screen; an image pick-up device which picks up an image in an image area located in a hitting direction of the hitting device; a reference position detector which detects the position of the reference within the image picked up by the image pick-up device; and a hit position detector which detects the position on the display screen hit by the hitting device based on the position of the reference detected by the reference position detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ketsu Oh
  • Patent number: 5800292
    Abstract: System for detecting whether a conductive felt covered game ball has landed within the boundary area of a gaming surface. The system incorporates permanently installed decorative circuits which stay in an active open state while awaiting touch down of conductive game ball. Completion or closure of active open circuit determines the ball in-bounds and thus still in-play. The control box will transmit a filtered signal to an audible tone or a wireless hearing aid designed for official use. Controversial opinions regarding continuation or elimination of the human element in officiating has allowed such a system to be designed which will initially aid officials and henceforth apply accruing detection modifications as these demands present themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Steven James Brace
    Inventor: Steven J. Brace
  • Patent number: 5630753
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gaming machine with at least one display area (2) for a number of game symbols (3) which, after the player has pressed a start button (4) to start the game, are selected under the control of a computing unit (5) from a multitude of predetermined symbols and presented at positions in the display area (2) for the player to view. The invention calls for the gaming machine (1) to have, preferably in the display area (2), at least one chance-display zone (7, 7') in which the computing unit (5), optionally on actuation of a request unit (14), e.g., a request button, by the player, displays possible and/or increased and/or best-possible win chances, and/or instructions for determining them, which are available for the next game or which, on removal of one or more of the game symbols or game-symbol combinations presented for the next game, apply or could possibly be achieved in the next game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Novo-Invest Casino Development Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anton Fuchs