Patents by Inventor David Froy

David Froy 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).

  • Patent number: 10427034
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes a display having a display surface configured to provide stereoscopic 3D viewing of at least a portion of the game. The portion of the game includes a 3D interface element. The EGM further includes a locating sensor that generates an electronic signal based on a player's location in a sensing space. The EGM includes an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic field. At least a portion of the ultrasonic field is located in the sensing space. The EGM also includes one or more processors configured to: identify a location of one or more player features based on the electrical signal from the locating sensor; determine that the location of the player features is associated with the 3D interface element; and control one or more of the ultrasonic emitters based on the identified location to provide tactile feedback to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: IGT Canada Solutions ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Fayez Idris, Stefan Keilwert, Sven Aurich, Klaus Achmuller, Jim Morrow
  • Patent number: 10403084
    Abstract: In one aspect, there is described a method for a game to a player. The method includes: determining that a game screen provided by a game includes an interface element associated with a contactless feedback effect; identifying a location of one or more player features based on an electrical signal from a locating sensor; determining a mid-air location to be associated with the interface element associated with the contactless feedback effect based on the identified location of the one or more player features; and providing an ultrasonic field at the mid-air location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: IGT Canada Solutions ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Fayez Idris, Stefan Keilwert, Sven Aurich, Klaus Achmuller, Jim Morrow
  • Patent number: 10347072
    Abstract: A method of operating an electronic gaming machine includes generating an interactive game environment in accordance with game data, the interactive game environment having a viewing area may include a plurality of visible game components as a subset of the interactive game environment, displaying the viewing area with the plurality of visible game components, monitoring eye gaze of a player to collect player eye gaze data, determining a location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area using the player eye gaze data, and in response to the location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area, changing a resolution of a portion of the viewing area other than a portion of the viewing area corresponding to location of the eye gaze of the player on the viewing area. Related electronic gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen van Niekerk, Stefan Keilwert, Aaron Corey
  • Patent number: 10339758
    Abstract: A computer device and method for dynamically displaying at least one message to a player of a game are provided. The computer device may be an electronic gaming machine, and comprises a camera which can be used to collect data on the movement of a player of an electronic game. The movements of the player may then be analyzed and used to select message presentation rules based on player movement data. The message presentation rules may govern the presentation of new messages, the removal of old messages, or change the way a given message is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen Van Niekerk, Christopher Spurrell
  • Publication number: 20190134503
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes a display having a display surface configured to provide stereoscopic 3D viewing of at least a portion of the game. The portion of the game includes a 3D interface element. The EGM further includes a locating sensor that generates an electronic signal based on a player's location in a sensing space. The EGM includes an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic field. At least a portion of the ultrasonic field is located in the sensing space. The EGM also includes one or more processors configured to: identify a location of one or more player features based on the electrical signal from the locating sensor; determine that the location of the player features is associated with the 3D interface element; and control one or more of the ultrasonic emitters based on the identified location to provide tactile feedback to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Fayez IDRIS, David Froy
  • Patent number: 10275985
    Abstract: A computer device and method for dynamically displaying at least one advertisement to a player of a game are provided. The computer device may be an electronic gaming machine, and comprises a camera which can be used to collect data on the movement of a player of an electronic game. The movements of the player may then be analyzed and used to select an advertisement to present to the player based on player movement data. The player movement data may also be used to generate advertising preferences for the player, and may be compiled into an advertising profile. The advertising profile may then be shared with other advertisers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventor: David Froy
  • Patent number: 10220310
    Abstract: An input device includes a body having a generally hemispherical shape including a flat side and a curved side opposite the flat side, a foot pad on the flat side of the body, the foot pad including a foot rest position for receiving a foot of a user, a load sensor configured to detect pressure applied to the foot pad by the foot of a user, an accelerometer in the body configured to detect angular motion of the body in response to the pressure applied to the foot pad, and an output circuit coupled to the pressure sensor and to the accelerometer and configured to output data generated by the pressure sensor and the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: David Froy, Benjamin James Hale
  • Publication number: 20190046871
    Abstract: An input device includes a body having a generally hemispherical shape including a flat side and a curved side opposite the flat side, a foot pad on the flat side of the body, the foot pad including a foot rest position for receiving a foot of a user, a load sensor configured to detect pressure applied to the foot pad by the foot of a user, an accelerometer in the body configured to detect angular motion of the body in response to the pressure applied to the foot pad, and an output circuit coupled to the pressure sensor and to the accelerometer and configured to output data generated by the pressure sensor and the accelerometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: David Froy, Benjamin James Hale
  • Patent number: 10198904
    Abstract: A method of operating an electronic gaming machine includes generating an interactive game environment in accordance with game data, the interactive game environment having a viewing area may include a plurality of visible game components as a subset of the interactive game environment, displaying the viewing area with the plurality of visible game components, monitoring eye gaze of a player to collect player eye gaze data, determining a location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area using the player eye gaze data, and in response to the location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area, changing a resolution of a portion of the viewing area other than a portion of the viewing area corresponding to location of the eye gaze of the player on the viewing area. Related electronic gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen Van Niekerk, Aaron Corey, Stefan Keilwert
  • Patent number: 10195525
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) includes a display having a display surface configured to provide stereoscopic 3D viewing of at least a portion of the game. The portion of the game includes a 3D interface element. The EGM further includes a locating sensor that generates an electronic signal based on a player's location in a sensing space. The EGM includes an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit an ultrasonic field. At least a portion of the ultrasonic field is located in the sensing space. The EGM also includes one or more processors configured to: identify a location of one or more player features based on the electrical signal from the locating sensor; determine that the location of the player features is associated with the 3D interface element; and control one or more of the ultrasonic emitters based on the identified location to provide tactile feedback to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: Fayez Idris, David Froy
  • Publication number: 20180365928
    Abstract: A method of operating an electronic gaming machine includes generating an interactive game environment in accordance with game data, the interactive game environment having a viewing area may include a plurality of visible game components as a subset of the interactive game environment, displaying the viewing area with the plurality of visible game components, monitoring eye gaze of a player to collect player eye gaze data, determining a location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area using the player eye gaze data, and in response to the location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area, changing a resolution of a portion of the viewing area other than a portion of the viewing area corresponding to location of the eye gaze of the player on the viewing area. Related electronic gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: David FROY, Edward BOWRON, Reuben DUPUIS, Vicky LEBLANC, Karen van NIEKERK, Stefan KEILWERT, Aaron COREY
  • Patent number: 10089827
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine is provided. The computer device comprises at least one data storage unit storing game data for a game, a display unit to display graphical game components to a player of the game, at least one data capture unit, such as a camera, to collect data about the player's gaze, and a processor to process the player gaze data, determine if a player gaze condition is satisfied, determine whether a game condition is satisfied. If both the player gaze condition and the game condition are satisfied, the processor modifies at least some of the graphical game components based on the player gaze condition and the game condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen Van Niekerk, Christopher Spurrell
  • Patent number: 10074236
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine where the player plays an interactive game using their player eye gaze. A graphics processor generates an interactive game environment and defines a viewing area as its subset, the viewing area having visible game components. A display device displays the viewing area having the plurality of visible game components. The display controller controls rendering of the viewing area on the display device using the graphics processor. At least one data capture camera device continuously monitors the player eye gaze to collect player eye gaze data. The game controller determines the location of the player's eye gaze relative to the viewing area and triggers a control command to the display controller. In response, the display controller controls the display device in real-time to provide a graphical animation effect displayed on the display device representative of a visual update to the visible game components in the viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: IGT Canada Solutions ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky LeBlanc, Karen Van Niekerk, Aaron Corey, Stefan Keilwert
  • Patent number: 10013061
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) for providing haptic feedback to a player is provided. The EGM includes a touchscreen having a touchscreen surface. The EGM also includes a heating device coupled to the touchscreen to selectively radiate heat from the touchscreen surface. The EGM further includes a processor coupled to the touchscreen and to the heating device. The processor may be configured to detect a game condition associated with the game and, in response to detecting the game condition, control the heating device to set a level of heat radiating from the touchscreen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventor: David Froy
  • Patent number: 9997009
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine to play an interactive game where a players eye gaze acts as x-ray vision. A graphics processor generates an interactive game environment and defines a viewing area as its subset. A display device displays the viewing area, where a visible game component masks an invisible game component. A display controller controls rendering of the viewing area on the display device using the graphics processor. At least one data capture camera device continuously monitors player eye gaze to collect player eye gaze data. A game controller calculates a player eye gaze location relative to the viewing area, the location corresponding to the invisible game component, and triggers a control command to the display controller. In response, the display controller controls the display device in real-time to provide a graphical animation effect representative of a visual update to the visible game component to reveal the invisible game component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Aaron Corey
  • Publication number: 20180130293
    Abstract: A method of operating an electronic gaming machine includes generating an interactive game environment in accordance with game data, the interactive game environment having a viewing area may include a plurality of visible game components as a subset of the interactive game environment, displaying the viewing area with the plurality of visible game components, monitoring eye gaze of a player to collect player eye gaze data, determining a location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area using the player eye gaze data, and in response to the location of the eye gaze of the player relative to the viewing area, changing a resolution of a portion of the viewing area other than a portion of the viewing area corresponding to location of the eye gaze of the player on the viewing area. Related electronic gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen Van Niekerk, Aaron Corey, Stefan Keilwert
  • Patent number: 9898887
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine where the player plays an interactive game using their player eye gaze. A graphics processor generates an interactive game environment and defines a viewing area as its subset, the viewing area having visible game components. A display device displays the viewing area having the plurality of visible game components. The display controller controls rendering of the viewing area on the display device using the graphics processor. At least one data capture camera device continuously monitors the player eye gaze to collect player eye gaze data. The game controller determines the location of the player's eye gaze relative to the viewing area and triggers a control command to the display controller. In response, the display controller controls the display device in real-time to provide a graphical animation effect displayed on the display device representative of a visual update to the visible game components in the viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen Van Niekerk, Aaron Corey, Stefan Keilwert
  • Patent number: 9895607
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) for providing haptic feedback to a player is provided. The EGM includes a touchscreen having a touchscreen surface and an ultrasonic actuator coupled to the touchscreen surface to vibrate the touchscreen surface. The EGM also includes a processor coupled to the touchscreen and the ultrasonic actuator. The processor is configured to identify a location of a player feature on the touchscreen surface and control the ultrasonic actuator based on at least one of the identified location and a game state associated with the game to provide a friction feedback effect to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventor: David Froy
  • Patent number: 9799161
    Abstract: A computer device and method for displaying a 3D avatar and causing the 3D avatar to move are provided. The computer device may be an electronic gaming machine, and comprises a camera which can be used to collect data on the movement of a player of an electronic game. The movements of the player may then be analyzed and used to generate avatar movement data for moving the 3D avatar. The 3D avatar may mimic the motions of the player, or may react to the player's motions in complimentary fashion. Additionally, the electronic gaming machine may be networked to other like electronic gaming machines, which may share avatar movement data amongst themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventor: David Froy
  • Patent number: 9773372
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine where the player plays an interactive game using their player eye gaze. A graphics processor generates an interactive game environment and defines a viewing area as its subset, the viewing area having visible game components. A display device displays the viewing area having the plurality of visible game components. The display controller controls rendering of the viewing area on the display device using the graphics processor. At least one data capture camera device continuously monitors the player eye gaze to collect player eye gaze data. The game controller determines the location of the player's eye gaze relative to the viewing area and triggers a control command to the display controller. In response, the display controller controls the display device in real-time to provide a graphical animation effect displayed on the display device representative of a visual update to the visible game components in the viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: David Froy, Edward Bowron, Reuben Dupuis, Vicky Leblanc, Karen Van Niekerk, Aaron Corey, Stefan Keilwert